Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Byakuya’s eyes flickered with faint interest, though his expression remained neutral. "And you’re certain this Miel can remain hidden?" It was a calculated question, one that carried the weight of both suspicion and the need for a solution.

Yuichi opened his eyes and met Byakuya’s gaze. "She’s capable, but... it's not foolproof. As I said she’ll be hard for them to detect, but I need to provide a distraction to make it foolproof."

Byakuya considered this for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Do it. We need information before making any further moves."

Yuichi nodded in response, pushing himself to stand. His legs wobbled slightly, but the reiryoku Miel channeled into him held him steady for now. Once at the door, he dispelled the Kyōmon kido and exited Yoruichi’s study.

Once outside Yuichi began intoning his self-created kidō.

“Hidden from all sight, my presence veiled in shadows, senses deceived by my will, let this barrier conceal me Bakudō Kakushi Kekkai." (Subete no shisen kara kakure, watashi no sonzai wa kage ni tsutsumare, kankaku wa watashi no ishi ni madowasare, kono kekkai ni yotte watashi o kakushite kudasai, Bakudō Kakushi Kekkai)

Which created a barrier that blocked reiatsu from escaping from within the room. Miel stirred within his clothing, sensing no one around. She exited his robe and stretched.

“Miel... scout the area. Stay low, stay quiet. Don’t get too close.” said Yuichi

“What will you do? How do you plan to distract them?” asked Miel as the faint buzzing of her wings echoed. Her presence then faded as she became invisible and undetectable by most.

“I’ll just make some noise here and there. If I can take any of them out then I shall but for now I’ll focus on not getting captured. Just get me a head count and return to me as quickly as possible.” answered Yuichi

Miel's faint buzzing faded as she became fully invisible, her hollow nature making her exceptionally difficult to sense. She darted away, melting into the shadows like a wisp of smoke, her movements so quiet and undetectable that only Yuichi could feel her subtle presence as she left. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. His body still ached, and though Miel's reiryoku had given him some strength, he knew his stamina wouldn’t hold out long. But he didn't need much time—just enough to cause some chaos and buy Miel the window she needed.

Far from Yoruichi's study, Yuichi began the incantation for another one of his self-made kidō techniques.

“Shadows that burn away, ashes dancing in the wind, art of illusion and concealment—Bakudō: Ash Mirage.” (Yake ochiru kage, kaze ni mau hai, genwaku to inboku no jutsu, Bakudō Hai no Gen'ei.)

A veil of ash enveloped him, concealing his form and projecting a faint, mirage-like illusion. His presence vanished entirely, leaving no trace of his body. Now effectively invisible, Yuichi crouched low, his eyes scanning the compound for signs of movement. His plan was straightforward—cause enough chaos to distract the attackers and buy Miel the time she needed to complete her reconnaissance.

With a flick of his wrist, Yuichi fired Hadō #4: Byakurai, a bolt of lightning that split a distant tree in half with a deafening crack. The sound echoed through the compound, and Yuichi quickly shifted to another position, casting another Byakurai at the rooftops, causing debris to crash down. Each attack was calculated to mimic the presence of multiple fighters, spreading confusion among the enemies.

However, the exertion began to catch up with him. His reiryoku reserves were running low, and the strain was making him lightheaded. He fought through the dizziness—there wasn’t time to rest yet.

Suddenly, he sensed a spike in reiatsu. Several signatures were closing in on his location, responding to his diversion. Good, Yuichi thought. If they were chasing him, they wouldn’t notice Miel.

But then his heart sank. Two of the reiatsu signatures were moving in the opposite direction, toward Yoruichi’s study. Trained assassins—they weren’t falling for his trap completely.

‘I can’t let them get close.’ Yuichi gritted his teeth. However, if he attacked the two then the rest would converge on him. Still, there was nothing he could do since you couldn’t let them head in that area.

Ignoring his fatigue, Yuichi forced himself into a Shunpo, intercepting the pair just before they could reach the study. He drew his blade in a smooth motion, the cold steel glinting in the low light. Without hesitation, Yuichi pointed his free hand at the closest assassin.

"Roar of thunder, harness the power of the cosmos. Draw the opponent closer to me—Hadō #13: Reverse Thrust!" (Raimei no todoroki, uchū no chikara o tabanete. Aite o hikiyose, ware no mae ni tsudoe. Hadō #13: Gyakuryoku Shōgeki!)

A powerful suction force erupted from Yuichi’s hand, yanking the female assassin off her feet and hurling her toward him. In a fluid motion, Yuichi drove his blade through her heart, killing her instantly. Her companion stopped dead in their tracks, eyes wide with shock as Yuichi swiftly pulled his blade free and decapitated the woman before her body hit the ground.

Blood splattered across the dirt, and the second assassin hesitated for a brief moment—just long enough for Yuichi to close the distance.

Yuichi bit the inside of his lip hard, drawing blood. He let it trickle out of the corner of his mouth, making it appear as if he were grievously injured. With the taste of blood on his tongue and the metallic scent filling his senses, he feigned a stagger before turning to flee with Shunpo. The remaining attacker hesitated for a moment, unsure of the situation. Then, with a curse, the enemy gave chase, tossing a glowing orb into the air. It lit up, signaling the others to converge on their location.

Yuichi raced ahead, feeling the strain on his body mounting with each rapid step. He whispered the words under his breath as his zanpakutō shimmered to life. “Reflect Kagami no Jotei.”

Kagami no Jotei responded immediately, the blade became slightly longer, gained a thicker blade, and the blade’s color became inverted with the body becoming white and the blade edge turning black. Then an illusory clone of Yuichi appeared at his side, its movements and spiritual energy perfectly synchronized with his own. This was Phantom Pain—the incomplete ability he'd recently developed. The clone couldn’t inflict damage, but it could serve as a deadly decoy. If struck, it would shatter like glass, transferring a portion of the pain and spiritual strain back onto the attacker.