“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 telling soone 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. Sotis he wondered why soone as mischievous as her was put in charge of the sole dia outlet in the Seireitei.
“Tell 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 anyti he had so for takeouts.
“So?” Itachi asked, intentionally changing the subject, which made Soi Fon snort in amusent.
She finished her al, 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 ti I was there and how guarded they were against . 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 sothing that wasn’t that big of a deal, as they claid.”
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 movent on my end will imdiately 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 whenever you get the chance.”
Soi Fon still looked unsure. “But eting with the Young Master, won’t it raise so 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 confird 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.
……
[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 mory resurfaced and once again as it did, a wave of doubt concerning my current capabilities washed over .
“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 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 comndable prowess, Itachi Uchiha falls to the sa vice that all geniuses do – tunnel vision. So focused on a target that he fails to see the larger fra. The sa reason why soone 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.” Soone 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 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 lting off in relief as soon as they left.
“Finally so peace and quiet.” The deep yawn practically filtered out most of the ntal 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 was simple; the Soul Society, especially the clan, could be suffocating at tis. Especially now that I am knee-deep in clan politics.
Lost walks like these were a much welco guilty pleasure.
It was already nightti, with 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 so of their things. Nothing viciously criminal, just a bunch of wraps – likely for the incoming cold season – and so sweets?
“Even animals have more honor than you herd of swines.”
The thugs did what any sane lowlifes would do, run the mont 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 .
“Then why are you following ?” She fell silent at that and refused to et my eye, appearing even more suspicious as she did. “Well?”
“That’s… I live in that direction.”
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