Isshin Shiba's Resolve

Kisuke Urahara stood in the dim light, his signature fisherman's hat obscuring most of his face, revealing only his tightly pursed lips. His gaze calmly swept over the three people present— Ryūken Ishida, whose face was filled with despair; Isshin Shiba, who looked bewildered; and Masaki Kurosaki, who lay unconscious on the tatami mat.

"You're quite clever; you understood immediately." Kisuke Urahara's voice was calm, yet carried a hint of unspoken meaning. "However, your abilities are insufficient to save Masaki."

He paused, his gaze falling on Isshin Shiba: "The one who can truly save Masaki- san is Isshin Shiba."

Isshin Shiba utterly bewildered, his expression utterly innocent. "Only I can save him? What exactly do I need to do?"

Kisuke Urahara did not answer immediately. He turned and went into the back room, and after a moment, he took out a Gigai. The Gigai looked no different from an ordinary human, but upon closer inspection, one could find that it contained some kind of special power fluctuation.

He placed the Gigai in front of Isshin Shiba and slowly explained, "This artificial Gigai was specially made from a human soul. Once you enter it, you will exist somewhere between a human and Soul Reaper."

He paused, then continued, "And Masaki- san is currently somewhere between Quincy and a Hollow. The opposite of Quincy is Soul Reaper, and the opposite of a Hollow is a human."

His gaze deepened as he looked directly into Isshin Shiba's eyes. "So, you understand now, Captain Isshin Shiba? Once you use this artificial Gigai, you can become the complete opposite of Masaki- san."

Isshin Shiba at the Gigai, then glanced at Masaki Kurosaki lying on the tatami mat, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Kisuke Urahara continued, "Once you enter this artificial Gigai, you won't be able to use your Soul Reaper Powers, or even see Hollows. At that point, you'll become a completely ordinary person. For Soul Reaper, this is more harmful than beneficial..."

"What are you talking about, that does more harm than good!" Ryūken Ishida suddenly interrupted him, his voice filled with despair and anger. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, his whole body trembling slightly. "This is absolutely not beneficial to the Soul Reaper! How could he possibly agree to something like this?!"

His voice echoed in the cramped space, carrying an indescribable despair.

Kisuke Urahara ignored his agitation and calmly looked at Isshin Shiba: "So, Captain Isshin Shiba, do you still want to save him? Even if you can never become Soul Reaper again?"

Isshin Shiba answered almost without hesitation. His answer was crisp and decisive, as if the decision had already taken shape in his mind. "Of course we'll save them! Can't you just be straightforward after all this fuss?"

Ryūken Ishida froze. He looked at Isshin Shiba, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Don't you understand? If you save Masaki, you'll lose your power! You'll become an ordinary person! You'll never be able to go back to Soul Society! You'll never be a captain again! You... do you really understand what this means?"

Isshin Shiba at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. In that smile lay relief, resolve, and an indescribable tenderness. "Of course I have things I'll miss. There are many things I'll miss."

He paused, his voice becoming even more resolute. "But if I were to stand by and watch my savior die, I would laugh at myself tomorrow. That's not something I can do."

Ryūken Ishida fell silent.

He looked at Isshin Shiba, at this man who was willing to give up everything to save Masaki, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart. There was anger, resentment, and despair in that emotion, but also a trace of... admiration.

Kisuke Urahara looked at Isshin Shiba, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Alright, Captain Isshin Shiba. Now go inside, and I'll link you to Masaki."

Isshin Shiba nodded and lay down inside the Gigai without hesitation. The interior of the Gigai was small and warm, and he could feel a strange power slowly enveloping his body.

He lay down next to Masaki Kurosaki, the two of them side by side. The dim light shone on their faces, illuminating two young and determined faces.

Kisuke Urahara stepped forward and formed hand seals. Complex Runes flowed between his fingertips, eventually transforming into a soft light that connected Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki.

In that instant, Isshin Shiba's consciousness seemed to be pulled into another world— the Inner World of Masaki Kurosaki, a space filled with darkness and chaos. There, he could see a twisted void trying to devour her soul.

Without hesitation, he went to meet them.

The Real World.

Ryūken Ishida stood there, looking at the two people lying on the tatami mat, and at the light that connected them, a complex expression on his face.

Finally, he turned and silently left Urahara Shop. His figure looked particularly lonely in the night, as if he had lost something important.

The door closed softly behind him.

Just as he left, a figure emerged from the shadows and stood beside Kisuke Urahara.

It's Liu Ziyun.

He was draped in Black Cloak, seemingly blending into the night. He looked in the direction where Ryūken Ishida had disappeared, then glanced at Isshin Shiba lying on the tatami mat, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "Tell me, if Captain Shiba knew that we had the ability to prevent things from getting this far, but didn't stop it, wouldn't he beat you and me up?"

Kisuke Urahara pushed up his hat brim. "I guess... he'll be really angry."

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from behind them. "What's wrong with you?"

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw Isshin Shiba sitting up, looking at them with a blank expression.

His gaze fell on Liu Ziyun, first blankly, then surprised, and finally incredulous. "You... you're Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division?! What are you doing here?!"

Liu Ziyun looked at him, his signature nonchalant smile on his face, "Well... I just wanted to witness your determination."

Isshin Shiba was even more confused. "What decision did I make?"

Liu Ziyun didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "But why aren't you curious that I'd be with a wanted criminal?"

Isshin Shiba paused for a moment, then looked at Kisuke Urahara. A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes, and he tentatively asked, "Oh... by the way, why are you with Urahara- san?"

Liu Ziyun didn't answer him, but turned to Kisuke Urahara, his smile becoming even more mischievous, "Kisuke, he does have some brains. Knowing he'll be staying in the World of the Living and will need your help, he just calls you 'Mr. Urahara.' He doesn't treat you like a wanted criminal anymore."

Kisuke Urahara helpless. "Um... it's one thing that you didn't help me back then, but why do you want everyone to treat me like a wanted criminal?"

Liu Ziyun: "Then just tell him directly. Tell him that I watched him fight monsters the other day, saw him get ambushed, and then happily knocked out two of his subordinates and a member of the Thirteenth Division. That'll do."

Isshin Shiba's eyes widened instantly. "A few days ago... you were there?!"

Liu Ziyun, his tone as relaxed as if discussing the weather. "Yes. I saw your two team members hesitating when you told them to return to Soul Society. So I knocked them out and hid them. And another one went to inform you about crossing territories while you were fighting that White, I knocked him out to prevent him from dying."

After hearing this, Isshin Shiba instantly lost the will to speak. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself completely at a loss for words.

As if the excitement wasn't enough, Liu Ziyun added, "By the way, there was only one person who attacked you. However, there were three of them in total. They were standing right above you. But they stole Kisuke's Black Cloak, which concealed their Reiatsu and their figures, so you didn't notice them."

He pointed to his Black Cloak: "Oh, right, I was wearing this too. That's why you didn't notice me."

Isshin Shiba looked at him helplessly, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, helplessness, and a hint of something indescribable. "What are you trying to achieve by telling me all this?"

Liu Ziyun chuckled, "It's not that I want to do anything. I just want to tell you, the person involved, that I know everything about you. And then I want to see you make a fool of yourself."

He tilted his head, looking expectant, and asked, "So, are you angry or not?"

Isshin Shiba remained silent.

He kept his head down, lost in thought. After a long while, he finally looked up at Liu Ziyun, his eyes no longer showing shock and helplessness, but only a calm sense of relief. "What's the use of being angry? As long as you didn't do it, that's fine."

Liu Ziyun was taken aback. He hadn't expected Isshin Shiba to react this way.

"Are you really that easygoing?" He sighed with some disappointment. "I thought something interesting was going to happen."

Kisuke Urahara murmured from the side, "Mr. Liu, it seems your perverse sense of humor won't be fulfilled."

Liu Ziyun his hand, his mischievous smile returning to his face, "It's alright. There will be times when Captain Shiba will be furious."

Isshin Shiba looked at him warily. "What are you planning to do now?"

Liu Ziyun smiled mysteriously, "It's nothing. I'll come to the World of the Living to visit you often."

Isshin Shiba shook his head helplessly, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You... you're colluding with a wanted criminal from Soul Society, and you keep running back to the World of the Living. Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the Seireitei?"

Liu Ziyun shrugged, his tone as casual as if he were talking about a trivial matter. "No, not at all. I report it every time I come. For example, I reported it a few days ago about you not being able to go back. The Captain-Commander and the others all agreed."

Isshin Shiba's eyes widened again. "The Captain-Commander and the others... know?!"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "You've known for almost a hundred years, haven't you?"

Isshin Shiba silent. He stared intently at Liu Ziyun, his eyes filled with disbelief, doubt, and a complex mix of emotions.

Feeling a little guilty under his gaze, Liu Ziyun quickly said, "Don't look at me like that! You're so fragile right now, I can't bring myself to hurt you. But..."

A sly glint flashed in his eyes. "I can go and chop up your nephew and niece-in-law."

Isshin Shiba's pupils suddenly contracted. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found the sound stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

After a long pause, he finally spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse and low. "Kaien and Du? They... they've all already sacrificed themselves..."

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Liu Ziyun, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Liu Ziyun said to Kisuke Urahara, "Bring out those two unlucky bastards. After all, I almost died for them. It would be a shame not to show off now."

Kisuke Urahara nodded. "Yes. I told them before that something would happen tonight. I told them to wait."

He turned and walked towards the back room.

A moment later, two figures emerged from the back room and stood under the lamplight.

Kaien Shiba.

Shiba Miyako.

Isshin Shiba saw them, he was stunned, as if struck by lightning. His eyes widened, his lips trembled slightly, and he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

When Kaien Shiba saw him, he was also taken aback, then exclaimed in shock, "Uncle?! What are you doing here?!"

Isshin Shiba opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and trembling. "Kaien... you and... you're here too? What... what happened?!"

Just then, a soft sob interrupted their conversation.

Everyone turned their heads at the same time to look at Masaki Kurosaki lying on the tatami.

She frowned slightly, making indistinct murmurs, as if talking in her sleep or having a nightmare.

Liu Ziyun at her, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "If you want to watch the show, then get up. Pretending to be asleep for so long, aren't you uncomfortable?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes turned to Masaki Kurosaki.

On the couch, the "unconscious" girl's eyelashes trembled slightly.

A moment later, she opened her eyes.

The moment Masaki Kurosaki opened her eyes, the entire room fell into an eerie silence.

She sat up, her gaze sweeping over everyone present: Isshin Shiba, Kisuke Urahara, Liu Ziyun, Kaien Shiba, and Shiba Miyako. A hint of embarrassment crossed her face, and she could only scratch her head to ease her awkwardness.