Keeping his promise, Ukitake traveled to the Tenth Division barracks to find Isshin Shiba.
"Captain Shiba, please come with me to your family estate," Ukitake requested gently, his face pale and drawn.
"Regarding Kaien's fate, I owe all of you an explanation."
Isshin looked at the sickly Captain, his expression hardening with grief as he gave a curt nod.
"Let's go. I hope your answers are worth hearing."
The two men walked in heavy silence, soon arriving at the sprawling Shiba family estate in the Rukongai.
Spotting the Captains approaching, the remaining members of the clan quickly gathered in the courtyard, led by Kaien's younger siblings, Kūkaku and Ganju.
Having lost their parents long ago, Kaien had always been the pillar supporting the family.
Learning that both their brother and their beloved sister-in-law, Miyako, had fallen in battle delivered a crushing blow to the siblings.
Standing at the forefront, Kūkaku glared at Ukitake.
Wearing her signature red cropped top bearing the falling-star crest and a white slit skirt, her prosthetic right arm hung rigidly at her side while the short blade strapped to it caught the sunlight.
Beside her, the tall and powerfully built Ganju clenched his fists, his trademark headscarf pulled low over his shaved eyebrow.
Burning with raw grief, the siblings had already heard the horrific rumor that Kaien was struck down by Ukitake's own hand, leaving them unwilling to offer any forgiveness.
Unable to suppress her boiling anger, Kūkaku stepped forward, her voice trembling as she shouted.
"Ukitake! My brother died by your sword! Where is his body? Are you not even going to return his remains for a proper burial?"
"You bastard!" Ganju roared, lunging forward to deliver a brutal punch directly to Ukitake's stomach.
Taking the blow without defending himself, Ukitake stumbled back with a suppressed cough.
Stepping between them, Isshin immediately grabbed Ganju's shoulder, pulling his nephew back as he ordered.
"Kūkaku, Ganju, stand down! Ukitake came here to give us an explanation. If his words ring hollow, you won't need to lift a finger—I will personally seek justice for Kaien!"
"Uncle!" Ganju pleaded, struggling against the Captain's grip, finding the harsh reality difficult to accept.
Clutching his bruised abdomen, Ukitake coughed into his sleeve and spoke.
"You have every right to be angry. This tragedy is my responsibility, and I do not deny that. But please, allow me to go inside and explain the details."
Wearing a gloomy expression, Isshin forced the siblings to suppress their urge to attack, turning to his fellow Captain to say.
"Come inside, Ukitake."
Taking a deep, ragged breath, Ukitake followed Isshin into the family's reception room, taking a seat on the tatami mats.
"Speak," Isshin demanded, crossing his arms.
Looking seriously at the grieving family, Ukitake lowered his hands to his lap and softly said.
"Captain Shiba, Kūkaku, Ganju... the truth is that Kaien is not dead. That's why I did not bring his body back."
The room fell dead silent, the siblings' eyes widening in shock as Kūkaku leaned forward, a desperate hope breaking through her anger as she asked.
"Is that true? Then where is my brother?"
Ukitake lowered his gaze, admitting slowly, "I'm sorry. I cannot reveal his location."
"Why?!" Kūkaku demanded, her anxiety spiking.
As Ukitake hesitated, Isshin's spiritual pressure flared slightly, his voice turn into a commanding tone.
"Ukitake, give me one good reason why you are hiding my nephew!"
Sighing helplessly, Ukitake looked up and asked. "Captain Shiba, do you remember the tragedy involving Shinji Hirako and the other Captains a hundred years ago, correct?"
"Of course I remember," Isshin frowned, the pieces slowly clicking together.
"A century ago, they were hunted down and sentenced to execution by Central 46 simply because their souls were tainted by Hollow power," Ukitake explained, his tone grim. "Kaien was fused with a parasitic Hollow. If I reveal that he is still alive, you know exactly what the central 46 will do to him."
Isshin's hardened expression softened as the political reality sank in.
"Then what is his condition right now?"
"His consciousness is trapped within the fusion," Ukitake answered, looking between the siblings.
"However, I am working with trusted allies to find a cure. For now, he has been placed in a secure stasis seal to prevent the Hollow from consuming him. Once we got a solution, he will be unsealed and treated."
Frowning at the secrecy, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed through Isshin's eyes, but he held his tongue, understanding that Ukitake was risking a treason charge to protect the boy.
Though anxious and heartbroken, Kūkaku and Ganju exchanged a long glance, realizing the Captain was trying to save their brother's life.
"Very well," Isshin said, his voice dropping to a heavy whisper. "Since that is the reality, we will not pry into his location. But I expect you to guarantee he will be brought back to us."
Nodding solemnly, Ukitake promised him, "Rest assured, Captain Shiba. Kaien is my Vice-Captain, and I will do everything in my power to bring him home."
"Now," Isshin prompted, "tell us exactly how the ambush happened."
Ukitake recounted the tragic night in detail, explaining Miyako's ambush, the monstrous nature of Metastacia, how Kaien fought to defend his wife's honor without his Zanpakutō, and how the boy had ultimately impaled himself on Rukia's blade to stop the Hollow.
Listening to the harrowing tale, Kūkaku and Ganju sat in stunned silence, their hearts heavy with a complex mix of grief and pride.
Breaking the silence, Ganju wiped his eyes, his voice thick with emotion as he murmured.
"So that's how it happened... Big Brother Kaien really fought to protect Miyako's dignity to the bitter end. That's why you didn't step in."
Ukitake offered a small, solemn nod.
Standing up, Ganju bowed deeply to the sickly Captain, offering a sincere apology.
"I'm sorry I struck you, Captain Ukitake. I misunderstood your actions! Please forgive my recklessness."
Waving his hand to dismiss the formality, Ukitake smiled sadly.
"There is no need for apologies, Ganju. You didn't know the truth, your anger is natural."
Stepping forward, Kūkaku offered a respectful bow of her own, her eyes softening.
"Thank you for telling us the truth, Captain. At least now we know the depth of his courage. We were too rash."
Smiling at the siblings, Ukitake felt the heavy misunderstanding finally lift.
Turning to Isshin, he asked, "Captain Shiba, are you satisfied with this?"
Isshin remained silent for a moment before nodding. "If the events unfolded as you say, then I have no reason to blame you."
"Then I will take my leave," Ukitake said, rising to his feet. "Please keep Kaien's survival a secret. If word leaks out, the consequences for him will be fatal."
After Ukitake departed, the three Shiba family members sat alone in the reception room.
"Uncle," Kūkaku asked, looking at the older Shinigami, "do you think Ukitake was telling the truth?"
"It should be," Isshin reasoned, crossing his arms. "If he were lying to cover up a murder, claiming Kaien is still alive would be a massive flaw in his story. Still, I will conduct my own investigation to confirm the details."
Turning his attention to his niece, Isshin placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, speaking earnestly.
"Kūkaku, with Kaien gone, the responsibility of leading the Shiba clan falls to you. Everything else is secondary right now."
"Uncle..." Kūkaku started, her voice catching in her throat.
"The future of this family depends on you," Isshin stated firmly, offering a supportive squeeze before turning to leave the estate.
Left alone in the quiet room, Ganju looked at his sister, wiping a stray tear from his cheek as he muttered.
"Sis... until Big Brother comes back, we're going to have to rely on you."
Though they found comfort in knowing Kaien was still fighting to survive, the crushing reality remained that their kind, gentle sister-in-law had truly left them forever.
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