Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, a full year had gone by since Rukia Kuchiki joined the Thirteenth Division.
Though a single year was not long in the lifespan of a Shinigami, it was more than enough for Rukia to gradually adapt to the rhythm and responsibilities of Squad Thirteen. From patrol duties in the Rukongai to assisting in routine Hollow purification assignments, she had begun to settle into her role.
Byakuya Kuchiki's earlier considerations had not been without merit.
Even within Squad Thirteen, Rukia occasionally faced ridicule. It was subtle, rarely voiced openly, yet unmistakable. The contradiction of her identity bearing the prestigious Kuchiki name while originating from the Rukongai made her a target for quiet disdain. To some, she was an outsider cloaked in nobility.
Had she entered Squad Six, the "noble squad," that treatment would have been far harsher, far more overt.
Fortunately, Squad Thirteen was not devoid of warmth.
Shiba Kaien, the vice-captain, treated Rukia with genuine kindness, never once regarding her with prejudice. His wife, Miyako Shiba the Third Seat of the division was equally considerate, often offering guidance and encouragement. Under their care, Rukia gradually found a sense of belonging.
As a result, she held deep respect for both Kaien and Miyako.
On this particular day, a routine mission turned into something far more dire.
A small unit from Squad Thirteen had been dispatched to Rukongai for a Hollow purification assignment. The mission parameters suggested minimal threat nothing beyond the capabilities of seated officers. Miyako Shiba led the team personally.
However, not long after, an emergency report reached the Seireitei.
The unit had been attacked.
Upon receiving the news, Kaien's expression changed instantly. There was no hesitation, no deliberation only urgency. After briefly informing Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, who was recuperating in the First Division's infirmary, Kaien immediately departed using Shunpo, rushing toward the site alone.
By the time he arrived, silence had already claimed the battlefield.
The area was in ruins. The ground was torn apart, trees uprooted, and traces of violent Reiatsu still lingered faintly in the air. But what struck Kaien the most was the absence of life.
No movement. No voices.
Only fragments remained.
Shattered clothing. Broken Zanpakutō fragments. Bloodstains that had yet to dry.
Kaien's breathing grew heavy as his eyes darted across the scene. The spiritual pressure he released became unstable, betraying the turmoil within him.
He searched frantically.
Again and again, sweeping the area with his spiritual sense, refusing to accept the possibility that he had already arrived too late.
Then
He felt it.
A faint but unmistakable Reiatsu.
Miyako's.
Without hesitation, Kaien followed the trace, crossing over a shallow river and rounding a massive rock formation. What came into view froze him in place.
Miyako lay collapsed on the ground, her body soaked in blood, her uniform torn and stained. Her breathing was shallow, her Reiatsu flickering weakly like a candle on the verge of extinction.
And standing before her
A Hollow.
It was grotesque and abnormal even by Hollow standards. Its body resembled that of a spider, supported by multiple elongated limbs. Dark green flesh contrasted with a white, bone-like mask. From its body extended long, crimson, seaweed-like tendrils that swayed unnaturally.
Its presence alone radiated danger.
When it noticed Kaien, the Hollow slowly turned, its hollow eye sockets locking onto him.
"Another Shinigami?" it rasped, its voice distorted and chilling. "Have you come to be devoured as well… or are you offering yourself willingly?"
"Damn you…"
Kaien's voice trembled not with fear, but with fury.
The sight before him ignited something uncontrollable. The destruction, the fallen comrades, and above all, Miyako's condition everything converged into a single, burning rage.
Without hesitation, he drew his Zanpakutō.
"Let the waves rise and turn the heavens… Nejibana!"
With the release command, his blade transformed into a trident. A swirling current of water formed around it, responding to his Reiatsu.
Kaien moved instantly.
Using Shunpo, he closed the distance in a flash, his trident sweeping forward. Water spiraled violently, forming a rushing torrent as he launched his attack.
But the moment Nejibana made contact
Something was wrong.
The sensation was off. It felt as though his strike had sunk into something soft, something that absorbed rather than resisted.
The Hollow's crimson tendrils shifted, wrapping and cushioning the impact. The force of Kaien's attack dissipated unnaturally.
Realizing the danger, Kaien immediately disengaged, retreating with Shunpo.
But in that instant
The Hollow moved.
Its tendrils shot forward, extending rapidly toward Miyako's fallen body.
"Be angry… despair… watch closely," it hissed, almost gleeful. "Watch her die in front of you."
"NO!"
Kaien roared.
He surged forward again, spinning Nejibana. Water gathered violently, forming a rotating vortex around him.
His body transformed into a spiraling torrent as he launched another attack, aiming to intercept the Hollow.
But he was too late.
The tendrils had already reached Miyako.
Desperation filled his vision.
For the first time since becoming a Shinigami, Kaien felt utterly powerless.
Then
A flash of lightning tore through the battlefield.
Blinding, instantaneous, and overwhelming.
The bolt struck the Hollow directly, its body convulsing under the impact. Though it possessed the ability to absorb attacks, this strike clearly affected it. Its form trembled violently.
At the same moment, the tendrils binding Miyako were severed.
Freed, her body fell.
Kaien reacted instantly, abandoning all offense. Using Shunpo, he caught her before she hit the ground, retreating rapidly to create distance.
The Hollow let out an enraged screech.
Its prey taken from its grasp.
Unacceptable.
It lunged forward in pursuit, its limbs digging into the ground as it accelerated.
But before it could reach them
A figure appeared.
Standing calmly between Kaien and the Hollow.
The air shifted.
Without drawing a Zanpakutō, the figure raised a single fist.
Then struck.
A surge of overwhelming Reiatsu erupted with the blow. The force alone distorted the air, and the Hollow's massive body was sent flying backward, crashing violently into the terrain.
Silence followed.
Only the fading crackle of residual spiritual pressure remained.
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