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>>38891872
"Did I drool on you?" She asks, smiling sheepishly.

"Guess you must've," You lie and wipe your eyes with your black robe's sleeve. "That guy is still working, though, can you believe that?"

The door suddenly opens. Out comes the mad scientist, his shy assistant following him with your friend clumsily hauled on her shoulder as negligently as a sack of potatoes. Or maybe she doesn't mean it to be clumsy, and it's just that Ren is too heavy for her slim figure.

"It's done. The operation was a flawless success. I cannot believe I've been reduced to a common doctor." Kurotsuchi makes sure to voice his displeasure at having to carry out what was apparently such a menial task. He protrudes his arm towards Kimiko, the palm of his hand pointed upwards, expecting to receive something.

With a sigh, the Shinigami you are a substitute for takes out your brother's secret stash of spending money (which you had to steal at her convincing request), and you feel your heart rending as she removes an impressively sizeable portion of it to give to the shop owner.

There is probably no way Paul is not going to notice how much money has suddenly gone missing.

"So... is Ren okay?" You look over to Nemu, who seems to give you a barely noticeable nod. Mayuri gives a proper explanation.

"There was nothing difficult at all about her case. I was worried I would have needed an additional sample to work with, but the Hollow who attacked her was so weak as to not even require such measures," He throws a disdainful glance at Kimiko. "Even that wench should have been able to do it, in fact."

"I'm not good at healing." She replies and shrugs. The white robe wearing Shinigami looks like he was waiting for those words and grins.

"Oh? That's interesting. It's almost like you're saying that there's something you ARE good at."

(2/3)

>>38891895
Kimiko only grimaces in response. Mayuri greedily counts the money and puts it in his pocket.

"Well, you can take this," He gestures to Ren, who is still being carried on Nemu's shoulder. "Unless there's something else you want to bother me about, get out of here. Shoo, little pests."

Kimiko sighs in relief. She seems pretty eager to leave.

But... even if it might be dangerous, you could probably ask this guy a question. He wouldn't go mad over one or two of those, right?

...Right?

...

>"Are there usually this many Hollows in Karakura?"
>"Could you do something to make Kimiko recover faster? Or at least me?"
>"I think there's something off about my swords. What do you think? Am I supposed to have three?"
>"Could you help us kill the Hollows running around right now? Anything you can sell us, maybe?"
>Don't ask anything. Probably safer that way.

>>38891913
>"I think there's something off about my swords. What do you think? Am I supposed to have three?"
This is going to end so horribly....

>>38891913
Alright, it's back!
>"Are there usually this many Hollows in Karakura?"

>>38891913
>"Are there usually this many Hollows in Karakura?"
>"Could you do something to make Kimiko recover faster? Or at least me?"

>>38891872
I wanna know what happened already!

>>38891913
>>"I think there's something off about my swords. What do you think? Am I supposed to have three?"

Lets ask the doctor a question about something unusual about Us.

Whats the worst that could happen?

He does have the hippocratic oath posted somewhere here, right?

>>38891913
>"Could you help us kill the Hollows running around right now? Anything you can sell us, maybe?"

>>38892009
I'm not sure he's a Hippocratic oath kinda guy, anon.

>>38891913
>"Could you do something to make Kimiko recover faster? Or at least me?"
Would be useful...

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>38891913
We're at 2 votes for three options, I'll roll for the one we're going with!

1 is
>"I think there's something off about my swords. What do you think? Am I supposed to have three?"

2 is
>"Are there usually this many Hollows in Karakura?"

3 is
>"Could you do something to make Kimiko recover faster? Or at least me?"

>>38892223
Alright, guess we're swording along!
I hope anons have considered the possibility that he'll find it interesting though. That could be Bad News.

>>38892257
I hope this doesn't pique Mayuri's interest.

Oh god it's going to.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck

>>38892304
It is the future we chose anon. And also the dice.

Also I gotta say your writing is getting better Mushroom. Very nicely done OP.

>>38891913
Good thing she'll be fine, but the complications keep adding up, huh...hopefully Ren won't end up remembering anything.

>>38891961
"I think there's something off about my swords. What do you think? Am I supposed to have three?" You ask, to which the mad scientist shrugs in disinterest, looking the other way already.

"Having two swords is nothing unusual. Plenty of Shinigami have that many. I can think of a reason why you'd have a third one, and that would be because you're an anomaly that's not meant to have any in the first place; an anomaly that exists only on the borrowed time of a real Shinigami. I suppose at least one of your swords is hers?" He looks at Kimiko, who nods.

"So that's... really all there is to it?"

"Most likely. In either case, I wouldn't be able to make sure. If I begin experimenting, I don't think I'd have enough time to get to the truth before your meager Shinigami powers fade," He looks you over and adds. "Of course, if you end up as a Shinigami, feel free to come, I suppose. Well, no, don't bother unless you come with something interesting. I'll kill you if you waste my time."

It's probably a good thing that he's not aware that you're not at your best. You don't know what he really means by 'experimenting', but you doubt that it's anything good.

His suddenly eyes dart towards the weapon at your hip. A few tense moments pass as his sight stabs into the sheath with more viciousness than even Naoko's glares.

"But it is strange. The sword feels familiar. It's not supposed to be like that," Mayuri approaches, grabbing the sword by its hilt. He draws it out of its sheath; you don't resist. It's probably better that way, at least for now. "...It's never supposed to be that way. You have two more swords, isn't that right? Then I'll be borrowing this one." He lifts it up, studying the blade.

You throw Kimiko a panicked glance. She shrugs, her eyes just as wide as yours. She doesn't know what you should do, either.

...

>"Uh, actually, my other two swords are broken. This is the last weapon I've got."
>Let him have it.

>>38892556
>"Uh, actually, my other two swords are broken. This is the last weapon I've got."
We can't fight shit without a sword, right?

>>38892556
>"Uh, actually, my other two swords are broken. This is the last weapon I've got."

>>38892556
>actually, my other two swords are broken. That's the last weapon I've got.

>>38892556
>Let him have it.

>>38892556
Voting over, writing!

>>38892556
>"Uh, actually, my other two swords are broken. This is the last weapon I've got."
Shit, did we actually break both the others? I only remember one...

So, uh...he won't have a problem with us refusing right?

>>38892556
Kimiko pls, this is your territory.

>>38892785
Fuuuuuuuuuuck anon here.

My belief is Fuuuuuuuck

>>38892956
Thanks anon. With your soothing words of reason I am now calmed.

>>38893015
Glad my belief that we're fucked has calmed you.

>>38892582
>>38892595
"Uh, actually, my other two swords are broken. That's the last weapon I've got." You approach him, reaching for the sword with your hands. In an almost childish gesture, he turns away, keeping you out of reach.

"A Zanpakuto repairs itself over time." He shrugs you off, still intensely gazing at the weapon.

"But mine don't. I can't fight Hollows without a weapon!" You reach out for it again, fully realizing how bad of an idea this probably is, and yet feeling that if you aren't persistent enough about it, he'll just walk away with your blade. His painted face contorts into a furious grimace. His hand grabs the hilt properly, and he swings the sword at you.

You leap back with a yelp, dropping onto the floor. Mayuri's expression seems to be contemplating whether to continue slashing you or not. In the end, his anger gives way to disappointed understanding.

"I should have expected you to be incompetent enough to not even be able to take care of your own weapons. Both of you are completely useless! I'm surprised this miserable town isn't swarming with Hollows already," His eyes dart to the ceiling and he scratches his chin. Without any warning, he throws the sword at you as if it were a javelin. "Oh wait, it is! Your efforts are not only worthless, but you dare to come to me with something curious - a miraculously rare breath of fresh air for this oversized human ranch - and then dare to deny me the pleasure of studying it?!"

Kimiko springs up and, with a clap of the palms, catches the flying weapon before it stabs you in the throat. Holy crap, that was smooth.

"Y-you can have it when Kimiko takes charge again!" You yell at him, trying to calm the situation.

"But at that point, your powers will be gone, you imbecile!" He screams back. A momentary silence hangs in the air, since you can't really refute his point. Someone suddenly groans. Nemu turns her head, looking behind herself.

(1/2)

>>38893435
"Ugh, I... where am I?" Ren mutters, her voice hoarse and tired. Kimiko passes you the sword and rushes in, taking out something like a lighter with buttons on the side. She crouches down and has something pop out of the device, a tiny bird-thing on a spring. With a sigh, Ren seems to faint again.

"There. Now she won't even remember a thing," Kimiko says, putting the device away. Ren's awakening seems to have discharged some of the tension. "And, uh, Kurotsuchi-sama, we are terribly sorry for inconveniencing you. As your faithful customers, we beg for your forgiveness."

He seems to give her words some consideration.

"...You are only alive because you are my customers. As customers, you obviously have the option of leaving or purchasing more of my wares. So please, make a choice. Please, go ahead, pick between buying something or not. I hope you choose wisely." Mayuri very nearly hisses at you.

You've really ticked him off, huh?

...

>"Anything to speed up Kimiko's recovery?"
>"Anything to help me kill Hollows better?"
>"...Nah, I'll pass."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>38893459
>"Anything to help me kill Hollows better?"

>>38893459
>Buy a piece of candy and leave.

>>38893459
>"Anything to speed up Kimiko's recovery?"

>>38893459
>"Anything to speed up Kimiko's recovery?"
Shitshitshitshitshit

>>38893459
>"...Nah, I'll pass."
Sorry Mayu-man.

>>38893459
>"Anything to help me kill Hollows better?"

>>38893459
>"Anything to help me kill Hollows better?"

>>38893459
Voting over, writing!

At least we got Ren better. Should probably not return here though.
Yuuko time when

>>38893459
How far into the week are we, anyway? Not long until Kimiko's deadline?

>>38893486
>>38893625
You need something to fight better. Mayuri immediately begins to list products.

"Bombs and mines against Hollows, shoulder cannons for long-range combat, performance-enhancing drugs, Kido spells sealed in expendable containers, special gigai with hidden abilities..." He tilts his head and gives you a disappointed glare. "Of course, you can't use any of those things, can you? It's not really my problem, but... you simply won't buy them in that case. And you don't even have enough money for most of the items I can offer, do you? Let's see, what do I have for someone as worthless as you?.."

He puts a hand to his chin, contemplating.

"...The cannon sounds kind of cool." You mutter. He scoffs at you, but, after giving it some thought, agrees.

"I'm sure that vixen over there can use it. Or maybe she'll learn. It's a simple device," He nods to himself as he continues. "Body modifications." He says, expectantly looking at you.

"No thanks." You immediately refuse. You're not going through a surgery for sure, especially not with him as the surgeon.

Mayuri rolls his eyes.

"A cloak to conceal your spiritual pressure- no, you have nothing to even hide... Hollow bait." He enthusiastically proclaims, as if figuring out the solution.

"What does that do?"

"It attracts Hollows to a specific point, of course."

"That sounds useless."

"It isn't, you idiot! Use the bait and sneak up on them while they're distracted! It's got a massive radius, too, so you can do it from anywhere you like!" He boasts. With a sigh, Mayuri thinks about the next potential product.

Kimiko leans in and whispers while he's distracted. "We don't need any of this junk. If you spend even more money, you'll just get into even more trouble back home. Let's just run."

...

>Buy the Anti-Hollow bombs.
>Buy the cannon and arm Kimiko with it.
>Buy the Hollow bait.
>Ask for healing items instead.
>Run while you have the chance.

>>38894844
>Ask for healing items instead.

>>38894844
>Buy the Anti-Hollow bombs.
Bombs are fun.

>>38894844
>Run while you have the chance.
time to GTFO

>>38894844
>Buy the Anti-Hollow bombs.

>>38894844
>Run while you have the chance.
Aaaaaa

>>38894844
>Run while you have a chance

>>38894844
>Buy the Anti-Hollow bombs.
>Buy the cannon and arm Kimiko with it.
>Buy the Hollow bait.
Bro can manage without spending-money.

Do we really not need any of it? We've not exactly been crushing Hollows, and the last one was apparently weak too if we can trust Mayuri on that.

>>38894844
Voting over, writing!

>>38894844
Body mods might have been fun, if only it wasn't this guy. Oh well!

>>38895246
His body mods are pretty awesome.

So are his Zanpakuto mods

>>38895294
Sadly, 'awesome' and 'something Clarissa wants' probably wouldn't overlap though.

>>38895325
Probably true.

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I am saddened by the lack of a cutest shop staffer

>>38896032
It can't be helped anon.

>>38896032
You mean Urahara right?

>>38894922
You nod at Kimiko. It's time to get the hell out. You crouch down and enter stealth mode, tiptoeing your way towards Nemu... who's looking directly at you, actually, but for whatever reason, isn't doing anything to stop you. She gives you the girl on her shoulder and you sneak towards the exit. Just when the door handle is an arm's reach away, you hear that man's voice.

"Come again." He says, quite casually and dismissively. And yet there's that subtle undertone that you can't help but notice, like a pissed girlfriend's "I'm not mad", like a disappointed parent's permission to "do as you like", like the deadliest poison coating the tiniest needle. No, it's more like that small needle melted away under the steaming venom, and the poison-maker instead takes a sword that he will stab your lungs with, and just leave you to die as you choke on poisoned blood and a lack of oxygen. Like he's going to then skin you and shave your nerves with that venom-coated razor sharp sword, and then strangle you with the cut off skin, and then melt your bones in acid.

It's intent to kill.

You run away, not feeling the heavy weight on your shoulders or even the weight of your own legs. You and Kimiko just run as fast as you can without really thinking about your destination or purpose. When fatigue does catch up, you're not quite sure where you are. Thankfully, Kimiko knows the town well, and she has a GPS in her cellphone.

You drop off Ren at her house, tidy up her room a bit to get rid of any signs of a fight, and let her be. It's almost six in the morning. She'll probably be woken up soon, and you'll meet again at school. She won't remember a thing that happened, and everything will be just fine. You and Kimiko need to get ready for school as well. You are currently on your way home to do exactly that, walking down a road without people or moving cars.

Karakura is still asleep.

(1/2)

>>38896431
The sun is slowly climbing up towards its zenith. It's a little chilly this early in the morning.

For a little while now, you've been walking in silence. Kimiko isn't being terribly talkative. You've been through something really bizarre and terrifying just now, and you don't really want to talk about that. Maybe there's something else.

...

>"Are you still mad? Why are you mad?"
>"How are we going to explain the money shit to Paul?"
>"What do you think about Ren? You sure looked like you two were getting along."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>38896486
>"We never have to go back there, right?"

>>38896486
>"How are we going to explain the money shit to Paul?"
Fuck if I know.

>>38896486
>"We never have to go back there, right?"
>"Are you still mad? Why are you mad?"

>>38896486
>"We never have to go back there, right?"
>"How are we going to explain the money shit to Paul?"

>>38896486
>"Are you still mad? Why are you mad?"

>>38896486
>we never have to go back there, right?
>are you still mad at me? Why are you mad?
We can admit wee are a fuckup.

>>38896486
Voting over, writing!

>>38896828
If she points out we're a reckless moron we should tell her that maybe explaining the alternatives that aren't 'let Hollows eat everyone' rather than do some passive-aggressive silence shit would be smart.

>>38896879
Yeah.

>>38896879
I'm still not clear on what else we could do...I mean she wasn't calling in any reserves in an attempt to hide being out of commission right? And I can't recall her offering or explaining any other ways to deal with Hollows either.

>>38897034
Yeah, we have been struggling with shit left and right. We have not had our Hazel Fernandez Number One moment.

>>38897326
One day, anon. One day.

>>38896597
"Are you still mad at me?"

Kimiko shakes her head. "I can't be mad at you anymore."

"The hell does that mean? Why would you even be mad at me in the first place?"

"For trying to throw your life away, of course! If it was a stronger Hollow, you would have died for sure!" Kimiko yells at you in frustration, as if you don't understand a very simple thing.

"Then come up with a better solution, Kimiko! If it wasn't for me, if I didn't go on the patrol that night, Ren would have died!" You yell back. You do understand it, you simply don't agree with it.

"There isn't a magical solution like that. And Ren is exactly why I can't be mad at you! I can neglect the people here all I want. I'm already dead; I'm a Shinigami, and none of the lives here concern me personally. But you have friends. Friends that could, and did, end up as victims of Hollows. I didn't understand that at first, so... I got mad at you. I thought that you were just playing hero." Kimiko crosses her arms on her chest. The two of you continue walking.

"Are you really that selfish? You really don't care about the people here?"

She shakes her head. "I'd say your reasons are more selfish than mine. They teach Shinigami to place efficiency above emotions. If I had to lay low for a few days, I would have done so if it meant that I'll survive. If I die, Karakura would have no protector. It's the same concept as letting a few die to save a hundred. Acceptable losses, you know? Well, you don't really need to understand. It's probably best that you don't, really. You're not a real Shinigami, so you should just live the way you like." She tries to speak coldly, even flicks her hair as if in a dismissive gesture.

"I get it. The concept is not fucking hard to understand. I just think that if you were interested in nothing but efficiency, you'd have called for real help by now, 'troublesome consequences' be damned. You're trying to act tough, but there's clearly something else here, Kimiko."

(1/2)

>>38898511
Kimiko doesn't answer at first. She mumbles something only after a pause. "I don't know."

"You don't know, or you just don't want to talk about it?" You ask. Kimiko repeats herself. You can't help but sigh. "Fine, let's just... don't worry about it. Don't worry about me, either. I'll be fine. I'll take better care of myself, I guess."

That doesn't seem to lift her spirits up at all.

For a while longer, the two of you continue walking.

"...We don't have to go back to that place anymore, right?"

"We'll probably die if we do."

A little morbid humor always helps.

...

Paul doesn't seem to be aware that money has gone missing yet. You have some time to come up with an excuse.

The morning goes by peacefully.

Ren didn't come to school today. The teachers say that her parents called and said she wasn't feeling well. You briefly talked it over with Kimiko, and she thinks that it's just exhaustion. A whole lot of that going around lately, huh.

Again, it feels like you're being watched. And again, you can't tell from where.

Inevitably, the most important part of the school day comes - lunch time. You need to decide how you'll be spending it, and with whom. This is harder than any class, really.

...

>Eat with Kimiko. Talk things over.
>Try to find Yuuko.
>Tomoko still seems to be mad at you. Fix things with her.
>Eat with the remains of your circle of friends. It's just Akemi and Moriko. Tomoko's going to pass.
>Eat with the remains of your circle of friends, but invite Aiko as well.

>>38898543
>Tomoko still seems mad at you.

Sort these interpersonal stuff out.

>>38898543
>Tomoko still seems to be mad at you. Fix things with her.
Let's deal with the manageable stuff for now.

>>38898543
>Try to find Yuuko.
Yuuko a best

>>38898543
>Eat with Kimiko. Talk things over.

>>38898543
>Tomoko still seems to be mad at you. Fix things with her.
gotta go down the bucket-list

>>38898543
>Tomoko still seems to be mad at you. Fix things with her.
I'm off to sleep, thanks for writing.

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>>38898543
Ending thread for tonight, getting late for me! Next thread will begin with the most voted option!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

(It'll probably be friday and saturday though!)

If you have any feedback or questions, please shoot them my way!

My nose was trying to tickle me to death this whole thread. I could have written stuff faster if tears weren't flowing out of my eye like out of a faucet. I hate it!

Thanks for reading!

>>38898858
Thanks for running!
I thought the first update was really nice, as was this last one! The others weren't bad or anything, but they felt kinda filler-y I guess? Not too much happened.

>>38898858
Thanks for the thread man, looking forward to next time
Yuuko when

>>38898858
Thanks for running. Today was fun, and I want to know what is going on in this plot!

So, Mayuri being in exile is the big change up from the canon Gotei 13 lineup? What happened with Urahara? Who the hell is captai of Squad 12/The Shinigami Research & Development Institute now? What the hell is going on in our town? Is Isshin Shiba still Squad 10 Captain, and did Toshiro supplant Matsumoto as his Lt?

>>38898970
I'm sure we'll be able to discover some of that eventually anon! Not sure about soon though, at the moment the plot is pretty separate from any canon shenanigans.

>>38898904
Well, unfortunately, nothing was purchased, so it ended up being that way a bit!

>>38898970
Urahara is still fine and on the job! He never quite got a good chance to retire.

>>38898995
As long as our ex comes back in Mexico.>>38899049

>>38899365
With love, from Hueco Mundo.

>>38900830

Thank you.

>>38900830
it's be a nice postcard.

>>38905092
You are welcome.