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Chapter 18—Undercover

"So, if we're all agreed," Urahara said, flicking his fan outward once more, "then I believe we're ready to make our move."

"So, Captain Narukami, how're we supposed to draw Atsuya out?" Shuhei asked. "I know we have a plan but are we just supposed to wait for him to find us or are we supposed to go looking for him?"

"That's a fair point," Jin remarked. "Honestly, I think it'd be best to wait for him to show himself. If he doesn't want to be found, he won't be found." Jin leaned backwards, staring up at the ceiling in contemplation. "I think we'll need some Gigai for this. Something to keep ourselves hidden so that Atsuya doesn't think he needs to."

"Then I'll go fetch some in the back," Urahara stated, standing. "If you'll excuse me for a moment." He stood and walked out of the room, leaving them seated around the table.

"Don't we want him to find us? Won't he be glad to see us here if he wants us to join him?" Koji asked.

"It's not that simple," Jin corrected. "He wants followers. He doesn't want to be followed and doesn't need to know that we've been dispatched to find him. As long as he thinks I'm alone, he'll have no reason to suspect that I've got back-up. If he knows that I brought another captain with me, he'll know he's being hunted and this plan will never work." He gazed over at Shuhei and Komamura. "You two in particular should remain hidden."

Komamura's ear flicked and he regarded Jin with a mixture of uncertainty and fear. "Why?"

"I know for a fact that he's seen your face, Sajin," Jin continued. "And as a fellow captain, he'll probably be wary of you from the moment he knows you're here. And I wouldn't be surprised if he's already seen Shuhei's face too." Jin's gaze turned to Shuhei, who was scowling. "If he has, then it'll be just as suspicious. However, Koji doesn't have any real reason to associate himself with me. He's not a member of my Division, nor is he of lieutenant or captain rank."

Komamura was about to argue, but Urahara returned, sticking his head in through the door. He looked strangely nervous, yet somehow amused.

"Captain Komamura, you wouldn't have brought the Gigai Mayuri made for you last time, would you?" he inquired.

"No. I did not. Why?"

"That's problematic," Urahara answered simply, entering the room. He dropped one Gigai beside Shuhei and then set what looked to be a stuffed animal on the table. "I've been experimenting with animal Gigai, but since you didn't bring the last one you had… This is all I can give you right now."

A moment of ringing silence followed, broken by Koji's barely-contained sniggering. Komamura's eye twitched as he beheld the dog-shaped Gigai, a low growl emanating from his mouth. He flashed an angry glare at Koji, who quickly turned away, just barely being able to stop his laughter.

"Well, on the bright side, it's kind of adorable," Jin remarked.

"No, it is not!" Komamura snapped. "Urahara, I demand you provide me with a proper Gigai!"

Behind his fan once more, Urahara snickered. "Sorry, none of my Gigai are of proper size to accommodate someone of your stature."

"Actually, this is good," Koji stated. "With Shuhei in his Gigai, he'll look like an ordinary human. In your regular Gigai, you already stand out like a giant. This way, you can hide in plain sight and Atsuya will have even less reason to suspect you."

"Koji…" Komamura began warningly.

"All I'm saying is that this is a stealth mission. This is stealth." He pointed to the Gigai.

"It's degrading for a captain," Komamura snapped, arms crossed petulantly.

"Sajin, at this point, we don't have time to return to the Seireitei to retrieve your old Gigai," Jin explained. "At least give this one a try. And Koji's right, you'll be a lot less conspicuous this way."

"This is utterly humiliating. STOP LAUGHING!"

Somehow, seeing the small, brown dog talk in Komamura's deep, threatening voice was both hilarious and unsettling. Shuhei, in his Gigai, stood off to the side, unsure if he should allow himself to be amused despite Jin's barely contained laughter and Koji's outright guffawing. Sajin was growling and Koji had carefully placed Jin between the two of them.

"You two should get some distance from us," Jin advised, calming. "The less of us they see, the less likely they'll think we're on a mission. We'll let you know when we make contact."

With a low growl, Komamura turned and flexed his four knees awkwardly, still unused to the new Gigai, to being a quadruped. He started to walk off with Shuhei in tow and Koji, just as they vanished from sight, managed to reign in his humor.

"I'll never let him live this down," he murmured.

"He'll punish you for laughing, you know," Jin warned. "Son or not, he's still your superior and you need to show respect."

Koji nodded, noting the sudden seriousness in Jin's voice. Any amusement he felt was evaporating just as quickly as it had started. Urahara emerged from the shop, carrying two more Gigai.

"Just so you know," Urahara said, "finding a way into Hell is easy. Finding a way out is nearly impossible."

"I know, Mr. Urahara," Jin said, "but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. Once I get close enough to Atsuya—"

"If he's as smart as you say, then he won't let you get close enough for an assassination like you're planning," Urahara warned. "I was once was a member of the Second Division as well, I know how the Stealth Force operates. I know how you're thinking as a former member of the Second Division. I'm warning you that it won't work the way you want it to. What's more, you have the restriction seal on you, don't you? Even with a Bankai, are you sure you'll be able to match him?"

"If his Bankai isn't strong enough, maybe mine is," Koji offered.

Urahara cocked his head slightly. "Open your shihakusho just a little bit. Let me see your chest."

Shifting uncomfortably, Koji eased open his shihakusho ever so slightly, his eyes opening wide when he saw a patch of white fur in the otherwise jet-black color. He picked at it, but the white color remained and he understood.

"You may only be a Third Seat, but the fact that you have so much power is more than enough reason for them to place a restriction seal on you as well," Urahara noted.

"So, my power's—"

"Only a fraction of what it was last time," Urahara finished. "You'll need more than a Bankai and luck to win this time."

"So, what's the plan?" Koji asked.

"We stick to our strategy," Jin answered, "and amend as we go. Hopefully, Sajin and Shuhei won't be too far if we need help." A shift in the air made Jin stop and they all oriented towards the new spiritual presence they sensed. But almost just as rapidly, it vanished.

"If they're killing Hollows, then we just need to find the Hollows first," Koji stated. "If we track the Hollows, we'll find Atsuya or at least his lackeys."

"Unless they're using bait," Jin replied darkly.

"This is all we have to go on for right now," Koji said.

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