Kūkaku Shiba

With Yoruichi leading the way, the group left Rukongai and arrived at a remote stretch of wasteland.

Looking around, they could barely see a soul. Only a Japanese-style house stood alone in the middle of the clearing.

The house itself was unremarkable.

But on either side stood an enormous stone arm. The two fists were raised high, with a thick log spanning the gap between them and a banner hanging beneath it.

Four large characters were written on the banner.

Kūkaku Shiba.

Behind the house stood an enormous chimney that towered into the sky. Yoriichi knew it was no chimney, but a tube used to launch a fireworks cannon.

After seeing the residence with his own eyes, Yoriichi fell silent for a moment.

Seeing it in the manga and actually standing here looking at it were two completely different things.

"A very distinctive building."

That was already the most tactful assessment Yoriichi could come up with.

Ichigo's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help saying, "No normal person would have this kind of taste, right?"

Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses, his face full of aversion.

"I don't want anyone seeing me walk in there. It's too embarrassing."

Chad studied it seriously for a while, then said calmly, "It's very rugged. It doesn't look like somewhere people live."

Orihime Inoue's eyes, however, lit up.

"I think it looks really cool, especially those two fists. They're so imposing."

Ichigo turned to look at her.

Sure enough, Inoue's ideas could never be judged by normal people's standards.

Yoruichi crouched on Yoriichi's shoulder and flicked her tail.

"That's just how Kūkaku is. She does whatever she wants. Wherever she builds her home, she'll make it look like this."

"The upside is that you can't mistake it for anywhere else."

No one could argue with that.

After all, there probably wasn't another house like this for miles around.

Before long, two tall men emerged from the house.

"Lady Yoruichi, Lady Kūkaku has been waiting for some time."

They were Koganehiko and Gin'hiko, both servants of the Shiba Clan.

Under their guidance, the group entered the house and followed a staircase down. Only when Ichigo saw what lay underground did he realize that this residence was far more than it appeared to be.

The space below was extremely spacious, with interconnected corridors and rooms that could accommodate dozens of people.

"So it's all built underground."

Ichigo had barely finished speaking when a familiar voice came from ahead.

"You?"

Ganju Shiba stood at the end of the corridor, staring fixedly at Ichigo's Shihakushō.

Ichigo recognized him too.

"That guy riding a boar last night?"

"Bastard, who are you calling a boar rider?"

"Is there anyone else here who rides a boar?"

"That's my noble mode of transport!"

A vein bulged on Ganju's forehead, and he charged up to Ichigo in a few strides. Ichigo wasn't about to put up with him. They stared at each other for less than three seconds before both reached out and grabbed the other's collar.

"Let go."

"You first."

"This is my house!"

"So what?"

The next moment, the two began brawling.

A table was knocked over, a wooden chair went flying, and a nearby vase fell and shattered.

Uryū Ishida quickly backed away, afraid of getting dragged into these two idiots' fight.

Orihime Inoue grew a little anxious.

"Kurosaki-kun, the boy who rides a boar, please stop fighting."

Ganju froze at her words.

"Who are you calling the boy who rides a boar?"

Ichigo seized the chance to punch him in the face.

Furious, Ganju raised his leg and kicked.

Just as they were about to continue, a foot suddenly shot in from the side, striking each of them in the face in turn.

Bam!

Ichigo and Ganju flew backward together and slammed into the wall.

The hall instantly fell silent.

A black-haired woman stood where the two had been. Her right sleeve hung empty, and she held a pipe in her exposed left hand. She swept her gaze over the wreckage strewn across the floor, her expression growing darker and darker.

"Ganju."

"Big Sis."

"And you, orange head."

Ichigo stood up, holding his face.

"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki."

"I don't care."

Kūkaku Shiba exhaled a puff of smoke and said coldly, "The things you broke are coming out of your meals today."

Ganju froze.

"How do you take it out of our meals?"

"Neither of you gets to eat today."

"What?"

"Any objections?"

"No."

Ganju, who had been so aggressive just moments earlier, immediately became meek.

Ichigo glanced at him and suddenly felt that this guy wasn't fearless after all.

Yoruichi leaped off Yoriichi's shoulder and landed on the tabletop.

"Kūkaku, we can catch up later. This time, we need your help."

Kūkaku looked at Yoruichi, then swept her gaze over Yoriichi and the others.

"You want to enter the Seireitei?"

"That's right."

Yoruichi briefly explained the execution and also mentioned Kisuke Urahara.

At that name, Kūkaku narrowed her eyes and lightly tapped her pipe against the tabletop.

"Kisuke Urahara is involved too?"

"He's the one heading the plan."

Kūkaku didn't answer immediately.

She knew the truth behind Kaien's death back then better than anyone. It hadn't been Rukia's fault. On the contrary, Kaien had chosen that ending himself.

Over all these years, she had never resented Rukia.

After a moment, Kūkaku raised her head.

"I can send you into the Seireitei."

Joy appeared on Ichigo's face.

"But I have one condition."

Kūkaku extended her pipe and pointed at Ganju beside her.

"This kid goes with you."

"Big Sis, I'm not working with a Soul Reaper!"

The instant Ganju shouted, Kūkaku turned to look at him.

"What did you say?"

"I said... leave it to me."

Yoruichi nodded.

"No problem."

That settled the matter.

Kūkaku stood up and led the group through the long corridor toward the deepest part of the residence.

Rubbing his still-aching face, Ichigo couldn't help looking at Ganju.

Ganju was looking at him too.

They both snorted and turned their heads away.

Yoriichi also followed quietly at the rear.