Chapter 34: QB Appears, Abducting a Young Boy...
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Appearance of the Quincy—Abducting a Young Boy...
—As the dimensional gate echoed through the Soul Society, the Sixth Division’s Vice-Captain, Renji Abarai, stepped forward, followed closely by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
At last, all eyes focused on the final figure to emerge—the former hero of the Hollow Realm, once revered as a savior, now branded a criminal...
“You brat!” Suìfēng’s gaze landed on the approaching Bazz-B, but she sensed no spiritual pressure from him. Coupled with the streaks of red blood still clinging to his lips, she was ready to move forward—
“Sorry, Captain Suìfēng, it’s difficult for me to let you act like this...” Renji Abarai intercepted her.
“It’s fine, Renji. Let her go. We’ll return,” Byakuya said steadily, not breaking his stride.
“...Understood!”
“...”
“...Suìfēng, long time no see... I never imagined that after six years, we’d meet again under such circumstances...” Bazz-B smiled faintly at the guilt-ridden Suìfēng before him.
“You brat, about...” Suìfēng opened her mouth to speak, recalling the pain caused by her reluctance to cover their retreat, but Bazz-B interrupted her.
“It’s alright. I’ve brought this on myself; it’s nothing serious. Sooner or later, I’ll make it right.” His eyes flickered toward the distant figure of Captain Sosuke Aizen, who bore a benevolent smile. Bazz-B’s voice was calm yet resolute.
“Hm? What did you say?” Suìfēng looked puzzled, not grasping his words.
“Nothing...”
“By the way, your wound...”
“No need. Once the killing aura stone is removed, I’ll heal on my own. No trouble for Captain Unohana,” Bazz-B replied. His injuries had nearly healed, and with a month’s grace period ahead, he had ample time to recover fully.
“What are you waiting for!? Release the restraints at once!”
“Captain Suìfēng!”
“If anything happens, I’m responsible!”
“Well then... I’ll go rest now. Farewell, Suìfēng. And you there—Tōshirō Hitsugaya from the Fourth Division? Congratulations on your captaincy. This is my gift to you upon your promotion. It’s customary for seniors to present gifts to newly appointed captains, even if belated. Until we meet again.” With that, Bazz-B tossed a chunk of millennium-old ice casually before following the military guards to his holding area.
“...” Hitsugaya watched the retreating figure, unsure of what to say, but he knew that the ice would be a great boon to Hyōrinmaru.
---
I am the divider who buys hearts.
Cold raindrops soaked the strands of hair across my forehead. I opened my blurred eyes and watched the figure slowly entering the room... Unable to speak, I could only watch as he gradually distanced himself from me; unable to move my limbs, powerless to stop his steps; watching the dimensional gate close before me—I have been saved once again, haven’t I? This time, I promised to protect you all... Damn it...
...
“Kurosaki! Kurosaki! Ichigo Kurosaki!?”
Ishida...? Ugh, it hurts. My body feels heavy... so cold...
Huh? Wooden sandals and a hat?
Is it an illusion? Staring at the shopkeeper standing before me, Ichigo’s dull eyes flickered with a trace of bitter humor, born from the black cat perched on the shoulder of the man wearing the wooden sandals and hat... What’s going on? That look... Am I really that useless? Even a cat looks down on me...
Anger, contempt, murderous intent... Is that really a cat?
...
The pain vanished. Oh no... I must be close to death. That’s why I don’t feel pain anymore... Speaking of which, the chill that plagued me before now feels like warmth... so warm...
“...” I opened my eyes groggily, and the first thing I saw was a square-jawed man with glasses pressing down on me beneath my blanket. In such a situation, I could only express my feelings in one way...
“Ahhh—!!!”
“Oh, quick to react. That’s a good sign...”
“Ah! Too close! Too close! Too close!” I pushed the man’s face away with both hands like a frightened girl resisting a brutish man, my expression full of terror...
“Shopkeeper, Kurosaki-san has awakened...” Ignoring my resistance, Kisuke Urahara called out from the doorway while restraining me.
“Ah! I remember you! You’re that friend with the wooden sandal hat! Why are you in my bed?! Get out of here!” I kicked Urahara away, and the sudden movement sent pain stabbing through my chest wound.
“Ow, it hurts!” The pain snapped me fully awake. Seeing the bandages wrapped around me, I suddenly remembered—I’m alive!
At that moment, a lazy, listless voice came from outside the door: “Oh dear, Kurosaki-san, you can’t be moving around like this. Your wounds aren’t healed yet. If you move recklessly, you could die, you know...”
“Wooden sandal hat?” Seeing Urahara’s eyes, I understood. “So this is your place.”
“Correct!”
“Were you the one who saved me?”
“Eh? That surprises me... You sound like you didn’t want my help at all...”
“By the way, where’s Sasuke? I remember he was with me before, right?”
“It’s Ishida Uryu! You jerk—was that on purpose!?” Ishida’s angry shout echoed as he entered and sat beside me. “I was going to leave, but I couldn’t just abandon your idiot self... Feeling any better?”
“Ah, this time... I lost terribly...” I gave a bitter smile and lowered my gaze.
“Still worried? You’re not the only one who lost... That monster...” Ishida lightly pressed his hand against his chest wound, sighed, and stood. “Since you’re alright, I’ll be going…”
“Oh, take care, Sasuke,” I said, lowering my head, indifferent to his departure from Urahara’s shop.
“How many times do I have to say it? I’m Ishida Uryu!” Ishida slammed the door and left.
“...”
“...”
---
“Damn it! Those two have already returned to the Soul Society! How am I supposed to follow them? How can I save them?” I suddenly screamed, clutching my head, then fell silent. “...It’s impossible... absolutely impossible!”
“Kid, you’re really too much of a good guy. Honestly, I didn’t want to get you involved anymore, because you ruined Kuchiki’s little brat’s plan.” Urahara’s wooden sandal hat shadowed his eyes as he spoke.
“What can he do? He can’t even protect his own sister!” I shouted, thinking of Bazz-B slumped by the roadside, barely holding onto the railing.
“It’s because of you that I released him, and Kuchiki’s brat suffered backlash! ...Actually, it’s all my fault. I hope he doesn’t get slaughtered in the Soul Society. If that’s the case, I won’t go...” Urahara regretted letting the brat get involved after breaking the barrier.
“Backlash?!...” I was shocked, then silent. It was my fault after all! He locked me at home to keep me safe; why was I so stupid as to rush to my death? Damn it!
“...Sigh.” Urahara sighed, recalling his promise to let me out to break the barrier, hoping the backlash didn’t cause too much damage.
“Kid, listen carefully. You have two choices: one, become an ordinary human and stay out of all this. Two, train with me for ten days, then head to the Soul Society to save them.” After some thought, Urahara decided to let me choose.
Hearing this, I sprang up and shouted, “Obviously the second! Ten days? You’re joking! I don’t have time for that! Those two don’t know when they’ll be executed! Instead of doing all that, I should hurry and enter the Soul Society to save them...”
“Bang!” Urahara struck me with his cane, knocking me back onto the bed. Squatting behind me, he pointed at me with the cane and said, “Is your brain made of muscle? I ask you—how would you deal with the people who tried to kill you? You really don’t understand the situation! In the Soul Society, death row inmates have a one-month reprieve before execution. So you’ll train with me peacefully; otherwise, you’d better live as an ordinary human!”
“...” I fell silent.
“What’s wrong? Planning to give up?” Urahara threw fuel on the fire.
“Never! Then, please instruct me during these ten days!” I erupted, standing with a dramatic shout.
“Good. Sometimes the power of will is stronger than steel. If you’re not firm, just give up... During these ten days, will you stick it out with me? In other words, sign a contract!” Urahara’s expression was like a trickster tempting me into becoming his pawn.
“...Isn’t that obvious? Contract accepted!” I took a deep breath, pretending to be solemn, then declared with vigor.
“...” Urahara said nothing, only flashing a sly, slightly sinister smile—like a conman who’d just succeeded—then said, “During this month, you’ll endure hellish training with me for ten days. Opening the gate to the Soul Society requires seven days, and once there, you’ll have thirteen days. Plenty of time...”
“Oh!”
“But...” Urahara’s tone shifted.
“But?” I suddenly felt a bad premonition.
“If you don’t awaken your Soul Reaper powers within ten days, kid... I’ll personally kill you!” Urahara said chilling words beneath his calm exterior.
“Eh?!”
“Let’s go, kid. I’ll change your sleep seal and restraints...”
“Oh, wait! Why do you have that scalpel? Hey! What’s that look on your face! Hey, hey! Help!”