Capítulo 26: Prison Visit

The moment to witness a miracle has arrived!

I shall bestow upon all of you the wings to fly!

"Bankai— Mukōjōchū Muramasa!"

With Ailin's call, majestic spiritual pressure erupted from within him. The dense spiritual pressure caused ripples within the enclosed barrier.

"So this is the power of Bankai."

Feeling his current formidable spiritual pressure, Ailin was filled with a feeling of "I'm unrivaled in this world!"

However, Ailin did not lose himself in this power.

"Muramasa!"

"Master." Responding to Ailin's call, Muramasa's figure appeared beside him.

"Let's begin!"

"Yes, Master!"

Purple radiance spread from Muramasa's body, soon that violet spiritual pressure filled the entire enclosed barrier.

Under the effect of this spiritual pressure, blue spiritual power emitted from the weapons inside Ailin's inner world.

Next, these spiritual powers congregated into figures gripping Zanpakutō around the blades. After taking shape, they drew their original selves and knelt on one knee facing Ailin.

"Greetings Master!"

"Hahahaha, Hahahaha..."

At the peak of his Unlimited Blade Works' Sword Hill, Ailin flung his arms wide, laughing heartily.

Behind him, the white-haired half demon in a crimson rat-fire coat, the aloof beauty with black hair and crimson eyes, the gentle woman resembling Yamato Nadeshiko, the arrogant spoiled little girl the size of a fist, the lazy and noble black cat...

As expected, upon gaining Muramasa, his strength had a qualitative leap. Well of course, all gains come with loss.

At the minimum, the later Ailin would never want to pull Shinji Hirako's Sakanade into his Bankai. When the weapons had yet to materialize, Sakanade's Bankai posed no threat to Ailin.

But now... Ailin could only say, just to deal with a mere Shinji Hirako, he didn't need his real Bankai!

...

"Vice Captain Ailin, you have a visitor."

Sensing the call from the outside world, Ailin exited his inner world, opening his eyes in slight bewilderment.

"Oh? I actually have a visitor in prison? Captain Kuta or Shaolin Fon?"

Among the 2nd Division, due to his passable guidance in the art of assassination, Ailin had quite good relations. But in truth, only Captain Kuta and Shaolin Fon communicated more with Ailin.

If someone was visiting him in prison, it could only be Captain Kuta Aokigi who cared about him the most or Shaolin Fon. However, the person who appeared before Ailin in the end left him in astonishment.

"Why is it you?"

The person who appeared outside Ailin's prison cell was a beautiful young girl with long black hair tied in a topknot, reaching her waist.

Haruko Kuchiki.

"I apologize for the trouble I've caused."

The instant Haruko saw Ailin, she immediately knelt and prostrated, apologizing to Ailin.

Last night, not long after the conflict began, Haruko was escorted by Kuchiki house guards to a safe location. This morning when Ginrei Kuchiki asked Haruko about Ailin, Haruko guessed that 2nd Division's Vice Captain whom her father misunderstood might be the one who had protected her at the tavern.

Hence, Haruko directly confessed everything to Ginrei, about her rebellious thoughts against her father's actions, wanting to do things she normally wouldn't at that tavern.

After entering the tavern, Haruko's courage abandoned her like a frightened pheasant, not daring to take another step. Fortunately, Ailin was present and no untoward customers came to harass Haruko in the tavern.

Having heard the story from his daughter, Ginrei Kuchiki finally understood his misjudgment regarding Ailin, personally informing Captain of the 9th Division, Kensei Muguruma. Otherwise, with just Haruko's status, it would have been very difficult entering the prison for visits.

Ailin's mind spun, instantly comprehending all these matters. He directly asked Haruko, "Captain Kuchiki knows?"

"Yes, I have explained everything clearly to father this morning."

"Ailin-sama, on the day of your trial, I will appear in court to testify for you, to tell everyone it was all because of me..."

"Ah, no need..." Hearing Haruko seemingly about to reveal her dark history, Ailin hurriedly interrupted her.

After all, for a noble's unwed young lady to visit taverns alone wasn't good reputation. If Haruko hadn't come today and Central 46 wanted Ailin convicted, he wouldn't mind tearing off the Kuchiki family's fig leaf. But since Haruko came and offered to testify for him during his trial, Ailin wouldn't drag others down.

"If I admired Miss Kuchiki and happened to meet her alone on the streets, escorting Miss Kuchiki home, what crime would that warrant?"

"If those elders feel admiration itself is a crime, then practically all Shinigami in Soul Society who admire Captain Yamamoto, admire Captain Unohana should all be convicted right?"

"Pfft..." Ailin's final analogy caused Haruko to laugh. She then reacted swiftly, covering her mouth with both hands to avoid losing composure before Ailin again.

Naturally, Haruko understood Ailin didn't truly admire her but was helping gloss over her visiting the tavern, not wanting the matter to spread everywhere.

"So Miss Kuchiki needn't worry, I believe Central 46's elders will judge me fairly. As for the one who attacked me, openly using Bankai within Soul Society, violating Commander Yamamoto's edict... Hehe..."

While Ailin and Haruko chatted pleasantly, kōga's rage burned wildly from the other side after hearing all that.

Recently, with intention from one side and acquiescence from the other, Ginrei Kuchiki and kōga tacitly communicated regarding marriage arrangements.

If nothing unexpected happened, kōga would have met Haruko yesterday under Ginrei's arrangements before announcing his joining of the Kuchiki house today, changing his name to kōga Kuchiki.

But now, kōga felt insulted. Haruko who was supposed to be his fiancée actually knew that despicable man? Moreover, she wanted to testify for that wretch to clear his name at the expense of Kuchiki house's reputation.

He had acted to preserve the Kuchiki family's prestige yet was about to be punished for violating Soul Society's edict in the end.

What did that make him then? A clown?

Thinking thus, a flash of red glinted in kōga's eyes.

"Miss Kuchiki, your visiting time is up."

Ailin and Haruko seemed to have returned to their time in the tavern, only difference was they drank in comfortable silence then while engaging in conversation now.

They only realized time had passed swiftly without noticing when someone from the 9th Division came to remind them visiting hours were over.