Kurotsuki Renya, born in the 78th District of South Rukongai, Xudiao, entered the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy at the age of twelve. He graduated after two years, showing exceptional talent in Kidō and Hohō. Soon after, he was personally recruited into the Onmitsukidō (Stealth Force), serving as Lieutenant and adjutant to Captain Suì-Fēng of the Second Division.
Six years later, he became the leader of the Third Surveillance Unit under the Executive Militia. In the year of his death, while assisting in the pursuit of a defecting Shinigami, he was ambushed and killed by Tōsen Kaname during a covert operation. He died at the age of thirty-two.
In front of the memorial stone, Shiba Kaien solemnly recited Renya's record of service. Surrounding him were numerous Shinigami gathered to pay their final respects.
At the front stood Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji — Renya's childhood friends and Academy classmates. Rukia's tears fell freely, her eyes swollen and red. Renji bit his lip until it bled, his fists trembling as he tried to suppress the tears that refused to stop.
"My dear brother… how could you die…"
Both Rukia and Renji drifted into memories of their youth — growing up together in the harsh Rukongai districts, helping one another, dreaming of becoming Shinigami.
When Rukia was lonely, it was Renya who comforted her.
When Renji sought someone strong to challenge him, it was Renya who stood by him.
Now, with Renya gone, both were left hollow and broken.
Beside them stood Hinamori Momo and Kira Izuru, grief etched on their faces.
Renya's death had come suddenly — not even his Zanpakutō or uniform had been recovered.
It felt unreal. How could someone so full of life simply vanish?
From the Shiba Clan, Shiba Kūkaku, Shiba Ganju, and Shiba Kaien stood together.
Kūkaku muttered under her breath, "You reckless brat… why'd you have to die?" while Kaien's gaze remained on the sky, silent but sorrowful.
Nearby, Zaraki Kenpachi, Yachiru Kusajishi, Madarame Ikkaku, and Ayasegawa Yumichika stood apart from the crowd.
Kenpachi grunted, his tone uncharacteristically subdued.
"Tch. If he's gone… who am I supposed to fight next?"
Yachiru sniffled, clutching Kenpachi's arm.
"Renya was funny… I don't want him gone…"
Farther back, members of the Women's Shinigami Association gathered quietly.
Rangiku Matsumoto's eyes were red; Isane Kotetsu stood silently beside her, and even Nanao Ise had tears hidden behind her glasses.
Captains Kurosaki Isshin, Komamura Sajin, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, and Kuchiki Byakuya were also present. They had not known Renya closely, yet each came because of their lieutenants' respect for him.
Even Aizen Sōsuke and Ichimaru Gin stood among the attendees — quiet, unreadable expressions masking deeper intentions.
From the Fourth Division, Unohana Retsu and her lieutenant Isane Kotetsu stood apart. Isane wept openly, but Unohana's gaze remained calm and distant, concealing her sorrow beneath composure.
Almost every division was represented. Only the Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Captain Suì-Fēng were absent — and of course, the fallen Captain Tōsen Kaname, whose betrayal had caused this tragedy.
Renya's Kidō instructor, Tsunoda Hidetoshi, was also in attendance, as were Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Hisagi Shūhei, Renya's senior during his Academy years.
They had all gathered to mourn one of Soul Society's brightest souls.
But the one who should have been there the most — Suì-Fēng — was not.
⸻
At that moment, within the barracks of the Second Division, Suì-Fēng sat on Renya's bed. Her knees were drawn to her chest, her back pressed against the wall, eyes bloodshot and lifeless.
She hadn't shed a tear — she couldn't.
Since the day Renya died, she had fainted several times from grief, her mind trapped in denial.
Now, after three days, she had finally accepted the truth:
Renya was gone.
The boy who had followed her shadow faithfully for years — gone.
Her thoughts drifted to the night they first met — a young recruit with sharp instincts who had seen through her identity at a glance.
He had later joined the Onmitsukidō and become Ōmaeda's adjutant, but Suì-Fēng had taken him under her wing. She personally trained him every day — teaching him Shunpo, stealth, and Hakuda.
He had grown quickly. When he achieved Shikai, his Zanpakutō's release echoed with raw potential.
And then… he had confessed his feelings to her.
He had tried so earnestly — small gestures, awkward words, the time he held her hand at the Summer Festival, the time he massaged her shoulders after training, and that one fleeting kiss when she was hospitalized after a mission.
They had shared octopus balls under the stars and made a promise on his birthday — that if he continued to grow, she would one day accept him.
But now, he was gone.
Seventy-one years ago, Yoruichi Shihōin — the woman Suì-Fēng revered most — had defected overnight. That loss had haunted her for decades.
And now, twenty years after meeting Renya, ten years after letting him into her heart… she had lost someone again.
"The greatest despair… isn't never having happiness," she murmured, voice trembling, "it's having it stolen from you every time you reach for it."
Suì-Fēng lowered her gaze to the clothes Renya had once bought her — an embarrassingly bold outfit she had scolded him for. He'd laughed, saying she'd look beautiful in it.
Now, guilt, sorrow, and loneliness tore through her like blades.
She had no intention of attending the funeral.
To her, the grave meant nothing — his body had been destroyed completely in the blast.
Only here, in his room, did his scent still linger faintly in the air.
She lay down on the bed where he once slept, her fingers gripping the blanket.
Hours later, a voice came from outside.
"Captain… the funeral is over."
It was Ōmaeda Marechiyo, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Suì-Fēng did not respond. After a pause, Ōmaeda turned away quietly, deciding to handle their division's workload alone to give her time to mourn.
"How did it come to this…" Ōmaeda whispered, eyes low.
⸻
After the ceremony, the crowd slowly dispersed.
Byakuya Kuchiki placed a comforting hand on Rukia's shoulder and handed her a handkerchief. She nodded gratefully, wiping her tears.
Nearby, Madarame Ikkaku tugged at Renji's arm.
"C'mon, man. Let's go."
Renji nodded weakly and followed the Eleventh Division members.
"Aizen-taichō… let's go," said Hinamori, her voice hoarse.
Aizen gave her a reassuring smile and guided her away.
As the mourners left, only two remained — Unohana Retsu and Isane Kotetsu.
Isane turned to her captain.
"Captain… it's time."
Unohana gave a faint nod, her expression unreadable.
She returned to her office in silence, drew out a folded letter from within her robes, and opened it slowly.
The ink had faded, but the words remained clear — written in Renya's careful handwriting.