Chapter 1157 Sitting Down Together
Now that Claire had been teleported away, Kisuke was now free to move. But instead of asking Soifon why she provided them with a piece of valuable information, he first stood up and went to the counter in the corner of the living room to prepare some drinks, "Were you able to get all of Baraggan's miasma out of you?"
At Kisuke's question, Soifon clenched her fists tight as she recalled the battle she had with Baraggan and remembered the strange man who saved her and her comrades, "Was that you?"
"It was my disguise, yes." Kisuke promptly answered while pouring the tea into the cups. He can also hear the frustration in her voice and continued, "Due to several reasons, I can't reveal myself right now. I made a mistake and allowed you to see me, though."
"Is that so?" Soifon muttered before becoming silent.
She then saw a cup of tea placed in front of her, "What's this? You're being awfully meek."
Soifon grabbed the cup and smelled the aroma whiffing out of it. After almost half a minute of staring at it, she took a small sip before saying, "I... I just hate myself."
Kisuke didn't say anything as he watched Soifon continue staring at her cup.
"The first time I faced Baraggan, I lost and needed help. Even if anyone didn't say anything, I know that it was you who sent former Vice-Kidou Chief Ushouda to my side. Twelve years ago, I lost my Bankai and it was you who helped me to regain it, saving my life."
Kisuke could see that her hands were slightly shaking.
"And now, You saved me from certain death."
Kisuke took a sip of his tea before saying with a sigh, "I didn't really think you hated me that much." He thought for sure that even though Soifon didn't like him, they still could get along.
"No!" Soifon shouted.
Kisuke was so startled that he almost let go of his cup, "Err... What?"
"No..." Soifon continued, "I mean, yes, you are annoying and I really don't like you and how close you are to Yoruichi-sama. But the one who I hate is not you It's myself. I hate myself."
A wry smile emerged on Soifon's face, "I hate my weak self who can't seem to win important battles... And I obviously owe my life to you multiple times, yet here I am, unable to mutter even a simple 'thank you' thanks to my silly pride."
"...Really, I hate myself the most."
Without saying a word, Kisuke suddenly snatched the cup of tea from Soifon's hands without spilling it and tossed both hers and his cup away. The cups disappeared in mid-air with Magic Circle's catching them. Another Magic Circle appeared in front of Kisuke and stuck his arm into it, pulling a bottle of liquor and two glasses from it.
"It's a long-awaited reunion, so tea shouldn't be what we're drinking," Kisuke said while softly chuckling and pouring the cup glass he placed in front of Soifon before filling the one in front of him.
He then picked up his glass and raised it, "Cheers!"
Soifon was dumbfounded at the sudden change of mood but immediately thought, 'Ah... This is so him.' Her wry smile disappeared, replaced by a more light one.
Although Soifon is quite tempted to leave him hanging there, she knows that it wasn't the right time for that and picked up her glass and touched it with Kisuke's, "Cheers."
.
.
.
The two of them spent more than an hour drinking while talking about random things while silently agreeing not to talk about the awkward and heavy atmosphere from earlier.
While Soifon was talking and complaining about her day-to-day life as the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidou and Captain of the 2nd Division, Kisuke talks about what he and Yoruichi were up to while maintaining the vagueness of the stories. Nevertheless, it made the former quite jealous, and started complaining about it.
Soifon saw that Kisuke was already a bit flushed and laughed at his face, "What's this? I didn't know you were this weak to alcohol."
However, Kisuke only chuckled and poured another glass for himself, "It's the point of drinking, isn't it?"
Even though Soifon only rarely drank, she could hold her liquor pretty well thanks to her extensive mastery over Hakuda to the point that she could even out-drink the current Captain Commander. But thanks to this confidence that she wouldn't get drunk, she failed to notice that her mind was already clouded by Kisuke's special liquor that he made specifically for him and others on his level to enjoy and get actually drunk off of.
In Kisuke's eyes, Soifon's face wasn't just flushed, but her movements were also already languid.
"I really hate that confidence of yours." Soifon brought forward her glass and Kisuke poured another one for her. She looked down on it for a few seconds before downing it straight, 'This is the best I've ever had... I should ask where he bought this later.'
Soifon let out a long sigh before muttering with glazed eyes, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kisuke replied while filling another glass for himself. Whether it's for pouring drinks for her or saving her life on multiple occasions, he didn't need any clarification as he only did what he felt like doing.
Soifon gestured for another glass and as her glass was being filled, she continued saying, "If there's anything I can do for you, tell me."
"I never thought I'd hear that from someone who used to say that good or evil holds no interest for her and that she only cared about her duty and the pride in being a Captain of Gotei 13."
Soifon flashed him a grin and continued for him, "All who prevent me from doing my duty are my enemies. Enemies to be slain. That is all."
"That's why I'm surprised and don't understand. From your perspective, we're the ones trying to undermine the Seireitei's authority. It's already a big deal that you don't see us as enemies, but you're even willing to assist me and make that offer?"
Soifon asked for another glass, "Just like how I don't know how much you've changed these past few years, you also don't know how much I did."
"...It looks like you've seen a few things."
Soifon didn't immediately reply and instead asked for another glass before saying, "Enough about that. Tell me more about Yoruichi-sama!"
An hour later, Kisuke found himself drinking alone while his drinking partner was already sleeping with her head on the table, still muttering some nonsense about Yoruichi and why she left her behind.
"She still can't let go of that, huh?" Kisuke muttered to himself.
Kisuke then stood up and stretched his body for a few moments before taking out a camera.
And with a nasty grin, Kisuke stared at Soifon's sloven face and drool coming out of her mouth, "Tsk, tsk. You really are just asking me to immortalize this moment."
There's a solid reason why Soifon hates Kisuke.
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