3-4 The Soul Investigation Unit

Huh?!

At this point, we must view this unsettling news as a worst-case scenario!

Until yesterday, we were classifying similar cases in the Rukon District as unusual occurrences, but now this has escalated into a personal affront to the 13 Court Guard Squads and must be resolved!

Since this is such a dire situation, I will now select five of you, and you will be dispatched post-haste to the scene!

Let me, sir! Please sir, let me go there!

No.

I have to go! My second-in-command is already heading there! I should-

Kisuke!!!

Just control yourself. You're making a scene. You were the one who made the choice to send her out there!

Can't you see that you begging to go save her is an insult to her abilities?

Ah...

Now, for my choices.

Captain of Squad 3, Rojuro Ohtoribashi; captain of Squad 5, Shinji Hirako; captain of Squad 7, Love Aikawa.

The three named will head to the site in the Rukon District as soon as possible.

Permission to speak, Head Captain? If your main concern is treatment of the wounded, shouldn't I be dispatched with the others to the Rukon District?

As long as this situation remains unclear, I will not put you, the head of medical treatment, at such risk.

I have someone else in mind to send to the site instead.

Tessai Tsukabishi... It's been ages since he came out into the open.

Looks like he's pulling out all he's got on this one, doesn't it?

I assume that you heard what I said. I expect the two of you to head to the scene immediately.

Will do.

Understood, sir.

Hey, Old Man Yama.

Sending both the Kido commander and his lieutenant out to the front without knowing the situation doesn't sound too smart. Wouldn't you tend to agree?

My lieutenant could go instead of one of those guys.

Hey! Lisa!

What do you want?!

Didn't I tell you that you shouldn't eavesdrop on a captains' meeting?

I couldn't help myself. It's human nature to want to hear something you're told you're not supposed to hear!

Will you do it?

Of course I will.

Good. You handle it.

You want to send her on a mission like this?

Hey, how many chances will she have to be in the middle of an incident that's as big as this one?

I'm like a parent who wants his child to learn something. And you know, experience is the best teacher.

She'll be fine. My Lisa might not look it, but she's strong and pretty capable.

All right, then. Rojuro Ohtoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, Hachigen Ushoda, Lisa Yadomaru.

I hereby assign all five of you to form the investigational unit in charge of this vanishing souls case!

............

She'll be fine. That Hiyori's a strong one. Don't give in to worry.

It's a captain's job to have faith and patiently wait.

*Pant*... Ah...

Damn it!

Eh... Shinji?!

Fool. Why haven't you drawn your sword yet?

Idiot. How could I possibly do that?

Hey, Shinji! Hiyori! You all right?!

Huh?!

K-Kensei?!

Just what the hell is going on here?

You think that thing's really Kensei?

With that mask...Spiritual Pressure... It's almost like he's become a Hollow!

I'm not sure what to think either. There's a chance it's Kensei, but maybe not.

Anyway, there's one thing I'm sure of. If we don't draw our swords right now, we'll be dead.

Grr!

Raaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!

Whoa!

I really felt that one. That's just what I'd expect of you, Kensei.

Stop it! Don't you get it?! You're fighting against Kensei!

This is...

Be quiet, Hiyori.

Our mission here is to stop him. If he is Kensei, our mission is even more vital.

Shinji is right, Hiyori. Kensei is very important to us. That's why we have to subdue him.

There's no need to worry about this. We know a mountain of ways we can stop this guy without having to kill him.

How about you take his right side?

All right.