Chapter Thirty-One: The Imminent Hunt!

Chapter 31: The Approaching Hunt! A Double-Length Chapter

At school, the results for the first-year exams were posted today. The hallways were crowded with students checking their rankings.

"It seems there are no traitors among us who didn't make the top fifty!" Asano Keigo said with his hands on his hips, already thinking about where to celebrate after school. But was this really okay? Celebrating for something like this...

"Hey, take a good look, will you?" Kojima Mizuiro interrupted, gently tapping Keigo's shoulder and pointing to a name on the list.

"Hmm?"

[Kurosaki Ichigo]

"Wha-wha-wha-what!? 23rd place!?" As if he had just witnessed the end of the world, Keigo burst into tears and roared at Ichigo: "It's a lie! How could your name possibly be there!?"

"Shut up! I had nothing else to do at home, so I just studied..." Ichigo frowned as he replied. He recalled the pile of messy subject tutorials Lolita had shoved into his head the night before last; it would have been hard for his grades not to improve. Unfortunately, he had felt dizzy for half the day because of it.

Ignoring Keigo’s theatrics, Ichigo scanned the list. "The top spot is... Ishida Uryu? Who is that?"

"..." The crowd fell silent at Ichigo's question, until Chad said in a low voice: "Uchiha Sasuke..."

"Oh, so it's that guy!" Everyone nodded, as if they had just remembered. No one noticed that a bespectacled, scholarly-looking boy standing behind them gave a slight twitch of his eyebrows.

"Found you! Ichigo, come with me!" Just then, Rukia ran over, hurriedly grabbing Ichigo and pulling him away.

"..." x3

"Could it be that Ichigo hooked up with Lolita-kun's sister again?" Kojima Mizuiro wondered.

"Nani!?" Asano Keigo exclaimed.

"Hey! Lolita is watching us!" Chad warned.

"Eek!!!" x2

"Good afternoon, Kuchiki-kun!" x2

"I heard what you just said," Lolita said, pushing up the glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"...Haha, we were just joking!" Mizuiro and Keigo replied with forced laughter. After all, the news that Lolita had single-handedly defeated the entire Kendo club had spread throughout the school.

Lolita glanced at them indifferently, looked at the setting sun, and walked toward Shuster, who was waiting at the school gate.

...

Soul Society, Second Division.

"I see, he's alright..." Soi Fon stared blankly at the photograph in her hand. After listening to the report from Saito Keikichiro, who had just returned from the Living World, a sense of relief washed over her. She had been deeply troubled by Shuster's disappearance; back then, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido, she should have been the one to stay behind to cover their retreat, but Shuster had taken her place. She had always blamed herself for his disappearance, a thought that haunted her.

Though a flash of guilt crossed her heart, her expression hardened with killing intent as she remembered the rest of the report. "Tell me, who is that human who stole his Shinigami powers?"

Feeling the killing intent radiating from his Captain, Saito Keikichiro’s throat went dry. He stammered, "Uh, that person's name is Kurosaki Ichigo, a high school boy in the Living World. Three months ago, Kuchiki... that lord was severely injured in his soul after entering the Gates of Hell, and his body was taken over by his Zanpakuto spirit, Lolita. She then made contact with Kurosaki Ichigo and transferred the power to him. Having lost his power, that lord obtained a Gigai at Urahara Kisuke's shop in the Living World and has been living at the boy's house ever since. He has awakened, but he cannot exert even 10% of his full power... Here is the boy's detailed file: his father runs a private clinic, his mother was killed by a Hollow when he was five, and he has two younger sisters. He..."

"Keikichiro!"

"Yes!?"

"You must not tell anyone about this! Do you understand?"

"Uh, Captain... you don't intend to..." Hearing Soi Fon's command, Saito frowned, a trace of hesitation in his eyes.

Seeing his hesitation, Soi Fon gave him a cold, sharp look. "Hm? Are you disobeying my orders?"

"I wouldn't dare, but what about the Head Captain..."

"I will handle it! I will take responsibility if anything happens!"

"Yes! Then... if there is nothing else, I will take my leave..."

"Yes, you may go. Remember what I just said..."

Soi Fon waved him off. Just as Saito was leaving, an Onmitsukido member wrapped in stealth gear knelt before her. "Commander! The Head Captain is calling a Captains' meeting! Please report immediately!"

"Hm?" A Captains' meeting at this hour?

Soi Fon looked at the dark sky, rose to her feet, dismissed the agent, straightened her haori, and headed toward the meeting room, filled with suspicion.

...

Arriving at the Captains' meeting room, she exchanged greetings with a few others and walked slowly to her seat. As she passed the seat of the Sixth Division Captain, she glanced at it briefly, waiting in silence.

Half an hour later, everyone had arrived, except for the Captains of the 11th and 13th Divisions. The Head Captain emerged from the back with his Lieutenant, scanned the room, and frowned at the empty seats.

Kyoraku Shunsui lifted his straw hat and said, "Well, Ukitake isn't feeling well today, so he couldn't make it..."

"Hm..." Head Captain Yamamoto nodded. He glanced at the empty 11th Division seat and skipped over it; he knew Zaraki Kenpachi was likely either lost or out looking for a fight. *What a time for this!* he thought. He finally looked at the empty Sixth Division seat, closed his eyes, tapped his staff, and said with a resonant voice: "The meeting begins! Captain Kurotsuchi!"

"Yes!" Hearing his name, Mayuri Kurotsuchi stepped forward and pressed a remote control. He seemed to be in a very good mood today, an expression that made Soi Fon feel a wave of disgust.

The room went dark, and a projector and a giant screen appeared before them. When the projector started, the screen showed the Living World, where a massive Gillian-class Menos was appearing...

The Captains were surprised, but not overly so; it wasn't strange for a stray Menos to wander into a high-spirit-density area like Karakura Town. However, when they saw Rukia and Ichigo—the two Shinigami—and Ishida Uryu, some expressed confusion.

"Is that... a Quincy? To think one survived..." As an elder, Unohana Retsu naturally recognized the source of Ishida's fighting style.

"That's Kuchiki Rukia from Ukitake's division, isn't it?" Kyoraku teased. "I heard her term for guarding the Living World was up, but she hadn't returned. So she found a boy out there, eh?"

"That's not the point... Captain Kyoraku!" Hitsugaya Toshiro, the youngest present, was inexperienced but possessed sharp observation skills. He pointed at Ichigo, who was swinging a massive blade to wound the Gillian. "Which division does that Shinigami belong to? I don't recall seeing him, and one would certainly remember a Zanpakuto of that size..."

Following Hitsugaya's words, the room fell into deep thought. In the end, everyone confirmed that no such person belonged to their respective divisions.

Mayuri, watching their expressions, said gleefully, "Hehehe, you'd never guess, because this person is not part of the Gotei 13!"

"Hm?" Amidst the murmurs, Aizen adjusted his glasses. "Not from the Gotei 13? Could it be the Expeditionary Force? It’s not unheard of for them to accidentally end up in the Living World..."

"..." Hearing Aizen, Soi Fon tightened her grip on her hands, the image of Shuster flashing through her mind. Her heart fluttered, but she quickly suppressed the emotion. Though it was only for a split second, Aizen caught it, and a meaningful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Pfft, unfortunately, this Shinigami isn't from the Expeditionary Force either... he is... a human!" Mayuri crossed his arms, looking at the stunned Captains. "You all know this, right? There are two ways to become a Shinigami. One is to communicate with one's soul over many years to forge a Zanpakuto. The other is to have a Shinigami pierce your heart with their Zanpakuto, using the blade as a medium to channel the Shinigami's power into you..."

"What exactly are you trying to say? Can't you just get to the point?" Hitsugaya cut him off, impatient.

"Tch, these kids have no patience!" Mayuri grumbled, then continued, "Guess what else I filmed?"

As the room remained silent, Head Captain Yamamoto opened his eyes. "Captain Kurotsuchi, stop stalling. Show them."

"Hmph." Mayuri shrugged and pressed the remote again. The screen changed, revealing Shuster and Lolita in modern clothes.

"That is...?" Everyone except Hitsugaya, who hadn't seen the incident, was shocked. The younger brother of the Kuchiki house, who had disappeared six years ago and was declared dead, was alive—and he had a girl beside him who looked exactly like him.

The news sparked a flurry of discussion in the room... joy, excitement, shock, confusion... and tension and anger.

"Who is that girl? Why does she look like my brother?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked.

"Oh, I caught this too. Take a look." Mayuri pressed the remote again. The screen showed Lolita's Zanpakuto shattering and transforming into Shuster.

"This is...?" Everyone who remembered the event—where the materialized spirit of Kuchiki Kouga's Zanpakuto broke into the prison to save him—was shocked once more.

"Thump!" The Head Captain struck his staff on the floor, silencing the room. He turned his gaze to Soi Fon. "Captain Soi Fon!"

"Yes! This was my oversight!" Soi Fon knew what the Head Captain was asking. As the head of the intelligence-gathering Onmitsukido, this news should have come from her, not Mayuri. In terms of duty, she had failed.

"Oversight? Hehehe, I think someone was intentionally hiding it, don't you?" Mayuri tapped his temple and tilted his head.

"Mayuri! You bastard!!" Soi Fon was already furious that Mayuri had exposed Shuster's survival; his provocation only added fuel to the fire.

"Thump!" As the two seemed ready to fight, the Head Captain struck his staff again. "Quiet!"

"Yes!" x2

Soi Fon and Mayuri glared at each other and retreated to their respective positions.

As the room fell into an eerie silence, Aizen coughed softly. "In any case, it's a good thing that the former Vice-Captain Kuchiki is safe, isn't it?"

"A good thing? Hehehe, indeed, for me, it is," Mayuri said, crossing his arms excitedly. "A strange Shinigami! Weakened Reiatsu! A Gigai for recovery! Isn't it obvious enough? Head Captain! I strongly request to be sent to the Living World to arrest Kuchiki Shuster for the grave crime of granting Shinigami powers to a human! And then, let me dissect him and his Zanpakuto! I've never dissected a Zanpakuto before..."

"Mayuri! Watch your tongue!" Kuchiki Byakuya stood up from his seat, cutting him off. "Should I consider this a provocation against our noble house? The dignity of the nobility will not be trampled by a lowly existence like you, you disgusting creature..." He sat back down.

"You..." Mayuri's face turned livid as he stared at Byakuya.

"Oh my, the former Vice-Captain Kuchiki is in big trouble now," Ichimaru Gin said with his signature fox-like smile. Aizen pretended to be thoughtful and didn't speak, though a flicker of interest passed through his eyes behind his lenses.

"Captain Kurotsuchi..." Unohana spoke softly. "Even if that is the case, the former Vice-Captain holds a noble title. Even if he has committed a crime, it isn't your place to arrest him..."

"You people..." Faced with the defense from the two senior captains and the threat from Byakuya, Mayuri couldn't find a reason to argue back. He glared at them and fell silent, plotting other methods.

"Thump!" The Head Captain spoke up. "Our immediate priority is not to discuss how to punish Kuchiki Shuster, but to bring him back to the Soul Society!"

"Head Captain Yamamoto! Let me carry out this mission!" Soi Fon volunteered immediately. If anyone was going to capture Shuster, she would rather it be her. She could kill the human who stole his power if necessary to lighten Shuster's sentence.

Byakuya glanced at her, surprised. He knew her eagerness could mean two things: she meant him harm, or she wanted to protect him. Given she had tried to hide his whereabouts, it was clearly the latter. *So, you want to mitigate his crimes? You were always like that. But you've miscalculated.*

"Hmph, planning to harbor him?"

"Mayuri! Shut up!"

"Hmph."

Seeing them bicker again, the Head Captain opened his eyes slightly and released a faint layer of Reiatsu as a warning. "Captain Kurotsuchi, you are from the Research and Development Bureau; stick to your duties! Captain Soi Fon, I will remember your failure to report this; you are off this mission!"

Soi Fon and Mayuri retreated with expressions of frustration.

The room fell into silence as they considered who to send. The Head Captain would not go himself. Aizen, Gin, and Tosen wouldn't go; they had their own plans. Soi Fon and Mayuri were banned. Komamura remained silent. Ukitake was too ill. Kyoraku looked lazily unbothered. Unohana was too vital to the medical stability of the Seireitei to leave. Zaraki Kenpachi... he would likely just get lost.

Byakuya stood up, interrupting Hitsugaya. "I will take this mission."

...

Back in the Living World.

Shuster and Lolita walked side by side, the setting sun casting long shadows behind them, their silver hair swaying in the breeze.

"Hey, Brother, the Soul Society must have discovered us by now, right?" Lolita felt her face flush as Shuster held her hand.

"Yeah, about time. Someone will probably come to hunt us down in a few days. We should keep Ichigo away from us as much as possible." Shuster walked slowly toward the hotel they were staying at, acting like a protective older brother. They hadn't lived like normal people for a long time, and looking at the sunset, he felt that time was running out.

"Brother, who do you think they'll send?" Lolita didn't want the silence to return. They didn't have much time alone, and Shuster treated her exactly like a younger sister—which, while sweet, put a lot of pressure on her.

"Hmm, I'd bet the one who wants to catch us most is that bastard Mayuri. Should I kill him when we go back?" Shuster asked, staring at Lolita.

Lolita blushed under his gaze. Remembering Mayuri's nature, she lowered her head. "We must kill him... and make it cruel."

"But I think the one who will actually come is my brother. He doesn't show it, but he cares more than anyone." A faint smile appeared on Shuster's face as he recalled Byakuya's actions, a smile that left Lolita slightly mesmerized.

"Hey, Lolita..."

"Yes?"

"When the final battle comes, you provide support. Leave the main attack to me, okay?" Shuster said, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Uh, okay..." Being so close, Lolita's eyes began to swirl. A legendary Rinnegan appeared, albeit a pale blue version...

"Good girl!" Shuster happily ruffled her silver hair. *Having such an obedient and cute sister, I have no regrets in this life,* he thought.

Lolita, still dazed, felt a surge of happiness. *With someone who cares for me this much, how could I be dissatisfied? He wants me to support him so I won't get hurt... wait, that means Brother will get hurt! That's not allowed! I must stop him...*

"That..."

"Hm?" Shuster looked at her, confused by her sudden determination.

"Can you let..."

"Hey! Lolita, Shuster!" Ichigo came running over from the distance, panting.

"Oh, what's wrong, Ichigo? Where have you been?"

"Huff... I ran to your hotel, but you weren't back yet, so I had to chase you down this road. You guys walk so slowly, it's almost six o'clock!" Ichigo pointed at them.

"Oh? Is it that late? Time for dinner. By the way, what did you want, Ichigo?" Shuster checked his watch, which read [18:26:45], and scratched his head.

"Right, almost forgot. That Uchiha Sasuke guy—he's a Quincy, did you know?"

"Oh, a Quincy... wait, who is Uchiha Sasuke?" Shuster was startled by the name.

"That... because Ishida Uryu and Uchiha Sasuke share the same voice actor, some people just called him that, and now no one remembers Ishida Uryu's real name..." Lolita whispered through their soul link.

"..." Shuster gave her a reproachful look.

"Hey, you haven't eaten yet, right? Come back with us, we can talk on the way..." Shuster grabbed Lolita's hand and started walking. "Quincies are actually..."