Chapter 12: Return to Rukongai
After dinner in the dormitory's main cafeteria, Takeru and the others headed straight for Rukongai.
It was still early. Although an incident had occurred, it clearly had not escalated yet. The atmosphere in Runrinan was unchanged.
Lanterns were lit and hung beneath eaves and porches, their warm light spilling onto the street. Children darted through the alleys, the night itself becoming their playmate as their laughter and shouts rode the evening breeze and echoed between the houses.
Several children and adults even called out to Takeru and Ichigo when they passed.
"We have only been here a few days, but they have completely accepted us as their own," Ichigo murmured, a little moved and a little confused by the simple warmth stirring in his chest.
Takeru, however, understood perfectly.
"The people of Rukongai come from all over the world, and even from different eras," he said. "They are used to forming new families with strangers who are not related by blood, so they are especially friendly to outsiders and even happy to accept new family members and companions. It is practically a natural breeding ground for yakuza organizations."
"The last part was unnecessary."
Ignoring the bickering pair in front, Hachihara looked around like a curious cat.
"I have heard forever that the districts near the outskirts are really safe, with lots of interesting shops, and that Shinigami come out here often. Looks like those were not just rumors."
Rindo Yu was extremely quiet, as if spacing out. Or perhaps he was silently watching everything, gathering details and clues without a word.
Before long, the four of them arrived at the Elder's house.
They knocked and stepped inside, only to be greeted by the heavy stench of gunpowder that almost pushed them back out the door.
The wooden house was as spacious as a warehouse, big enough to hold a crowd of children running around, shouting, eating, and sleeping.
But right now, there was not a single child in sight.
Only the Elder and a man and a woman were locked in a tense standoff.
A pot of water bubbled on the hanging stove between them, as if boiling in time with their tempers.
On closer inspection, Takeru realized that the "standoff" was really between the man and the woman. The Elder sat there looking helpless, more like a go-between trying to mediate.
And Takeru recognized the other two at a glance.
The woman was Shiba Kukaku, which was not surprising. A fireworks master living in West Rukongai visiting another district was nothing unusual.
But Omaeda Marechiyo, a Shinigami, being here felt very out of place.
"Huh? Who let these brats in? Who do you belong to?"
Omaeda had just been thoroughly shouted down by Shiba Kukaku and was still seething inside. The moment more people appeared to "disrupt," he immediately snapped.
"This is the Elder's house. It is not your place to butt in," Shiba Kukaku said coldly before Shimiya Takeru, the others, or even the Elder could respond. "If you have a problem, go back to Seireitei and get your Captain to come here personally before you start making threats."
"You… I have put up with you long enough!" Omaeda roared. "Do not think that just because you are a Shiba you can talk down to Omaeda dono! I am the Vice Captain of the Second Division and Captain of the Second Division Patrol Corps of the Onmitsukido!"
"I am here to investigate a case. You do not have the right to order me around. On the contrary, you are the ones who should be following my commands and cooperating by handing over information honestly, just like this old man. Otherwise, when the Captain gets here, you will regret it!"
Omaeda suddenly lurched to his feet. Whatever else could be said about him, his burly build and the faint leak of Vice Captain level spiritual pressure were intimidating enough that no one would underestimate him.
At the very least, Ichigo and Hachihara's expressions tightened and their bodies tensed, ready for a fight to break out.
Kukaku, however, remained seated, utterly unfazed.
"Ha. Trying to pressure me with Suifeng?" She snorted. "Fine, let her come. That would be even better. Go on, hurry up. I will be right here waiting for her. When she shows up, I will hand over the information myself without another word."
"You…!"
Her casual tone made it sound like Suifeng was a subordinate whose job was to come clean up her messes. It made Omaeda want to draw his sword and cut off her remaining arm on the spot.
He did not have that kind of courage.
In the end, he could only throw out a parting threat.
"Even without your cooperation, I can still catch the culprit," he snapped, then turned on his heel.
As they brushed past each other, Takeru stepped aside and "kindly" added,
"Looking into the Shinigami responsible for this district might lead to some unexpected discoveries."
"…Heh."
Omaeda shot him a sideways look and growled,
"Little brat, go to bed early. Otherwise, if you show up late tomorrow, your Spirit Arts Academy teachers will tan your hide."
With that, he stomped off, venting his frustration through the floorboards.
"This guy is way too annoying. He is nothing like the people from the Fifth Division."
Ichigo clicked his tongue.
"So don't you dare grow up to be that kind of Shinigami," Kukaku's voice drifted from inside the house. "If I run into you acting like that one day, I will treat you exactly the same way I treat him."
Shimiya Takeru and the others were wearing their Spirit Arts Academy uniforms, so it was not hard to guess who they were.
"This is…" Ichigo started quietly.
"Her name is Shiba Kukaku," the Elder supplied. "She is the most famous fireworks master in Rukongai."
"I have heard of her!" Hachihara's eyes immediately lit up. "She practically handles all the fireworks for Seireitei ceremonies, and she has a lot of influence among merchants in both Rukongai and Seireitei. She is my mom's idol!"
"Ha. That is a first, hearing someone introduce me like that." Kukaku chuckled. "Your mother has good taste, kid."
"Could you sign something for me, if that is okay?"
"No problem. I will autograph one of my own fireworks and let you take it back as a collectible. It will definitely be a great investment, absolutely no scam."
"That is awesome!"
Watching the two social butterflies hit it off like long lost friends, even the usually easygoing Takeru was left speechless. He turned to the Elder, who was pouring them hot water, and used the chance to introduce Hachihara and Rindo Yu.
As their conversation went on, Kukaku gradually pieced together who everyone was.
"Oh, oh, so you two are the geniuses the Elder kept talking about." Kukaku sized up Takeru and Ichigo with growing interest. For some reason, her gaze lingered a bit longer on Ichigo. "Kids these days really are something."
"We still have to thank the Elder for taking care of us back then," Takeru said.
"Think nothing of it. I feel at ease seeing you doing well at the Spirit Arts Academy and making new friends," the Elder replied, smiling. "Speaking of which, your visit at this particular time is quite the surprise."
Takeru and Ichigo traded looks. In the end, Ichigo stepped forward and explained why they had come.
Only then did the Elder understand.
"I see. So you rushed over here because you were worried that your missing classmates might have something to do with this old man."
"But with Miss Kukaku here, our worries seem unnecessary," Takeru added, his words carrying a faint double meaning.
"Do not put me on a pedestal. This matter is giving me a headache too."
Kukaku waved a hand irritably.
"Because the Shinigami responsible for Runrinan also ran into trouble, right?"
?
Takeru's sudden question froze Kukaku in place, and everyone else stared at him in shock.
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