Neji, Shuhei, Ikkaku and Renji flash stepped through the districts, with Neji taking the lead when he realized where the trail was leading them.
Ikkaku ran head to head with the brunette and inquired, "are you sure of this?"
"I'm absolutely certain. This is the creep who tried to weaponize her attempting to take her back," Neji replied.
Shuhei almost scoffed, "and what would he want with Tetsuya?"
"He doesn't. Tetsuya began following the trail before we did. In all likelihood with the snow fall, he worried about losing them if he sought help from someone first," Neji concluded.
"Makes sense," Renji agreed.
"Whatever, as long as I get to fight someone," Ikkaku snarled in excitement.
"You truly are an animal," Neji stated.
In the 77th Eastern Rukongai district, Tetsuya regarded the woman, noting she had a similar nose to Suzume, and jaw. He closed his eyes remorsefully and gave a defeated sigh as he asked her, "Suzume—do you know this woman?"
"My mother," Suzume's shaky voice answered. Tetsuya scowled at the blonde haired man and replied, "I'm sorry. I lost my mother when I was young too. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now. You may want to cover your eyes so you don't see this. Just stay behind me. I won't let anything happen."
Suzume nodded a little as she ducked behind Tetsuya, and held onto his kosode. When she did this he thought to himself, 'Hmm? She's shaking. Is it the cold or the situation? Both?'
He turned his attention back to the man in front of him and the corpse he'd summoned to fight for him. 'either way, it's best I finish this quickly,' he resolved.
The woman approached him. And he scowled, whispering, "forgive me, Suzume."
He held his Zanpakuto in front of him, the blade had turned black and there was a silver serpentine dragon design along the blade.
As the woman sauntered closer he called out, "exhale, Beniryu!"
The dragon design on the blade gained a red glow before a wide blast of flame emitted from it, the corpse was indeed reduced to ash, cremated. However the Blonde haired man stood before him, a rectangular film of spirit energy in front of him.
He smirked as he stated, "that's a powerful shikai you've got there, kid. I guess there's a bit of Genryusai in you after all."
He felt the dampness on his back as Suzume's tears escaped her.
"I'm sorry, Suz-"
"Thank you, Tetsu," she replied through her sobs. He blinked as he glanced back at her from the corner of his eye. He gave a slight scoff as he asked, "I fried her. What are you thanking me for?"
"Freeing her, and coming here for me," she answered, her clutch on his kosode increasing until her tiny knuckles shone white. He placed his free hand over both of hers and reminded her, "I already told you: It's part of the deal. Nobody gets to mess with you except me."
"Thank you," she repeated, still clutching his kosode.
'Silly kid, there's no need to thank me. It's just what you do for someone,' Tetsuya thought to himself. His attention was drawn back to the blonde man who was firing a low level hado spell at them.
"Bakudo 33, Enkosen!"
The spinning circle of orange energy effortlessly blocked the hado but he had a split second to push Suzume off to the side before he was slammed into a nearby building about a foot off the ground with three small bits of yellow energy pinning him in a perfect triangle.
The man laughed as he charged towards Tetsuya, his fist glowing blue as he announced, "you're finished now, kid! Sokatsui!"
Before the kido could strike him however a cyclone of energy appeared to spin in front of Tetsuya, effectively blocking the kido from striking him. When the cyclone of energy stopped Neji stood protectively in front of Tetsuya, a scowl on his face as he eyed the blonde man and stated, "I told you before: don't threaten children in front of me. That's especially true when those children are mine."
Renji had scooped Suzume up in his arms and held her protectively close to him while offering her a smile.
Shuhei quickly bound the blonde man's wrists with kido while Ikkaku picked up the man's Zanpakuto and shook his head as he admitted, "I'll do just about anything for a good fight. But picking on little kids—that's a scumbag move."
Neji looked to the kido that was binding Tetsuya and tried to grasp it in his hand, he felt a shock from it and released it. Shuhei walked over next to him, bringing his hand up in front of him with his index and middle finger raised before gesturing his hand off to the side, causing the kido to break.
Tetsuya began to descend to the ground, only to find a set of strong arms catching him. He glanced up and looked into the white eyes of Neji who gently tousled the boy's hair and informed him, "I understand why you took off after him alone—but next time please get a message to us somehow. We were worried about both of you."
"Got that right," Renji agreed as he let go of Suzume. She quickly ran over to Neji who knelt down and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to himself. He grasped his cloak and pulled it tight around himself to share it with her.
"You're so cold, Suzume," He advised her as he brushed her dark hair out of her face. He kissed her forehead as he suggested, "Let's all go home. I'll bet there's some hot cocoa waiting for us when we get there."
Renji observed him and gained a warm smile as he removed his cloak and offered it to Neji. "Take it. Can't have the kids getting sick with the baby coming soon," he offered.
"But you'd get sick," Suzume objected.
"Ah, so what? I've survived Rukongai winters without a fancy warm cloak before. I'll be fine. Besides, I can't stand the idea of a kid's teeth chattering away in the cold. Guess that's just the Dad in me," Renji insisted. He added, "My Ichika's about your age too."
Neji accepted the cloak, thanking Renji as he wrapped Suzume in it and cuddled her close to himself as he glanced to Tetsuya. He nodded, a smile on his face and a sparkle in his red eyes as the group headed back towards the Seireitei, the blond man being escorted by Shuhei and Ikkaku on either side while Neji and Renji stayed close to the children.