Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Chapter 30

As Yuichi, Niko, and Mei arrived back at the academy, they quickly split up. Yuichi headed back to his room, making sure to check for any signs of being followed or watched. Once he was sure he was alone, he activated the kido he created to block any sound from escaping the room. This kido was one of his secret weapons that he had created in case of an emergency.

With the soundproof barrier in place, Yuichi finally let his guard down and took off the persona he had been wearing of a dedicated, naive, amnesiac young man. He was actually talented and cunning a little bit like Aizen infiltrating the academy to gather information, increase his strength, and further his own goals. The main reason he feared Aizen so much was that out of all the characters in Bleach, he saw himself as being most similar to Aizen, and given the chance he might do most things that he did. In a sense, it was like fearing yourself because you knew how far you were willing to go to achieve what you desired.

As he relaxed, he started to think about his next steps. He had been intrigued by the concept of artificial soul reapers ever since he saw how useful Nemu was, and he was determined to find a way to weaponize this technology. He had always been interested in the idea of creating an artificial being that could match the strength and abilities of a captain soul reaper. With this technology, he could create a force that he controls.

Yuichi thought the best way might be to modify the soul and body of the subject in hopes of creating an artificial soul reaper. Aizen should be using various methods of modifying the soul, including implanting a pre-made soul or merging multiple souls together in order to craft a superior being. This was how he managed to make White a hollow created from soul reapers so he must have plenty of data in his secret lab. Yuichi wished he could take a look at it. He also thought about different methods of modifying the body, such as implanting special implants or using genetic engineering.

He knew that these methods were complex and would require a lot of time and research, but for the sake of his future, he needed to figure it out. He spent a few hours lost in thought, considering different ideas and theories, and making plans for how he could accomplish his goal. He knew that he would have to be careful and keep his plans hidden, as the concept of artificial soul reapers was likely to be met with strong opposition from both the soul reapers and the council that ruled the soul society. Like Yoruichi said they might execute him if things went badly.

But he was willing to take that risk. He wanted to help pioneer this new technology so that he could use it to his advantage. He was determined to become the strongest existence in all of Bleach, even if it meant going against the rules and defying the traditions of the soul reapers. He was confident that with enough time and effort, he would be able to achieve his goal. So all he needed to do was bide time while he slowly grew.

And so, Yuichi decided he should dedicate a portion of his time to research, he would need to constantly seek new information, and refine his theories. Adding this to his workload would barely leave him any time to sleep so he would probably often be forced to research late at night. Yuichi however didn't mind since he was driven by his desire to become a transcendent being.

As Yuichi was deep in thought he heard a knock at the door. When he opened it there stood Kira in a lovely white kimono. Yuichi was surprised to see Kira at his door, but he quickly regained his composure. "Good evening, Kira. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit so late at night?" he asked, trying to hide his surprise.

"I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing," Kira said with a warm smile. "I was worried you might be dead already since you didn't bother to contact me. Will you not invite me inside or must I remain outside?"

Yuichi chuckled. "I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Please do come in."

"That's good to hear," Kira said, looking relieved. "Just make sure you don't overdo it. You need to take care of yourself."

Kira stepped into the room and Yuichi gestured for her to take a seat. He sat across from her and asked, "So, what brings you here tonight?"

"I just wanted to catch up with you and see how you're doing," Kira replied, still smiling. "I know how serious things are right now and I wanted to offer my support. You are my friend and classmate afterall."

"Thank you, Kira," Yuichi said also smiling. "We've managed to get Captain Urahara's help so we're making progress on resolving the situation."

Kira nodded, her expression serious. "That's good to know. I also wanted to ask you this since you already broke a taboo. Have you done any research into forbidden kido?"

Yuichi's face also turned serious as she asked, "No I haven't. Why are you interested in that?"

To answer Yuichi's question Kira stood up, turned around, and undid her kimono revealing the Ketsugō no Mark on her naked back.

"I have been marked with the forbidden kido and I've been searching for a way to remove it," Kira said, her voice trembling slightly. "I thought you might have some information or be able to help me find a solution. I can't continue to live like this, with this mark on my back."

Yuichi expressed curiosity as he saw the mark on Kira's back. He stood up and approached her, placing a hand gently on her back feeling it cause Kira to flinch, and quickly put her kimono back on. He then said "I don't understand your situation, Kira but I'll do my best to help you find a way to remove the mark. We'll work together to find a solution. So please if you could tell me how you got that mark any detail will help."

"You'll really help me?" Kira smiled gratefully and hugged Yuichi. As Kira hugged Yuichi in gratitude, she leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. She blushed as she pulled away and stepped back, her hand moving to cover her mouth. "Thank you so much, Yuichi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll tell you the details at a later time. I really appreciate your help."

With a smile, Kira turned and walked towards the door, her blush still present on her cheeks. As she left the room, Yuichi watched her go, still feeling the warmth of her kiss on his cheek.

But as soon as Kira was out of Yuichi's sight, her embarrassed expression vanished, and a cold, calculating look appeared on her face. Her eyes narrowed as she thought about her next move, and she slowly walked down the hallway, deep in thought. Despite her outward appearance of kindness and gratitude, Kira was hiding a dangerous secret.