Inside the spacious palanquin, Rukia tightly clutched Aozaki Reiji's hand.
She tried her best to control her body, preventing herself from falling into Aozaki Reiji's embrace.
Her lively, big eyes kept glancing left and right.
"Reiji, what exactly is the gift you're giving me?"
Ever since leaving Seireitei, Aozaki Reiji had maintained a mysterious demeanor, which made Rukia uncontrollably curious.
"You guess..."
Facing Rukia's playful coaxing, Aozaki Reiji remained unmoved, merely smiling mysteriously as he replied.
"Reiji, I really can't guess."
Rukia shook her head helplessly, a hint of anxiety appearing on her cute face.
To outsiders, she always appeared rigid and submissive.
But in front of Aozaki Reiji, she was as lively and adorable as an innocent little girl.
"We've traveled quite a distance; we should be almost there."
Aozaki Reiji gently lifted the palanquin curtain, looked outside, and then turned to Rukia, saying:
"If you really want to know, why don't you go out and see?"
Hearing this, Rukia could no longer suppress the excitement in her heart.
She immediately reached out, pulled open the curtain at the front of the palanquin, and eagerly poked her head out.
Looking at the building before her, which was both familiar and unfamiliar, yet perfectly aligned with her aesthetic, Rukia was momentarily stunned.
She widened her eyes, staring at the building in disbelief, a complex emotion welling up in her heart.
"How did you do it, big brother?"
Rukia asked excitedly.
"Do you like it? This tavern suffered a big fire before, and the proprietress didn't want it anymore, so I bought it."
Aozaki Reiji gently whispered into Rukia's ear, his voice tinged with tenderness.
As one of Rukongai's poorest areas, the entire Inuzuri district appeared dilapidated.
However, in such a impoverished place, stood a beautifully decorated tavern.
A signboard with a cute rabbit image hung at the tavern's entrance, and both the interior and exterior were exceptionally lavishly decorated.
It formed a stark contrast with the surrounding environment, as if it were a shining pearl in this desolate land.
"Is the proprietress okay?"
Rukia instinctively asked.
Aozaki Reiji paused, then chuckled, shaking his head.
She truly is a kind child...
Seeing Aozaki Reiji shake his head, Rukia finally relaxed and walked in with delight.
"Tap-tap-tap..."
Rukia, wearing straw sandals, carefully stepped onto the tavern's floor.
Each step was accompanied by a soft sound, as if she feared breaking the tranquility.
Her gaze slowly swept across the tavern's interior, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
The tavern's interior had undergone tremendous changes, but it still evoked memories of her past.
Even though those memories might not have been pleasant for her.
Rukia's gaze rested on a table, where a bouquet of fresh flowers was placed.
It was a cosmos flower, also known as autumn cherry.
It is said that the Latin pronunciation of this flower sounds very similar to Rukia in Japanese.
She gently caressed the petals, feeling their softness.
It was as if she saw her former self sitting there, her face beaming with a happy smile.
But she knew clearly that she wasn't happy at that time.
Was the smile on her face because she saw her current self?
Rukia looked at her past self and began to smile too.
"What do you think?"
Aozaki Reiji walked in from outside and stood quietly beside Rukia.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a warm smile.
He felt that Rukia would like it here, because it held their shared memories.
This was a place worth commemorating.
"The style doesn't seem to match..."
Rukia turned back to look at the familiar figure, her heart filled with joy.
Her steps quickened, and she pounced on him like a joyful little bird.
"Oh? I thought you really liked rabbits. If you don't, I can have Ichimaru Gin redecorate it."
Aozaki Reiji's lips curved slightly upwards, smiling indulgently.
He caught Rukia's soft body in his arms, lightly inhaled her delicate fragrance, and whispered gently in her ear.
This tavern was designed by Aizen, and Aozaki Reiji thought it didn't look bad.
Aizen's design skills were beyond question.
Although there were many inexplicable rabbit patterns in the tavern.
They didn't look messy; the overall appearance even had a unique kind of beauty.
To get Aizen to include those rabbit elements that Rukia liked in the design, Aozaki Reiji had to persuade him for a long time.
Aizen was extremely reluctant at first.
How was this any different from making him build strange giant statues in Las Noches?
But Aozaki Reiji promised to help him clear the latest game developed by Urahara Kisuke.
So he agreed.
According to him, he just wanted to understand the latest invention of the great genius, Urahara Kisuke.
He wasn't interested in playing games, or playing games with Aozaki Reiji.
"That's not what I meant..."
Rukia looked up, her eyes full of laughter.
"I mean, this shop is too good; it seems a bit out of place here."
Aozaki Reiji smiled helplessly, looking at the girl in his arms, and said softly:
"What's out of place? If I say it can open, then it can open. If those ronin dare to cause trouble, let them come find me."
When did the ronin of the Inuzuri district dare to oppose a Shinigami?
Do they really think everyone is Zaraki!?
Even if Zaraki disagrees, I'll just break his legs and be done with it!!
However, looking at those deep purple eyes staring unblinkingly at him, Aozaki Reiji couldn't help but be stunned.
Aozaki Reiji gazed into Rukia's eyes, finding that her pupils reflected only his own image.
And her gaze revealed a deep sense of dependence.
"Big brother... I also have a gift I want to give you..."
Rukia's face was as red as an apple as she slowly approached Aozaki Reiji, speaking haltingly.
Looking at this girl he had raised since childhood, Aozaki Reiji, as expected...
He... couldn't resist.
So he kissed her.
Who told this guy that his original intention when adopting Rukia was impure?
This guy has always remained true to his original intention.
Now, facing such temptation, how could he possibly resist?
Daring to provoke Aozaki Reiji like this...
Hisana, Michibane Aura, and Nemu Kurotsuchi.
These three good sisters of Rukia are excellent role models to learn from!
"Um... actually, someone was looking for me just now."
Aozaki Reiji suddenly looked up, releasing Rukia as he spoke.
"How could this happen?!"
Rukia, having regained her senses, covered her small face, speaking with a mix of shame, anger, and frustration.
Her sisters had all successfully snuck away, so why was it her who always messed up at the crucial moment?
She would probably be laughed at by her sisters when she returned.
"However..."
Looking at the disappointed Rukia, Aozaki Reiji quietly put his mouth to her ear.
"She doesn't seem to be in much of a hurry either."
Feeling her translucent earlobes redden from the warmth, Rukia's cheeks felt faintly hot.
She lowered her head slightly, saying shyly:
"So... do we still have time?"
Aozaki Reiji smiled faintly.
He gently raised his hand, caressed Rukia's hair, and softly said:
"Yes, we still have time, and we can spend every beautiful moment together."
As his words fell, invisible barriers quietly appeared around him.
These barriers, like transparent thin veils, danced lightly, then silently covered the entire tavern.
They separated the tavern from the outside world, as if creating a space that belonged only to the two of them.
In this isolated world, time seemed to slow down, and everything appeared so serene and beautiful.
Rukia sat quietly beside Aozaki Reiji, feeling his warm presence.
Aozaki Reiji's gaze remained fixed on Rukia.