44 CHAPTER 45: Peeping Tom

Meanwhile, in the Ishida Family Mansion, Lisa lay sprawled on her bed, clad in nothing but a skimpy panty and bra. The swishing sound of the fan overhead provided a modicum of relief from the madness that had ensued in the recent days. Watching Kazuya perform more and more Quincy techniques with ease took a great toll on her sanity, and she wasn't even a Quincy!

"Just four days," she muttered to herself, ruminating on the staggering speed of Kazuya's progress. He had quickly mastered the art of creating multiple Spirit Weapons and incorporating them into battle, and had even taken the first step towards mastering Hirenkyaku, Quincy's equivalent of Shinigami's Shunpo and Hollow's Sonído.

His strength had grown to the point her Inner Hollow growled every time she saw him, warning her of the threat he posed… and showing excitement to engage in a battle with him.

One slip of control would expose her secret to Izumi — the last thing she wanted to do as a spy.

'I'll have to train extra hard when I return.'

Zzzzzt. A strange sound jolted her out of thoughts. A crimson beam sliced through the wall like butter, revealing the grinning face of the narcissist merchant.

"Hola~."

"Urahara?!" Lisa exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.

"Hai. It's me, your beloved merchant of Karakura Town."

"I know who you are, stupid. What are you doing here? If someone saw you—"

"You don't have to worry about the consequences, Yadomaru-san," Kisuke cut in with a chuckle. "You are dismissed from your duties as a spy. You can leave."

The sudden order left her reeling. She lowered her gaze, frowning at the thought of leaving Kazuya alone with Izumi. She was worried about Kazuya taking advantage of Izumi's kindness.

She would regret it if something happened to Izumi behind her back.

Kisuke jumped inside the room, a hand holding the top of his hat. "Are you against leaving this place?"

"My real place is with the Visored," she said. "You know that better than me."

"You say that, yet you show reluctance in leaving. Has the new boy smitten you with his charm? Maybe you have fallen for your married master, turning into a forbidden romance."

"Shut the hell up." Lisa snorted. "I'll leave in a couple of days… I have some unfinished business here."

"What you do from now on is none of my business now. Be aware, Yadomaru-san." Kisuke lowered his hat as he turned around. "Hold onto things lightly, for the tighter the grip, the harder the fall."

Lisa clenched her fists. "Don't speak in riddles, jerkface."

"Haha, I'm off to meet the new guy. Wish me luck~."

***

Kazuya sat in deep meditation, dressed only in a pair of trousers. Traces of vibrant blue energy coursed through his exposed skin, a stark display of the Reishi flowing within him. But in an instant, the pulsating lines dimmed, replaced by ominous purple marks snaking across his arms. The sheer agony of ruptured blood vessels forced him to clench his teeth.

"Fuck…"

His blood vessels had completely ruptured from exposure to high amounts of Reishi — fatal injury to any ordinary human but nothing for him. Within a few seconds, the bruises vanished, healed completely by his regeneration. He had to go through so much to learn Blut, yet any Echt Quincy like Izumi could use it without any difficulty.

['Pain Resistance' Mastery Level improved to High.]

The agonizing training also contributed in improving the mastery of his Pain Resistance skills.

He repeated the process for a few moments until the pain drained the last bit of his willpower. Afterwards, he sprawled on the bed, exhausted. Before he could find solace, a knock echoed through the room. He couldn't help groan from the familiar presence outside.

"Otouto-kun, can I come in?"

"...Yes."

Izumi entered, delicately holding a tray adorned with two cups. She hobbled over to his bedside and placed the tray on the table. "A cup of Hojicha will cure your fatigue overnight."

"You should have just called me, Onee-chan. How will your leg heal if you keep abusing it like that?"

"This is nothing, Kazuya," Izumi replied softly. "Being of use to you brings me happiness."

In the span of four days, Izumi's demeanor had undergone a remarkable transformation. Her care and sweetness seemed to have reached new heights, as if she had become an entirely different person. It wasn't an act forced to keep him here; she found genuine happiness in servicing him as if he was some kind of higher entity.

Did he have some innate ability that turned older women into kind and compassionate towards him?

His mind drifted as took sips of the sweet and aromatic green tea.

"Hmmm…" Izumi nodded. "Otouto-kun, I have a favor."

A sense of déjà vu washed over Kazuya. Izumi's request reminded him of Harribel's unfinished request in Hueco Mundo, interrupted by Menos nearly killing Apacci.

"Tell me."

"I suggest you rest tomorrow and have fun outside. I don't want your body to wear down from constant training."

The favor was strangely skewed to help him, as he had come to expect from her.

"As long as you send Lisa with me."

He had gotten close to Lisa but there was still a noticeable gap between them. One that would keep standing as long as she remained skeptical of his character. He was confident in knocking down those walls if given enough time and space. A day-long date would suffice.

Izumi's eyes narrowed as she smirked. "Make the most of it, Otouto-kun."

"I won't disappoint you, Onee-chan."

Once Izumi left with the tray, Kazuya returned to resting on the bed. A worry for Harribel and others' safety crept into his mind whenever he wasn't preoccupied. They had survived in the treacherous Hueco Mundo for longer than his two lifetimes combined. Yet, he couldn't shake off the concern gnawing at him.

Returning to them through the Garganta was out of the question, for it would surely alert those who kept a watchful eye on the town — the list most likely included Aizen. The voyuer was probably monitoring the town for Visored and Kisuke Urahara, but it shouldn't be his main focus until he gets to creating White and getting her mixed with Ichigo's mother, Masaki.

'Fuck this. I'll quickly check on them.'

It was time to bring out his trump card that should conceal Garganta's presence — a Quincy forcefield. After seeing Izumi create force fields for like seven times, he could confidently create one without relying on any equipment. Since it could conceal his Reiatsu, it had to conceal the opening of a Garganta.

'I'll open far away from this town just in case.''

He took out his clothes and tossed them on the bed. As he reached for his shirt when an unsettling sensation prickled the back of his neck. A gaze bore into him, causing him to spin around, his eyes narrowing on a minuscule hole in the wall. The hole wasn't present before.

"You peeping tom. Show yourself."

Without missing a beat, Kisuke Urahara nonchalantly opened the window and made his entrance. The surprise etched across his face spoke volumes about Kazuya's ability to sense his presence. "Ahem, I've been discovered peeping on men. My reputation will sink to the bottom. What should I do~?"

***

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