CHAPTER 121: Thirst

By the time night arrived, the commotion had died down, and the academy staff allowed the students to go back to their dorms. Rukia and Renji stood before Renji's dorm, barely surprised at the state of the dormitory that reflected the recent chaos within its walls. It felt like the calm after a violent storm. A storm created by their friend.

Earlier, Rukia had felt a surge of berserk Reiatsu, an overpowering force so intense that it made her doubt that the Reiatsu actually belonged to Kazuya. By the time she got over her fear, the lecturer had begun to herd everyone out of the academy, calling it a safety measure but offering no specifics.

"Kazuya did it," Rukia muttered under her breath. Her eyes scanned the surroundings as if expecting Kazuya to materialize out of thin air. "Where did they take him?"

"Argh!" Renji let out a roar as his knuckles collided with a half-torn wall in a fit of frustration, the impact resonating with a hollow thud. "The teachers are clueless about his location. The city is enormous. Searching for him will be worse than finding needles in a haystack."

"We can head over to the 10th Squad," Rukia suggested, her voice soft yet determined. "The Captain of that division is friends with Kazuya."

Renji looked skeptical, but he still nodded in agreement anyway. It was their only lead in finding Kazuya's whereabouts. "Yeah, let's go."

"Awww, I didn't know you were so worried for me."

Just as Rukia was about to leave, a playful voice she knew well interrupted them. She pivoted sharply, her eyes meeting Kazuya's. He stood there, arms crossed, wearing an impish smile on his face. As always, his repressed Reiatsu carried a level of complexity — nigh traceable on the surface but deep as the ocean on the inside.

"Kazuya! So you're... fine," Rukia said in surprise, taken aback by his appearance. "We were about to go looking for you."

"Disappointed, are we? Were you hoping to swoop in and play the hero to this damsel?" Kazuya teased, the mysterious power of his voice making the jest hard to dismiss outright. "Today isn't the day."

"Don't be ridiculous," Rukia shot back, her cheeks turning a faint pink. She gave Renji a playful kick, propelling him towards Kazuya. "Monkey face, you explain."

Before Renji could advance any further, Momo and Toshiro blocked his path, their eyes heavy with silent judgment.

"You were nowhere to be found when we needed you," Momo said, disappointment oozing from her voice. "Great friends you both are."

Toshiro nodded heavily. "I knew Renji was a coward."

"Oi! Who are you calling a coward?!" Renji's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists, fire blazing in his eyes. "The lecturer dude held us like prisoners. We couldn't come."

"Yeah, he is right," Rukia chimed in with a loud voice. "I'll never abandon a friend in need. Never."

While Renji's reason was half-assed at best, Rukia's fervent voice easily convinced Momo. Her eyes softened. "I'll forgive you this time. Shiro-chan, what about you?"

Toshiro crossed his arms and turned his head away. "Another day."

Kazuya's eyes flickered back to Rukia, penetrating her facade. He had his suspicions about losing her Rukongai friends but her current state confirmed everything. The deep-rooted loss had brought her to attend the academy prior to the canon timeline, which was also the reason for her distant demeanor at times.

{Could be victims of the Shinigami genocide. Why would she join the academy? To get revenge on Gotei 13?}

'I'm more interested in Byakuya and his wife's reaction.'

Byakuya Kuchiki was married to Rukia's sister, Hisana Kuchiki. Hisana had abandoned Rukia at a young age since living in District 78 had overwhelmed her. Rather than embracing the responsibility, she left Rukia behind, who grew up without knowing about her sister.

{She is alive right now. Not sure how long she will hold on. Wanna cure her?}

'I can?'

[I'm not entirely sure if it's possible. I know only the surface details of our new powers… Partner, let's experiment later.}

'Forget Hisana. Let's help my goth chick first.'

Momo tugged at his sleeve, disrupting his conversation with Nami. "Kazuya-san, are you there?"

"Yeah."

She lowered her gaze to the ground and twiddled her fingers nervously. "Where will you stay tonight…?"

It was perhaps the most veiled yet blatant sexual invitation he'd ever received. She seriously wanted to get into his pants, despite the fact she saw him with so many women. Her adoration was nothing short of amazing.

Momo's almost palpable infatuation with Kazuya garnered varying reactions from everyone. Rukia frowned deeply, her thoughts a mystery. Toshiro shrugged nonchalantly, having known about Momo's crush since day one.

Renji chortled, not bothering to hide his amusement. "What's this? Am I seeing a budding romance?"

Momo's face erupted in a radiant shade of red, her eyes widening. She flailed her hands, almost hitting Kazuya's face. "You're reading into things! I was just worried that Kazuya-san wouldn't find a place to sleep tonight…"

Kazuya interrupted, laying a comforting hand on Momo's trembling shoulder. "Don't sweat it. I can go weeks without sleep."

Technically, he could go on forever with his new Shikai but he loved spending his nights dreaming.

"Really? That means you…" Momo trailed her words, her blush deepening from her perverted imagination. "Cough, Kazuya-san, Shiro-chan, come to my dorm. We'll adjust."

Only she knew the fantasies brewing in her pretty head.

Toshiro frowned. "Girls' dorm? No, I don't want to."

Kazuya slung his arm around Toshiro's shoulders. "Shiro and I will be sleeping at a hot springs inn."

Toshiro's eyes lit up. "Thousand times better than her messy dorm room."

"Hot springs?" Momo beamed a bright smile as she raised her hand. "Kazuya-san, take me too. I always hear about it from my friends."

Kazuya cast a casual glance toward Rukia and Renji. "Might as well take everyone."

Renji rubbed the back of his head as he shared a glance with Rukia. They both wanted to join him but they didn't have the money to afford the luxury.

"Some other time."

"Yeah," Rukia said. "We'll see you—"

Kazuya unsheathed his katana and pointed at Renji. "I'll cut you down if you don't come with me. You don't need to worry about your expenses. I'll cover it."

Rukia didn't think she'd ever be coerced into joining her friends for a trip but she wasn't complaining about it. The thought of warm water rushing down her skin raised her anticipation.

"I'm in."

Renji stared at Rukia then slowly nodded. "Got no reason to reject now."

"Yay!" Momo threw her arms around Kazuya. "Everyone is coming."

{Partner went from having a sugah mommy to being a sugar daddy. What exceptional character growth.}

Nami didn't know about the source of his wealth in the Soul Society. It was for the better as she'd have roasted him more.

…

A few minutes later, a shadowy figure descended onto the wrecked dormitory — the lithe form of a black cat, golden eyes piercing through the darkness.

Yoruichi was baffled at the sight. She could feel Kazuya's lingering Reiatsu, which made her even more curious.

'I'll ask him.'

She laughed, knowing that their next meeting would be a chaotic mess. She'd be a fool to believe Kazuya would let her walk away after her harmless prank.

'How will he punish me?'