Surprise. :D

人形: 邸宅攻撃

Bount: Attack on Mansion

"You look like shit."

Yoshino's eyes drifted languidly to the open door of her cell, to the Bount standing behind them with a grim look on his face. The dark haired woman sat against the rough stone wall of one of the mansion's storerooms, bound to the wall by two manacles on both her wrists. "What do you want, Mabashi?"

"No need to be rude. Can't I go see a fellow Bount? With so little of us left, we all ought to play nice, don't you think?"

Yoshino let out an exasperated noise. "If you have nothing worth hearing, you best leave before Jin sees you."

"Wow. Sounds like you're actually concerned for a second." Mabashi's smile fell slightly. "So why did you do it? Left Kariya-san and joined the humans?"

"I did not join them. We just happened to have a common enemy. They have nothing to do with me."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"Do you really like playing the fool, or are you that naive?" Yoshino glared at the other Bount. "Do you really not know what Jin is doing? The fact that it could mean the very destruction of our race?"

What are you saying? Kariya-san is the hope for us all! I...I'll admit I don't entirely agree with some of his methods, but…" Mabashi gritted his teeth. "He is the only one left with the power to help our people. Why do you have to fight if what you both want is—?"

"Mabashi…" The soft, sad way Yoshino said the younger Bount's name made him pause. "You really are still young, aren't you? You still have so much faith. It's almost nostalgic…"

"W—What—?"

"Why can't you see it? Jin Kariya does not care about the Bounts! He is only using you to fuel his ambitions, blinding you with the promise of a utopia while raising the ire of the Shinigami who nearly wiped us all out long ago!" Yoshino drew a breath. "Is that the kind of man you really wish to follow?"

"He's right, though, Yoshino-san! For centuries, we have to live in the shadows because of those fucking Shinigami who are still out for us, even when we are just trying to live in peace! How long are we going to have to hide because of those self-serving bastards?!" Mabashi clenched his fists. "Even if the chance is small, if can give us Bounts hope for a peaceful future, then I'll do whatever it takes!"

"Including killing humans?"

A sharp flinch. "What?"

"You'd do whatever it takes, you said. Does that include killing humans?" Yoshino repeated. "Because that is what Jin has been doing for a long time now, and soon he will expect that you will be able to do the same."

"Kill? You mean, absorb a living human's soul?!" Mabashi shook his head. "Kariya-san would never go that far! Not only does it damage us beyond repair, it is also against our code!"

"I just told you, he already has! He's letting Utagawa and Sawatari do exactly that, isn't he?" Yoshino pointed out. "Please, Mabashi, if you think you won't be able to stand up against him, then at least, fight to get away. Don't end up like Hou and Ban. Don't end up just being another pawn for that madman's schemes."

"I…" The palpable desperation in the normally placidly apathetic Yoshino rattled Mabashi more than he wished he let on, because damn it, what she's saying can't be true! While he had little love for humans, he wouldn't go as far as to want to kill them, no matter what he may have gone through in the past.

And all Bounts know what will happen if they consume too much living human souls. That old big headed prune Sawatari is the perfect poster geezer for why they shouldn't.

Kariya couldn't actually be…

A door creaked open. "Heh, so this is where you've wandered off, brat."

Mabashi's brow twitched, giving the newcomer a side glance. "Hag."

"Oi, that's not the way to talk to your elders!"

"Like you're the shining example of manners." Mabashi chuckled dryly. "What do you want, Yoshi?"

The green haired Bount shrugged from where she was leaning on the doorway, arms crossed and smirking. "Big shot Kariya's calling for a get together. Wants us to meet the Quincy, or for him to meet us as if the brat's his trophy and we're in a kissing-Kariya's-ass party . Whatever. I don't really care."

Mabashi forced himself to ignore the way Yoshino flinched at the mention of the Quincy. "If you're that bored, you should have joined me and Koga-san in the retrieval."

"Now wouldn't that have been a treat?" Yoshi tutted, hands coming to her hips. "Too bad Koga said that I might end up killing the Quincy if I went. What a pussy! As if I don't know the difference between killing someone and just beating them within an inch of their puny lives!"

Mabashi rolled his eyes. Typical Yoshi. "Then let's hope his friends decide to pull some insane rescue mission. Wouldn't want you to take out all that boredom on me again."

"Mabashi!" Yoshino hissed warningly while the other Bount let out a laugh.

"That's what I like about you, brat!" Yoshi went over to ruffle Mabashi's hair, much to the blonde man's sputtered protests. "A big wuss like that cock sucker Koga, but a damn funny one! Don't you ever change!"

"Fuck off, hag!"

"We oughta go before Kariya's fuck boy Shinigami comes looking for us and whine our ears off about 'Kariya-sama this' and 'Kariya-sama that.' Just a little more and, I swear, I'm gonna rip his tongue out!" Yoshi waved at Yoshino. "See ya, Mrs. Kariya!"

Mabashi can only offer the irritated Yoshino a half smile before following Yoshi out. But the imprisoned Bount's words still rang in his head.

Don't end up like Hou and Ban.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?!"

Rukia glared at the slack-jawed Renji who had just shunpoed into Urahara's barely patched up living room. "The Bounts attacked, baka. What else could it have been?"

"The Bounts." Renji's eyes widened before doing a quick sweep of the room's occupants. "Then that means…. Ishida and that woman…"

"Yeah, they got taken away." Ichigo grunted next to a sniffling Orihime. From across the two humans was an equally somber looking Urahara.

Renji paused before frowning. "Was it that snake bastard again? Urakama?"

"Utagawa," answered Rukia. "And no. They were two different Bounts this time. Mabashi and Koga."

"One of them has a Doll made out of pure metal, and the other's Doll can do projectile-like attacks and control others by entering them." Urahara concurred. "They were both stronger than we have anticipated."

The red head Shinigami nodded before looking around again. "What about the others?"

"Sado, Jinta and Ururu were injured during the fight. Tessai is currently with them in the back room." Urahara said. "It might take a while before they can be back to fighting form again, especially Ururu. To think that Koga was strong enough to hurt her this much." The hatted man massaged his temples. "I gravely underestimated them."

After a moment of silence, Ichigo threw his hands up. "All this dilly dallying, shilly shallying is getting us nowhere! Yeah, Ishida and Yoshino-san were taken by the Bounts. So let's just take them back!" The Substitute Shinigami met Renji's eyes. "Ririn and the others found Kariya's hideout just a while back. And you since you're here, it's about time we take the fight to where they are."

Rukia sighed. "The way things are, it looks like we don't have any other choice. Did you find out anything, Renji?"

Renji nodded. "Ukitake-san gave me some good leads, but based on the time range, witness accounts and all that, it looks like the Shinigami with the Bounts is Ichinose Maki, a former member of the Eleventh Division."

"Ichinose Maki." The orange head repeated. "Someone you knew, Renji? You were with the Eleventh before, right?"

"Yeah, but Ichinose left before I graduated from the Academy. The record goes that he left the division some time after Zaraki-taichou took over before he suddenly went missing. Kind of odd that he's shown up after all this time on the enemy's side, really."

"And what about his Zanpakuto?"

"Its name is Nijigasumi, and it has the ability to manipulate light, although no one really knows how it works." Renji scratched his head. "Sorry I can't tell any more than that."

"At this point, any information is good information." Urahara assured him. "And Kuchiki-san is right, we don't have much of a choice but to launch an offensive if we are to get our allies back. Unfortunately, Tessai and I will not be able to join you, as we need to stay here and hold the fort, so to speak. Yoruichi might be able to come and help, but she is still currently out of our reach."

"So it will be up to us." Ichigo cracked his knuckles. "No problem, Urahara-san. We'll make those stupid Bounts regret they ever messed with us."

Renji snorted. "Big words, human."

"Shut it, Renji! I've got my Bankai back so you better watch your ass!"

"You wouldn't have gotten anywhere if Rukia hadn't been there to help your sorry ass!"

"Why you cock-headed—"

BONK! BONK!

"THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT, YOU IDIOTS!" Rukia glowered over the two, both her fists raised above the sore bumps sprouting from the boys' heads. "WE'RE ALREADY IN A DIRE SITUATION AS IT IS SO STOP GOOFING AROUND!"

"…Anyway," Urahara cleared his throat. "I apologize for the trouble, but it looks like we'll be leaving the attack to you, Kurosaki-kun. I can contact the Mod Souls so they can lead you to the site."

"Right. So it will be me, Rukia, Renji, and Inoue." Ichigo turned to the human brunette. "Sorry to ask this of you, Inoue. I know you don't like to fight but—"

"But nothing!" Even Rukia was taken aback by the determined glint in Inoue's eyes. "If there's any way I can help get them back, I'll do it!"'

Ichigo blinked before smiling in approval. "Great."

"Remember that our priority is to retrieve Ishida-kun and Yoshino-san. If it is at all possible, try not to engage the Bounts recklessly. We still don't know what else they may have up their sleeves." Urahara cautioned the group. "Going into enemy territory leaves you little room for error, and we don't want any more of you to get hurt."

Both Ichigo and Renji sweatdropped when hat-and-clogs' sharp gaze bored into both of them. "R—Right."

"Wait!" The four teens had just gotten up when the door to the living room opened with a snap. Ichigo frowned in surprise. "Chad? What are you doing up? Shouldn't you still be—?"

"I've rested enough." Sado cut his friend off with a grim look. "Please let me go with you to fight the Bounts."

Inoue looked troubled, trading concerned glances with Ichigo. "But Sado-kun…"

"It's my fault that the Bount managed to give Urahara-san and Tessai-san so much trouble, and got away with Ishida and Yoshino-san." Sado continued. "I have to make it up to you somehow, and I know I can still fight. I won't let that Bount or anyone else trick me so easily again. Please, Ichigo."

Ichigo appeared to be contemplating for a second before smiling ruefully. "Like I'll be able to stop you if you really put your mind into something, Chad."

Renji smirked. "Well, if he says he can, I don't see why not. Worst comes to worst, we can just hit him over the head to keep him out of trouble."

"Ah, don't do that, Abarai-kun!" Inoue protested. "Sado-kun may look all right, but he's still healing! Please don't make his injuries even worse!"

"…Err, sorry."

"Haah, it can't be helped then." The human girl pumped her fist with a determined smile. "If you get too injured to fight, just leave the healing to me, OK?"

Urahara clapped his fan against his palm. "Ah, you boys are so fortunate to have such two responsible beauties looking out for you! I'm sooo jealous!"

Rukia observed the moment of respite among her friends with a smile of her own. Next to her, Sode no Shirayuki spoke. /So it has come to this. Will you be all right?/

We had been the first time. The Shinigami answered quietly. If some things are just inevitable, maybe this is too.

With that, following the Mod Souls' directions, Rukia and her friends arrived at the familiar (to the former) imposing estate at the barely occupied edge of Karakura. It was deathly quiet, too easy to believe that the Bounts were unaware of them being so close to their base of operations.

Rukia's heightened senses and years of experience, however, could tell more than she was able to in the previous lifetime.

"But is this really their base?" Ichigo asked again, unease apparent in his features.

"Yes, yes, this is it! Don't doubt our superior Bount detection capabilities!" Ririn said shrilly, obviously affronted.

Kurodo nodded. "Yes, we can definitely sense the Bounts inside that mansion, but not much else." The Mod Soul bit his lower lip. "This doesn't look like a good idea. Everything about this smells like a trap…"

"Yeah, yeah I got it." Ichigo said to his Shinigami friends. "Anything else you two can pick up on from here?"

Renji scrunched his brows. "I can sense Ishida and Yoshino-san's reiatsu, as well as eight others that are most likely the Bounts. But, that's strange, it's as if most of their reiatsu is gathered in one place. And, I can't pinpoint where Ishida and Yoshino-san are exactly."

"There's something disrupting our senses," said Rukia. "Most likely one of the other Bounts' doing. Of course they'd have some means to guard against intruders. But I can't tell what it is either unless we get close enough." She met gazes with Ichigo. "We need to split up to cover more ground."

"Can anyone tell if there's another way from where we are?"

Sado shook his head. "The place is too big to see anything but the front gate."

"Right." Ichigo gestured to his friends. "Ririn, you're with me. Renji, Chad, take Noba. Rukia, you and Orihime have Kurodo. We'll split into different directions to try and figure out a way in."

"HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME?!"

The orange head scowled at Kon. "What do you mean 'what about you'? Who the hell told you to tag along anyway?"

Kon gasped dramatically. "You bastard! Here I am trying to be a good guy and you're being an ungrateful ass!"

Rukia sighed tiredly. "Fine, you can come with us, Kon. But no funny business or I swear I will kick you all the way to Soul Society!"

Kon, however, took that as a sign that he can leap into the arms of his "neechan!", so naturally Rukia had to send him flying five feet away into a treehole.

Sode no Shirayuki groaned in distaste. /Must we really, Rukia-sama?/

Unfortunately.

"It seems that we have…guests."

From his seat before the assembled Bounts, disturbingly being displayed like an exhibit, Ishida's narrowed eyes shifted from the cockily smirking Kariya sitting across him, to the thin, weedy, well-dressed man with sallow skin and rusty round glasses at the back of the group.

"It would appear so, Ugaki." Kariya said with a tilt of his wine glass. "Uninvited they may be, it is but right for us to give them a proper welcome, don't you all think?"

"A proper welcome, eh? Then count me in, Kariya!" The lone woman in the room–a tall, tan Bount with long green hair and cold dark eyes–sneered, thumping her fan against her free palm. "I'll make sure they'll have a good time!"

The fairer and obviously younger orange haired Bount next to her snorted, to which the woman responded in a sickly sweet tone. "Have something to say, Mabashi?"

"Your good intent is appreciated, Yoshi. However, I am sorry to say you will need to sit this one out. The less of us our guests see, the better. Except for Ugaki, I wish for only those who have previously encountered the ryoka to stay behind. Everyone else is to retreat underground. Ichinose."

The dark haired Shinigami next to Kariya nodded. "As you wish, Kariya-sama."

So there really is a Shinigami working with Kariya… Ishida would have paid more attention to that thought had he not deduced that the "guests" Kariya spoke of were his friends who had obviously come to rescue him and Yoshino. Once again, he cursed himself for his uselessness. Some Quincy he was turning out to be...

"You, on the other hand, Quincy," Kariya continued. "You are our esteemed guest, and you will be treated as such. Koga."

The bulky Bount who had captured Ishida and Yoshino before stood in attention. "As you wish."

Ishida felt a heavy weight drop in the pit of his stomach as he was dragged away by Koga, while Kariya went on to speak with the remaining Bounts about preparing the attack on this desolate mansion.

Kurosaki, you better know what you're doing.

"CLOSE THAT DOOR!"

Rukia was on her feet even before she could finish her own shout, pushing the heavy steel back to its frame. It took a few seconds of effort and a little help from Inoue and Kon before the door fully closed and the three slid their backs on the metal with sighs of relief.

"I thought we wouldn't be able to get away from those things!" Inoue exclaimed. "What were those strange eye balls? They kept showing up everywhere after, whatever it is you did, Kuchiki-san!"

"Someone's Doll, no doubt. And I merely cut through their reiatsu with a bit of my own. They were trying to misdirect us. Good thing we found this door before things got too bad."

It was both a stroke of misfortune and luck in one fell swoop, really. As soon as their groups split up, the sense distorting Doll guarding the manor set to work, attempting to lure the girls and their companion Mod souls away from the manor. It was through Rukia's quick kido work that their group was able to buy enough time for Kurodo to find a real entrance: a lone steel door along a stone exterior of seemingly endless windows.

Inoue clapped her hands. "It was really amazing, Kuchiki-san! If you weren't there, none of us would have known that we were already being tricked by the Bounts! How did you find out?"

"It was subtle, but there was a disturbance in the air and in the surrounding reishi. It was a long shot, but at least the Kido I used helped to an extent."

Noren Mekuri. A seemingly simple spell to cast, meant to dissolve illusions, but took more energy to maintain than it looked. At least she didn't need to cast it for very long (although she had to do it repeatedly). There was no telling who they were going to encounter now that her actions brought another significant change in the timeline.

"Anyway, we need to move. It won't be long before the other Bounts find out that we've breached their base, and they'll certainly come looking for us." Rukia nodded to the Mod Souls. "Can you sense where either Yoshino-san or Ishida are better?"

"Affirmative, Kuchiki-san!" Kurodo saluted with one bunny ear appendage. "I can distinctly detect two non-Bount reiatsu signatures in the area, and a Bount signature a floor below. And judging by its movement, it appears confined, and is most likely Yoshino-san. Follow me!"

"Che, why do I have to follow that stupid rabbit?" Kon grumbled from Rukia's side as the group continued past the dimly lit white walls of what appeared to be a kitchen of some sort, to a dusty set of stairs that led to an even darker stone wall structure with so little light that Rukia had to create her own source with a small Shakkaho.

Kon let out a couple of sneezes before wheezing. "What's with all this dust?! Haven't these Bounts heard of housekeeping?"

"It's obviously barely used." Inoue remarked, eyeing the dusty floor and the cracked ceilings with unease. "This place looks like it can collapse any minute."

Rukia nodded in agreement. "Let's hope we don't run into anything that will speed that up. How much farther are we?"

"Not much, Kuchiki-san," answered Kurodo. "Just a right turn then through this long hall!" But not long after taking said turn, the Mod Soul skidded into a halt. "WAIT–OW!"

Because of the sudden stop, Kon wasn't able to skid on time and sent himself and Kurodo crashing onto the floor. "OUCH! OI! WHAT GIVES, YOU STUPID RABBIT?!"

"It's not my fault! Well, not entirely! There's someone over there! And it's not friendly–!"

"Well, that's just rude. I haven't even said anything."

At those words, Rukia and Inoue quickly readied their weapons, tensing as a new presence stepped into the light from a dark corner.

Rukia drew a breath. "Mabashi."

The orange headed Bount raised a brow. "Shinigami? I haven't seen you before. Or were you one of the Quincy's friends?" He gestured his head to Inoue. "You guys must really want to die, to think you'd go charging in here with your measly army of, what, five?"

"We're here for our friends, Mabashi-san." Inoue said in a hard voice. "Even if it means we have to fight to get to them."

"You're the one Dalk complained about, that weak-willed girl." Mabashi threw his hands up in the air. "Despite what you think, I don't want any trouble."

"I find that very hard to believe."

"Unlike you Shinigami, not all Bounts want to pick fights. There are already so few of us left, and if I could have it my way, I'd rather live the rest of my years without getting into any."

"If you're trying to stall us–"

"This is your last chance, ladies and…whatever those two are." Mabashi brought a hand to his choker. "Turn back, and we won't have to get violent. You remember my Doll, right? You wouldn't want to fight them in a space like this."

Rukia's brows furrowed. He's right. This hall is too narrow. Inoue can defend, but dodging will be harder for me, and the Mod Souls won't have a good place to hide. But it's not like we have a choice either.

"You heard Inoue, Mabashi." Rukia ran her hand across her zanpakuto's blade. "We're here for our friends, even if it means we have to fight through you to get them back." The sword glowed white. "Mae, Sode on Shirayuki!"

Mabashi sighed irritably when Sode no Shirayuki's icy fog reached him. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you." He dropped his Doll's seed to the ground.

"Zeige Dich, Ritz!"

Ishida sat on the floor, his legs crossed and his hands clasped between them, his eyes closed as he focused inwards.

The room Koga brought him to was large and adequately furnished, surprisingly cleaner compared to the other parts of the mansion he had seen. However, there were no windows, the ceiling was made of hard wood, and the only way out is through the heavy oak door that Ishida was certain was already guarded.

So instead of wasting his time trying to escape, an attempt he knew would only lead to failure, Ishida focused his attention on something he felt would be more productive: finding a way to restore his lost Quincy powers.

He could still sense the reishi around him, and the reiryoku humming beneath his skin. Everything he needed was still as it was, but it was his ability to reach for and utilize these tools that had been taken from him. And he was ashamed to admit, he was at a loss on how to get his old abilities back.

He did not regret what he did during that fight with that pompous Kurotsuchi, and if given the chance, he would make the same choice again.

Yet he could not deny this burning desperation to have his powers back, even if it felt a bit like cheating his way out of the consequences of his actions.

Because my involvement with that world, that of the Hollows, the Shinigami, they didn't end with Kuchiki-san's rescue mission. Ishida thought. And with a madman like Aizen still at large, who knows what will that mean for the Human world? If anything, I need my Quincy abilities now more than ever. But what can I do to get them back?

Every time he'd attempt to gather his reiryoku in an attempt to produce reiatsu, there was just something stopping his reiryoku from flowing out. His meditation exercises helped improve the flow, but there was nothing he could do to overcome whatever was blocking his energy.

And the block was always in the same peculiar spot, somewhere in his chest, next to his heart…

It's as if the block, whatever it is that is sealing my powers, is focused in this area. Ishida lay a hand on the specific place in his chest, eyes still closed in concentration. Now that I think about it, this is more like a lock on my powers than an actual barrier to them. If using Letzt Stil forces the Quincy's body to seal away the ability to absorb reishi, then could there something like a key? A way to undo the seal? Could grandfather have known? A pang of loss gripped his heart, like it always did whenever he thought of his dear mentor. If only you were still here...

But Ishida Soken was no longer in his reach, and even if he were, Ishida Uryu can no longer be that weak child who could not do a single thing to save his grandfather from the Hollows all those years ago. He refused to allow himself to fall back to that position, not when he had more to lose now more than ever…

I swore that I won't let it happen again, seeing someone I care about getting hurt because of me. Be it from Hollows, Shinigami or these Bounts, I can't keep being on the receiving end of someone else's protection…

"There's nothing wrong with relying on others, Uryu."

The voice of his grandfather, the images of his friends and even his aloof father came to mind.

"Do not fear your own weaknesses. Do not detest the fact that there will always be a time when it is you who will need someone else's hand."

BOOM!

The teen's eyes flew open in surprise, his gaze swiftly turning to the door. What was that?

BOOM! CRACK! TWHACK!

Could it be…? Ishida got up from the carpet he was sitting on and made a run for door. "HEY, WHO'S OUT THERE?! CAN YOU HEAR ME?! HEY!"

There was a beat, a cough, then a voice shouting. "Ishida! Oi, Ishida, is that you?"

Ishida's eyes widened. "Abarai?!" He pounded on the door again. "ABARAI, I'M RIGHT HERE!"

There was muffled sounds, most likely Abarai talking to someone else, hurried footfalls, then, from the corner of his eyes, Ishida saw the doorknob being repeatedly turned before there was more, clearer mumbling. "...No good...can't get it to open…"

"Sado? You're here too? I thought the Bounts-"

The Mexican teen's voice was muffled by the thick door, but before Ishida could say so, Abarai shouted over Sado. "BACK AWAY FROM THE DOOR, ISHIDA! WE'LL NEED TO OPEN THIS THE HARD WAY!"

The Quincy had little time to run before another loud boom sent the door flying across the room, causing Ishida to fall to the ground a few inches away from said door because of the impact. Under the arch stood Renji, who had Zabimaru in its sealed form resting on his shoulders, and Sabo with his transformed left arm.

Barely after the dust settled, Noba popped into view with a wave of his green arm. "We have come to rescue you."

"The confidence in knowing that there will be others to help you whenever you fall, it is a comfort and security that many of us, in our pride, have taken for granted..."

"...How did you get so far in? I thought, Koga, the giant Bount, wasn't he nearby?"

Renji traded glances with Sado before shaking his head. "We didn't see anyone guarding your door, but there were those annoying eyeballs floating around, messing with our senses. Good thing it wasn't strong enough to fool me!"

The Quincy stared at him blankly before sighing. "You know, actually finding me is only half the battle, right?"

"You couldn't just say, thanks for saving my ass, huh?" Renji however was smirking while Sado had a kinder smile on his face.

"We'll deal with whoever comes our way when they come." Sado held out his hand. "But if we're ever going to get out of here, we need to go now."

"Do not be afraid to take that kind hand, Uryu. Until that time comes, when you are strong enough to do the same…"

Ishida swallowed thickly before taking Sado's hand, allowing the bigger teen to pull him up.

I will, grandfather. For these rowdy fools who call me their nakama.

Something's different.

Rukia thought as she blocked yet another strike from Ritz before swinging her blade at Mabashi. A couple of Ritz dolls had started attacking them as soon as the blonde Bount gave the word, so the Shinigami went for the offensive while instructing Inoue to keep her barrier active in case Ritz went for her, Kon or Kurodo.

She couldn't risk using Sode no Shirayuki's skills right now. Executing Tsukishiro in this cramped place was out of the question. And Hakuren may be powerful and potentially effective here, but it came at the price of the mobility she will need to counter Ritz. So she had to rely on a combination of her Kido and Zanjutsu to keep Mabashi on his toes, so that he won't be able to issue any commands, and maybe find a good time to use Shirafune.

What she hadn't expected, however, was this.

"Shakkaho!" Rukia aimed the red ball at Mabashi's feet, who back flipped into the air to avoid it. Anticipating this, Rukia quickly shunpoed to his wide open back and prepared to swing her blade. The Bount managed to save himself again with a quick shout to Ritz who blocked the attack for him. However, the resulting explosion from Ritz's demise blasted them to opposite directions, with Mabashi landing with his back on Inoue.

"Koten Zanshun! I reject!"

"...ARGH!" Rukia's brows narrowed even further when she saw Mabashi getting hit by Inoue's attack. Given how sharp and unflinching Inoue's gaze was, this Koten Zanshun must have more power behind it than Rukia remembered it having during this time. It made Rukia proud to see a glimpse of that strong-willed, determined Orihime she knew in the future this early in this second life.

But as proud as she was, Rukia was also concerned. While Inoue's attack was considerably stronger, it was still technically an easy one to avoid. Someone of Mabashi's caliber should have been able to dodge it. Yet here he was, still able to stand, but obviously winded, with a pained grimace on his face.

Perhaps he is still recovering from his injuries from their attack at the shop? He was up against Urahara back then. Rukia surmised as she charged at Mabashi again, who barely managed to summon another Ritz doll. But there were more differences than that that bothered her.

When Mabashi said he didn't want to fight them if he could, Rukia didn't think much of it. It was obviously a ploy of some sort. The Mabashi she remembered was cocky, sadistic and cruel, psychotic even, who took fun in toying with his opponents, after all.

But this Mabashi was far...calmer. He didn't gloat. He didn't taunt or tease as much as she expected. If anything, Rukia thought after deflecting yet another strike from Ritz, Mabashi's whole countenance reminded her of a sullen brat forced to work on a chore and just wanted the whole thing over with.

But that can't be it. Can it? The dark-haired Shinigami couldn't believe it, but she was curious...

"Are you even taking this seriously?" Rukia began after kicking Mabashi away from her friends' direction, putting herself in front of them. "Your Doll's attacks are laughably predictable, and you can barely dodge what we throw at you."

From his kneeling position on the floor, Mabashi coughed a bit before snarling. "You just got lucky. Your crazy friend with the ugly hat did a number on me. That's the only reason why I'm having such a hard time with you."

"Yet you chose to come out and fight despite knowing that. It's your own fault." Rukia snapped. "Or did you really think we would be that easy to fight with? Looking for an easy human to make a meal out of?"

Mabashi's face hardened as he held out his hands, summoning four more Ritz dolls. "The hell are you going on about?"

"Don't act like you didn't know." Rukia snapped while sidestepping the mouse-headed flower Dolls, slashing what she could reach, while closing in on Mabashi who tried to back away again. "You Bounts have been getting too greedy, absorbing living human souls so you can gain more power. Why do you think we Shinigami came looking for you in the first place?!"

"You have no right to act high and mighty!" Mabashi snarled back. "Your fucking Soul Society, you bastards of the Gotei 13, you're the reason we had to live such miserable lives! All we wanted was a place where we can live! But now you're twisting the facts around again, making us the bad guys so you can have an excuse for another genocide! You know as well as we all do that absorbing living souls is against the Bount's code!"

"Well that didn't stop Kariya, did it?! And why the hell should it stop you?" Shirayuki's frosted blade nearly slashed at Mabashi's face. "That snake-faced friend of yours, Utagawa, we saw him consume a living human soul, and he was thrilled to do it! Are you telling me you're not like him too? That you don't want that sort of strength?" Rukia braced her sword for another circular strike. "That power from living souls, isn't that what Kariya is building your so-called utopia on?"

"DON'T MOCK US, SHINIGAMI!" Mabashi's once annoyed countenance transformed into that of righteous fury. "A utopia founded on that bullshit will just mean the end of us Bounts! Kariya-san is the hope of our future. SOMEONE LIKE HIM WILL NEVER DO SUCH A THING!"

He really thinks that? Rukia felt a chill claw at her gut at the thought. This sort of desperate energy, out like an open book...you can't fake something like this…

/Rukia-sama, behind you!/

The Shinigami was barely able to doge the Ritz doll aiming for her back when she felt a strong presence behind her: a furious Mabashi with his fist raised...

"KUCHIKI-SAN, LOOK OUT!'

"NEE-SAAAAN!"

To think you'd actually close in on me, Mabashi. Rukia twirled her sword in her hand. This is exactly what I've been waiting for.

Rukia took a quck step forward before turning around and, with a loud grunt, slashed her blade to Mabashi's direction. Having no other choice, Mabashi raised a hand to grab the blade.

Only for it to shatter in the Bount's hands.

"Wha—?" Rukia only had a second to register Mabashi's spluttered gasp before quickly twirling her sword again to drive Shirayuki's pommel deep into her opponent's stomach.

"If you really believe that," Rukia hissed while glaring at Mabashi's shocked pallor. "Then you need to stop playing dumb and use your eyes." She then drove her free hand, glowing with white energy, after withdrawing her sword. "BYAKURAI!"

"You are not going anywhere."

Renji's eyes narrowed when he saw who had blocked his and his friends' path. "And you're...Ichinose Maki."

Several feet away from them, Ichinose nodded. "It's been a long time since I've seen a fellow Shinigami."

From behind Renji, Ishida grunted. "He's that Shinigami with Kariya. Someone you know?"

"Only because of his records. A former member of the Eleventh Division who suddenly went missing." Renji lowered his sword into a ready position. "Never would have thought that he'd actually betray Soul Society like this though."

Ichinose snorted. "Soul Society. The Gotei 13. The Central 46. All of them are corrupted and crumbling to the core long before I left. You have seen it, haven't you?" The other Shinigami drew his sword. "The chaos caused by your captain, Aizen, is just the tip of the iceberg."

Renji frowned. "Even you've heard of that?"

"Why is that a surprise? Or perhaps you are the one who have not heard of everything. Do you even know where he and his fellows have gone?"

Renji scowled. "And you do?"

The two Shinigamis stared hard at one another before Ichinose shook his head. "It doesn't matter what I tell you. In the end, Kariya's justice will cause Soul Society to crumble before Aizen can try. You should be grateful. The end we have planned for you will be far more merciful than what that man has planned."

With a furious roar, Renji charged at Ichinose. "You better tell us everything you know, even if I have to drag it out of your mouth myself!"

However, it was much easier said than done. To Renji's chagrin, Ichinose's skill in Zanjutsu is apparently at par with a Lieutenant even after years away from Soul Society. It honestly made Renji a tad regretful that a Shinigami of Ichinose's skill is lost to the Gotei 13. Nevertheless, if he knew something about Aizen, it was Renji's responsibility to get as much as he can out of a former comrade.

It's just too bad I have my limiter on. Would make things a lot easier for me if I didn't. Then again, I don't know just how strong Ichinose is now.

"Sado, take Ishida and that walking bean pod out of here while I deal with this traitor!" Renji shouted after clashing his sword against Ichinose's once more. "I can handle this!"

"But—"

"Don't make me say it again! We're here to save his ass, remember?" Renji snapped. "Just go!"

"I cannot not allow that."

"Tough shit, asshole!" Renji flipped his blade when his opponent backed off to go after Sado and Ishida hurrying past the Shinigamis. "Hoero, Zabimaru!"

The lieutenant let his whip-like sword loose at Ichinose, who managed to dodge the attack. Not giving Ichinose a chance to resume chase, Renji lunged after the traitor Shinigami while blocking the way to the retreating Sado, Ishida and Noba.

"You better make it out of this alive, Abarai!" Ishida shouted over his shoulder, to which Renji smirked once the humans and Mod Soul were out of range. "You don't have to tell me that, stupid Quincy."

"...Interesting. A Shinigami and a Quincy actually working together."

"That's rich, coming from a Shinigami working with a Bount." Renji sneered at Ichinose whose blade was aimed at him. "From what I've heard though, aren't you more of his lap dog? You left the Gotei 13 just to be that bastard's pet?"

"Kariya-sama offered me a chance for a better purpose after that monster," Ichinose spat the word out as if it were acidic poison. "Killed my captain. For Kariya-sama's justice, I will eliminate anyone who will dare stand in his way."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Renji deadpanned. "All this bullshit, just because Zaraki-taichou won that old duel fair and square? If you wanted to pick a fight with him so much, why didn't you just do that all those years ago?"

"You wouldn't understand." Ichinose's glare hardened as his body and blade began to glow with iridescent reiatsu. "Kouka Hirameke, Nijigasumi."

Renji internally grimaced, having already expected that it would come to this point, but kept the cool smirk on his face. "Try me, dumbass."

I just hope I'll get something useful out of this idiot's sob story. Renji thought. I wonder what Zaraki-taichou will think once he finds out about this…

"What...the hell...are you doing?"

Rukia let out a long-suffering sigh from behind Inoue who was kneeling next to a battered Mabashi. "She's healing you, idiot. Now shut up and lie still if you don't want your Doll to kill you."

Although to be honest, Rukia was surprised that Ritz hadn't tried to kill Mabashi right off the bat. That's what Dolls normally did when their masters become too weak, right? Yet the Ritz copies remained, flitting all around them, yipping and acting as if they were concerned. But Dolls don't do concerned. Well, Yoshino's Doll, Goethe, was an exception, but only because Yoshino herself had been an exceptional Bount.

/Or perhaps, the relationship between Bounts and their Dolls are not as clear cut as you previously thought?/ Sode no Shirayuki suggested.

Mabashi was killed by Ritz in the past when he became too injured in his fight with Soifon-taichou. I remember that much.

/You also remember this Mabashi being a bloodthirsty, deranged killer. Yet the one in front of us right now does not seem to be the case./ Shirayuki surmised. /Perhaps this is yet another change?/

That, or….Rukia tapped her chin in thought. Could it be because of the Bitto?

/The what?/

Those bug-like Dolls Kariya will be able to make by sacrificing Yoshino-san. They're able to produce a highly concentrated form of soul energy from living humans. Rukia explained. Perhaps, consuming the souls extracted by the Bitto did more than just give the Bounts and their Dolls a power-up...

"Maaaaaster!" Ritz whined when they noticed that Mabashi was awake. "Master, why are you just lying around? Let's play a little more!"

Mabashi's face visibly softened before patting Ritz's head as the other copies lined up behind the original. "I'm sorry, Ritz. Looks like we'll need to do that some other time, OK?"

To Rukia's amazement, the Ritz dolls only sighed as if in resignation instead of attacking Mabashi. "But we'll play longer next time, right? And Master will give us cheese?"

"Sure. Next time." Mabashi said tiredly before he snapped his fingers. "Versteck Dich, Ritz."

"...So they really didn't even try to kill you?" Rukia decided to ask once the Ritz dolls all disappeared.

"You heard from Yoshino-san, didn't you?" Mabashi sighed. "She's right. Most Dolls will turn on their masters as soon as they sense weakness or if their master somehow made them angry. Keyword there being, most."

Inoue tilted her head curiously while Kurodo and Kon hid trembling behind her. "And your Ritz-san will not?"

"I got lucky in getting a Doll that's more like a hyperactive kid than a giant, overpowered toddler or a trigger happy rebel." Mabashi said. "Ritz was...she just likes to fly around, play and eat cheese. Thinks everything in the world is a game."

Inoue stiffened in surprise when the Bount got up to a sitting position. "Ah, wait, Mabashi-san, I'm still not—"

"She's down the hall to the right, past the stairs." Mabashi leaned back on the wall with his arms crossed. "Then there's a backdoor at the opposite end of that hall that will lead you straight outside."

Rukia's brows shot up. "Did you just…?"

"You're here to get Yoshino-san out of here, right? You better get a move on before I change my mind."

"R—Rude!" Kurodo shouted angrily. "After Inoue-san and Kuchiki-san saved your life! How very ungrateful of you!"

"That's enough. I can tell he's not lying, so we might as well take his word for it." Rukia nodded to Inoue. "You go on ahead. I'll stay here and make sure our back is clear. Kurodo, Kon, I'm counting on you to look after Inoue and Yoshino-san until I catch up."

"Yes, Kuchiki-san!"

"You got it, nee-san!" Kon saluted along with Kurodo before following Inoue downstairs. Rukia watched quietly until the three were out of her sight when she turned her gaze back to Mabashi. "You could get punished for this."

From next to her, Mabashi chuckled. "It was going to happen either way, you beating me and escaping with Yoshino-san."

"...What are you planning to do now?"

"Why does it matter to you? You don't owe me anything, Shinigami. I just made things even." Mabashi met her sidelong glance. "You better leave before someone else finds you here."

Rukia searched his gaze a little longer before turning away. "If you meant what you said earlier, about not wanting to consume living souls, then…" She took a breath. "You should leave while you still can, if you don't want to end up like those twins."

"You're the second person to tell me that today." The Bount was quiet for a short while before asking, "You, shinigami, what's your name?"

Rukia blinked, taken aback. "Kuchiki. Kuchiki Rukia."

"Kuchiki Rukia. Fine. I'll keep that in mind."

When it looked like Mabashi wouldn't say anything more, Rukia took off to join her friends downstairs, knowing that there was really nothing more she could do for him at this point. Nevertheless, she caught the faint, faraway mumble before Mabashi was out of earshot, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Kariya-san...Yoshino-san...what the hell am I supposed to do?"

"You need not concern yourself with this pig, Kariya-san."

Ichigo's brows would always twitch whenever he'd recall that bastard Utagawa's smug comment every time he and the Bount would trade blows. He had gotten into the main entrance with Ririn first in an attempt to catch Kariya's attention. True enough, the big shot himself showed up to greet him, along with that big-headed ass kisser Utagawa.

"Kurosaki Ichico, I welcome you." Kariya said in a warm tone. "I have heard from my associates what a strong soul you are. It would have been nice to count on you as one of our allies in our dream for the Bount's peaceful future."

"I'm all for peaceful futures, but not when it comes at the cost of human lives." Ichigo said, his hand gripping his zanpakuto tightly. "You crossed that line, Kariya. Worse off, you kidnapped our friends."

"How peculiar." Kariya's smile widened slightly. "A Shinigami, making friends with a Bount and a Quincy? I never thought I'd live to see the day."

The easygoing way Kariya said those words made Ichigo's blood boil. "Enough with that crap. Where are Ishida and Yoshino?"

Seemingly ignoring Utagawa's admonition ("How rude. Kariya-san is still talking."), the silver haired Bount answered pleasantly. "They're both here in this very mansion, as you know. Why, didn't you send your friends off to find them in the first place for that very reason?" At Ichigo's involuntary flinch, Kariya's crimson eyes gleamed. "You really didn't think I wouldn't be able to find out, did you?"

That's it! "I told you enough with the bullshit!" Ichigo kicked off into the air with his sword raised. "Getsuga Tenshou!"

The attack obliterated the second story railing Kariya and Utagawa were on, but the two Bounts obviously made it out, as Utagawa wasted no time going after Ichigo while saying that he will kill the substitute Shinigami for Kariya.

And Kariya, that crazy bastard, seemingly found the idea so entertaining that he actually let go of his Bount crest, something Yoshino told them was essential for summoning Bounts, as a seemingly grand gesture of faith. Something Utagawa had seemingly taken to it with a twisted sort of delight.

These Bounts are fucking insane. Ichigo lost count of how many times he thought that since he was made aware of their existence.

"It is unfortunate that you are the only one in your little group here." Utagawa commented suddenly while striking at Ichigo with his doll-turned-blade. "I would have loved the opportunity to teach the whole lot of you a lesson on your true place in the food chain."

"Save your breath, bastard. No one wants to listen to your nonsense!"

Utagawa grunted when Ichigo pushed him back before jumping away and waving Friede around, turning her tail into a whip. "I would have especially enjoyed educating that female Shinigami. Stubborn, ill-mannered women like her and Yoshino-san are especially annoying."

"Ugh. Don't tell me you're one of those types who think women belong only in the kitchen or something!"

"The same way food belongs to the table and should not be talking back!" Utagawa's whip hit the ground Ichigo had been previously standing on, and from the crack emerged several dozens of snakes. The orange head Shinigami growled in annoyance when the snakes came after him like a bunch of bees drawn to honey as Utagawa continued. "That stupid little girl thought of herself better than me, just because of a mere fluke? If she hadn't gotten in my way, I would have had that human and the Quincy! Once I'm done with you, that midget will be next!"

"You stay the hell away from Rukia, you freak!" Ichigo hated the way he saw Kariya's face betray a hint of curiosity at Utagawa's words, and in hindsight, maybe he should not have mentioned Rukia's name at all.

He could only hope to distract Kariya's interest in his friend by kicking his creepy butler's ass.

"ARGH!"

I got a hit! Ichigo smirked triumphantly when one of his slashes finally drew blood. "How's that, you cocky bastard?" He taunted as Utagawa stumbled back from the impact of the injury.

"Oh, now," Utagawa's voice dropped an octave, his eyes seemingly alight with a new kind of fury. "Now you've made me angry."

And judging by the way Friede's tail seemed to be whipping like crazy all over the place, Ichigo had a feeling the snake wielding Doll was finally taking him more seriously.

"...Snake net!"

When he saw that pillar of what looked like hundreds of slithering snakes coming after him, Ichigo couldn't help but think, Ah, fuck!

The mansion was once again up in flames.

As it had been so in the past, Yoruichi had shown up to help their group escape from Kariya and the Bounts, while the recovered Ururu and Jinta rained hellfire on the old mansion. Rukia knew however that losing the mansion hardly meant anything to Kariya at this point. Not when he had another place where he can complete the Bitto summoning ritual he needed Yoshino for.

/One step at a time, Rukia-sama./ Sode no Shirayuki consoled her. /At least we got the Quincy and the Bount out on time. That is good enough for now./

That's true. Rukia and her friends were currently a good distance away from the fire and debris, taking a well-deserved break from all their fights. Inoue, with a barely healed Jinta's help, was hard at work tending to everyone else's injuries while they continued filling each other in on what happened at the mansion, and Yoruichi was in a corner, seemingly updating Urahara. And since most of it had gone the way Rukia remembered it, she didn't really pay that much attention to the conversation.

Except for that bit that Kariya, for some reason, was seemingly more interested in her than in the previous timeline, which caught her a bit off guard.

"Ah, you must be the Shinigami that Ryo kept talking about." Kariya smirked while giving Utagawa's bloodied corpse a nudge with his foot. "Kuchiki Rukia, wasn't it? You might be someone of note in the future as well."

Damn it. She hoped it was just a temporary thing. The last thing she needed was to pique the megalomaniac's interest for too long.

First the thing with Mabashi, and now even Kariya. There's just too many changes happening, and I don't know how they'll be affecting this whole Bount episode in the long run.

/We can only hope that whatever these changes are, may they not be beyond our capabilities to handle./ Sode no Shirayuki said consolingly. /Perhaps there will be at least some changes that will benefit us as well./

Rukia's eyes landed on Yoshino, who was looking at the burning remains of the Bount's mansion with a faraway look in her eyes.

Yes, I hope so too.

So it's been ages since I updated this. Haha. I have nothing to say about that except apologies for the huge delay, and thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who are still reading this. Real life is already hard enough without adding the pandemic to the equation. I hope you dear readers are getting the help and healing you need during these very trying times.

I have to be honest, it's not going to be easy for me to write, but I will write for as long as I can. All my fanfics are very dear to me, and I want to commit to finishing all the projects I've started. 42K, as well as HitsuRuki, are especially dear to me, so please be patient with me as I do my best to finish this journey I started.

Thank you, everyone!

Glossary:

-Nakama: tricky to translate, roughly means "friend", "ally" or "brother-in-arms"

OMAKE:

"Here's some tea for you, Yoshino-san."

It was some time after Yoruichi escorted the group back to Urahara's shop, with all the injured ordered to have at least one night's worth of bedrest, as mandated by the shopkeeper himself. Eager as ever to make herself useful, Inoue had gone to prepare tea and snacks for everyone, and Rukia had volunteered to help bring the tea to their friends currently confined in their rooms.

Yoshino nodded after taking the cup of tea into her hands. "Thank you...Kuchiki-san, wasn't it?"

"That's right."

"I heard you encountered Mabashi on your way to get me." Yoshino began after a pause. "I hope he hadn't been much trouble for you."

Rukia shook her head. "Actually, it may have been the other way around. He took on Inoue and me even though he hadn't fully recovered from his previous fight with Urahara. He's still alive though, at least, he was when I last saw him."

"That's good." Yoshino inclined her head. "Thank you for sparing him, Kuchiki-san."

Rukia hesitated before saying, "He said he would have avoided fighting if he could help it."

"Mabashi had always been a bit of a loner and didn't like to speak much, like a teenager still in his rebellious phase and would probably never grow out of it. An impatient sort too. He prefers getting everything done as quickly possible, which includes anything from running errands to fighting.

"But he has always tried to stay true to our old ways, even if it meant butting heads with the older members of our group." Yoshino sighed. "He is a genuinely good boy. I worry that Kariya may succeed in forcing him to stray from that path, and it may come with dire consequences."

The more she learned about Mabashi, the more certain she became that her previous theory was right, and the thought unsettled her just as much. Fighting with a Mabashi that was a genuine psycopath was one thing, but learning that that crazed Bount could have been one of the more well-meaning members of his species, forced astray by Kariya's machinations?

Letting someone like him die made her gut twist the same way Hou's and Ban's deaths did.

"...You are concerned about him?"

"Huh?" Rukia looked up to meet Yoshino's curious gaze.

"You looked concerned," Yoshino repeated. "About Mabashi?"

Rukia fiddled with the tray she held in her arms. "Honestly, yes. He technically helped us escape. It doesn't sit well with me, the thought that Kariya might punish him because of that. And...some other things."

Yoshino chuckled lightly. "You are a curious Shinigami, Kuchiki-san."

Rukia shot the Bount another confused look, so Yoshino elaborated. "You are quite literally death incarnate, and yet you would have such compassion for a doomed race, just because they have a speck of goodness in them."

"And why not?" Rukia said easily. "It doesn't matter if it's a human, a soul or whatever creature they are. If someone can be saved, if that someone wants to be saved, then why shouldn't I do what I can to try?"

"...I mean no ill will when I say this, but I feel that I must." Yoshino's normally impassive eyes became openly soft with sadness. "You can't save everyone, Kuchiki-san, no matter how badly you wish for it."

"That...that is…" Rukia truly believed that Yoshino meant well by saying that, yet those words struck at the deepest wounds in her heart, at the pains and nightmares that have yet to truly heal.

Sado, Orihime. Ishida.

Each name, each glimpse of their flayed and desecrated bodies sending a sharp, freezing blade through her soul.

The grisly deaths. The painful losses. The utter despair over the past, catastrophic failures.

/Rukia-sama.../

"No, I have to try anyway. If not everyone then at least…"

"It is too lofty a goal, Kuchiki-san. One that will most likely hurt you more than anyone else, should you insist..."

"But I have to try anyway!" Rukia clenched her hands on the tea tray. "Because what is the point of having all this power, if I can't protect anything? I owe it to everyone who helped me get to this point to try. Even if I'm this weak, even if...even if I can only do so little. If by that little, I can change the future and save...even just.."

Nii-sama. Renji. Ichigo. Toushirou-taichou.

I can't fail the world, or them—especially them—again…

It was only when she felt Yoshino's hand on her shoulder did she realize she had been shaking.

"I—I'm sorry," Rukia hastily turned away. "You—you should be resting! I didn't mean to—I, I shouldn't have—"

"You really have a remarkable heart. At first, I wasn't sure, but I see it as clear as day. You have eyes that have witnessed much death and loss, yet your will is still as pure as the snow of your blade." Yoshino said with a smile. "If your desire is to truly save as much as you can, then I hope you can hold onto it well. Our world is a cruel one, Kuchiki-san, one that will test your faith and your spirit over and over again. And yet it can also be a beautiful one too. You understand what I mean."

Indeed she does, for it has been Rukia's fondest hope, that someday in the future, she will be able to live a world where all her friends are whole and smiling over the peace they have all worked so hard to achieve.

If she could only have what it took to make it real…

"And I think that someone like you can make it happen."

"Really?" Rukia's voice sounded so timid in own ears. "I...I know I can only do so much...but I'd like to hope…"

"On the contrary, I think you are capable of much more than you think," said Yoshino. "Your friends, for one, have much faith in you. You just need to believe in yourself the way they do. In that power you have that can save others." A thoughtful look passed the woman's face. "Maybe even in ways you or they did not expect."

Perhaps Yoshino got her mixed up with Ichigo, but the thought warmed Rukia's heart at least. "If you say so, then I should work harder to meet those expectations." She then bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Yoshino-san, for your kind words. I have kept you long enough though. Please enjoy the tea and have a good rest. We'll be seeing in the morning."

"...No, Kuchiki-san. It is I who should be thanking you. All of you." Yoshino bowed right back to her. "Thank you, truly, for everything."

Yoshino-san… The way the Bount said it revived the prick of worry in Rukia's gut that constantly reminded her of Yoshino's tragic fate. I said I wanted to give it my best shot in trying to save everyone, didn't I? Rukia bit her lip. Is it too much to hope for, that Yoshino-san can be saved?

/I wish I knew, hime. I truly wish I did.../