Renji picked impatiently at the wrap on Zabimaru's hilt until the chimera spirit hissed at him to stop. He tossed out a silent apology to the back of his mind and leaned forward to scrutinize the small bonsai on the table instead. Was it pine? Hell, he really was impatient if he was trying to guess what species of tiny tree this noble had sitting on his table. 

He was about ready to throw decency to the wind and stomp out of the room to find Hojo himself when the man of the hour finally walked into the room. 

"I appreciate your patience, officers. I had business to attend to," Hojo said as he walked into the room. He took a seat at the head of the table. "My goods may have been stolen, but I still have clients to tend to. You know how it goes." 

Renji glanced over at Yorusuke, giving him a dull look and resisting the urge to roll his eyes into the back of his skull. Was he serious? He was wasting their time and yet they were the ones doing him a favor? Yorusuke pretended to shift his weight and reached out with his foot to kick Renji under the table, silently urging him to bite his tongue. Renji held in his wince and turned to Hojo. "We understand," Renji forced out, "but the longer we wait to investigate, the less likely it is that we will be able to retrieve your stolen goods."

"I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me," Hojo said tightly, his lips thinning as he clenched his jaw. He folded his hands under his chin arrogantly. "Retrieving these stolen goods is not a matter of 'if'. I need them back. My business depends on it. You see, I am not just a collecter. I am a broker. I find rare things no one else can." 

"I see..." Renji said nonchalantly, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Yorusuke was taking notes. He glanced over at him and Yorusuke nodded. Renji turned back to Hojo. "Then let's start with some housekeeping questions. Take us through the moment you discovered the theft." 

"I woke up this morning and had my breakfast and my morning tea..." Hojo began recounting his day in a way that irked Renji. It was as if he were beating around the bush. "... And then when I finally made my way to my store room, I discovered that I had been nearly wiped clean. Not everything was taken, but every thing that was taken was of considerable value. Irreplaceable!" 

"And about what time was this that you discovered this?" Renji asked. 

"Around 9:15." 

"Anything suspicious last night, yesterday or in the past week? Unexpected visitors, suspicious clients, or trespassers?"

"No," Hojo responded a little too quickly, shaking his head firmly. He hesitated then winced. "Well... yes. Yes actually. There was... a... a client."

"Tell us about them," Renji requested sternly. "Name, age, sex, distinguishing features." He watched as Hojo seemed to chew the thought over, like he didn't want to say anything. "If you're hesitating because of client confidentiality, I'd like to remind you that you told us that it is of the utmost importance that we get these goods back for you, Hojo-sama." Renji had to bite his tongue to keep from spitting out the honorific in the man's face. 
 

"Double The Trouble": (continued)

Yorusuke and Renji arrived at the Hojo estate just before midday, the sun casting long shadows across the meticulously maintained grounds. The estate was grand, its traditional architecture speaking to centuries of wealth and influence. The two officers were led through the front gates by a quiet servant and into a formal receiving room. The space was tastefully adorned, its decor a testament to Hojo’s love of relics and fine art: tapestries, scrolls, and paintings lined the walls, while shelves held ornate vases and carved figurines.

Renji stretched as he lowered himself onto one of the cushions set out for guests, his zanpakutō resting against his leg. “Man, these places always feel so stiff. You’d think with all this money, they could spring for chairs once in a while.”

Yorusuke remained standing, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the room. His sharp eyes swept across the artifacts on display, lingering on a scroll mounted behind glass. It was an exquisite piece, its delicate ink strokes forming an ancient poem.

“Chairs wouldn’t match the aesthetic,” Yorusuke said absently, his tone calm as always.

Renji smirked, leaning back slightly. “Yeah, well, the aesthetic could use a little comfort.” He gestured toward the scroll Yorusuke had been looking at. “So, what do you think? Any of this stuff look familiar from the lock-up?”

Yorusuke stepped closer to the scroll, tilting his head slightly as he examined the intricate script. “Not exactly. But the style is similar to some of the relics we saw. It’s possible this belonged to the same collection or era as the confiscated pieces.”

Renji huffed. “Figures. Guy’s got half the Soul Society’s history on display, and he’s still not happy.”

Before Yorusuke could respond, the shoji door at the far end of the room slid open, and another servant entered, bowing deeply. “Hojo-sama will join you shortly,” the servant announced.

Yorusuke inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, while Renji gave a casual wave. As the servant disappeared, the room fell silent again, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the garden outside.

Renji broke the silence after a moment, his tone quieter but tinged with frustration. “You know, I get that we’ve got to be all polite and proper here, but this guy’s wasting our time. If he really wanted help, he’d have met us at the door.”

Yorusuke finally took a seat, his posture straight but relaxed. “Hojo isn’t just asking for help—he’s making a statement. By keeping us waiting, he’s reminding us of his status and influence. To him, this is about more than stolen relics. It’s about control.”

Renji scowled, his fingers tapping against the hilt of his zanpakutō. “Control, huh? Well, let’s see how much control he’s got when we start asking the hard questions.”

Yorusuke allowed himself a faint smile. “Patience, Renji. The truth has a way of revealing itself when you let people talk long enough.”

Renji shook his head with a chuckle. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the master of cool and collected. Me? I just want to get this over with so we can figure out who’s really behind all this.”

Yorusuke’s expression sobered slightly, his gaze shifting back to the scroll on the wall. “So do I. But rushing won’t help us get there any faster. Let Hojo play his games—for now. The more he underestimates us, the more likely he is to slip.”

Renji gave a begrudging nod, leaning back on his hands. “Fine. But the second he starts dodging questions, I’m stepping in.”

“Fair enough,” Yorusuke said, his tone neutral but laced with a quiet confidence.

The two fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited. Outside, the gentle rustling of the garden continued, a serene backdrop to the tension building within the room. Whatever Hojo had to say, Yorusuke and Renji were ready to hear it—and ready to push back if the noble thought he could keep them in the dark.