Chapter 41: Rejection?
Narrator POV
"Well… are you going to talk, or are we just going to stare at each other for another half hour?" Akira asked calmly, leaning back even further in his seat, completely relaxed. He wasn't in any hurry.
"How about you stop pretending?" Yoruichi shot back bluntly, sitting on the table, her golden eyes fixed on his. "Do you remember the man with the hat you ran into when you fought those Shinigami? He's an old friend of mine… and he told me what happened. So don't try to play the ordinary-student act with me. I know you're not nearly as normal as you pretend."
Akira raised a brow, only mildly surprised. He had overlooked that small detail—of course Urahara wouldn't keep quiet, and of course he'd share the information with Yoruichi. A faint smile formed on Akira's face as he rested his head on his hand, still maintaining that casual attitude.
"I remember him, yeah… I also remember leaving Ichigo served on a silver platter. How is he, by the way?"
"Ichigo is fine. He's training with Urahara."
Although Yoruichi's tone was neutral, Akira caught a different nuance beneath it. She didn't say it out loud, but there was something else there. Something that bothered her.
Yoruichi looked at him with a strange mix of discomfort and doubt. There was something about Akira she struggled to process. She remembered him dying—she had seen it with her own eyes. And yet here he was: alive, stronger, more enigmatic. And worst of all… she needed his help now.
A sting of guilt struck her.
"I saw him die… and I did nothing."
He didn't know. Or at least, she hoped he didn't. But the discomfort was there—palpable. Tightening her chest every time she saw him. Even though Akira didn't know she had been present, hiding in the shadows, she doubted he had any idea.
"Well… and what does any of this have to do with me?" he asked bluntly. "According to Orihime, you've been looking for me."
"The reason is simple… they're going to execute Rukia Kuchiki." Yoruichi didn't bother sugarcoating it; time was short, so she was direct. "Ichigo and the others want to rescue her. Urahara believes you could be a great help… just like Ichigo. After all, you already fought one of their lieutenants and a captain, didn't you?"
Akira nodded slowly. Yes, he had fought Renji and Byakuya. Though deep down he knew neither of them had fought seriously. Still, something didn't quite add up. It felt strange that Urahara would put so much trust in him when they had barely exchanged a few words.
"And what makes you think I'm going to help you?" he asked, frowning, his tone suddenly serious, wiping away any hint of mockery.
He knew this wasn't just some act of kindness from Urahara. No. The so-called "rescue mission" had a hidden goal.
The Hōgyoku.
Akira knew. He knew it was inside Rukia. He knew Urahara had hidden it there, taking advantage of her—taking advantage of her vulnerability when she lost her Shinigami powers.
It irritated him. It angered him.
He couldn't stand people who used others as chess pieces in a game only they understood. Manipulating Rukia like that, turning her into a living vault without even warning her… it disgusted him.
Urahara could be as intelligent as he wanted, he could act friendly or even charming… but that didn't change the fact that he used people when it suited him. Even if he apologized later, it didn't make his actions noble or acceptable. To Akira, intentions didn't erase manipulation.
"I don't have to go with Ichigo and the others. Why should I get involved in this?"
His tone was firm, no hesitation. It wasn't a question open to persuasion. Akira had no intention of becoming part of Urahara's little game. Yes, he had promised to save Rukia… and he would.
But not as the hat-man's "secret weapon," nor as a pawn on his board. He would go to Seireitei on his own terms, following his own objectives. Not because they asked him to. Not because they expected him to.
"Well… if you don't want to go with them, that's fine." Yoruichi sighed internally, her tail lazily swaying—she had half-expected a refusal. "I'm not going to force you. But you should know something, Akira… Rukia's life is truly in danger. The more help we have, the better. The Soul Society isn't a kind or fair place… but even so, your friends plan to risk everything for her. Because she's their friend. And for them, that's reason enough."
Akira let out a bored sigh. He didn't need emotional manipulation. He didn't need speeches about friendship or duty. He had already made his decision long ago.
He wouldn't abandon Rukia.
Even if he hadn't said it directly, even if she didn't remember completely, he had made a promise… and he would keep it. He would go for her, he would take her out of danger… not because Urahara wanted him to. Not because Ichigo needed him.
But because he, Akira, had decided it.
And that was all that mattered.
"I'll think about it, ugly cat."
With that, he stood up and calmly walked toward the exit. A vein throbbed on Yoruichi's forehead at hearing that comment again. To her, her feline form was almost sacred… and Akira just mocked it like she was some stray cat.
"Do you have some kind of problem with cats, you insufferable brat?!"
"No, I'm just more of a parrot person." Akira turned slightly, giving her a side glance, fully aware it would irritate her even more.
"Parrots? You seriously prefer a bird that repeats things over an elegant, agile cat?"
"Exactly. I once had a parrot, and I taught it to say 'coming!' Trust me, it was the best time investment I ever made." Akira smiled a little, amused as he remembered the days when his parrot would greet anyone who knocked on his door.
Akira shook his head lightly and opened the door to leave.
Just as he crossed it, he stopped when he saw Chad and Orihime pretending to act normal. Akira squinted. Their body language gave them away completely—they were tense, nervous… and clearly had been listening behind the door.
"And what are you two doing?"
"Nothing!" Orihime replied far too quickly, giving a tense smile. "We were just… um… practicing!"
"We were training our abilities while you two talked." Chad supported her statement.
Akira stared at them for a moment, as if analyzing their poor attempt at deception. Then he nodded slightly, with a small smile that said: I know exactly what you did, but I'll let it slide for now.
It wasn't entirely unbelievable… at least coming from Chad. Though he knew full well that both had been pressing their ears to the door like a pair of hopelessly curious kids.
"Yeah, sure… I'm sure you were practicing your sense of hearing," he muttered with a half-smile as he walked down the stairs. He had something to do… or rather, something to confirm.
.
.
.
.
However, when he reached the first floor, he stopped. The hurried sound of footsteps coming down the stairs caught his attention. He turned calmly, finding Orihime rushing toward him.
"You shouldn't run down the stairs, you might fall."
"Akira, wait!" Orihime stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath. Her large eyes reflected worry, and her tone was far more serious than usual. "Do you really… not plan on helping Rukia? She's our friend… and she's in danger." She lowered her gaze as she said it, as if it hurt to even consider the possibility of his refusal.
Akira let out a faint sigh and scratched the back of his head for a few seconds. Then he shook his head gently, his expression softening.
"That's not it, Orihime. I am going to help her. I promised… before they took her. I held her, and I promised I'd save her."
As he spoke, his mind drifted back to that moment. He remembered Rukia's fragile body in his arms, her ragged breathing, the trembling of her fingers. He remembered the pain in her eyes… and how, for a brief instant, a small spark of hope had appeared there. A trembling, desperate, but real hope.
He also remembered that single tear… the one Rukia let fall in silence, shattering the composed image of a shinigami who isn't supposed to cry. Because in that moment, she wasn't a shinigami. She was just a girl resigned to die.
And Akira had seen everything.
He wasn't going to leave her alone.
Never.
"I never break my promises."
(Why did I suddenly feel like saying 'Really?') he wondered, suppressing the urge to raise a thumb and blurt out something straight out of an old-school anime protagonist.
"Really!? Then you will come with us!"
A bright smile blossomed across Orihime's face, her eyes sparkling with genuine joy. That pure, hopeful expression made Akira look away for a moment. There was something uncomfortably warm about someone trusting him so openly.
"So you promised to rescue her… You're really noble for wanting to keep your promises, Akira-kun."
"Akira… kun?" Akira repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Orihime's face instantly turned crimson as she realized what she'd said. She covered her face with both hands and retreated awkwardly, mumbling unintelligible words as embarrassment overwhelmed her while she hurried back up to the second floor.
Akira watched her, not fully understanding the reaction. He blinked several times, slightly confused, then shrugged as if it didn't really matter.
(Was that really such a big deal?) he thought, not giving it much importance. Then his gaze hardened slightly as a thought formed in his mind. (If I'm remembering correctly… in a few days Ichigo and the others will head to the Soul Society. I still have time to train a bit more.)
There was no guarantee that events would unfold exactly as he remembered. His presence was already altering the balance. Things could change at any moment, and he knew it.
(Everyone will have to face a captain… and I won't be the exception. The only question is…) He looked up at the sky, expression serious. (Besides Byakuya… which of the other captains will I end up fighting?)
The thought excited him… and at the same time, kept him alert. In the Seireitei, there was no room for mistakes.
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End of chapter.