Each Other's Bond (End)

"Uncle... Uncle!"

Despite the antics he had with Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara, which had allowed Kūkaku Shiba to calmly turn to look at one of his only remaining family members, he still trembled upon seeing that familiar figure, that familiar Kūkaku Shiba, and that familiar gentle smile, and uttered those two words with a trembling voice.

"Ah! I'm alright! Kukaku, Ganju has grown so much already!"

Isshin Shiba smiled gently, with a hint of apology. Although leaving was not his intention, he had left when the Shiba Family needed him the most. However, he did not say those two words, because family members did not need to say them.

Looking at Kūkaku Shiba and Isshin Shiba, Yoruichi Shihōin smiled gently, and Kisuke Urahara smiled too. It wasn't the cunning smile he always wore; both of them were happy for Kūkaku Shiba because they were partners. They knew that Kūkaku Shiba's so-called outburst of anger was just a little bit of venting, so they cooperated perfectly, didn't they?

"It really hurts!" Rubbing his chin, Kisuke Urahara's heart groaned. "That Kukaku guy..."

"Ganju!"

"Ichigo!"

Kūkaku Shiba and Isshin Shiba called out almost simultaneously.

"Big sister!"

"Dad!"

Ganju Shiba and Ichigo Kurosaki responded almost simultaneously.

"This is my uncle, the head of the branch family of the Shiba Family!" Kūkaku Shiba said softly; "Come here and greet him!"

"Oh!"

He answered loudly, Ganju Shiba immediately stepped forward, obediently calling out, "Uncle!"

"Ah!" Isshin Shiba nodded, pulling Ichigo Kurosaki, and pointed to the two people in front of them, saying, "You already know, Ichigo, these are your family!"

"Sister Kukaku!"

Ichigo Kurosaki called out without hesitation, but when he turned to look at Ganju Shiba, whose face was pressed close to his, his expression grew increasingly grim, and he couldn't bring himself to say "brother."

"Hey! Ichigo!" Ganju Shiba yelled angrily, "Can't you at least show some respect for your older brother?!"

"Damn it, what kind of joke is this?!" Ichigo Kurosaki finally snapped; "How can you be such a brother?!"

"You bastard, you want to fight?!"

"Come on, come on..."

"······"

Veins bulged on Kūkaku Shiba's forehead. Just as he was about to teach the two a lesson, he suddenly sensed the change in the surrounding Reishi. He instinctively turned around and stood in front of Ganju Shiba and Ichigo Kurosaki, casually unleashing Kido.

Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!

Dankū!

"Boom! Boom!"

A violent explosion resounded through the sky.

"So strong!"

Everyone was astonished. Kūkaku Shiba, truly worthy of being the captain from a hundred years ago!

"Kukaku!"

"It's nothing!" Kūkaku Shiba waved his hand, looked at Sōsuke Aizen, and said coldly, "Hey! Aizen, what is this, a sneak attack?"

"No, that's not it!" Sōsuke Aizen withdrew his hand, smiling faintly; "It's just that you two seem to be having such a good time, you've almost forgotten your purpose. What, are you so excited to see your family again?"

"You can rest assured about that!" Kūkaku Shiba's voice turned somber; "I remember every single detail of the past hundred years very clearly!"

"Ah! Is that so! That's wonderful. I was really afraid you'd forget, wouldn't that be so boring! But speaking of which, as expected of Kūkaku Shiba, renowned for his Kido!" Sōsuke Aizen's voice rang out calmly; "Your hastily executed Dankū completely defended against my attack. You are the only one who can surpass me in Kido!"

"Then I am truly honored, Aizen!"

Kūkaku Shiba spoke, his figure instantly appeared in front of Sōsuke Aizen, a smile playing on his lips.

Raikōhō, Tenran, Sōren Sōkatsui, Slashing Flower Wheel —without any visible movement, several different types of Hadō, abandoning their incantations, attacked Sōsuke Aizen. And all of this happened in just one second.

Then, Kūkaku Shiba stepped back slightly, raised his palm, and countless Reishi quickly gathered, surging out at full speed in the next second.

"Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō!"

"Boom! Boom!"

"Lord Aizen!"

Gin Ichimaru tilted his head, slightly opening his eyes, but his expression remained unchanged. Tōsen Kaname, however, shouted and suddenly drew his sword, slashing at Kūkaku Shiba.

Rikujōkōrō!

With a raised hand, he instantly subdued Tōsen Kaname. Kūkaku Shiba grinned as a Byakurai pierced through his chest, splattering blood everywhere.

"Hey! You're called Tōsen Kaname? You're way too arrogant!" Kūkaku Shiba stopped in mid-air and said disdainfully, "When I was the captain, you were probably still playing in the mud somewhere!"

"Yes, you should learn from Yin Duo!"

The Rikujōkōrō imprisoned Tōsen Kaname exploded in an instant. From the smoke of the explosion, Sōsuke Aizen slowly walked out, his expression unchanged, and said calmly.

"Yes, Lord Aizen!"

Tōsen Kaname bowed respectfully, clutching his injured chest, and retreated to Gin Ichimaru's side.

"So, what's next, Kūkaku Shiba!" Sōsuke Aizen said. "A powerful attack, but you don't think you can kill me with that kind of power, do you?"

"No, no!"

Kūkaku Shiba grinned; she truly hadn't expected to be able to kill Sōsuke Aizen with such limited power.

"Yeah!"

Sōsuke Aizen drew his Zanpakutō from his waist and then vanished.

"Big sister!"

Ganju Shiba and Ichigo Kurosaki's expressions changed.

"Kukaku!"

Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Shiba immediately stepped forward, but a figure was faster than them.

Sōsuke Aizen reappeared, his sword seemingly casual, but actually swung down swiftly. Suddenly, a figure flashed past, taking Kūkaku Shiba with him.

"Yoruichi Shihōin!"

Sōsuke Aizen curled the corners of his lips. He didn't move, not even glancing at it, because he didn't need to. He knew who did it: Yoruichi Shihōin Flash God. Only she could do such a thing, after all, she was the only one who could surpass him in speed!

Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba appeared in the distance.

"Yoruichi, Kukaku!"

Isshin Shiba and Kisuke Urahara came to the two of them and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fine!"

Kūkaku Shiba shook his head; "I was too careless, and I underestimated Aizen's power!"

"Ah! I really don't want to say this, but..." Isshin Shiba voice, "That guy is ridiculously strong!"

"I see!"

Kūkaku Shiba nodded, then drew her Zanpakutō from her waist. She had to give it her all in the upcoming battle!

"We thought you'd changed at least a little, but you're still the same as before!"

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of the four of them. The man, dressed in a simple vest and trousers with half-finger gloves, spoke softly and turned his head under the surprised gaze of Kūkaku Shiba.

It was a face so familiar, so all the time...

"Ken... Kensei!"

Kūkaku Shiba uttered the name with trembling hands, a name she hadn't called out in a hundred years—the name of her best friend.

"This is an unexpected problem!"

Another figure appeared Yoruichi Shihōin Kūkaku Shiba, turning to look at Kukaku Shiba, revealing his little fangs and grinning arrogantly; "You've regressed, haven't you! You idiot Kukaku!"

Wearing a red tracksuit and simple slippers, her yellow hair was still tied in two ponytails, and her familiar face still wore the same arrogant smile as before.

"Hi... Hiyori!"

"Stop always saying 'it's so troublesome'!" A girl in a school uniform and wearing glasses appeared next to Isshin Shiba, saying casually, "Hiyori, speaking of which, you're quite troublesome yourself!"

"Lisa!"

"Yo!"

A green-haired woman dressed in an inexplicably strange white outfit appeared before Kūkaku Shiba, waving her hand incessantly in front of her eyes.

"White!"

"It's been a long time, Kukaku!"

Kensei Muguruma grinned, Hiyori Sarugaki smiled with her lips pursed, Lisa Yadomaru raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and Mashiro Kuna waved her hand and cutely stuck out her tongue.

"Everyone······"

Kūkaku Shiba's body trembled, her eyes already reddening. She had finally seen him. She had longed for him for a hundred years, worried about him for a hundred years, waited for him for a hundred years, and searched for him for a hundred years. Her best friend, whom she had grown up with, whom she had gone through life and death with, whom she had been separated from for a hundred years, had finally been reunited with her.

"I'm sorry, my brother and I didn't do anything. I'm sorry, we..."

"You idiot!" Hiyori Sarugaki shouted.

"Hiyori!"

"Is there even a need for an apology for this?!" Lisa Yadomaru exclaimed. "These are the last words we want to hear!"

"That's right!" Kensei Muguruma rubbed his nose and chuckled. "Kukaku, if you really feel bad, you can treat us to a drink after this is over. Yoruichi told me you brew quite a lot of good sake!"

"You Kensei, all you do is drink!" Mashiro Kuna made a face at Kensei Muguruma; "Kukaku, ignore that drunkard!"

"Bai, you have no right to speak here!" Kensei Muguruma was furious; "You've had quite a bit to drink too!"

"Idiot! Kensei such an idiot!"

"Hateful······"

"..." Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara both sighed. Those two!

"Hey! It's so noisy!"

A hoarse, duck-like voice rang out, and another group of four appeared beside him: the one who spoke, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Otoribashi, and Hachigen Ushōda.

"Hirako!"

"I know you all have a lot to say right now!" Shinji Hirako grinned, revealing a large, zipper-like mouth, and looked at Sōsuke Aizen not far away; "However, now is not the time to speak!"

"Ah! That's true, let's first settle the accounts of the past hundred years!"

"·····"