"Head of the family, this is the head of the Kuchiki Clan, Lord Byakuya Kuchiki."
Behind Ruri Chiyo, a burly Shinigami with an exceptionally delicate voice spoke into her ear.
"Ah? So you are the head of the Kuchiki Clan. Please forgive my rudeness."
After learning Byakuya Kuchiki's identity, Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo bowed to him once more.
"It is of no consequence."
Byakuya Kuchiki did not care about such formalities.
Or rather, everything he had just seen had made Byakuya Kuchiki begin to reject everything about the nobility from the bottom of his heart.
"Head of the Kasumiōji Clan, could you explain the circumstances of your departure from the Seireitei this time?"
"Your sudden disappearance has made the relationship between the nobles in the Seireitei and the Gotei 13 extremely tense."
"My apologies. This was my mistake."
Ruri Chiyo lowered her head and admitted her fault.
Though Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo's current experience and understanding were still insufficient for her to grasp what Byakuya Kuchiki meant, the habits she had cultivated over the years still made her apologize before Byakuya Kuchiki, whose status was more exalted than hers.
"You... you actually know how to admit you were wrong?"
Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes widened as he stared at Ruri Chiyo in disbelief.
Although Ruri Chiyo had not been around Ichigo Kurosaki for long, her spoiled young lady's temper had truly irritated him to no end.
Yet seeing her act so obediently before Byakuya Kuchiki now made Ichigo Kurosaki feel deeply uncomfortable.
It was as though Ruri Chiyo had suddenly ceased to be Ruri Chiyo.
That feeling was something Ichigo Kurosaki could not get used to at all.
"Then come back to the Seireitei with us."
"Yes, Lord Kuchiki."
Seeing Ruri Chiyo walk toward Byakuya Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki suddenly erupted.
He grabbed Ruri Chiyo