Kurotsuki's body twitched as feeling returned to his limbs.
Slowly, he forced his heavy eyelids open.
The first thing he saw was a painfully bright blue sky — serene, almost mocking. But the illusion shattered as his eyes roamed around. He wasn't lying in a field. Cracked stone walls and heaps of overflowing trash surrounded him. A filthy alley.
He exhaled, a humorless breath escaping his lips as he pushed himself off the ground.
"So… this really is Bleach," he muttered. "Which means the Shinigami dumped me in Soul Society." His eyes narrowed.
Who would've thought those bastards would throw me into some slum? 'Good place,' they said. Yeah, right.
He glanced at the cracked walls, the stench of rot, the grime clinging to the air.
Good place, my ass. Even a dog kennel would've been better.
For a moment, his smirk faded, replaced by a cold thought.
Maybe this is my punishment… for all the people I killed.
He shook it away. No point dwelling.
Barely two steps in, two figures appeared at the end of the alley, walking straight toward him.
Gaunt. Dirty. Smiling like hyenas.
"Oh? Look what we got here!" one sneered.
"A kid, huh? Heh… we can sell him for a decent price. Come quietly, brat. Won't hurt you… much."
Kurotsuki tilted his head, regarding them like insects chattering at him. Then a slow, dangerous smile crept onto his face.
"Oh? Two lambs walking into the slaughterhouse? How generous."
The insult hit. The men's smiles twisted into snarls as they charged.
Kurotsuki's eyes widened theatrically, his voice trembling.
"W-What the hell is that?!"
Instinct made them spin around.
He didn't waste a heartbeat. Darting forward, he slid between the legs of the bigger man and slammed a fist into the man's most vulnerable spot.
The man let out a strangled gasp, collapsing to his knees, clutching himself. For the first time in his miserable life, fear — pure, primal fear — flashed in his eyes.
Kurotsuki smirked.
"Not so tough now, huh? And to think you fell for such a childish trick."
Before the man could react, Kurotsuki's fingers shot forward and gouged both eyes in one brutal motion. The scream that followed was bloodcurdling, echoing through the alley as the man thrashed and rolled in the dirt.
The second man froze, stunned by the sight of his friend being torn apart by what looked like a child. That moment was all Kurotsuki needed.
"You idiot!" the man finally roared. "He's just a damn kid—"
Before he could finish, Kurotsuki lunged, sinking his teeth into the man's hand. Pain exploded; blood gushed. In a split second, Kurotsuki dropped, twisted behind him, and delivered a brutal kick to the groin.
As the man doubled over, Kurotsuki drove his bloodied fingers into the man's eyes without hesitation.
Both men writhed on the ground, howling like wounded beasts.
Kurotsuki stood over them, panting, blood running down his chin.
"This is why you treat kids nicely," he spat. "Tried to strangle a seven-year-old? Consider this karma."
But luck wasn't on his side.
As he stepped out of the alley, a dozen more men appeared, armed with pipes and rusted blades.
"Shit…" His smirk faded. "Guess karma works both ways."
They swarmed him, dragging him back into the alley. Brutal blows rained down. He curled into a ball, covering his head and stomach, teeth gritted.
Minutes passed. Bruises covered him; his ankle twisted unnaturally. Breaths shallow.
I'm… gonna black out. Too many… too weak…
Then it happened.
A piercing, inhuman scream split the air.
Everyone froze.
Hollows tore through his attackers, heads ripped off, bodies tossed aside like toys.
Kurotsuki tried to run, but pain in his ankle dropped him to the ground. Crawling, he dragged himself toward the exit — then stopped. Another Hollow blocked his path.
Silence.
Then he laughed. Low. Broken. Maniacal.
"Hah… hahaha! So this is how it ends, huh? Fine. Come on then. You want me? You'll have to fight for it."
He forced himself to his feet, wobbling against the wall, fists raised like a cornered beast. Breathing slowed, mind sharpened.
"Dying for the third time in 24 hours," he muttered. "What a shitty day."
A voice cut through the tension — distant, thunderous.
"…let me kill them."
Kurotsuki's head snapped up.
"Who the hell—?"
"I'll tear them apart. They were drawn by your reiatsu. Let me take over."
Before he could react, the Hollows lunged. Pain exploded in his skull, blinding red flashing across his vision. His body burned — alive in fire.
A crimson light erupted in a violent shockwave.
BOOM!
When dust settled, silence. No Hollows. Just rubble raining from cracked alley walls.
Kurotsuki collapsed. Relief never came.
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him: a tall man in a white haori, blond hair shining in the light.
Two Days Later
Darkness again. Always darkness.
Kurotsuki groaned as consciousness crept back. Head throbbing.
"…ugh. Damn it."
Opening his eyes, he first saw flowers. Beautiful, delicate flowers.
"Huh… guess I did die," he muttered.
"No," came a calm voice from his right. "Not yet."
Kurotsuki shot upright, breath catching.
A man in a pristine white haori over black shihakusho stood beside the bed. Long white hair framed a calm, almost gentle face.
Recognition flashed in Kurotsuki's eyes.
If memory serves… Ukitake Jushiro.
The man smiled warmly.
"You're an unusual child. I was informed of Hollow activity near the seventieth district of Northern Rukongai. Investigated personally. Two negative reiatsu… then a crimson explosion wiped them out. I found you at the epicenter. Captain Unohana healed you, but… most children would panic. You sit there calm as ever."
Kurotsuki frowned.
"…Where am I?"
Jushiro's brows rose, snapping him from his thoughts.
"You're safe," he assured gently.
Kurotsuki's mind sharpened.
Great. He thinks I'm a normal kid. But if I play helpless now, I'm done for. This isn't just any Shinigami — this is Ukitake Jushiro.
A faint smirk curved his lips as he looked up at the captain.
"Alright then," he said coolly, "where exactly is this room?"
Jushiro's eyes widened ever so slightly.
Even after all that… calm? Composed? Incredible. For a seven-year-old, unheard of.