Under the night sky, blood splattered.
The enormous blade that reflected the cold moonlight fell to the ground in two broken pieces.
Ichigo Kurosaki lay unconsciously in a pool of blood.
In his blurred vision, what he saw was Rukia's sad yet resolute gaze.
And the backs of those two Soul Reapers.
The Senkaimon slowly opened, white light shining forth.
The intense pain finally caused Ichigo Kurosaki to lose consciousness.
For the first time, he felt his own weakness.
He felt... the gap between himself and the strong.
At this moment, before entering the Senkaimon, Shigure suddenly turned his head slightly, looking back.
But he didn't look at Ichigo Kurosaki—instead gazing toward somewhere in the darkness.
A smile appeared on his face as he nodded slightly.
Then he turned back and walked steadily into the Senkaimon.
This action seemed meaningless.
However, at this moment, in the distant darkness under a locust tree, a figure in a black robe was suddenly shocked.
Urahara Kisuke.
"How... is this possible?"
"I'm already wearing a Reiatsu-concealing cloak..."
"And I deliberately kept such a distance... yet he still discovered me?!"
Urahara Kisuke's pupils contracted.
He was absolutely certain that Segawa Shigure's strange final action was definitely directed this way.
Because for a moment, their eyes had actually met.
"It seems... I was discovered from the very beginning."
Urahara Kisuke lowered his head, his expression grave.
"You really are... a terrifyingly strong person, Segawa."
Shigure's action directly indicated that from the beginning, he had discovered Urahara Kisuke observing from the shadows. He hadn't pointed it out, but had expressed it so subtly.
The Senkaimon ahead closed and disappeared.
At some point, it began to rain.
Endless raindrops struck the leaves overhead.
Rustling sounds arose, as if the entire world was left with only rain.
Urahara Kisuke calmly removed his hood and opened the umbrella in his hand.
He walked with slow steps toward Ichigo Kurosaki lying in the pool of blood ahead.
...
Inside the Senkaimon, Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Rukia, and Shigure moved forward in silence.
Shigure's expression remained unchanged.
Actually, not long after he found Rukia, he had used Resonance Vision to discover Urahara Kisuke in the distance wearing the Reiatsu-concealing cloak.
But he knew Urahara Kisuke wouldn't intervene.
So he didn't expose him either.
Next, if things went as expected, Urahara Kisuke would begin training Ichigo Kurosaki.
Making him release his own Zanpakuto—though that wouldn't be his true Zanpakuto either.
After that, their group would begin heading to Soul Society to rescue Rukia.
This way, things would develop according to the predetermined plot.
After an unknown amount of time, the Senkaimon reached its end.
The brown door opened, and Kuchiki Byakuya stepped forward first.
Shigure also quietly followed.
Rukia lowered her head, took a deep breath, then raised her head and slowly followed.
She knew that her current identity was no longer that of a 13th Division member.
But a criminal who had violated Soul Society's laws.
After all three had emerged, the Senkaimon closed.
Kuchiki Byakuya looked toward Shigure and said indifferently:
"Vice-Captain Segawa, please escort her to the 1st Division prison. I'll report to the Captain-Commander."
"Yes." Shigure bowed his head slightly.
Kuchiki Rukia slowly raised her head, looking toward Kuchiki Byakuya.
Hoping to see some emotion for her in his gaze.
But Kuchiki Byakuya didn't look at her at all, simply walking outside.
All that remained was a cold back.
"Captain Kuchiki." A 5th Seat officer from the 1st Division bowed respectfully outside the door.
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't respond at all, walking straight ahead.
Shigure looked toward Kuchiki Rukia beside him and smiled. "Let's go."
Rukia slowly lowered her head.
"Yes... Vice-Captain Segawa."
...
Shigure led Kuchiki Rukia, following the 1st Division members forward.
Each division actually had their own prisons, though they were generally used for temporary detention.
For example, the traitor Kanisawa who had appeared in the Dangai before was first held in one, then later transferred to the Confession Palace.
Currently, Central 46 had only issued orders to arrest Rukia, not punishment orders, so naturally she would be temporarily detained here.
The two came to the prison and slowly moved forward.
Rukia said quietly: "Vice-Captain Segawa... thank you."
"Hm?"
Shigure was startled, not understanding the meaning of Rukia's sudden words.
Kuchiki Rukia showed a wan smile on her face.
"Just now... when dealing with Ishida, thank you for holding back."
When she saw that even Shigure'sHado #1: Sho had such tremendous power, she had already understood.
Shigure... was definitely Captain-level.
If he had used higher-level Kido at that time, Ishida might have died.
Shigure's eyes moved, not expecting her to mention this.
He smiled. "It's nothing. I don't dislike those who extend aid to their companions."
Hearing this, Rukia's gaze trembled as she gently lowered her head and said nothing more.
Ichigo Kurosaki had been personally struck down by Kuchiki Byakuya.
And Byakuya never held back against anyone he considered an enemy.
The best possibility was that he would survive and live on as an ordinary person.
Entering the cell, the guard Soul Reaper locked the prison door with special chains.
Shigure looked at Rukia's back and said indifferently:
"Then I'll take my leave first."
Rukia sat on the black chair with her back to him, not responding.
Shigure turned around, preparing to leave.
But she suddenly stood up and turned to look at him.
Tears seemed to glisten in her eyes.
"Vice-Captain Segawa... please, in place of Kaien-san, in place of me... protect the 13th Division well..."
With that, she bowed deeply.
"Please."
Hearing her words, Shigure's eyes moved as he smiled.
"You'll be able to do that yourself when you return to the 13th Division."
With that, without looking at Rukia's expression, he turned directly and walked away from the cell.
But Rukia, still bowing, showed a bewildered expression on her face.
He said... I could do it... what did he mean?
From the moment she saw Kuchiki Byakuya appear in the World of the Living, she understood that her crimes could not be forgiven by Soul Society.
But now, Segawa Shigure had suddenly said such words.
"Can I really... return to the 13th Division..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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