"Brother..."
Kuchiki Aoba flinched and turned with an awkward smile.
Standing behind her was her older brother—Kuchiki Sōjun.
"You walk without a sound! You nearly scared me to death!" she said, trying to keep calm and act natural.
"You've been slacking off a bit in your training lately. Be careful not to slip up when Father reviews you," Sōjun said gently.
It was obvious to him she'd just come back from sneaking out. But he didn't press her—he assumed she'd simply gone out to play.
Sōjun had once been young too. As long as it didn't interfere with her training, he was willing to turn a blind eye.
"Mhm!" Aoba nodded quickly, relieved it was her brother who caught her. If it had been their father, things would've gone much worse—he would've interrogated her on the spot.
"I'm going back to my room!" she added, trying to flee before the situation escalated. Her clothes were still the ones she wore outside.
"Wait... I'm not finished talking..."
Sōjun reached out and caught her hand. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a silver bracelet on her wrist—decorated with the symbol of paired winged birds.
"What is it?" Aoba noticed his stare and quickly pulled her sleeve over it.
Her reaction caused Sōjun's face to darken.
His precious little sister… was in love with someone.
"Aoba... don't forget your engagement."
"I... I know..."
Her face turned pale.
Urahara Kisuke had been keeping secrets from her—but she had secrets of her own.
She was already engaged.
Her father had long chosen a suitable husband for her.
Next year, she would enter the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, and after graduating, she was to be married.
"You've been sneaking out to meet him, haven't you? Who is he?"
"I don't know! Stop asking!" Aoba wrenched her hand free and ran.
"Who the hell is it?!" Sōjun clenched his fist, his calm expression flaring red.
His hand unconsciously reached for his Zanpakutō. Had Urahara been here, he might have drawn it on the spot.
After cooling down, Sōjun felt a pang of regret. Ever since becoming Captain, his duties had kept him so busy that he hadn't spoken much with his sister.
"I have to get to the bottom of this."
It wasn't jealousy—it was about the honor of their house.
Aoba was already engaged. There was no justification for a broken betrothal.
Sōjun hurried after her.
By the time he reached her room, Aoba had already shut herself inside. She was flustered, trying to compose herself.
"Who is he?" Sōjun demanded. "You know you can't keep this hidden forever!"
"...It's Urahara Kisuke. He's the Vice-Captain of Squad Twelve. He's so smart… and kind… and just… amazing!"
For once, Aoba was trying to be strategic—building up a favorable image of Urahara to her brother, hoping to win him over.
But the more she praised him, the darker Sōjun's face became.
She had never complimented another man like this before—not in front of him.
He knew of Urahara—scruffy, eccentric, unkempt.
"You're to break all ties with him. As far as we're concerned, nothing happened."
"No!" Aoba couldn't accept that. "I... I want to cancel the engagement!"
Her face paled again. She knew how difficult that would be.
The Kuchiki Clan was known throughout the Soul Society for its rigid tradition and discipline. She had no power to cancel a betrothal set by her father, brother, and elders.
"Absolutely not," Sōjun said flatly.
Even though she and her fiancé had barely met and felt nothing for each other, the engagement had been formalized. Her fiancé had even taken the Kuchiki name—he was part of their family registry now.
There was no way out.
"Starting today, you won't be going anywhere," Sōjun said coldly as he turned to leave. "I'll have the servants keep watch. You won't get another chance to meet your… stray dog."
That night, Squad Twelve barracks.
Urahara Kisuke was jolted awake by the buzzing of his Hell Butterfly Communicator.
"Who the hell is it… disturbing a man's dreams in the middle of the night?" he grumbled, reaching groggily for the device. "Let me guess—the Captain's had another one of his 'genius' midnight breakthroughs?"
"It is the Captain."
He groaned aloud.
"It's the middle of the night!"
Still, he activated the communicator.
"My beloved Captain, surely your subordinates deserve a few hours of personal time—"
"I don't think you're going to get personal time again. You've just been put on a wanted list by Squad Six," came Nanatsuki's voice.
"WHAT?!"
Urahara bolted upright. Sleep vanished like a ghost.
A Squad Six warrant? That could mean a lot of things—and none of them good.
Cold sweat began to form.
"My dear Vice-Captain, what kind of man dares lay hands on the Captain of Squad Six's little sister?"
"Captain... we're truly in love! Help me out here!"
He realized the game was up—there was no hiding now. His thoughts raced as he clung to the only lifeline he had.
"...Really?"
"Really!" Urahara declared with total conviction.
"...Fine. You've helped me plenty. I'll help you escape the Soul Society."
"Huh? You're the Captain of Squad Twelve—you can't solve this?"
"If it were just a romance with the Kuchiki heiress, maybe. But this goes far beyond that."
"You… you know?"
"Of course I know."
Nanatsuki's tone was serious now.
"Someone from the Kuchiki Clan came to me personally. They're demanding your head. Akon is already leading them toward the barracks. If I were you, I'd start packing—now.
Akon will stall them—he can probably buy you a few minutes.
Leave through the back exit. Avoid confrontation.
And don't even think about using a Senkaimon. Squad Six has already requested a full lockdown from the Department of Technology.
Head straight for Seiryu Gate. I've sent a disciple to rendezvous with you there."
"...Got it. Thank you, Captain. And please, thank Akon for me too!"
Urahara cut the transmission.
His head was spinning—but there was no time to freeze.
He packed swiftly and fled through the rear gate.
At Seiryu Gate, two people were waiting.
Aizen Sōsuke and Kuchiki Aoba.