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[zangetsu]

❝This is Kurosaki. Leave a message.❞

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[chokuto]

[Hold on.]

You're coming right now?

[zangetsu]

yeah. i usually stay in the shadowlands, not exactly a reasonable transit distance if shit goes sideways.

besides, sounds like you could use the company.

you got a better idea?

[chokuto]

I'm not good company.

[Ever, but especially now, unless Ichigo enjoys moody silences and glaring.

But does he have a better idea?]

Why are you staying in the Shadowlands?

[zangetsu]

neither am i. we can start a club.

( moody silence and glaring is basically a third language to him okay. )

somebody should be here when people wake up in shrouds, that's all. but i can be away for a while.

[chokuto]

[That answer surprises him for its painstaking selflessness, but maybe it shouldn't. It sounds like something Naruto would do.]

Not yet. There's something I need to take care of first, and you shouldn't spend time in the Hinterlands more than necessary.

I'm still in control of myself as long as I stay away from other people. I asked now to prepare for the future.

[zangetsu]

don't worry about me in the hinterlands. i have a soulmate and my shadow is pretty quiet, my tolerance is probably higher than most.

( he fought with white for so long it's almost second nature for him to resist corruption now. )

but sure. do your thing. then let me know.

[chokuto]

[Normally he wouldn't be nosy, but having never spoken to someone with a soulmate connection...]

Is it him?

Grimmjow. He posted publicly about "human emotion" last month.

[zangetsu]

（ he sighs, but there's not really much point at hiding it. this guy's being vulnerable too, he can reciprocate that much. ）

yeah.

（ to a certain degree, anyway, since he follows with — ）

if you're worried about me being 'sad', don't be. it doesn't affect my fighting.

（ look he's just a depressed bitch okay. ）

[chokuto]

I'm not concerned about that.

[Only depressed bitches allowed in their club.]

The soulmate bond doesn't help?

[zangetsu]

it helps with the shadow.

the feelings are my own. not anyone else's responsibility to manage.

( he's doing better than he had been, but there is no shaking the fear that yhwach won. it's just become something he lives with. )

[chokuto]

[... well, he understands that.]

A friend of mine believed the connection between soulmates was special. Do you feel the same?

[zangetsu]

depends on how you define 'special'.

it's not like i'm in love with the guy, but i can't deny we have a deep connection. we were enemies at first. but he spared my life and later i spared his, and we were allies from then on.

[chokuto]

I see. Then it's good you have one another to avoid the influence of the Shadow.

I'll contact you later.

[zangetsu]

✌️

[chokuto]

[not this again]

Does that mean yes, you agree.

[zangetsu]

（ it's the first time in a while that he's actually laughed, but. there it is. ）

yeah. i'll wait to hear from you.

don't be a stranger, uchiha. i'll come hunt you down if i have to.

[chokuto]

That won't be necessary.

[...]

Thanks.

[zangetsu]

any time.