Night had fallen.
The lights were off in the Kurosaki Clinic.
Only the even breathing of the patients filled the second-floor room.
Ichigo Kurosaki lay on the bed, fast asleep.
The relentless elimination of Hollows over the past few days had pushed his body to its limits.
Even in his sleep, his brow was slightly furrowed, his right hand resting on the bedside table, as if ready to grasp his Zanpakutō at any moment.
Rukia stood by the window, quietly watching him.
After the Hollow invasion ended, she knew this day would come sooner or later.
Too many Hollows had appeared that night.
Ichigo’s Reiatsu, Yoriichi’s inhumanly intense power, and the residual Shinigami Reiatsu she had left behind—all were exposed to the Soul Society’s surveillance.
Such a large-scale disturbance couldn’t have escaped the notice of the Gotei 13.
With a little investigation, the Soul Society would discover that she had transferred Shinigami powers to a human.
That was a grave crime.
Rukia lowered her head and placed a folded piece of paper on the desk.
There weren’t many words on the paper.
She had wanted to explain, but after picking up a pen, her mind went blank.
In the end, she could only tell Ichigo that she had things to take care of and asked him not to look for her.
As for whether he would listen… Rukia glanced at the orange-haired boy on the bed.
Probably not.
This guy usually seemed to have a terrible temper, but once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn’t turn back even if he suffered a terrible setback.
Thinking of this, Rukia sighed softly.
“Idiot.” She opened the window, and the night breeze blew into the room, ruffling the corner of the paper on the table.
Rukia climbed onto the windowsill and looked back one last time.
“Ichigo, take care.” With that, she leaped out of the window and quickly disappeared into the night.
The room fell silent again.
A residential street in Karakura Town.
The shops along the road were closed, and few people were to be seen.
Rukia walked forward alone, her pace slow.
She didn’t return to Urahara’s shop, nor did she look for anyone.
Since Soul Society’s target was her, she would bear the consequences alone.
Ichigo was just an ordinary person caught up in this mess.
At least in Soul Society’s eyes, he should just be an ordinary person.
As for Yoriichi Tsugikuni… Rukia thought of the Zanpakutō burning with crimson light, her expression complex.
That person couldn’t hide.
But if she confessed, perhaps Soul Society could temporarily halt its investigation of the Human World, preventing further involvement of others.
Just then, the space ahead suddenly distorted.
A beam of white light split open in mid-air, and then, an ancient wooden door slowly appeared.
The Senkaimon.
Rukia stopped, her expression changing.
The door opened, and a tall figure stepped out.
Long red hair was tied back, his forehead was covered in tattoos, and a Zanpakutō hung at his waist.
The man looked up, his gaze falling on Rukia.
“Rukia Kuchiki.” He grinned, but his eyes held no warmth.
“Finally found you.” Rukia’s fingers tightened slightly.
“Renji…” Renji Abarai stepped out of the portal, the wooden door behind him closing and disappearing quickly.
“How did you end up in the Human World?” “Don’t play dumb.” Renji stared at her, his voice gradually hardening: “Your Shinigami powers have almost completely vanished.
The Gotei 13 found out long ago.” Rukia didn’t answer.
“Did you transfer your Shinigami powers to some human without authorization?” “No.” Rukia forced herself to remain calm, saying quietly, “I simply overexerted myself during a mission; I didn’t transfer my powers to anyone.” Renji was silent for a moment.
Then, he gripped the hilt of Zabimaru.
“Still trying to lie?” Rukia took a half-step back.
“We came from the Rukongai together; you should know better than anyone how strict the rules of Soul Society are.” Renji took a step forward, his anger finally barely contained.
“How much effort did you put in to get into the Shin’ō Academy?
How many people spend their entire lives trapped in the Rukongai?
Later, you were adopted by the Kuchiki family; you should have had a stable future.” “But what have you done now?” Rukia lowered her head, still offering no explanation.
“You secretly bestowed Shinigami powers upon a human, even losing your own powers.
Once brought back to the Seireitei, only the death penalty awaits you.” “I know.” Hearing those three words, a vein throbbed on Renji’s forehead.
“You know?” “This is my fault alone; it has nothing to do with anyone else.” Rukia raised her head, looking directly at him: “If you want to arrest me or punish me, I’ll go back to Soul Society with you.” Renji paused for a moment, then sneered.
“Nothing to do with anyone else?” He drew Zabimaru, the blade flashing coldly in the moonlight.
“Where is the human who stole your power?” “There is no such person.” “Even now, you’re still protecting him?” Renji gripped his sword hilt, his voice blazing with barely suppressed rage: “You knew you were going to die, yet you still chose to take the blame for a human from the Human World.” “Was it worth it?” Rukia didn’t hesitate.
“It was my choice.” She knew very well that if she hadn’t given her power to Ichigo, his family would have been killed by Hollows.
If she had to do it again, she would still do it.
Renji looked at her, his anger gradually turning into disappointment.
They had grown up together in the Rukongai; he knew Rukia well.
She seemed calm, but she was more stubborn than anyone else.
“Since you won’t confess…” Renji held Zabimaru horizontally in front of him, his Reiatsu surging from his feet, stirring up the surrounding dust.
“Then I’ll do it myself, force that person out.” Rukia’s face paled.
She currently possessed almost no Shinigami power; let alone fighting a vice-captain like Renji, she could barely unleash even the most basic Kido.
Renji stomped his foot, his figure instantly shooting forward.
But just as he approached Rukia, a blue arrow formed from Reishi suddenly pierced the air.
Renji dodged to the side, the arrow grazing his cheek and embedding itself in the wall behind him.
Bang!
The Reishi exploded, instantly creating a gap in the wall.
Renji stopped and turned to look at the other end of the street.
A bespectacled boy stood under a streetlamp, holding a blue-white Reishi bow in his left hand, his right hand slowly adjusting his glasses.
“Shinigami are truly a bunch of annoying creatures.” Uryu Ishida raised his Reishi bow, aiming the arrow at Renji.
“It would be too unseemly to attack someone who is unable to resist in the real world.”