Shinichi and Tatsuki slipped back down into the sewers, their footsteps echoing softly through the damp tunnels. The stale air clung to their lungs as they moved quickly through the darkness.
After a few moments of silence, Tatsuki finally spoke.
A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead as she looked at him, confused.
"You… didn't feel like yourself back there."
Shinichi didn't even turn his head.
"Trust me," he said calmly, "that was my true self. The self I barely show."
Tatsuki looked down while running beside him, her brows furrowing.
"You looked… I don't know how to explain it," she muttered. "Cold. And… heartless."
Shinichi sighed quietly.
"Yeah…" he replied. "I'm sorry. I… don't know what got over me."
Tatsuki glanced at him again, something heavy settling in her chest. A question lingered in her mind.
'Just what had Shinichi gone through before meeting us… that something like that exists inside him?'
But there was no time to dwell on it.
They kept moving until faint light appeared ahead of them, pouring down through a ladder shaft leading to the surface.
Shinichi slowed slightly and gestured forward.
"Well… after you."
Tatsuki climbed first, quickly scaling the ladder. She pushed the sewer lid open just enough to peek outside, scanning the surroundings carefully.
After a moment she gave a thumbs up.
Shinichi followed, emerging into the open air as Tatsuki brushed dust from her clothes.
"So," she said, exhaling, "what's the plan?"
Shinichi opened his mouth.
"Well—"
A thunderous announcement suddenly boomed across the Seireitei.
"EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT! CAPTAIN AIZEN SOSUKE HAS BEEN MURDERED! I REPEAT! CAPTAIN AIZEN SOSUKE OF THE FIFTH DIVISION HAS BEEN MURDERED!"
Tatsuki froze.
"…What?"
She blinked, stunned.
"I don't think any of us would do that… right? Shinichi?"
She turned toward him.
His face had changed.
There was no confusion in his eyes. Only sharp determination, as if he knew exactly what was happening.
"Shini—"
Her words died instantly.
A crushing spiritual pressure slammed down on them.
The air itself seemed to buckle.
Tatsuki's legs gave out as she dropped to her knees, gasping. Shinichi staggered but forced himself upright, muscles trembling under the oppressive weight.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Each step cracked the stone beneath them.
A massive silhouette emerged from the shadows.
Towering, broad-shouldered, draped in a captain's haori. His body was enormous, almost monstrous in size. His face resembled that of a wolf or dog, with sharp fangs and thick fur framing powerful jaws. His armor-like presence radiated disciplined brutality.
It was Sajin Komamura.
Shinichi's eyes widened slightly.
"Tch… great."
He glanced at Tatsuki.
"Get out of here. I'll handle him."
Without a word, Komamura slowly drew his Zanpakutō.
Tenken gleamed coldly in his massive hand.
Shinichi stepped forward to intercept—
But suddenly he felt something grip his hand tightly.
It was Tatsuki.
She was slowly rising to her feet despite the crushing reiatsu.
"No," she said quietly. "I'll handle him."
Her voice trembled from the pressure but her eyes burned fiercely.
"You should go. Your survival is more important."
She tightened her grip on his wrist.
"She… is waiting for you, Shinichi."
Shinichi looked into her eyes.
The determination burning there was undeniable.
He sighed softly.
"…Good luck."
Then he turned and began sprinting.
The moment Shinichi covered some distance,
Komamura moved.
In a blur of motion, the giant captain appeared directly in Shinichi's path, Tenken already swinging downward toward his head.
The blade howled through the air.
But before it could land,
CLANG!
A blur of golden sparks exploded as vicious claws intercepted the strike. Tatsuki slammed into Komamura's sword mid-swing, her claws locking against the blade with feral strength.
The impact detonated like thunder.
Shockwaves blasted outward as stone beneath their feet cracked open. Tatsuki's claws screeched against Tenken's steel as she forced the blade sideways with sheer willpower.
Her golden slit eyes flicked backward.
"GO NOW!" she roared.
Shinichi nodded once.
'Alright… it's full throttle now.'
His body exploded forward into a sprint so fast it barely looked human.
Wind tore past him as he vanished down the path.
But after covering some distance,
He stopped.
Shinichi pivoted sharply.
'Their fight must be over by now…'
I have to go.
Without hesitation, he turned and launched himself toward the place where Ichigo and Renji had been fighting, moving at full speed through the Seireitei.
---
Nearly twenty minutes later, Shinichi finally reached the site where Ichigo and Renji had fought.
It had taken longer than expected. This time he hadn't used the sewer shortcuts, forcing him to cross open sections of the Seireitei while avoiding patrols. By the time he arrived, the area had fallen eerily quiet.
Broken stone littered the ground.
Deep gouges from Zanpakutō strikes carved through the pavement. The aftermath of a fierce battle still hung in the air like a fading echo of violence.
In the middle of the ruined street lay Renji Abarai.
He was still conscious.
Barely.
Renji's chest rose and fell unevenly as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His eyes shifted when he heard approaching footsteps.
Shinichi.
He was walking slowly toward him.
Each step deliberate. Each movement calm. From Renji's position on the ground, the approach felt strangely menacing, like watching a shadow advance.
Shinichi stopped once he stood directly over him.
Renji coughed weakly and looked up.
"Oh… Kisaragi…" he rasped. "Good… you're here… please… help Ichigo save Ru—"
The sentence never finished.
WHAM.
Shinichi's foot crashed into Renji's face with brutal force.
The impact snapped Renji's head sideways like he'd been struck by a speeding truck. His body skidded across the pavement before collapsing completely still.
Unconscious.
Shinichi didn't say a word.
He simply raised his hand slowly toward Renji's body.
His voice came out quiet. Calm.
But cold enough to freeze the air.
"Predation."
The ground beneath Renji trembled faintly.
From Renji's chest, dark tendrils began to seep outward like shadows leaking from his body. They writhed slowly at first before surging forward, twisting through the air until they wrapped themselves around Shinichi's forearm.
The black strands tightened like living chains.
Then they slithered upward and sank into Shinichi's chest.
A violent surge of power rushed through him.
Reiatsu flooded his body like a tidal wave, muscles tightening as new strength forced its way into his veins. The air around him distorted slightly as the absorption completed.
A familiar blue screen flickered before his eyes.
[Predation Successful]
New strength settled into his limbs.
Shinichi exhaled slowly.
His gaze lifted toward the distant tower of Sōkyoku Hill once again.
"…Almost there."
---
The courtyard was too quiet.
Broken tiles from previous skirmishes scattered across the white stone ground. The sky above Seireitei felt distant, cold.
And in the center—
Captain Sajin Komamura.
Towering. Armored. Immovable.
His massive sword rested against his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
Across from him, claws extended, breath steady—
Tatsuki Arisawa.
Her golden slit pupils reflected his enormous frame.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
Komamura spoke first, voice deep and calm.
"You are not a Shinigami."
"No," Tatsuki replied, rolling her neck slowly. "But I'm not prey either."
A pause.
Then—
He vanished.
Tatsuki reacted instantly.
Her body twisted as the massive blade descended—
BOOM.
The ground where she had stood split apart, a crater forming from the sheer weight of the strike.
She countered immediately, launching forward with feral speed, claws aiming for the gaps in his armor.
Her strike connected—
Metal screeched.
But it barely scratched.
Komamura didn't even flinch.
"…Too shallow."
His free hand moved.
Tatsuki didn't even see it.
A massive armored fist slammed into her midsection.
The sound was sickening.
Air exploded from her lungs as she was launched across the courtyard, smashing through a stone pillar. Debris rained down around her.
She hit the ground hard.
Didn't stay down.
Coughed blood.
Stood up.
Good.
Komamura watched her carefully.
"You have courage."
Tatsuki wiped her mouth.
"Shut up… and fight."
She burst forward again.
This time faster.
Claws blurred. Multiple strikes. Targeting joints. Neck. Vision.
Her movements were sharp, controlled—far better than before.
She slashed across his arm.
A shallow cut.
Finally.
But Komamura responded immediately.
His blade swung upward—
Tatsuki blocked with crossed claws.
The impact shattered the stone beneath her feet.
Her arms trembled violently.
Then—
CRACK.
The sheer force overwhelmed her guard.
She was sent airborne.
Komamura followed instantly.
He didn't let her breathe.
His blade struck her midair, not cutting—
Blunt impact.
It felt like being hit by a collapsing building.
Her body folded around the strike.
She crashed down into the courtyard, bouncing once before rolling lifelessly across broken tiles.
Dust filled the air.
Silence.
She Stands Again
A low growl.
Tatsuki pushed herself up on shaking arms.
Blood dripped from her mouth.
One eye swelling.
Her ribs screamed every time she inhaled.
But she stood.
Komamura's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You continue to rise."
"Yeah," she rasped. "That's kinda my thing."
She roared—
A powerful, stunning shockwave burst outward from her throat.
The air rippled.
The sound hit Komamura directly.
He paused—
For half a second.
Tatsuki seized it.
She vanished.
Reappeared above him.
Both claws came down at his neck—
Komamura moved.
His massive hand caught her by the throat mid-strike.
The roar died instantly.
Her eyes widened.
"…You rely too much on speed," he said calmly.
Then he slammed her into the ground.
The impact cratered the courtyard.
Stone fractured outward in spiderweb patterns.
Tatsuki's body twitched under the pressure.
Before she could recover—
He lifted her again and hurled her through another wall.
She disappeared into debris.
She crawled out.
Barely.
One claw dragging against stone.
Her transformation flickered slightly—fur receding and returning.
Komamura approached slowly.
No rush.
No anger.
Just overwhelming presence.
"You are strong… for a human."
He stopped a few steps away.
"But you are not prepared to stand before a captain."
Tatsuki tried to lunge.
Her body didn't respond.
Her legs buckled.
Komamura appeared in front of her instantly.
His blade rose.
The flat side of it crashed against her side.
The sound of cracking ribs echoed.
She flew again.
This time she didn't get up immediately.
Blood pooled beneath her.
Her breathing shallow.
Vision blurry.
Her claws trembled against the stone.
Still trying to rise.
Still.
Trying.
Komamura stood over her now.
Massive.
Unavoidable.
His shadow swallowed her completely.
"You fight for someone," he said quietly.
Tatsuki coughed blood.
"…Yeah."
"Then you should have stayed behind."
His blade lifted high.
High enough to end it.
Tatsuki's golden eyes flickered—
Not fear.
Frustration.
Rage.
Helplessness.
Her fingers dug into stone.
Her body wouldn't move.
Her vision began to darken at the edges.
The sword began to fall—
And just as the steel cut downward—
Her inner world trembled.
Far away—
Through fog—
Two massive green eyes opened.
And something growled.
To be continued.