Squad Four.
Kenpachi glanced at Orihime, then turned to Yachiru.
"Hey, Yachiru, is this girl one of Kurosaki Ichigo's companions?"
Yachiru peeked her head out from behind Kenpachi's back, glanced at Orihime, and replied,
"Yep! She's Ichigo's friend, alright!"
Orihime blinked at the odd pair in front of her, visibly confused.
Kenpachi looked her up and down.
"So, woman, if you're one of Ichigo's friends, I'm guessing you're here to save that Kuchiki Rukia too, huh?"
Orihime didn't fully understand the situation, but she still nodded.
Kenpachi grinned.
"Great. Then just come with me. I'll take you to save Kuchiki Rukia!"
"Eh? Why?" Orihime asked hesitantly, clearly not sure she could trust this wild-looking man.
"I owe Ichigo a favor. That's all," Kenpachi said bluntly.
"That's right! Ichigo and Kenny are best buds now after their fight!" Yachiru added cheerfully.
After hearing them out, Orihime chose to believe them.
After all, she was just a girl—and these two had no reason to lie.
Besides, Ichigo had been keeping a low profile.
For them to know his name… they were probably telling the truth.
"Alright, let's go! You walk way too slow—get on my back!" Kenpachi barked.
Without waiting for permission, Yachiru pulled Orihime onto Kenpachi's back.
The three of them charged out of Squad Four's medical building like a whirlwind.
Unfortunately, their journey didn't go as planned.
They were intercepted en route by two captains: Komamura Sajin of Squad Seven and Tōsen Kaname of Squad Nine.
And that wasn't all—their lieutenants, Iba Tetsuzaemon and Hisagi Shūhei, were with them.
Kenpachi wasn't bothered in the slightest. In fact, he looked thrilled.
"Hey, Yachiru, if I keep these two captains busy here, that'd help Ichigo out, right?"
Yachiru nodded.
"Yup! That would help tons! Go, Kenny! You'd better not lose!"
She then dragged Orihime off to the side for safety.
Meanwhile, Iba and Hisagi were intercepted by Ikkaku and Yumichika, who had been trailing quietly behind.
...
Atop the Sōkyoku.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood at the edge, fuming.
Only the captains and lieutenants of Squads One, Two, Four, and Eight were present.
None of the others had shown up.
He slammed his Zanpakutō into the ground in irritation.
Rukia was brought to the Sōkyoku platform by the execution guard.
Her expression was calm—not because she had accepted death, but because… no one had come for her.
It was clear her friends had likely already been defeated.
After all, she knew better than anyone just how powerful the Gotei 13 really was.
Still… so few had come to witness her execution?
That surprised even her.
Then, Byakuya quietly walked over.
The blood on his face had long since been wiped clean.
He stood next to Unohana without even glancing at Rukia.
"…Nii-sama…"
Rukia's voice was soft and conflicted.
Yamamoto glanced at the time.
Seeing that it was about right, he snorted.
"Hmph. Whether the others show up or not, the execution will proceed!"
Chōjirō Sasakibe gave a nod and waved his hand.
Two massive cubes descended from the sky and began hoisting Rukia upward.
Yamamoto looked toward her.
"Before your execution, do you have any final words?"
Rukia turned to him and pleaded,
"Please… let my friends return safely to the human world."
Without hesitation, Yamamoto replied,
"Very well. I shall grant you that request."
Hearing this, Isane frowned slightly and whispered to Unohana,
"How cruel. Even now, lying to someone about to die…"
Unohana gently shook her head.
"It's not a lie. It's to give her peace in her final moments. Look."
Sure enough, after Yamamoto's words, Rukia smiled with a sense of peace.
"Thank you, Head-Captain."
Then she closed her eyes.
One of the Sōkyoku's twin poles released its seal.
The long blade rose, engulfed in flames—transforming into a flaming phoenix hovering above the platform.
"Is that… the Sōkyoku? Said to equal the power of a million Zanpakutō?"
Ōmaeda gasped.
Soi Fon nodded with closed eyes.
"Yes. No Shinigami can survive a blow from that."
Rukia, facing the flaming bird, murmured quietly,
"Goodbye… Nii-sama. Goodbye… Ichigo."
"Begin the execution!"
Yamamoto barked.
The flaming phoenix screeched and dived toward Rukia—
CLANG!
A massive black blade stopped it in its tracks.
Ichigo had arrived—on time!
From below, Shunsui let out a breath of relief.
"Finally… if he hadn't shown up, I would've had to step in."
His hand had already gripped his sword hilt.
Unohana, calm as ever, remained serene.
She knew Ichigo would arrive.
Ichigo looked at Rukia's closed eyes and grinned.
"I was just a little late. Don't tell me you were really gonna let yourself die, Rukia?"
Rukia's eyes shot open.
"…I-Ichigo?"
"Of course it's me. I'm here to save you!" he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
At that same moment, Ukitake arrived!
"You're late, Ukitake!" Shunsui scolded.
"Hey, I got here exactly on time," Ukitake shot back, twirling the Shihōin divine armament in his hand.
He joined Shunsui, and the two of them, right in front of Yamamoto's blackened expression, sealed the Sōkyoku.
Unohana smiled at Yamamoto.
"Now, now, Head-Captain… don't be angry."
Yamamoto looked like he was about to explode.
"Damn you all… you act like I'm already dead or something!"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]