On the other hand, Ginrei Kuchiki was also grieving. Because the son-in-law he found for his daughter was more powerful than he had anticipated, causing his daughter's life to be nearing its end.
After losing his son, Ginrei Kuchiki would once again experience the pain of losing his daughter. Once a soul starts weakening, it becomes irreversible like a leaking barrel. Even if Ailin stayed far away from Haruko Kuchiki from now on, she would still die in another ten or so years.
So between a few years and over ten years, Haruko Kuchiki chose the former. More importantly, during these few years while her body could still move, Haruko Kuchiki wanted to leave behind an offspring for Ailin. Unfortunately, she had been unable to accomplish that desire so far.
"Who said our Haruko is useless?"
Ailin laughed as he lightly flicked Haruko Kuchiki's nose: "You know how boring a Shinigami's work is, Haruko. Waking up every morning to see you puts me in a good mood for the day. Coming back to see you also alleviates my exhaustion from the day..."
Amidst Ailin's gentle whispers, a blissful smile emerged on Haruko Kuchiki's face. To be acquainted with Ailin, to understand him, to be with him, it really was too wonderful...
After calming Haruko Kuchiki to sleep, Ailin went to find Ginrei Kuchiki.
"Father-in-law."
"Mm, you saw Haruko?"
Ailin nodded, a trace of self-reproach flashing through his eyes: "I saw her. Haruko's condition is worse than I had anticipated."
If only he had discovered Haruko's problems earlier...
Ever since Captain Unohana said those words of suggestion, Ailin had never continued forging any more weapons. Yet Haruko Kuchiki's condition still continued worsening.
"Sigh..."
Ginrei Kuchiki let out a sigh. That was his daughter. When it came to grief, he wouldn't feel any less than Ailin.
"Since you didn't stay by Haruko's side and came here to find me instead, is there something?" After a period of silence, Ginrei Kuchiki collected himself before asking Ailin.
"Mm, Captain Yoruichi wants me to assist her in carrying out a mission in the living world. I'm thinking of using this chance for Haruko to recuperate. So I agreed. These next few days, whether it's Haruko or the 6th Division matters, I'll have to trouble Father-in-law to keep watch."
"Mn, I understand."
After bowing to Ginrei Kuchiki, Ailin exited the room. Giving one last look towards Haruko Kuchiki's direction, he flash stepped away from the Kuchiki residence.
***
"Sorry for making you wait so long, Captain Yoruichi, Captain Ukitake."
When Ailin hurried to the training grounds of the 2nd Division, the Shinigamis of both the 2nd and 13th Divisions had long been waiting here.
"Hahaha, we didn't wait for long either."
"Since Captain Ailin is here, let's set out now."
Although both were captains, because each Division had their own responsibilities, under normal situations, captains wouldn't interact much with one another unless they had an exceptionally close private relationship.
Ailin and Jūshirō Ukitake weren't very familiar with each other, so after giving Ailin a smiling nod in greeting, Jūshirō Ukitake immediately ordered the Shinigamis under him to prepare the Senkaimon.
"Yes, Captain Ukitake!"
The two Shinigamis pressed their hands to the ground, channeling their Reiryoku into the earth. Instantly, a tightly shut wooden gate emerged between the two, and when the gate fully condensed, it split open to both sides, revealing a passageway emitting white radiance.
This was the spatial passageway to the living world from Soul Society — the Senkaimon!
On the surface, the Senkaimon passages from Soul Society to the living world were controlled by the SRDI (Shinigami Research and Development Institute) of the 12th Division. All Shinigamis who wanted to go to the living world needed permission from the Captain Commander, and only then would SRDI members open the Senkaimon for them.
Additionally, the "Reiatsu Limiter Seal" would be placed on all who held Vice Captain or higher positions, preventing the powerful Reiatsu pressures of Vice Captain level Shinigamis and above from oppressing living world human souls.
Of course, secretly, many nobles also possessed passages from Soul Society to the living world through personal Senkaimon.
And by entering the living world through the Senkaimon they controlled, there wouldn't be any limiter seals placed on them.
Unlike the souls of Soul Society who only had souls left without physical bodies, the people of the living world still had flesh bodies protecting their souls. Under long term oppression by powerful Reiatsu, some humans would give birth to Reiryoku.
For the souls of Soul Society, possessing Reiryoku was a good thing since it was the most basic requirement for becoming a Shinigami. But for living world humans, having Reiryoku was instead their nightmare.
Possessing Reiryoku allowed them to see "spirits" invisible to ordinary people, greatly disturbing their lives.
At the same time, Hollows from Hueco Mundo that entered the living world loved feasting on souls with Reiryoku the most.
Although Shinigamis were also stationed around the living world, they couldn't possibly come save someone every time. Could they protect a person for their entire life?
Being able to see terror yet lacking the power to resist was undoubtedly the most tragic thing.
Since they were going to exterminate Quincy remnants of the Empire of Light this time, Ailin and the others hadn't been restricted by Reiatsu Limiter Seals.
Led by Captain Ukitake, Yoruichi and Ailin followed after him successively. The rest of the Shinigamis also followed closely as they entered the Senkaimon.
***
"So this is the living world?"
Without any outside interference, the stability of Soul Society's Senkaimon was still rather dependable. At the very least, the group hadn't encountered any "lost-way incidents" and the like while traversing through space.
After stepping out of the Senkaimon passage, Ailin felt the living world's Reishi density was inferior to Soul Society's by several levels.
That also meant consuming more personal Reiryoku and requiring longer recovery times to display the same level of power in the living world compared to in Soul Society.
The place Ailin's group appeared at was a deep mountain forest completely absent of human activity even for ten square kilometers.
On the other side after coming out, Yoruichi winked at Ailin. Ailin subtly nodded back before walking towards Captain Ukitake.
"Captain Ukitake, this is my first time in the living world. Is there anything we need to pay attention to?"
After Ailin attracted Captain Ukitake's attention away, Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara had already disappeared at some unknown point. Only Shaolin Fon with the Vice Captain armband on her right arm remained as she continuously issued orders for the 2nd Division Shinigamis to advance along the trail left behind by the Intelligence Unit.
Through communicating with Captain Ukitake, Ailin also learned about some situations of the current living world.
Among the Thirteen Divisions protecting Seireitei, the 13th Division was the purification force mainly responsible for guiding lingering souls in the living world to Soul Society for reincarnation while also slaying Hollows from Hueco Mundo that entered the living world to devour souls.
In terms of understanding the living world, no Division surpassed the 13th. The current age's living world was filled with wars everywhere, forcing people to live in peril day after day. This gave birth to many Hollows harboring intense malice.
Under such circumstances, the Shinigamis of the 13th Division stationed around the living world were completely overwhelmed, even suffering considerable casualties.