"What about Aunt?"
Ichigo immediately asked again.
Yuko curled her five fingers into a loose fist, her knuckles cracking. "She spent the whole afternoon petting a dog, so she's full of energy now. Let's see if she can find something to do."
What the hell was petting a dog supposed to mean? She meant slacking off, right?
Still unclear on the situation, Ichigo scratched his head and hesitated. "Then I'll stay and help you?"
"No need. I'm only checking on Old Man Yama and Muramasa. You and Rukia aren't in any condition to keep fighting, so get some rest for now. Besides, you need to inform the others about subduing the Zanpakuto."
"...Got it."
Seeing that, Ichigo could only nod.
Rangiku put her hands on her hips. "Why are you only saying that to Ichigo and Rukia? I'm exhausted too!"
"? Is there something wrong with your brain? At most, you could say your throat's dry, right?" Yuko tilted her head. "Since when is arguing physical labor? And didn't I just tell all of you to go rest together?"
"Arguing isn't something that simple!"
"Stop! I'm not interested in your business."
Yuko promptly cut off Rangiku before she could make things more complicated, then sent the three of them away.
After seeing them off, Yuko shifted beneath her feet and appeared atop a rooftop. She stood there for a moment, surveying the surroundings. Feeling that it still wasn't clear enough, she directly moved to the distant Sokyoku Hill.
A moment later, her figure appeared at the very peak of Sokyoku Hill.
The lights of the Seireitei below entered her sight, and she could see and faintly hear the disturbances breaking out everywhere.
After nightfall, the Zanpakuto began to move.
Yuko half-closed her eyes and activated her Bankai within her mind.