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[Crossover] Ch 30: Rescheduled Execution of Kuchiki Rukia
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 23:33:57 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
12th Division, Research and Development Institute
Back at the lab, Ryo shrugged off his tattered Shihakushō and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
Only then did he turn to Inoue Orihime, who was still covering her eyes, and said with a soft smile, "Thanks for the help back there."
"N-not at all! I didn't really do much, so it wasn't a big deal. And besides…"
Orihime waved her hands awkwardly, but there was a strange look in her eyes as she stared at Ryo. "Besides… why did you have me heal that Captain?"
Yep. The one who had just barely clung to life after being critically wounded—none other than Unohana Retsu—had been saved by this sweet, timid, and impossibly busty girl standing before him: Inoue Orihime.
Her power, Sōten Kisshun, was so broken for real. It was like turning back time itself.
And truthfully, only someone with that kind of power could have kept Unohana alive—barely conscious, even capable of healing herself.
To be honest, the moment Ryo witnessed Orihime's ability with his own eyes, the thought of kidnapping... Ahem—recruiting her to Little Garden seriously crossed his mind.
After all, who wouldn't want a busted top-tier healer in their Community?
Faced with Orihime's confusion, Ryo simply smiled.
"She was my teacher, in a way. Would've felt like a waste to actually kill her."
Just like Unohana had guessed—Ryo had sought her out to sharpen his swordsmanship.
From his perspective, the two things he lacked most were combat experience and sword technique.
And who better to learn from than Unohana Retsu—the single most dangerous swordmaster in all of Soul Society?
Even if the "lessons" were… violently unconventional, his divine-level memory had already internalized her every move. All that remained was to digest them into personal experience.
"Teacher…?" Orihime blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
She thought back to the terrifying Reiatsu the two had released during their fight, to the blood-soaked battlefield that looked like a scene out of a horror movie…And then she looked at Ryo, who had just casually called Unohana his "teacher," like it was no big deal.
'Wait… is this how people in Soul Society bond with their mentors? By trying to kill each other??'
Just then, Ryo took a sip of water offered by Nemu Kurotsuchi and said casually, "Get me a map with a secret path straight to the Senzaikyū."
"Yes, sir," Nemu bowed and quietly retreated to carry out the order.
Orihime blinked in surprise. "The Senzaikyū? What's that?"
"Where Kuchiki Rukia's being held."
He didn't pay much attention to Orihime's sudden look of excitement—his eyes shifted toward the door instead.
At that moment, the doors slowly opened, and in walked a calm, composed man in a white haori—Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke.
"Well, color me surprised."
Aizen raised a brow as his eyes landed on the scratch across Ryo's cheek.
The way he said it, it carried two meanings: One—he was surprised that Unohana had managed to injure Ryo. Two—he was surprised that Unohana had only managed to injure Ryo this much.
Orihime instinctively took a step back and hid behind Ryo as the new arrival entered.
Ryo, for his part, just lazily reached up and pressed a finger to his cheek, squeezing out a few drops of blood. In an instant, the wound on his face disappeared.
"Her blade's real strength is its corrosive effect. For her, just landing one hit is enough."
Unohana's Bankai was terrifying—if it drew blood, it was usually fatal.
But what she hadn't counted on was that Ryo's Reiatsu so far outclassed hers that he could completely suppress her abilities and defeat her outright.
It wasn't a failure of skill or tactics.
She just got overwhelmed by raw power.
"Battles between Shinigami… are really just contests of Reiatsu, in the end."
Aizen smiled, one hand tucked into his pocket. He glanced at Orihime, but didn't say anything to her. Instead, he looked back at Ryo.
"You want to see Kuchiki Rukia?"
"That's right."
Ryo nodded, rubbing his chin in thought.
"Given the current situation, this might be the last chance."
Rukia—the current host of Urahara Kisuke's Hōgyoku. Ryo was genuinely curious about her, especially since she was the female lead in the original story.
But more importantly, after his battle with Unohana and Ichigo's chaos at Soul Society's gates, the Gotei 13 were definitely going to make a move soon.
And that likely meant Rukia's execution would be pushed forward.
If he wanted to see her, the next few hours might be his only window.
"I understand."
Aizen adjusted his glasses, turned toward the door, and said,
"By tonight, I'll be 'dead.' Next time we meet… will probably be at Sōkyoku Hill."
That was where Rukia's execution was set to take place.
Which meant… Aizen's plan was entering its final stage.
Ryo raised an eyebrow and asked, "Not planning to take out a few more captains while you're at it?"
"No need," Aizen chuckled. "The new world will still need people to run it."
"Wow. You really think the moment you take the throne, all the Shinigami will just bow and serve you? That's some next-level arrogance," Ryo scoffed inwardly, but didn't say anything out loud as Aizen left the lab.
As the door closed, Orihime peeked out from behind Ryo and nervously asked, "Um… who was that Captain just now?"
"You ask too many questions."
Ryo shot her a glare, then looked down and snorted, "Figures. All that fat has gone to your chest—you've got nothing left for your brain."
"Ehhh!?" Orihime froze for a second, then looked down at herself—and her face turned bright red.
"T-that's not true! I eat walnuts and brain-boosting food all the time!"
"…Wait, you actually took that seriously?"
Ryo gave her a weird look, then cut her off before she could argue back.
"Get ready. It's time to go meet Kuchiki Rukia."
"Y-yes, okay!" Orihime nodded quickly.
— — —
1st Division, Council Hall
Yamamoto sat silently in the center seat, his eyes fixed on the empty chamber. A black Butterfly (Jigokuchō) perched on his hand, delivering news.
"…So Unohana was defeated."
"The intruders are targeting Rukia… And someone is pushing for her execution behind the scenes?"
"And the one who killed Mayuri wasn't one of the intruders… but someone else?"
"How ridiculous. That brat Kyōraku didn't even notice he was being fooled."
A fake Quincy? A mysterious 'Shinigami' in disguise?
Ridiculous.
More likely some Quincy playing dress-up.
Trying to deceive him with this nonsense—what, did they think Yamamoto Genryūsai had gone senile?
But then again… a Quincy strong enough to defeat Unohana?
There was only one possibility.
Yamamoto slowly stood and walked toward the window, overlooking the Seireitei.
"…Yhwach. This has your fingerprints all over it. I was too soft back then."
"But this time—there won't be a second chance."
Not long after, a Jigokuchō spread the news across the Soul Society.
...
Notice: Regarding the execution of former 13th Division member, Kuchiki Rukia, the time of punishment has been rescheduled.
New date: Tomorrow morning, 8 a.m., at Sōkyoku Hill.
— — —
13th Division Barracks
Ukitake Jushiro stared at the Butterfly fluttering before him. He covered his mouth and coughed twice.
"Cough cough… Moved up again? Not even the day after tomorrow. The Commander-Captain must be trying to lure all the rats out in one sweep."
"But why? Why is he going this far against Rukia? At worst, her crime is worth… maybe five years in detention."
She was the adopted sister of Kuchiki Byakuya—the 6th Division Captain—and a member of the Four Great Noble Houses.
Even for serious offenses, people like her usually received some level of protection.
Not to mention, giving Shinigami powers to a human wasn't even unprecedented. The last guy who did it? He got pardoned, and the human was recruited into the Gotei 13.
So why was Rukia being treated like a criminal sentenced to death?
Ukitake made his decision.
"…Yoruichi Shihoin. I'm trusting you."
Outside, on the wooden veranda, a black cat scratched its fur and narrowed its golden eyes.
"Took you long enough to say it," Yoruichi grinned.
Seeing that Ukitake had finally made up his mind, the cat-turned-noblewoman smiled wide.
"Well then… let's work together."
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