As Kazuya made his way to the 1st Squad's barracks, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Yamamoto had several reasons to summon him, but none were in his favor.
{Is he finally on to you?}
'I don't think so.'
In the event that Yamamoto discovered Kazuya's Hollow side, Yamamoto wouldn't send Soi Fon alone; he would come here on his own.
{What if he did this to lower your guard?}
'Old man isn't a pussy.'
As far as he knew, Yamamoto wasn't the type to play mind games or scheme. The old man settled his matters with laws. When the lawful approach failed, Yamamoto fell back to the old-fashioned method of brawling it out with bare fists.
'Maybe he wants to know more about Arrancars from me.'
He had yet to answer any question regarding the Arrancar Invasion in Karakura Town. Quite surprising, since he had been at the forefront of the incident.
{Could be that too. Let's stay cautious, yeah?}
'Those words don't suit someone trying to be crazy.'
Nami laughed. {How about 'don't back down if Yamamoto wants a fight. You'll smoke his ass and burn down the Soul Society.'? Is that crazy enough for you?}
'I'm in love.'
Retreating from the odd conversation, he took a glance to his left. Soi Fon dashed from roof to roof with him. They were nowhere close to their peak Shunpo speed. Still, she was barely breaking a sweat from exertion.
{She is a cardio-monster. Imagine someone with her endurance riding you. She'll last hours!}
'Yoruichi won't fall behind her.'
{True. Both have excellent endurance.}
Kazuya flicked a Reiatsu bullet at Soi Fon's face, which she dodged with a slight tilt of her head. "Any idea what Captain Commander wants from me?"
"You'll know when we get there."
"Come on. You're making me nervous."
"As if I'll believe that crap," Soi Fon said with a snort. "People like you exist to make others nervous and miserable."
"Awww. You're being so nice today."
"..."
Unohana watched the two with a calm gaze. "Kazuya, it's probably for something important."
Although she couldn't see a hint of worry on his face, she knew that being called out of nowhere by Yamamoto made him anxious, rightfully so. The rare vulnerability in his otherwise persistent calmness invoked a strange emotion in her chest. She felt a strong urge to reassure him about his safety, that everything would turn out fine as long as she was there. Soi Fon's presence changed Unohana's mind from acting sporadically on her emotions.
…
After a couple of minutes, Kazuya could sense Yamamoto's vigorous Reiatsu. Yamamoto wasn't alone as he could feel Ginrei's Reiatsu in the same location. The lack of Captain-level forces gave him some assurance that he wasn't walking into a trap.
Soi Fon led him into the Assembly Hall, where two elderly but very healthy men were engaged in a serious conversation. They paused in surprise when they saw him, clearly not expecting him to show up with Soi Fon. Their reaction was a little out-of-place as, according to Soi Fon, Yamamoto had summoned him. This, at least, provided him with the assurance that his Hollow identity remained safe.
"Soi Fon, you're such a liar."
She flinched momentarily. Regaining her composure, she assumed an aloof expression. "Be a little patient. We'll address your confusion in a minute."
"Alright." Kazuya raised his hand with a smile. "How are you doing, Ginrei Oji-san?"
In reply to his greeting, the old man nodded back, maintaining his typical stoic demeanor. Byakuya's grandfather was the type to choose death over acting unbecoming of an aristocrat.
Yamamoto, on the other hand, gazed at Soi Fon with cold, emotionless eyes. "Is he the best candidate?"
"He is the best support we'll need for this particular expedition. He can cover the healing needs, and he won't slow me down like the rest. With him, I won't have to be too cautious when scouting and gathering information."
With a serious expression, Soi Fon threw compliment after compliment, praising his abilities to the high heaven. She picked words that would stroke one's ego in perfection.
Kazuya realized her goal — she wanted to prove it to Yamamoto and Ginrei that she trusted and respected him, and she wanted to do the bare minimum to make him feel like she couldn't do it without him.
Ginrei revealed a look of understanding. "I can vouch for Kazuya-kun's Shunpo. He is the very best this new generation has to offer."
"I can vouch for his healing capabilities," Unohana said, stepping forward and eying Soi Fon with an unblinking gaze. "He is the best my division has to offer at the moment… Regarding the assignment, can I know the specifics and where it would take place?"
Kazuya rubbed the back of his head, feigning a look of embarrassment. "Yeah, let's talk about that. Soi Fon has given me no information whatsoever. It'll be bad if I mess up cause I was thrown into a mission outside of my comfort zone."
He couldn't leave the Soul Society for too long or else Aizen might take over with Muramasa's ability. He had to pick his path carefully and avoid involving himself with long-term missions.
Soi Fon gave him a skeptical look. "You can adapt to any situation. Like you adjusted to the high-level battle in Karakura Town. This assignment will be nothing for you."
"Okay, I was lying to weasel my way out. I don't wanna leave my girlfriend alone for too long."
"Girlfriends," Soi Fon retorted. "The operation shouldn't last longer than a week. It's not that big of a deal."
"Two days. I can't spare more than that."
Soi Fon's eyes widened at his confidence. "It's not impossible to finish it within two days… but you'll have to forgo rest."
"I'm fine with that. So, what is the goal?"
"Invading Hueco Mundo," Yamamoto spoke in a solemn tone. "The last invasion had a drastic effect on the Soul Society… I fear the Hollows have united a leader and are planning a major attack. We need someone to get in, gather information about their plans, and safely bring the information back to us."
The Captain Commander had become a bit restless from the silence shown by Arrancars. The strength Arrancars showed could pose a threat to the Soul Society's stability. They had to take proper measures to make sure they weren't caught off-guard at a vulnerable moment.
Kazuya laughed as he slapped Soi Fon's back. "Alright, I'm ready."
Soi Fon looked at him like he had lost his mind. "We're going into enemy territory. Where is all that fearlessness coming from?"
"Considering your mediocre stealth skills, you'll surely be discovered by Arrancars. I need to be there to save your sorry life. And I'm fairly confident in my ability to slaughter Arrancars."
{The majestic King of Hollow will slay his people.}
"Why you-!" Soi Fon nearly cursed him for his insolence. "Not everyone is stupidly perceptive like you. I'll be fine with my skills."
He gently rubbed her head. "Silly girl, we're dealing with Hollows. Souls who have animalistic traits. It'll be hard to fool them."
This time, Soi Fon didn't argue with him. She had tested and perfected her stealth against Shinigami. But she had never put her skills to test against an Arrancar.
Unohana placed a hand on his shoulder while looking at Yamamoto. "When will they depart?"
"Tomorrow," Yamamoto answered. "At dawn."
"Understood."
Yamamoto turned his attention to Kazuya. "I'll need you to answer some questions."
"Sure."
***
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