Kurosaki Ichigo was stunned, failing to grasp exactly what Asakura Yoh meant.
"After all, Rukia lived under the same roof as you for several months. You can't just stand by and watch."
Yoh's words were shocking. Even Kuchiki Byakuya's stoic, icy mask almost cracked, and Abarai Renji's naturally fierce eyes widened instantly.
Both men looked first at the silent Rukia, then at the clearly embarrassed Ichigo.
"Don't make it sound so misleading! Rukia only stayed at my house because she had nowhere else to go!" Ichigo explained frantically.
Rukia quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Besides, if I weren't by his side at all times, what would happen if a Hollow appeared?!"
Rukia didn't dare look at her brother as she spoke. If her brother—who valued noble etiquette above all else—knew she had been living in a man's closet during her time in the World of the Living...
'Hiss—! I can't think about it, I can't even imagine it...'
"By his side at all times..."
Byakuya murmured, repeating the most significant part of Rukia's excuse.
"No! Brother Byakuya!"
Rukia felt like she was only digging a deeper hole for herself.
"Say no more." Byakuya seemed to lose interest in the conversation, or perhaps he simply didn't want to hear anything more that might irritate him.
"The mission is complete. Renji, we're leaving."
Byakuya leaped down from the air, landing beside Rukia—who kept her head down, not daring to meet his gaze—and addressed Renji.
"..."
However, no one responded. An awkward silence filled the air.
"Renji," Byakuya said, his tone sharpening significantly.
"Oh! Ah! Right..."
Renji finally snapped out of his trance. He shot one last fierce glare at the grounded Ichigo before jogging over to his captain and Rukia.
His Zanpakuto acted like a massive key, twisting in the air to reveal an ancient wooden sliding door that slowly creaked open.
"Rukia—!"
Rukia couldn't help but look back at Ichigo one last time before she left. Her eyes held gratitude and a sense of longing, but no regret.
She had been happy during this time. In fact, she hadn't felt this relaxed or joyful since she and Renji had left the Rukongai.
As the Senkaimon closed, the silhouettes of the three Soul Reapers gradually vanished from sight.
Following their departure was the sound of police sirens and an abrupt, distinct sound of hands clapping together.
"Alright, alright. Good work, Mr. Asakura. And Ms. Kurosaki, could I trouble you to leave your son to me for the time being?"
Urahara Kisuke appeared out of nowhere, holding his paper umbrella.
Kurosaki Masaki didn't answer. Instead, she closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh before retreating back into Yoh's shadow.
"Yeah, I'll leave him to you," Yoh said on her behalf.
"Wait! What the hell? What are you going to do to me? Why didn't anyone ask for my opinion?" Ichigo blinked rapidly in confusion.
"And Mr. Ishida? You seem to be injured as well. Would you like to come to my humble shop for some recovery?" Urahara asked Ishida Uryu, who was already preparing to leave.
"No need. I'm fine."
Uryu wasn't just being stubborn; compared to Ichigo, his injuries were quite superficial. Despite his short temper, Renji hadn't actually intended to use lethal force on a human.
While his body had recovered, his spirit was another matter. He had always wanted to prove that a Quincy could surpass a Soul Reaper, yet today he had been easily handled by a common Soul Reaper—or so he believed.
"Is that so? It certainly seems that way," Urahara said, tipping his hat. He didn't press the issue further.
"Now, Mr. Asakur—?"
When he turned back around, Yoh was nowhere to be found.
"My, my... Mr. Asakura's skill at concealing his presence is becoming quite refined..."
'Is it because of that weapon made of Sekkiseki...? Also, the name carved on it seemed like...'
"Hey! Clogs-and-Hat! Are you even listening to me!"
Ichigo, who had been acting as background noise for a while, finally couldn't help but roar, though the outburst sent a sharp pain through his left shoulder.
"Very well then, Mr. Kurosaki, let us be off."
"Off? Where exactly are we—Hey! Wait a minute, what are you doing? Put me down, I can walk!"
Ignoring all of Ichigo's protests, a massive, muscular man wearing an apron and glasses picked him up in a princess carry.
"At least change the position! Aaaaargh—!!!"
"Do not struggle, Prince Strawberry."
"You bastards! I'm going to kill you!"
...
Yoh arrived in a secluded forest and dragged out several unconscious Soul Reapers he had hidden, along with a few Hell Butterflies he had trapped in a special cage.
These were the monitors assigned to oversee Byakuya and Renji's apprehension of Rukia.
Yoh had dealt with them before arriving at the scene.
Renji, being as dense as he was, likely hadn't noticed, but Byakuya definitely had.
Whether out of some hidden compassion or something else, Byakuya hadn't called him out on it.
In truth, Yoh didn't even need to show up today; with Urahara watching, there was almost zero chance of things going truly wrong.
The main reason he came was for an experiment: first, to test the stone tablet on his back, and second, to see if he could use a Soul Reaper for an Oversoul.
Though he had encountered a few Soul Reapers stationed in Karakura Town before, he didn't want to expose himself to the Soul Society too early.
As for the three at Urahara Shop...
He didn't want to risk a mental breakdown by trying them...
And then there were the Visoreds, but he wasn't familiar with them yet, and it wasn't time to meet them.
Someone like Abarai Renji was perfect.
If Renji knew that Yoh had been targeting him from the very beginning, one could only wonder how he'd feel.
He'd probably turn into a total berserker on the spot...
Having finished his business, Yoh sent a message to Yukio—who was back at the base charging his console while maintaining his ability—telling him he could release the technique. Then, Yoh slipped back home.
As for Arisawa Tatsuki's inevitable fury, he would just have to leave that for tomorrow's version of himself to handle.
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