Hisana smiled gently.
Then Renji asked Rukia what had happened to her over the years.
Rukia held nothing back and told Renji her whole story.
Hisana listened to her sister, smiling fondly.
Lord Yamabuki really loved teasing children.
Renji listened to Rukia's story and fell silent for a long time. He had become a Soul Reaper because he wanted to save her. Yet over the past five years, she hadn't suffered at all. She had become the adopted daughter of the greatest noble house, and its mistress was her own sister.
It was more outrageous than a protagonist with cheat powers.
You could tell whether someone was happy by looking at her state of mind. Someone who lived in misery and repression couldn't smile from the heart.
First, Renji felt relieved. At least Rukia had been happy these past few years.
Then anger flared in his chest.
"Who was the bastard who took you away? If I see him again, I'm going to beat him up!" Renji snarled through gritted teeth.
Couldn't he have just said he was taking Rukia to her long-lost sister? Was picking on kids that much fun?
Rukia jerked her thumb toward the second floor behind her. "That bastard's standing right there."
Renji looked up. Yamabuki Chidori stood on the second floor, smiling and waving at him. "Renji! Haven't seen you in years. Gotten taller?"
The instant Renji saw him, he flew into a rage. "You bastard! I'm going to kill you today!"
The Guards around them moved to intervene, but Yamabuki Chidori waved them back.
If anyone was going to pick on a kid, it would be me. Punching my way through the South Mountain Nursing Home and trampling Beihai Kindergarten—that was my motto.
"Renji, want me to give you a handicap and fight without