Bleach Hereafter RPG

Hyakuji's answer was straightforward and methodical, about what you would expect to hear from a Vice-Captain in the Gotei 13. He commended the accomplishments of Yasuhiko's son as the Captain of his Division, but had nothing to add when it came to what Tezuka was like as a person. It did not seem like Hyakuji was withholding information, either. So, they must not have met and Hyakuji could only mention what he has heard through the official channels.

The last time Yasuhiko had seen him, Tezuka was merely a child. Whether he'd become a high tier Shinigami, much less a Captain, was still anyone's guess. But he has, and if Hyakuji's tone held any meaning, then the Sixth Division has not lost its way under his leadership, either.

"...thank you regardless, Hyakuji. Until we meet again," Yasuhiko said in response, just as Hyakuji vanished and departed, leaving the Visored alone in the outskirts of Tokyo.

His existence and rank placed the relation of the Visored to Soul Society in a different light. They had always understood that far from everyone in Soul Society are corrupt or tyrannical, and individual Shinigami can be just as good-natured as anyone else. But one of their own, so high in the hierarchy, wishing to transform it into something truly heroic...

Maybe, if Hyakuji's dreams as not as full of hot air as they thought, they could return to Soul Society without any bloodshed..?

Wonder what Tendo knows about it...

Wonder what Hyakuji thinks of Tendo. He knows that Tendo was responsible for the death of his past self, and yet that did not seem to bother him.

...and where is Tendo?

---

"...Hello?"

A young woman dressed in a black jacket had arrived to Tendo Shoten, only to learn that the door was locked when she tried to pull it. This was odd. It was working hours, and she knew that the owner of the shop was always working and open for visitors at this time. Didn't he basically live in this shop, anyway?

The woman peeked over a window. All the stalls were untouched, even the light was still on, but the shopkeeper and his team were absent. You might guess that he had to run an errand somewhere and locked the shop quick - but no. Zarzil could feel the trail of his Reiryoku. Somewhere deep, but somewhere nearby.

"What are you doing out there, Tendo..?"

She wanted to ask the rogue Shinigami for help yet again, but now, she was curious. So, Zarzil stepped away from the door, briefly glanced around to see whether anyone was spying on her, and cast a spell atop her right palm. With it, she summoned a tiny demonic fly, whose senses were linked to hers. This fly was small enough to squeeze through the keyhole and fly inside.

The Princess of the Kingdom of Demons calmly sat down on a bench some distance away from Tendo Shoten, pretending to read from her Grimoire, all while actually watching and listening to anything her spy saw or heard.

---

"...the crucial failure of the Hogyoku is that it cannot distinguish desires. Good desires, evil desires, it is all the same to the machine. It is already extremely dangerous, for what would happen if the Demons or Arrancar got a hold of it, much less someone... rogue? And the more powerful I make this... "second Hogyoku", the more dangerous it would thus be..."

An elevator was descending down a shaft deep, deep below the city of Tokyo, at least twenty kilometers underground, and two people were standing in the elevator, waiting for it to descend, until finally, it arrived to a laboratory. Not as impressive as the Shinigami Research and Development Institute which Tendo had once founded, but adequate nonetheless - especially as it was run by one of the greatest scientists which the world has ever seen.

In spite of his banishment from Soul Society, Tendo had not abandoned the spiritual sciences. He still needed to produce the gadgets and tools he sells in his shop, for one, and for two... he still had ideas on how to bring the world further to the peace which he once believed he could accomplish with the Hogyoku.

"But then I had a flash of inspiration."

Tendo stepped forward, his footsteps echoing across the hall. The man walking besides him was Virgil, to whom Tendo turned after that statement and continued:

"The vessel for the first Hogyoku was an orb, giving it the shape you and I know... but what if the vessel for a Hogyoku was a person?"

"A... person..?" Virgil muttered - though he was taken aback, he did not show a hint of emotion in his expression. "What do you mean?" In response, Tendo waved towards the array of tubes behind a line of computers, appearing like an enormous pipe organ.

"Exactly what I said. Placing a living subject in that machine, turning its mind and flesh into a second Hogyoku."

"You are going to... turn someone into a godlike entity capable of fulfilling any desire? That is how you will make it more safe?"

"In a way..." the scientist muttered. "That subject would not survive the transformation. The Hogyoku would eat away its sentience and soul, leaving the result lifeless, mostly. Created in such a way, a Hogyoku would inherit traces of the subject's memories, ideals, and, most importantly, conscience. It would grant the Hogyoku a conscience, allowing it to distinguish between good and evil desires - and so fulfill the purpose we all want. I wouldn't even need to split it into pieces and scatter it, we could just keep it safe and ask for anything we want whenever we need to, without fear that a villain would use it to bring forth evil..."

Virgil folded his arms. After briefly waving his hand to shoo away an annoying fly circling around him, the Fullbringer continued:

"...I see. Then why did you bring me here?"

With a sigh, Tendo sat down upon a nearby chair. "I want you to bring me a test subject."

"Me?"

"I had put some thought into what kind of person I wish to sacrifice for the second Hogyoku... It can't be a Quincy, their hearts are overtaken by hatred, while a Shinigami is too concerned with listening to orders and upholding balance to be truly just to all races. I settled on a human mortal, and you command many of them - so, I have to ask you, for someone noble whom you can sacrifice."