"Aren't you being too honest right now?"
Ouetsu took a sip from his cup before answering, "I'm just returning the favor."
"I see... Then I'm really glad that I took that mask off." Kisuke started calculating the moves he could make right now, "But even if you're returning a favor, isn't that a very dangerous statement for you? And the way you said it, what if Hyousube-san cuts you off? While you are the original maker of the Zanpakuto, it doesn't mean anything if you are a threat to the status quo. And I doubt you're the only one who could make a Zanpakuto right now so replacing you isn't really a big issue."
"Am I under the wrong assumption that this conversation will be secret?" Ouetsu finished his cup of tea and placed it down, "And don't you have alcohol instead? It'll be more fitting to the current atmosphere."
Kisuke smiled and waved his hand. In an instant, the tea cups disappeared and were replaced by a bottle of Japanese rice wine and two small cups.
"That's really a convenient skill." Ouetsu commented in awe while watching Kisuke pour alcohol into cups, "By the way, do you mind if I take a look at your blade?"
"Are you referring to Tiamat?"
"That's right."
Kisuke noticed how Ouetsu didn't refer to Tiamat as a Zanpakuto, 'I just used her twice yet he already noticed.'
Kisuke didn't mind so he took out the tanto blade from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
Ouetsu became quiet. Instead of immediately grabbing the blade, Ouetsu first observed it from multiple angles before carefully picking it up and pulling the blade out slowly.
As soon as the light reflected from the shiny surface, Ouetsu's eyes glistened, "It's as I've thought. Although the fundamental structure is that of a Zanpakuto, it's not one. The technique used in the creation of this blade is of an entirely different system. Impressive... What do you call it?"
"A Soul Gear, but it's nothing really impressive. I just studied two existing technologies and combined them into one."
Ouetsu's eyes landed on him, "You being humble really hurts my pride, you know? You didn't just successfully analyze how I structure an Asauchi to a frightening degree but you also used a completely different technology to manufacture it that didn't just mimic a normal Zanpakuto, but also became compatible with anyone with a soul, be it a Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, Fullbringer, and finally, a normal Human, no training required. Was my Asauchi really that easy to make and modify to this degree of freedom?"
Kisuke was stunned for a bit before saying, "That... I apologize."
"Good. Because what you made here is really something ridiculous because I have a feeling that you trapped a very outrageous being within this blade."
"Isn't that just the same with Shihouin Clan's Byakko?"
Ouetsu looked down on the blade once again and said, "It's not. That guy willingly gets into Asauchis to pose as a Zanpakuto Spirit while yours... I can't even describe it properly. It looks like she was imprisoned but it also looks like she's willing to stay put and be used. And although I can clearly see Byakko, I can't gleam anything to the Spirit itself. Even then, I can still feel apprehension. Just what sort of being is she?"
But before Kisuke could even give an answer, the tanto on Ouetsu's hand began shining and it lit up the whole shack they were in before it left his hand and transformed into a young girl with light blue hair, pink eyes with star-like pupils, and prominent double curved horns.
Ouetsu found himself staring at her when she suddenly said, "That's not anything important, is it?"
Tiamat looked at her side and from the ground, a chair emerged, and sat down on it. She then put her hand forward and a small cup appeared on it, "Please."
"So you wanted a drink too." Kisuke smiled wryly and poured the wine into her cup.
Ouetsu, on the other hand, could only silently watch in shock because he could hardly believe what he just saw. When Kisuke had brought out the tea and alcohol earlier, he knew that he was summoning them from somewhere.
However, the little girl didn't do that. Instead, she very quietly summoned the Spirit particles from her surroundings and converted them to another form of matter casually. This reminded him of the 8th Kenpachi, 'No... Azashiro's ability is assimilation. This is clearly a direct manipulation of Spirit particles and to a far greater degree than even the Quincies. This is already in the realm of creation... Something that only the Spirit King is supposed to know how to do.'
Tiamat drank the wine with a blissful expression before turning back to Ouetsu. And as if reading his mind, she said, "You are overestimating me. I'm just a mere shadow of my former self so all the abilities I possess are locked behind my master's capabilities and understanding."
"...Then couldn't you just simply teach him how to use those abilities?" Ouetsu asked.
Tiamat asked for another cup and instead of answering him, she returned a question, "Can you teach anyone how to breathe? Pump their heart? Or think with their brain?"
"...N-no."
"And that's my answer."
Kisuke didn't have anything to say about this interaction because he actually already asked Tiamat how her ability manipulates Prima Materia but she couldn't put it in proper words and even if she tried, it's just gibberish to Kisuke, "Why have you come out?" he asked after pouring Tiamat's third cup.
"This is actually my only time to properly observe this Soul Society of yours. And I had the same question when I first saw it." Tiamat answered and downed her cup before continuing, "Why did your Spirit King create such a dysfunctional world?"