>>38697868
Unfortunately, the evening doesn't last forever. When it's time for everyone to go home, Ren takes you aside for a bit and tells you not to push yourself. It seems that she's noticed how crappy you're feeling. That's a bit embarrassing. You tell her that you won't, and then go home with Kimiko.

You make sure to relay the situation to Kimiko. If what that Hollow said is true, then it'll be appearing again tonight. Who knows how many lives and innocent souls it will claim if nobody is there to stop it? Kimiko can disapprove of your choice, but she can't actually stop you. She didn't manage to convince you before, and she's certainly in no shape to physically prevent you from going.

You're not just doing her a favor as her substitute. When you took up the job, you've decided that you're in this to help people. Maybe she doesn't understand that. Maybe she still thinks you're only doing this to repay her for saving your life.

But this decision still needs to be made. It's not like her words lack a meaning to them, even if that meaning is highly selfish. If you die, Karakura will be in even deeper trouble. But the only alternative is potentially letting the innocent die for your sake.

...

>Go on the patrol.
>Rest for tomorrow.

>>38697886
>Go on the patrol.

>>38697886
>Go on the patrol.

>>38697886
Shit, dinner made me late!
>Go on the patrol.

>>38697886
>Go on the patrol.
Spooky skelly man got our wariness up

>>38697886
>Go on the patrol.

>>38697886
Voting over, writing!

>>38697907
>>38698038
When the time comes, you decide to go. As always, you leave Chappy in charge of your body, though the only thing it'll have to do is sleep.

"Are you going?" You ask Kimiko, and she begrudgingly nods. She follows after you as you hop out of the window, and the two of you set out.

The night is cold and quiet. While there is the occasional house with its lights turned on, most people have already gone to sleep. Karakura's streets are empty, devoid of beings both living and dead. It's almost surprising that this small town has as many Hollows roaming around as it does. Surely there are better cities to be hunting in, places where the death rate is much larger and more consistent than here?

Well, there does seem to be something going on behind the apparent scenes. Things are not as they should be, as Kimiko keeps telling you. Of course, you don't always understand what it means, as you don't know what the 'normal' is.

The girl is refusing to say a single thing. The two of you are walking through the streets in tense silence. You don't know what to say, and Kimiko doesn't want to talk to you, content with just looking at her cell phone. She's mad, but this is a pretty stupid reason to be mad at you for. You're doing her job. You're helping her out, and all you get as your reward are cold, wordless glares.

The Hollow hasn't appeared yet. It's too early to say that it won't come, as the night has just begun.

The half-moon hangs up above. The sky is black and lacking stars. Karakura is a small town, but its most populated areas are lit well enough to distort the night's beauty.

The tranquil quiet would have been pleasant if it wasn't for Kimiko. If she refuses to say anything, then you will.

...

>"Aren't you a Shinigami? Shouldn't you be the one dragging me by the neck into this shit, whether I want to or not?"
>"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea?"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>38698580
>"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea?"

>>38698580
>"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea?"
No badgering her about Shinigami stuff yet.

>>38698580
>"Aren't you a Shinigami? Shouldn't you be the one dragging me by the neck into this shit, whether I want to or not?"

>>38698580
>"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea?"

>>38698580
>"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea?"

On an unrelated note...
>The half-moon hangs up above.
>http://i.imgur.com/9EfByqR.png

>>38698580
Voting over, writing!

>>38698580
What's the deal with our tri sword ing does that mean we'd use the third one in purr mouth?!

>>38698788
I'm actually having a hard time figuring out what the hell is going on in that.

>>38698580
>"Alright, what the fuck is your problem exactly?"
Seriously. We've had a pretty fucking shit day between Yuuko, Naoko and the disappointing outing with our pals. Time to confront shit.

>>38698838
>Kubo
That's natural anon, don't worry.

>>38698838
When there's Aizen in the setting and the moon is in the sky, that means some serious shit is happening to further a certain someone's plan.

>>38698838
also, sorry I couldn't just post the image. My computer either stops, saying there's a connection error and I have to start over, or my captcha expired and I have to start over.

>>38698908
>>38698916
>Don't worry it's supposed to be a cluster fuck.
O-okay.

We really should confront Kimiko about whatever's up, it's not good to let it fester and it's already been long enough for her to have had a chance to get over it or talk to us about it on her own volition.

someone is running experiments on hollows and hollowfication. Intentionally quickening the process to study it's apocation to otherwise stable souls and modifying hollows so created to experiment on the scale and versatility of their innate powers. Our ability to draw three swords is likely tied to events that we are unaware of some sixteen to 100 years ago that we won't know about until much later...possibly tied to the real Aiko?

>>38699005
Sounds very possible, just a pity Clarissa knows and can do diddly-squat about it.
Seriously need Kimiko to get cooperative.

>>38699005
We just asked about the three sword thing. She can probably give us a run down of why we're doing that.

>>38699084
Maybe Aiko left a piece of herself with us. That we can mimic a Zanpakuto after having one shunted into us means we might be of Quincy or living Shinigami stock...if not both. So we could have the two swords tht aren't Kimiko's because one is our own and one is what Aiko's could have been?

>>38698605
>>38698659
"I still don't know what having three swords is about. Do you have an idea? Is that normal?" You ask, grasping the blue hilt of your third sword.

The answer is silence. You grimace, but keep waiting for it. After some wait, and with a lot of hesitation, Kimiko finally says something.

"I don't know. I have a theory, but it might be wrong." Is her response. She sighs and refuses to face you. The tone of her voice is clearly meant to indicate that she's still displeased. It's quickly getting on your nerves. Maybe you shouldn't have even asked.

"What is it?" You reply to her lackluster answer. It came out somewhat irritated, but hopefully, she hasn't noticed.

"Perhaps you are a dual wielder. It's rare, but it's possible for Shinigami to have two swords instead of one. For example, I'm aware of at least two notable people with their Zanpakuto in a pair," She crosses her arms as she continues the explanation. "I think that you haven't received the swords you should have had because of the way you came to be a Shinigami. Maybe a mishap of some kind occurred, and you ended up wielding only one sword instead of the two you were supposed to have."

"But I have three swords, not two. How am I even supposed to use that many in battle?" You ask, and Kimiko nods. She's probably aware of the contradiction in her theory.

"The second sword you had, the one you broke while fighting that Quincy, is mine. Obviously, you're not supposed to have it. A Shinigami's Zanpakuto is a unique thing that's shaped by their souls. There simply cannot be a duplicate. I think you drew that sword because you had my spiritual power in you. The third sword you drew is the one you were supposed to have in the first place. The first sword is yours as well, the sister sword to your third," Kimiko then shrugs, concluding her explanation. "At least, that's what I think."

(1/2)

>>38699487
But you're not sure about this. She's wrong on several points, or, at the very least, you believe that she is.

First of all, you remember the first and third sword quite well. They look nothing alike, and their size and forms do not suggest in the slightest that they are meant to be used as a pair. If you tried to, you'd probably cut yourself on accident. It's simply unwieldy and impractical.

And the second is that... all of them are your swords. Kimiko is wrong in claiming one of them as her own. You're not sure why, but that's what you feel. All of the swords you drew out so far are yours. You can neither explain it nor prove it, though. Bringing something like that up would probably paint you as a fool. And what does it matter, anyway? What could this sense of ownership possibly mean or change? It's probably unimportant.

The contemplation and theory crafting is interrupted by a distinct beep from Kimiko's phone.

"It's here." She says, eyes already darting around in search of the optimal path. The two of you are stuck on the ground, forced to move at a human pace. Your Shinigami form lacks the usual power in it, but you'll need to make do. "Clarissa. If you try anything rash, you'll die."

Kimiko gives you a warning, though it comes off as cold and uncaring. You nod, though. She's probably right.

...

It takes several minutes to get to your destination. The cloaked man is up in the air, hovering in front of an open apartment window on the seventh floor. You and Kimiko hide behind a corner. Upon closer inspection, the Hollow's skull is replaced by an all too human head. It seems to be talking, most likely with the owner of the apartment.

Wait a second. Isn't that Ren's house?

...

>Attack while you have the chance.
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.
>Attract its attention.

>>38699520
>Attack while you have the chance.
Yeah it might be luring her into killing herself or something.

>>38699520
Ssssssshit.
>Attract its attention.
At first.

>>38699520
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.

>>38699520
>>Attack while you have the chance.
Do it.

>>38699520
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.
Kimiko is pissing me off.

>>38699520
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.

>>38699520
>Attack while you have the chance.

>>38699520
>Attract its attention.
Let's get in its face.

>>38699520
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.

>>38699520
>Listen in, try to figure out what it's doing.

>>38699520
Voting over, writing!

>>38699778
>>38699785
Finally some tie-breaking.
Now to hope that's not too slow.

Going slow better not get Ren hurt.
And yeah I know being hasty could do that too. Just, goddammit.

>>38699561
>>38699583
"What's it saying?" You whisper and squint your eyes, as if that would somehow improve your hearing.

"Let's get closer." Kimiko says, quickly and yet quietly making her way to a nearer corner. You follow her, hoping that the Hollow won't notice you.

It doesn't seem to. It continues talking.

"...-I truly regret not spending more time with you, my dear niece. Every single day I thought about visiting you and my sister, and every single day I forced myself to put those thoughts aside. But how cruel of a mistress fate turned out to be, and how unfortunate and foolish of a man I was, neglecting my beloved family for the sake of a thankless career. A den of venomous vipers, and I tried to be one of them. And for what? For nothing, as it turned out," The Hollow sighs, apparently lamenting its life. "But, at the very least... I get to see you again. I get to speak with you again, my sweet little Ren. And now that I know the true torments of loneliness, I shall never abandon your side. And you shall never abandon mine."

You hear Ren's voice as well, but you can't make out what she's saying. The cloaked man flies into the apartment like a lick of black flames.

Next comes a shriek. It starts and ends, only to begin again, but as a spirit's voiceless cry.

You are already running, your sword drawn. The height is of no detriment, as you make your way up on the air as if it were solid ground. You rush in through the open window, blade and fury wielded to defend a loved one.

Ren's soul has been separated from her body, which lifelessly lies on the ground. The extracted spirit is writhing in agony. The Chain of Fate connecting the girl to her body is still present, and yet the monster is grasping it with one of its bare-boned limbs. It quickly corrodes away as the black flames of its cloak caress the steel.

(1/3)

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>>38700627
The Hollow notices your approach, mainly because you didn't hide it. The sluggishness of your actions is already too constricting to allow for any kind of stealth, and you simply don't have the time for it. You swing your weapon at the back of its pale skull, but it leaps away. Your sword cuts only through the cloak, but it doesn't look like the Hollow is harmed. There is no body hidden underneath, like you expected there to be. This means that the only apparent target is its head. It's not a big target, especially when compared to the likes of Clay Bone, but you can still do it. The real question is whether or not you can cut through the bone with your meager strength.

The Hollow flees. You follow after it. It is not quick enough to escape even your weakened self, or perhaps it is simply not trying to. Once you're outside of the restricting walls and ceilings of the apartment building and up in the sky, the battle begins.

You can't afford to go on the offensive the way you are now, so you take it easy. Whenever the monster tries to lunge at you, you swing your sword at its skull. Its arms are not long enough to grasp your black robes, and its cloak does not reach your body. There is something about that thing that's making you wary of touching it. Rather than its skeletal hands, it felt like it was the fabric that was rusting the metal. It does not do anything to your sword, but the blade never remains in contact for longer than a moment.

When it leaps at you, you swing. When you swing, it jumps back. When you charge, it threatens to grab you. It's a locked cycle. Being so high up in the air removes any potential benefits of terrain, meaning that you can't get smart.

With both sides possessing a clear mind and lacking power, the battle approaches a stalemate. Neither you nor it can attack without getting struck down in return.

(2/3)

>>38700649
Perhaps realizing that, the Hollow sighs in resignation.

"It seems that this isn't going anywhere. How unfortunate. I was hoping to dine on both you and my cute little niece tonight. I'll be taking my leave, Shinigami. Farewell, and until next time."

Tearing reality asunder with its fingers, it prepares to take its leave. You can feel the non-existent eyes warily watching over you as it slowly and carefully tries to depart.

...

>Charge and try to kill it.
>Let it go. It's too risky.

>>38700674
>Charge and try to kill it.
WHAT THE FUCK

>>38700627
Well that was a terrible choice.
>>38700674
>Charge and try to kill it.

>>38700674
>Charge and try to kill it.
Shit and here I thought we'd learn something.

>>38700674
I can't remember shit about Bleach and the update wasn't very clear, is Ren full-on dead already, saveable by beating up this guy (at least 'can go to soul society' saveable), or did he leave her behind when we interrupted and beating him up will make no difference to her health?

>>38700771
It looks like we fucked up and she's dead dead.
>The Chain of Fate connecting the girl to her body is still present, and yet the monster is grasping it with one of its bare-boned limbs. It quickly corrodes away as the black flames of its cloak caress the steel.

That implies the chain is broken. If it's not I totally want to change my vote here >>38700698
to shoving her back into her body.

>>38700674
>Charge and try to kill it.

>>38700674
I'd actually like to elaborate, because this is a big deal and I've made a bit of a mistake!

>It quickly corrodes away

Should instead be

>It is quickly corroding away

Sorry for that! Voting extended for ten more minutes!

>>38700674
>>38700698
>>38700813
With the new info these votes are swapped to -

>Let it go. It's too risky.
- Try to save her life!

>>38700880
Oh I see, so it's not severed yet then since he had to jump away?
Switching >>38700868 to
>Let it go. It's too risky.
Let's check up on her.

>>38700674
>Let it go. It's too risky.
See if we can help Ren first.

>>38700674
>>38700763
Change to>Let it go. It's too risky.
Try to save her etc

>>38700893
When I say these votes I mean I'm both of those and I want the whole >Let it go. It's too risky

Save her. Not that I was trying to vote twice.

>>38700674
>Let it go. It's too risky.

>>38700674
>Let it go. It's too risky.
So, how do we protect Ren from now on exactly? If we can even restore her.
How annoying. Also, scary and terrible. Bust mostly annoying.

>>38701026
Maybe Hollow Repellant is a thing?

It's unclear just how strong Phantomas really is, despite his humanoid appearance we may be able to defeat him while we're rested up.

>>38700880
Voting over, writing!

>>38701065
>spray on any surface, and hollows will stay far away!
Would definitely be convenient!

Shit, I guess best case scenario, Ren knows about the spirit world and shit now, huh.

Let's hope for that, anons.

>>38701150
Nah, this happened to Orihime in canon Bleach, except Ichigo was able to finish the job. They were able to put the soul back into her body and then gave her false memories.

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>>38701117
"Now we're selling a plus version!"
"What's the plus?"
"Vitamin C"

>>38701532
Let's hope for that then.

>>38701532
So we can probably save her then?

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still, corrosion on Ren's chain of fate. Her soul, and it's core anchor point will have been touched and scarred by Hollow Rietsu. You know what this eventually means unless you are unspoiled anon.

>>38701689
Nah you or someone else explained that awhile back. Bitchn' laser gloves or some such.

>>38700904
>>38700980
You let it leave this world. You were ready for it to lunge at you at the very last moment, once you let your guard down. Or maybe it was trying to lure you into attacking. Nevertheless, it leaves without a further struggle.

There are bigger concerns right now. Once you're certain that it has left, you sprint back into the apartment where this all began, effortlessly phasing through the walls in your way. It still feels strange to do no matter how many times you experience this, but that's only to be expected.

Kimiko is already there. She's inspecting the rusted chain still connecting the two separate bodies of a single person. Ren has fainted, periodically twitching and softly groaning in what appears to be pain. The Shinigami looks worried.

"The chain is attached, so it should be easy to heal her... and yet it's still degrading..." She bites her lower lip and sets the chain down, putting a hand to her chin in contemplation.

"Can you fix it? Is she going to be okay, Kimiko?" You ask, though she shakes her head.

"We can't put her soul back in like this. There's no telling what would happen," She seems to conclude after a short pause. She keeps her voice down to hushed whispers. "I don't know how to help her, but... I know someone who might."

"Well, the fuck are you waiting for, then? Lead the way!" You don't bother to be quiet - nobody can hear you, anyway. You haul Ren's physical body onto your shoulders, and the small Kimiko lifts up her spirit, groaning under the weight. "Are you okay?" You ask, and she shakes her head with gritted teeth. The spiritual body won't make any noise, so she settles on simply dragging it around instead. Well... it's your only choice, it seems.

It's a mess, but you manage to get her out of the apartment. Kimiko warned you against moving too far away because the chain might snap, so you had to keep yourself at her slow pace.

Needless to say, this is highly frustrating. Hopefully, nobody's seen you.

(1/2)

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>>38701877
Fullbring

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>>38702048
She leads you to god knows where, and she can't give you much of a coherent answer to your persistent questions as she struggles with her burden. You arrive in front of a small house of some kind, probably a shop, though it's too dark to read the large sign plastered above its entrance. Kimiko knocks on the door. It's past midnight and all the lights inside are off, so what makes her think that this place is still open?

To your surprise, a young girl slides the doors aside after a brief delay.

"Good evening. Is the manager around? We've got a situation here. Please tell him that it's urgent. And that we have money." Kimiko says. The girl politely nods and steps in to help carry Ren inside. She turns on the lights and then enters a room, leaving you to sit around in wait.

"What is this place? Is that... candy? I've never heard of this place before. Looks shady as hell." You look around the interior, though it's plain and largely uninteresting. Kimiko doesn't explain anything, hushing you and telling you to wait. It seems that she's quite nervous.

But it's taking a while. At least five minutes have passed, and yet that girl still hasn't left the room...

...Which, by the way, says "Enter and die."

...

>Enter the room.
>Keep waiting.

>>38702072
>>Keep waiting.

Oh this should be good.

>>38702072
>Enter the room.

>>38702072
>Enter the room.
We ain't scared!

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>>38702072
>Enter the room

...fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck

...nemu. Why is Nemu here? What the fuck?!

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Wait...if events unfolded with Mayuri being the one in exile...then Kon might be here in a body and his hands would have been involved in our as yet unknown origin...

OH FUCK! WE'RE A ZANPAKUTO SPITTING SOUL MACHINE!?

>>38702072
>Keep waiting.
Everything is fine.

>>38702111
On the other hand, Mayuri's face is a gift to the internet.
And he'll definitely fix her, but he'll probably put in some nanobot spies at the same time or do something crazy from studying her later.

>>38702072
>Enter the room

>>38702072
>Keep waiting.
I'm not feeling suicidal today.

>>38702072
>Enter the room.

>>38702072
Voting over, writing!

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>>38702329

>>38702216
It's just a sign in a store. I doubt it's literal.

>>38702502
But I know we wrote it, and I know they mean what they wrote or will carry out something worse.

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>>38702539
Would we defy the logic of that sign?

I quite like defying logic.

>>38702606
Dude is nuts. Chick is stacked though. I guess if bleach has one thing it's attractive women.

>>38702635
You know, that body is entirely customizable

>>38702648
That's a nifty ability...

>>38702702
Nemu Kurotsuchi. Daughter of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. In canon she is the Vice Captain of Squad 12, which is also the Shinigami Research Institute. She is a creation, a combination of the cutting edge in Gigai (false body) and Ginkogan (artificial soul) technology. Evidence suggest that she is capable of making her own choices and forming her own decisions. While possessing an almost entirely neutral personality, she hasn't exhibited inherent powers of enhanced ginkogan (called Mod Souls). It is unknown if she is a modified artificial soul or merely one who was not assigned a personality and left to develop on her own beneath her creator's tutelage.

>>38702832
That's kinda disturbing.

>>38702635
They're all so damned short though. Yoruichi, for example, is only 5'2".

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>>38702989
Isane a cute

>>38702989
Doesn't surprise me man. I remember thinking Nightmare from soul caliber was huge. Then I read his stats and he was like 5'6. Realized japs are tiny.

>>38702953
Oh, we have only scratched the surface of disturbing. So much disturbing.

Also of note: Nemu also possesses a Zanpakuto. As of yet we have never seen her initial or secondary release. In canon she has been used as a decoy by her father, who stabbed through her to reach a target. She has been targetted by a horrific super hollow who made himself reborn from her body in horrific fashion when Mayuri killed his main body, this left her a desiccated husk until Mayuri restored her in a manner that left readers and in story characters to assume it involved something sexual in nature.

Unspoiled anon. Do not watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9CVFljPnOo

>>38703213
>"What? Everything I do is family friendly. You just have a dirty mind."

>>38703039
She's actually my height, and towers over damn near everyone else in the setting.

Well, to be fair: the females in the setting. All the men are pretty decently sized. Like Ukitake is over 6'.

>>38703502
How tall is she? I'm 6'1 and I think I'd make everyone in the show look like midgets.

>>38703527
She's 6'1" and a little, not quite 6'2".

>>38703558
Everyone on bleach is hilariously short.

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>>38702106
>>38702110
"What's taking her so long? We don't have time! Ren's in danger, she needs help right now, damn it!" You spring up to your feet and walk up to the door. Kimiko doesn't protest with anything but a wide eyed stare. She looks terrified enough to make you hesitate for a moment, but you grasp the door handle and push it down, regardless. Slowly, you open the door, taking a meek look inside.

The room is riddled with wires and lit by pale blue lights of computer screens. A large chair is placed on the other side of the room before a massive monitor. A man sits in the chair, the girl from before standing by his side.

"Uh... hello?" You call out, though you receive no response. "Hey, I'm, uh, the Substitute Shinigami. Are you the guy who can help? We need you to-..."

"Are you a student here?" The man suddenly asks. You tell him that you are. "How many fingers am I showing?" He lifts three fingers of his right hand.

"Three. Look, someone really needs your help out there, so-..."

"You understand japanese, you can't be an illiterate student, and you're not blind since you could count my fingers. I believe we've run out of excuses." The man with a bizarrely painted face and strange objects protruding out of his head stands up from his chair. He draws his sword and quietly lunges at you, the streaking blade trying to cut your torso in half. With a yelp, you leap back. The man steps forward and keeps slashing. He's really trying to kill you.

"W-w-what the fuck are you doing, you psycho?!" You drop on the ground, crawling away. The next strike tries to decapitate you, but you lower your head and it cuts one of the shelves instead. As its contents - countless spherical candies in all sorts of colors - spill over your face, you can hear the man's voice. His attempts to murder you have temporarily ceased.

(1/3)

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>>38703805
"It's you again, you body snatching vixen. Is this your mutt? You'll be bearing responsibility if it is." He says to Kimiko, keeping the tip of his sword aimed at you. Other than shivering a little bit, you don't move.

"Well... that girl is a foreigner, so she doesn't know all the kanji, so please don't blame her. And, well, you know how foreigners are - they're all dangerously dumb and curious. A-and, I mean, just look at her! There's no way someone like her could be smart..." Kimiko fires away nervous sounding excuses. "Well, uh, we're here because we need your help. W-we have money, and it's urgent. So please don't kill us while we are still your customers. W-we can still be useful to you." Kimiko replies in a voice that's desperately trying to sound composed and yet failing quite remarkably. The swordsman scoffs.

"There's not even any kanji on that sign, you buffoon. 'Urgent', you say. Why should I care about your 'urgent'? Is your 'urgent' a reason to interrupt and disturb me me?! My time is more urgent than the death of all your loved ones could possibly ever be! Barging into my laboratory and claiming that it's something urgent! I should just kill you, you worthless pieces of trash! Interrupting my research and not even begging on your knees for an apology!" He screams. The blade on your neck is set aside, though. "...But I suppose since this is the first time, I'll let it slide if you pay me triple," He glances over the slashed shelf. "And for the property damage you have caused with your foolish actions."

"I will." Kimiko nods. The man steps away from you, and you crawl back to Kimiko, standing up.

"Nemu, carry that girl into my office." He commands, and the young woman nods.

"I-I'll help." You say, approaching Ren's body.

"A thing I made doesn't need your help! Stay quiet and know your place!" The man shrieks. You obediently step back to where you were, gulping nervously.

(2/3)

>>38703862
"Don't bother him, Clarissa. Just... don't say anything, don't do anything. You've messed it up already, and I'm sure that he'll kill you if you ever come here again," Kimiko tells you, and, once the man loudly slams the door behind him to a close, adds something. "By the way, I don't have enough money to pay him. You should run and bring more."

"Where the fuck am I going to get that from?"

"Paul has the money, doesn't he? Just go home and take it! You're invisible! Our lives are at stake here, just do it!"

An argument of hushed, hissing whispers breaks out, but Kimiko eventually wins. You end up running back home and finding the poorly hidden stash left by your father to Paul for housekeeping related expenditures. It feels awful to be stealing from your own brother, but it didn't look like Kimiko was joking around. That madman will probably actually kill you if you don't pay him.

When you return, the lights are out. The Shinigami you are a substitute for is sitting in the corner, waiting. You sit by her side. After you settle on the money problem, everything goes silent again. You can't really tell if she's nervous or still mad at you.

...

>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"
>"Are you worried about Ren?"
>"I still don't get why you're so pissed at me."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>38703910
>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"

>>38703910
>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"

And this, dear Anons, is why you always listen to his signs.

>>38703910
>"Are you worried about Ren?"

>>38703910
>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"
>"Are you worried about Ren?"

>>38703910
Why oh why did you absolute idiots vote to enter the room? I'm especially talking to the idiots who knew it was Mayuri?

Like that's just willful stupidity.

>>38703910
>Just sit in silence for now.

>>38703910
Just be quiet and reflect upon your stupidity.

>>38703910
>Who the fuck was that What the fuck is this place

>>38703910
>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"
>"Are you worried about Ren?"

>>38703976
>>38704076
Why would she be worried about Ren? If anything she's worried about herself because we just antagonized the psychopath.

>>38703910
>"I still don't get why you're so pissed at me."
>"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"

>>38704105
Because more shit happening to living mortals in an area where she's ostensibly in charge is Bad News for her when higher-ups find out?
I mean, it's bad enough when it's just the souls of the recently deceased that are compromised.

>>38703910
Voting over, writing!

>>38703921
>>38703952
"Who the fuck was that? What the fuck is this place?"

"This is the Kurotsuchi shop. That was its owner, the exiled 12th Division ex-Captain, Kurotsuchi Mayuri." She explains. None of that actually means anything to you, though.

"Division? Captain? What the fuck are you-..?"

"Don't dwell on it too much. Just know that he used to be one of the most important people in Soul Society, and that he is one of the most powerful and dangerous people in the world."

"Why was he exiled?" While you're not certain that he'll be able to hear you over the closed door, you still keep the conversation to quiet whispers. Just in case.

"For nearly destroying Soul Society with a botched experiment. I think it was something to do with the Quincy, but it's not talked about much. He was only exiled because he solved the problem, but... the damage was done."

"Alright, so he's a dangerous scumbag. And what is he doing here, in Karakura? Why is he running a shitty shop?"

"I believe he's trying to save enough money to open a better store. Well, other than that, he's hiding, and... and researching. He's a scientist, that's what he always does. And other than that... he helps the local Shinigami and spiritually aware people with his wares. I bought Chappy and the rest of my equipment from him. His prices are cheaper and he delivers his wares quicker than ordering directly from Soul Society..."

"He nearly fucking killed me on a whim. He kept threatening me and you over nothing. That guy's a hazard. You're just going to let him be?"

"He's not actually... causing that much trouble." That sentence comes out with some hesitation, as if she's struggling to come up with reasons to justify it. After an awkward pause, she adds. "Well, getting rid of him would take too many resources..."

"Ah, well, there we go."

"Shut up. If he wasn't here, Ren would have been done for, you know."

Another pause.

(1/2)

>>38704941
"You think she'll be okay?" You ask. Kimiko shrugs.

"If she doesn't, we'll probably still have to pay..." She lets out an unconvincing chuckle. You don't feel amused by her joke. A silence rises again. The tense wait continues deeper into the night.

...

File: return the slab.png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>38704967
Thread's over for tonight, it's getting late for me!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any feedback or questions, please shoot them my way! And rate my speed!

Thanks for reading!

>>38705014
Thanks for running dude.

>>38705014
Thanks for running! Wish we could have confronted Kimiko about stuff, but a good opportunity never really came up.

>>38705014
Thanks for running.

>>38705014

Is Mayuri concerned with the Rapid Hollowfication happening in the city? Surely he noticed it.

>>38705121
He might be causing it.

>>38705307
but why?

...oh, right. Nevermind.