"Mr. Shiraha, that female Bount… she looked different from the others," Ichigo muttered, his eyes on the empty clothes Yoshino left behind.
"Yeah," Lilin agreed softly from his shoulder. "She didn't feel like the others. Maybe what she said about that Kariya God was true."
Ichigo frowned, unease clouding his features.
"Idiot!" Renji's fist landed squarely on his head. "Didn't you see it? That woman admitted to sucking human souls! What are you pitying her for?"
"It hurts, damn it!" Ichigo rubbed his head, glaring. "What's your problem, Renji?"
"Don't mix useless emotions into it," Yoruichi said, her tone calm but sharp. "Bounts aren't like Quincy. They extend their lives by consuming human souls. That's their nature. It can't be changed."
"I know," Ichigo muttered, lowering his gaze. "Still… I can't help thinking they're pitiful."
Shiraha smiled faintly and patted Ichigo's shoulder. "Ichigo, it's not about right or wrong. It's simply that our paths are different."
The truth of the Bounts was cruel failed results of a Soul Society experiment that went wrong. Flawed beings born of error, living unnaturally long lives, far beyond any human span. Pitiful or not, they were remnants of failure.
A figure appeared on a rooftop in the distance, his presence sharp and silent. A Shinigami's garb. A Zanpakutō at his waist.
Shiraha's eyes narrowed slightly. "Maki Ichinose."
It was the former Eleventh Division member once of Zaraki Kenpachi's squad now among Kariya's followers. Renji, Ichigo, and Yoruichi all tensed, sensing the shift in spiritual pressure.
"You… you're Eleventh Division, aren't you?" Renji called, gripping Zabimaru tightly.
Ichinose froze. His eyes flicked to Shiraha. Recognition dawned, followed by panic. Without a word, he vanished in a burst of Shunpo.
Yoruichi's body blurred to chase, but Shiraha caught her arm. "Let him go."
"Brother Shiraha?" she asked, frowning.
"He's insignificant," Shiraha said with a quiet smile. "Let him run. He'll tell Kariya what happened and that's exactly what I want."
He wanted Kariya drawn out. Force him into Soul Society's reach.
Renji's brow furrowed. "Captain Shiraha, that Shinigami's uniform was Eleventh Squad issue. But no one from their division's been authorized to enter the living world. What's going on?"
"You're right," Shiraha replied lightly. "But don't worry. He's with the Bounts."
"With them?" Renji's eyes widened.
Ichigo blinked. "Wait, how can a Shinigami side with soul hunters?"
"I'm not sure," Shiraha said, though his eyes betrayed otherwise. He already knew Ichinose's reason grief and resentment had chained him to Kariya's cause. Explaining that now served no purpose.
"Renji," Shiraha said, his voice calm. "Even with your limiter in place, handling two Bounts shouldn't trouble you."
Renji bowed. "I'm sorry, Captain Shiraha. You shouldn't have had to interfere with trash like them."
Before Shiraha could answer, familiar voices echoed down the street.
"Kurosaki!"
Ichigo turned. "Inoue? Ishida? Chad?"
Orihime, Uryu, and Sado ran toward them, accompanied by three small modified souls.
"We saw someone no, a soul hunter sucking a person's soul!" Chad said, fists clenched. "We chased him here. Where is he now?"
Ichigo pointed to the pile of torn fabric and fading residue on the ground. "Mr. Shiraha already dealt with it."
Orihime's eyes softened. "I see… thank you, Mr. Shiraha. Miss Yoruichi."
The two nodded politely in response.
Sado stepped forward awkwardly, eyeing Yoruichi. "She's… really beautiful."
From behind, Kon still in his lion puppet body peeked out from behind Sado's leg.
"Renji," Shiraha said suddenly, his tone even.
Renji cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Leave this to me, Captain Shiraha."
He turned toward Kon, who froze mid-step.
"R-Renji? Hey… what are you doing?"
"You idiot," Renji said, grabbing him by the scruff. "I'll teach you not to run your mouth in front of a captain."
"W-Wait! My cotton's fragile!"
Renji spun him like a ragdoll, then slammed him hard into the ground. He stomped repeatedly, flattening the plush lion with ruthless precision.
"Y-Yoruichi! Ichigo! Somebody help me! My cotton it's coming out!" Kon screamed, bits of stuffing flying with each stomp.
Ichigo sighed, covering his face. "I can't even look…"
Yoruichi chuckled softly. "That idiot's paying for his own mouth. You have to admit, Renji's good at it."
Shiraha smiled faintly. "Enough, Renji. A light lesson will do."
"Understood, Captain Shiraha," Renji said, stepping off. He kicked the limp Kon toward Ichigo.
Kon lay sprawled out, half his cotton burst, limbs flopped at odd angles. "Ichigo… you call yourself my friend? You just watched!"
Orihime covered her mouth, pitying him. "Poor Kon…"
Uryu adjusted his glasses, unbothered. "He brought it on himself. Provoking a captain is never wise."
Chad gave a single nod. "Agreed."
Ichigo stared at the flattened plush, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Kon twitched weakly. "Traitors… all of you…"
Yoruichi laughed aloud this time, the sound light against the heavy silence that had filled the alley.
Shiraha turned away, his gaze lifting toward the night sky. The calm before the storm had begun to fade. Kariya's shadow would soon move again.