Bleach: I Can't Get an Amen
Episode 9 - Kisuke Urahara
Under the shade cast by the brim of my hat, I read your thirst and design your cowardice.
Science provides the answers, But I only pose the questions.
"Oh my... I came out because it seemed quite noisy for the afternoon air..."
Azuma looked up at the man wearing a deep green-striped hat pulled low over his eyes.
"Can... Can you see me?"
Despite his throbbing headache, Azuma stared at him, surprised that an ordinary human could see him.
The man covered his mouth with a folding fan.
"Of course. You're lying there on the ground, aren't you? And... it was only natural to come out when I felt a spiritual pressure much higher than expected."
"Higher... than expected?"
"Is it not true that your power is far greater than what that Shihakusho suggests? I'm sure a few ordinary people must have had a hard time because of it."
The man simply looked down at Azuma.
Azuma looked back up at him.
"Ah, my apologies. Did I make you too nervous? There's no need for that. My name is Kisuke Urahara. Seeing that Shihakusho... you must be Mr. Azuma Shohei, correct? I've heard about you."
Kisuke Urahara...
Azuma immediately recalled the name.
The former 3rd seat of the 2nd Division and former Captain of the 12th Division.
The founder of the Department of Research and Development.
He had also heard that he was a Soul Reaper whom Soi Fon despised.
Azuma himself didn't particularly care for the Department of Research and Development either.
"Gah! Aaaack!!"
A sound like someone dying erupted from beneath him.
Azuma jumped up in surprise.
"Phew... I thought I was going to be crushed to death! And under a man, no less..."
"Wh-Who told you to trip me—"
"Hey!!"
Just as Kon was about to pounce on Azuma, Kisuke snatched him up.
"Wh-What? Why are you here?!"
"Whoa, calm down. First... I think it would be better to go inside rather than just standing out here..."
Holding the struggling Kon in one hand, Kisuke looked at Azuma.
Azuma gave a small nod.
He needed help.
Now that he couldn't feel the spiritual pressures of the other three, he had to find out what had happened.
Once they entered the building labeled 'Urahara Shop,' Azuma spoke quietly to Kisuke.
"...I need your help."
The others, aside from Kisuke, were nowhere to be seen.
"...What is it you want?" Kisuke asked, looking at him.
"Three of my comrades have disappeared."
"Ah... no wonder I felt their spiritual pressures being cut off."
Azuma's eyes widened, and he took a step toward Kisuke.
"...I have to find those Soul Reapers. By now..."
"...That doesn't sound like something someone serving under the current 2nd Division Captain should say..."
"...What?"
"'If a comrade is defeated, consider it a golden opportunity. Do not interfere'... Have you not heard that?"
"..."
Azuma lowered his head slightly.
It was true.
The Captain he adored had certainly said those words.
A part of Azuma felt that following that creed was the right thing to do.
.
However, Azuma raised his head again.
"...Even so..."
Kisuke flinched and looked at him.
Azuma looked Kisuke straight in the eye.
"Standing up when I am able to stand is my justice as a Soul Reaper. And helping someone else stand when they are able to stand is also part of my justice. Those three are strong. They won't be taken down by mere small fry. That's why I have to find them quickly."
Azuma stared at Kisuke with a serious gaze.
Kisuke covered his mouth with his fan again as he watched him.
"That philosophy..."
He started to say something but paused.
Azuma's body jolted at the sudden silence.
"...Never mind! Haha... I was just joking, I didn't expect you to give such a serious answer."
"...Eh?"
Azuma stared at him, bewildered in a completely different way this time.
"Of course. Follow me. I happen to have a very useful item... though it requires a sacrifice."
Kisuke looked toward Kon.
Sensing that gaze, Kon began to struggle even more violently.
"Let go!! Let me go!! Are you trying to kill me?!"
Kisuke leaned in close to Kon's ear.
"...I believe you know who my housemate is..."
"Eh?"
"...You know what that means, right?"
At Kisuke's words, Kon nodded vigorously.
"Fi-Fine, I'll cooperate!"
"...?"
Azuma could only watch their interaction in confusion.
"Ahaha, that took a bit long. This way!"
Azuma followed them, feeling a bit uneasy.
"Now... this is something like an antenna."
"...An antenna?"
"Ah, it's just something used here in the World of the Living."
With that, he stuck a strange sticker between Kon's legs.
"Now, Mr. Kon. Could you please use your full spiritual particle detection ability to find Mr. Azuma's three comrades?"
Kon closed his eyes and began to imagine something.
That pink hair... those big breasts...
A strange energy began to radiate from Kon.
"I feel it! The big-breasted pink-haired one!"
He was talking about Mia.
"Where is she?" Azuma asked urgently.
"Well... I feel a lot of noise coming from near the Shibuya underground sewers!"
"...The sewers?"
"Ah, there is an entrance right in front of our shop," Kisuke said, looking at the two of them.
Azuma immediately gripped his Zanpakuto and stood up.
"I have to go quickly."
"Indeed. Mr. Kon, please go with him."
"...The person we're saving is Mia, right?"
"Of course. My antenna is accurate."
"Alright, then let's go! Azuma! Follow me!"
"Ah, yes..."
Just as Azuma was about to follow Kon out...
"Mr. Azuma, wait a moment."
Kisuke called him back.
He then pulled a ring out of his pocket.
"Take this. It will be helpful someday."
"...Oh, thank you..."
"It would be best to wear it while you're in the World of the Living. Oh, and this flashlight too. Use it to light your way underground."
Azuma nodded and slipped the ring onto his finger.
It was his left ring finger.
After a brief farewell to Kisuke, he entered the manhole that was somehow already open.
"...Hmm..."
Once he descended into the sewer, he turned on the flashlight.
"Did you not feel the others? Like a person wearing a mask... or a man who looks like a woman..."
"Unfortunately, I didn't feel them!"
Azuma's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing again.
"...Damn it..."
"There's no time for that! We have to save at least one of them first!"
Snapping out of it at Kon's voice, Azuma nodded and began walking through the sewer following Kon's lead.
"...Over there!"
After running for a while...
Kon pointed in one direction.
Pink hair came into view.
It was Mia.
"Mia!!"
"...Mr. Azuma!"
As he got closer, Mia's condition became clearer.
Blood was trickling down her body.
"Where did those bastards go?"
"I managed to lose them somehow... but Ren and Sora...!"
"...Were they taken?"
Mia nodded.
"It wasn't the small fry who caught them... It was someone in a suit who was with them..."
"...What?"
Before he could hear more from Mia...
Suddenly, the sound of something massive walking toward them echoed.
"...Mr. Kon, please take care of Mia."
He raised his Zanpakuto and took a defensive stance toward the presence.
Kon tried to approach Mia, but she lightly blocked him with one hand.
The entity that revealed itself was no ordinary mechanical doll.
It was a massive iron creature, easily three meters tall.
Azuma agonized over what to do as he looked at it.
Just as he was wondering if he should release his Shikai...
The iron weapon's massive arm lunged toward Mia.
It looked impossible for Kon to block.
"...!"
He quickly threw himself toward Mia.
He blocked the arm with his sword.
"Huff... huff... Mia, go! Mr. Kon! Take her and get to Mr. Kisuke's place quickly!"
"Don't worry!"
Kon began to lead Mia away.
In that moment, Azuma's release command was activated.
Small clouds of mist and raindrops bloomed in the air, and water droplets began to flow down his blade.
Azuma parried the giant's attacks again and again.
Fortunately, his sword was holding up.
He could feel the giant's attacks starting to slow down slightly.
"Good...!"
Just as he was about to switch to the offensive, thinking he could win this way...
"...!"
He stepped into a puddle he hadn't noticed on the floor.
He lost his balance and fell.
"Aargh..."
He looked up.
He needed to grab his sword... but the mechanical arm was going to reach him first.
It was a relief that the water droplets had slowed its movements.
Still, at this rate, he wouldn't be able to avoid the damage.
"Damn it...!"
Just as he was about to move, thinking he had to dodge...
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning, leaving an intense purple afterimage that seemed impossible to manifest indoors, struck down upon the mechanical weapon's head.
In that split second, a single kick was visible.
The multi-ton iron weapon crumpled like a piece of paper and was sent flying to the far end of the sewer.
An explosion echoed from the distance shortly after.
Thick smoke and steam filled his vision.
And from within that smoke, a woman landed gracefully.
The woman with dark skin and purple hair turned her head slightly and looked at Azuma.
"...So you're the subordinate Soi Fon was talking about. Nice to meet you, 9th-seat brat."
The woman gave Azuma a slight smile.
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