Chapter 118: The Return
“!!”
Staring at his body severed in two, Ruby’s eyes were filled not only with shock but also with a faint trace of fear. He hadn’t even seen when Ichimaru had drawn his blade—he only felt a sharp pain, and suddenly the right side of his body separated from the rest.
“Guh... guah...”
The excruciating pain radiating from his right shoulder twisted Ruby’s once delicate and handsome face into an expression of agony.
“Guaaaaaaaah!”
A piercing scream escaped from Ruby’s mouth, gasping for air as if his throat were constricted—a sound that sent chills down one’s spine.
“Ugh...”
Ruby’s intense pain made him forget the control of the tentacles behind him. Matsumoto, Ikkaku, and Ayasegawa took advantage of this moment to break free and reach a safe place.
“Ichimaru... you bastard...”
“Angry now? How scary...”
Although Ichimaru’s words sounded frightening, his emotionless tone made it seem as if he were merely toying with the man he had just sliced in half.
“You bastard!!!”
Yet, one had to admire Ruby’s spirit. Even with half his body cut away, he still had the audacity to shout at Ichimaru. Any ordinary man would have long been dead.
“Dispersing Dragon Stance.”
“!”
“Clatter!”
Unfortunately, Ruby’s attempt at revenge was cut short as Hitsugaya froze him from behind in a massive cruciform ice sculpture, which shattered into pieces along with him.
“Alright, alright, next...”
Ichimaru tilted his head slightly, not even looking back, and suddenly appeared beside Zamali, plunging his short blade toward a vital spot.
Perhaps Ichimaru deliberately slowed his strike, or Zamali was simply too quick—either way, Zamali dodged the attack, and Ichimaru made no effort to pursue.
“Looks like what you said before about not wanting to act was true, Zamali.”
“…Seems like we won’t have to fight after all.”
Zamali clasped his hands behind his back, calm and composed. He showed no sign of grief over his comrade Ruby’s death.
“Well, that’s that, then?”
“Don’t make decisions for me, Ichimaru.”
“Doesn’t matter, Mr. Suzume, the order to ‘return’ has already been issued.”
“...”
Nagatsuru, who had been about to reprimand Ichimaru, fell silent. With the order to return, it meant that Soul Society had learned about Orihime Inoue’s disappearance. Had the Shinigami taken any measures?
“Hum!”
“!”
As Nagatsuru pondered silently, the protective barrier symbolizing ‘safe departure’ suddenly enveloped Zamali. Not only him, but also Yami, who lay on the ground, Wandawise fighting alongside Kisuke Urahara, and Tousen were all cloaked within it.
In the distance, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra—who had suddenly intervened to prevent Grimmjow’s release—were also shrouded within the barrier.
“What do you mean by ‘mission accomplished,’ Ulquiorra?”
Grimmjow rose slowly within the barrier, clearly displeased. He hadn’t heard any of this supposed mission when he came from Hueco Mundo.
“Just a boring matter. But more importantly...”
Ulquiorra’s dark green eyes fixed coldly on the disheveled Ichigo Kurosaki below. For the first time, a strange fervor and anticipation flickered within his otherwise emotionless gaze.
“There are signs of increased spiritual pressure… he must have gained some strange power. However...”
“To reach our level, he still has a long way to go.”
“But that’s all it amounts to.”
………………………………
Afterward, the original course of events resumed. The order to return came from Soul Society. As captains, Hitsugaya and Ichimaru showed no hesitation in obeying Yamamoto Genryūsai’s command. However, Rukia, Abarai, and others did not share this view; their concern for their comrade was paramount. They prepared to break through to Hueco Mundo to retrieve Orihime Inoue.
But Yamamoto, who had lived over a thousand years, understood the thoughts of these young ones well. So, he decisively sent two more individuals to the world of the living:
Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki.
From a certain perspective, it was an enigmatic deployment—the captains of Ikkaku and Ayasegawa’s squad, the captain of Abarai’s squad, and Rukia’s elder brother. With just these two, they managed to bring back the dissenting few to Soul Society.
As for Nagatsuru?
He felt relieved that at last one matter was proceeding as the original plot intended. There was no thought of defying Yamamoto’s decision.
Thus, the group left Ichigo Kurosaki alone in the world of the living and returned to Soul Society.
“Your decision is really quite unlike before.”
In the First Division captain’s resting room, Nagatsuru poured tea from a kettle into the cup before Yamamoto. The fragrant aroma filled the room instantly.
“Unlike before?”
Surprised by his lieutenant’s remark, Yamamoto raised his eyes and gestured for him to continue.
“The reason we were ordered to return is to avoid involving Kurosaki Ichigo in this war, isn’t it? But sometimes, that approach can be the wrong one, Genryūsai-dono.”
“...”
“Drip, drip, drip...”
Nagatsuru filled his own empty cup, inhaled the scent beneath the rim, and went on.
“You know very well the extent of Ichigo’s attachment to his comrades. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here to oppose us over that Kuchiki lady back then.”
“...”
Yamamoto lowered his head, feeling the warmth rising from the tea, remaining silent.
“Forgive me for speaking out, Genryūsai-dono.”
Nagatsuru’s golden eyes reflected the aged yet strongest man before him as he spoke softly.
“I believe the time has come to revoke his proxy authority.”
“...It’s too soon.”
“Is it?”
“But it won’t be that simple from now on. That kid is not someone who will stay put so easily...”
Scratching his hair, Nagatsuru decisively closed his eyes.
After all, the troublesome ones will be those captains of Soul Society again, won’t they?
“Have you already spoken to Kisuke Urahara?”
“Hm? Oh, yes. I’ve told him. Judging from his response, it should be fine.”
This venture into the living world was not only to gather information on the Arrancar; Nagatsuru had also been entrusted with a special task by Yamamoto. It seemed to have been accomplished fairly well.
“Well then, we await their next move.”