A Complicated Woman

"Hey! Slow down!"

On the school field, Ichigo, carrying his Zanpakuto, raced toward the classroom with Rukia right behind him.

"There's no need to panic this much, is there?"

"I'm worried! Is that guy really going to be okay?" Ichigo turned back. "If Aunt Yuko catches him, my life is over."

"Isn't that a little exaggerated?" Rukia muttered, then continued, "Don't worry..."

"I've had a bad feeling since earlier..."

Ichigo chased the Modified Soul's spiritual pressure into the school building and ran toward the third floor.

At the corner of the third floor, he poked his head out, then instantly pulled it back.

Rukia behind him couldn't brake in time and crashed into the sheath on his back. Her forehead and nose immediately turned red.

Rukia lowered her head and covered her nose, tears glimmering in the corners of her eyes. She looked up and cursed, "What are you doing, idiot?"

Ichigo didn't move.

"Rukia, who are you talking to?" A cold voice sounded beside her, making Rukia shudder instinctively.

"Huh?" Rukia stared blankly toward the top of the stairs. Yuko's figure blocked the sunlight from the window. It took Rukia about a second to make out those crimson, icy eyes.

At that moment, Rukia finally remembered the fear Ichigo had once felt... no, she finally experienced it herself.

"N-No one!" Her body instinctively stiffened, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the collar of a shirt Yuko was holding in one hand...

Rukia almost cried out. Wasn't that the Modified Soul?!

What had happened?!

They had only been gone for a little while!

Yuko paid no attention to the shock in Rukia's eyes and said calmly, "Then you were talking to me?"

Rukia broke into even more cold sweat. "N-No!"