Chapter 215: Kurosaki's Desperation
"So those individuals have already begun contacting him?"
Within Las Noches, a balcony existed from which one could observe Hueco Mundo's starry expanse. At this moment, a round, brilliant white moon hung suspended within the night sky.
Beneath the darkness, Fiander leaned against the balcony railing. A gust of cold wind swept upward, disturbing his disheveled long hair—the sight appeared extraordinarily tranquil.
"Kurosaki Ichigo appears to want relying upon them to restore his strength. I fear both sides will establish deeper contact."
Ichimaru Gin stood behind Fiander, reporting these past days' intelligence to the other party while expressing his personal assessment.
"Perhaps Soul Society is also awaiting this opportunity. I've discovered that Urahara Kisuke has already taken action!"
"Urahara Kisuke? This indeed matches his operational style. Perhaps he genuinely can succeed this time!"
Fiander gazed upward at the luminous moon. He extended his slender, pale fingers and danced them through the moonlight, as though attempting to grasp the full moon and make it dance within his hands.
"Should we deploy our forces prematurely? If Soul Society genuinely intervenes, I fear it won't prove advantageous for us!"
After hesitating momentarily, Ichimaru Gin still voiced his concerns. After all, he, Aizen, Fiander, and others had begun planning decades prior. Kurosaki Ichigo's growth could be witnessed vividly.
For a human being to reach this level within mere months—even without Hollowfication, even with his extraordinarily unstable Reiatsu—he'd already surpassed most of Gotei 13's captains.
Ichimaru Gin, like Fiander, remained equally optimistic regarding this human teenager's prospects. Consequently, he'd proactively assumed the tedious task of traveling to the human world to monitor him.
"Soul Society? Unnecessary. Kurosaki Ichigo's heart has already descended into chaos. Currently, he won't trust anyone except himself—whether myself, Soul Society, or even Urahara Kisuke. That's precisely why I've invested such tremendous effort regarding him. Gin, you understand—if you want someone to trust you, you must spend extraordinarily prolonged duration performing actions beneficial to them. However, if you wish to create a fissure within someone's heart, perhaps it requires merely a single word or even one action. You labor arduously to maintain the relationship between both parties and construct a foundation. Yet as long as one party harbors doubts regarding you, then... your efforts become utterly meaningless. So... Gin, emotions prove extraordinarily complicated and fragile. A simple individual cannot survive within this world. I must make Kurosaki Ichigo comprehend this truth!"
While speaking, Fiander never diverted his gaze from the brilliant moon, as though something catastrophic would transpire if he blinked even once.
"Time favors us. Current Soul Society hasn't yet noticed this power. Even if Urahara Kisuke remains more vigilant than Kurosaki Karin, that's the extent of it."
After releasing a prolonged sigh, Fiander closed his eyes and turned to walk past Ichimaru Gin. "Let's return, Gin."
"This night stretches long, and numerous individuals are destined to suffer insomnia."
After speaking, Fiander's figure vanished from the balcony. Ichimaru Gin watched Fiander's disappearing form, his eyes opening slightly, his expression growing solemn as though contemplating something profound.
"Emotions? Are you warning me? How tedious!"
A contemptuous smile curved at the corner of Ichimaru Gin's mouth. He returned to his previous demeanor and departed quietly.
Several days later, light rain fell across Karakura Town. At this moment, the sky had darkened considerably. Few pedestrians walked carrying umbrellas along the streets. Essentially no communication occurred between them, lending Karakura Town beneath the rain a touch of profound indifference.
Splash!
On this rainy night, Kurosaki Ichigo—physically injured—hid within a corner trembling violently. With assistance from Ginjō Kūgo, he'd regained his strength, only to become another's prey.
At this moment, holding an umbrella and gripping a black bookmark-like weapon, Tsukishima Shūkurō pursued Kurosaki Ichigo unhurriedly.
Distance remained perpetually maintained between both, as though the hunter was deliberately consuming the prey's physical stamina.
Ichigo—finally exhausted from fleeing for his life—staggered and fell uncontrollably to the ground. The rain washed across his depleted body mercilessly. His face was filled with complete haggardness.
Yes, Ichigo was being hunted. This man named Tsukishima Shūkurō had altered the memories of everyone surrounding Ichigo, causing all those Ichigo cared for to abandon him.
Not only companions like Sado and Ishida, but even his own sisters—because their memories had been modified—believed that Kurosaki Ichigo had committed some terrible transgression.
Once Kurosaki Ichigo chose to fight Tsukishima Shūkurō, he would face opposition from the very people he'd once protected.
Confronted with this situation, Ichigo overflowed with grief and rage. He could only forcefully suppress the depression consuming his heart, able only to flee through this rainy night.
However, his opponent clearly didn't intend releasing Kurosaki Ichigo. Even though Ichigo had fled, Tsukishima naturally followed behind like a persistent parasite.
"Hss..."
Ichigo collapsed to the ground. Turbid sewage and rainwater drenched his eye sockets. His heart filled with overwhelming powerlessness. The fall just now had caused his already unstable Fullbring Reiatsu to disperse partially.
A small section of armor covering his body transformed into spirit particles and dissipated into the atmosphere. Tsukishima Shūkurō, following behind, witnessed this scene directly.
His figure flickered through the rainy night. Within mere breaths, the original distance of hundreds of meters closed instantaneously.
Ichigo raised his head and gazed tiredly at Tsukishima Shūkurō, who now stood directly before him. Both regarded one another. Tsukishima Shūkurō slowly crouched while holding his umbrella, positioned the black bookmark between his knees, extended his hand to press against Ichigo's head, and declared:
"How pitiful, Kurosaki Ichigo!"
Observing the stubborn defiance within the other party's eyes, Tsukishima Shūkurō didn't take it seriously. Instead, a touch of contempt appeared within his smile as he spoke:
"What manner of eyes are those? The bared fangs of a defeated dog? The companions surrounding you have abandoned you completely. Now you possess absolutely nothing!"
"Damn it!"
Ichigo's figure erupted with desperate energy. Supporting his body with one hand, just as he prepared to stand and retaliate, suddenly a figure descended from above and stomped upon his back. The tremendous force made Ichigo's vision darken. He nearly suffocated without drawing breath.
"Ack...!"
Trampled into the mud once more, in just that instant, Ichigo had lost all strength to escape.
"What are you doing, Tsukishima? Why hasn't he been dealt with yet?"
Hearing that person's voice, Ichigo felt profound chill surge through his heart, rushing directly toward his brain. His consciousness nearly suffocated entirely.
"Ginjō... is that you?"
Ichigo's consciousness had grown blurred. Speaking proved extraordinarily difficult.
"Hmm?"
Ginjō Kūgo looked down at Kurosaki Ichigo, who lay trampled beneath his foot, and spoke with obvious dissatisfaction:
"What? You still retain consciousness!"
The so-called Tsukishima Shūkurō and the entire Xcution organization represented nothing but a farce directed and performed by Ginjō Kūgo himself. He'd even requested Tsukishima Shūkurō alter everyone's memories.
"My apologies, Ginjō! It's simply because I was concerned the cornered beast would resist desperately, so I exhausted him throughout the pursuit."
Tsukishima Shūkurō greeted Ginjō Kūgo familiarly and spoke with a smile across his features.
"Ginjō..."
Listening to their conversation, even though Ichigo remained naive, he understood that Ginjō Kūgo—who'd supposedly been killed by Tsukishima Shūkurō previously—was actually the mastermind orchestrating everything behind the scenes.
"Kurosaki, you're so pathetic!"
Hearing Kurosaki Ichigo repeatedly calling his name, Ginjō Kūgo crouched down impatiently. He grasped the other person's hair and lifted him upward, displaying a malicious smile at the corner of his mouth.