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"Brother… my lord…"
When Rukia saw Shiraha's familiar face, her pupils shrank and her composure wavered. Ten years had passed since he had left Seireitei to live in the Human World. She had not seen him since.
Never had she imagined that when Soul Society finally ca for her, they would send him—Captain of the Seventh Division—to be her arresting officer.
"Why that look? Are you not happy to see ?" Shiraha's tone was light, a smile on his lips.
The last ti he had stepped into Karakura Town, he had glimpsed her in passing. But she had not noticed him then.
"No… I just didn't expect you to co here in person, brother." Rukia shook her head quickly. Her heart was conflicted—overjoyed to see him after so long, yet pierced by the cruel reality of the situation. She had always imagined their reunion would co when he returned from the Human World to Seireitei, not like this, with shackles of duty between them.
"And I am not the only one," Shiraha said softly. "Renji is here, and so is your elder brother."
Rukia felt a crushing wave of spiritual pressure behind her. She turned, paling at the sight of Byakuya Kuchiki standing in the shadows. His gaze was cool, his voice as still as ice.
"Rukia."
The na alone, spoken without inflection, made her body tremble.
For Soul Society to send Captain Shiraha and Vice Captain Abarai was already startling. But for Byakuya himself—Captain of the Sixth Division, head of the Kuchiki clan—to appear in person, that filled her with dread.
"Tell , Rukia," Renji barked, Zanpakutō in hand. "Who took your Shinigami powers? Speak now. With Captain Shiraha and Captain Kuchiki standing here, maybe we can lessen your punishnt."
If she admitted the truth, perhaps—perhaps—Central 46 might show leniency. At least the weight of execution could be reduced.
"It was… a human," Rukia whispered.
"I know that!" Renji snarled. "Do you think I can't see it? Your expression—so human after just a few months! You should be ashad. You, who were born in Rukongai like , should know how many would kill for the chance you were given—adopted by the noble Kuchiki family!" His voice thundered. "Rukia Kuchiki! Have you forgotten who you are?"
Rukia's breath caught. Childhood mories of Rukongai flooded her—the hungry nights, the fleeting joys, the desperate bond with those she once called family. Then the day Byakuya had adopted her, giving her the Kuchiki na and a place among nobility. That mory twisted painfully against her current sha.
"Rukia," Renji pressed, "to pass on Shinigami powers to a human is a cri of the highest order. The law says you should already have been executed. The Head Captain has spared you that, entrusting the matter to us. Do you understand what rcy that is? Tell where that human is and I'll end him myself!"
His words drove into her like knives. The suffocating weight of their spiritual pressure forced her to her knees.
"Brother… Brother Byakuya… I can explain…" Her voice shook. She wanted to speak, to confess that she had only ant to share half her powers with Kurosaki Ichigo, never all of them. She had miscalculated, and everything had been drained from her in an instant, leaving her powerless and trapped in this gigai.
But when she looked into Byakuya's indifferent eyes—cold, distant, unmoved—her words withered in her throat.
"Enough, Renji," Shiraha said lightly, placing a hand on the vice captain's shoulder. "You'll only frighten her further."
Renji's jaw clenched, but he lowered his blade. "Yes… Captain Shiraha."
His harshness had not been cruelty—it was desperation. If Rukia confessed and identified the human, her sentence could at least be lessened. He had only wanted to force the truth from her.
"Rukia," Shiraha said, stepping closer, voice gentler now, "co back with us to Soul Society. I'll stand by you. You won't suffer too harsh a fate with here." He extended his hand to her, steady and warm.
"Brother…"
The gentleness in his expression pierced through her fear. For a mont, warmth spread in her chest. She raised her hand slowly, almost ready to place it in his.
Then a streak of blue light split the air.
A spiritual arrow whistled from the darkness and hurtled toward Shiraha.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed, catching the trajectory in an instant.
"Captain Shiraha, look out!" Renji shouted, flash-stepping forward. His blade swept through the arrow, cleaving it in two. Reishi scattered into glowing dust, dissolving into the night.
Renji shifted his stance, eyes narrowing at the shadow that lingered at the edge of the street. "Who's there!"
"Calm yourself, Renji," Shiraha said evenly, not moving.
From the gloom, a voice spoke—cool, deliberate. "Three ard n against an unard girl. I cannot stand by and watch. It disgusts ."
The figure stepped into the glow of the streetlight. He wore a crisp shirt, bandages wrapped around his hands. Short blue hair frad a sharp face, glasses glinting as he adjusted them with his left hand. In his other hand he carried an ordinary plastic bag.
Ishida Uryū.
"You can see us?" Renji demanded, leveling his blade. "Who are you?"
"Nothing special," Uryū replied, his voice steady. "Just her classmate."
"Ishida… why are you here?" Rukia managed, pushing herself upright, shock coloring her expression.
"A coincidence," Uryū said, though his eyes betrayed sharper intent. "I didn't feel your reiatsu, and I was concerned. Don't misunderstand—I'm not worried about you. I was rely curious." He tilted his chin upward with quiet pride.
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