At the sa ti, in a hidden secret room within the Kasumioji Residence, not too far from Rurichiyo's room.
Kumoi sat with a gloomy expression, looking at the masked man in black kneeling before him.
"Hmph, useless! This ti, I personally intervened to hold off those two, Kenryu and Enryu, creating an opportunity for you. I never expected you, a useless fool, to still fail to kill that little girl!"
Kumoi scolded harshly.
The masked man in black quickly explained: "Kumoi-sama, this ti it really wasn't due to this subordinate's incompetence. The plan was proceeding smoothly, but just as that rabid gorilla was about to kill Kasumioji Rurichiyo, soone suddenly saved her."
"Soone saved her? Who?"
Kumoi asked.
"It was... it was the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 10th Division, Hitsugaya Toshiro!"
The man in black trembled all over.
Even now, recalling the glance Toshiro had cast his way, the man in black couldn't help but feel fear in his heart.
"What! Hitsugaya Toshiro!"
Kumoi's expression turned ugly.
"Could it be that little girl already knows Hitsugaya Toshiro? If that's the case... then it's troubleso..."
Kumoi said, full of dread.
If it were any other ti, Kumoi wouldn't care too much about Toshiro.
After all, back when Yamamoto's disciple, Kisaragi Shin'etsu, infiltrated the Kasumioji Residence to investigate the Bakkoto situation, Kumoi, in a deranged manner, used the Bakkoto to control him and sent him to assassinate Yamamoto.
If he dared to assassinate Yamamoto, then Toshiro shouldn't be a problem. But the current situation was different from back then.
At that ti, Kumoi held power in the Kasumioji Clan, and using the family's na, he persuaded the Central 46 to intervene. The Central 46, citing the Kasumioji Clan's extraterritoriality, refused to let Yamamoto continue his investigation.
So Kumoi didn't care too much about Yamamoto, because he couldn't do anything to him.
But the situation was now different. Because the Central 46 had been slaughtered by Aizen, a new one had not yet been elected. So the most powerful people in the Soul Society were Yamamoto and Toshiro, with no one to check them.
Kumoi frowned deeply in thought: "Yamamoto is too pedantic, and without evidence, he won't act rashly..."
"But the biggest problem is actually the Vice-Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Hitsugaya Toshiro..."
"Hitsugaya Toshiro is not as pedantic as Yamamoto. His attitude towards handling matters has always been tough. Back when he first beca Vice-Captain-Commander, he dared to directly confront the Central 46. He could be said to be a representative of the 'hawkish faction' within the Gotei 13."
"If he finds out about the Bakkoto and the Kasumioji Clan's affairs, it's not impossible that he would directly lead people into the Kasumioji Residence and forcibly search it. But coincidentally, at this ti, the Central 46..."
Thinking of this, Kumoi frowned even deeper.
"Th-That, Kumoi-sama, Kasumioji Rurichiyo and Hitsugaya Toshiro probably didn't know each other before."
The masked man in black suddenly said.
"Oh? What exactly happened? Tell truthfully."
Kumoi said in a deep voice.
"Yes, Kumoi-sama. At that ti, I was hiding behind a wall not far from Kasumioji Rurichiyo, and I overheard so of her conversation with Hitsugaya Toshiro."
"Based on the content of their conversation, Hitsugaya Toshiro didn't know Kasumioji Rurichiyo before. He was probably just passing by at the ti, and didn't specifically go to save her."
"That little girl, Rurichiyo, initiated approached and spoke to Hitsugaya Toshiro. So Hitsugaya Toshiro probably doesn't know about our affairs yet."
The masked man in black explained.
"Is that so? I see. If that's the case, then Hitsugaya Toshiro probably indeed doesn't know about our affairs. But to be on the safe side..."
"That little girl Rurichiyo should be eliminated as soon as possible!"
"Otherwise, if Hitsugaya Toshiro learns sothing through her, it will be bad."
Although, judging by the situation, Toshiro probably didn't know about their plans, to avoid any further interaction between Kasumioji Rurichiyo and Hitsugaya Toshiro, it was best to eliminate her quickly.
Of course, the main reason was that Kumoi had lost patience and was eager to officially take over the Kasumioji Clan.
Although he already completely controlled the power of the Kasumioji Clan, and Rurichiyo was just a puppet, even so, he was not satisfied.
What Kumoi wanted was for the Kasumioji Clan to be his, both nominally and substantially.
And as Rurichiyo gradually grew up, nominally, Kumoi was obliged to return the power of the Kasumioji Clan to her.
But this was obviously unacceptable to Kumoi, so killing Rurichiyo was also an inevitable choice for him.
"You may go."
Kumoi instructed the man in black.
"Yes..."
The man in black hesitated for a mont, looking at Kumoi, wanting to say sothing, but ultimately said nothing and silently walked out.
Actually, what the man in black wanted to say was that Toshiro might have already discovered him at the ti, and therefore might know that the gorilla's rampage wasn't an accident, but a preditated murder attempt on Rurichiyo.
But the man in black was afraid that if he spoke, Kumoi would kill him to silence him.
Although Toshiro had only possibly discovered him, he knew that even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance, Kumoi would not spare him, who had already been exposed.
So he ultimately chose silence.
10th Division, Captain's Office.
Rangiku leaned lonely and forlornly against the wall, recalling how, before defecting, Gin had turned back with a smile, a bitter expression on his face as he said "I'm sorry" to her, and then left the Soul Society with Aizen.
"You're always like this, leaving without a word, suddenly disappearing from my side..."
"I hate you most for this..."
"You foolish guy."
Rangiku murmured plaintively to herself.
"Who are you talking about?"
A voice suddenly ca from behind Rangiku.
"Waaaah—!!"
The sudden voice startled Rangiku so much she jumped.
Then Rangiku turned around and saw that the person who had suddenly appeared was Toshiro.
"Wha... what, i-it's just you, Captain. You really scared to death... My chest almost jumped out..."
Rangiku patted her ample chest, covered in cold sweat.
Watching Rangiku's chest heave like stormy waves as she patted it, Toshiro couldn't help but say speechlessly, "Were you scared? It was already popping out anyway."
"Captain, you're back? Are your injuries healed?"
Rangiku asked with concern.
"Well, at least you have a conscience, still caring about your Captain. But I've been healed for a long ti. Hana-chan just insisted I rest a few more days. Otherwise, I would have been back long ago."
Toshiro plopped down on his Captain's throne.
"Oh? 'Hana-chan'? Calling Captain Unohana 'Hana-chan'? Sounds like sothing's going on, Captain."
Rangiku said with a gossipy expression.
"Get lost! Don't randomly slander and Hana-chan. We're completely innocent. Speaking of which, you were thinking about Ichimaru Gin just now, weren't you?"
Toshiro asked in return.
"I... I wasn't thinking about that bastard at all!"
Rangiku said, embarrassed and angry.
"Oh? Is that so? Then who were you muttering about just now?"
Toshiro teased.
Rangiku stamred, not knowing how to refute, but coincidentally saw Kira walking in from outside.
So Rangiku quickly changed the subject: "Yo, Kira, what brings you here? Co on, have a seat."
"Mm, thank you, Lieutenant Matsumoto."
Kira walked over.
"I ca this ti to see Captain Hitsugaya."
Kira cautiously glanced at Toshiro.
"Hmph, what do you want with ?"
Toshiro didn't give him a friendly look.
"I'm sorry. Everything before was my fault. I was infatuated and deceived by Captain Ichimaru into luring Momo to the 3rd Division, causing her to nearly fall victim to Captain Ichimaru's evil hands, and also causing you, Toshiro, to be frad... In short, it was all my fault!"
As he spoke, Kira suddenly knelt down and solemnly apologized to Toshiro.
"Hmph, if you want to apologize, go apologize to Momo. No need to co to ."
Toshiro said indifferently.
"I've already apologized to Momo. This ti, I specifically ca to apologize to you, Toshiro. Please forgive !"
Kira knelt on the ground, pleading.
But Toshiro remained unmoved.
"Alright, Captain. Kira has already repented, hasn't he? Besides, you two have been friends for decades. Forgive him."
Rangiku tugged at Toshiro's clothes.
"Alright, I'll let it go this ti. But rember, if you do sothing like this again, we will completely break off all ties and no longer be friends. Then I will kill you with my own hands!"
Toshiro said seriously.
"Yes! Toshiro, I promise! This won't happen again!"
Hearing Toshiro forgive him, Kira imdiately stood up excitedly. As for the second half of Toshiro's sentence about killing him if he did it again, Kira completely ignored it.
These days, whenever he thought about the possibility that Toshiro might never forgive him, Kira was filled with worry.
Now he could finally put his mind at ease.
"Mm, to celebrate your reconciliation, hey, let's all have a drink together!"
Rangiku pulled out several bottles of sake from the cabinet and slamd them down on the table in front of the two.
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