In the distance, Byakuya suddenly let go of the Zanpakuto in his hand and gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Seeing Byakuya's movement, Ichigo's heart tightened. 'Is he attacking from this distance?'
Swish!
Byakuya's figure instantly appeared behind Ichigo.
Squelch!
Blood spurted wildly from Ichigo's body.
Then, Ichigo's body slowly fell backward.
As he fell, Ichigo's mind was filled with confusion.
'What happened?'
'Was I stabbed?'
'Was it from behind or the front? I can't tell at all...'
'My body hurts...'
He had no perception of Byakuya's attack.
Ichigo only remembered Byakuya gripping the hilt of the Zanpakuto at his waist, and then, the next instant, he was falling.
"You are truly dull."
"Even falling down is so slow."
Watching Ichigo's figure slowly toppling backward, Byakuya remarked indifferently.
'It's been a long time since I've seen Captain Kuchiki's Senka! It's really amazing! I only caught a glimpse of his first strike. The moment of his second strike, even the moment he sheathed his sword, I couldn't see. If even I am like this, that kid probably hasn't realized what happened yet!' Renji thought to himself.
'By the way, what was that powerful Reiatsu he emitted just now...?' Renji pondered in confusion.
"Renji, what is it?"
Seeing Renji lost in thought, Byakuya asked.
"Nothing... It's just that a guy like him didn't require the Captain to step in. I could have handled him alone."
Renji said, glancing at Ichigo lying on the ground.
"No need to say that. If I always stand by idly, my skills will eventually get rusty."
Byakuya said nonchalantly.
"Ichigo!!"
At that moment, Rukia in the distance saw Ichigo lying on the ground, his condition unknown. She immediately cried out and rushed towards the fallen Ichigo.
"Rukia, that's enough!!"
Renji shouted angrily, grabbing Rukia by the neck and pinning her against the wall.
"Let... let go of me, Renji! Ichigo, he—"
"That's enough, Rukia! Look clearly! He is already...! Why worsen your crime for the sake of a dead man? If you touch him now, your sentence will be increased by twenty years! Don't you understand—?!" Renji roared.
"So what?! Ichigo is because of me...! What's wrong with me going to the side of someone who died for me?!"
Rukia retorted without hesitation.
At that moment, Byakuya suddenly spoke.
"Must you go over there? To his side."
"Nii-sama..."
Rukia looked at Byakuya.
"Rukia, I understand. The reason you value this boy so much is because he resembles 'him', isn't it?"
Byakuya said calmly.
At the mention of 'him', Rukia's body stiffened. The image of someone who died years ago resurfaced in her mind.
Rukia understood the 'him' Byakuya referred to was Shiba Kaien.
Apart from their hair color, Ichigo and Kaien looked exactly alike.
Immediately, however, Byakuya continued, "But he is already dead. What's the point of talking about resemblance now… Hm?"
Byakuya suddenly noticed that Ichigo, lying at his feet, had moved again and was even reaching out to grab his clothes.
"Don't... so easily decide... that I'm dead."
Ichigo said with great difficulty.
"Let go, boy."
A cold glint flashed in Byakuya's eyes.
While he wasn't particularly obsessive about cleanliness, as a noble, Byakuya valued neatness. Seeing Ichigo grab his clothes with a blood-stained hand, a trace of anger rose involuntarily in Byakuya's heart.
"Cough... Sorry, I didn't hear... Can you look at me and say it?"
Ichigo still tightly gripped Byakuya's clothes.
"Is that so? Do you not want your hand anymore?"
Byakuya looked down at Ichigo beneath his feet.
Hearing Byakuya's words, Rukia's heart tightened, and she acted first.
Thump!
Rukia kicked away Ichigo's right hand, which was grabbing Byakuya's clothes!
Ichigo: "?!"
Byakuya: "!!"
Renji: "!!"
"Wh-what are you doing, Rukia?"
Ichigo looked at Rukia with disbelief.
Rukia, however, said coldly and ruthlessly, "Who do you think you are?! How dare you grab my brother's clothes with your filthy hands?! Know your place, boy!!"
Ichigo shpwed a bewildered expression. "Rukia..."
Ignoring Ichigo, Rukia turned to Byakuya. "Nii-sama, let's go! His actions just now have made me see things clearly! So, take me back to the Soul Society! I want to repent and atone for my sins!"
"Hey, wait! Rukia! What are you saying?!"
Ichigo said with a look of disbelief, as if on the verge of collapse.
Then, Ichigo struggled, trying to crawl towards Rukia.
Thud!
Renji stepped on Ichigo's back.
"Hmph! Still not behaving even at death's door."
Renji snorted coldly.
"There's no need to finish him off. Just leave him be. He's as good as dead anyway. Let's return to the Soul Society, Nii-sama."
Rukia said to Byakuya.
With that, Rukia turned, ready to leave with Byakuya.
"Wait! Rukia! What kind of joke is this?!"
"Hey! Look at me, Rukia!"
Ichigo shouted.
"Stay there! Don't move!"
Rukia yelled without turning around.
"Don't even think about trying it! If you dare to follow, I will never forgive you!"
"Since you're about to die, it's better to lie there and cling to life a little longer, even if it's pitiful."
Rukia's voice choked with sobs.
Seeing Rukia like this, even Byakuya's heart softened slightly. He then looked at Ichigo and said, "For Rukia's sake, I will not strike again. In any case, those two strikes just now have destroyed your Saketsu and Hakusui. You will be dead within half an hour. Even if you miraculously survive, your Reiryoku will be completely gone, and you will become an ordinary human."
"Renji, open the Senkaimon. Let's go back."
Byakuya said to Renji.
"Yes!"
Renji nodded and opened the Senkaimon.
Subsequently, Byakuya, Rukia, and Renji all stepped into the Senkaimon.