"You idiot! There's always shadows wherever there's light!" — Zaraki Kenpachi.
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"You know, most people wouldn't believe how good of a cook you are." Soi Fon stated as she enjoyed her dinner, courtesy of Itachi.
"Then don't tell them." Itachi replied, making her snort.
"You should be more worried about Yachiru broadcasting to the rest of the Rukongai than me telling someone else. The whole of Seireitei probably has heard of how good you cook by now."
Itachi groaned. His lack of reputation had a reputation, most of which was perpetuated by none other than Yachiru. Sometimes he wondered why someone as mischievous as her was put in charge of the sole media outlet in the Seireitei.
"Tell me about it." He couldn't put the most outrageous things past Kyōraku after the man showed up to his house just when he was about to cook himself dinner. Or the fact that Yachiru always insisted on bigger rations anytime he had some for takeouts.
"So?" Itachi asked, intentionally changing the subject, which made Soi Fon snort in amusement.
She finished her meal, which was always a delight given how rare it was for Itachi to cook nowadays, and the room becoming a bit serious as she looked at him.
"There wasn't much I could observe given the short time I was there and how guarded they were against me. But you're right," she frowned, "a rebellion like that, one that serious, is not without comparable impetus. In fact you could say they were too on guard about something that wasn't that big of a deal, as they claimed."
She threw her head back and shrugged helplessly. "There's little I can do on my end. I may be the head of my clan but it is a small one, not at all comparable to any of the Great Noble Families. And any suspicious movement on my end will immediately alert them."
Itachi didn't say anything and remained silent for a while before asking, "The Shihōin Clan Head, how is he?"
"Young Master Yūshirō? He's still a little kid, but he has the support of all the elders. Why?"
"Just thinking maybe I should see him one of these days. The Onmistukidō is still under the banner of the Shihōin after all." He said, before adding, "Put in a request from me whenever you get the chance."
Soi Fon still looked unsure. "But meeting with the Young Master, won't it raise some suspicions from the others? Especially with the Kuchiki?"
Itachi shook his head softly and gave her a sidelong glance with mirth glistening in his dark eyes.
"They are already suspicious of any move I make, you confirmed that yourself. Directing their suspicions is the best we can hope for."
"It's not as if they know what I'm digging for. They think I'm focused on what's happening with the minor regent clans."
Soi Fon nodded and watched as Itachi left. "I'm curious. What's happening with Captain Kenpachi? Yachiru wouldn't say." She asked before he walked out the door.
"… Who knows?"
She huffed in dissatisfaction at Itachi's answer as he left.
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[POV: With Byakuya Kuchiki]
The wind billowed as I did the final swing of my sword to end my short training session, taking a short appreciative breath as I witnessed the results of my efforts.
'You're strong, Byakuya. But this much is not enough.'
My teeth tightened as that particular memory resurfaced and once again as it did, a wave of doubt concerning my current capabilities washed over me.
"Splendid as always, Lord Byakuya." One of the elderly servants bowed in admiration but all that did was wedge the lump deeper into my throat.
'… this much is not enough.'
Subconsciously, I ended up agreeing with the words of my grandfather.
"Should I prepare the bath?"
I gave an affirmative grunt and he soon ushered the other servants to carry out the task.
"Anything new?"
I could feel him nodding behind me with his posture straightening with seriousness.
"As speculated, he seems to be interested in whatever it is that caused them to act up. Try as he might to act subtle, it is impossible to fool all our eyes."
I nodded but said nothing else. Like grandfather had said, despite his commendable prowess, Itachi Uchiha falls to the same vice that all geniuses do – tunnel vision. So focused on a target that he fails to see the larger frame. The same reason why someone like the traitor Aizen could fool him so spectacularly.
"Leave him be for now." Other than snooping, there was nothing else he could do.
…..
"Captain, that's the last of them." Someone reported.
"Casualty?"
"None, Captain."
"Good." The cold look marring my face gave him pause more than anything. Hollows popping up in the Rukongai in groups every now and then we're a usual occurrence but it with irregularity of their appearance that annoys me more than anything.
"The rest of you can go back. Tell the clan I'll be back in a few days." I could feel my impassive face melting off in relief as soon as they left.
"Finally some peace and quiet." The deep yawn practically filtered out most of the mental exhaustion.
"How does he keep up such a face for days on end?" I can see the usefulness of it, especially in a position like mine, but keeping it on for so long was exhausting to say the least.
The reason I told them to go without me was simple; the Soul Society, especially the clan, could be suffocating at times. Especially now that I am knee-deep in clan politics.
Lost walks like these were a much welcome guilty pleasure.
It was already nighttime, with me having spent more than a few hours doing blissful nothing when a scream for help disturbed this peaceful night's silence.
My eyes held disdain as I looked at the bunch of lowly thugs surrounding a hapless frail girl who from the look of things had stolen some of their things. Nothing viciously criminal, just a bunch of wraps – likely for the incoming cold season – and some sweets?
"Even animals have more honor than you herd of swines."
The thugs did what any sane lowlifes would do, run the moment they realized they were face to face with a Shinigami.
"T-thank you so much, sir." She stuttered.
"Think nothing of it."
I walked away but after thirty minutes of walking I could still sense her trudging behind with a moderate distance between us. I ignored it at first but after the two hours mark, one where I unknowingly slowed down just so she could keep up, I stopped entirely and waited for her to catch up. Cue her walking even more slowly.
"What do you want?" She jumped back in fright.
"Um, n-nothing, my lord."
She shrunk even further when I squinted my eyes at her due to how she referred to me.
"Then why are you following me?" She fell silent at that and refused to meet my eye, appearing even more suspicious as she did. "Well?"
"That's… I live in that direction."
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