All That Lives, Lives Not Alone, Nor for Itself

Everything that lives / Lives not alone, nor for itself. -- William Blake, The Book of Thel (1789)

Rewind to an earlier time

World of the Living Urahara Shop

Ichigo and his companions sat in the back room of Urahara Shop. Last night, Ichigo rescued Rukia, who had been chased to the World of the Living by his own Zanpakuto, by the riverbank, and then gathered his friends to come here.

Orihime was treating Rukia's injuries in the next room, while the others were gathered in this room, the air heavy and oppressive like the sky before a storm.

"In other words..." Chad's deep voice broke the silence.

Uryū adjusted his glasses and continued, "Kuchiki said that woman was Sode no Shirayuki, right?"

"Yes." Ichigo sat cross-legged on the floor, arms crossed, brows furrowed. "But the Zanpakuto, once materialized, attacks its master..."

He still finds it hard to believe that such a thing could happen. Zanpakuto is half of Soul Reaper, the embodiment of a soul—how could such a thing turn around and attack its wielder?

Urahara sat behind the counter, his hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face, tapping his palm absently with his folding fan. "Anyway, now that we've already sent Yoruichi to check on the situation in Soul Society, let's wait until Kuchiki regains his senses before making any further moves."

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open, and Lilyn peeked her head out from the crack. "Rukia has regained consciousness."

Everyone got up and headed towards the room where Rukia was being settled. Soul was the first to rush in, practically throwing himself onto Rukia's blankets, his voice trembling with tears. "Big Sister!"

Rukia lay in the blankets, her face still a little pale. She reached out and patted Soul's head. "Don't panic, Soul, I'm alright."

"But... but..." Soul's tears were already welling up in his eyes. When he saw Rukia by the river last night, she was covered in wounds, her Shihakusho had been cut in several places, and blood was seeping from the wounds.

Lilyn kicked Soul off the blanket. Soul somersaulted in the air and fell headfirst into the pile of junk in the corner. It took him a few kicks with his short legs to pull himself out.

"Honestly, didn't you say everything was alright? You should at least have some faith in Orihime's abilities, okay?" Lilyn put her hands on her hips, her tone full of impatience, but her eyes were fixed on Rukia's face, as if to confirm that she was really alright.

Just as the two dolls were bickering, Urahara walked to Rukia's bedside, closed his folding fan, and sat down.

His tone became serious. "So, Kuchiki, can you tell us what exactly happened in Soul Society?"

With Orihime's help, Rukia sat up in bed. She lowered her head, placed her hands on her knees, and remained silent for a moment, as if sorting through fragmented memories.

When she spoke again, her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. "It was like a nightmare..."

Last night...

On a hill near the center of Seireitei, close to the First Division, countless Hell Butterflies danced in the night sky, their Shikai blue wings illuminating the entire hill as if it were daytime. They had summoned all the Soul Reaper —the Seated Officer, Lieutenant Zanpakuto, and captains of each division—to this place.

They stood in an open space, looked up, and gazed at the unfamiliar figures on the platform.

Muramasa stood on a high platform on the hill, with countless Zanpakuto materialized behind him: some looked like wild beasts, some like humanoids, and some were just blurry shadows.

Muramasa wearing a long white coat with a thick fur collar. His dark brown hair fluttered slightly in the night wind, and his deep-set pupils swept down over every Soul Reaper present.

"My name is Muramasa." His voice pierced the night wind, reaching the ears of everyone on the hill. "The Soul Reaper's control over the Zanpakuto ends tonight. From this day forward, the Zanpakuto will control the Soul Reaper."

Standing among the captains, Jūshirō Ukitake raised his head, a serious expression appearing on his usually gentle face. "You said that Zanpakuto should control Soul Reaper? What do you mean by that?"

"It means exactly what it says." Muramasa tilted his head slightly, his eyes fixed on Ukitake. "I have freed my Zanpakuto from your shackles."

A commotion arose from below the hill. Several young Soul Reapers, skeptical of the supernatural, exchanged glances, placed their hands on their sword hilts, and whispered their Shikai.

However, nothing happened. Their Zanpakuto remained motionless, their blades did not emit any light, and their forms did not change in the slightest.

Those Zanpakuto that had answered their summons countless times were now as silent as if they had died completely.

Shunsui Kyōraku pushed his straw hat up higher and slowly stepped forward. His gaze, hidden beneath the brim, swept over Muramasa and the Zanpakuto behind him. His voice remained as languid as ever. "While the Zanpakuto are important, where is Old Man Yama? We should have been summoned by Old Man Yama. Could you tell me?"

"Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto..." Muramasa's gaze shifted to Kyōraku, a faint smile playing on his lips, "He's already sealed away."

A sudden, deathly silence fell over the area below the hill. Every captain, every Lieutenant, and even every Soul Reaper present seemed to be nailed to the spot by those words.

Muramasa didn't give them time to process this shock. His voice was calm and cold. "His Zanpakuto, Ryūjin Jakka, refused to become our ally, so his power Reiatsu Seal of your Zanpakuto — Katen Kyōkotsu, Sōgyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki."

"What did you say?!" Ukitake's voice suddenly rose.

Isane turned to Unohana: "Captain..."

Unohana shook her head slightly; she had also tried to Shikai her Zanpakuto, but received no response.

Fon Shaoling stood among the captains, her fingers already resting on the hilt of Suzumebachi's sword. "How is this possible? It actually managed to seal the Captain-Commander."

Kyōraku pulled his straw hat down further, the shadow of which obscured most of his face. Only his usually languid eyes reflected the moonlight, appearing exceptionally bright, but now devoid of any smile, "Do you think we'd believe something like this?"

Muramasa looked at him. "Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth."

Just as Kyōraku and Muramasa were facing off, Ikkaku charged straight in.

The Zanpakuto's blade drew a silver arc across the night sky, slashing straight at Muramasa's face.

"Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, it's a waste of time to talk to this guy any longer!" His voice echoed over the hill, carrying the 11th Division's characteristic killing intent that treated all enemies equally.

A blue and white figure behind Muramasa moved first— Hyōrinmaru materialized into a young man with a cold and aloof demeanor, like Exiled Immortal, who caught the Ikkaku of the blade with one hand. Frost spread rapidly from the point of impact, crawling along the Ikkaku of the blade towards his fingers.

Ukitake watched this scene, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, the hesitation in them had faded.

His hand gripped the hilt of the sword. "Kyōraku!"

Kyōraku looked into Ukitake's eyes, at the determination burning within those pupils that were always weary from long-term illness, and sighed. He lowered his hand from his straw hat and drew his twin swords. "There's really no other way."

As several captains simultaneously drew their Zanpakuto, chaos erupted completely.

The Zanpakuto that had been obediently standing behind Muramasa rushed down the hill like wild horses, but they didn't rush to find their master—this was a tactic carefully designed by Muramasa.

Taking advantage of the fact that their information was not fully exposed, the Zanpakuto targeted Soul Reaper who had the least interaction with their masters.

Tobiume bypassed Momo Hinamori and hurled a fireball at Koganehiko; Gegetsuburi didn't go looking for trouble with Marechiyo Ōmaeda, but instead swung his Meteor Hammer at Shūhei's back; Kazeshini's massive chain swept through the crowd, knocking away several Seated Officers who were trying to form a formation with their Lieutenant.

Holding his Ukitake in one hand, Kidō Zanpakuto repel a black shadow that lunged at Isane. A chaotic battle ensued, and the number of wounded continued to rise. Running around the battlefield made his breathing rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He looked around at the Soul Reaper who Zanpakuto back by the Zanpakuto with their various abilities, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

"Kyōraku, let's retreat for now!"

Kyōraku had just repelled an unknown Zanpakuto —the thing was so blurry it resembled a wisp of mist, and the blade was completely unresponsive when he struck it; he could only push it away with his Reiatsu.

He landed beside Ukitake, a tear in his shirt revealing bleeding skin beneath. "Looks like that assessment was correct."

However, at that moment, the Ashisogi Jizō suddenly began to expand, its golden blade-like feet breaking through the ground, and its enormous baby face opened its mouth, from which a dark purple poisonous mist slowly drifted out from the depths of its throat.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood beneath the Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo, arms crossed, his face still bearing that listless expression. "Looks like it's about to release poison gas."

Kyōraku's expression changed drastically. He turned around and shouted to the Soul Reapers still engaged in a chaotic battle below the hill, "Everyone, run!"

Muramasa stood atop the high platform, a faint smile playing on his lips, "There's no escaping it."

A gigantic Bone Serpent appeared behind him, Baboon King Zabimaru vertebrae snapping shut, crimson Reiatsu surging between the joints. The Bone Serpent opened its massive jaws, and a Hikotsu Taihō shot, carrying devastating power, hurtled towards the Soul Reapers.

To avoid the poisonous fog from Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo and the Baboon King Zabimaru, the Grim Soul Reapers had to scatter, and their newly formed formation completely collapsed.

Zanpakuto leaped down the hills like a burst dam, surging towards Seireitei. Hyōrinmaru's Ice Dragon smashed through the gates of the Hakutōmon, while Senbonzakura petals poured into the Seireitei through the interconnected passageways. The smoke formed by the Haineko filled the barracks, and even more Zanpakuto rushed into the streets from all directions, beginning their rampage...

Let's go back to the present.

"... And so, in the midst of the chaotic battle, my elder brother clashed with Senbonzakura, while Renji and I were separated during the fight. While fighting with Sode no Shirayuki, I rushed towards the Senkaimon, and finally managed to pass through Senkaimon and arrive in the World of the Living." Rukia's narration ended.

She lowered her head, her hands gripping the edge of the blankets, her knuckles turning slightly white. The images kept replaying in her mind—her older brother being overwhelmed by the petals of Senbonzakura, Renji reaching out to her in the chaos of battle, and the cold blade of Sode no Shirayuki grazing her cheek.

Urahara listened to the entire narrative, remaining silent for a long time. He gently tapped his chin with his folding fan, his gaze beneath the brim of his hat fixed on the ceiling, as if piecing together a giant jigsaw puzzle. "Zanpakuto breaking free from the will of Soul Reaper to launch an attack... I've never heard of such a thing before. Besides, the true form of Zanpakuto originally only existed within the heart of Soul Reaper."

Uryū frowned. "The Zanpakuto's true form?"

"The so-called 'original body' is the will that controls the power of the Zanpakuto." Urahara closed his folding fan and gestured in a circle with his hand. "The Soul Reaper guides the power of the Zanpakuto by communicating with this will. In other words, the power of the Zanpakuto is a part of the Soul Reaper's soul, not an external weapon. Under normal circumstances, there shouldn't be any act of rebellion."

Ichigo didn't ask any further questions. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his orange bangs obscuring most of his face. "Is everyone in Seireitei... alright?"

"It's alright." A familiar voice sounded from the doorway. Yoruichi had returned from Soul Society sometime earlier. She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, her purple ponytail swaying slightly in the breeze.

Her expression remained impassive, but her eyes were deeper than usual. "The Gotei 13 has not been completely wiped out."

Urahara looked up. "Yoruichi, you're back."

Rukia tried to stand up, supporting herself on the edge of the bed, but Orihime gently pressed her back down. She looked up, her purple eyes filled with urgency. "Yoruichi, what's the situation in Soul Society? My brother..."

"Don't rush, I'll start now." Yoruichi sat cross-legged, picked up the untouched cup of tea on the table, and took a big gulp.

She put down her teacup and looked at the people sitting around her. "The current Seireitei is truly a pitiful sight."

She said, "Although the battle has come to an end, buildings have been destroyed, and there are wounded everywhere. Many buildings, led by the First Division, have been burned down."

Ukitake and Kyōraku are temporarily using the Fourth Division as a base for intelligence gathering, while Soi Fon, with her Stealth Force, is still tracking down the missing Zanpakuto.

"Yoruichi, what about my elder brother? How is he?"

Yoruichi looked at the anxious Rukia and softened her voice slightly. "The information on all the other captains, Lieutenant, and high- Seated Officers has been confirmed, but Byakuya's whereabouts are still unknown."

Rukia lowered her head, clutching the blankets tightly in her hands. Her lips moved slightly. "Big brother..."

Ichigo shifted his gaze to Rukia: "Don't worry, Byakuya won't die. You know better than anyone how strong that guy is, don't you?"

Rukia remained silent for a long time, then nodded gently. "Mm..."

Uryū stood up, adjusted his glasses, and turned to walk towards the door. "It's about time. Since this is all the information we have for now, I'll head back now."

Ichigo watched his retreating figure, his brows furrowing slightly. Uryū's right hand was noticeably different in color from the rest of his body—it was left behind after he removed the Sanrei Gloves on Sōkyoku Hill. It was as if a hole had been opened inside him, Quincy powers were slowly draining away from him.

Even Uryū's steps were slower than usual, and his shoulder lines were stiffer than before, showing that he was almost forcing himself to stand up.

Ichigo him trembling, Ichigo said, "Ishida, don't push yourself too hard, your power..."

Uryū stopped, without turning around. His voice remained indifferent, but beneath it lay a faint weariness that only those who truly knew him could detect. "I haven't fallen so low that you need to worry about me, Kurosaki."

Uryū's departure caused everyone to gradually disperse. Orihime tucked Rukia's blanket in, Chad silently nodded to Ichigo, and then they all left Urahara Shop.

However, Ichigo had barely returned home and lain down when news came from Urahara Shop: Rukia was missing!

Arriving at Urahara Shop again, in Senkaimon

"The Senkaimon has been opened before; it seems we've returned to Soul Society."

Urahara and Yoruichi stood Ichigo. The seal on the Senkaimon did indeed show signs of being broken, and the remaining Reishi traces were still very fresh.

Ichigo stood in Senkaimon: "Rukia, she's not even fully recovered from her injuries, and she just ran back like that. What is she thinking?"

He frowned, turned to Urahara, and said, "Mr. Urahara, please open the Senkaimon for me. I'm going to catch up with Rukia."

"Wait a moment, Kurosaki." Urahara raised his folding fan and tapped it against his forehead. "Going there now is too dangerous. Let's at least gather some more information before we go."

"What about Rukia? Are we just going to let her go to war with that kind of body?" Ichigo retorted.

Yoruichi leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the two of them. A slight smile played on her lips, a subtle indulgence that was completely different from Urahara's cautiousness. "It's alright, Kisuke. I was going to go anyway, and two people going is much more efficient than one."

Ichigo turned to Yoruichi, his eyes lighting up. "Please, Urahara- san."

Urahara glanced at Yoruichi, then at Ichigo, sighed, and a faint smile played on his lips beneath his hat brim, "Honestly, even if I tried to stop you, it would be futile."

A few minutes later, the two stood in Senkaimon.

Ichigo carried Zangetsu on his shoulder, Yoruichi flexed her wrists beside him, and Urahara stood in Senkaimon, setting its coordinates.

"I'll be ready to provide support at any time." Urahara turned around, his gaze beneath the brim of his hat fixed intently on the two of them. "Neither of you should push yourselves too hard."

"Yes." Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly.

"And..." Urahara looked at Yoruichi, "That person you mentioned before, if he wakes up, try to bring him back. Maybe I can think of a way."

"I understand." Yoruichi nodded, stretched his shoulders, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips, "Let's get ready to go, Ichigo."

The light from the Senkaimon shone brightly, engulfing the two figures. The portal slowly closed, Urahara stood Senkaimon, staring at the now-closed door, remaining silent for a long time.

"Ye Xing... are you really still alive...?"

Then he turned and walked toward the Underground Training Grounds —he needed to start preparing, whatever awaited him behind that door, he had to make sure he wouldn't be caught off guard when they needed support.