The Deaths of Kaien Shiba and His Wife (Part Two)

Rukia Kuchiki knelt on the ground, cradling Kaien Shiba's gradually cooling body in her arms. Her hands were stained with blood— Kaien Shiba's blood, the blood left from the knife she had stabbed herself. Her eyes were empty and numb, her face devoid of tears and expression, only an indescribable, almost deathly calm.

The wind howled across the wilderness, whipping up clouds of dust and tousling her black hair. But she seemed oblivious, kneeling there motionless.

Standing not far away, Jūshirō Ukitake watched this scene, a deep sorrow welling up within him. He slowly walked to Rukia Kuchiki, knelt down, and softly called out, "Rukia... are you alright?"

Rukia Kuchiki raised her head blankly and looked at Jūshirō Ukitake. Those once bright eyes were now as empty as two bottomless black holes. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat too dry to make a sound.

Jūshirō Ukitake sighed and didn't ask any further questions. He bent down and gently lifted Kaien Shiba's body from Rukia Kuchiki's arms. That once vibrant body was now cold and stiff, like a broken doll.

"Let's go," Jūshirō Ukitake's voice was low and hoarse, "We'll take Kaien back."

Rukia Kuchiki stood up blankly and followed behind him. Her steps were unsteady and mechanical, like a puppet without a soul. The wind and sand hit her face, but she did not flinch, just mechanically walking behind Jūshirō Ukitake.

The two figures moved slowly across the wilderness, gradually disappearing into the swirling sandstorm.

The Thirteenth Division barracks.

When Jūshirō Ukitake returned to the barracks carrying Kaien Shiba's body, an unexpected figure was already waiting there.

Retsu Unohana stood at the entrance of the barracks, wearing the Captain's Haori, her expression calm as still water. When she saw Jūshirō Ukitake and the cold corpse in his arms, a barely perceptible pity flashed in her eyes.

Jūshirō Ukitake stopped and looked at Rukia Kuchiki behind him. "Rukia, wait here for a moment."

Rukia Kuchiki nodded blankly, standing still.

Holding Kaien Shiba's body, Jūshirō Ukitake entered the Captain's Office with Retsu Unohana. The door slowly closed behind them, shutting out all outside sounds.

The atmosphere in the Captain's Office was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Jūshirō Ukitake gently placed Kaien Shiba's body on the tatami mat, then turned to Retsu Unohana, his voice low and weary. "Captain Unohana, what brings you here?"

Retsu Unohana didn't answer. She simply walked to the bedside, looking down at Kaien Shiba's peaceful yet lifeless face. After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke, "Take what can revive Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako."

Jūshirō Ukitake's spirits jolted. He looked up, his eyes gleaming with disbelief. "Really... can he be saved?"

Retsu Unohana gently shook her head. "I'm not sure either. If that guy said he could, then it should be fine, right? Otherwise, wouldn't all our previous preparations have been for nothing?"

She paused, a hint of barely perceptible heartache in her voice. "Besides, that guy went through so much trouble to make those two Talisman. I saw his Reiatsu drop several levels—he even took a special leave of absence to cover it up."

Jūshirō Ukitake's eyes brightened. He walked to the bedside, looked at Kaien Shiba's body, and said in a trembling voice, "Is that so! Then it seems... we can definitely save him."

He looked up at Retsu Unohana: "What do we do now?"

Retsu Unohana took out a Talisman from her bosom.

This Talisman is completely different from the two given to Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako. It is larger, with more complex patterns, and the flowing light is more profound. Dragons and phoenixes can be vaguely seen circling within that light, as if it contains some ancient and mysterious power.

"Let me do it."

Retsu Unohana gently placed the Talisman on Kaien Shiba's forehead.

In an instant, a strange change occurred.

The Talisman burst forth with a dazzling golden light, illuminating the entire Captain's Office. The light seemed to have a life of its own, surging from the Talisman and spreading from Kaien Shiba's forehead to his entire body, completely enveloping him.

Jūshirō Ukitake instinctively took a step back, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding light. But he didn't close his eyes; instead, he stared intently at Kaien Shiba on the tatami mat, afraid of missing any detail.

The light lasted for about ten seconds.

Then, two even brighter golden rays shot out from Kaien Shiba's body, directly into the Talisman on his forehead. The light contained an indescribable life force, as if two sleeping souls were being awakened by some power and returning to their rightful place.

The Talisman trembled violently, emitting a deep hum. The hum grew louder and more urgent, finally culminating in a crisp "snap"—the Talisman exploded, transforming into countless golden specks of light that condensed, swirled, and merged in the air...

Finally, they coalesced into two beads the size of a thumb.

The bead is completely transparent, like the purest crystal. Golden light flows inside, and within the light, the outlines of a phoenix and a Golden Dragon can be vaguely seen, slowly circling and swimming.

Retsu Unohana reached out and caught the two beads, examining them carefully. "These should be the two things, right?"

Jūshirō Ukitake stepped forward, staring intently at the two beads. He could sense a familiar and comforting Reiatsu contained within them— the Reiatsu of Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako, though it was suppressed very weakly, he could still perceive it clearly.

"That's right!" His voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. "I can feel that these two beads contain the Reiatsu of Kaien and Du! Although it's very faint, I can feel it clearly!"

Retsu Unohana nodded gently and carefully put the two beads into her bosom. "Then that should be it."

She turned to Jūshirō Ukitake, her tone becoming serious. "Next, Captain Ukitake, please have Rukia Kuchiki return this body to Kūkaku Shiba."

Jūshirō Ukitake's smile froze on his face. He looked down at the cold body of Kaien Shiba on the tatami mat, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes. "Isn't this... too cruel? Making Rukia personally return the body of the person she killed..."

"There's no way around it." Retsu Unohana shook her head slightly, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "This is the fate I've heard about."

She paused, then continued, "It's alright, we can explain it all out later. The Shiba Clan aren't the kind of people who can't distinguish right from wrong. But don't mention the resurrection—we'll explain it to them later."

Jūshirō Ukitake was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright, that's the only way. I'll go now."

Retsu Unohana turned and walked towards the door. "Well, I should go too."

She stopped at the door, turned back to Jūshirō Ukitake: "Captain Ukitake, that guy told me to tell you—a short separation is for a better reunion. So, don't be sad."

Jūshirō Ukitake looked at her, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. He nodded gently. "Yes, I understand."

The two walked out of the Captain's Office at the same time.

Retsu Unohana left the Thirteenth Division and disappeared into the streets of Seireitei.

Jūshirō Ukitake walked over to Rukia Kuchiki, who remained standing motionless like a statue. He knelt down, looked directly into her empty eyes, and said in a gentle yet firm voice, "Rukia, don't be sad."

Rukia Kuchiki's eyes twitched slightly, but remained unfocused.

Jūshirō Ukitake continued, "Just as Kaien said—his heart, his dignity, his glory, are all left to you. You must carry what he left you, keep moving forward, and not give up."

Rukia Kuchiki replied woodenly, "Captain... I understand."

Her voice was hollow and devoid of any emotion.

Jūshirō Ukitake sighed, stood up, and gently patted her shoulder. "Go, return Kaien's body to Kūkaku. They should know about this too."

Rukia Kuchiki nodded blankly, "Yes."

She went into the Captain's Office, picked up Kaien Shiba's body, then turned and walked towards Rukongai.

Her figure appeared so frail and lonely in the sunset, like a soulless shell mechanically fulfilling its final mission.

Jūshirō Ukitake stood at the entrance of the barracks, watching her figure gradually disappear into the distance, and sighed silently in his heart.

He turned and walked towards the Sixth Division.

Sixth Division, Captain's Office.

Byakuya Kuchiki sat upright in the main seat, his perpetually indifferent face expressionless. He listened quietly to Jūshirō Ukitake's account until the latter finished speaking, then slowly said, "We, the Kuchiki Clan, will not be defeated by such a matter."

Jūshirō Ukitake paused for a moment, wanting to say something more, but Byakuya Kuchiki had already stood up and gestured for him to leave. "Captain Ukitake, please go back."

Jūshirō Ukitake reluctantly left the Sixth Division.

After the door closed, Byakuya Kuchiki stood alone in the Captain's Office, gazing at the darkening sky outside the window. His face remained indifferent, but a barely perceptible sigh flickered in his eyes.

He remembered Liu Ziyun's instructions—to maintain the image of a serious and aloof older brother, to minimize Hisana Kuchiki's contact with Rukia Kuchiki, and not to let her personality change too much because of her family.

"There will be opportunities for them to get close to Rukia later. Now is not the time."

Liu Ziyun's words echoed in his ears, "I don't want to save Hisana Kuchiki only to change Rukia Kuchiki's personality, making her unable to guide the Child of Destiny."

Byakuya Kuchiki closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Rukia..." he murmured softly, "I'm sorry."