Rain didn't fall like water.
It fell like a warning.
The streets shone in cold reflections—neon signs smeared into the puddles like ink. Somewhere far away, a train passed with a lonely metallic howl.
Renji walked without an umbrella.
Hands in pockets.
Coat heavy with rain.
He didn't mind.
He preferred the sound of rain.
It covered footsteps.
It covered breathing.
It covered mistakes.
---
1
The market district was quiet now.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that doesn't mean peace…
It means something is watching.
Renji stopped near a collapsed building.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The air felt… wrong.
Not fear.
Not danger.
Something sharper.
Like a blade hanging above his neck but not falling yet.
Then—
A soft metallic click.
A sound so small it could've been rain hitting metal.
But Renji recognized it instantly.
A trigger.
He moved.
Not fast.
Not dramatic.
Just… precise.
A bullet slammed into the exact spot his head had been.
Concrete exploded.
Renji's coat fluttered as he stepped into shadow.
Another shot.
Another.
Three bullets cut through rain like lines drawn by death.
Renji didn't panic.
He tracked the direction.
Rooftop.
Six o'clock.
Distance: 80 meters.
A sniper.
And not an amateur.
Because the bullets weren't random.
They were calculated to trap him into movement.
Renji's lips lifted slightly.
"Cute."
He stepped out again.
As if daring them.
A fourth bullet came—faster.
Renji tilted his shoulder.
The bullet grazed his sleeve, ripping fabric.
Not hitting flesh.
Yet.
So the sniper adjusted.
Renji smiled faintly.
So the sniper was smart.
Renji's gaze sharpened.
Then—
Everything went silent.
The rain didn't change.
But Renji felt it.
The shift.
The sniper wasn't alone.
Someone else entered the area.
Not in the streets.
Not on rooftops.
In the shadows.
Renji's fingers twitched inside his pockets.
He didn't draw Kokuen.
Not yet.
Because Kokuen was for enemies who deserved it.
This wasn't that.
This was something else.
A test.
---
2
He moved deeper into the alleyways.
He knew the layout.
He'd bled here before.
Years ago.
His footsteps were quiet enough that even a stray cat wouldn't hear.
But the presence followed.
Like an echo.
Then—
A voice spoke.
Not loud.
Not from behind.
Not from ahead.
From everywhere.
"I expected more."
Renji stopped.
Slowly raised his gaze.
A figure stepped into the weak streetlight ahead.
Tall.
Lean.
Wearing a long coat like Renji's—but cleaner.
Neater.
Elegant.
His hair was dark, tied back.
His face was calm in a way that wasn't human.
Like emotions had been removed carefully from his mind.
He smiled politely.
That smile wasn't warmth.
It was surgery.
He spoke again.
"Kurozaki Renji."
The name came out like an evaluation.
Renji stared at him.
"…Who are you?"
The man bowed his head slightly.
"Kurogami Seijuro."
Renji's eyes didn't widen.
But something in his chest tightened.
Not fear.
Recognition.
The name had weight.
Not in the streets.
In the skies.
The kind of name that didn't belong to gangs.
It belonged to the people behind them.
Seijuro's voice remained smooth.
"I've been watching your return."
Renji's tone stayed quiet.
"So what?"
Seijuro's smile sharpened.
"So I came to correct a mistake."
Renji tilted his head.
"What mistake?"
Seijuro lifted his hand slightly.
And in that moment—
Renji realized.
This wasn't a gang fight.
This man wasn't here to threaten him.
He was here to erase him.
Seijuro spoke softly.
"You're alive."
A pause.
"That shouldn't be possible."
Renji's eyes darkened.
"You're from the Council."
Seijuro didn't deny it.
Instead, he stepped forward once.
The rain parted around him like it feared touching him.
Renji felt it.
A pressure.
Not aura.
Not intimidation.
Authority.
Like the city itself was forced to obey this man.
Seijuro spoke:
"Do you know why the Council exists?"
Renji didn't answer.
Seijuro continued anyway.
"To keep the city stable."
His tone was calm, almost kind.
"Gangs are allowed. Violence is allowed. Territory war is allowed."
Renji's jaw tightened.
Seijuro's smile widened slightly.
"But legends…"
A pause.
"…are not allowed."
Renji's hand slipped out of his pocket.
His fingers reached for Kokuen.
Seijuro's eyes flicked down.
"You brought a sword."
Renji didn't speak.
Seijuro's face stayed calm.
"I brought something better."
A click.
Not from a rooftop.
From inside the alley.
A hidden door opened.
Three men stepped out.
All wearing masks.
Not gang masks.
Military masks.
Their posture was too clean.
Too trained.
One held a baton.
One held a short blade.
One held a chain weapon with metal weight.
Renji exhaled.
So Seijuro wasn't here with brute force.
He was here with execution.
Seijuro pointed gently.
"Show me."
Renji stared.
Then slowly unsheathed Kokuen.
The blade didn't shine.
It swallowed the light.
And the red edge glowed like restrained anger.
Seijuro's eyes narrowed with interest.
"…That sword."
Renji's voice lowered.
"You know it?"
Seijuro smiled.
"I know who made it."
Renji's fingers tightened.
Then—
The masked men attacked.
---
3
They didn't rush.
They moved like machinery.
The baton user aimed for Renji's joints. The chain user aimed for his legs. The blade user aimed for his throat.
No wasted movement.
No emotion.
Renji stepped aside and slashed once.
The blade user barely blocked—too skilled.
So Renji adjusted instantly.
He pivoted, used the rain-slick ground, ducked under the baton swing and kicked upward.
The baton user flew back into the wall.
Renji didn't stop.
The chain weapon whipped toward him.
Renji slashed the chain.
Sparks.
The chain didn't break.
It was reinforced.
Renji clicked his tongue quietly.
The chain wrapped around Kokuen.
The weight yanked.
Renji's sword was pulled off balance.
That was the plan.
The blade user lunged in instantly for the throat.
Renji released Kokuen.
Dodged.
And punched.
One punch.
Clean.
The masked man's head snapped sideways.
He dropped.
Then Renji grabbed the baton user's wrist mid-recovery and twisted.
A crack.
The baton hit the ground.
Renji grabbed it and slammed it into the man's ribs.
The man collapsed.
Only the chain user remained.
But Renji had a problem.
His sword was trapped.
The chain tightened.
And the chain user pulled hard.
Renji's eyes sharpened.
Instead of resisting…
Renji stepped forward.
Into the pull.
The chain user's eyes widened.
Too late.
Renji's knee smashed into his stomach.
The chain loosened.
Renji ripped Kokuen free and—
A slash.
Not fatal.
A cut across the mask.
A warning.
The chain user staggered back, terrified.
Renji turned toward Seijuro.
Rain dripped down his jaw.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were colder now.
Seijuro clapped slowly.
Soft applause.
"Excellent."
Renji raised Kokuen.
"You brought toys."
Seijuro's smile remained polite.
"They were to observe you."
Renji's eyes narrowed.
"Then fight me yourself."
Seijuro sighed softly.
Like a teacher disappointed.
"If I fight you…"
He began walking forward.
"…you will not survive."
Renji didn't flinch.
Seijuro stepped into sword range.
And then—
He vanished.
Not speed.
Not teleportation.
Just… disappearance.
Renji's instincts screamed.
He twisted—
A strike hit his ribs.
The force was unreal.
Renji flew backward and crashed into the wall.
His breath left him.
His vision shook.
He coughed.
Blood dripped from his lip.
Seijuro stood a few meters away.
Still calm.
Hands behind his back.
Not even wet from rain.
Renji stared at him.
So this was what true power looked like.
Seijuro spoke:
"You're fast."
Renji exhaled slowly.
"But you're still sloppy."
Renji pushed himself up.
Seijuro stepped closer.
Renji slashed—
Seijuro dodged with barely any movement.
Renji slashed again—
Seijuro's finger touched the blade.
Just a touch.
And Kokuen was forced aside like it was nothing.
Renji's eyes widened slightly.
Seijuro leaned in and whispered:
"You rely on instinct."
Renji tried to knee him—
Seijuro caught the knee and twisted.
Pain shot up Renji's leg.
Renji gritted his teeth.
Seijuro's voice stayed gentle:
"You rely on fear."
Renji clenched his jaw and punched—
Seijuro caught it.
The grip was cold.
A grip of absolute control.
Seijuro's eyes met Renji's.
"And you rely on myth."
Renji's breath trembled.
For the first time…
Renji felt it.
Not fear.
Not panic.
But the reality:
> He could die here.
Seijuro released him.
And Renji dropped to one knee.
Blood fell into the puddle.
The puddle turned dark.
Seijuro looked down at Renji like he was reading a page.
Then he spoke.
"You have one chance, Renji."
Renji's eyes lifted.
Seijuro's smile returned.
"Disappear again."
Renji's voice was low.
"No."
Seijuro sighed.
"…Stubborn."
He lifted his hand.
Renji tightened his grip on Kokuen.
He prepared to die if he had to.
Then—
A sudden beep echoed.
A sharp electronic chirp.
Seijuro's eyes flicked to the side.
A second beep.
And then…
every streetlight in the area shut off at once.
The alley plunged into darkness.
Rain became invisible.
Only silence remained.
Renji froze.
Seijuro's smile faded.
He whispered:
"…Interesting."
A third beep.
A flash of blue light—like a small EMP pulse.
Seijuro's masked men collapsed instantly, as if their nervous systems shut down.
Renji stared.
Even Seijuro's calm expression tightened for the first time.
A voice came through the darkness.
Female.
Soft.
Cold.
Not emotional.
But not empty like Seijuro.
"Aren't you tired…"
A pause.
"…of controlling weak things?"
Seijuro's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Kaede."
Renji's gaze snapped upward.
Kaede.
So that name was real.
Seijuro spoke calmly:
"Still hiding behind toys?"
The voice replied:
"They're not toys."
A pause.
"They're your weakness."
Something moved above.
A shadow on the rooftop.
A slim figure.
Hooded.
Holding a small device glowing blue.
Renji couldn't see her face.
Only her eyes.
Sharp.
Quiet.
Alive.
Kaede spoke:
"Renji."
Renji's throat tightened.
So she knew him.
She continued:
"Move."
Renji didn't hesitate.
He launched into the darkness, sprinting down the alley.
Seijuro moved instantly to chase.
But Kaede pressed a button.
A loud metallic crash echoed.
A dumpster fell from a rooftop—blocking the alley.
Seijuro stopped.
Not because he couldn't move.
But because it delayed him one second.
And one second was all Renji needed.
He vanished into the rain.
---
4
Renji ran until the city blurred.
Until the pain in his ribs became fire.
Until his lungs burned.
He stopped under an old bridge.
Rain poured down.
His knees gave out.
He collapsed.
Blood soaked his shirt.
His breathing shook.
So this was the price.
The price of being a legend.
Renji stared at his hand.
It trembled slightly.
Renji hated that.
He hated weakness.
He hated it more than anything.
A soft sound came near him.
Footsteps.
Renji's fingers tightened on Kokuen again.
Then the hooded figure approached.
Slow.
No fear.
Kaede crouched beside him.
She finally lowered her hood.
Her hair was dark.
Her face was calm.
Eyes sharp like a blade.
She looked young.
Yet she carried the stillness of someone who'd seen death often.
Kaede glanced at his bleeding ribs.
Then back at him.
"You fought Seijuro."
Renji's voice was rough.
"…I didn't lose."
Kaede stared at him.
Then she gave a small, almost amused breath.
"That's not what survival means."
Renji's eyes narrowed.
Kaede took out a small pack.
Bandages. Medicine.
Tools.
She began treating him calmly.
Efficiently.
No panic.
Renji watched her.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
Kaede didn't answer immediately.
She pressed gauze to the wound.
Renji winced slightly.
Kaede spoke:
"Because you came back."
Renji's gaze sharpened.
Kaede continued, voice quiet:
"And if you came back…"
A pause.
"…then the Council will move."
Renji stared at her.
Kaede finally met his eyes.
"You can't fight them alone."
Renji's jaw tightened.
Kaede leaned closer.
Her voice became colder.
"Even ghosts get hunted."
Silence.
Rain.
Renji's eyes lowered.
He hated hearing it.
But he knew it was true.
Kaede stood up after patching him.
She turned away.
Then said one last thing:
"If you want to win…"
A pause.
"…stop being a myth."
Renji's eyes lifted.
Kaede walked into the darkness.
Disappearing like she was never there.
Renji sat alone under the bridge.
Breathing slowly.
Blood still dripping.
But his eyes changed.
Not softer.
Not kinder.
Sharper.
More awake.
Renji whispered, almost to himself:
"…So the real war begins."