In the cold, dimly lit prison cell deep within the Seireitei, Byakuya Kuchiki stood tall, his noble presence dominating the confined space. His face remained unreadable, his cold gaze locked onto his adoptive sister, who sat motionless in the center of the room. The tension was palpable, thick like the stone walls that enclosed them.
Renji, who had been stationed outside the cell, was the first to react, his eyes widening in shock. "What did you just say... Captain Kuchiki? What do you mean by that?" His voice was filled with disbelief, his grip tightening on the bars.
Byakuya remained indifferent, his tone carrying no emotion. "You heard me. Must I repeat myself?" His icy stare flickered toward Rukia, whose hands clenched into fists on her lap. "Rukia Kuchiki, you have been found guilty of a capital offense. Twenty-five days from now, you will be taken to the Garden of Judgment to suffer the ultimate punishment. That is the Soul Society's final decision."
Renji's breath hitched. His stomach twisted at the declaration, his mind scrambling to process the weight of those words. Execution... twenty-five days... He gritted his teeth, his hands shaking with restrained anger.
Rukia, on the other hand, did not react the way he expected. She merely lowered her gaze, her expression unreadable, yet her silence spoke volumes. Her eyes were empty, void of resistance, as if she had already resigned herself to this fate.
Byakuya's voice cut through the still air once more. "This is the last time I will speak with you... Rukia. The next time I see you will be at the gallows." His words were final, a decree from a man who had already sealed his decision. Without another glance, he turned on his heel, his white captain's haori swaying behind him as he walked out of the cell with the same composed grace he always carried.
As soon as he left, the silence in the cell was suffocating. The dull flicker of the torches cast long shadows on the walls, mirroring the sinking feeling in Renji's chest. His throat was dry as he finally managed to speak.
"H-Hey... don't be sad! They could still change their minds, right?" His voice was forced, an attempt to inject hope into a situation that already felt hopeless.
Rukia didn't move. "I'm not sad," she replied flatly, turning away from him, her voice void of any emotion.
Renji's jaw clenched. "Don't lie. You're obviously disconsolate. Hey, eyes over here." He tried to joke, but even he knew how weak his words sounded.
Rukia inhaled deeply before finally speaking again. "You know as well as I do... the ruling came from Central 46. It can't be overturned." Her voice was quiet but steady. "But it's alright. I knew this was going to happen from the beginning. There's no use in dwelling on it."
Renji's fingers dug into his palms as frustration welled up inside him. He wanted to argue, to tell her not to accept this, to fight back—but the cold reality was that she wasn't wrong. Central 46's decisions were absolute.
Outside the cell…
Byakuya walked down the corridors of the detention facility, his expression as composed as ever, his footsteps silent against the polished floors. The weight of what had just transpired did not reflect in his movements. But just as he stepped into the open courtyard, two figures emerged from the shadows behind him.
"You seem awfully calm, Captain Six."
The voice was smooth, almost playful, yet laced with something unreadable. Byakuya didn't need to turn around to recognize the speaker.
"I'mperturbable, even though your sister is going to die. You're an example to us all, Captain Kuchiki. The ideal Soul Reaper," Gin Ichimaru continued, his ever-present grin widening as he sauntered forward.
Byakuya cast a cold glance over his shoulder. "What do two adjutant-less captains want with me?" His voice was devoid of curiosity, as if their presence was nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
Gin wasn't alone. Standing beside him, exuding an aura of sheer violence and raw power, was Kenpachi Zaraki, the towering captain of the Eleventh Division. His jagged, spiked hair barely shifted as he tilted his head slightly, a toothy grin spreading across his face.
"Well," Gin continued, his tone dripping with mock sympathy, "we thought perhaps Captain Six would be a little sad about his sister's impending execution."
"It has nothing to do with you," Byakuya responded coldly, eyes narrowing.
Kenpachi let out a low chuckle. "Why should you be sad? The blood of a criminal only dishonors a distinguished family," he mused, though there was no real weight behind his words—just the simple amusement of watching things unfold.
I just learned that yesterday, he thought to himself.
Byakuya's gaze remained sharp, unyielding. "How surprising. A commoner who understands the ways of nobility."
Kenpachi shrugged. "Not really. I've always been observant. Perhaps I can be of assistance to you." His smirk widened, his fingers twitching with anticipation. "If you wish, I'll behead the criminal before the execution."
Byakuya turned to face him fully now, his expression unreadable but the tension in the air thickening like a blade about to be drawn. "Hmm. I'm not sure that one with your skills could actually manage that job."
Kenpachi's grin faltered for a second, then returned even wider. "Want to test me?" His voice was filled with eager anticipation.
Byakuya took a step closer, his voice steady and unwavering. "Do you want to be tested?"
The atmosphere between them grew heavy, the unspoken challenge crackling in the air. For a moment, it felt as if the entire Seireitei would be caught in the crossfire of two of its strongest captains.
But before anything could escalate, Gin suddenly wrapped an arm around Kenpachi's shoulder, pulling him back with ease, his grin never fading. "Sorry about that, Captain Six. It wasn't my intention to provoke you!" His voice was light, playful, but there was something unreadable beneath the surface. "Well, give my regards to the little sister."
Byakuya did not respond. He merely turned, walking away without another word.
...
Back in the Living World…
The streets of Karakura Town were quieter now, the festival's glow fading behind them as Ichigo walked home with his family. The warm scent of grilled food and festival sweets still lingered in the air, but the night was peaceful. Karin and Yuzu were slumped over his back, both completely knocked out after accidentally drinking the spiked festival punch.
Karin's face was pressed against his shoulder, drooling slightly, while Yuzu had her arms limply wrapped around his neck.
Ichigo sighed. "I swear, they're lightweights. One sip and they're done."
Beside him, Isshin walked with his hands behind his head, grinning like an idiot. "That's what happens when you're young and reckless! Ahh, reminds me of my youth… drinking, fighting, falling in love!" He spun dramatically, but Ichigo ignored him.
"I doubt your youth was anything worth remembering," Ichigo muttered.
"Ohhh, but you'd be wrong, my son!" Isshin wagged a finger. "Back in my day, I was the heartthrob of the town! The ladies would faint just from seeing my devastatingly handsome face!"
Ichigo snorted. "More like they passed out from second-hand embarrassment."
Isshin clutched his chest like he'd been stabbed. "How cruel! My own son, cutting me down in my prime!"
Ichigo ignored him and adjusted his sisters on his back. Yuzu let out a small sigh, nuzzling into his shoulder. She looked completely at peace, even after the chaos of the festival.
After a moment of quiet walking, Isshin glanced at Ichigo. "By the way, you leaving soon?"
Ichigo kept his gaze ahead. "Yeah. I'll be gone for about a week. Won't be back until summer vacation."
Isshin smirked. "A solitary journey huh? If you meet a cute girl, bring her back for me!"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless."
Isshin threw an arm around Ichigo's shoulder, careful not to wake the girls. "Oi, I'm trusting you to come back in one piece, alright? No dying"
[A/N: ONE PIECE MENTIONED!!!! RAHHHHH WHAT IS A REPETITIVE STORY?]
Ichigo smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I got it."
As they neared home, the night breeze picked up slightly, rustling the trees. Ichigo glanced up at the sky, his smirk fading for just a second.
He had a feeling this would be the last peaceful night for a while.
TO BE CONTINUED
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