Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Chapter 38

Gin lifted his finger, and a Jigokuchō, known as Hell Butterfly, landed on it. These butterflies were entirely black, with purple wings outlined in black. They served as guides for Soul Reapers through the Senkaimon, a dimensional gateway used to travel between Soul Society and the Human World, bypassing the dangerous Dangai. Jigokuchō were also employed as messengers among Shinigami, carrying vital orders.

Gin simply said, "Correct, now pursuing," using this phrase as a coded message regarding Aizen. Aizen had instructed Tosen and Gin to keep an eye on Yuichi, sensing that something significant might happen involving him and Urahara. As the Jigokuchō flew away, Gin's smile hinted at his hidden intentions. He turned, following Mei and Yuichi to Urahara's house, all the while maintaining his enigmatic demeanor.

Yuichi and Mei arrived at Urahara's mansion, unaware of the presence of Gin tailing them. The servant at the mansion's entrance let them in and went to call Urahara. After a brief wait, Urahara appeared, yawning and scratching his head in a characteristic nonchalant manner. He looked at Yuichi and Mei and quirked an eyebrow, asking, "What brings you both here at such an early hour?"

Yuichi offered a polite bow and a sheepish smile. "Sorry for disturbing you, Captain Urahara. We have something important to discuss." He continued, "Kira recently shared with me that she's under the influence of a forbidden kido. She's unable to come see you herself, so she wanted me to inform you and ask if you could provide any assistance."

Urahara's expression grew serious as he listened to Yuichi's words. He nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting towards Mei who subtlely shook her head. "Forbidden kido, you say? That's quite a delicate matter. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I'll need more details, of course. Why don't you tell me everything you know about the situation?"

Yuichi's gaze remained focused as he recounted the information Kira had shared with him. He explained that he really didn't know much about the circumstances that led to Kira being influenced by the forbidden kido nor the potential dangers it posed.

Urahara's expression remained attentive, his analytical mind processing the information. He stroked his chin thoughtfully before responding. "Forbidden kido are not to be taken lightly. Their effects can be unpredictable and far-reaching. It's fortunate that Kira confided in you and that you came to me promptly. I'll need to assess the situation and understand the nature of the kido she's been affected by."

He turned his gaze towards Mei. "Mei, can you inform Yoruichi about the forbidden kido? Also, I'll need you both to try to get any information about this kido from her. Anything will help whether it's the incantation, its origin, or any peculiar effects she might have observed?"

Mei nodded, her expression serious. "Unfortunately, Yuichi said Kira was in an unusual state when she told Yuichi about it. She might be unable to speak about so I'll try to see if I can glean anything."

Urahara's lips curved into a faint frown, his concern evident. "I see. That complicates matters. Well, the first step is to determine the nature of the forbidden kido itself. If Kira can't provide the information we need, then we'll have to explore alternative methods."

Yuichi looked at how the two of them were making plans so he said, "I know I can't do much but I'll try to get her to come here."

'I noticed Mei shake her head when Urahara looked at her. Was he asking if she was there or something else? Something's going on that I don't know about. Well, whatever it is it's above my current pay grade so best to just play dumb and not involve myself too much. However, it'd be weird if I don't at least offer something like this at the bare minimum.'

Urahara's gaze shifted back to Yuichi, his eyes reflecting a mixture of understanding. "Getting Kira here would certainly be beneficial. We do need to gather as much information as possible to find a way to counter the effects of the forbidden kido. But for now just keep an eye on her and ensure she's okay."

"I understand Captain Urahara. I'll do whatever it takes to help her. If there's anything you need from me, please let us know." said Yuichi

Urahara gazed at them both with his gaze lingering on Yuichi. "I appreciate your dedication to your friend's well-being. Rest assured, I'll do my best to uncover the truth behind this forbidden kido and find a way to remove it if at all possible.."

Yuichi and Mei both nodded. As they bid farewell to Captain Urahara and were about to leave his mansion. Urahara looked over suspiciously at a nearby tree. He stopped them both and asked them to stay from breakfast. As they entered the house he picked up a rock and threw it at the leaves of the tree. Since there were no movement he turned around and entered the house.

Gin's smile wavered slightly as he watched Yuichi and Mei head back inside the mansion. He knew that his presence had been dangerously close to being exposed by Urahara's sharp senses. Still, he had confirmed the connection between the two trainees and Urahara, which was a step towards gathering the information that Aizen sought.

With a final glance towards the mansion, Gin disappeared in a blur of movement, using flash step to swiftly leave the area. His silver hair glinted in the fleeting light as he vanished, leaving no trace behind.

The pieces on the chessboard continued their intricate dance, each one with their own hidden motives and agendas. The future remained uncertain, a tapestry of secrets and revelations waiting to be unveiled.

Meanwhile, back inside Urahara's mansion, Yuichi and Mei were unaware of the watchful eyes that had been upon them. They took Urahara's advice to stay for breakfast, sitting at a table laden with various dishes. Their conversation revolved around Kira.

Mei glanced at Yuichi with concern as he seemed to be deep in thought. "Don't worry we're going to do everything we can to help Kira. She's your friend, and my teammate so we'll save her for sure."

Yuichi mysterious look in his eyes for a second before it was replaced with his normal look. "Absolutely, Mei."

As they shared breakfast, little did they know that their actions and decisions were setting into motion a series of events that had the potential of causing the scenario that Yuichi wanted to avoid the most. Creating ripples that could shake all future events.

Outside, the morning sun cast its warm glow, illuminating the world around them. But shadows lurked beneath the surface, and secrets whispered in the wind, heralding the challenges that awaited them.