"The more I am in this body. The less I understand who I really am."
Darwin worn the clothes given to him by Urahara. A set similar to Urahara's.
Darwin faintly hears echoes of the phantasm whispering, "King…"
What was the phantasm's purpose? What was its real goal?
Endless questions overwhelms his mind, causing him to be more lost than before.
So he got out of his ordinary room and head outside for a breather.
"These new emotions. It feels so surreal and unusual. But, its purpose is clear and I can use it to understand others."
Gazing to the stars, his mind slowly calms as he meditates with his surrounding.
Standing by a fence, Urahara subtly reveals himself bobbing his head down in mystery.
He smiles, "Are you having struggles coping with the human nature?"
Darwin still looking towards the same direction, he said, "I don't know."
"…"
"Is that so."
Drawing closer to Darwin, Urahara questions, "What do you seek in the human world?"
"…"
"Redemption. Empathy. And lastly, Identity."
"You really are becoming more human the more I talk to you."
Urahara chuckled, intrigue hinted at his laid back tone.
"Should I take that as a compliment?" Darwin chuckled as well.
The conversation grew more, easiness flowing gradually.
"What was your main goal when you were just a Hollow?"
"…"
"To get stronger. Strong enough to be able to hold my own against the strongest."
"Since we are here talking. Can't you tell me about the task you wanted me to do?"
"…"
The cold wind glides across the two, their eyes as calm as a lake.
Urahara breaking the silence and said, "To get stronger. Strong enough to move onto the second phase."
"I guess that is easy enough. I've been doing that my whole life." Darwin playfully mocks Urahara, making the mood even lighter.
In turn, this brought Urahara a new level of comfort, revealing a bit more of his giddy self.
"…"
"As someone as intellectual as you are. I assume you didn't say those words without purpose?" Darwin assumed.
"It's a pretty simple task. I'm just curious if you could obtain a Zanpakuto in your current state." Urahara swings his arms around Darwin's shoulder as he said those words.
"Zanpakuto?" Confused, Darwin questions with interest.
"It's a sword that embodies your soul, showcasing new powers derived from it."
Urahara then grabs a bottle of soju out of nowhere, gesturing it to Darwin.
"Let's toast to a potential friendship."
Darwin at ease, grabs the bottle firm, and takes a quick sip of it.
"Mmm…You have some fascinating ideas, Urahara."
The night seeps through. Then comes the blazing day with the sound of the bustling citizens, walking through the streets of Karakura.
Darwin sweeps the floor around the 'Candy store'.
Remembering what Urahara said, "Listen to Tessai. Help him run the store for the moment. I will come back by evening."
Darwin also remembers him doing a peace sign and sticking his tongue out with a goofy expression.
Darwin chuckles lightly, picturing Urahara's playful farewell.
The bell above the store's entrance jingles as a few children wander in, eyeing the colorful displays. Tessai stands behind the counter, radiating a calm yet imposing presence, as if daring anyone to misbehave.
"Keep sweeping. We want everything spotless," Tessai instructs with a low, authoritative tone.
Darwin nods, watching the children cautiously make their purchases before darting out of the store. A strange sense of normalcy settles over him—sweeping floors, greeting customers, and keeping things tidy.
'So this is what life in the Human World feels like,' he muses, absorbing the atmosphere.
Despite the simplicity of the task, Darwin can't shake the weight of unanswered questions lingering in his mind.
"I wonder what Harribel is doing at the moment," He laments over the eventful journey they had together.
—-
—[Urahara Kisuke's Candy Store:Underground Site]—
The air was rough within these grounds. The tension thickens as an unbelievable battle settles in.
"Hahaha! You are pretty decent at fighting." Yoruichi revealing her true form was fighting Harribel, causing rubbles and dust to brew about.
"You're not half bad yourself." Delivering a strong left kick. Yoruichi blocks and was pushed back quite far, stirring up the dirt in the process.
"It's been awhile seen I had an exhilarating battle with someone of your caliber." She smiled, her joy expressed fully with her intense actions.
Yoruichi flash steps, behind Harribel and initiates a spinning kick to her head.
Harribel quickly ducts, rotates her body, scraping the ground, and returns her own spinning kick attracting the wind with its deathly blow.
Yoruichi counters the attack by grabbing Harribel's shins, using that momentum to deliver a counter roundhouse kick. Harribel crossarmed blocks the attack, flying back in turn.
Harribel subtly smiles, thinking, "Let's continue this till one falls."
—-
During closing hours, Tessai approaches Darwin who was currently maintaining the store's stock, cleanliness and other maintenances.
"Darwin, may I have a moment with you please?" Tessai asked, shifting to a calmer tone.
"Yes?" Darwin glances back, noticing his shift to a friendly gaze.
"It's regarding to your Zanpakuto."
"Oh?"
"Follow me." Tessai leads Darwin to a sketchy back alley.
Placing his arms on his hips, Darwin asked thinking this instruction wasn't that difficult, "So what are we doing here?"
"Urahara is currently in a predicament."
"And what is that exactly?"
Tessai coughs in second hand embarrassment.
"He was permanently banned from Seiretei Academy. He tried sneakily steal one of the Asauchi."
"Hahaha! As expected of Urahara." Darwin chuckles to Urahara's thoughtful actions.
"So what do you want me to do?" Darwin notices a trend of requests happening when it comes to himself. He thought it would be the same for this conversation.
"You catch on quickly."
Feeling even more embarrassed, Tessai still tries to maintain his firm self.
"Help him deal with his situation. Or give the Academy a reason to hand over you an Asauchi."
Tessai coughs, the level of mischief of what Urahara did was apparent.
"And how exactly am I going to do that?" Feeling a massive headache coming to Darwin. He thought this situation wasn't that bad until he was brought into the picture.
'Am I going to Soul Society?!' Darwin thought, exhaustion seeping through.