Time quietly slipped into the year 2009. The encounter with Urahara Kisuke in Karakura Town was kept as a deep secret in Ukitake's heart. Aside from himself, Kyōraku Shunsui was the only other person who knew about it.
As for Urahara's proposal to use Karakura Town as a stationed point in the World of the Living, Ukitake hadn't given an immediate answer back then. However, subsequently dispatching squad members there was a clear enough indication of his stance. He trusted that with Urahara's intellect, the man would easily understand his intentions.
Having a new stationed point would reduce the casualties caused by Hollow invasions in the World of the Living. At the same time, it provided a place for young squad members with flawed strength to hone their skills. For Squad 13, this was undoubtedly a good thing.
However, there weren't many suitable candidates to send to Karakura Town. Over the past fifteen years, they had already dispatched several batches. Ukitake glanced at the roster on his desk. *Let her go this time.*
A few days later, Rukia was filled with confusion when she heard Kotetsu Kiyone say she was leaving Squad 13. "Is this... a transfer order?"
Kiyone, who was now the 3rd Seat, hastily waved her hands and replied with a wry smile, "No! It's nothing as serious as a transfer. It's just a stationing mission in the World of the Living!"
Ever since Kaien left Squad 13, Rukia had been desperately taking on missions outside the Seireitei. Although she was already a qualified member of the Gotei 13, traveling all over Soul Society—especially the perilous Plains of Slaughter—was still too much for her.
She had reached her limit. Rukia herself had likely sensed it too; her potential as a Shinigami had peaked right here. She was unable to achieve Shikai, and her stagnant Reiatsu prevented her from casting high-level Kidō. Relying solely on the techniques taught by her Captain or Mr. Shihouin at the Shin'ō Academy couldn't solve her fundamental problem.
This was an issue most members of the Gotei 13 eventually faced. But for Rukia, it was far easier to recognize her own insignificance and powerlessness. The surname 'Kuchiki' was not an easy burden to bear.
Rukia was simply too sensitive right now. Kiyone's heart ached for her, but she didn't have any good solutions. Seeing the confused look on Rukia's face, she tried to explain in as lighthearted a tone as possible, "Remember when you first joined and went to support me? It's just like that!"
"Let me think..." Rukia held her head, looking as if she genuinely couldn't remember.
"You forgot?" Kiyone blurted out instinctively, but then suddenly realized her mistake. Lord Kaien had been there back then. Wasn't she just rubbing salt in the wound?! She quickly changed her tune, "Well, that wasn't exactly a good memory anyway, so it's better that you forgot it! Don't overthink it, Kuchiki!"
Kiyone's rambling only made Rukia dizzier. Was she supposed to understand the stationing mission, or was she supposed to not think about it?!
In truth, let alone Rukia, even Kiyone didn't know what she was saying anymore. She was always so calm when comforting her older sister Isane, so why was she making such a mess of things with someone else? Maybe she should learn from Sentarō and bring some sake over so they could talk over drinks?
"The stationed area is centered around Karakura Town in the World of the Living, covering a radius of one spirit ri." Just as Kiyone was about to forget she was there to deliver a mission briefing, a voice from outside the door saved the day. "With your strength, this mission shouldn't be difficult."
"Captain Ukitake!"
"You can't be out of bed, hurry back and lie down!"
The person who came to the rescue was indeed Ukitake, though the noisy fuss of the squad members trying to carry him back to Ugendō to rest was perhaps a bit too... enthusiastic?
"Alright, I'm actually feeling quite well today." Promptly declining Kiyone's 'kindness', Ukitake turned his gaze to Rukia in the back. "Besides, even though it's only for about a month, this is Kuchiki's first solo stationing mission. She might feel a bit uneasy, so I came to see her off."
Whether it was because she was influenced by Kiyone's exaggerated fuss, or simply because she was overly sensitive, Rukia suddenly dropped to her knees and shouted loudly, "Thank you very much!"
They really had grown quite distant, hadn't they? Ukitake hoped this trip to the World of the Living would help her regain her confidence as a Shinigami. Strong or weak, they were all Shinigami, weren't they?
"From this moment on, the 6th Seat of Squad 11, Abarai Renji, is appointed as the Lieutenant of Squad 6..."
Meanwhile, over at Squad 11, Hinamori Momo read the contents of the appointment letter in her hands word by word. However, her dead-serious expression made the man sitting across from her, Renji, doubt if this was actually a promotion.
"Congratulations, Abarai!" Right after reading the final word, Hinamori suddenly broke into a bright smile and congratulated him. Beside her, Kira Izuru also smiled and clapped his hands. Their academy peer, Renji, had finally become a Lieutenant too.
Hinamori's hot-and-cold demeanor caught Renji completely off guard. He mumbled for a long while without forming a coherent sentence, until his body instinctively bowed forward, blurting out the line he had rehearsed for Captain Kuchiki for so long, "I am deeply humbled to accept this position, Lieutenant Hinamori!"
Renji's reaction left Hinamori not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Although Renji used to call her 'Lieutenant' back when he was in Squad 5, ever since he transferred to Squad 11, he had reverted to treating her like a peer in private. Why was he suddenly acting so respectful now that they were of equal rank?
"Don't be so nervous, Abarai."
"Yeah! Look at the state of you!" Ikkaku, who had been listening from the sidelines, finally couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up. "Isn't this a great thing? By becoming the Lieutenant of Squad 6, you'll be able to get closer to Kuchiki Byakuya."
"Mr. Ikkaku..."
"What's with that stupid look on your face?! Hasn't this been your wish for a long time? Once you're a Lieutenant, you'll be able to talk to Rukia, right?" Ikkaku said impatiently. "Even if she's from a great noble family, as a Lieutenant, you should be considered equals now."
Everyone present knew a little about the history between Rukia and Renji. As their academy peers, Hinamori and Kira probably understood it best. They were friends who had walked out of the Rukongai together, only to drift apart and become strangers after Rukia was adopted by the Kuchiki clan. Those who didn't know their past could never imagine how close they used to be.
He didn't want to cause trouble for Rukia, and he especially didn't want to become a burden to her. That was likely what Renji was thinking. At least, that was what Hinamori believed. She knew Renji had never once envied Rukia's good fortune, and that he still cared deeply for her in his heart.
"You've persevered for forty years. It's time to restore your old relationship," Hinamori added, following up on Ikkaku's words. Beside her, Kira chimed in with a quiet reminder, "If you're going to do that, you'd better hurry. Kuchiki is leaving for the World of the Living this afternoon for a one-month stationing mission."
"Then you really need to hurry. Let's go together right now, Abarai!" Hinamori was about to stand up, but Renji reached out and stopped her.
"No, I won't officially take the position until the inauguration ceremony next month..."
'Besides, it's just a Lieutenant position. How could we ever truly be equals?' Renji mocked himself inwardly. Even a former Kenpachi like Instructor Shihouin was forced to hide away in the Shin'ō Academy. Under the same circumstances, a mere Lieutenant probably wouldn't even have the right to live.
"When she comes back, I'll tell her 'I'm already a Lieutenant' just to scare her."
Scaring her was probably all he could do. He still had such a long way to go, and he didn't even know if he could ever reach the end...
"You're going to the World of the Living? And you're leaving this afternoon?! That's too sudden!"
"I only just found out myself. I came specifically to say goodbye to you, Big Brother Kōe."
Kōe pulled Rukia into a hug, whispering his instructions, "This is your first time executing a solo mission. Make sure to stay safe in the World of the Living."
"I will. You take good care of yourself too, Big Brother!"
"I will. It's only a month, why are we making this so sad?" Kōe smiled and patted Rukia's head. "Did you tell Byakuya?"
"Captain Ukitake will explain it to him," Rukia said, slowly lowering her head. "But, I think he definitely has no interest in hearing about such trivial matters."
"That's only because he's never gone a whole month without seeing you. When you come back, he might never bear to let you leave again."
"You're joking again, Big Brother Kōe."
"I'm not joking. People who look cold on the outside often have the warmest hearts." Kōe leaned down and smiled. "When you come back, try to shed fewer tears, alright?"
"I-I hope so."
"You definitely will. My premonitions are always accurate."
The impending rainstorm of fate was about to descend. They all needed a baptism, didn't they? Teary-eyed, standing amidst the ruins, clutching their wounds, finally seeing the truest versions of each other...