Chapter 52: Lieutenant Rangiku — The Group Reaches Their Destination
Narrator POV
Location: Tenth Division Captain's Office
—Ahh, now that the captain isn't here, I can finally relax a little… Being this beautiful is sooo exhausting. —She sighed dramatically as she dropped onto a cushion, stretching as though she had been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
The speaker was a woman with long wavy blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and full lips adorned with a playful beauty mark at the right corner. Her figure was impossible to ignore—and she knew it.
She wore the traditional Shinigami shihakushō, though she let it hang loosely, not caring that it revealed her cleavage. A pink scarf draped around her shoulders, and a thin golden necklace peeked out from between her bust.
—I hope you're done with the paperwork you were supposed to complete, Rangiku. —The cold voice came from the doorway.
Making the lieutenant jump, causing her chest to bounce noticeably along with her.
Rangiku turned slowly, awkwardly trying to hide a bottle of sake behind her back as sweat formed on her forehead. She forced a guilty smile.
—C-Captain Tōshirō… How did the meeting go?. —She glanced at the stack of documents she had clearly not touched.
"Don't change the subject. I asked you a question, Rangiku." Tōshirō crossed his arms, scowl deepening, clearly not in the mood for excuses.
"Uh… of course I finished the paperwork. That's why I decided to take a small break… to celebrate my efficiency." Rangiku smiled nervously, trying to sound convincing.
"Then I assume that mountain of papers behind the desk is just an optical illusion." Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes with icy calm. He didn't even need to check; he already knew they were untouched.
Rangiku let out an awkward laugh, scratching her neck as she desperately searched for an excuse that didn't exist.
"Ummm… maybe?" she answered with a shaky smile, neither confirming nor denying, while subtly trying to push the sake bottle even farther away.
Hitsugaya breathed out a long sigh. As much as he wanted to scold her like usual, there were more pressing matters than his lieutenant's chronic laziness.
"This has gotten more serious, Rangiku. The Ryoka didn't just fight Captain Gin…" Matsumoto instantly looked up at the mention of Gin's name, paying full attention. "He left him with a wound that still hurts, even hours after the fight. That Ryoka… can damage the soul."
Rangiku fell silent, surprised. Damage the soul? He had injured Gin's soul? She was about to ask, but Tōshirō continued before she could open her mouth.
—Captain Unohana said it's not severe. We're Shinigami, Rangiku—our souls can heal over time. Gin is surely fine by now. —He spoke while taking his seat behind his desk, sorting through some documents. Rangiku, now more serious, nodded slowly.
—Listen carefully. That Ryoka also faced Byakuya in the Human World… and according to Captain Kuchiki himself, he defeated Renji with just a few hits.
Rangiku's expression grew thoughtful. Two captains involved… and a lieutenant defeated with ease? This no longer sounded like simple intruders.
—Two captains and a lieutenant… —she murmured, brows slightly furrowed as she processed the weight of the information. Then after a brief pause, she asked casually: —And is the Ryoka handsome?.
An uncomfortable silence swallowed the room.
Hitsugaya closed his eyes tightly, a vein throbbing in his forehead.
"…" He clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to yell. "The Captain-Commander has authorized us to use our Zanpakutō against the Ryoka."
"And how are we supposed to recognize him?" Rangiku asked, raising a brow. She was visibly intrigued. "There are several intruders, right?"
Tōshirō clicked his tongue with annoyance.
He hated having to repeat the description Gin had given—especially because he found it ridiculous.
And the worst part was that knowing Rangiku, it wouldn't be surprising if during one of her "escapes," she accidentally ran into the Ryoka…
And the very last thing he needed was to see her flirting with an enemy.
—This was the description Ichimaru gave… —He paused briefly, resigned. —Tall, black hair with bangs almost covering his eyes, sharp blue eyes, wearing all black and He swallowed with disgust before finishing, and… very handsome.
The last part came out begrudgingly— And just as he feared, Rangiku immediately grinned with malicious delight.
—He sounds like a mysterious type… I like him. —She spoke playfully, crossing her arms, clearly entertained by the mental image she was forming.
Tōshirō sighed in frustration, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Fine. Now that you know… finish the paperwork you should've turned in TWO hours ago!"
—Oh, captain… always so bossy~ —Rangiku replied in a teasing tone as she walked away slowly, with absolutely no intention of hurrying.
Little by little, every captain began warning their divisions and lieutenants about the potential danger posed by one of the Ryoka. Not even a full day had passed, and Akira was already gaining both fear and fame among the Shinigami.
…
…
…
…
The next day…
They walked for a good while under the scorching sun of the Rukongai, crossing alleys and paths that seemed to lead nowhere. Ichigo, clearly frustrated, sighed as he rested his hands behind his head.
—Are you sure we're going the right way? We've been looking for this Kūkaku's house for like an hour… I'm starting to think you made her up so we'd stop asking.
—Relax. The moment you see it, you'll know we've arrived. —Yoruichi replied confidently, stepping ahead. —In fact, there it is.
Everyone looked up. Ichigo and Uryū froze.
Their eyes widened. Their mouths fell open. The sight before them said it all.
Yoruichi simply looked back at them.
—See? I told you it was impossible not to recognize it.
Ichigo: What the… What the hell is THAT?.
—Is this supposed to be a house? It looks more like a tasteless joke. It's utterly embarrassing. —Uryū adjusted his glasses as if trying to confirm they weren't experiencing a group hallucination.
They weren't.
The structure was, technically, a traditional Rukongai house… But the real attraction was the two colossal concrete arms extending from the sides, raised toward the sky with clenched fists, holding a massive waving banner with huge letters reading:
'KŪKAKU SHIBA'.
—Is this supposed to be abstract art…? —Akira asked with a raised brow, analyzing the scene. —Or some sort of visual threat?.
—Wooow! It's so original!. —Orihime exclaimed excitedly, clasping her hands with sparkling eyes. —I love it!.
Everyone turned to look at her. Out of the entire group, she was the only one genuinely fascinated by the spectacle. Akira snapped his fingers, smiling with a mix of resignation and amusement.
—Now I understand… With a house like this, I'd also live in the middle of nowhere. That way no one could witness this architectural madness.
—Quit complaining and let's go. —Yoruichi ordered without stopping, heading toward the entrance with firm steps.
—Don't even think about telling anyone you saw me walk into that thing. —Ichigo pointed at both Akira and Uryū with a grave expression. —This stays a secret… forever.
—You don't need to worry. —Uryū replied in his usual neutral tone—though his glasses reflected the sunlight, hiding his eyes and probably his wounded pride. —After all… I have to go in as well.
—A secret we'll take to the grave. —Akira added solemnly as he began walking after them.
In truth, he didn't even need Kūkaku's help to get into the Seireitei… But since he was already here, why not?
—…Damn it. —Ichigo muttered with annoyance as he gritted his teeth and reluctantly headed toward the entrance as well.
---
End of the chapter.