After a while,
Eero appeared in front of the Urahara shop, an unassuming building that concealed an imnse secret. He saw Rukia standing beside the outer wall, staring thoughtfully at the street.
She instantly noticed Eero walking toward her, his appearance changed subtly by the now-real Gigai. A wave of profound surprise, quickly masked, flashed through her eyes.
"You are alive? Why are you here? We heard you were..." Rukia asked in amazent, her voice trembling slightly, looking at him, the sight of him alive contradicting every official report from Soul Society.
Eero raised his brow in a gesture of feigned surprise and asked thoughtfully, "What do you an by 'I am alive'? When did I die? Did you already prepare a grave for , Rukia?"
Rukia's expression froze, the mask of composure shattering. She said strangely, a hint of deep sadness and guilt in her voice, "We heard a report that when fighting the Hollow you lost, and you were corrupted by it. A few Shinigami then visited the Living World and hunted you down. It was a formal report."
"Ohh, so my storyline was woven differently by Aizen's subordinates to ensure my removal from the Seireitei's forces. That makes sense." Eero realized, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place with cold precision, and then said with a dismissive smile, letting her hear the contempt in his voice.
"I knew it must be a lie; no Hollow can defeat a monster like you." Rukia said, her voice firr now, the old admiration returning. "Also, can you tell what happened, and why you disappeared suddenly for all these months?"
"Well, it's a long story, but I will tell you in short: I was frad by soone, and you will know the behind-the-scenes culprit soon enough. My escape was... necessary." Eero replied, shaking his head. He glanced at Kisuke Urahara walking outside from the shop, a shadow of the old suspicion falling over his eyes.
"Welco, Mr. Eero. It's rare to see you visiting my shop; it seems you both know each other. Please co inside; I was just about to prepare so tea." Urahara greeted them, looking at both of them with a smile that reached only his lips, and then invited them inside.
Eero nodded and then walked inside the shop, his senses overwheld by the mix of stale tea leaves, dusty artifacts, and hidden spiritual power. He glanced at the small girl and boy inside the shop. He thought, and then, following Urahara, he walked inside the Gigai storage room, the secret realm.
"Boss, you brought guests with you; welco to Urahara's secret training ground. Here, please drink tea." Tessai Tsukabishi, the large man with a mustache standing near the table, greeted them and passed the tea cup to Urahara.
"I am in no mood to drink tea right now; here, make yourself comfortable," Urahara spoke and passed the tea cup to Eero.
Eero raised his brow, looking at the cup in his hand, a strange, tallic scent rising from the brew. He put it aside, nodded in the direction of Tessei, and spoke, "Thank you; I don't like tea, especially a brew that feels like a chemical experint."
"Tell about your plans, Mr. Eero. Are you going to stay in the Living World forever? And what about the Soul Society?" Urahara then sat down on the chair and asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Tessei and Rukia fell silent, looking at him, waiting for his answer.
Eero shook his head and then replied, "I don't know; I will do everything my heart wants, even if it involves staying in the Living World forever. My path is my own, not dictated by the Soul King or anyone else."
Urahara raised his brow and then smiled, pointing at Rukia and said, "You know her very well; she broke a taboo and lost her Shinigami powers, which makes her situation very different from yours. She is now an ordinary soul inside an artificial Gigai, but her spiritual particle core is now an item of imnse importance."
"Why are you telling all this? Are you trying to warn , Urahara-san, or perhaps pressure into a course of action?" Eero asked, looking at him calmly, his voice a low, steady challenge. Urahara fell silent, his smile unchanging, but his eyes narrowed. Rukia bowed her head slightly in sha at the ntion of her state, then raised her head, her face set with a renewed resolve.
"I will deal with my matter myself; anyway, it's good to see you alive, Eero." Rukia spoke firmly, looking at both of them.
Eero nodded and then glanced at Urahara, acknowledging the quiet tension.
Urahara smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "I just thought you both may know each other well and could use a friend. Anyway, it's your choice."
Eero turned and glanced at Rukia, pulled out a stack of untraceable yen, and put the card on the table. He stood up and walked toward the outside, saying, "If you need any financial help in this Living World, then call . I don't have anything else to offer you except money; I will take my leave. Be safe, Rukia."
Urahara and Rukia glanced at his back silently.
Rukia glanced at the card on the table and then looked at the back of Eero leaving the shop, the familiar, handso figure walking away. She thought to herself, biting her lips while clenching her fist tightly.
Outside the shop,
Eero footsteps halted near Karakura Town, then he passed it and walked toward the apartnt building.
After opening the door and walking inside his apartnt, he started preparing sothing for himself to eat.
'It will take a while for them to arrive, and then Ichigo will encounter; I will visit the soul society again.'
Eero thought to himself, then he glanced at the both marks behind his hands. There is a light green fluorescent layer around these marks.
"My fullbring mastering is also completed; my shinigami form is now more streamlined and perfect from before, but the fullbringer and arrancar abilities are rged in my hollow zanpakuto as both are based on similar powers."
Eero muttered thoughtfully,
'Next, my unique Quincy ability is remaining, but soon I will awaken it also.'
Eero thought to himself, looking at golden veins spreading on his right hand, different from the blue veins of Yhwach bloodline.
…
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