Ichigo finally let out a long, satisfied sigh, resting his forehead against Rukia's back as he caught his breath. Her body was still trembling beneath him, her hands gripping the back of the bench for support.
"Damn…" he muttered, pulling out slowly, watching a mix of their fluids drip down her thighs.
Rukia let out a breathless laugh, still bent over. "That's twice… in a public park."
Ichigo smirked, reaching down to tug her panties back up gently, helping her straighten her uniform with surprising care. "Don't act like you didn't enjoy every second."
She turned her head just enough to look at him over her shoulder, her cheeks flushed, eyes gleaming. "I didn't say I didn't…"
He grinned and pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "So what now? Should we go back home?"
"Of course," she replied, smirking. "No one needs to know I got folded on a bench like a common street girl."
Ichigo snorted. "You didn't just get folded, Rukia. You were begging."
She elbowed him lightly in the ribs, but couldn't hide her grin. "And you were holding back moans like a teenager."
"Hey," he said, tugging her closer, "I'm proud of my performance. A+."
"I'll give you a B," she teased, adjusting her collar. "Points off for almost making me scream loud enough to blow our cover."
Ichigo leaned down, lips brushing her ear. "Then next time, I'll try to make you scream."
Her heart fluttered. "Bold of you to assume there'll be a next time."
"Oh, there will be." He cupped her chin and kissed her softly—less lust, more intimacy. "You didn't think I'd stop at just one detour, did you?"
Rukia kissed him back with a smile, then pulled away. "Let's go before you get any more ideas."
As they stepped out of the park—her straightening her uniform, him tucking himself away—they passed a young couple laughing under the lamplight.
Neither could see Ichigo or Rukia.
But if they could, they might've wondered why the air behind them felt so charged.
Rukia glanced at Ichigo as they walked.
"…Next time," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind, "you better warn me before going that deep again."
Ichigo smirked.
"No promises."
...
The next day, everyone was gathered in Orihime's living room as Head Captain Yamamoto addressed them. The atmosphere was tense.
Ichigo lounged back on the couch, arms behind his head, gaze distant. He already had an idea of what was coming, but his mind was elsewhere.
'I got my Hollow powers back when I fought Zangetsu. I kinda want to test them out again—see what they can really do in the real world. But that's way too flashy. Hueco Mundo... that'll do.' He smirked to himself as he turned his eyes toward Rangiku, who caught his look and winked at him.
'This is gonna be fun. But first, I need to wrap things up with Tatsuki... before I head out.'
Yamamoto's voice cut through the room. "We've discovered Sōsuke Aizen's true objective."
The room froze. Eyes widened.
"His true objective?" Toshiro echoed, brows furrowing.
Yamamoto gave a slow nod. "Indeed. It's been one month since Aizen escaped. In that time, we've begun investigating several sensitive areas—Captain Aizen's quarters, the underground chamber of the Central 46, the Seijōtōkyorin, and the Daireishokairō Great Archive. These are highly restricted areas, known to few even among the captains. But during his search of the Great Archive, Ukitake uncovered something... unusual."
The room stayed silent as Yamamoto continued.
"Certain documents related to the Hōgyoku had been accessed just before Aizen's betrayal. But more concerning—two days prior to his disappearance, a body of literature completely unrelated to the Hōgyoku was also reviewed."
Rukia leaned forward. "What kind of literature?"
"The Ōken."
At the mention of the name, the air in the room turned heavy. Even the light from the windows seemed to dim.
Orihime tilted her head. "Ōken?"
Rangiku stepped in gently. "It's the Royal Key. The Soul Society has a royal family, though they stay out of our affairs. Most of us have never even seen them. The Soul King—Reiō—is the one at the top. A symbolic figure, but also... revered. The Royal Palace exists in a completely separate dimension, guarded by the Royal Guard. The Ōken is the only way to open the gate to that realm."
Ichigo frowned. "So what? What does Aizen want with all this? Spare us the history lesson."
Rukia nudged him sharply in the ribs. He didn't even flinch.
Yamamoto's voice was steady. "He intends to kill the Soul King. That, I believe, is his ultimate purpose. However... it is not the immediate threat. He doesn't know the location of the real Ōken. Only the Captain-Generals of each era know, and that knowledge has been passed down in secrecy."
Renji stepped forward, fists clenched. "Then... he's going to make his own."
"Yes," Yamamoto said grimly, "but it's not that simple. To forge a new Ōken, Aizen needs two things—one hundred thousand souls... and a Jūreichi."
"A what?" Orihime asked.
"A concentrated spiritual zone," Yamamoto explained. "Roughly two reiri in diameter. It's a spiritually charged point in the World of the Living—a magnet for spirits. And unfortunately, this time... that location is Karakura Town."
Gasps rippled through the room.
"But do not worry," he continued. "That's precisely why the Thirteen Court Guard Companies exist. We've already begun preparations. According to Captain Kurotsuchi, the Hōgyoku is currently dormant. After being extracted from a soul, it requires time to fully awaken. We estimate it will take four full months. Until then, Aizen cannot begin his invasion."
His eyes scanned the room. "The battle will come in winter. Until then—sharpen your skills, train hard, and prepare for war."
The Soul Reapers stood tall. "Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.
All except Ichigo, of course.
Once the meeting ended, Ichigo quietly walked out with Orihime.
"How's Tsubaki?" he asked.
She frowned a little. "Still not fully healed. It's slowing down my training."
Ichigo glanced at her, thoughtful. "I might know someone who can help with that. Come on—follow me."
Orihime nodded, trusting, as she stepped into stride beside him.
'Well... it was bound to happen sooner or later,' Ichigo thought, already planning his next move.
TO BE CONTINUED