"Kurosaki, what are you doing?"
Ishida Uryū's sharp voice cut through the air as he slapped Ichigo's hand away, his face tightening with irritation.
"Ishida, you idiot! Mr. Shiraha just taught you how to restore your Quincy powers and you didn't even thank him. That's rude," Ichigo shot back, squinting at Uryū with mock offense as he raised his hand again to ruffle his hair.
"Kurosaki, you bastard! Of course I'll thank him!" Uryū's voice cracked with anger as he smacked Ichigo's hand aside a second time and walked toward Shiraha. Straightening his posture, he said with sincerity, "Mr. Shiraha, thank you very much."
Shiraha smiled lightly. "No need to be so formal. You're Rukia's comrades, which makes you my friends as well, doesn't it?"
At that moment, the large portal before them began to glow with an intense, pure white light.
"It's time. Go," Shiraha said calmly, gesturing toward the world-transmitting gate.
Ichigo and the others nodded firmly and started forward. Yoruichi leapt gracefully from Shiraha's arms, shifting midair before stepping into the gate herself.
"Goodbye, Rukia. Goodbye, Mr. Shiraha," Ichigo called as the group turned back to wave.
"Thank you, Ichigo," Rukia replied softly.
As her words faded, the group stepped into the glowing gateway, vanishing beyond its blinding light.
"Rukia," Shiraha said after a pause, "your spiritual power should be recovering soon, right?"
Freed from the constraints of the Reigai bone seal, the flow of reiatsu within her was surging back faster each day.
"Yes, Brother. I think I'll be able to return to duty in a day or two," Rukia answered with a small nod.
Shiraha smiled. "With your current strength, you'll easily qualify for a seated officer position. Byakuya and Captain Ukitake have already agreed."
Rukia's eyes widened slightly. She had served under Ukitake in the Thirteenth Division for years, yet had never been promoted—not because of her skill, but because Byakuya had quietly asked Ukitake not to assign her to a seat, wanting to shield her from danger.
But that had changed.
After everything that had happened, Byakuya's stern heart had softened. Following her acquittal, he had personally brought up her promotion to Ukitake.
"Really? That's… wonderful. Thank you, Brother." Rukia's lips curved into a bright, grateful smile.
She thought of her peers—Hinamori, Kira, Renji—each having already risen to vice-captaincy or seated ranks. To say she hadn't been envious would've been a lie. Yet all this time, she'd believed her own weakness was the reason she hadn't advanced, pushing herself endlessly in training. Only recently had Byakuya told her the truth.
Still, she didn't resent him for it.
"At that time," Shiraha said warmly, brushing a hand gently over her hair, "work hard and don't let the Kuchiki name lose its luster."
"I understand, Brother. I'll give it everything I have."
Rukia met his gaze with resolve shining in her eyes, and Shiraha nodded approvingly.
"Good. Then let's go back."
Together, they turned and began walking toward Seireitei.
---
Present World – Karakura Town
After escorting Ichigo and his friends safely back from the Soul Society, Urahara Kisuke watched as each of them returned to their homes. He then boarded a hovering strip of white cloth alongside Yoruichi, Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu, gliding slowly through the night sky toward the Urahara Shop.
"What's wrong, Yoruichi-chan?" Urahara asked, noticing her quiet expression as she peered down at the streets below.
"Hmm? Nothing… just thinking. It's been a while," she murmured, her cat ears flicking lightly in the breeze.
"Yeah," Urahara said, his tone unusually subdued.
"Urahara," Yoruichi continued after a pause, "what's your plan now that Aizen and the others have defected?"
Urahara tilted his hat slightly. "Plans? None yet. We've all been through a lot. For now, we should leave things to Ichigo and the others. They'll have to bear the weight of what's coming next."
His gaze followed Ichigo running down the distant street, determination burning in the boy's steps. Urahara smiled faintly. "Once everything's finally settled… maybe we can find a peaceful way to die."
"Die with you? Who said anything about dying with you?" Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed sharply as Shiraha's image flashed in her mind. "If you want to die, do it alone."
Urahara turned toward her with a teasing grin. "Ah… so this is about Shiraha, isn't it, Yoruichi-chan?"
That earned him a sudden, furious swipe.
"Pfft!"
Yoruichi sprang forward, slashing at his face with her sharp claws.
"Ow! Ow! Yoruichi-chan, that hurts!" Urahara yelped, clutching his face as several red marks appeared.
Before he could recover, Yoruichi leapt again, her paws flashing. "That's what you get for running your mouth!"
Urahara's screams echoed through the night.
Watching from behind, Jinta rubbed his chin. "The shopkeeper and Miss Yoruichi are acting weird again… and did I just hear her mention Mr. Shiraha?"
"What's weird?" Ururu asked quietly.
"Well…" Jinta began, but before he could finish, Tessai raised a massive fist and brought it down on both their heads.
"Itai!" they both cried out, clutching their foreheads.
---
Seireitei – Seventh Division Barracks
Three days had passed since Ichigo and the others had left Soul Society.
Inside the Seventh Division's training hall, Shiraha exhaled slowly, lowering his hand after finishing a high-level Kidō sequence. Sweat glistened faintly on his forehead.
"Captain Shiraha, that was amazing! Here—have some water."
Hinamori Momo hurried forward, holding out a cup with both hands.
"Hinamori, shouldn't you be on patrol today?" Shiraha asked, taking the cup and draining it in one smooth motion.
She fidgeted slightly. "I, um… asked Kira to cover for me."
"Hinamori," Shiraha said softly, setting the cup aside, "you should focus on your duties."
He reached out and patted her head gently, his voice calm yet firm.
Her cheeks flushed. "Y-Yes, Captain Shiraha. I'll go now!" she stammered, bowing before hurrying toward the door.
As soon as she was gone, Shiraha's tone changed. "Come out."
His eyes narrowed slightly, his senses sharpening. He hadn't dismissed Hinamori just for formality—he had felt it clearly through his Observation Haki.
Someone else was here.
From the shadows of the dojo, a familiar presence emerged, smiling faintly with foxlike eyes.
Ichimaru Gin.
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