Kazui didn't have an appetite that day. After overhearing the conversation between his uncle and that so called Ichimaru Gin, he left quietly. His small head couldn't fully understand what they were talking about, and the fact that they had been talking in riddles didn't help either. He kept peeking at his uncle from time to time, wondering what he meant by his words, and how could he be sitting there like nothing had happened. He has had enough, Kazui made up his mind, he's going to have his uncle spill everything he knows. So he decided to play the innocent "Uncle Keigo, who is Ichimaru Gin? Is he a friend of yours?". Everyone at the table, Ichigo and his friends, Ichika and her family, and captain Kyoraku and Rangiku , all looked at Kazui at first then to Keigo. Kazui hoped that by cornering his uncle, he would be able to get what he wanted. Keigo looked at him in disbelief at first then he looked to the garden that was visible through the open doors. He was sure that Gin must have known, or at least felt, Kazui's presence somewhere near them and kept talking, as a way to pressure him into doing that thing. But he decided to play dumb:" Eavesdropping is a bad habit, Kazui. No one raised you to act like that." . He said that as nonchalantly as possible, waiting for what Kazui would do next." I didn't mean to eavesdrop, and right now I don't care about that."." No matter what happened, you shouldn't have..." ," I'm scared", yelled Kazui for the first time, interrupting Keigo in his talk. He realized that his uncle was trying to distract everyone from the main topic, Ichimaru Gin, but he wasn't going to let him." I'm scared and tired. Uncle Toshiro died suddenly. Auntie Karin in no where to be found and you're hiding something. I'm scared of losing someone else and I'm even more terrified because I don't understand or know anything from what is happening. Please, uncle, not you too!". All Kazui's words that were mixed with his tears and pure emotions were like a blunt knife that stabbed Keigo's heart, tearing at it painfully. Kazui's words were like a sudden slap to everyone's face, awakening them from the single incident and forcing them to look at the bigger picture, that something big was happening. Everyone present looked at Keigo, urging him silently to talk, to answer Kazui's questions and tell them everything he knew. He sighed painfully, looking down to his untouched breakfast, then up to Kazui:" I'm afraid I'm not the one who can answer your question, I'm sorry". And just before anyone could utter a single word, Keigo disappeared.
It was deadly silent. After Keigo's disappearance, no one said anything, the only sound audible was Kazui's cries. Everyone was at a state of shock from what had just happened. Be it Kazui's fears or Keigo's abnormal connection with Ichimaru Gin, and the fact that Ichimaru, who is supposedly dead, has any relation to what is currently happening, everything was making everyone on edge. Suddenly, a fierce alarm cut the silence, making everyone be on guard, wondering what more could be happening. When captain Kyoraku's phone rang, everyone stopped breathing and looked at him expectantly, even Kazui had stopped crying and looked at him, waiting to hear the news. Before he could even put the phone on his ear, he and everyone heard a terrifying scream" Aizen Souske has escaped!".
Through all of this commotion, Yuzu was in a her own world. After what Kazui had said, her head was spinning around in circles. She was trying to make sense of everything that has happened so far. Upon hearing the alarm, a memory emerged. It felt as if something clicked. As if, she had finally grasped the beginning of the thread that shall lead her through this mess.
Yuzu was sitting under a tree in the campus. Enjoying the light breeze and the sweet chirping of the birds while humming along with them. She was studying, or at least, she was supposed to. She was enjoying the nature too much to study. She was suddenly awakened from her dream-like state by a phone call. It was Tatsuki." How is our dreamy princess doing?". Tatsuki was and will always be like an older sister to the Kurosaki twins, especially to Yuzu. "I was just in a fairy tale world, and you disturbed that sweet moment, lady". "Oh! What have I done?" joked Tatsuki," or not! You can always go back, but you don't always find me, or what?". Both girls laughed at that, until Yuzu noticed the sound of siren nearby" Was there an accident ? I can hear a siren from your side". "Don't worry. It's just Keigo, he hurt himself while working and I happened to be with him, so we're going to the Ishida hospital to have him treated.". "Is it that series? "asked Yuzu, the ever kind-hearted." He'll probably have to continue with regular check ups for a while". "Oh! I see. I hope he gets better soon. Send my regards to uncle Ryuu".
Yuzu was anxious. She couldn't help but feel that she had been possessed. "Karin! Shouldn't we tell dad about what happened? This isn't norma..." " We won't". Yuzu was startled. Karin didn't hear her to the end and yet she objected forcefully. When Yuzu didn't say anything else, Karin sighed, looked to the ground then back to her " I'm sorry, Yuzu! I've been stressed out lately." And after taking a breath, she continued " About telling dad, I don't think that's a good idea. He told me the last time we talked that he was going to be very busy, so we probably shouldn't bother him. We can handle it on our own. Ok". Yuzu felt as if Karin was trying to convince her with something she herself wasn't convinced with, especially with that forced smile. Yuzu could have sworn she heard Karin saying to herself:" It's not like we can reach him in any way. That is if he was there.".
Karin went out that night. She left without telling Yuzu were she was going. But after she had returned, Yuzu figured out with whom Karin was. She had met up with Toshiro.
Karin emerged from the archive, looked at everyone for a short time then left. Yuzu was about to call her out when a beeping sound appeared. Everyone looked at the source, captain Kurotsuchi, waiting for him to explain the sound " A senkaimon was opened. Kurosaki Karin is heading back to the world of the living, to Karakura!".
It was like a flood of memories, one after another. At first they seem unrelated to each other. But if one managed to fill in the blanks, he might find a hint, and that's what Yuzu did. The remaining blank can be filled with Kazui's help. When she sought him out, she discovered that the room that was filled with people a little while ago was empty, except for her and the kids. So when she asked them what happened, they told her that everyone went to the first squad to fight the escapee Aizen Souske, while Tatsuki and Mizuro went to find Keigo. Aizen Souske's escape was an information that Yuzu decided to keep in her mind for the time being. It could help in the future. She gathered the children and shared some of her thoughts with them:" Both of you. I know that you two have been through a lot just in a few days, however, right now, we need every help we can get. So Kazui, I'd like you to tell me exactly what you heard last night. I've been thinking about everything and I think I have finally found something that could lead us. And what you heard last night could hold a very important lead in this case, so please, won't you tell me?". Kazui didn't hesitate much in telling Yuzu what he knew. He felt as if it was his chance to help, and with Keigo's disappearance, more mysteries have been added to this mess. He just hoped that his aunt could understand what Keigo and that Ichimaru Gin were talking about. After he finished, he waited for his auntie to say anything, but she was frozen in her place. He started to worry. The last time he saw someone freeze from shock was his auntie Karin when she heard that uncle Toshiro had died. He and Ichika kept looking at each other and then at Yuzu. They didn't know what to do until she took a deep breath and told them in a shaking voice, while putting her hands on their shoulders and squeezing them tightly :" Listen to me very carefully. If anyone asks you about what you heard last night, don't tell them everything. Sometimes, people can do anything when they are scared, and most of the time, they regret doing what they did. So think carefully about whom to trust with what you heard. Both of you work together and do your best. Ok!" . It was Ichika who held onto her hand" Are you leaving us too?, you can't expect us to be fine alone, especially while shouldering something big like this." . "But neither of you is alone; both of you are together. I have to leave and investigate the leads I found, I shouldn't waste any time. I'm sorry.", and with that, she left the children on their own, with tiny hearts filled with fear and worry.
In an empty house, a man stood alone, in front of a picture of two girls, smiling to the camera. He traced with his finger, the face of one of the two girls and said:" I'll be there for you. Just wait for me, Karin".