Konsō Ceremony

The rain never stopped.

On the ruins of Sōkyoku Hill, the members of the Gotei 13 braved the rain to clean up the mess left by the battle, carrying away the broken stone slabs one by one and replacing them with new ones.

No one spoke in the rain.

Fon Shaoling stood in the center of the execution platform, rainwater streaming down her Captain's Haori, soaking through her inner Shihakusho.

She had been standing here for a whole day. After the battle ended, she led the Second Division to turn Sōkyoku Hill upside down.

"Captain." Marechiyo Ōmaeda walked up behind her, his belly noticeably smaller than before, his eyes dark-rimmed, and his voice hoarse. "We've searched every area of Sōkyoku Hill —cliffs, dense forests, crevices, ruins—everywhere a person could hide has been searched."

Fon Shaoling didn't turn around. "Search again."

"Team leader--"

"I said, search it again."

Marechiyo Ōmaeda watched her rain-soaked back, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched her sleeve. He didn't try to persuade her further. He simply turned around, waved to the team members behind him, and they silently dispersed, disappearing back into the rain.

On the first day, the Second Division searched the Sōkyoku Hill.

The next day, the search area was expanded to the entire Seireitei region.

On the third day, Marechiyo Ōmaeda led the Patrol Corps to knock on every door in every room around the Seireitei, and even the guards of the Maggot's Nest were temporarily requisitioned.

However, they found nothing.

Only Jiku'a remained, stuck in the very center of the execution platform, its blade gleaming with a faint, eerie blue light under the rain, like a silent tombstone.

Three days after the battle ended, the Captains' Meeting was held again on the morning of the following day.

Unlike usual, the list of attendees included many more names: all the team Lieutenant were summoned, Yoruichi Shihōin was present, the Ryoka group was also invited, and even Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi were there.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai sat in the main seat, his hands folded as he leaned on his cane. His gaze slowly swept across the faces of everyone present, his deep, well-like pupils holding a heavy scrutiny.

The conference room was so quiet that only the sound of rain outside the window could be heard.

Fon Shaoling stood in the position of Second Division Captain. Even though her Captain's Haori was neatly worn and her hair was tied up in a neat knot, everyone could see the dark circles under her eyes and the bloodshot veins in her golden eyes that she couldn't hide.

"The purpose of this Captains' Meeting is to announce the final results of the previous battle," Captain-Commander Yamamoto's voice broke the silence in the room.

"First, we have identified Sōsuke Aizen, former Fifth Division Captain; Gin Ichimaru, former Third Division Captain; Kaname Tōsen, former Captain of the Ninth Division, as the masterminds and accomplices of this rebellion."

The three are now listed as the highest-ranking wanted criminals in Soul Society, Gotei 13 will form a task force to hunt them down at all costs!

"Yes!"

After hearing the captains' responses, Captain-Commander Yamamoto continued:

"Rukia Kuchiki's death sentence is immediately rescinded! After a further investigation by the Second Division, although her act of lending her Soul Reaper powers to a human was a violation of regulations, considering the special circumstances at the time and Aizen's involvement, she will not be prosecuted."

As for the group of Ryoka — Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Orihime Inoue, Ganju Shiba —given their support for Soul Society in the battle against Aizen, the Gotei 13 has decided not to pursue charges against them for trespassing in the Seireitei and causing damage.

Ichigo sat in the invited seat, his right shoulder still wrapped in bandages. When he heard his name called, his fingers tightened slightly on his knee, but he didn't say anything.

"Furthermore," Captain-Commander Yamamoto turned his gaze to Kisuke Urahara, who was standing by the side door, "After a comprehensive review of the archives left by the Central 46, the accusations against former Twelfth Division Kisuke Urahara from a hundred years ago have been confirmed as fabrications by Sōsuke Aizen. The expulsion order against Kisuke Urahara is hereby officially rescinded, and he is completely exonerated. Effective immediately, his entry and exit from Soul Society will no longer be restricted."

Urahara bowed slightly, the brim of his hat obscuring his eyes.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto paused for a moment, then announced, "Next, we will announce the list of those who died in this battle."

Fon Shaoling's body tensed slightly.

The list of those who died in this battle is as follows:

Members of the Central 46...

And Yexing Hu, a member of the Second Division's Patrol Corps.

The total number is forty-seven.

"He's not dead..." Fon Shaoling's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the conference hall heard it, Captain-Commander Yamamoto looked over.

She raised her head, her golden eyes unwavering, only displaying an almost obsessive determination. "Hu is not dead. He told me himself—he said this is only a temporary separation, and he will definitely come back."

He never breaks his promise to me!

The captains present remained silent. Kyōraku pulled his straw hat down further, and Ukitake lowered his eyelashes. A hint of reluctance flashed in Komamura's beast-like eyes, and Byakuya's fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeve.

The room fell silent again, with only the sound of rain remaining.

"Soi Fon..." Captain-Commander Yamamoto tapped his cane lightly on the ground. His eyes, weathered by a thousand years of time, held no reproach, only the heaviness of someone who had also experienced countless losses.

"In these thousand years, I have watched countless disciples leave this gate. Some went to the World of the Living, some to the Hueco Mundo."

He paused, and slightly rotated his cane in his hand.

"They all said they would come back—but in the end, some of them never did."

Fon Shaoling's fingers clenched tightly on her knees, her nails digging into her palms. "Amber... Amber is different, he's special..."

"Nothing's different. Over the years, haven't I had no shortage of geniuses among my students?" Captain-Commander Yamamoto's pupils seemed to reflect countless familiar faces, all of whom were no longer there...

The Captain-Commander slowly reached out his hand, as if wanting to touch the students once more. "At a time like this, what we should do is not deny their passing."

The Captain-Commander clenched his outstretched hand tightly, "Instead, I will hold them firmly in my own hands! I will remember them. Carrying their memories, I will continue on my journey."

He raised his eyes, and in those pupils, weathered by a thousand years of time, was reflected the slightly trembling figure of Fon Shaoling.

"Soi Fon, you and the Second Division have crossed the line. As the Second Division Captain, you can't keep dwelling on the past."

In the past three days, Second Division, you've turned the Seireitei upside down, investigated every member of the Gotei 13, and even started investigating the Four Great Noble Clans.

I know what you're looking for, but some things can't be found by searching every corner.

Fon Shaoling didn't answer; she just lowered her head, her hands clenched so tightly they turned white.

After staring at her for a long time, Captain-Commander Yamamoto sighed, his voice regaining its usual sternness. "I have decided to hold Konsō Ceremony for Yexing Hu."

Fon Shaoling suddenly raised her head.

"The Konsō Ceremony is the highest tribute the Soul Society pays to the heroic Soul Reaper died in battle. It is a funeral procession that only captains can enjoy." Captain-Commander Yamamoto scanned everyone present. "All Lieutenant, immediately after this meeting, head to the World of the Living and capture sufficiently powerful Hollows as sacrifices."

The formal Konsō Ceremony will be held tomorrow at Sōkyoku Hill.

His gaze finally settled on Fon Shaoling: "Soi Fon, you'll be in charge of the speech."

Fon Shaoling bowed slightly, her movements mechanical, like someone whose strength had been drained.

"Yes."

After the meeting was adjourned, news of Aizen's group's betrayal and the confirmation of Yexing Hu's death spread throughout the Seireitei and the Shin'ō Academy almost simultaneously.

Shimizu heard the news in the corridor; he had just finished his Kidō class and was still holding his textbook in his arms.

The message still echoed in his mind, "Yexing Hu... died in the line of duty... tomorrow... Konsō Ceremony..."

The textbook slipped from his arms and scattered on the stone floor of the corridor, the pages rustling in the breeze.

The next day, on the Sōkyoku Hill

The rain was still falling, a fine, dense, cold rain, like countless needles hanging from the sky, hitting the stone slabs and everyone's face.

The Jiku'a stood silently where the Sōkyoku had once stood, its eerie blue light flickering in the rain. The place that had once been the execution ground for the Sōkyoku had now become a natural place of remembrance.

In addition to the captain and Lieutenant, members and friends who were close to Amber were also invited to this Konsō Ceremony. Sakiro and Tessai stood in the invited seats, Xitang stood silently in Ikkaku.

The group of Ryoka also arrived. Orihime Inoue clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes slightly red. Yasutora Sado remained silent as always. Ganju didn't make a sound, but simply pulled down his signature headscarf. The current atmosphere reminded him of his older brother Kaien. Uryū Ishida pushed up his glasses. Even though he was gradually losing his power, he was still the same as before.

Rukia stood at the front, and she looked at the group:

Where 'Ichigo?

Uryū pushed up his glasses. "I haven't seen Renji since I said I was going to find him last Renji."

Rukia had a guess. "That Ichigo, he wouldn't—"

Suddenly, a special Senkaimon, erected overnight, opened on Sōkyoku Hill, and the Lieutenant dragged the captured Hollows out from it.

Rangiku Matsumoto walked at the front, her blonde hair plastered to her cheeks by the rain. "Rangiku Matsumoto, the Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, has come to offer sacrifices on behalf of the Tenth Division."

Shūhei Shūhei Hisagi closely behind, his face as serious as ever. "Sasaki Shūhei, the Lieutenant and acting captain of the Ninth Division, has come to offer sacrifices on behalf of the Ninth Division."

And so, one by one, the Lieutenant dragged the phantoms they had captured from the World of the Living out of the Senkaimon.

After all the Lieutenant walked out of the Senkaimon, the gate remained open.

"Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo Kurosaki!"

Ichigo, carrying Zangetsu, emerged from the doorway. He was soaked to the bone, his orange hair plastered to his forehead, and faint traces of blood seeped from the bandage on his right shoulder. A Hollow, filled with terror and begging for mercy, was bound to the back of Zangetsu. Ichigo dragged him out like this. "I've brought a sacrificial offering, representing Amber's friends in the World of the Living to pay my respects!"

"Ichigo! What's wrong with you...?" Rukia walked over.

Ichigo slammed Zangetsu to the ground and wiped the rain from his face. "I went back to the World of the Living with Renji and the Renji. Urahara- san and Yoruichi- san helped us find a Hollow formed from the fallen soul of a murderer in the World of the Living."

He pointed to the bound Hollow behind him, "Although I don't know what the Soul Society's criteria are for selecting Hollows, I remember that Amber hates scum. If I cut this guy down in front of him, he'll be happy. I hope to send him off with this."

However, after Ichigo came out, the Senkaimon was still not closed.

"The Shin'ō Academy! Hachihachihara Kumayu, Rindou, and Shimizu, representing Amber, have come to offer sacrifices!"

With a loud but suppressed nasal female voice, three figures emerged from the doorway— Hachihachihara Kumayu, Rindō Yo, and Shimizu Shimizu, all dressed in somewhat tattered school uniforms, their eyes red and swollen.

The three of them worked together to drag a Hollow that was bound by Kidō. It turned out that after receiving the news yesterday, the three of them applied to the academy and, under the supervision of the Lieutenant, also captured a Hollow.

Fifteen sacrificial animals were neatly arranged before Jiku'a. Bound by various means, they knelt in the rain, announcing the imminent start of an ancient and solemn ritual.

Fon Shaoling slowly walked to the front of everyone. She stood in front of Jiku'a, her back to everyone, and remained silent for a long time before turning around to face the rain-soaked faces:

"Everyone standing here today knows Yexing Hu. I don't want to read a formal eulogy in my capacity as captain, because Hu has never been one to live by the rules of official documents."

She paused, a faint light gleaming in her golden eyes.

"When I met him, he was an unknown soul who had just come from the World of the Living. He wasn't very skilled, but he was incredibly brave. The Fist a group of villains outside Bamboo Creek Plain and saved me..."

"Later, he got a name, Yexing Hu. I gave it to him, and he also chose it himself..."

He chose 'Amber'—I thought to myself, this guy has big ambitions."

A very faint smile curved her lips, a smile that appeared somewhat blurred in the rain.

"From then on, he grew at an astonishing rate, from Shikai to Bankai, from the Shin'ō Academy to the Second Division."

He always felt he wasn't strong enough, but he didn't realize that he had already surpassed everyone else.

"He never breaks his promise to me! Whenever I needed him, he would be there for me, becoming my strength."

Her voice finally began to tremble, and the edges of her eyes started to redden.

But... he left first after all.

She took a deep breath, raised her head again, and everyone present saw it—this woman who had come through the battle had eyes so red they were almost bleeding.

Yours sincerely.

Fon Shaoling walked behind the offering of the Second Division:

"Sting All Enemies to Death! The Suzumebachi!"

The golden fingertips of the Suzumebachi gleamed coldly in the rain.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto glanced at it, drew Ryūjin Jakka from its sheath, and the flames leaping on the blade instantly evaporated the surrounding rain, creating a patch of the Heat steam in the rain.

Everyone else who came to offer their gifts, except for Kenpachi Zaraki, who was unable to unleash his Zanpakuto, Ichigo Kurosaki, who remained in his Shikai state, and Zanpakuto Mayuri Kurotsuchi not yet repaired, all Shikai their Zanpakuto.

Fifteen Zanpakuto of various shapes were raised simultaneously in the rain.

"Sacrifice!"

Fifteen Zanpakuto fell simultaneously, the Hollow's roar abruptly ceasing the moment the blades struck. Reishi fragments gushed forth from the bodies of the sacrifices, transforming into countless points of light in the rain. These points of light slowly rose, passing through the rain and clouds, and dissipating into the unknown sky.

And on an old tree at the edge of the platform at the top of Sōkyoku Hill.

A Raven stood on a branch, preening its wet feathers with its beak. The feathers displayed a gradient of Blue-Violet —transitioning from a deep blue at the base of its wings to a dark purple at the tips, with the edges of its tail feathers shimmering with a faint silver sheen. Its eyes were silver, and its beak was covered with dense, fine lines, like characters.

It tilted its head, watching the Konsō Ceremony taking place in the distance.

"That was a really lavish funeral."

Its voice carried a faint, almost mocking tone, completely out of place for its species.

"It's a pity that 'I'm not dead yet. And—" Its gaze fell on Fon Shaoling's retreating figure, a faint gentleness flashing in its silver pupils, "Fon Shaoling is crying very sadly."

It spread its wings, the patterns on both sides forming a "W" to shake off the rainwater from its feathers.

I need to piece "me" back together quickly. Damn it, why isn't the Blade of Power in my hand...?

Raven Rain muttered to himself, then spread his wings and flew into the rain, his Blue-Violet figure quickly disappearing into the gray sky.

After the Konsō Ceremony ended, everyone dispersed one after another. The captains, along with their respective Lieutenant, walked down the steps of Sōkyoku Hill and returned to their squads.

Only one person remained standing in the same spot.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, leaning on a cane transformed from Ryūjin Jakka, stood before Jiku'a. He had sent Chōjirō Sasakibe back to deal with the paperwork, leaving him alone on the execution platform.

The rain was still falling, pattering on the Captain-Commander's cane and the back of his bronze hands. He stood there, his back ramrod straight, like an ancient tree that had never been shaken by any storm in a thousand years.

Suddenly, he spoke.

"I can't believe you actually dared to come back."

His voice wasn't loud, but each word was like iron filings dug from the ruins of a thousand-year-old battlefield, crashing heavily into the rain.

"What does it feel like to kill your friend for your own selfish gain? Can you tell me, Gin Ichimaru?"

Puffs of steam rose from the Captain-Commander's Shihakusho —the traces of rainwater being evaporated by his suddenly rising body temperature. The intense Reiatsu emanating from him completely shut out the rain within several feet of him; every drop of rain that landed on the edge of his Reiatsu was instantly vaporized.

A figure dressed in a dark gray short robe, wearing a round hat, and with a white fox mask covering his face emerged from the shadows of the ruins behind Jiku'a and appeared behind Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

"Captain-Commander..." The man raised his hand and removed the fox mask, revealing the signature squinty eyes and fox-like smile beneath. "So you've so directly exposed my identity. I went to all this trouble to disguise myself."

Gin Ichimaru was dressed in an extremely unassuming dark gray short robe, the hem of which was damp with rain and mud.

His expression remained nonchalant, but the dark circles under his eyes and his thinner jawline betrayed him—he hadn't slept a wink for Aizen in the past three days.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto turned around, and a small, extremely bright flame floated from his body, exploding into the Heat spark in the rain, instantly evaporating the surrounding rainwater.

"Since you dare to show up," Captain-Commander Yamamoto's tone was calm to the point of being cold, "Then I'll leave you here now."

Yin raised her hand and opened her palm.

A small, dark golden ball lay in his palm. It was Still Water —the same structure as the one Cilian had given to the Captain-Commander, only this one was smaller and had a dimmer luster.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's pupils contracted slightly.

"This is Cilian's... Could it be... that you are Cilian's intelligence source? Then why didn't you cooperate with us to take down Aizen back then?"

"Captain-Commander, my purpose is not yet complete." Yin pulled Still Water back into his arms.

"So I can't let Aizen be killed in that situation, nor can I let him be captured. He has to live, he has to continue his plans—at least until I get what I want."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto frowned. He couldn't understand what could be more important than bringing a traitor who had slaughtered the Central 46 and manipulated the entire Gotei 13 to justice.

Seeing that the Captain-Commander still intended to take him down, Gin had no choice but to take out a neatly bound stack of documents from his pocket and present them to Captain-Commander Yamamoto with both hands.

"Captain-Commander, this is Aizen's information on his forces in Hueco Mundo. He created a new species called 'Arrancar' —high-level individuals transformed from Hollows who obtained Soul Reaper powers."

Each of them possesses combat power far exceeding that of ordinary Gillian, with the ten Arrancar at the top being designated as the 'Espada'.

There is much more detailed information, but if you detain me now, it will likely require much more bloodshed to obtain it.

Moreover, I believe Xiao Hu is not dead yet.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto took the data and opened the first page. It was filled with dense text and hand-drawn ability analysis diagrams, with each Arrancar's name, abilities, and fighting habits clearly marked.

"How can you be so sure that kid isn't dead?" He raised his eyes, and for the first time, a very subtle fluctuation appeared in his deep, still pupils.

"The Second Division searched tirelessly for three days without finding any trace of him. What makes you so sure?"

Yin put the fox mask back on his face; the fabric along the edges of the mask was wet from the rain and clung tightly to his skin.

"When I fought Xiao Hu, I left something inside his body. If he really died, that thing would lose its activity, but I can still feel it alive."

His gaze passed over Captain-Commander Yamamoto's shoulder and landed on the Jiku'a sticking out of the center of the execution platform.

"It's just strange that its location is scattered across five places. One of them is right there. Perhaps, Amber accidentally tore herself apart, but she's not dead yet."

Yin took a step back and put his hands back into his sleeves.

"I can't leave Aizen for too long. I originally wanted to sneak over to Captain Soi Fon, but you caught me red-handed. So I had no choice but to tell you."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto tapped his cane lightly on the ground. "Very well. For the sake of these documents and that Still Water, I'll believe you for now. As for what you said about that kid, I'll have someone secretly investigate."

Yin gave a slight bow, the smile on her lips remaining unchanged, "Then I won't disturb the Captain-Commander any longer."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the rain.

Second Division Captain's Office

Fon Shaoling sat by the window, holding a teacup in her hands, gazing at the continuous rain outside. The tea in the cup had long since gone cold, but she just held it without drinking it; it was tea that Hu had brought last time.

The office door was ajar, and the sound of rain filled the room. In the silence filled only by the sound of rain, a small dark shadow suddenly appeared on the windowsill.

It was a cat-like creature—slightly larger than a domestic cat, entirely black, its fur gleaming like liquid obsidian after being washed by the rain.

It struggled to climb up the windowsill, its wet paws gripping the window frame, its hind legs bracing against the wall, its whole body straining. From below, one could vaguely see red markings on its belly forming the letter "O".

After finally climbing up, it stood on the windowsill, shaking off the rainwater, which splashed onto the windowpane, making a crackling sound.

Fon Shaoling raised her head, and the cat also raised its head. The moment their eyes met, she saw a pair of silver pupils—the kind of silver that she knew all too well, as if it had been bathed in moonlight.

The black cat sat on the windowsill, tilting its head to look at her. The way it tilted its head was clumsy, the kind of clumsy way it would do when it didn't know how to respond to being stared at and could only tilt its head to divert attention.

Fon Shaoling stood up and walked to the window. She squatted down, reached out, and gently pressed her fingertips against the black cat's wet fur on its forehead. The black cat didn't flinch, but simply looked back at her quietly.

From that gaze, Fon Shaoling sensed a message; it was called Oren.

Bamboo Creek Plain, Qinghui Clothing Shop

The shop has been closed for the past two days. The four characters "Qinghui Clothing Shop" on the signboard are wet from the rain, and the wind chimes under the eaves sway gently in the wind, but they do not make the crisp sound they used to make.

On the first floor of the shop, after Shimizu returned, he sat in the inner room. In front of him was a row of empty wine jugs, some of which were tilted on the table and others had rolled to his feet.

He picked up another glass of wine, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. The wine dripped down the corner of his mouth, soaking his school uniform.

Keiko sat beside him, quietly keeping him company. Normally, Keiko wouldn't let Shimizu drink so much alcohol—her Shimizu was the kind of person who would blush after a few drinks and pass out after a few more.

But today she didn't stop him; she simply refilled his empty cup.

"That guy, Amber..." Shimizu lowered his head, his voice so hoarse it was almost unlike his own, "He clearly said he'd wait for me in the Second Division."

He raised his hand and wiped his face hard, his palm covered in a wet patch of alcohol and tears.

"He's only been in Soul Society for half a year, and he just became a full-fledged Soul Reaper, how could he..." Shimizu couldn't continue.

Outside the window, there was only endless rain and endless wind; no one came to tell him the answer, and no one could tell him the answer.

Just then, there was a very soft knock at the door.

Shimizu raised her head, forcefully wiped away her tears, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "We're not opening today!"

The knocking stopped for a moment, but only for a few breaths, before it started again. The sound was very weak, as if the person knocking had run out of strength, and each knock was done with the last bit of energy.

Shimizu was enraged by his knocking. She jumped up, walked to the door, and yanked it open forcefully. "I told you I wouldn't open it today—you!"

His words caught in his throat, and he stood frozen in place.

A thin young man stood at the door, dressed in tattered rags, with the letter "S" etched on his back.

His short black hair was soaked by the rain and stuck to his forehead. His face was so pale that it was almost bloodless, and his lips were slightly blue from the cold and weakness.

He was leaning on a black cane, which looked plain, but had some very fine lines faintly engraved on its surface.

He gripped the handle of the cane extremely tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the excessive force.

His body swayed, and he looked like he was about to fall.

The moment Shimizu opened the door, he looked up. Their eyes met, and those eyes—those silver, calm eyes—reflected Shimizu's shocked face like a mirror.

"Shimizu..."

The thin young man spoke, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible, then he stumbled forward and fell into the doorway.

Almost instinctively, Shimizu reached out and caught him, pulling him into her arms. The cane slipped from his hand and fell to the threshold with a dull thud.

"Amber... is that you, Amber?" Shimizu's voice trembled, his arms trembled, his whole body trembled. "Is it you? Is it you who's back?"

The thin young man, Sylvan, did not answer.

His eyes were closed, and his breathing was so shallow that it was almost imperceptible, but his silver pupils and his face, which bore a striking resemblance to Amber, all told Shimizu that the person before him was related to Amber.

Keiko ran out of the shop, knelt down beside Shimizu, reached out and touched the young man's forehead, then turned to Shimizu and called out to him to quickly carry the man upstairs.

Shimizu scooped up the thin young man and ran upstairs. In the rain, candlelight flickered and the Qinghui Clothing Shop bustled with activity.