After finishing their meal, Mei and Yuichi sat quietly in the dining room, letting the warmth of the food settle while they planned their next steps. The calm was a stark contrast to the chaos they had recently endured, providing a rare moment of tranquility.
Mei broke the silence. "We should check the rooms. They should be ready by now."
Yuichi stretched lazily, his joints popping as he stood. "Yeah, good idea. He should been done hiding those devices by now. Besides a bit of rest wouldn't hurt before the young lord starts giving orders again."
Almost on cue, the maid from earlier appeared at the doorway. "Your room has been prepared. Please follow me."
They followed her through the winding halls of Urahara's mansion, noting the peculiar devices that hummed quietly in the shadows—some functional, others clearly experimental. When they reached their assigned room, the maid slid the door open to reveal a modest but neatly arranged space. Two futons lay side by side, and a low table rested in the center beneath a single window overlooking the courtyard.
"This will be your room," the maid said, bowing respectfully before retreating.
Mei entered first, her sharp eyes sweeping the room as she placed her zanpakutō against the wall. "It'll do," she said, her tone clipped as she began inspecting the room with meticulous precision.
Yuichi leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "You're always quick to action, aren't you? Can't you just take your time for once?"
"Complacency leads to disaster," Mei replied flatly, crouching to check beneath the table. "You of all people should know that by now."
Yuichi sighed, stepping inside and closing the door. Before he could say another word, Mei turned sharply, slamming her hands against the wall on either side of his head in a firm kabedon. The sudden movement startled him, and he froze as she leaned in, her calm face now mere inches from his.
"Mei," Yuichi stammered, his face reddening. "What's this about?"
Her cold eyes met his without a hint of hesitation. "Shall we take turns, or will you begin?" she asked, her voice steady and matter-of-fact.
"Take turns with what?" Yuichi blinked, utterly confused. His mind raced as he tried to piece together her intent.
Mei tilted her head slightly, looking perplexed. "Checking Lord Byakuya's room of course. Isn't that what you always insist on doing?"
Yuichi exhaled sharply, relief washing over him as he ran a hand through his hair. "You really need to work on your phrasing, Mei. I thought—never mind." He shook his head, trying to suppress a laugh.
Mei stepped back, her expression unchanging. "Why are you acting strange? We've done this enough times that it shouldn't surprise you."
Yuichi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Let's just get it over with," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You've got a way of keeping things... interesting."
He left the room and made his way to Byakuya's quarters. After knocking lightly, a composed voice answered from within. "Enter."
Yuichi slid the door open and stepped inside, bowing respectfully. Byakuya sat at a low table, a book resting in his lap. His sharp gaze fixed on Yuichi with a faint hint of disapproval.
"Young Lord Byakuya," Yuichi began carefully, "I'd like to conduct a quick inspection of your room to ensure its security."
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. "If you were so concerned, should this not have been done before I entered?" His tone was calm but carried an edge of criticism.
"You're right," Yuichi admitted with a sheepish smile. "But we prefer to check again once the room is in use. We don't expect to find anything, but it's protocol."
Byakuya regarded him for a long moment before giving a curt nod. "Very well. Proceed."
Yuichi moved methodically, checking every corner, nook, and cranny. The room seemed pristine at first, but his eyes were trained to spot anomalies. Near the windowsill, he found what he was looking for: a small, discreet device no larger than a pebble, faintly humming with energy. Its purpose was clear—it was a data-collection device designed to monitor and sample reiryoku. They used such devices in the 12th Division.
Yuichi frowned, holding it up for closer inspection. "Another of Captain Urahara's little experiments," he muttered.
Byakuya glanced at the device with thinly veiled disdain. "Explain."
"It's harmless," Yuichi said, keeping his tone neutral. "It collects data on spiritual energy. Likely left behind as part of the Captain's research."
"Remove it," Byakuya said sharply. "Such intrusions are unbecoming."
Nodding, Yuichi crushed the device between his fingers, letting the remnants fall into his hand. "Consider it done."
Returning to Mei, he found her waiting with an identical device in her palm. She had already disposed of the one in their room. Wordlessly, she handed it to Yuichi, who destroyed it in the same manner.
"Done," Yuichi said, brushing his hands off. "Now can we finally relax?"
Mei glanced at him, her calm expression unchanging. "If you're done overthinking, perhaps."
Yuichi rolled his eyes, shaking his head as they returned to their room. Yuichi lay back on the futon, his body finally sinking into a comfortable position. The tension from the past few days began to ease as he closed his eyes, intending only to rest for a moment. Nearby, Mei sat cross-legged with her zanpakutō resting on her knees, her usual meditative posture exuding calm and control. The cool breeze of her focused reiatsu filled the room.
"Boring as always," Yuichi muttered under his breath. He glanced at her for a moment, wondering how she could remain so serene. "Guess I'll just close my eyes for a bit."
The moment he did, sleep claimed him faster than he expected. The quiet stillness of the room lulled him into a deep, dreamless slumber.
What felt like only seconds later, Yuichi felt a firm nudge on his shoulder. He groaned, squinting as he opened his eyes to see Mei crouching beside him. Her expression, as always, was unreadable, but her words were direct.
"Get up," she said. "Young Lord Byakuya has informed me that he'll be heading to the training room. He expects us to join him."