Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Soul Reaper from the Second Division (Part One)

Chapter 29: The Shinigami from the Second Division (Part 1)

"Hey, you say you're Shuster, right?"
Lolita nodded.
"Hey, you say you're Lolita, right?"
Shuster nodded.
"So, you mean you are the same person?"
Both nodded simultaneously.
"Pfft!" Kisuke Urahara collapsed, spitting blood, and then lay perfectly still.
A black cat stepped forward and poked him with a paw, only to be startled by Urahara suddenly leaping up. The cat’s fur stood entirely on end, and it dove into Lolita’s arms at the speed of light, glaring at the undead creature that had just reanimated.

[Time rewinds to when they first entered Urahara’s shop]

"Hey, I'm back!" Lolita's voice echoed from outside the door.
"Oh, you're ba... ba... back..." Urahara opened the door and stared blankly at the group standing before him.
"Don't mind him, just make yourself at home," Lolita said, leading the way inside while holding Rukia’s hand.
Regaining his senses, Urahara rushed back into the room, shouting, "Hey! What is going on with you people? Especially you two! And what do you mean 'make yourself at home'? This is my house! You bunch of miserable..."
The sound was cut short as Shuster pulled out "Heaven’s Spark" and shoved it into Urahara’s mouth, silencing him instantly.
"Alright, enough chatter. First, prepare two gigai. We’ll buy clothes on the way. I’ll explain the rest later," Shuster commanded, retracting the weapon.
"Fine, fine! I’m going..." Urahara had walked halfway before stopping abruptly. "What kind of tone is that? Pay me first! Do you think my goods are free? And what’s with that 'ordering a servant' attitude? Why are you just like that girl? I... I’m going now..."
"Tch, this annoying, sleazy old man. The person who was with him back then must have been an idiot. Why wasn't that idiot caught while escaping? Wouldn't you agree, cat demon?" With Heaven’s Spark put away, Shuster spoke in a casual tone to the only others present: Lolita and the black cat, who had been acting cute and licking its paws just a moment ago.
"#! Kuchiki brat, I don't know why you and that kid appeared at the same time, but what do you mean by 'the person who was with him back then must have been an idiot'?" The cat raised a front paw, unsheathing sharp claws from beneath its velvet pads.
"Nothing. You’d better pretend you heard wrong," Shuster said, closing his eyes as if he hadn't spoken at all.
"How could I have misheard? Do you want me to teach you a lesson, Kuchiki brat?" The cat bristled, howling at Shuster.
"Here, these are the gigai for both of you," Urahara interrupted, putting an end to the verbal sparring.
"Alright, Lolita, help Rukia put hers on first, then I’ll go in," Shuster said, rising to leave.
"Got it!" Lolita replied, turning around.
"Come on, Urahara. I know what you did last time," Shuster said, dragging Urahara out with him.
"What thing?" Urahara had a very bad premonition.
"'What does it matter? I just wanted to study the changes in your body's structure anyway. Just treat me like air, as if I don't exist...' I think I’ll help you 'not exist' for a bit. What do you think?" Shuster’s eyes were hidden by his bangs as he spoke in a calm, chilling tone.
"Absolutely not! And stop saying things like that in such a calm voice! Hey? What are you doing? Help... help me..." Urahara’s tragedy unfolded.
Ichigo, who had followed them out, watched the abuse with a look of utter bewilderment.

"Alright, brother, you can go put on your gigai now." A few minutes later, Lolita walked out with Rukia.
They were greeted by the sight of Urahara, whose joints had clearly been "adjusted," and Ichigo, who looked terrified.
"Oh, I see. Everyone, please wait a minute or two," Shuster said, walking inside.
"Meow!!" A black cat was thrown out.
Two minutes later, Shuster emerged wearing a white shirt identical to Lolita’s, paired with blue jeans and brown high-top sneakers. "Alright, everyone inside!"
"..." (x4)
"What's wrong?" Shuster asked, surprised.
"Nothing. It's just your clothes..." Urahara pointed at the outfit, which was almost an exact match to Lolita’s.
"Oh, that. Anyway, are you coming in or not? Staying outside is unpleasant," Shuster said, walking in without looking back. Lolita followed, pulling Rukia along.
"Hey! This is my house! What do you think this place is?" Urahara shouted as he walked in.
"A junk shop that produces useless trash," Shuster and Lolita said in perfect unison. Their synchronization was 100%, even down to the vocal timbre—Shuster’s voice was quite neutral, leaning slightly toward a feminine tone. When Lolita spoke in a high pitch, it was identical to Shuster’s. Normally, it was entirely feminine.
"..." Urahara internally assumed a dejected pose, signaling his frustration and protest.
"Huh? Cat demon, why are you staring at me?" Suddenly sensing a killing intent, Shuster turned toward the source. Seeing nothing, he was rewarded with a claw swipe from the disgruntled cat. He looked down to meet the feline’s anthropomorphic, hostile gaze.
"Kid, are you trying to mess with me on purpose? Don't think I won't show you what I'm capable of!" The cat hissed, waving a paw at Shuster.
"By the way, what exactly is your relationship?" Urahara asked, pointing at the two.
"You can consider us the same person," Shuster replied.
"I am an individual separated from his soul," added Lolita.
"I don't get it..." Urahara muttered.
"You could say I am Shuster," said Lolita.
"And you could say I am Lolita," said Shuster.
"..." (x4)
"I get it!" Rukia suddenly jumped up.
"You get it?" (x3)
"Exactly. It means they can be two people, but also one person. In other words, I have a sister now!" Rukia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at them.
"Meaning..." (x3)
Urahara stepped forward. "Hey, you say you're Shuster, right?"
Lolita nodded.
"Hey, you say you're Lolita, right?"
Shuster nodded.
"So, you mean you are the same person?"
Both nodded simultaneously.
"Pfft!" Urahara collapsed, spitting blood, and remained motionless.
The cat stepped forward, poked him, and was so startled by Urahara’s sudden jump that it dove into Lolita’s arms, glaring at the mysterious object that had just "risen from the dead."
"This is too bizarre! I want to dissect you!" Urahara shouted, proposing something terrifying, only to be met with Heaven’s Spark pressed to his forehead, the Pandora Box pressed to his waist, and two blades at his throat.
"Uh..."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but let's nip such dangerous ideas in the bud," Ichigo said, oblivious.
"Exactly! Don't say such dangerous things. My brother and sister won't let you dissect them!" added Rukia.

[Soul Society, Fifth Division Secret Room]

"Found you. As expected, you aren't the type to die so easily... Enjoy your last few days!" The reflection of the glowing screen shimmered on the lenses of the man’s glasses. As he turned, the white haori with the kanji for "Five" fluttered in the wind. A gentle, meaningful smile played on his lips. "I am truly looking forward to our meeting... Kuchiki Shuster... But who is that woman beside him?"

A few days later.
Several days had passed since Rukia’s arrival. To facilitate her duties as a Shinigami, she moved into Ichigo’s home under the guise of being Lolita’s younger sister. Lolita and Shuster stayed at a hotel; Rukia had thrown a tantrum at first, but finally agreed after Lolita’s persuasion. Ichigo had been teased by Isshin Kurosaki for days over this. During this time, the two had dealt with the incidents involving Orihime’s brother and Chad’s parakeet. Throughout their interactions, Rukia no longer viewed Ichigo with the same hostility; she had begun to treat him as a comrade, and was secretly amazed by the boy’s growth. If it were a contest of pure swordsmanship, Rukia wasn't sure she could win.

Watching the two head off on their Shinigami duties, Shuster and Lolita smiled and began a leisurely stroll toward a park in Karakura Town.
"How are you recovering?" Shuster asked.
"The damage to the source of energy is ninety percent repaired. The energy is still ninety percent sealed. To an outsider, it will look like it takes about a year to recover," Lolita said, closing her eyes to sense her internal state.
"Heh, everything is going according to plan. I have fully recovered, though I’ve kept ninety percent of my energy sealed as well. This time, I will settle things with that bastard once and for all!" Shuster clenched his fist.
"Indeed...!" Just as Lolita was about to continue, she sensed someone watching them from the woods nearby.
"Come out!" (x2)
"Hehehe, are you two on a date?" Rukia popped out from the side.
"..." (x2)
"No answer? I'll take that as a yes," Rukia teased.
"Come out!" (x2)
"Nani?" Rukia turned abruptly toward the woods on the left.
"My, the Vice-Captain’s vigilance is truly high!" A lazy voice drifted from the trees. A man wearing the black Shinigami uniform, a zanpakuto at his waist, and a straw hat stepped out. He chuckled at them, "My name is Keijiro Saito... I’m actually quite famous in the Seireitei. Shall we see if you recognize me?..."