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In the dim underground passageways beneath the Seireitei...
Ryo Yagami walked briskly through the wide, shadowy corridor, with Orihime Inoue following close behind.
This passage was originally built for the stealth force of Division Two to move quickly and discreetly, but Ryo was using it now as a shortcut to the Senzaikyū.
As they ascended a flight of stairs, Ryo spoke quietly, "We're almost there."
Behind him, Orihime took a deep breath.
She glanced at Ryo, who still wore the disguise of Uryū Ishida, then thought of Ichigo Kurosaki and the others— friends risking their lives to rescue Rukia Kuchiki.
The fact that their mission was now so close to success… thanks to someone whose allegiance was unclear at best… left her feeling more than a little conflicted.
But by then, Ryo had already reached the end of the passage. He pressed his hand against the wall, activated a simple unlocking Kidō spell, and gently pushed it open.
The soft glow of dusk spilled into the tunnel as Ryo stepped out into the center of a cylindrical building.
Orihime followed him out, and the hidden door quietly shut behind her.
Ryo pointed to a spiral staircase ahead and said calmly, "Go up those stairs. That's where Rukia's being held."
Orihime took another breath and gave him a deep bow. "Thank you."
Ryo glanced at her with a smirk. "I never said I was here to help you rescue her."
She didn't argue—just replied quietly, "Still... thank you for giving me the chance to try."
Ryo raised an eyebrow, his tone turning a bit teasing. "You really want to save her that badly?"
Orihime paused, then nodded, her voice firm and honest. "Yes. I want to save Rukia."
After all, her brother had been able to pass on peacefully in part thanks to Rukia. Now that Rukia was the one in danger, it only felt right to return the favor.
She'd once been saved by Rukia—how could she turn her back now?
Ryo blinked in mild surprise. "Huh. I figured you were doing it for Ichigo. Guess I was wrong?"
"Why would you think that? What does this have to do with Ichigo?" Orihime looked genuinely puzzled.
Ryo gave her a sly look. "Isn't it because you're in love with him?"
"Eh? I am?" Orihime froze.
Ryo turned his head to observe her more closely. He couldn't really tell if she was lying... but something told him this girl was just genuinely kind. No ulterior motives.
He let out a low chuckle. "I thought you were just pretending to be a saint. Turns out you're the real deal, huh?"
"Eh? A saint? Me?" Orihime blinked, confused by what she thought was a compliment.
But Ryo didn't feel like chatting any further. His tone flattened as he said, "We're here."
Orihime snapped back to the moment and realized they were standing in front of a large open doorway.
Just beyond the door, on a wooden bridge connected to the chamber, stood four figures dressed entirely in white—clearly guards.
Orihime looked nervously between Ryo and the guards. "Wait… we're just going to walk in?"
"Relax," Ryo said. "We've got a big boss on our side. Those guards can't even see us."
With that, he stepped in—and saw her.
Rukia Kuchiki, kneeling on the ground, her hands nailed to the wall behind her.
The moment she heard footsteps, Rukia lifted her head and looked at him.
"Yo~!"
Ryo said casually.
He stared at the girl before him—her onion-shaped hairstyle, sharp features, and that oddly delicate but resolute expression.
"You're... Uryū Ishida?" Rukia asked, staring at him with suspicion.
It was then that Orihime peeked out from behind Ryo and greeted her softly, "Good afternoon, Rukia. Are you okay?"
"Orihime Inoue..." Rukia's lips twitched slightly as she sighed.
"I was already shocked to see that idiot Ichigo show up here, but now you too? Seriously?"
What the hell was Ichigo thinking?
She knew Orihime had awakened some spiritual abilities before she left, but dragging her into the Soul Society? That was borderline criminal!
The whole thing felt like some reckless kid dragging his girlfriend into the mafia.
And now, all she felt was a deep, gnawing guilt—guilt that a girl in the prime of her life might end up dead because of her.
Orihime walked up to her and touched the lock on the restraints. "Anyway, let's get you out of here—"
"I refuse," Rukia cut her off coldly.
"Eh?" Orihime froze, clearly not expecting that.
The princess, locked in the tower, felt more annoyed than grateful.
"I came back here with full intention of facing my punishment. Why do all of you keep acting like I've been wrongfully imprisoned?"
"You seriously think I've lived in the Soul Society for over a hundred years and don't understand how its laws work?"
"B-but still," Orihime stammered, clearly flustered. "Isn't it too harsh to be sentenced to death just for giving Ichigo the power to save himself?"
"What's so harsh about it?" Rukia replied with a chill in her voice. "This kind of punishment was always on the table. I accepted that from the start."
"B-But..." Orihime was never good at arguing, and now she was really panicking.
Rukia, clearly done with the conversation, said firmly, "That's enough. Go back. Tell Ichigo this—his reckless actions are only making things worse for me... and bringing shame to the Kuchiki family."
If these idiots kept charging ahead like this, they weren't just going to get her killed—they might all die.
Even if her tone was harsh, she honestly hoped Orihime could talk some sense into them.
Hot-headed fools didn't realize how big this game was. If they all got killed because of her… how could she ever rest in peace?
Orihime looked from Rukia to the chains binding her, torn and unsure.
Then Ryo finally spoke. "Done catching up?"
Orihime turned toward him, eyes lighting up with hope. "Ryo-kun, can you please help convince Rukia?"
"Ryo?" Rukia repeated, staring at the figure dressed like Uryū. Her expression twisted in confusion.
He looked like Uryū—but he felt completely different.
No soft, nerdy energy. No frailty. This man had a commanding presence. The kind that reminded her of her brother, Byakuya, when he got serious.
Whoever he was, he was strong.
Ryo pushed his glasses up and spoke calmly. "Miss Onion-Head, I'm not exactly surprised by your attitude, but could you maybe tone down the self-righteous martyr act a little?"
"On—onion-head?" Rukia's face twitched.
This guy's mouth was even sharper than Uryū's! Her temple pulsed, and she forced a tight-lipped smile. "Who are you calling self-righteous?!"
"Who else?" Ryo smirked, then added, "Tell me—don't you think it's strange that something so minor would be a death sentence for you… just because you're a lesser noble?"
Rukia froze.
.
.
.