"Last farewell? What do you mean?" Ichigo looked at Rurichiyo in confusion.
Rurichiyo's expression was gloomy as she slowly said, "Sayuri is getting married."
That revelation shocked Ichigo. "Married? She's just a kid!?"
Rurichiyo nodded. "That's the fate of noble girls like us. If I weren't the only heir of the Kasumiooji family, I'd probably be facing an arranged marriage myself by now."
Her voice was filled with sorrow. "The family Sayuri is marrying into is known for being extremely strict. This might be the last time I ever see her again… That's why I snuck back to the Soul Society without telling Inuzō and Sarugaki."
"After that assassination attempt, they definitely wouldn't have let me return."
Her sadness deepened as she spoke.
Ichigo gently patted her head, unsure how to comfort her.
Marriage? Weddings? These were still far-off concepts to Ichigo. He never imagined that someone like Rurichiyo—who acted like a complete child in the human world—would already be thinking about marriage.
Rurichiyo wiped her tears and forced a smile. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
Thanks to Soifon, the nobles' attitude toward Ichigo had improved greatly.
Even though the Kasumiooji family was powerful, in front of a Captain of the Gotei 13, their status meant nothing.
In the Soul Society, power ruled. Even the Central 46 could barely stand against a Vice-Captain, let alone a Captain.
(Author's Note: A reminder—having Captain-level spiritual pressure doesn't make someone a Captain-level Shinigami. Ichigo had Captain-level reiatsu after fighting Kenpachi, but he still wasn't considered a Captain. The defining trait of a Captain is mastering Bankai. Spiritual pressure is the foundation; Bankai is the multiplier. So although Rukia, Senna, and Tatsuki might have reached that level in terms of pressure, it doesn't mean they could actually beat any real Captain. Think pre-Senjūmaru Ichigo—strong, but not Captain-class yet. I thought that was common knowledge, but apparently not, so here it is.)
As Ichigo waited, he suddenly heard Rurichiyo cry out.
He immediately flash-stepped toward her voice and saw a young girl holding a dagger, aiming for Rurichiyo!
Ichigo appeared just in time, deflecting the blade with his Zanpakutō.
Since it was a kid, Ichigo didn't strike with lethal force.
"You okay, Rurichiyo?" he asked, pulling her behind him protectively. The girl opposite him gave a sinister smile.
Just as she was about to attack again, the wall beside them exploded!
A massive figure emerged through the broken wall.
"Yo, Ichigo! You came to Soul Society and didn't come find me to spar?" Kenpachi Zaraki grinned as he stepped out from the rubble.
Behind him was a very awkward-looking Rukia.
The little girl didn't back down at all. She charged straight at Kenpachi with her dagger.
"Huh?"
Kenpachi blinked in surprise. Was someone in the Seireitei really trying to assassinate him?
He casually grabbed her wrist and growled, "Who the hell are you?"
From his shoulder, Yachiru peeked out. "Ken-chan, she's not really a kid. Her spiritual pressure's all wrong."
As soon as she said that, the girl's disguise melted away like a shed snake skin.
She revealed her true form—a tall, masked ninja!
You'd think this was a Naruto crossover or something.
And this lunatic? He had the audacity to charge straight at Kenpachi's face…
One slash. Instant knockout.
Soifon arrived just then, drawn by the noise. She blinked at the scene.
"Captain Zaraki? What are you doing here?"
"I came to find Ichigo. The real question is—what are you doing here, Captain Soifon?"
Soifon coldly huffed and flash-stepped to Ichigo's side. "I brought Ichigo here for the tea party."
That threw Rukia for a loop. I left for not even an hour… and Soifon's already clinging to him?
Kenpachi had no interest in tea parties. He turned to Ichigo. "If you're busy today, fine. Next time you come back, we'll have our fight."
And just like that, he and Yachiru walked off.
Soifon turned back to Ichigo, confused. "Since when are you close with Captain Zaraki? I've never heard him say he wants to spar with someone."
Ichigo sighed and explained: in Kenpachi's world, "play" meant a friendly death match with swords.
Soifon just shook her head. "Still the same Kenpachi…"
The earlier assassin didn't dampen Sayuri's mood either. After all, it was her last tea party before marriage.
When she learned Rukia was a Kuchiki heiress, Sayuri became visibly nervous—but Rukia didn't carry herself like a pampered noble at all.
"Do you really want to marry someone you've never met?" Rukia asked Sayuri quietly.
Tears welled up in Sayuri's eyes. "I don't even know what he looks like… How could I possibly want this?"
Neither Rukia nor Soifon said a word.
Both were strong, independent women in high positions. They couldn't really relate to the concept of forced political marriages.
Especially Rukia—she actually liked Ichigo. Her engagement with him felt mutual and heartfelt.
There was no sense of being forced. In fact, she even looked forward to it a little.
After the tea party, Inuzō and Sarugaki managed to escape the Kasumiooji estate and returned with Rurichiyo to the human world.
Before leaving, Ichigo pulled Soifon aside.
Seeing his serious expression, Soifon blushed. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers behind her back.
"Soifon, there's something I need to ask you," Ichigo said. "Can I trust you?"
Soifon nodded firmly. "Ichigo, I'd never reveal your secrets to anyone—you can trust me! Uh… except maybe Yoruichi-sama."
Ichigo twitched but let it slide. He could still trust her.
"I want you to investigate the Kasumiooji family."
Soifon frowned. "Them? What's worth investigating?"
Ichigo explained everything he'd seen in the human world: the strange spear, the mirror-like sword.
Soifon's brows furrowed. "They're known for weapon crafting, but none of those were ever officially supplied to the Gotei 13."
"I'll look into it. And what about Rurichiyo? She is the head of the Kasumiooji family. Can't you get the info from her?"
Ichigo sighed and shared Rurichiyo's current situation.
Soifon nodded, serious now. "Cloudbine Yakaku, huh? I'll keep an eye on him. If he's colluding with anyone inside the Gotei 13, I'll find out and let you know."
"Thanks, Soifon. There aren't many people in the Soul Society I can trust. I'm counting on you."
Ichigo really knew how to win people over—just a few words and he had Soifon completely on board.
Her face turned red again. "I won't see you off. Be careful on the way back."
Ichigo smiled and flash-stepped to rejoin Rukia.
As he left, Soifon's expression turned icy cold.
"Yakaku… let's see what secrets your Kasumiooji family is hiding."
—
Meanwhile, Yakaku knew better than to act again right now. A simple tea party had brought both Captain Soifon and Captain Zaraki down on him!
He might be ambitious, but he wasn't suicidal. If the Kasumiooji family really had power to match the Four Great Clans, they wouldn't be second-tier nobles.
So for now, he decided to wait… and strike again in the human world, where the Soul Society had no direct control.
—
"Ah! Ichigo, you finally came to save me!"
The moment Tatsuki saw him at Unohana's place, she ran up and hugged him like she'd been bullied by a demon.
Yep, Ichigo had come to visit Unohana.
He knew if he didn't stop by, she'd drain him dry the next time they met.
Tatsuki clung to Ichigo, hiding behind his back, glancing at Unohana like she was Satan.
"Retsu-nee, I won't be staying long. Let me get straight to the point," Ichigo said without formalities—they were close enough by now.
Unohana sensed his serious tone. "Go ahead."
Ichigo told her everything about the Kasumiooji family.
"I know you may not care much about this, so I asked Captain Soifon to handle it. It's her area of expertise."
Unohana gave him a curious look. "Then why tell me?"
"I just want to ask—if Captain Soifon ends up in danger, please save her."
"Is the Kasumiooji family really that dangerous?"
"Not directly. But their weird weapons have strange abilities. One slip-up and someone could get hurt."
Unohana nodded. "Alright. If Soifon is in danger, I'll step in."
With that reassurance, Ichigo finally relaxed and left with Tatsuki and Rukia, returning to the human world.
—
Back at Urahara Shop
Urahara Kisuke had finally returned!
Everyone gathered at his shop.
It was a bit cramped with so many people, but they made do.
"I've looked into the Kasumiooji matter," Urahara began. "I also made some discoveries of my own."
"My store's been short on supplies lately, so I went to the Soul Society to investigate. Turns out… something's being hidden."
"My goods are made of special spirit particles, and lately, they've been vanishing. The timeline? It all started when Rurichiyo arrived in the human world."
"You're saying… the Kasumiooji family is secretly harvesting them?" Rukia asked.
Urahara didn't answer directly.
Instead, Yoruichi, now back in her human form, spoke up.
"Though the Kasumiooji family is under the Shihōin, we don't really control them. There've always been rumors they possess dangerous weapon technology. That's probably how they've maintained their position."
"I suspect the materials Kisuke couldn't find are being used to forge new weapons."
Inuzō and Sarugaki exchanged looks—they hadn't known any of this.
Despite being called retainers, they were more like Rurichiyo's personal babysitters.
Ichigo nodded grimly. The Kasumiooji family was definitely hiding something.
"I've already asked a friend in the Soul Society to keep digging. We'll get news soon."
Everyone stared at him with strange expressions.
"What?" Ichigo frowned. "You guys think I can't have friends in Soul Society?"
Tatsuki shrugged. "It's not that we don't believe you… but Ichigo, this friend of yours… she's a girl, isn't she?"
Ichigo was stunned. "Tatsuki, how'd you know?!"
Everyone exchanged knowing glances and burst out laughing.
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