Rukia Kuchiki staggered into the Kuchiki estate, her expression tense with unease-something rarely seen on her. She moved quickly to the elders' room, opened the door, and bowed her head deeply.
"Please, elders… Please save one person."
None of the elders turned to face her. They remained seated with their backs to her in silence.
Rukia's face stiffened. Her legs gave out slowly as she sank to her knees, fists clenched tightly at her sides. "Elders… Please save Yuta…"
No response came. She remained there in silence, unmoving.
Sunlight filtered in across her dark hair, giving it the slightest trace of reflection as the moment dragged on without reply.
Finally, one of the elders spoke from within the room.
"Rukia, after so many years, has the elite education of noble blood taught you nothing?"
"Have you lost your sense of restraint and dignity?"
"The difference between nobles and commoners remains unchanged."
"For someone of low birth, this is not worth it."
"You may not even be aware that the only reason you were allowed into the Kuchiki family was due to your elder brother's persistent pleas."
Rukia's breath caught in her throat as the elder's words continued. Her gaze lowered as understanding settled in: to the elders of the Kuchiki family, she had always been marginal-accepted due to pity or obligation, not lineage or merit. No one here would break protocol for her sake.
Without another word, she stood and turned from the room, her eyes firm with resolve.
Even if the Kuchiki family would not act on her behalf-she would rely on her sword to change what she must.
…
Deep in the underground prison of Soul Society, Soi Fon escorted Yuta into the holding cells. He had surrendered his three Zanpakutō without resistance. After closing the gates, she turned to her subordinates.
"You're dismissed."
Once they'd gone, Soi Fon remained in place under the muted light, her expression unreadable. She glanced at him, then asked, "Those people… Was it you who killed them?"
Yuta met her stare and smiled slightly. "What if I say no? Would you try to save me then?"
Soi Fon frowned. "Why are you… joking at a time like this?"
Her tone sounded somewhere between annoyed and concerned. Did Yuta even grasp his situation?
"You're in prison now. You could be put on trial at any moment."
Yuta only shrugged. "And?"
Soi Fon hesitated. The casual confidence in his answer left her momentarily at a loss. It felt as though even captivity couldn't touch him-as if he believed that even crushed under judgment, he could rise again from below the ground.
He looked over at her again and spoke frankly. "As head of the secret corps, it's your duty to hunt down anyone who betrays Soul Society. Right now, that person… is me. So why are you even thinking about saving me? Unless…"
His gaze narrowed. "Do you like me?"
Soi Fon flared bright red and snapped, "Wh-who likes you?!"
She turned on her heel, fighting to keep her face composed. "I ought to just kill you myself."
"Whatever happens next-you're on your own."
With that, she closed the cell door and walked away, each step louder than necessary as she left the corridor behind her.
Yuta smiled again to himself. Despite how cold she always appeared, Soi Fon had allowed herself to care-even if just for the moment.
His Zanpakutō had not been confiscated in truth. He had absorbed it into his inner world-a space created through the ability granted by the previous infinite realm he'd accessed. If people could be drawn into that world, then he could store objects there as well. It had become his personal internal space.
As for the three swords that were taken earlier, they were nothing but twisted branches. He had used the power of one specific Zanpakutō to cloak them with the illusion of being authentic-a hypnotic ability similar to Kyoka Suigetsu. While not as flawless, it did not require visual contact to be effective and could act on objects directly.
To anyone watching, the branches appeared as genuine Zanpakutō. No one doubted it.
Sometime later, footsteps returned to the cell block.
Kaname Tosen approached with measured pace, his dreadlocks swaying slightly with each step. The eyepatch he wore remained as always firmly in place. He stood outside the bars and looked in at Yuta.
"So now you've seen it with your own eyes… The ugliness of noble society."
"Even the elders of the Tsunayashiro household would sooner eliminate you than allow your Zanpakutō's ability to exist alongside theirs."
"No doubt your blade has already fallen into the hands of their family."
"There is only one Enra Kyoten allowed in this world."
"And since you have the second… they'll take it from you."
Tosen extended one hand as he continued. "Join us. Break free of these false hierarchies. Aizen-sama will create the world we actually deserve."
"This world is vast-if you agree, no cell in existence could hold us."
Yuta met his gaze coldly and answered, "You're not qualified to speak to me."
Tosen said nothing else. With silent steps, he turned and left the prison hall.
…
Next came another visitor-an old man, slight in frame.
Tsunayashiro Kitsune walked in with several silent guards in tow. He approached the three Zanpakutō left on display and picked them up, eyes narrowing with intent.
"They are impressive... A shame they'll soon belong to me."
"If not for the records in the Great Spirit Book Corridor, I wouldn't have realized your Zanpakutō shared its ability with the Enra Kyoten passed down through my clan."
"But there cannot be two of them."
"My Zanpakutō has the ability to absorb and claim other blades-but I am limited in how many times I may use it."
"These three are plenty, and you… will remain trapped here until your bones rot."
Yuta met his gaze calmly, then gave him a slow smile.
"You know my Zanpakutō copies others… and you're confident enough to try and take it?"
Kitsune's expression faltered.
Before he could speak again, the guard behind him drew their blade-and with one clean motion, sliced his head from his shoulders.
Tsunayashiro Kitsune died wide-eyed and speechless.
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