Just as Kisuke went through the gates of the manor, the main door swung open and he saw his cute little cousin in a full on sprint coming towards him, "Nii-chan!!!"
Kisuke carefully caught her while chuckling, "I see that you instantly sensed my presence. It looks like you're working hard on your assignnts and training."
Claire nodded in delight and tightly hugged Kisuke, "Unn!"
Patting her head, Kisuke replied with a gentle tone, "That's great~ But although your studies and training are important, having fun is the sa. If things are getting tireso or making your head hurt, make sure to take a break."
Claire looked up to him and said, "Phis-chan and Ta-chan always play with ! And the other big sisters too!", and as if recalling sothing, Claire's expression instantly changed, "Welco back, Nii-chan!"
Kisuke then picked her up and carried her on his arm, "I'm ho~ Let's go in first."
But before they could enter the building, Claire suddenly asked with a quiet voice, "Nii-chan... Can I talk with mom and dad?"
That innocent question of her gave Kisuke a headache and a slight pain in the chest. Nevertheless, his gentle smile never disappeared and reassured Claire, "I'm sorry Claire, but not for now. Don't you worry, though~ I've been working on contacting auntie and uncle so it shouldn't take too long so please wait for a little more?"
Although Claire's young and innocent mind still couldn't grasp what's going on, she knew that it wouldn't be easy for them to return ho and never asked about it. Nonetheless, Claire couldn't help herself thinking about her parents despite being distracted and having fun every day.
Claire was considerate. Way too considerate for soone of her age. In spite of this, she couldn't take it anymore after suddenly being separated from the people she was always staying with as she grew up, 'It's already been more than five months. She endured well, but it's not sothing she should really endure.'
Claire smiled and nodded but it was painfully obvious to Kisuke that it was just an attempt to hide her loneliness, 'Dang it! What a failure... This is not an expression a child should have. The frawork of the communication line was already done, but it'll still take so ti to fine-tune it. Looks like I won't be able to return to the Dizara Region imdiately.'
But after this small talk with Claire, Kisuke finally realized sothing important. Although making counterasures against their enemies is important, it shouldn't have been this way from the start. He wasn't alone, 'I've been neglecting everyone too much. I have to make so adjustnts. After all, I can't really call this a successful re-life if I can't enjoy this life.'
'Instead of the world, my responsibility lies in those around . I should never forget that. This is not the exiled Shinigami, Kisuke Urahara's life anymore, but the son of Sarah Belial, Kisuke Urahara.', while daydreaming, Kisuke and Claire entered the manor with the forr consoling the latter.
"I'm ho~!" Kisuke greeted everyone who was not participating in retaking Knossos with a big smile and just like the other kids, Hestia tackled him without thinking about it, "Welco back!"
Kisuke could only smile wryly at this old child's action, "I'm back, Hestia-sama. Thank you for taking care of everyone."
But Hestia pouted when she heard that, "But they're too capable to be taken care of!"
"That's not true. Just with you and Artemis-sama's presence and assistance, you've provided everyone with valuable experience and tried your best to resolve the confusion they might have."
Hestia and Artemis looked at him with confusion and indeed recalled a few instances that they gave the girls so answers to their questions. Seeing that, Kisuke couldn't help but chuckle, "You're wondering how in the world would I know that? Of course, I would check up on everyone the mont I return and I've noticed that they're a lot more stable than before. It's as if they've recovered their 'innocence' and that could only be thanks to you."
In this kind of lifestyle, Yoruichi, Kuroka, dusa, Serafall and he might have been fine, however, that was not the sa with the rest of the girls. With training that gave them vast improvents, it was also the truth that it had taken sothing important away from them, since they were still young and they were in the years that would largely shape their future actions.
'I might have been subconsciously avoiding them lately because I'm afraid that I'll destroy them further. And now that I've thought about it, Yoruichi might have been in the sa spot as .'
If it was the previous Kisuke, he should have long prepared Aika to release her Bankai. But he had been delaying it as much as possible with his own concocted reason that her Zanpakuto was special and it shouldn't be rushed.
As for Yoruichi, she should have started teaching Sona, Koneko and Kuroka how to absorb their Magic or Ki's special attributes directly to their bodies, but had been putting it off thinking that the forr two needed more experience.
Of course, as the wise Goddesses, Hestia and Artemis saw this large flaw in their group and did their best to fill up the hole they were missing. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they've beco mothers to whom they could retreat to if things beca too hard where they normally would just push through with sheer willpower, but also in the exchange for so of their 'innocence' that may leave a hole in their hearts.
Hestia separated from Kisuke and started patting his shoulder, "If you need to sit down and just talk, I could fulfill the role of the partner so don't hesitate to ask whenever you have so downti!"
Kisuke laughed and replied, "I'll take you up on that offer then."
He then proceeded to greet Artemis, dusa and Tanis who seed to be still afraid of him because their ti together hadn't been long. And after reassuring Tanis, he went beside Ophis who had been quietly taking care of the black egg within her arms, and noticed that the forrly pure black egg now had white spots, "How is it?"
"It's going out soon.", answered Ophis.
However, Kisuke had no idea of how soon it really was since he knew how skewed Ophis's perception of ti was. With that in mind, Kisuke touched the egg to probe it and saw the developnt inside, 'So it's really soon... A few days to a week, maybe?'
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