"Jeez! I just wanted to see how Ichigo's doing lately!" Matsumoto Rangiku puffed her cheeks childishly.
"That heartless guy hasn't come to see me in days!"
Clearly, over the past month, Rangiku had slowly begun to move on from the pain of losing Gin. She had thrown herself back into work—and maybe even into a new love.
With time, even the memory of Ichimaru Gin might fade away completely.
Ise Nanao, standing beside her, gave a slight shake of her head. Her impression of Kurosaki Ichigo had just gained another descriptor: flirtatious.
Nearly all the female Shinigami knew about the complicated relationship between Ichigo and not just Captain Unohana—but also the Captain-Commander.
Not to mention that the noble princess of the Kuchiki Clan was living in his house.
And now even the Fifth Division's Lieutenant Hinamori Momo had taken a long leave just to accompany him after rumors spread that he was losing his Shinigami powers.
Ichigo: Hinamori Momo, this is fake, right? Fake news? Please?!
The gossip had already spread through the entire Women's Association in Soul Society.
After all, most of its high-ranking members were slowly being "conquered" by Kurosaki Ichigo.
Currently, the only female officers without ties to him were Lieutenant Kotetsu Isane, Nanao herself, and Third Seat Kotetsu Kiyone of the Thirteenth Division.
Although even Isane was suspect—many believed she just didn't dare act because of Unohana Yachirō.
Nanao, in truth, had never spoken directly to Ichigo before. She honestly wanted to know: what was it about him that made so many women care so deeply?
But now wasn't the time.
The two women opened a Senkaimon and, guided by Hell Butterflies, stepped into the Dangai… and then, nothing more was heard from them.
—The next day—
Kyōraku Shunsui and Hitsugaya Tōshirō personally visited the Department of Research and Development.
Two lieutenants had vanished in the Dangai—this was big.
They were received by Akon, the Third Seat of the Twelfth Division.
Upon hearing their purpose, Akon frowned slightly. "Please sit. I'll have someone check the records to see if either lieutenant passed through the Dangai."
Shunsui and Hitsugaya, though anxious, sat down quietly.
After all, communications breakdowns weren't unheard of—sometimes it was just a dead battery or lost signal.
But then, a Shinigami with half-green, half-blond hair came back with the results.
There were no records of either Matsumoto Rangiku or Ise Nanao passing through the Dangai.
Which meant… they were still in the Human World.
Shunsui frowned. "If they're still in the Human World, then how could they suddenly lose contact?"
Hitsugaya, while aware of how close Matsumoto had gotten with Ichigo lately, didn't think she'd be stupid enough to disobey orders just to visit him.
Akon didn't have an answer. The matter was escalated to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the Twelfth and head of the Science Bureau.
The Captains went straight to Genryūsai Yamamoto to lodge a formal report.
But the old man was currently enjoying his peaceful life.
Ever since Unohana reverted to her original name and began tying her hair back again, Yamamoto knew—this woman, once one of the first generation Captains like him—had changed completely.
Lately, he even suspected that her power was starting to surpass his own.
And she could still remain calm and rational during battle!
That alone made Yamamoto start fantasizing about retirement.
He had originally planned to pass on his position to Ichigo after the boy died and came to Soul Society.
Kyōraku lacked the strength, and Ukitake—despite being strong—was far too frail.
But now, Unohana Yachirō gave him a new, perfect option.
Old enough, strong enough, and rational enough.
She was the perfect next Captain-Commander.
He'd even been dreaming about retiring and becoming a teacher at Shin'ō Academy…
But then Shunsui and company barged in, cutting his fantasy short.
Holding a roasted sweet potato in hand, Yamamoto asked, deadpan, "So, what happened?"
Hitsugaya explained the situation and turned to Mayuri. "Captain Kurotsuchi, are you certain the records aren't wrong?"
That was a direct slap in Mayuri's face.
He hated two things most: anyone saying Urahara Kisuke's inventions were better than his—and anyone questioning the accuracy of his tech.
Furious, Mayuri said, "Impossible! Our department's records have never been wrong!"
He stepped toward Hitsugaya and asked, "Captain Hitsugaya, have you considered that maybe your lieutenant, Matsumoto, is still in the Human World… perhaps to visit Kurosaki Ichigo?"
Hitsugaya barked back, "Absolutely not! Not only her—Lieutenant Ise from the Eighth Division is missing too. Don't you dare blame this all on Rangiku!"
Shunsui quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. He also didn't believe his responsible niece would do such a thing.
Before they could argue further, the door to the First Division slammed open.
Lieutenant Sasakibe Chōjirō entered with a report. "Captain-Commander, Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise have returned to the Soul Society."
Everyone looked at each other in stunned silence.
Yamamoto sighed, "Alright. Bring them in."
Moments later, Rangiku and Nanao entered, bowing politely to the Captains.
"Matsumoto, Ise, your Captains just reported that you lost contact with the Soul Society. Care to explain?" Yamamoto asked, opening his eyes.
The two lieutenants exchanged glances.
Rangiku replied, "Captain-Commander, we returned immediately after completing our mission. We didn't encounter any issues in the Dangai."
Mayuri spread his arms smugly. "See? I told you my department's records weren't flawed."
Shunsui, still concerned, asked, "But you two were missing for a day. How do you explain that?"
Nanao blinked. "Wasn't it only three hours ago that we lost contact?"
Mayuri rubbed his chin. "Interesting… Could be a time distortion in the Dangai. Rare, but not impossible."
Yamamoto considered this. "A time distortion is serious. Convene an emergency Captains' Meeting."
Mayuri was instantly excited—this kind of scientific mystery was his favorite thing.
—The meeting was brief but significant.
Most shocking of all was that it wasn't Yamamoto who led it—it was Unohana Yachirō.
None of the other Captains objected. In Soul Society, strength spoke louder than anything else.
Unohana swiftly assigned a team to investigate the Dangai:
Byakuya (6th), Hitsugaya (10th), Kenpachi (11th), Mayuri (12th), and Renji (6th Lieutenant).
Meanwhile, the return of the Visoreds was still in limbo.
Though the Central 46 had agreed to pardon them, they demanded the Visoreds never again use Hollow powers.
This caused major pushback—after all, their current powers were no longer traditional Hollowfication, but Hollow-type Zanpakutō.
Negotiations dragged on, so the Visoreds remained in the Human World for now.
—Back in the Human World—
Sensing Hollows appearing in Karakura Town, Ichigo sighed. "Seriously? More Hollows?"
Rukia chuckled. "We may have a deal with Hueco Mundo, but Karakura is a spiritually dense area. It's a natural magnet for Hollows."
"Ugh… there goes my vacation," Ichigo muttered.
Since the town hadn't been fully restored yet, he'd finally gotten some free time to relax with Rukia and Senna.
But duty calls.
Senna gave him a playful push. "C'mon, let's finish this fast!"
Ichigo nodded, transforming into his Shinigami form. The three flew out of his bedroom.
Just as they left the house, they sensed a Senkaimon opening nearby.
After quickly defeating the Hollows, Senna turned to Ichigo. "Let's check that gate out. I feel something strange from that direction."
As a soul-memory hybrid, Senna clearly picked up on something unusual.
Ichigo agreed.
The three made their way to a nearby parking lot.
Looking around, Ichigo asked, "Rukia, is this the place?"
Rukia consulted her Denreishinki. "Yeah, this is it. But… Soul Society didn't assign any missions here."
Ichigo frowned. "Could it be someone sneaking over again, like Rurichiyo?"
Senna scouted the lot and called them over.
"Ichigo, Rukia—come see this."
The two followed her voice… and were stunned by what they saw.
A green-haired girl, wrapped in a tattered grey cloth, lay unconscious in the lot.
Ichigo and Rukia scanned her.
There was no detectable spiritual pressure.
"A human?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
Senna shook her head. "She looks human, but there's something familiar about her. Like… me."
Rukia thought for a moment. "Let's bring her back. She doesn't look well. If we're wrong, she can always go home later."
Ichigo nodded.
Rukia and Senna carried the girl back to Ichigo's room.
"Why my room?" Ichigo groaned. "Why not yours, Rukia? Or Senna's?"
Senna said matter-of-factly, "I share a room with Yuzu. Can't let her see this."
Rukia added, "Same. I live with Karin."
Ichigo sighed in defeat.
As soon as the two girls laid the green-haired girl on his bed and unwrapped the cloth—
—they immediately threw the blanket over her again in panic.
But Ichigo had already seen it.
Though he was no stranger to adult things, his face still turned bright red. "Why is she… completely naked?!"
Neither of them had expected this!
Flustered, they quickly tucked her under the covers and caught their breath.
"…This is strange. I can't sense anything from her," Rukia muttered.
Senna, however, looked at her strangely. "You can't? Her presence is blatantly obvious."
They were getting two completely different readings.
Both turned to Ichigo.
He hesitated, then concentrated his senses. "…She's… hazy. If you're not paying attention, you'd mistake her for a rock. Like she has no presence at all."
All three of them paused.
Three people.
Three different reactions.
But one shared conclusion:
This girl… is not normal.
(End of Chapter)
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