A/n: the topic below is very heavy, may Allah forgive me. this story is a personal reflection for me. Because I believe that for a religion to be true, it should give benefit to us as individuals and the world as a collective. I just want us to live a happy and sustainable life together. May Allah accept my sincerest prayer. He is the most loving (Al-Ghafur) and the most merciful (Ar-Rahim)

Islamic term meaning:

auzubillah minashaitan ni rajeem (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan)

astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness in God)

auzubillah (I seek refuge in Allah)

In sha Allah (God willing)

Subhanallah (Glory be to God)

La hawla wala kuwata illa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah)

bismillah (in the name of Allah)

alhamdulillah (praise be to God)

Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)

Assalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings)

wassalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (and Peace be upon you too and God's mercy and blessings)

Ma sha Allah (God has willed it)

3. *Guidance and Mercy*

Muslims believe that Allah is the source of guidance and mercy. All praise is directed to Him for providing guidance through the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and for His infinite mercy.

Quranic Reference* "And your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]." (Quran 5:55)

Quran (2:164):

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and [in] the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason."

Surah Al-Mulk (67:2):

"He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving."

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155):

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient."

A man lay on the grass by the mountainside, not far from him were the graves of his childhood friends who died due to poverty and harsh living conditions in Hanging Dog.

Looking up at the moonless night sky, he contemplated his goal in life—the only thing fueling him to persevere in this unjust world.

Although he respects all religions, personally, he doesn't believe in the existence of God, and if there were, that God must not care about them at all. After all, that God created an unjust and cruel world.

Renji felt his heart tighten at the thought, remembering how he and Rukia fought every day to stay alive in Rukongai.

They were orphans, street rats bound to die like abandoned dogs.

Renji still remembered that night when Rukia arrived carrying the medicine she promised to buy for their remaining friend, but it was too late. He was dead.

Renji recalled how Rukia cried her heart out in agony. Although he was used to seeing her strong and boyish, right then, she looked like the world collapsed on her, and it made his heart tighten, realizing how powerless they are to save their loved ones.

Not long after, Rukia suggested that they should become Shinigamis so that they could escape poverty and live away from this hell-hole.

Everything had gone fine. He was acing his studies and even finally overcoming Rukia, becoming more powerful than her in every aspect. Hoping that their good fortune would continue, and he and Rukia would live together until they were old, building their own family.

But that dream was shattered when Kuchiki Byakuya, his captain, took her away from him. And now Rukia is a noblewoman, making him unworthy of her because of his status.

Sometimes, his heart would tighten, wishing that he should not have let her go. Although he wouldn't be able to give her the luxury that Byakuya could, he knew that Rukia wouldn't mind.

But he was a coward. He was afraid that Rukia doesn't feel the same about him and that she had suffered enough. So, he wanted the best for her, even though it meant not being with her anymore.

He was a fool.

And now he had decided that to take her back, he shall defeat Byakuya and become worthy of her—a goal that he knew is close to impossible, like a dog barking at the moon. But he was prepared to do everything that it takes to defeat Byakuya.

And now that he is a vice-captain, he felt that his dream is soon going to come.

Renji allowed himself a little smile, imagining what Rukia would say when she returned from her mission and found out he was now one step away from being a captain of Gotei 13.

"Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu," Rukia greeted back, staring at the man, trying to assess his trustworthiness. However, with the greeting he gave her, somehow, it assured her that he didn't have any bad intentions in approaching her. And if he did, she didn't really have any other choice but to accept his help.

"How much will it cost me?" Rukia asked, knowing that nothing is actually free in every transaction, especially with a shady man like him.

Urahara smiled at his new customer, "Nothing much," he replied giddily.

Rukia released a sigh. "Bismillah," she said as she got up on her feet.

Upon noticing his customer about to drag the teenage boy's body, Urahara took it upon himself to carry him back to his room. After all, he had been observing them from the shadows in the beginning.

Rukia stared at the man carrying Ichigo and decided to observe for any clue about his intentions.

Not long after, they put the Kurosakis back into their rooms and healed them. "Use this," Urahara suddenly said, throwing the device into Rukia's hand.

With her reflexes, she managed to catch the device; it's a memory changer, an exclusive Shinigami technology that can alter memories. She looked at the shady man in suspicion.

Urahara smiled. "I will add that to your debt," he said happily.

Rukia remained silent.

"In sha Allah...I will need a cover while I am here," she suddenly said. "Do you have a gigai that I can rent?"

At the question posed by his new customer, Urahara's smile widened. "Alhamdulillah...Yes, but I need your ID first."

"Kuchiki Rukia, of the 13th squad," she answered.

"Okay, Rukia, come to my shop," he said with a businessman's happy grin on his face.

to be continue...