The silence shattered like glass.
Ichigo and Ganju didn't waste even a second. Both lunged forward with reckless energy, colliding in a tangle of fists and curses. Ichigo's punch slammed against Ganju's jaw, but Ganju rebounded instantly, driving his boot into Ichigo's ribs with a grunt.
"Bastard!" Ichigo yelled, grabbing Ganju by the vest.
"You picked the wrong guy to mess with!" Ganju roared back, throwing his head forward to slam it into Ichigo's.
The two of them tumbled through the paper doors, shattering the frame as if it were nothing more than brittle twigs. Their fists blurred as they hammered away at each other, rolling across the floor and crashing into furniture like two wild animals too stupid to stop.
In the middle of all this chaos, Kukaku sat calmly on her futon, pipe balanced gracefully between her fingers. She took a long drag, smoke curling elegantly around her face, but her expression was unreadable.
What the hell are these morons doing in my house… she thought, exhaling smoke with an annoyed sigh.
Her thoughts didn't last long. A violent impact sent Ichigo slamming into a nearby wall, Ganju following right after. The shockwave knocked Kukaku's pipe out of her hand, the fragile piece spinning through the air before it clattered to the floor.
The next moment sealed their fate.
Both Ichigo and Ganju, too lost in their ridiculous brawl to notice, stomped directly on the pipe. A sickening crack echoed through the room as it shattered beneath their feet.
The temperature seemed to drop tenfold.
Kukaku's expression darkened into pure fury, her eyes narrowing with deadly fire. The air trembled as golden sparks of energy crackled around her clenched fist.
Her voice dropped like thunder, and then she roared.
"YOU LITTLE PIECES OF SHIT!!"
She slammed her fist into the ground with explosive force. Yellow light erupted in a wave as the earth split in half, cracks racing across the floor like living veins. The entire Shiba residence shuddered violently, tilting to one side as if an earthquake had torn through it.
Ichigo and Ganju were instantly blown back, their bodies sprawling limply across the ruined floor. The pyrokinetic blast singed the air, leaving scorch marks and smoke rising from the wreckage.
Kukaku stormed forward, seized both boys by their hair, and yanked them up like they were misbehaving children. Her glare could have killed them where they stood.
"If you two cause trouble again…" she hissed, raising her smoking fist threateningly, "I'll kill you. Got that?"
Both Ichigo and Ganju nodded so fast their heads rattled. Their terrified faces said everything.
When Kukaku finally released them, Ichigo flopped back down with a groan and whispered hoarsely, "Dude… your sister is super scary…"
"I know…" Ganju muttered miserably, clutching his head.
But before the tension could fade, Shinichi, who had been watching the entire spectacle with poorly hidden amusement, leaned back with a sly smile.
"What do you mean scary?" he said coolly. "Who doesn't love a strong and elegant woman like her?"
The room froze. Tatsuki's head whipped toward him, her face twisted with disbelief.
"Shut up, Kisaragi," she snapped, pointing accusingly at him. "Your smooth talking won't help here."
But her interruption came a second too late.
Kukaku had already returned, brushing dust from her robes as if nothing had happened. Her sharp eyes flicked to Shinichi. For a moment, silence reigned again.
Then she smirked.
"Hmm… I didn't notice you before," she said. "But you're an interesting one. Thanks, kiddo. I heard what you said."
Shinichi immediately turned his head toward Tatsuki, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Tatsuki froze, her palm instinctively rising to cover her own embarrassed groan. She knew exactly what that taunting smile meant.
Kukaku stretched her shoulders with a crack and said, "Alright, so you wanna get into the Seireitei, huh… follow me."
The group fell in behind her, walking through the dimly lit corridors of her sprawling residence. The sound of their footsteps echoed against the wooden floor until they reached a heavy door that looked strangely reinforced. Kukaku pushed it open with a loud creak, and what awaited inside made everyone's eyes widen.
The room was vast and in the very center stood a massive cannon-like structure, its polished frame stretching upward like a beast ready to roar.
Ichigo tilted his head back, jaw slack. "Huh? What's that thing?"
Ishida adjusted his glasses, his analytical tone kicking in. "It seems like some sort of… cannon?"
Kukaku grinned and snapped her fingers at him. "Bingo! This right here is the Kakaku Taihō. I'll be using it to shoot you straight into the sky toward the Seireitei!"
For a moment nobody reacted, as if their brains were still buffering. Then all at once the group exploded in unison.
"Shoot us in the sky?!"
As if on cue, the ground beneath their feet trembled. Slowly, the entire platform they were standing on began to rise. Everyone stumbled slightly as the floor carried them upward, gears and mechanisms rumbling deep below. Ishida looked down with alarm, his voice pitched higher than usual.
"It's rising!"
Above them, the ceiling split apart and retracted, revealing the open sky. Sunlight poured down into the chamber as the Kakaku Taihō emerged from the house in its full glory, gleaming under the midday sun.
With a casual flick of her wrist, Kukaku tossed a crystal orb at Ichigo. He caught it clumsily, blinking at the strange object. "Huh? What's this supposed to be?"
Kukaku pointed at it with authority. "That's the Reishukaku. Place your palms on it and focus your spiritual energy."
Ichigo stared at the crystal ball as though it had personally insulted him. He looked back at Kukaku and scratched the back of his head. "Uh… how exactly do you focus your spiritual energy?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Kukaku's face dropped into sheer disappointment, her eyes half-lidded with disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
Yoruichi stepped in with a light cough, her tone almost apologetic. "Uh… actually, Kukaku, these two are the newbie Shinigami I told you about."
Kukaku shifted her gaze to Shinichi, arching a brow. "Oh… then I'm guessing you don't know how to do it either?"
Shinichi sighed, walked over, and without a word plucked the crystal ball out of Ichigo's hands. Closing his eyes, he placed both palms against it. For a few long seconds nothing happened. Then, with a low hum, a vibrant blue circular barrier bloomed around his body, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.
The rest of the group froze in stunned silence.
Shinichi opened his eyes calmly and said, "Don't ever put me in the same conversation as this stupid idiot."
Kukaku blinked in surprise, then chuckled as a smile tugged at her lips. She turned to Yoruichi. "Are you sure this one is a newbie? I must say, it's not really that difficult to focus your spiritual energy as a Shinigami… but for a rookie to do it so smoothly on the first try? I'm impressed."
Inside, Shinichi thought to himself, Of course I was able to do it. I already knew about this technique from Ganju teaching it to Ichigo.
Kukaku straightened her posture and launched into a detailed explanation about the Seireitei being covered by its own protective barrier, and how the Reishukaku would help them slip through undetected. The group listened intently, though Ichigo looked like he was only following along halfway.
Finally, Kukaku clapped her hands together and said with authority, "Take them to the training grounds! Except for this boy." She pointed straight at Shinichi. "You can do whatever you want. You don't really need any training, so just… do whatever, I guess."
Before anyone could react, the two hulking bodyguards stomped forward, scooped up the others like sacks of rice, and charged off toward the training grounds. Ichigo's outraged voice echoed as he was dragged away.
"WHAT THE HELL!"
The sound faded into the distance. Shinichi remained standing where he was, watching them go. Then, with a small shake of his head, he turned back toward the house and made his way inside, deciding to take it easy while the others endured their training.
Ganju glanced at his sister, uncertainty clouding his face. "Sis… are you really sure about this?"
Kukaku stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder at him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Sure about what?"
He hesitated, his gaze falling to the floor. "I'm against helping Shinigami. After what they did to our brother—"
"GANJU!" Kukaku's voice cut through the air like a whip.
Her younger brother flinched, his words dying instantly in his throat. She turned fully toward him, her expression dark, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"I told you never to mention it again. Not to me, not to anyone. Do you understand?"
Ganju swallowed hard, then lowered his head. "…Yes, sis." His voice was quiet now, stripped of its earlier fire.
"Good. Now go. Help those people with their training."
He lingered for only a moment longer, then sighed heavily and trudged away, muttering under his breath.
Neither of them noticed the quiet figure standing just outside the doorway.
Shinichi leaned against the frame, listening to every word. His eyes followed Ganju as he left, then shifted back toward Kukaku. With a low exhale, he shook his head and looked at the glowing screen flickering into existence before his eyes.
"I've been wondering about this quest ever since we set foot in this place," he muttered.
The bright-blue letters hung in the air:
[Quest: Break the Firework
Objectives:
1. Impress Kukaku Shiba (Done)
2. Make her share her deepest secret with you]
Shinichi narrowed his eyes at the text. "What the hell kind of RPG quest is this? I'm supposed to make the fireworks lady trauma-dump on me?"
The system chimed in, its response flashing across the screen.
[Correct. Emotional bonds are as powerful as physical strength. You need to learn how to deal with people without just hitting them.]
Shinichi dragged a hand down his face, groaning. "…So what, you're my dating sim coach now?"
Another line appeared almost instantly.
[If that helps you stop being an idiot, then yes.]
He stood there in silence for a beat, staring at the screen until the next message blinked into view.
[Trust me, these emotional and empathetic quests are important for you. You'll realize it later in the future.]
Shinichi let out a slow, tired sigh. "Have you seen her personality? There's literally no way she's telling me about Kaien all on her own."
The system's reply was short and merciless.
[Now that's a problem for you to solve.]
Shinichi frowned at the glowing text before it finally faded away, leaving him alone in the dim corridor. He looked back toward the spot where Kukaku had been standing just moments ago and muttered under his breath.
"…This is gonna be a pain in the ass."
---
The sun was bleeding into the horizon, painting the sky in deep strokes of orange and red. Birds called faintly from the trees surrounding Kukaku's residence, their chirps blending with the fading hum of cicadas.
Kukaku sat cross-legged in front of the towering frame of the Kakaku Taihō, the giant cannon looming like some slumbering beast. A half-empty bottle of sake rested at her side, two cups before her. She poured into both, though only one was meant to be drunk.
"Kaien…" she murmured, raising her cup as her eyes softened. "You'd chew me out if I didn't help those kids. This is what you'd have wanted too… right?"
Footsteps crunched against the wooden boards behind her. Kukaku turned, her brows knitting together as Shinichi walked up casually, hands tucked in his sleeves.
"…Can you pour one for me too?" he asked.
Kukaku squinted at him. "…Huh? Aren't you, like, sixteen? You fetus."
Shinichi smirked. "Those are the laws of the world of the living. We're not in the world of the living right now, are we? Besides-" he sat down beside her without hesitation, "—I've got nothing else to do. How about a quick chit-chat?"
Kukaku rolled her eyes, but there was a faint tug at her lips. "…Fine. But I'm not letting you drink, kid."
They sat together in the orange afterglow of the sunset. Shinichi leaned back on his arms, looking at her sideways. "Don't you ever get lonely? You just have that stupid little brother of yours for company."
She raised her cup and took a slow sip. "Nah. You get used to it. With time… it's peaceful."
She drank again, her shoulders dropping as if the sake loosened a weight she carried every day. Her eyes flicked to Shinichi. "…What about you, huh? Why do you wanna save that girl?"
He tilted his head back, staring at the sky. "I don't know. She's a friend, maybe that's enough?"
Kukaku chuckled, skeptical. "That can't be the only reason."
Shinichi sighed. "…No, really. She's a friend I care about. That's it."
The rim of Kukaku's cup clinked against wood as she set it down. "You're a weird one, kid."
Her cup emptied faster than she expected. Shinichi leaned forward. "Here, let me." He took the bottle, filling her cup without hesitation.
All the while, he thought grimly, I need her as drunk as possible… make her walls crack, even just a little.
The conversation stretched on. Kukaku's cheeks flushed faintly with warmth from the sake, though her words never slurred. She was looser, more open, but still guarded.
At last, she looked at him, sharp again despite the haze. "Kid… I hear you don't have control over your powers yet. As brilliant as you are with what you can control… you won't survive against a lieutenant. Definitely not a captain. Seireitei isn't a playground. So why risk your life for someone you've only known a few weeks?"
The sky had slipped into darkness. Stars began to twinkle above, the moon glowing pale and serene. Shinichi let a smile tug at his lips.
"Because if I walk away when people I care about are suffering, then what the hell am I even worth? Power or no power, I'd rather die swinging than live doing nothing."
For just a heartbeat, Kukaku froze. The glass of sake trembled faintly in her hand as her eyes widened. In that single line… he was Kaien.
Her throat worked, and when she finally spoke, her voice was quieter. "…Right now, you sounded just like him."
Shinichi's smirk deepened. 'Yeah, no shit. That was the point.'
Feigning ignorance, he leaned in slightly. "Like who?"
Kukaku exhaled sharply, looking away. The sake had stripped away some of her armor, but not all. "…No one. Forget it. It's late. Let's head inside."
She started to push herself to her feet.
"Wait!" Shinichi's voice rang out.
She turned back, annoyed. "…What is it, you brat?"
He drew a breath, steadying himself, eyes locking with hers.
"You don't have to tell me. But don't think I'm too soft to hear it, either. I've got my own monsters. I'm not gonna run from yours."
For a moment, silence. Then Kukaku let out a dry chuckle. "Pretty bold words for a sixteen-year-old."
She turned to leave, Shinichi thought to himself, 'Shit! I failed!' But then she stopped. Her shoulders trembled just slightly as the words finally escaped her lips.
"…His name was Kaien Shiba. My brother. He was killed by a Shinigami… one from his own squad. That's why Ganju hates them. That's why…"
She turned her head back toward Shinichi, her expression hard, but her voice soft. "…Happy now, kid?"
Shinichi's expressions faded. He lowered his eyes. "…I'm sorry. Truly."
Kukaku let out a long, shuddering sigh, setting her cup down. "…It's fine. You're… different from the rest. Don't ever change, kid—" she paused, realizing, "—no, wait. I never even asked your name."
"Shinichi Kisaragi," he answered simply.
Kukaku blinked, then laughed. The sound was warm, almost cleansing. "Well then, Shinichi Kisaragi… nice to meet you."
Suddenly, a glowing blue screen flickered into view before Shinichi's eyes.
[Quest Completed!]
[You will now be receiving the reward!]
[A random system skill of yours will be leveled up!]
Shinichi narrowed his eyes. Proceed.
[Congratulations! Your "Peak-A-Boo" skill has been leveled up!]
[You can now be invisible for 3 minutes, and you can make another person invisible with you as long as you touch them at a designated spot!]
Shinichi arched an eyebrow. That's… actually useful.
But before he could dwell on it, the ground shuddered violently beneath them. The floorboards rattling as if an earthquake had struck. Both he and Kukaku's expressions sharpened immediately.
"…The training area," Kukaku muttered, already breaking into a run. Shinichi followed at her heels.
By the time they arrived, Ganju was already there, pale, on his knees, staring in horror into the glowing training grounds. His whole body trembled as a strange, blinding blue light pulsed from within.
Kukaku stormed up to him, voice like a whip. "GANJU! What the hell is happening?!"
Ganju flinched, stammering. "I-I'm sorry, sis! I only taught him a little! I didn't think it'd turn into… THIS!"
Kukaku's eyes snapped toward the training room. Shinichi and the others followed her gaze. Inside, Ichigo stood in the center, his body blazing with wild, untamed reiatsu. A colossal barrier had formed around him, surging and trembling like a storm barely contained. His teeth were clenched, veins bulging at his neck.
Kukaku's voice cut through the chaos like thunder. "SHRINK YOUR REIATSU, KUROSAKI! Don't let it spiral out of control!"
Ichigo's voice strained as he roared against the torrent of energy bursting from his body. "AGHHHHHHH!!"
The barrier pulsed violently, waves of spiritual pressure knocking back dust and stones. Finally, after a long, agonizing effort, his reiatsu began to condense, pulling tighter and tighter until the barrier around him stabilized into a proper, compact form.
Ichigo gasped for breath, then raised his head with a wide grin. "I DID IT! HELL YEAH—"
"YOU IDIOT! DON'T TALK!" Kukaku screamed.
The moment the words left her mouth, a sharp CRACK split through the air. A fracture raced across Ichigo's barrier, spiderwebbing in an instant before—
BOOOOOOM!
A violent explosion tore through the training room, blasting Ichigo off his feet. He crashed to the ground, coughing through the dust, his hair and face smeared with soot, his clothes torn and ragged.
Before he could even move, a heavy pressure crushed his skull into the dirt. Kukaku had planted her foot firmly on his head, grinding it mercilessly as veins bulged in her forehead.
"DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO LOSE CONCENTRATION, YOU DAMN IDIOT?!"
Ichigo groaned pitifully under her heel.
Ganju, trying to salvage some dignity, puffed out his chest. "Good thing that I didn't—"
WHAM!
Kukaku's fist collided with his jaw before he could finish. Ganju flew to the side, clutching his face as he wailed.
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE EQUALLY AT FAULT HERE!" Kukaku's voice cracked like a whip. "NO FOOD FOR EITHER OF YOU TONIGHT, GOT THAT?!"
Both Ichigo and Ganju, sprawled in the dirt like beaten dogs, cried out in perfect unison.
"WHAAAAT?!"
The rest of the group just stood there, wide-eyed, torn between horror and laughter.
---
The air was still heavy with night, the horizon only just beginning to pale with the promise of dawn. Ichigo was sleeping after being immensely tired because of the training he had to go through the day before. But his beauty sleep was very short lived.
A sharp kick jolted him from his sleep.
"AGH! What is wrong with you?" Ichigo groaned, sitting up with his orange hair sticking out in wild tufts.
Shinichi stood over him, arms folded. "We were trying to wake you up since forever… but you just wouldn't wake up."
Before Ichigo could glare properly, Ishida adjusted his glasses and cut in flatly, "He's lying. We just got here." His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge. "Let's go now, Kurosaki. It's time."
Ichigo rubbed his eyes and dragged himself to his feet, muttering something under his breath. Together, the three of them made their way toward the towering stone field where the massive cannon, the Kūkaku Kaihō, awaited.
The rest of the group was already gathered there, tension hanging faintly in the air. Kukaku stood tall at the front, her usual fiery grin tempered into something serious.
"It's time," she declared. Her single arm lifted, gesturing for them to assemble. "Get ready! Also…" she glanced around, eyes narrowing. "Where's Ganju?"
Ichigo yawned and pointed back toward the house. "He was in the training room muttering something weird."
Before Kukaku could reply, Tatsuki strode toward Shinichi, arms crossed. Her voice came sharp with suspicion. "Hey! How the hell were you able to form that barrier on your first try?"
Orihime stepped beside her, nodding eagerly. "Yeah! You're incredible, Kisaragi-kun! It took us so much time to master it, but you did it so easily!"
Shinichi blinked, scratching his cheek. "Uh. I'm just better?"
Tatsuki's fists clenched, her teeth grinding. "You narcissistic bitch…"
Orihime quickly turned away from the rising tension, lifting her hand toward Yoruichi. "Yoruichi-san! Can you form the barrier from the crystal?"
The golden-eyed cat, tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… I have never tried it ."
With effortless grace, Yoruichi climbed atop the gleaming crystal. The moment her palm touched it, light shimmered, and a barrier blossomed into existence around her, perfect, controlled, and stable.
Everyone's eyes widened in amazement.
"Duh," Shinichi muttered, breaking the awe. "Of course she can do it if I can."
Yoruichi smirked, her voice light as ever. "Haha… something like this is like breathing to me."
A sudden voice interrupted. "I'm ready!"
Ganju appeared, stepping into the open with a dramatic new outfit—clearly styled as some sort of battle gear. Ichigo squinted at him. "Why the hell are you wearing that?"
Ganju puffed his chest out. "This is my battle outfit! I'm ready!"
Ichigo frowned, unimpressed. "Why are you wearing a battle outfit? It's not like you're going with us…"
But before he could finish, Ganju stomped forward and seized Ichigo by the collar. His voice shook with anger—and something deeper. "My brother was killed by a Shinigami."
"Ganju!" Kukaku's voice cracked like a whip.
But Ganju didn't back down. He turned sharply toward her, eyes blazing. "No, sis! Let me say it!"
His grip tightened on Ichigo's collar as he leaned closer, his voice trembling with raw memory. "He was a prodigy… he became a Lieutenant in just five years of time. He was on his way to becoming the finest Shinigami of the 13th Division." Ganju's eyes darkened. "And then… he was killed. Killed by his Shinigami peer."
The silence around the group deepened. Even Tatsuki's clenched fists loosened.
"I could never forget those two faces that day…" Ganju's voice grew hushed, breaking under the weight of his words. "One of that Shinigami… and the other, my brother. Smiling. Thanking that Shinigami. Why? Why did my brother thank that shinigami in the end? I don't know." His knuckles whitened against Ichigo's uniform. "But ever since then, I've hated Shinigami. I swore I always would."
His grip faltered, trembling, before he finally forced the words out. "…But you… you are different. And I'm hoping to find out why. I'm hoping… to overcome this hatred of mine."
For a moment, Ichigo simply stared back. Then, without warning, he grabbed Ganju's collar in return—his expression firm, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Guess we're working together now," Ichigo said simply.
The two boys stood locked in silence, before finally loosening their grips at the same time.
Ganju turned back to his sister, his voice steadier now. "I'm prepared with what you asked me, sis."
Kukaku's grin returned, fierce and bright against the paling sky. "Good." She raised her arm high, her voice erupting with fire. "Alright then, everyone—"
Her voice rang out like thunder, echoing across the Shiba grounds.
"Let's break into the Seireitei!"