"Then it’s settled," Fujimoto Tōma said calmly. "I’ll be waiting in the Human World. When you co over, don’t cause trouble. Look for in a city called Karakura Town. Or leave a mark and let find you."
Ulquiorra nodded seriously. "Understood."
As for the mark, Tōma lifted a hand.
The Moon Sprite slipped out of empty space, scampered up his arm, and rubbed its face against his cheek.
Ulquiorra and Starrk both froze.
They hadn’t sensed anything. No fluctuation. No warning. It was simply... there.
As always, the things surrounding Tōma felt unfathomable.
"The mark should look like this," Tōma said, gently patting the Moon Sprite. "There’s only one of it in existence."
Both Hollows studied the creature carefully, committing its appearance to mory. Replicating the shape with spiritual energy wouldn’t be difficult.
"Then... see you in the Human World."
With that, Tōma opened a spatial gate with the Moon Sprite’s help and stepped through.
His destination this ti was not Soul Society.
It was the living world.
After he left, Starrk and Ulquiorra exchanged a glance before heading off together into the distance.
They had work to do.
Training. Control. Growth.
Only then could they follow.
The Human World
Tōma returned to the house in Karakura Town that Kisuke Urahara had once helped him purchase.
"...Yeah, it’s been a while," he muttered, looking at the dust-covered floors and the wild weeds overtaking the yard.
He didn’t head straight for Urahara’s shop. Instead, he rubbed the Moon Sprite’s head.
"Go rest. Or play in the yard for a bit."
"Gula?" the Moon Sprite tilted its head.
"I’m cleaning."
Unlike Soul Society, this place wasn’t made of spiritual particles. You couldn’t just sweep everything away with pressure. Physical matter required physical effort.
The Moon Sprite happily darted into the tall grass, bounding around as if it were exploring a jungle.
Tōma chuckled and grabbed so tools.
By the ti he finished, the house looked livable again.
"Moon Sprite," he called.
The small creature sprinted back, climbed up normally this ti, and perched on his shoulder.
Yeah, Tōma thought. Definitely my creation.
If it were anything like Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, it wouldn’t act like this.
"I’m heading to Urahara’s shop. Coming with , or staying here?"
"Gula!"
"Alright, let’s go."
Urahara Shop
"Yo—what a surprise," Kisuke Urahara said when Tōma pushed the door open. "Back to being punished with Human World duty already?"
Even Urahara looked genuinely surprised.
"It hasn’t even been a year."
"I snuck out," Tōma replied, tossing him a bottle.
Urahara caught it, blinking. "Junmai sake?"
"Didn’t have ti to prepare anything fancy."
"Well then, I’ll accept gratefully!" Urahara laughed. "Ururu, cups please."
A small girl with twin braids nodded and left with her broom.
"You’re employing child labor," Tōma said dryly. "That’s illegal."
"I doubt you can’t tell what she is," Urahara replied with a smile.
Tōma nodded. She wasn’t fully human. Another of Urahara’s creations, most likely.
"Breaking rules in the Human World isn’t my specialty," Urahara continued lightly. "But sneaking here without orders isn’t exactly allowed either."
"I ca because I needed to," Tōma said.
"Oh?" Urahara leaned forward. "Then what do you need?"
Tōma paused. "Do you have spare rooms here?"
Urahara froze. "You already own a house."
"Living here would be more convenient for what I’m about to do. I’ll pay rent."
"...And what is it you’re planning?" Urahara asked cautiously.
"If I say it, you’ll probably kick out."
That only made Urahara more suspicious.
"...Then I’m afraid I can’t rent rooms to soone with unclear intentions."
"That’s fine," Tōma said easily.
That reaction confused Urahara more than anything.
Then Tōma asked, "Kisuke, how do you feel about Hollows?"
Urahara frowned. "I was a Shinigami. That should answer it."
"But they aren’t natural enemies," Tōma said.
"Maybe not. Still no reason to accept them."
"What if they’ve regained reason," Tōma asked, smiling, "and wield Shinigami power?"
The air changed.
Urahara’s eyes sharpened. "What did you do?"
"I went to Hueco Mundo," Tōma said simply. "I t two interesting Hollows. One of them was already close to a Shinigami state when I found him."
"That’s impossible," Urahara said flatly.
"I thought so too. Then I saw it."
Tōma explained everything. The failed attempts. The exceptions. The successful transformation.
Urahara listened in silence.
"...They’re still alive?" he finally asked.
"I wasn’t there to kill them."
"And the other one?"
"He crossed the line right in front of ."
Urahara sighed. "That sounds exactly like sothing you’d do."
"Afterward," Tōma continued, "they were rational. Stable. No different from Shinigami, aside from so traces."
"So," Urahara said slowly, "what are you asking?"
"If they co to the Human World," Tōma said, "what happens?"
"You already know," Urahara replied. "If the Gotei Thirteen notice, Central 46 will demand their extermination."
"I know," Tōma said. "I just wanted to know your stance. If you don’t report it, they won’t be discovered."
Silence fell.
"They’re not here yet?" Urahara asked.
"Not yet. They’re training control."
"...You’ve already taken them in," Urahara concluded.
"Sothing like that."
"If Central 46 learns of this," Urahara warned, "you’ll be labeled a criminal."
Tōma smiled. "Do you think I’m afraid of them?"
Urahara was quiet for a long ti.
Then he said softly,
"...You might be more dangerous than Aizen."
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