"Well, it should be safe inside here. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Passing through the Senkaimon, we entered the Dangai.
Once the gates had completely closed and I confirmed that our connection to the outside world was severed, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Eh, um... what do you mean...?"
"Oh! Finally, Sensei?! I was tired of waiting!!"
Since he had received some explanation beforehand, Abarai-kun finally relaxed his expression. Conversely, Rukia-san looked troubled, wondering what was going on.
"Actually, there was a hidden side to this mission."
"Hidden side... you say?"
"For now, I'll explain what happened from the beginning. You might want to ask for details at key points, but please hold back and listen until the end."
After giving that disclaimer, I explained what had happened—from the moment I went to the First Division and received the mission from the Head Captain.
Then, I explained what I discussed with Byakuya after accepting the mission.
I gave them a general rundown of the situation.
"And that's the gist of it. So even right now, while we are doing this, Captain Kuchiki is pleading with Central 46. Truthfully, he probably wanted to come pick you up himself, Rukia-san."
"No way... Nii-sama..."
"I see... so that's how it was..."
After hearing the explanation, the two of them looked moved.
After all, it's practically like declaring, "I'd throw away my status for my family!"
"But if that was the case, I wish you had told me, too."
"Sorry about that. As I said a few times, one reason was to 'save the trouble of explaining,' but actually, there was another reason. I didn't know where there might be eyes or ears watching, so I couldn't speak carelessly."
"I see... is that it? Well, inside the Dangai, the danger is probably low."
This space connecting the World of the Living and Soul Society—the Dangai—is a place that is unstable in various ways compared to normal space.
Most notably, the flow of time is different; a denser time axis functions here compared to the outside world.
I figured we wouldn't be monitored inside here—and even if we were, discovery would be delayed.
Unless we were in such a remote place, it was too scary to talk about the behind-the-scenes circumstances.
"...Hm? Wait a second!! In that case, couldn't you have explained it on the way there?! We passed through the Dangai when going to the World of the Living, too!! There must have been time to talk!?"
Ah, he noticed.
I looked away slightly while answering that reason as well.
"Abarai-kun, well... if I told you poorly, you might have given it away, and the secret circumstances might have been noticed..."
"Hey! Isn't that a bit cruel?! Even I could pull off a bit of acting if I knew in advan—"
"Yo! Great ham actor of the Soul Society!"
"Rukia! You bastard!!"
She interjected with a heckle at the perfect timing.
Rukia-san is quite capable... did she get toughened up in the World of the Living?
"Sorry, sorry, don't feel so bad. Rather, because Abarai-kun didn't know anything and got genuinely angry, the surveillance should have loosened somewhat."
"Is, is that so...? If that's the case, well..."
I don't know if there really was surveillance, but they were probably watching...
Aizen, or Aizen, or maybe Aizen.
Hopefully, they believe that we "accepted it obediently"... though probably not.
"Also, Rukia-san. About that boy you met in the World of the Living, Ichigo Kurosaki—"
Now, for pending issue number two.
"I'm sorry for injuring him. I had no other choice."
"No, don't be... please raise your head, Sensei!!"
When I bowed deeply, she looked flustered.
"Given the situation, I think that outcome couldn't be helped. At worst, I thought he might be killed... rather, thank you for keeping the damage to a minimum."
"...Tch."
As soon as Ichigo was mentioned, Abarai-kun became grumpy.
He really is easy to read.
"Aren't you worried?"
"To be honest, I am... worried. That fool is immature in many ways, but he is also unconventional..."
"Did you develop feelings for him?"
"Yes... Eh!?"
"Wh...!! H-Hey, Rukia! What does that mean!?"
Rukia-san, who had nodded vaguely, realized what she had done after nodding and turned bright red.
Abarai-kun also leaned forward into the conversation as if to say, "I can't let that slide!"
"N-N-N-No, I don't! It's, how should I put it, he was reckless, so it was like looking after a troublesome junior...!! Or rather, I couldn't take my eyes off him...!!"
"But you were together for the past few months, right? And judging by your interaction earlier, you seemed quite close. You went to school together, and from what I saw, you were living in his house, weren't you?"
I said this while glancing at Abarai-kun out of the corner of my eye.
"Whaaaat!! Y-You, Rukia!! Don't you know the saying about men and women at seven something something!!"
"What is that 'something something'!!"
"I don't know!! But there's some saying like that!!"
—Men and women should not sit together after age seven.
Even children, once they turn seven, should be made aware of the distinction between sexes and not be allowed to sit in the same place. It's a saying with that meaning.
Oh my, Abarai-kun is super old-fashioned.
Surely she was just living in Ichigo's room, right? ...If heard normally, that's cohabitation.
"E-Even so, why must I be told that by you!!"
"Because I was worried, obviously!!"
"Ichigo is certainly a man, but he's still a child!! Why go that far!!"
"Because I like you!!"
Oh my!
"......Wh, wh-wh-wh-wh...!!"
Both the one who said it and the one it was said to turned bright red instantly.
Bold words delivered on momentum, disregarding time and place.
But good job, Abarai-kun! Well said!!
"What are you saying, you big idiot!!"
"Sh-Shut uuuuuuup!! Yeah, that's right!! I am a big idiot!! I was a coward who couldn't say I liked you for so long!! Even when I heard you were to be executed, I couldn't go against it!! Even finding out that the person you gave Soul Reaper powers to was that guy, if he wasn't that kind of bastard, I wouldn't feel this way!! Knowing you were with some guy whose name I didn't even know, that's why I ended up like this!!"
Being young is nice...
"Re, Renji... That is, well, in other words..."
"If your sentence isn't reduced, then I'll run away with you!! I will protect you!! I know it feels pathetic to just ride on Captain Kuchiki's coattails! But there is no lie in these feelings of mine!!"
He grabbed Rukia-san by both shoulders and confessed while looking straight into her eyes.
Silence flowed for a while—
"H-Hmph! I've known since our days in the Rukongai that you are pathetic!"
—The first to move was Rukia-san.
She looked away and said that as if she were angry.
However, it was obvious to anyone's eyes that she was hiding her embarrassment.
"Also, the answer to that discussion will come after this incident is settled... We don't know how it will end. You wouldn't want to be parted by death in such a short time either..."
Oh my goodness! Isn't that practically saying "If we survive, let's date"?!
'Endaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! De gozaru!!'
Kyaa!! That startled me.
I thought it had been quiet all this time, then suddenly...
'Just when I thought this would end as a mere explanation chapter, what a surprise has flown in!! The ventilation fan of love is spinning noisily at full speed-ing!!'
What is a ventilation fan of love?! What does that mean?! Does it improve air circulation?!
'To hear that Rukia-dono was with Ichigo-dono! With a total stranger for three months!! Of course, Abarai-dono would be anxious!! Just taking his eyes off her for three months, and an orange-headed high school student might have stolen Rukia-dono's heart and body!! Thinking that, it is absolutely, absolutely natural that he would be fired up and rush ahead!!'
I have things to say about the phrasing, but as for the sentiment, well... yes.
I can agree.
From Abarai-kun's perspective, he must have been anxious from the moment he learned of the relationship between Rukia-san and Ichigo in the World of the Living.
'It is exactly the feeling of having one's fried tofu snatched by a hawk!!'
Thinking that way, his emotions exploded, and before he knew it, this slapstick situation...
But well, isn't it a nice story?
Despite everything, it seems to have wrapped up nicely.
"O-Oh!! Leave it to me!! I, the great Renji, will protect you perfectly!! So survive no matter what, Rukia!!"
It seems Rukia-san's true intent was conveyed to Abarai-kun.
unable to contain his joy, looking pathetic yet truly happy, he thumped his chest.
It is the moment a man and a woman's feelings connected.
'Iyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! De gozaru!!'
Enough with that from you!!
If you want to sing, go sink with a luxury liner and sing!!
'What!! Will I be reborn as a Lorelei or a Siren!?'
...I'm not going to retort anymore.
"...Ahem. Are you two done?"
"Ah! S-Sorry, Sensei!!"
"I apologize!! Renji was saying strange things..."
"Yes, yes. You can do plenty of flirting later."
"L-Lovers...!"
"Flirting...!"
Geez, reacting so innocently!! Are you two lovers or what!!
...They were lovers. Or rather, they just became lovers.
"Let's pull ourselves together and decide on everyone's actions from here on."
"From here on...?"
"Actions...?"
The two wore expressions indicating they didn't know what I meant.
"Rukia-san, I need you to be captured as a prisoner from here on. If you obediently accept the crime and show an attitude of remorse, we might be able to hope for some reduction in the sentence."
"...Ah! I see, so that's it."
"Do you understand? I am also against executing you, Rukia-san. Indeed, you committed a grave crime, but this verdict is definitely strange. So, this means let's do something at least, rather than just sitting and waiting."
"Then what should I... do?"
"Abarai-kun, please manage the Sixth Division in Captain Kuchiki's place. Can you perform your duties diligently to deceive prying eyes, while also checking secure escape routes?"
"Understood!!"
"Just in case, have a meeting with Captain Kuchiki, even a brief one. What I just said was a strategy I came up with; he might have come up with a different plan over there."
That's about all I can think of.
"As for me... I'll try appealing from various directions on my end."
"Thank you very much!!"
It's fine, it's fine. In a sense, this is all preordained harmony, so don't worry about it.
"Also... returning to the previous topic a bit, if that boy Kurosaki came all the way to retrieve Rukia-san, the story would be a little different."
"...Huh!? No, no, Sensei, that's a bit... impossible."
"That is indeed... Sensei said she 'destroyed Ichigo's Saketsu and Hakusui'..."
"Yes, that's right. That's why it's impossible for him to come anymore. But, hypothetically, if a 'completely unrelated intruder from the outside ran wild,' it would become much easier to retrieve Rukia-san amidst that confusion..."
...It's fine, right!? That was okay, right!?
Ichigo, you'll come even if you have to become a Soul Reaper, right!?
Wow... now I'm starting to get worried...
"Sorry, I said something weird. Please forget it."
"No..."
Even after receiving Abarai-kun's bold confession, she probably still has thoughts on her mind.
Rukia-san's expression does not clear up.
"Rukia! Instead of making a face like that, survive no matter what, then go to the World of the Living and explain the situation properly to him!!"
"Renji...?"
"When that happens, of course, I'll go with you!"
"T-Thank you..."
It's a clumsy way of encouragement... but, how should I put it, it's very Abarai-kun.
"Well then, shall we head out to Soul Society?"
""Yes!!""
Having finished our discussion, we finally proceeded down the Dangai's passageway.
---
Walking through the Dangai for a while, we passed through the exit Senkaimon and returned to Soul Society as if nothing had happened.
"Good grief, finally back... wait, what are you doing?"
"Just contacting Captain Kuchiki."
I operated the Denreishinki and contacted Byakuya in voice call mode.
"...Ah, hello. Is this Captain Kuchiki? Yes, this is Yukawa. Regarding the capture of Rukia-san, the mission ended without incident. She 'firmly accepts the gravity of the matter and is reflecting,' and her attitude was compliant. I believe 'explaining clearly what kind of situation she is currently in' during the return trip was effective."
First, regarding Rukia-san.
"And regarding Lieutenant Abarai, whom I borrowed, he was also excellent. He understands Captain Kuchiki's thoughts well and praised you, saying 'I want to work with the Captain from now on. Even if the Captain quits being a Soul Reaper, I want to follow him forever.' It's enviable to have such a well-made lieutenant."
Next, I reported on Abarai-kun.
"Yes, we will imprison Rukia-san in the Sixth Division's jail. Yes, excuse me."
There, that conveyed it, right?
"Um... Sensei?"
I hung up the call and put my index finger lightly to my lips, making a 'secret' pose to convey the message.
At a glance, it's a normal duty report, but to those who know, I am telling Byakuya: "I told the two of them the secret circumstances. Abarai-kun is also fully cooperating."
Contacting him via the Denreishinki, a tool where call contents can be easily known if one wanted to, is also a point.
By doing this, it also serves as an appeal that "I am properly carrying out the mission and obeying orders from above."
I actually quite like these little tricks.
"Alright then, Rukia-san, I'll transfer you to the cell now. It will be cramped, but hang in there."
Though, I don't know how far that will get us.
But it's better than doing nothing.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]