Classes for the day ended and I followed my routine of going straight home. I was still thinking about the conversation I had earlier with Tatsuki.
Yato: 'After asking all those questions, she just said she'd go back to training without even questioning what I meant.'
Rukia: "Yato?"
Yato: "Hm? What's it?"
Rukia: "You aren't by any chance upset about the prank earlier today are you?" -She said in a laughing tone.
Yato: "No." - I replied
Rukia: "I'm so sorry. It's just that since yesterday with that whole situation with Inoue and her brother…you seem more…distant than usual. What's bothering you?"
Yato: 'The rules of this universe bother me a lot.' - I thought. "Is nothing. I'm fine."
She continued to stare at me for a while. She probably didn't believe what I said but didn't want to force me to speak.
Yato: "But what about you?" - I asked trying to change the subject.
Rukia: "What do you mean?"
Yato: "Your powers. Have you made any progress?"
She hesitated to speak. She seemed to want to avoid the subject even though I already knew the answer.
Yato: "So you're not recovering."
Again she didn't answer me, but my words made her stop staring at me.
Yato: "Um…Rukia, if what that guy in the hat said is true, the gigai works more as a way for you to interact with humans and hide from Hollows doesn't it?"
Rukia: "Yes, they are artificial bodies that suppress our powers to a certain level so as not to attract unnecessary attention from the Hollows."
Yato: "So if that's their function, it means that it's not the gigai who is responsible for recovering their energy, does it? How exactly does a shinigami recover when they are too weak?"
Rukia: "Usually a shinigami recovers over time as our bodies absorb a certain amount of Reishi. If we were in Soul Society this process would be a little faster since the entire Soul Society is composed of reishi. Here in the world of the living, it takes a little longer."
Yato: "Have you ever stopped to think that the problem could be the gigai himself? I mean, that guy literally appeared out of nowhere and offered you a gigai for nothing in return. Maybe the gigai is defective." - I asked casually.
I already knew that the problem was Gigai, since he is draining Rukia's powers until she becomes a human in order to hide the Hougyoku that is in her body. Most likely Urahara must have his means of ensuring that she doesn't leave the Gigai so I won't even give more ideas... like using that glove to push her soul out of the Gigai.
Rukia: "Um… You might be right about that… Anyway I would have to go to his shop to buy some things I need so I'll talk to him about Gigai. Thank you, Yato." - She smiled.
# That same day | 05:30 p.m. #
I was finally enjoying the comfort of my home. I was sitting on the couch in the living room playing video games. Rukia was sitting next to me, apparently not understanding what I was doing. Every now and then she would ask a few questions about the game and it seemed like the more I answered, the more questions she had.
Yato: "Why don't you try playing? I put on an easier game and you practice." - I said holding back a little laughter.
Rukia: "And what do I have to do?" She asked as she grabbed the second joystick.
Yato: "You just have to run, jump and shoot." - I said while loading the Metal Slug X game.
To no one's surprise, her performance in the game was disastrous, but at least she seemed to be having fun as even I ended up dying in the game due to being distracted. After some time, I decided to make some cup noodles for dinner.
I'm still not very good at cooking so I tend to prepare things that are easy and practical. I also noticed that Rukia went back to looking at that cell phone of hers.
Yato: "Did something come up, Rukia?"
Rukia: "So far I haven't received any alerts from Hollows. Looks like things have been quiet for today."
Just as she finished her sentence, we heard a noise outside the house. It appeared to have been a car accident.
Yato: 'Now I remember... probably now Chad must be being taken to Ichigo's father's clinic.'
Rukia: "That sound doesn't sound like a Hollow. And I still don't get any orders."
I was pouring hot water into the cup noodles until I thought of my fullbring. If I was already able to use Bringer Light…maybe now my control has improved.
Rukia: "You don't even intend to go see what that was-" She paused when she saw what I was doing. "What are you doing, Yato?" - She asked in surprise.
I was using my fullbring to control the water. Before, I could barely move it properly, but now I can do it more easily. Thanks to this control, the water was covered by the fullbring's green glow. After a few seconds of doing that, I would pour the water into the cup noodles.
Yato: "Looks like I'm getting better at using these powers of mine."
Rukia: "But what did you do with the water, Yato?" -She asked still surprised.
Yato: "I'll explain later. We'd better take a look outside. If it was something serious, at least it happened near the clinic where Ichigo lives. Let's go over there and see if he needs help.