Kūkaku Shiba changed into the clothes she wore when they first met: a bright red short top with a swirling pattern of falling and collapsing energies covering her abdomen, and a beige long skirt with a slit, a cool and refreshing outfit perfect for summer.
To avoid being exposed to the sun, she wore a light beige cloak and, unusually, applied a touch of rouge to her lips.
Her long black hair was not as flamboyant as usual. She combed it smooth and walked from West District One to West District Ten, finding the cliff face with ease.
Kūkaku Shiba released his Reiatsu, which was equivalent to knocking on the door.
A moment later, the cliff trembled and opened to the side. Just as she was about to greet them, a cool air mixed with an indescribable sour stench wafted over.
"Hmm." She pinched her nose in disgust and took two steps back, her olive-green eyes taking in what lay behind the door.
A large safe stood in the center of the cave, with leftover bones and various fruit peels on either side of the door, and bags of garbage piled on the ground, not cleaned up in time.
Shiraishi's back was slightly hunched, and his overall energy and spirit were clearly lacking. His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles, and even stubble was sticking out from his chin, making him look like a decadent young man.
"You've come."
He wasn't surprised by her appearance. There was Sōya Azashiro Seireitei. If the Shinigami wanted to imprison Kūkaku Shiba, the captain had to keep watch over her.
However, without knowing the situation, the captains would clearly not waste their energy guarding a prisoner on the fourth floor.
Kūkaku Shiba looked him over carefully and asked with concern, "You look so haggard, what happened?"
Shiraishi touched his face and sighed, "It's all tears. I coaxed Infinity four days and finally managed to tear off her arrogant facade, so she could understand the Shikai and begin the next stage of Bankai training."
Including today, it's been almost seven days. I've been searching for her in the world she created, failing time and again, and the result is what you see here.
"..." Kūkaku Shiba didn't know what to say; Zanpakuto training was outside her area of knowledge.
She couldn't understand why Shiraishi only now knew the Shikai phrase, nor did he understand how to practice Bankai. She only cared about one thing. "During these past few days of my captivity, you didn't even consider my safety?!"
Exhausted, Shiraishi didn't bother to ponder the meaning behind her words and bluntly stated, " Sōya Azashiro there either."
"What if he's not here?"
"How could he not be here?"
Good grief, Kūkaku Shiba's temper flared up. Hands on hips, her olive-green eyes wide, she glared and shouted, "Get all the trash out of here!"
"Huh?" Shiraishi was a little confused, not understanding why the topic had suddenly shifted to cleaning up trash.
Seeing his dazed expression, Kūkaku Shiba's anger intensified. "What are you standing there for? Get to work! This place is as filthy as a pigsty. How can you live here?"
I think it's alright.
Shiraishi offered a vague excuse, saying he didn't really want to clean up. He'd been busy training for Bankai lately, which had lowered his standards of living. Unless he was sleeping on a garbage dump, he wouldn't want to clean up.
"Don't force me to punch you on this happy day."
Kūkaku Shiba gave a forced smile, her Riot Games clenched so tightly they cracked. She couldn't stand it; how could this guy sleep in such an environment?
"Alright." Shiraishi decisively chose to compromise and turned to pick up the trash.
Kūkaku Shiba exhaled heavily, enduring the stench, and stepped into the cave, bending down to begin cleaning the bags of trash.
The trash was cleared to an open space outside, and it piled up unexpectedly high, like a small hill.
To Shiraishi's surprise, there were far more bags than he had imagined. He hadn't expected so many, but it turned out there were already so many. He tossed the last bag up, wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, and complained, "It's really hot outside."
Kūkaku Shiba didn't reply. With one hand facing the garbage heap, he chanted, "You ruler! Masks of flesh and blood, all things, soaring wings, things bearing the name of humanity!"
Scorching heat and strife, a southward surge across the sea, stepping forward! Hadō #31: Shakkahō.
The power of her fully chanted intermediate-level Kidō was undeniable. A fireball the size of ten bowling balls spun in her palm, then exploded in the next instant, leaving a long trail of flame as it landed on the garbage heap.
Boom!
The Shakkahō exploded, bursting into flames. The trash turned to ash, merging with the black smoke and producing a nauseating stench.
The two quickly covered their noses and retreated back to the cliff face. The black smoke was blown westward by the wind, and a cool breeze wafted out from the cave.
She turned around and looked at him, a hint of surprise on her face. "Where did you get this cold lamp?"
"Oh, this was sold to me by the Kawakami Clan stationed locally; it cost me a full 100,000 rings."
Shiraishi casually replied that the cold lamp was similar to an air conditioner in Soul Society, a product of the Research and Development Institute.
Logically speaking, as a wanted criminal, he shouldn't have the right to buy it, and the Kawakami Clan hadn't bought it before either.
Things are different now; the Muken prisoners have made the Shinigami stationed outside feel insecure.
Compared to the distant Seireitei, Shiraishi, who was closer, was more worthy of Kawakami Saburō's trust. Some of Seireitei's goods were successfully dumped over there, hoping that in case of any unforeseen circumstances, he could obtain Shiraishi's protection.
You seem to be living a pretty comfortable life.
Kūkaku Shiba casually remarked, then scooped up water from the pool and washed his hands.
"It's alright, what are your plans for the future?"
Shiraishi asked a question.
"What are your plans?" Kūkaku Shiba murmured to herself. Before coming here, she thought it would be easy to ask, but upon arriving, she suddenly became hesitant.
Has this guy forgotten that agreement? Should I remind him?
This is really a headache.
Looking at her reflection in the pond, Kūkaku Shiba made up her mind, stood up, and bowed her head, saying, "I have something I want to tell you."
What did you say?
Shiraishi tilted her head back; her face was obscured by her chest at this distance.
368 times.
Kūkaku Shiba said a number, his voice revealing a seriousness unlike his usual tone. He didn't interrupt and continued to squat there listening.
"This is the number of times I've thought of you while I was in the Underground Relief Prison. I don't even know what kind of emotion makes me fantasize about you rescuing me over and over again."
Was I so desperate that I placed my hopes on you?
Or is it that I've truly fallen in love with you, which is why I see you as an omnipotent savior?
This was the first time I'd experienced something like this, and I didn't understand what those feelings were. The only thing I was certain of was that at that moment, I desperately wanted to keep the promise I made back then.
Kūkaku Shiba ripped off her beige cloak, bent down close to him, and said with a blushing face, "Whether it's three days and three nights or one day and one night, I'll keep you company to the very end."
Shiraishi gazed at her bright red, moist lips, her hazy, misty olive-green eyes, and her fair cheeks flushed with rosy hues.
All fatigue vanished, and I felt like I'd been injected with adrenaline. "Who do you think I am?"
"I'm going to work for ten days and ten nights!"