Chapter 64: I want to live.
"You've gotten quite strong, able to hold your own against Zaraki Kenpachi… By the way, have you achieved Bankai yet?"
"Not yet."
Facing Shimiya Takeru's question, Yoruichi swallowed her food and answered first, a mysterious smile on her face.
"But don't underestimate her. Even without Bankai, she can protect herself."
"In that case… tomorrow, you two will take Rukia and run. Brother Kurosaki and I will stay behind to hold off the enemies."
Shimiya Takeru mused.
"Just running away won't be enough, right? What other plans do you have? Tell me everything at once. I'll cooperate as much as I can."
A peculiar glint flashed in Yoruichi's eyes.
"There's no special plan, it's just… Sensei arranged for his Division's Lieutenant to feign death to attract others' attention and disrupt the situation. In reality, the Lieutenant herself isn't just supposed to hide and avoid detection; she has another mission."
Shimiya Takeru calmly recounted the rest of the plan.
"Sensei placed her in a secret research facility within the Fifth Division's jurisdiction. There, Sensei has prepared all the necessary equipment, the purpose of which is… to help Vice-Captain Hinamori, a Kido master, perform the Hōgyoku extraction surgery."
"As long as we rescue Rukia and bring her there, then complete the Hōgyoku separation, taking this hot potato out of her body, then Soul Society will no longer have a reason to kill her."
"In other words, once this step is completed, half the mission is accomplished."
"What about the other half?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.
Orihime also listened intently, not missing a single detail.
"The other half depends on whether Captain Hitsugaya, who is relentlessly pursuing Ichimaru Gin to investigate Vice-Captain Hinamori's death, can uncover his conspiracy on that very day and bring this farce to an end… Speaking of which, what preparations do you two have?"
After explaining, Shimiya Takeru asked again.
"It's not entirely nothing. To sum it up, there's only one thing: play it by ear."
Yoruichi replied lightly, her arms crossed.
But she wasn't feeling so lighthearted inside.
Only a heavy pressure.
Because Yoruichi didn't understand what Aizen truly wanted to do.
She deliberately fostered a good relationship with him, attempting to gather information on Aizen, but the information she gleaned from her conversations with Shimiya Takeru, far from clarifying the truth, made her feel further and further from it.
Calligraphy lessons, promoting juniors, imparting skills, helping with Bankai training, even soaking in hot springs together, and saying they had a pleasant and beneficial chat, followed by working together to rescue Rukia.
Although Shimiya Takeru seemed to mention it casually, without going into detail, and Yoruichi could discern that he wasn't deliberately beautifying his Sensei, even so, it made her feel incredible when she expanded her thoughts to imagine Aizen in this light.
Because every single thing resembled an extremely qualified Sensei… No, not even a qualified Sensei could be so dedicated, enabling Shimiya Takeru and Kurosaki ichigo to grow to such an extent in just a few months.
To say it was all for the Hōgyoku would be too much trouble, an unnecessary effort; even calling it manipulation seemed exaggerated.
This was… completely unlike the Aizen she and Urahara Kisuke knew. Could Aizen have turned over a new leaf?
Yoruichi almost suspected she had gotten lightheaded from the hot spring.
Now, the mysteries were piling up.
She could only play it by ear and choose to trust them for now.
Yoruichi sighed inwardly, then snapped back to reality, just in time to see Ichigo eating heartily, and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Ichigo…"
"What is it, Miss Yoruichi?"
"Did you persuade that idiotic younger brother of mine to send me a welcome gift?"
"Uh, I think something like that happened."
Ichigo paused, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, an ominous premonition vaguely stirring within him.
"Oh ho!"
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, a menacing smile on her face.
"I wondered why he suddenly sent me a bunch of cat food and cat toys, and the most ridiculous thing was catnip. So you were giving him ideas."
"…No, what he sent has nothing to do with me! Shigong, say something quickly! You're in the know too, help me explain! Ultimately, this is still your responsibility!"
"What are you talking about?"
Shimiya Takeru looked shocked.
First Division Underground Great Prison.
Rukia had never imagined she would one day be locked in a place like this.
A cage reserved for serious offenders.
Without torture, yet it managed to strip prisoners of all hope through its gloomy environment.
Even if one walked out of that cage on the day of their sentence, bathed in long-awaited sunlight, their heart would feel no warmth.
Only numbness.
Despair only comes after losing hope, and she had long passed that stage.
Breathing mechanically, walking mechanically to the execution stand.
It wasn't until she was hoisted dozens of meters above the ground, strong winds lashing her face, and she strained to gaze at the vast Seireitei, taking it all in, that a ripple stirred within her.
So, she was about to bid farewell to this world?
Rukia looked down at the crowd on the ground, almost immediately spotting her elder brother's figure.
She hadn't even considered that he wouldn't show up.
Seeing Kuchiki Byakuya's calm expression, Rukia felt a measure of comfort.
Her only remaining thought was that her death would not bring more sorrow to those around her.
"Renji…"
Rukia also noticed the red-haired man beside her elder brother.
He had a tense, anxious look on his face.
But not much sadness was visible.
Did he still think there was a chance?
Impossible. Central 46 would not retract its decision.
Though Rukia still didn't understand the Hōgyoku, she understood the necessity of killing a patient carrying a deadly virus.
Sometimes, such unavoidable actions leave no room for objection.
"Begin."
The Captain Commander waved his hand, and the Kido Corps collectively unleashed Sōkyoku.
It was a spear that pierced the heavens and earth.
Its appearance alone conveyed a chilling sharpness.
Its spearhead indeed possessed the destructive power of a million Zanpakuto.
Also known as "Hōgyoku King."
If this were also a genuine Zanpakuto, then its master's strength would surely be beyond imagination.
As the ropes binding the spear unwound layer by layer, shooting down to the base of Sōkyoku Hill to fix it in place, ensuring that even when "Hōgyoku King" was unleashed, it wouldn't simply fly away.
The spear itself transformed into a massive phoenix, singing loudly, flapping its wings. Each beat of its wings stirred up rolling heat waves, causing many in attendance to frown, some even raising their hands to shield their eyes, as its form was somewhat too dazzling.
"…"
Rukia slowly closed her eyes.
Before her death, she couldn't help but wonder one thing.
Was the Hōgyoku really inside her?
Why couldn't she feel it at all?
Such a terrifying, dangerous thing.
Would it truly only reveal itself when pierced by the Sōkyoku Spear?
But by then, her soul would surely have melted and disintegrated into nothingness.
She wouldn't get to see the true form of that thing.
To be dragged to her death, yet not even know what it looked like.
"Such a ridiculous life."
Rukia seemed to understand why her elder brother was unwilling to interfere. For someone of her commoner background to enter one of the Four Great Noble Clans was already an immense kindness; to protect such a person further would truly be shameless.
Thinking this, she finally felt at peace.
The phoenix gazed down at its tiny prey with a casual demeanor, preparing to strike.
Heat waves scorched her body.
Rukia unconsciously recalled her past.
If there was anything most unforgettable.
It was probably the first and second souls she personally performed Soul Burial for when she first went to the Human World to be stationed there.
It was truly good that they weren't here.
To die as a criminal in front of such excellent people.
Her, this so-called senior… would truly lose all face.
Screech!
The phoenix's sharp beak was about to touch her frail body.
"Rukia!"
Renji could no longer hold back, cursing in his heart, where had those two bastards gone, who had promised everything would be foolproof just a few days ago!
He gripped his sword, about to step forward, but Byakuya, without even turning his head, reached out and stopped him.
"Hmm?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai's perpetually narrowed eyes opened slightly, and he suddenly looked up at the sky.
Boom!
At the same time, two immense spiritual pressures descended from the sky like meteorites.
They forcefully caused the phoenix to momentarily freeze.
And also greatly startled the people on the ground.
"What… what is this!?"
Ōmaeda stammered, his burly body trembling, almost collapsing to the ground.
Suì-Fēng's pupils constricted, staring intently at one of the figures rapidly descending with the unrestrained spiritual pressure, seemingly unable to believe that the person would appear here, especially in such a manner.
"They're here…"
Byakuya's expression was solemn, as if he had expected it all along.
"So they were hiding in the sky, making me worry for so long…"
Renji was both surprised and delighted.
But then again, how did they do that!?
In mid-air, filled with a sense of weightlessness.
Such a short yet calm conversation suddenly rang out.
"Have you ever experienced a parachute-free descent, Brother Kurosaki?"
"How could I? My family isn't rich, and I don't want to die!"
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