Not long after, all screams vanished completely. Gin and Tosen returned to Aizen's side.
"How was it?"
Aizen asked.
"Aizen-sama, six judges plus forty sages… forty-six in total. None escaped."
Tosen respectfully replied.
"Mm, well done."
Aizen praised.
On another front, Byakuya had prepared to go to the Living World to capture Rukia.
Regardless of the Central 46's eventual verdict, at the very least, Rukia must be brought back to the Soul Society now.
…
Living World, night.
Urahara Shop.
Kisuke was chasing a black cat.
"What's wrong, Yoruichi-san? It's dinnertime. Here, have some milk."
Kisuke held a bottle of milk.
But the black cat suddenly spoke in a husky male voice, "Stop fooling around, Kisuke."
"You should know very well... they..."
"Have arrived."
Hearing the black cat's words, Kisuke also suddenly became serious. "This matter..."
"Will you speak first or have milk first?"
…
Kurosaki Household.
"Brother!"
Yuzu pouted, somewhat annoyed. "You're taking leftovers again!"
"This is my midnight snack. A growing body in puberty needs lots of food."
Ichigo said as he scooped rice into a bowl, then carried a meal upstairs.
Ichigo didn't do this because of puberty growth spurts.
Recently, Rukia had been living in the closet in his room.
So Ichigo needed to bring her a portion after meals.
"Hey! Rukia, dinner's here!"
Ichigo entered his room carrying the meal.
"Huh? What's this? Where'd she go again?"
Ichigo looked around but didn't see Rukia in his room.
What Ichigo didn't notice was a letter on his desk.
It read: [Thank you for taking care of me all this time.
Kuchiki Rukia.]
At this moment, Rukia was running along a deserted street.
Earlier, sensing someone from the Soul Society had come to the Living World, Rukia wrote a letter, then hastily left the Kurosaki House.
As she ran, Rukia recalled recent days.
Although hectic, Rukia felt this was her happiest life in decades.
While Rukia ran along the street, on a tall building not far away, Byakuya and Renji observed her.
"Backside synchronization 113.1, nerve connection rate 5.5. Correct. She indeed uses a gigai."
"I thought the Imaging Department's intel was inaccurate..."
"But finally found you..."
"Kuchiki Rukia..."
Renji said after observing with a device resembling night-vision goggles.
Below, Rukia, running along the street, recalled her recent life, feeling deeply reluctant to leave.
"I actually feel reluctant... How embarrassing, Kuchiki Rukia!"
"Have I stayed here too long?"
Rukia couldn't help but think.
"That's right—!!"
"It seems you understand very well yourself, Rukia!"
Renji suddenly appeared on a utility pole ahead of Rukia.
"You are... Renji?!"
Seeing Renji, Rukia was very surprised.
Because Renji wore a Lieutenant's armband.
Moreover, this was the first time they spoke since the rift formed years ago over the Kuchiki Clan's adoption.
But as soon as Rukia spoke, Renji suddenly slashed at her.
Bam!
Finally, Renji's attack, about to hit Rukia, suddenly veered, striking the ground before Rukia, blasting a large crater.
"We've already caught up behind you, yet you keep thinking to yourself, completely unaware. And my slash just now wasn't fast. Even with a gigai, you should have dodged. It seems you really have no power left."
Renji couldn't help but say angrily.
"Speak up, Rukia! Where is the one who stole your power?"
Renji demanded.
"What... what are you saying? Although I use a gigai, that doesn't mean my power was stolen!"
"Let alone how a human could steal my power!"
Rukia flatly denied.
"Don't lie to me, Rukia. The one who stole your power is human! Because your expression now is too human-like!"
"Kuchiki Rukia, born in the Rukongai like me, adopted by the great noble Kuchiki Clan, receiving noble education to become a Shinigami… how could you possibly show such a human-like expression?!!"
"Right, Captain Kuchiki?!"
Renji looked behind Rukia.
Hearing 'Captain Kuchiki', Rukia's heart tightened. She stiffly turned her head to see Byakuya standing behind her.
"Byakuya-nii?!!"
Rukia said with difficulty.
"Rukia..."
Byakuya said expressionlessly.
Rukia inwardly groaned. She didn't expect that to capture her, the Soul Society even sent Captain-level Byakuya.
At this moment, Renji attacked Rukia again.
Powerless, Rukia could only dodge backward awkwardly.
"Rukia! Transferring Shinigami power to a human is a grave crime. Not deploying the Punishment Force to execute you directly but entrusting us is already considering the Kuchiki Clan's noble status. So cooperate a little, confess honestly. We must kill that human who captured you and even stole your power."
Renji pressured.
In truth, Renji knew Rukia protecting that human likely meant she willingly transferred her power.
Even so, Renji insisted it was that human forcibly stealing Rukia's power.
Because only then could all blame be shifted onto that human, reducing Rukia's culpability.
Even if it sacrificed that innocent human, as long as it lessened Rukia's charges, Renji would stop at nothing!
"Come on, Rukia! Don't shield him! Tell us quickly! Where is that human who stole your power?!"
Renji urged anxiously.
Seeing Rukia still unwilling, Renji pointed his Zanpakuto at her, trying to force her to reveal the human's whereabouts.
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, a spirit particle arrow shot toward Renji!