"Cole, wait, calm down! If you go over there, it's too dangerous! My brother will kill you — he's a cruel Soul Reaper…"
Rukia struggled desperately, her short legs kicking like oars.
Seeing Cole wasn't listening, she nearly burst into tears.
"Please put me down! You don't have to make yourself Soul Society's enemy because of me. You could live peacefully with Ichigo and the others here in the Human World, just be a normal human…"
"Rukia, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Cole ruffled her hair, smiling as he pointed to the approaching figures.
"You're our comrade. Not only I want to protect you — everyone does. None of us will let Soul Society take you away."
Rukia's eyes widened as she saw the familiar figures.
"Ichigo, Uryu, Orihime, Chad… you all came?"
Orihime said softly, "I heard you in the yard, so I followed."
Chad spoke calmly, "Tessai taught me how to sense spirit lines. I came when I felt it."
Ichigo, carrying Zangetsu, grinned. "You two are so close to my house. Of course I noticed."
Uryu adjusted his glasses. "I came to see which Soul Reapers arrived this time."
"Everyone…" Tears welled in Rukia's eyes.
"See? No one's abandoning you. Don't even think about sneaking back to Soul Society. If you try, we'll just break in."
Cole laughed, setting her down, and turned to face the two fast-approaching figures.
"Humans?"
"Soul Reapers?"
"Quincy?"
Renji frowned at the strange gathering. Even with the reports from the Second Division, he couldn't understand how these beings had joined forces.
But he didn't care. Eyes fixed on Rukia, he asked urgently:
"Rukia, did these bastards steal your power, or did you give it to them willingly!?"
His cold gaze fell on Cole and Ichigo.
Among the six, only they carried Soul Reaper forms. They had to be the criminals in the reports.
"Renji…"
"Brother…"
Rukia glanced between Renji and Byakuya, who remained silent, cold as an iceberg. Biting her lip, she began:
"I… I chose…"
"Of course I stole her power."
Cole interrupted, smiling at Byakuya.
"You must be her brother, right? Rukia and I are in love. We decided to stay in the Human World, get married, and have kids—"
"Cole!! Brother is right there! What are you saying!?"
Rukia's face went crimson as she pounded on his chest with tiny fists.
Renji nearly coughed blood, his eyes blazing at the sight of them together.
"RUKIA!!!"
"Cole-kun, are you really going to marry Rukia?" Orihime asked blankly, crushed with disappointment.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid. He's bluffing to confuse them."
"Really!?" Orihime's hope returned instantly.
Ichigo smirked, lowering Zangetsu's tip toward Renji.
"If you want Rukia, you'll have to get through me. Fair warning — I'm strong."
Renji laughed angrily.
"Two humans, barely Soul Reapers, daring to challenge a lieutenant?"
He turned to Byakuya. "Captain!"
Byakuya's expression didn't change as he asked Rukia calmly:
"Rukia, will you come back with me?"
"How arrogant. He's ignoring us, treating us as if we don't exist — typical of those conceited Soul Reapers…" Uryu muttered coldly, summoning his blue bow.
Rukia bit her lip.
"Brother… may I stay here?"
She knew the law — giving power to humans meant death. The cruelest execution, the Double Penalty.
Byakuya averted his gaze, and her heart sank.
Renji, furious, drew his zanpakuto.
"So you're the bastard who tricked her into betraying Soul Society!"
He charged to kill Cole.
"Stop."
Byakuya's voice froze Renji in place.
Eyes wide, he turned, wondering if the ice-cold captain would actually spare Rukia. Impossible…
But Byakuya's gaze shifted to distant rooftops.
"You rats hiding there — are you going to interfere?"
Renji stiffened. He hadn't sensed anyone.
From the rooftops, voices rang out.
"Hirako, you idiot, I told you we needed a stronger barrier. Now we're exposed."
"Has nothing to do with the barrier, Hiyori. With this many of us, the energy was bound to show."
"Why are you even here?"
"Kisuke, are you stupid? A live show with drama, battles, and romance? Of course we came!"
"Byakuya won't really attack us, right?"
"He'd better not. If he tries, I, Kensei, won't let it slide."
"Time flies… that kid's already a captain."
"Meow, Shiro-chan, long time no see."
Renji's jaw dropped as he recognized them.
"Urahara Kisuke… Hirako Shinji… Muguruma Kensei… Tessai… Aikawa Love… Yoruichi… Otoribashi Rojuro…"
A dozen names tumbled out. His legs trembled. If they all attacked, even Byakuya wouldn't survive.
But Byakuya's face remained cold.
"We're just here to watch," Shinji said with a grin.
"Yeah," Kisuke nodded, smiling. "Pretend we're not here."
"Hey! That's too much!" Cole waved. "We've been through a lot together, and you're not helping?"
Hiyori sneered. "No way. We don't want the old man showing up."
Kensei laughed. "It's on you, Cole. Beat that pompous brat Byakuya good."
Seeing Cole chatting with captains like old friends, Renji sweated harder.
"Captain…"
Byakuya cut him off coldly.
"Go. Bring Rukia back. I'll deal with them."
Yoruichi smirked. "Shiro-chan, after all this time, you still don't trust your big sister?"
Byakuya's forehead twitched with killing intent, but he kept it in check. He had come to take Rukia back — failure was not an option.
Renji swallowed hard, then roared, releasing his zanpakuto.
"Roar, Zabimaru!!!"
His blade split into segments, forming a bladed whip.
"RUKIA!!!"
He charged at Cole.
Ichigo tensed, ready to intercept.
But Chad stepped forward, his right arm transforming into a massive black-red shield.
"Cole, Ichigo — leave him to me."
Ichigo hesitated, glancing at Cole.
Cole squinted, then smiled.
"Go ahead, Chad."
With his Brazo Derecha de Gigante mastered, Chad's strength was near lieutenant level. And his arm's defense was formidable.
Renji scoffed at the human.
"Out of my way!"
He swung Zabimaru like a silver dragon.
Chad raised his shielded arm.
"Boom!"
The strike landed — but the shield held.
Renji's eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
Before he could react, Chad's fist drove forward.
"Brazo Derecha de Gigante!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
The blast hurled Renji like a cannonball through walls and rubble.
Coughing in the ruins, he staggered to his feet, shaken.
"How…? He's just a human!"
Byakuya's eyes turned icy, falling on Kisuke.
"Kisuke."
Kisuke chuckled. "Don't blame me, Captain. Has nothing to do with me."
Byakuya snorted, unconvinced. Surely such power came from his twisted experiments.
"Damn it… don't underestimate me!!!"
Renji roared, extending Zabimaru's segments again.
"Orihime!"
She clenched her fists.
"Hinagiku, Baigon, Lily — Santen Kesshun (Three Sacred Linked Shield)!"
The yellow shield blocked Zabimaru's strike.
Chad glanced back. Orihime's eyes were firm.
"I'll protect Rukia too!"
Renji's rage boiled over. Two humans were holding him back. It was unbearable humiliation.
He charged again, only to meet Chad's fist.
"BOOM!!!"
A dark red shockwave ripped the ground, slamming into Renji like a tornado.
(End of Chapter)
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