Chapter Twenty-Six: Lucia’s Arrival

Chapter 26: The Arrival of Rukia

Under the silent night sky, silver moonlight spilled over the city beneath her feet. A black Hell Butterfly glided slowly past the young girl. She closed her beautiful eyes gently, sensing the spiritual threads around her. Suddenly, she let out a soft murmur, “Huh? Didn’t they say Kuukadomachi is a reishi hotspot? Why aren’t there any Hollows... Wait! Found it!”

Just as she detected an ominous spiritual pressure coming from the south and was about to react, the source of that malevolent energy abruptly vanished. In its place appeared another spiritual pressure identical to her own. “This pressure... is that a Soul Reaper?!”

Sensing this unfamiliar Soul Reaper’s spiritual pressure, the girl flickered out from where she stood, reappearing several kilometers away in the outskirts. She surveyed the battle-scarred surroundings but found no one in sight. She knew she’d arrived too late and missed a fight.

“This level of destruction… which idiot caused this…” She frowned slightly, examining the lingering spiritual pressure at the scene. Softly, she said, “Judging by the residual energy, that Soul Reaper must be of lieutenant rank... but I haven’t received any report about there being another Soul Reaper besides me in Kuukadomachi.”

After another fruitless sweep, she finally gave up, her mind swirling with questions as she vanished into thin air.

A night passed.

The next day, Lolita stood atop a rooftop.

Recalling the familiar spiritual pressure from the previous night, she murmured, “Has she already arrived? The little girl’s grown up—her strength rivals that of a lieutenant now…”

As if struck by a thought, a graceful curve traced Lolita’s lips, illuminated by the morning sun, creating a picturesque scene.

Of course, someone was bound to ruin this moment.

“Boom!” A huge crater suddenly exploded on the ground, and a figure leapt out from it. Clad in a black Shihakusho and wielding a massive cleaver, the person instantly vanished and reappeared beside a Hollow, swinging the blade down—

“Aagh!” One of the Hollow’s arms was severed, causing it to howl loudly. Seizing the moment, the figure plunged the Zanpakutō into the ground, raised both hands toward the screaming Hollow, and chanted:

“Overlord! Flesh Mask of Many Faces, All Things, Feathered Warrior, Named by Man! Inscribed on the Wall of Azure Flame, Twin Lotus, Awaiting the Great Fire Abyss of Distant Skies! — Hado No. 73, Twin Lotus Azure Flame Fall!”

“Boom!” A surge of spiritual pressure erupted as two azure-blue flames shot from the figure’s palms, engulfing the massive Hollow.

“Whew,” the figure sighed in relief as the Hollow dissolved into black particles. Retracting the giant Zanpakutō, he glanced toward Lolita, who was battling nearby on the rooftop.

It had been a week since the conversation with Lolita that night. Since then, neither had mentioned that matter again, instead tacitly choosing silence.

Life had returned to normal. He knew Lolita had imprinted some of the battle knowledge into his mind. So during the day, he used spare moments to exterminate Hollows; in the afternoon, he trained his swordsmanship at the school dojo; and at night, he practiced some Kido spells. It was just like those early days with Lolita—except she teased him far less, or almost not at all.

“Hey!” Seeing Lolita seemingly lost in thought, he called out.

“...”

“Hey!”

“...”

“Hey! What are you thinking about?” Frustrated, he strode over and shouted at her.

“... What’s wrong, Ichigo?” Finally snapped out of her trance, Lolita answered softly.

“I took care of it, but what’s going on with you lately? Spaced out? Got your eye on some handsome guy?” Ichigo admitted, this was the first time he’d taken the chance to tease Lolita.

“Not interested. Just... forget it. Since it’s done, let’s go.” Lolita wanted to explain but decided against it.

“Alright then!” Ichigo nodded and looked around as if searching for someone. He called out, “Kon!”

“Here!” Responding to the unfamiliar name, a casually dressed figure bounced out from around the corner and stood before Ichigo with a reluctant expression. “Seriously, I just met this big-boobed lady! She even promised to grab drinks with me! Why are you shouting like that?!”

“Damn it! You! Using my body to hit on girls again! How many times this week? Do you know how close I was to getting arrested?!” Enraged, Ichigo punched his own body, and a tiny green bead shot out from him.

Kon had been specially chosen by Byakuya some days ago at Kisuke Urahara’s shop when Ichigo first swallowed the modified soul bead. Following the original storyline, Kon controlled Ichigo’s body to ‘molest’ schoolgirls, only to be beaten and finally tamed after a long chase.

Kon’s nature wasn’t bad. Even after Ichigo learned Kon was a failed modified soul, he didn’t hand him over to Urahara for destruction. Instead, as in the original story, he kept Kon stored inside a lion doll, serving as Ichigo’s temporary transformation device.

“Well then, let’s go. I’m heading to Kisuke Urahara’s today...” Watching Ichigo toss Kon’s modified soul bead out, Lolita turned and walked ahead.

“Hey, wait up…”

“Ichigo! You—!”

Back in his body, Ichigo stuffed Kon’s soul bead into the lion doll in his waist pouch. Before Kon could complain, he hurried after Lolita.

“You’re going to that clogs-and-hat shop? What for?” Remembering the quirky delinquent shopkeeper he met a few days ago, Ichigo couldn’t help asking.

“Nothing much. Just going to check it out.” Lolita replied indifferently, then suddenly stopped in front of a claw machine outside a small convenience store.

“Huh? Why stop?” Ichigo followed her gaze. Seeing the cute plush toys inside, he smiled unconsciously. So, she had a side just like any ordinary girl.

Just then, among the adorable stuffed animals, Ichigo spotted something strange—perhaps a mistake by the staff. A doll that looked like a bizarre creature: silver hair, black cat ears, sleek black ornate armor, wine-red eyes, and slender limbs posed in a greeting stance. The whole figure looked quite odd.

Seeing the doll’s appearance, Ichigo felt he had seen it somewhere before—not in any special place, but on the illustration board where Lolita first explained the difference between Hollows and Soul Reapers to him... Something like “King of Something.”

“You... want it?” Noticing Lolita’s slightly flushed cheeks as she stared at the strange doll, Ichigo recalled how neighborhood girls, unable to afford candy, would look longingly at others eating sweets. Well, judging by her expression, she really wanted it.

Thinking this, Ichigo reached into his pocket for coins, but Lolita suddenly grabbed his wrist, her expression returning to normal. “Don’t waste time. Let’s go…”

“But you…”

“Enough. Let’s go.”

“...”

Taking one last glance at the claw machine, Ichigo followed Lolita away.

Soon, the two arrived at Urahara’s shop, greeted by two new assistants Utsuya Ame and Hanakari Shinta.

“Oh, guests!” The red-haired boy Shinta, who had been lazing nearby, stood up upon seeing Ichigo and Lolita.

“Where are the shopkeeper and vice shopkeeper?” Lolita asked after stepping inside.

“The vice shopkeeper went out to restock. The shopkeeper’s inside…” replied Utsuya Ame quietly as she swept the floor. The two parted bangs at her forehead added a natural charm.

“Hey Ame, Shinta, who are you talking to?” At that moment, Kisuke Urahara’s voice came from inside as his wooden clogs clicked. Emerging, he smiled slyly, fanning himself. “Oh! So it’s Miss Kuchiki and Mr. Kurosaki! Having a date today? But sorry, we don’t sell any couple items here.”

Embarrassed by Urahara’s teasing, Ichigo blushed and nearly choked, while Lolita’s expression remained composed as she said, “Enough with the chatter. Let me in... I don’t have time for your nonsense.”

“Oh? Getting mad?” The mischievous Urahara dared not push her too far. He stepped aside to let them pass.

Once inside, Lolita glanced around every corner, then asked, “Huh? Where’s the cat demon?”

“Who knows? You know how strange Yoruichi’s been lately. That wanderer lifestyle—you know, this little shrine can’t accommodate such a big Buddha like her…” Urahara joked.

“Is that so? Look behind you…” Lolita shot him a look and then sat down on the tatami floor, pouring herself some tea.

“Behind me? Eh? Isn’t that Yoruichi? What a surprise to see you here today! Welcome, welcome!” Urahara chuckled nervously, eyeing the black cat behind him.

“Are you calling me a wanderer?” The black cat spoke up.

“Y-you can talk?!” Ichigo gasped, pointing at the cat in disbelief.

“Stare—So, this unremarkable spiky-haired brat is the one you’ve been training?” The black cat studied Ichigo for a while, making him uneasy, then turned to Lolita.

“Although his current strength is lacking, he can easily defeat lieutenant-class opponents.” Lolita stated bluntly in front of the cat.

“So soon? It’s been less than a month...” The cat smoothed its fur, but was cut off.

“Beep, beep, beep.” Suddenly, the alert on Lolita’s PSP rang like an alarm—her PSP was equipped with a detection device.

“Hollows?” Hearing the familiar sound, Ichigo moved beside her.

Lolita looked at the screen and nodded. “Ah, just one stray. Not far from here... Let’s go.”

“No need. One Hollow is no problem for me alone. Don’t you have other things to do? I’ll go by myself. Let’s go, Kon!” Without waiting for Lolita’s reply, Ichigo grabbed Kon from the pouch and dashed out.

“Hey! Be careful!” Lolita shot him a strange look but said nothing.

After a few steps, Lolita suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Urahara asked curiously.

“I sense something’s happening. I’ll go ahead!” Without waiting for a response, Lolita took off running.