Sawada Tsunayoshi quickly leaped to Masaki's side using Fullbring. "Aunt Masaki, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, thank you, little Tsunayoshi." With the threat of death gone, Masaki regained her usual liveliness. "It's just that Ichigo was scared unconscious."
Tsunayoshi squatted beside Ichigo and poked the soft, bouncy cheek of the boy. Normally, Ichigo would have retaliated with a kick or punch, but unconscious, he could only remain still.
Masaki glanced at the enormous bow in Tsunayoshi's hand, wanting to comment but hesitating. Observing it closer, she saw the intricate pattern and a large Roman numeral I on the red decoration of the handguard.
Though clearly a bow, it didn't resemble typical Quincy spirit bows. Quincy bows usually bore blue Reishi adornments. What were those red flames on this weapon?
"Little Tsunayoshi, are you a Quincy?" Masaki finally asked aloud.
"Oh? You mean this?" Tsunayoshi paused his movements and carefully tucked the bow against his chest. "This is my Fullbring ability."
Masaki noticed the red gem on the Sky Ring under his clothes faintly flashing with light.
"Fullbring?" Masaki had never heard the term. "So, all the spiritual pressure recently active in Karakura Town was you? Amazing."
Masaki relaxed completely and sat on the ground. She and Isshin had long been aware of the strange spiritual pressure that had appeared in Karakura Town over the past year. They assumed it belonged to a newly stationed Shinigami since it eliminated Hollows and protected the town. They never expected the source to be Tsunayoshi—but they trusted him completely.
Sawada Tsunayoshi's Fullbring extended beyond the bow. This weapon, G's Bow and Arrow, replicated the Vongola First Storm Guardian's weapon. Thanks to the six colored gems on the unsealed Sky Ring, Tsunayoshi could summon any Guardian's weapon by calling its name. The Vongola crest in the center transformed to match the summoned equipment.
The Fullbring also granted weapon mastery. Even with Tsunayoshi's prodigious talent, learning seven Guardian weapons in just over a year would have been impossible otherwise, especially complex ones like Arnold's Handcuffs.
"Aunt Masaki, should I take you and Ichigo home first? The rain's getting heavier," Tsunayoshi asked, shouldering Ichigo.
"Yes, let's go home first."
Masaki struggled to rise, reaching for Ichigo, but her arms were weak, nearly dropping him.
"I'll handle it, Aunt Masaki," Tsunayoshi said, carrying Ichigo easily.
"Thank you, little Tsunayoshi."
A wave of emptiness radiated from Masaki. She could not control Reishi, nor did she have the strength to fight. Tsunayoshi's assistance allowed her to walk slowly, step by step, toward the Kurosaki home.
The Kurosaki door clicked open. Isshin, anxiously waiting inside, rushed to see Tsunayoshi drenched, Ichigo on his back, and Masaki leaning on him.
"Masaki?" Isshin exclaimed, quickly helping them inside to the living room.
Isshin, flustered, first attended to Ichigo—drying him and changing him—then Masaki, noticing her weakness. Fortunately, Yuzu and Karin were asleep, leaving Ichigo as the primary concern.
Tsunayoshi was simple: remove the raincoat his mother had prepared, and he was fine. He drank milk from the Kurosaki refrigerator as if nothing happened.
"Thank you, little Tsunayoshi," Isshin said, holding his hand solemnly. Masaki had explained the incident, and Isshin was still shaken.
Even powerless, Isshin sensed Hollow spiritual pressure and Masaki's fading power—he could only trust her.
"It's okay, aren't we friends?" Tsunayoshi said, smiling.
"Yes. Little Tsunayoshi will always be the Kurosaki family's best friend." Isshin ruffled his hair.
"Oh, Uncle Isshin, could you call my mom? I'll return later."
"Understood."
Isshin, aware of Tsunayoshi's unusual nature, didn't question further. He called Nana, assuring her Tsunayoshi would return home later.
The three settled in the living room. Tsunayoshi intermittently drank milk.
"Masaki, why did you lose your power suddenly?" Isshin asked, concern etched on his face.
"I don't know," Masaki admitted. If she had retained even a fragment of power, that Hollow wouldn't have dared to act.
"It's Auswählen," Tsunayoshi said, setting the milk aside. "An ability activated by the Quincy Emperor to reclaim the powers of all Quincies with impure blood."
"How is that possible?" Isshin frowned.
"I'm from a pure-blood Quincy line, yet I've never heard of this," Masaki said.
"You must have been injured," Tsunayoshi noted, referring to her battle tactic. "Hollow poison is fatal to Quincies. Once damaged, Aunt Masaki, you ceased being a pure-blood Quincy."
"Even if that's true, little Tsunayoshi, how do you know so much?" Masaki asked, astonished.
"Aren't we friends? I've been wandering around in this raincoat because of Ichigo," Tsunayoshi replied.
Isshin, pondering the boy, simply asked, "Continue. What else do you know?"
"All Quincies carry the Emperor's blood. He shares and plunders powers, giving seeds and reclaiming them later. The reclaiming is called Auswählen. Mixed-blood Quincies face varied results: strong bodies lose power, weak ones may die."
Tsunayoshi took a long breath and drank more milk.
The news shocked the Kurosakis.
"Wait? Mixed-blood Quincies might die?" Masaki asked, leaning forward.
"Yes. After this wave, only pure-blood Quincies should remain," Tsunayoshi said, though one extraordinary exception existed.
"Isshin, I need to leave briefly," Masaki said suddenly.
"What? In your state?" Isshin protested.
"I want to see my friends at the Ishida house, one last time," Masaki said, recalling the fate of her mixed-blood kin.
"I'll come with you…"
"No, the children need you. Tsunayoshi, could I trouble you to take me there with your Fullbring?"
"The Ishida house? Many Quincies there?" Tsunayoshi asked.
"Yes, including a pure-blood."
"Then I have a request. I want to become a pure-blood Quincy's apprentice," Tsunayoshi said. Only contact with the corresponding individuals could unlock the other powers.
Uncle Isshin couldn't guide him—he'd lost his Shinigami powers. Ishida Ryūken, last pure-blood Quincy, was perfect.
"Quincy training isn't easy. I'll ask Ryuken, but agreement isn't guaranteed," Masaki said.
"That's fine. Let's go."
Tsunayoshi retrieved his raincoat, stepped on Fullbring, carried Masaki, and leaped toward the Ishida house.