Yoruichi Arrives

"This feels just like a dream."

Looking at Kumu Street, which had completely changed, Renji Abarai couldn't help but marvel.

Not long ago, he would never have believed that Kumu Street—the most backward, poorest, and most chaotic place in all of Inuzuri—could become the bustling, hopeful, vibrant place it was now.

Rukia said nothing. She simply gazed at Gilgamesh beside her with admiration.

Rukia felt a little sentimental.

At first, neither she nor Renji had believed Gilgamesh was a king. They had followed him on impulse.

Who could have guessed that Gilgamesh really was a king?

There was something so mysterious about Gilgamesh that legends about him had already begun to spread through Inuzuri.

Some said Gilgamesh was the Sun God and rode a great bird that shone with sunlight as he patrolled Inuzuri every night.

Some said Gilgamesh was a king chosen by fate, come to lead them out of their misery.

Others said Gilgamesh came from one of the great noble houses of Seireitei. Unable to bear the suffering in Rukongai, he had defied his family and come to save them.

Looking at the palace, which was beginning to take shape, Renji seemed to remember something. He turned to Gilgamesh and asked, "My king, I remember you once said you had ruled a human kingdom."

"Could you tell me about that part of your past? I'd like to learn about the kingdom you once ruled."

Ever since Renji had come to accept Gilgamesh as a king from the bottom of his heart and witnessed his abilities, he had always addressed him with respect.

Even when Gilgamesh told him to just use his name and not be so formal, Renji still wouldn't.

Eventually, Gilgamesh stopped bringing it up.

Rukia was the same.

Now Rukia, too, looked curious.

She was curious about everything concerning Gilgamesh and wanted to learn all she could.

Especially about the kingdom he had once ruled.

Rukia was sure that the kingdom Gilgamesh had ruled must have been magnificent and glorious.

Gilgamesh's expression turned wistful at Renji's words.

After merging with Young Gil's template, Gilgamesh had also acquired Young Gil's memories.

So the ancient, glorious Kingdom of Uruk now lived in Gilgamesh's memories.

He just didn't know whether the Kingdom of Uruk also existed in the world of Bleach.

With that thought, Gilgamesh slowly began, "The kingdom I once ruled was called Uruk. It was..."

Just as Gilgamesh began to tell them about Uruk's past, a construction engineer hurried over and said, "My king, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but there's been an unexpected problem over there, and we need you to make a decision."

Even the construction experts sent by the Omaeda Clan had, without realizing it, been won over by Gilgamesh and come to accept him as their king from the bottom of their hearts.

What impressed them most was Gilgamesh's own mastery of architecture.

His architectural skill was art, True Magic, and The Miracle all at once. They couldn't help but revere and worship him.

Gilgamesh saw the engineer and said, "Renji, Rukia, I'll tell you about it another time. I need to go over there first."

With that, Gilgamesh left with the construction engineer.

Renji and Rukia knew he had important matters to attend to, so they said nothing and watched him go.

In Renji's eyes, Gilgamesh's figure grew farther and farther away.

It wasn't a matter of physical distance. It was the gulf between Gilgamesh and himself.

Renji knew all too well that if things went on like this, one day he wouldn't even be able to see Gilgamesh's back.

He couldn't accept that future.

He and Rukia were Gilgamesh's first subjects. They ought to follow him all the way to the end.

After Gilgamesh disappeared from sight, Renji suddenly said, "Rukia, we need to work hard too. Otherwise, we won't be able to keep up with Gil's pace."

Rukia understood what Renji meant. Her expression resolute, she said, "I'll work hard so I can always stay by Gil's side and help him build the kingdom he dreams of!"

Not far away, Yoruichi, in her black-cat form, sat lazily on the thatched roof of a hut, watching with interest. She murmured, "This kid named Gilgamesh really does seem to have a certain charm. He's managed to win the loyalty of two people."

"He once ruled a human kingdom, and the kingdom he ruled..."

A thoughtful look crossed Yoruichi's face. She murmured, "Uruk. Why do I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before...?"

Yoruichi was growing more and more interested in Gilgamesh.

He seemed like an enormous mystery, waiting for her to unravel it bit by bit.

Without lingering, Yoruichi began wandering through Kumu Street.

Gradually, she was overwhelmed by what she saw.

She could hardly believe that this place, where everyone wore a smile and life was filled with hope and vitality, was South Rukongai District 78.

And from what people were saying, she learned that Gilgamesh had brought about all of it.

Gilgamesh had transformed the once lifeless, disorderly Inuzuri into what it was now.

From their conversations, Yoruichi could also sense how sincerely the people accepted, respected, and loved Gilgamesh.

Suddenly, Yoruichi thought of what Rukia had just said.

Build the kingdom of their dreams.

At first, Yoruichi hadn't given it any thought.

She knew all too well that founding a kingdom in Soul Society was impossible.

For one thing, those hidebound, self-serving nobles would never allow it.

Not even if it were founded in Rukongai, which they looked down on and considered beneath them.

But now, Yoruichi's certainty began to waver.

It wasn't that she thought Gilgamesh could actually succeed in founding a kingdom.

Rather, she began to imagine what would happen if he did. Under Gilgamesh's rule, could Rukongai come to life in a whole new way?

Just imagining Gilgamesh building an ideal kingdom where everyone was happy, smiling, and full of hope and vitality stirred something inside Yoruichi—a desire to help him establish it.

But the moment that desire arose, Yoruichi crushed it.

Shock and alarm showed on her usually stern feline face.

Yoruichi hadn't expected Gilgamesh to have such a powerful presence that, without even realizing it, she had begun to feel like submitting to him.

Unwilling to stay there any longer, Yoruichi set off for the Human World.

She needed time to settle her thoughts. She also planned to look into Human History.

She wanted to see whether it contained a king named Gilgamesh, and whether there had ever been a kingdom called Uruk.