Chapter 49: New Plan
Narrator POV
Orihime, being the slowest in the group, barely had time to cling to Akira's neck on instinct, her cheeks slightly flushed. As for Yoruichi…
—Ah!! Not the tail! That's my pride as a cat!!. —she yelled, wriggling between Akira's hands but unable to escape. He, as always, ignored her with a calm, mildly amused expression.
Just as they were about to cross through the gate's threshold, a silver flash cut through the air.
Shinsō's blade shot forward at impossible speed, aiming straight at Akira's back. Gin Ichimaru's smile emerged from the shadows, his half-closed eyes carrying that familiar mocking glint. He had never been unconscious—he was waiting… for the exact moment Akira turned his back.
CLANG!
In a blink, Igris—always watching from his master's shadow—appeared with his sword raised. The dark steel clashed against Shinsō's extended blade, deflecting it just enough to prevent a fatal wound.
Even so, Gin's weapon grazed Akira's face, leaving a clean cut on his cheek.
Blood dripped. Akira paused for an instant, his eyes sharp and locked on Gin. Gin tilted his head, that same calm, venomous smile on his lips.
—Now we're even… one to one.
Akira grinned—though there was zero humor in it. It was cold, razor-edged. His blue eyes hardened as they glared at Gin.
—You damn snake… Just like the real thing. Lurking patiently for the prey to drop its guard… before sinking your fangs in.
His words dripped with disdain. His hand tightened into a fist, his arm trembling slightly from suppressed rage. He had forgotten, even if for just a moment, that Gin Ichimaru was never someone who fought fair. Not once.
At that same moment, Igris rushed ahead like a streak of shadows. He appeared before the Shinigami trying to block the path and, with a single swing of his black sword, shattered several zanpakutō as if they were dry branches. They were no match for him.
He didn't need orders. Igris knew his master wasn't looking for a fight—not this time. Without inflicting more damage than necessary, he retreated and sank back into Akira's shadow, disappearing into the darkness with innate elegance. Yet before fading, he gave Gin one last stern glare—the silent scorn of a knight who despises treachery and refuses to forgive dishonor.
—Th-that knight…
Orihime's voice caught in her throat as she watched Igris vanish inside Akira's shadow. She hadn't forgotten him. Even if she had seen him just once… how could she ever forget? He was the one who saved her and Tatsuki when no one else could.
She swallowed, eyes fixed on Akira. Her awe was shifting into something deeper. Something she couldn't quite understand.
As the wind brushed her face, thoughts spun wildly in her mind. Was it Akira who sent that knight that day… when Hollows attacked without restraint?
Did he do it to protect her?
The uncertainty—tinged with the smallest spark of hope—made her cling tighter to Akira's neck. Her heart was pounding, and her imagination was already running away with her.
She pictured herself trapped in a tower, storm clouds swirling above… and Akira bursting in with Igris at his side, sword in hand—a dark knight who would defy the world just to rescue her.
("This is no time to be thinking about that…") she scolded herself. But her blushing face betrayed her.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, Jidanbō closed the Seireitei gate with both hands. Despite being its guardian, he hadn't hesitated to help.
Ichigo had apologized sincerely for breaking his axes, and Akira had prevented Gin from cutting off his arm as punishment. Those acts were enough to earn the giant's respect.
The thunderous slam of the massive gate echoed. Akira and the others watched as it shut, sealing the entrance behind them. Akira narrowed his eyes—on the other side, Gin Ichimaru lifted his hand in a gentle wave, as if bidding farewell to an old friend… or a prey he planned to hunt again soon.
Akira frowned and, without overthinking it, lifted his own hand. Orihime thought for a moment that maybe he would wave too.
But no.
Doing what he considered the most mature response—by his own standards—Akira extended his middle finger at Gin with complete calm.
Holding it up just as the gate closed with a final clack.
An echo lingered briefly through the empty streets as the group stared silently at the enormous door now separating them from the Shinigami.
Orihime let out a soft sigh of relief. The tension had been overwhelming, and at least for now, they wouldn't have to face the swarms of Shinigami that had begun appearing like an infestation from every corner of the Seireitei.
Yoruichi exhaled sharply, frustrated, a big anime-style vein throbbing on her forehead. Her tail—once elegant—now drooped and bent, mistreated by Akira's grip.
"Well… goodbye to our first option," she grumbled irritably.
"What do you mean 'goodbye to the first option'?! THAT WAS OUR ONLY OPTION!!" Ichigo yelled.
"Quiet, loudmouthed carrot!" —Yoruichi bonked him lightly on the head with her paw.— "I said the first, not the last. Now that Akira punched a captain, the security is definitely going to skyrocket. We'll need a new plan… preferably one that doesn't include provoking every high-ranking captain in the Gotei 13," she said while massaging her temple with a tiny paw.
Akira, still staring at the sealed gate, spoke in a colder voice—more serious than before:
—You didn't feel it… but that guy was planning to cut Jidanbō's arm off for opening the gate for us.
His eyes narrowed, icy with warning. Thanks to his Perception stat, he could detect fragments of intent and emotion. And what he sensed from Gin was pure poison masked as politeness.
—If I hadn't stopped him, the big guy would be missing an arm right now.
Uryū adjusted his glasses in a precise gesture, voice calm and firm.
—I agree with Akira. That Shinigami… was unsettling. His smile didn't inspire trust, but threat. Like he's the kind to stab you in the back while wishing you good morning.
Silence fell over the group. The tension was still thick—but urgency was rising.
Orihime, still in Akira's arms, looked at him from the corner of her eye. Her mind was still replaying everything… and she couldn't stop the shy smile forming on her lips.
He had held her tightly. Protected her. And now… danger would only grow. But as long as she was with him… she wasn't afraid.
Yoruichi sighed deeply, still in feline form, her expression serious—almost troubled.
—We need to rethink. The gates will be even more heavily guarded now… —she said, leaping onto the rooftops in search of a safer place to regroup and plan.
—Why don't we go to another gate? There are four of them, right?. —Ichigo asked, confused, glancing around like one might magically appear.
—Because circling the Seireitei would take at least two days… and time is exactly what we're lacking.
Everyone fell silent at the weight of her words. Everyone except one.
Akira, still carrying Orihime effortlessly, glanced at the enormous white wall that had rejected them. His expression darkened thoughtfully.
(I could get in…) —He thought. He possessed no spiritual energy like the others. His existence was built of pure curse energy… not reiatsu.
The Sekki-seki—the barrier surrounding the Seireitei that rejected all spiritual energy—had no effect on him.
To that barrier, Akira wasn't even there. Like Toji Fushiguro… an invisible ghost to spiritual defenses, free to walk where he pleased in this world.
A gentle tug on his clothes pulled him from his thoughts.
—Are you okay, Akira?. —Orihime asked sweetly, noticing the fine cut on his cheek. —Let me heal you, please.
Without waiting, her small fairies gathered and closed the wound in seconds. No scar. No trace. Nothing.
—It wasn't necessary… but thank you. —Akira replied with the slightest, sincere smile.
Orihime's blush deepened, her gaze dropping shyly.
—You should probably put her down now, don't you think? We're not in danger anymore. —Ichigo pointed out, watching Akira still carrying Orihime like it was the most normal thing ever.
Uryū pushed up his glasses, sunlight reflecting off them, hiding his eyes. A half-smirk tugged at his lips.
—Ichigo. —he said casually but sharply. —you should work on hiding your jealousy better. Does it bother you that Akira is carrying Orihime?.
The comment hit like an arrow. Predictably, Ichigo reacted instantly—face turning red with embarrassment and simmering anger. He jabbed a shaking finger at Uryū.
—W-what are you talking about, idiot?! Jealous?! Not at all! I'm just saying… there's no danger anymore, that's all!.
—Sure… whatever you say. —Uryū replied mockingly, clearly enjoying himself.
—Don't worry, Ichigo. Feeling a bit envious is normal sometimes.
—You too, Chad?! What's wrong with you guys?!. —Ichigo barked, flustered. For a brief moment, the atmosphere eased.
But then Yoruichi's voice cut through, serious again:
—That's enough joking. We need to move… There's someone we must find. An old friend who can help us.
Everyone turned to her, curious.
—An old friend? I didn't know you had contacts in here, Yoruichi. —Uryū asked, setting aside his teasing.
—He moves often, but his home is… pretty hard to ignore. We just need to look for a peculiar building. —he said while continuing over the rooftops.
Ichigo frowned. "And what's the name of this 'old friend'?"
—We're going to find Kūkaku Shiba. —Yoruichi replied, glancing back at them.
—Kū… what?. —ichigo asked with one eyebrow raised, clearly confused by the name.
—Kūkaku Shiba… sounds like the name of a wise hermit… —Uryū began picturing an elderly mystic surrounded by incense.
—I don't know… I imagine more like an old but imposing samurai. Kūkaku Shiba definitely sounds like someone strong. —Chad added, giving his own idea of what this friend of Yoruichi might be like.
—A wise samurai cat!. —Orihime suddenly exclaimed, her eyes shining with that familiar spark of her wild imagination.
In her mind, the image was already crystal clear: a cat with a long white beard, wearing a traditional kimono and a katana strapped to its back, sitting on a rock while meditating under a blooming cherry tree. Very zen… and very Orihime.
Ichigo glanced sideways at her and sighed.
—I don't think it's a cat, Orihime. Look at the crazy hat guy he's also a friend of Yoruichi and he's not exactly a talking feline.
Akira let out a short laugh as he walked with the group.
—I say it's a woman… with a strong attitude. The kind that doesn't let anyone tell her what to do.
—Highly unlikely. Kūkaku sounds more like a man's name. Like some rough mountain master. —Uryū dismissed Akira's idea, convinced a woman couldn't possibly match a name like Kūkaku.
—We'll see. —Akira replied with a cryptic smile, saying nothing more.
After all, he knew perfectly well who Kūkaku Shiba was… courtesy of his memories as a reincarnated soul.
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End of Chapter.