Give me back my Zanpakutō.
This sentence would only seem strange no matter when it was said.
After all, the so-called Zanpakutō was itself a manifestation of a Soul Reaper's power.
The amplification brought by two different degrees of release, as well as the corresponding abilities themselves, were both a kind of deep analysis of a Soul Reaper's soul.
As a symbol of power, the Zanpakutō was absolutely two inseparable parts with the Soul Reaper.
For this very reason... these words sounded so strange to others at this moment.
And facing Seiya's urging.
The person standing in front of him at this moment only chuckled lightly, revealing a meaningful expression.
"Give it back to you? Well~ I don't think there's any problem with that. But someone at this time is rather unwilling."
Ōetsu Nimaiya.
As one of the Squad Zero members, nicknamed the Sword God, he was also the creator of the thing called 'Zanpakutō'.
At this moment, this guy's expression was extremely frivolous, as if emphasizing the other party's words, using a rather mocking tone to say.
"Sorry, it's not time yet."
Seiya fell silent for a moment, but did not retract his extended right hand.
He just frowned tightly and asked.
"...Why?"
"It's fine to tell you, but this matter is still related to your previous self... Do you really want to hear it?"
After brief consideration, Seiya lowered his right hand.
"Then forget it."
Simple trust.
This was not only because of Seiya's understanding of himself, but also a judgment made after considering the current situation.
Since it was related to his own arrangements, then without causing changes, trying not to alter the overall direction... this was what he should do most at this moment.
Ōetsu lightly pressed down his goggles, his gaze becoming somewhat subtle, and at this moment looked toward Seiya's back, saying softly.
"Wait... though it's somewhat rude, I want to know why you guessed the thing was with me?"
Seiya's Zanpakutō was indeed collected by Ōetsu.
But the problem was exactly this... after all, if he wasn't mistaken, no one should have mentioned this matter to him.
The person in question stopped in his tracks.
He half-turned around, at this moment raising his left hand, lightly pointing toward his temple.
"A kind of intuition."
Although there were no related memories, Seiya could indeed truly feel that something connected to himself... was on the other party.
A reason that couldn't even be called an explanation.
Yet it made Ōetsu show a thoughtful expression at this moment.
His eyebrows raised slightly, then he couldn't help but chuckle.
"You guy... really are full of surprises no matter when."
Having no desire to chat further with the other party, Seiya just nodded calmly, then quickly left.
Only Ōetsu remained standing in place, silently watching the other party depart.
Soon.
A voice came from beside his ear.
"Why won't you let me go see him?!"
Along with this scolding tone, a girl wearing a Soul Reaper uniform also appeared.
She shouted once, directly pouncing forward, and like pulling up a scallion, began tugging at Ōetsu's hair.
The dignified Sword God seemed helpless against this guy at this moment, shouting 'stop it' while busily trying to catch this guy.
But it seemed the effect wasn't very good...
Because this girl was like an agile dog in the mountains, constantly swaying left and right on his shoulders, dodging who knows how many rounds of 'capture'.
Of course, this process couldn't continue forever.
As Ōetsu found the right opportunity, he grabbed the other party's collar.
This guy was also completely pulled off Ōetsu's body.
Holding her in his hand, Ōetsu grimaced while organizing his hair, his tone quite complaining at this moment.
"You guy... why are you so mischievous!"
Clearly when he first took her over, she still looked quite honest?
The other party just grimaced and waved her fists and feet, like a stuck Hackmon, trying her best to activate dragon mode...
"You're obviously the one bullying people on purpose!"
"No no no, I don't have such inhuman hobbies..."
Ōetsu helplessly pressed his nose bridge, his tone at this moment filled with ten parts helplessness.
"In the end... not letting you meet that guy, isn't it still for your consideration?"
After a brief pause.
Ōetsu sighed lightly and said slowly.
"Can you guarantee that after seeing that guy, you'll still be able to resist not spilling everything?"
"..."
No response, the small figure just showed a troubled and difficult expression, until finally her mouth slightly pouted, showing an expression like she was about to cry.
"But, but... that's clearly that idiot's aura!"
Zanpakutō Sāgara Ryū.
At this moment continuously wiping the tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes, as if to convince herself, continuously muttering in a low voice.
"We haven't seen each other for so long, letting me look once wouldn't matter..."
Ōetsu rolled his eyes.
"No."
"This won't work, that won't work, you might as well let me die!"
"Even throwing a tantrum won't work, after all this matter can't follow your temperament."
Still the same words.
"After everything ends, I'll let you do whatever you want. But before that... for the plan to proceed accurately without error, you are our final means."
After all...
"All of Seiya's memories are in your hands, aren't they?"
Sāgara Ryū's lips moved, showing a quite gloomy expression.
Very uncomfortable, but unable to find any angle of refutation. At this moment, for the sword in question, this made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"But... that's clearly Seiya's feeling..."
"No, this is also wrong."
Compared to the Zanpakutō, Ōetsu's judgment appeared much calmer.
"That's just a similar incomplete thing. In this state, if you rashly contact your most important part, the consequences would be unthinkable..."
"Wait a little longer. When the time is right, everything will proceed toward the most correct direction as we predetermined."
Having said this.
Sāgara Ryū could find no angle of refutation.
The little one could only sigh lightly, listlessly being placed on Ōetsu's shoulder.
As a Zanpakutō, its essence was a manifestation of the user's heart.
The two might have times when their opinions conflicted, but more often it was a spiritual harmony that transcended words.
The vast majority of Zanpakutō were willing to accompany their masters and stay by their side for life.
Sāgara Ryū was the same.
And at this moment, this sense of forced separation made Sāgara Ryū feel a scratching, clawing sense of loss.
Ōetsu, who controlled all Zanpakutō and personally forged them, was probably the person who could best understand this emotion besides the 'master and servant' relationship.
His expression was somewhat wistful.
But at this moment he didn't forget to comfort the other party.
Gently patting Sāgara Ryū's small head, Ōetsu comforted.
"Be good, do what you should do properly, and in the end we'll always reach the conclusion we expected."
Every Zanpakutō was his work.
For this very reason, he showed such a sentimental expression—after all, for someone like a child, tolerance was the only characteristic of being a parent.
But.
Sāgara Ryū didn't seem very appreciative.
"Hmph... mind your own business!"
Ōetsu almost jumped up in anger.
This guy's personality is really awful! I should have sent you back to the forge back then!!!
...
"Captain Arima..."
A voice came from behind.
Making Seiya, who had been walking through the corridor, pause his steps for a moment.
He half-turned his head at this moment, gazing toward the back.
He saw a small Soul Reaper with a youthful appearance standing not far behind him. The other party showed a hesitant expression...
Obviously feeling somewhat uneasy about her earlier words.
"No, sorry! Mr. Arima!"
This guy... he had an impression of her.
Seiya adjusted his posture, turning his whole body around while pondering.
"Hinamori Momo, right?"
The other party nodded very excitedly, as if just having Seiya remember her name was some kind of 'honor'.
Although he didn't understand why the other party was so excited, for Seiya, he wouldn't pay too much attention to these things.
"What's the matter?"
"I saw you walking around everywhere... Are you looking for something?"
Her tone was very careful.
This unusually cautious feeling was hard to say whether it was due to respect, or simply probing for something?
Seemingly aware of the 'unreasonableness' in her words.
Hinamori quickly stepped back half a step, then squeezed out a rather forced smile.
"That, that... actually I'm not particularly following Mr. Arima! I, I just happened to pass by, then noticed you..."
Her tone became lower and lower, as even she herself felt it would only make things worse.
It might even be better to choose silence directly?
Under this stammering appearance, the first to react was still Seiya.
He seemed to sigh silently, at this moment making a compromise-like gesture by stepping aside, then saying in a low voice.
"No need to explain so much... This is your territory anyway, I won't have any objections."
As for now?
"Could you show me the way?"
Hinamori's expression visibly became more excited.
"Yes! No problem!"
She rushed ahead first, followed by the silent Seiya.
The two walked half a body length apart, passing through the narrow corridor, while also beginning quiet conversation.
"Where would you like to go, Mr. Arima?"
"Mayuri's office."
"Captain Mayuri's place? Although I'm not very familiar... but I remember the temporary station of Squad 12, I'll take you there!"
"Thank you."
"You... you're too kind..."
Brief dialogue.
Also made Hinamori, who had originally seemed somewhat excited, gradually calm down at this moment.
But this guy still seemed to be in a good mood.
Seiya then cast his gaze over at this moment.
"Did you... know me before?"
"Yes! I was your former subordinate."
"Is that so... what kind of person was I before?"
"The former Captain Arima? He... had a terrible personality. He would push some work onto other people, then run out to drink and carouse. Sometimes he would very capriciously assign people very troublesome and headache-inducing work. He would even drop the ball at crucial moments, just thinking about it would give people headaches."
In this litany of complaints, Seiya just nodded blandly.
Then said softly.
"Was I such a detestable person?"
"Yes, a very very detestable guy... always making decisions on his own, not even giving people a chance to apologize..."
"If I was so detestable, why are you crying?"
"..."
Continuously wiping the tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes, Hinamori's voice became choked.
"Because, because I thought... I would never see Captain Arima again..."
No chance to say thank you, no chance to apologize.
Just thinking about these things would make one's chest feel stuffy, even regretful to the extreme.
Seiya's expression moved slightly. Although he couldn't experience this emotion, at this moment he could somewhat feel the other party's feelings.
But unfortunately...
"I'm not the Seiya you knew."
"...Mm, I know."
After a pause, Hinamori raised her head again, her tone trying to calm down as much as possible.
It seemed to also indicate that the emotions that were about to lose control had regained control at this moment...
"That's why I'm standing here."
Not to make compensation for past mistakes, but simply to do what she could.
This was Hinamori's own will, and also the girl's persistence at this moment.
"Captain Arima said... I must look forward, not stay in the past, standing still."
Seiya looked over sideways.
For some reason.
His mood became somewhat inexplicably happy at this moment.
So much so that the corners of his mouth couldn't help but slightly curve up, and even his tone carried a few traces of inexplicable amusement.
"Mr. Arima, I have a request, could you listen to it?"
"Let's hear it."
"For your upcoming activities in Soul Society, could you let me serve as your guide? I think a qualified guide is also very necessary preparation!"
"...Won't it interfere with your work?"
"Ab-so-lute-ly not!"
Shinji, who was handling official business in the distance, sneezed.
"Then do as you please."
"Thank you for your understanding!"
The two walked along the corridor, like travelers meeting for the first time and journeying together.
Beginning some trivial and daily conversation.
Just like the scene from many years ago.
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Powerstones?
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