Kazui and Ichika were sitting on a porch in the Kuchiki gardens. They were sitting in silence. From outsider's view, they seemed as if they were enjoying the Kuchiki garden, admiring its beauty. While in reality, each one of them was lost in his own thoughts. Everything around them was a mess. Those who disappeared, the secrets and the abnormal occurrences. Nothing was normal in the last few days. Then, a voice was heard from afar, catching their attention. When they looked to the source of the voice, they found a thin-looking shinigami, coming their way. Ichika stood up first, followed by Kazui. When he asked her who was that, she looked at him with a faint smile on her face:" That's Rikichi, one of my daddy's subordinates. He can be trusted.". When he reached the kids, he bowed to them in greetings then stood straight while looking to the ground. Both Kazui and Ichika returned the greetings, then stood silently; waiting for him to speak. When he didn't talk, Ichika asked him what did he want. At first, he didn't reply right away while looking everywhere except for the kids. Then suddenly, he sighed, took a deep breath, then looked at the children:" Captain Kuchiki ordered to bring both of you to the 4th squad.". That made them look at him seriously while mentally preparing themselves for the worst. "What happened?" both of them asked at the same time, and the reply to them was "Asano Keigo has been found unconscious.".
They were running frantically in the hallways of the 4th squad, especially Kazui. He kept remembering what happened. "Asano Keigo has been found unconscious among the rebels of the destroyed 1st squad.". " I'm afraid I'm not the one who can answer your question, I'm sorry". Kazui and Ichika, with Rikichi lagging behind, reached their destination, Keigo's room. They found everyone standing there, except for those who work in medicine, they were definitely inside the room with Keigo. When Rukia took notice of the children and Rikichi, she was about to yell at him for bringing them there. But before she could do that, everyone in the room came out. Captain Kyoraku asked first about Keigo's condition, which by the looks on everyone's face, wasn't good. "His reaitsu is almost completely drained, plus few bruises here and there", that was captain Kotetsu's comment on Keigo's condition. Everyone remained silent for a short time, until Orihime took notice of the children:" What are the children doing in here?, this is not a proper place for children" she said. "I am the one who gave the order to bring them here". Both Rukia and Orihime were shocked by Byakuya's declaration; as they know how much he cares for the children. It was captain Kyoraku who answered their unasked question:" We need little Kazui to tell us exactly what he heard last night. We believe that Asano Keigo is the one who helped Aizen Souske to escape".
The kids were sitting in Keigo's room with gloomy faces. After Kyoraku's answer, Ichigo and Tatsuki raged. How could he accuse Keigo of such a thing. On the other hand, the captains, especially the vizards, argued back the fact that he was found in the scene. Through all of the arguing, the kids stood rooted to their places, overwhelmed with everything around them. Rikichi took pity on them and urged them inside Keigo's room, saying that they shouldn't hear the adults fight, so they should wait in the room until things have calmed down. Both of them kept staring at the sleeping Keigo in front of them. Kazui was the first to ask:" Is this, Aizen Souske, a bad person? It seemed that he is quite hated". Ichika couldn't even talk, her throat felt so dry, so she nodded her head. Despite being inside the room, they could hear what was being said outside those doors " Do you plan on punishing Keigo if he was really involved in Aizen's escape?"," Don't you think we have the right to?", " What fucking right?! He is not even from soul society". Both kids shared the same thought while looking at each other, Yuzu's last words to them:" 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.".
When the commotion outside calmed down, everyone present there entered the room. Everyone seemed to be in a bad mood, which was quite understandable. That day was one hell of a long day that didn't seem to end anytime soon. It seems it was agreed to have Rukia talk to them; since she was the mother of one of them. So she held onto their hands, looked into their eyes, especially Kazui:" You must have heard that a very dangerous man was set free, and who knows what he could do. So we need you, Kazui, to share with us what you heard last night". The kids could tell that they were trying to coax them into talking by reassuring them. However, Ichika's reply took them by surprise:" Do you really believe that your friend could do anything that may cause any of us harm?!". It was a painful question to Keigo's friends. They wanted to believe in him and his innocence, but still they failed to answer the accusations directed at him, why was he found there out of all the places in soul society." We are asking to prove to those who don't know Keigo that he would never do anything that could hurt us". Ichigo's reply was a good sign, or at least to the kids, that when things get difficult, Keigo wouldn't be alone. "The only thing I heard was Ichimaru Gin saying that uncle Keigo had the key that would lead us to the truth". Kazui didn't lie, but he didn't tell the whole truth either, that was what both Kazui and Ichika had agreed upon. Yuzu's words kept echoing in the heads, that soul society could hurt Keigo just because they are afraid of something that they are not even sure of. So they decided to tell them what would force them to take care of Keigo until he's all better and can protect himself. Everyone kept looking at each other, not understanding what could that mean. Then suddenly, Ichigo realized that there was someone missing among them:" Where is Yuzu?". That caught everyone's attention. In the midst of all that had happened, no one realized that Yuzu wasn't there with them. "She left" was what Kazui said.
Kazui and Ichika were walking aimlessly in sereitei. As they were watching the sunset, they were praying that no more incidents happen that day. They hoped that this day could end peacefully without adding anymore crises. Ichigo was quite furious when he heard that Yuzu had left as well. He didn't know how or where to find his sisters in this critical time. It wasn't just Ichigo, most of them was on edge, confused and felt helpless. Everyone left to their work or went training, leaving the two kids to wander off on their own. The walk was peaceful and almost relaxing, until it was interrupted by Yuuda. He was on his carriage when he noticed Ichika. "You look quite pitiful walking in the streets like this, almost like those beggars in Rukongai". She looked at him up and down, sighed, then attempted to leave without saying anything. However, Yuuda wasn't going to allow her. He threw at her a few coins" Here, take them and make yourself look more presentable. Oh wait! No matter what you do, you would always be an ugly misfit". Kazui was watching what was happening silently. He thought at first when he saw this rich kid that they were friends, both he and Ichika. But then he threw the money on her and even was bad-mouthing her and mocking her. He thought Ichika would pick a fight with him, but still she didn't. However, he noticed that she was balling her hands and tightening her grip. She was enduring and trying to be patient. So he decided to help her:" I quite disagree with you. I believe Ichika is quite beautiful. I think that either you have a really bad eyesight or that your taste is quite horrible. Especially that everyone I know always praises her for her beauty". Kazui's comment took both Ichika and Yuuda by surprise. Ichika was surprised that Kazui had defended her, while Yuuda was speechless because of what Kazui had said. Yuuda quickly collected himself, looked down on Kazui and asked arrogantly:" And who do you think you are to judge my tastes?". Kazui, good-naturally, answered:" I'm Kurosaki Kazui". Upon hearing the name, Yuuda backed down a little and started acting a little humbly:" I'm very sorry. I didn't know who you are. I'm Moroboshi Yuuda. It's a pleasure to meet you". Kazui looked at Yuuda's outstretched hand then said:" Sorry! But I don't like those who look down on my friends, so it wasn't a good thing meeting you. Bye". And he attempted to leave. Ichika was over the moon. She was extremely delighted with what Kazui had said and done. She could tell, even without looking, that Yuuda had been humiliated. However, she didn't expect him to stoop so low as to try and hit Kazui . It happened in a flash. The cane, which Yuuda had been holding, descending rapidly in Kazui's direction. At that moment, all Ichika saw was the cane shattering into several pieces. When she came back to her senses, she found Yuuda on the floor, looking terrified while Kazui was gaping at her wide-eyed. She looked at them , not understanding the gazes they were directing at her. From Yuuda's place on the floor, he pointed at her with a shaking finger:" Monster! You are a monster!" and then he ran away. She stared at his retreating figure a little then looked at Kazui, who remained silent all this time. But before either of them speak, Tsubaki, who has been with Kazui the whole time, suddenly emerged from Kazui's hoddie and pointed at Ichika:" Holy shit! Why is your hair glowing like this, kid?". Ichika was startled, but when she looked to her reflection on her sword, she understood why they were reacting in a weird way. "What the hell is going on?" asked Ichika. "It's not just your hair, Ichika. You destroyed that cane with lightning". When the kids looked at the source of the voice, they found Rikichi. "I followed you because I was worried about you and I saw it. You destroyed the cane, not with kido nor with your zanpaktou, but with lightning that emerged directly from your body in response to your emotions, and caused your hair to glow". Both kids looked at each other then to Rikichi" Isn't that something that can happen among shinigami?" asked Kazui, hoping to find explanation to what was happening with Ichika. However, Rikichi's reply was a shake of his head. All Ichika could think of right now was: What in the world was happening to her.
At the same time in the 13th squad barracks, Rukia sat on the floor of the washroom, curled in one of its corners, repeating the same sentence over and over, with a shaking voice filled with tears, like a mantra:" This can't be happening now. Not now out of all times. Where are you? I need you, Renji".
In a large mansion, a girl stood alone in one of the many rooms of that familiar mansion, she was in the library. She was looking for something, anything that could help her. Suddenly, she heard the voice of something moving behind her. Before she could even fully turn around, she was attacked from behind and her scream echoed in the halls of this empty mansion, where no one could hear her.