Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 205, Question 203: What if we were good friends?

The tray slipped from Kuchiki Hisa's hands.

With lightning speed, Higashino caught it with one hand, preventing an accident from happening.

"Show-off, you just said that you've met a girl who looks a lot like me and claims to be my sister?"

Hisashi Kuchiki's eyes were filled with surprise and guilt.

"To say 'self-proclaimed' is actually a bit of an exaggeration. In fact, when she described me, she used more words like 'maybe' and 'probably.' It's just that I felt that the girl who claimed to be Rukia looked so much like you, Mrs. Kuchiki, that she was probably not lying."

Higashino Shuichi placed the tray he was carrying steadily on the table in front of him, and also caught a glimpse of surprise in Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes.

It's clear that at this point in time, Byakuya Kuchiki already knew about Hisa's sister, and it's very likely that Hisa had already asked Byakuya Kuchiki to help her find her sister.

"Rukia wields a powerful sword, that's right, that's right! She must be my sister Rukia!"

That's wonderful! That's really wonderful!

Hisa Kuchiki happily clasped her hands together. Even though she had never met the girl, based on her name, appearance, and personality, Hisa Kuchiki felt that she probably couldn't find another Rukia in the entire Soul Society.

Moreover, the great swordsman Higashino Shuichi in front of her could not possibly have known that she had a younger sister before, because Kuchiki Hisa had only mentioned this to her husband, Kuchiki Byakuya.

Therefore, it is impossible for Higashino Shuichi to deceive himself.

However, the change in Higashino Shuichi's expression that followed chilled Kuchiki Hisa's heart, which had just been excited.

Because Higashino Shuichi turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to face her, and in this somewhat quiet courtyard, a soft sigh from Higashino Shuichi could be heard.

"What's wrong? Showing off your big sword, Hunter?"

Could it be…

Kuchiki Hisa held her breath, her mind racing with various explanations. The worst of them all was that her younger sister had long since passed away, and the great swordsman standing before her was someone she had met long ago.

This is the outcome that Kuchiki Hisa least wants to face.

Fortunately, reality is not so cruel, and Higashino Shuichi was merely expressing regret.
"So she really is your sister, Mrs. Kuchiki. Ah, I should have been sure sooner. After all, it is rare for two people to look so alike in this Soul Society."

"It's perfectly normal for that little girl Rukia and you, Mrs. Kuchiki, to be sisters."

only.
"Just what?"

Well, even Kuchiki Byakuya, who was standing to the side, was getting a little anxious. How come he never noticed before that Higashino Shuichi was so long-winded?
Not to mention usual, even Higashino Shuichi's speaking style just now wasn't like this!
"However, Rukia is currently just an ordinary employee at an izakaya in the first district of South Rukongai. She is just a commoner in Rukongai. I even heard that Rukia didn't pass the basic test on Shinigami knowledge. I've been busy with the matter of Yamada Seinosuke taking over as the head of the izakaya recently, so I haven't paid much attention to that side."

I promised that girl I would give her an answer as soon as possible, and now almost a month has passed. I don't even know if Rukia is still working at the Koizumi Izakaya in South Rukongai.

Of course, what Higashino Shuichi said wasn't entirely the truth, but at least he was always keeping an eye on Rukia's movements.

However, as the head sword hunter of the Sword Hunting Clan, Higashino Shuichi was inherently at odds with the Kuchiki family. Even though he pretended to be an undercover agent for Kyoraku Shunsui, a head sword hunter still had to maintain his dignity. Taking the initiative to approach the Kuchiki family for this matter would only lower his status and would hardly be of any real help to Higashino Shuichi.

If Higashino Shuichi still wants to take this opportunity to get closer to the Kuchiki family or Kyoraku Shunsui, it will only damage his image in the eyes of Kuchiki Byakuya and Kyoraku Shunsui.

That's something Higashino Hideaki can't accept.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi had to skillfully strike a balance: he couldn't be too proactive, nor could he appear useless.

By conveying key messages with a nonchalant attitude, one can easily achieve the goals that Higashino Shuichi desires.

Just like a hunter, the best way to hunt is to pretend to be the prey.

Shuichi Higashino succeeded; Hisa and Byakuya Kuchiki fell for his trap.

Before they could finish speaking, the two apologized to Higashino Shuichi and Kyoraku Shunsui respectively, and then left.

Finding Kuchiki Hisa's younger sister, Kuchiki Rukia, is a significant event for both Kuchiki Hisa and Kuchiki Byakuya.

Hiiro Kuchiki really wants to make up for the mistakes she made in the past. She regrets that she abandoned her younger sister Rukia in order to survive.
Kuchiki Byakuya, on the other hand, wanted to make up for the sacrifices Kuchiki Hisa made for him.

As a commoner in Rukongai, and an ordinary person with virtually no spiritual pressure aptitude who would find it difficult even to become a Shinigami, Kuchiki Hisa's long-term life in the Kuchiki family, a place with extremely high spiritual pressure, was a heavy burden on her body.

However, Hisa Kuchiki had no choice but to insist on this, because the Kuchiki family was one of the five great noble families and one of the few remaining noble families in Seireitei that could rival the power of the Tsuna-Yashiro family. The Kuchiki family had to set an example and take the lead. As the wife of the current head of the Kuchiki family, Hisa Kuchiki was even less likely to move out of the Kuchiki family's territory and choose to live elsewhere.

Therefore, both Byakuya and Hisa knew that Hisa's health was deteriorating day by day, and that she might completely collapse at any time.

Fulfilling his wife's wish on her behalf is perhaps one of the few ways that Kuchiki Byakuya, the head of the clan, can offer her some compensation.

After Byakuya and Hisa left, Shunsui Kyoraku gently twirled his right index finger around the rim of the empty teacup in front of him.
"Shuichi, have you really stopped paying attention to that girl named Rukia?"

Kyoraku Shunsui uttered a question, but Higashino Shuichi perceived it as a statement.

"After all, this is a family matter of the current head of the Kuchiki family in Soul Society. As an outsider, I already know too much about this. The rest are things I shouldn't know."

Besides, I think that ending my excessive ties with the Kuchiki family in this way is what you, Shunsui, would have wanted, right?

Higashino Shuichi took the freshly brewed tea from the new tray, poured himself half a cup of Xiaoman tea, and said.

"What are you talking about, Shuichi? I'm overjoyed that you've become friends with the Kuchiki family. How could you possibly think I would have such thoughts?" Kyoraku Shunsui moved his twirling fingers away, letting Higashino Shuichi pour him half a cup of tea as well.

"Well, maybe I'm overthinking it?"
However, I really don't want to have anything to do with the Kuchiki family anymore. Of the five noble families in Soul Society, I have already offended four of them. The Kabuto family is the best. Sayako often comes to my place now, and occasionally she will stay at my place for a night.
The remaining families—the Tsunayo family, the Shiba family, and the Shihouin family—are all difficult to deal with.

If another Kuchiki family joins the fray, my head might explode!

"Sayako", "a short rest", "one night"?
After catching the keyword, Kyoraku Shunsui's eye twitched slightly, but his centuries-old habits prevented him from losing his composure in front of Higashino Shuichi.

For Kyoraku Shunsui, who had already suspected this, it wasn't really that surprising; at most, it just confirmed some of his past conjectures.

But what about the Shiba family and the Shihōin family that Higashino Shuichi mentioned later?

He wondered if he had been too lenient with Higashino Shuichi in order to lower the guard of the Tsunayo family.
"I know about the Kabuto family and the Tsuna Yayoi family, but what do you have to do with the Shiba family and the Shihouin family, these two noble families?"

Kyoraku Shunsui raised his teacup, intending to clink glasses with Higashino Shuichi, but found that the other party had no intention of clinking glasses with him at all. Feeling a little embarrassed, he thought to himself, "Isn't the custom of clinking glasses when drinking started by Higashino Shuichi?"
"Huh? Chunshui, you don't know yet?"
"When the former Lord of Hueco Mundo, Barragan, attacked Soul Society, the head of the Shiba family was killed, and Shiba Kaien's sister, Shiba Kukaku, was almost killed by Arrancars. I was fortunate to arrive in time to save her."

As Higashino Shuichi spoke, Kyoraku Shunsui's expression shifted between light and dark.

Fortunately, that Shiba Kukaku was not the head of the Shiba family, otherwise Higashino Shuichi would have easily taken down two of the five great noble families.

Although these two noble families have little influence and virtually no say within the Seireitei, they are still five noble families.
When did the charm of handsome men become so effective?

Kyoraku Shunsui thought carefully and realized that among the five noble families, it seemed that only the main family of the Tsuna-yayo family still had unmarried women.

However, the Tsunaya family
Well, it seems that the charm trick won't work on a handsome man like him.
Kyoraku Shunsui couldn't help but feel a little regretful, and perhaps even a little envious.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Higashino Shuichi had already moved from the Shiba family to the Shihōin family.

In reality, the connection between Higashino Shuichi and the Shihouin family is not very deep. Their relationship is mainly maintained secretly by Soi Fon, the captain of the Second Division.

The current head of the Shihōin family, Shihōin Yuushirō Sakimune, wants to clear his sister's name. He firmly believes that the captains and vice-captains of the Shinigami who were forced to go to the human world along with his sister and Kisuke Urahara were all innocent. Therefore, he has a kind of trust in Shuichi Higashino that even Shuichi Higashino himself finds somewhat unbelievable.

The reason why Higashino Shuichi dared to disobey orders in the field and went directly to Barragan after returning from Hueco Mundo, ignoring Tsunayoshiro Kanbara's orders, was due to the unconditional support of Shihouin Yuushirou Sakimune and the Shihouin faction of nobles.

Shihouin Yushiro Sakimune firmly believed that everything Higashino Shuichi did was in an effort to help his sister, Shihouin Yoruichi, return to Soul Society in the future.

The successful return of Kisaragi Shusuke and Matsumoto Rangiku is irrefutable proof.

However, Higashino Shuichi couldn't discuss these things with Kyoraku Shunsui Akira; he could only touch upon them briefly.

Finally, Higashino Shuichi prepared to put down his teacup and looked at Kyoraku Shunsui, saying...
"Speaking of which, I happen to have something I'd like to trouble you with, band leader."

"In the main branch of the Shiba family, there's a rather unremarkable young fellow named Shiba Ganju. His swordsmanship isn't particularly strong, but from what I've seen, it's passable. It's not a good idea to let him cause trouble in Rukongai all day. I wonder if Captain Kyoraku could use his authority as a captain to transfer him to the 10th Division?"

After saying that, Higashino Shuichi thought for a moment. He seemed to understand what Kyoraku Shunsui had wanted to do earlier. He raised his teacup and lightly touched it with Kyoraku Shunsui's.

Although tea drinking doesn't require clinking cups, only drinking alcohol does, perhaps this is Kyoraku Shunsui's peculiar preference?
Higashino Shuichi was a little confused. He really didn't know. He and Kyoraku Shunsui didn't usually drink much, but cooperating wouldn't kill anyone!

On the other side, Kyoraku Shunsui was visibly taken aback for a moment, but didn't think much of it.
"You specifically asked me for help because Shiba Kaien can't let go of his pride as the head of the Shiba family, one of the five great noble families, right?"

For the same reason, they certainly wouldn't actively ask the head of the branch family, Shiba Isshin, to take the initiative.

Indeed, it's more appropriate for an outsider like me to do this kind of thing.
So, Shuichi, sometimes, outsiders are better suited to get things done.

Kyoraku Shunsui immediately guessed the reason why Higashino Shuichi did this, and then left Higashino Shuichi with this meaningful remark.

For the two of them, some things don't need to be explicitly stated; understanding is enough.

The night is still long.

Since they were destined to be sleepless anyway, Higashino Shuichi and Kyoraku Shunsui continued their late-night conversation, chatting about everything under the sun, as if they were two like-minded friends.

The next morning, as the first rays of dawn broke, Kyoraku Shunsui stood by the pond, gazing at the sunlight streaming in.

“You know what, Shuichi? If you hadn’t been born more than three hundred years ago, but earlier, and had been my classmate in that glorious era, perhaps we could have become very good friends.”

Higashino Shuichi sat atop the artificial hill beside Kyoraku Shunsui, one leg dangling from it, gazing at the pale dawn on the horizon, and said with a smile,

"Aren't we good friends now?"

Kyoraku Shunsui turned his head and looked over. Sunlight shone on Higashino Shuichi, whose figure appeared somewhat indistinct, even ethereal, at that moment.
"Yes, good friend."

No one knows what Kyoraku Shunsui was thinking when he said those words, just as no one knows what Higashino Shuichi was thinking at that moment.

However, at least some people will know where Higashino Shuichi went after leaving the Kuchiki family mansion.

Gangya Daike.

However, this Tsunayoshiro family is not the same as the Tsunayoshiro family, because it is a branch family of Tsunayoshiro, and there is a special person living here.

"What a rare guest!"

The man looked at Higashino Shuichi and revealed his usual sinister smile.

(End of this chapter)