Hearing the slightly teasing words from above, Rangiku Matsumoto braced her uninjured right hand against the broken wall behind her.
She tried to straighten her hunched body, but the moment she exerted herself, a piercing pain shot through the broken ribs in her abdomen.
She could not help knitting her brows tightly, taking several heavy breaths before she barely managed to steady herself.
Though her whole body hurt as if it were about to fall apart, a look of relief at surviving appeared on Rangiku's dust- and blood-stained face.
"You're still as annoying as ever."
Rangiku looked up at Gin Ichimaru, who stood a few steps away, and retorted without any courtesy.
Though her words held reproach, anyone could hear that she was in fairly good spirits now.
She knew very well just how dangerous her situation had been.
The absolute defense displayed by that Sternritter member named Cang Du gave him more than enough strength to crush an ordinary captain one-sidedly.
But whenever this man came into view, no matter how desperate her circumstances, she would feel an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
Gin Ichimaru did not respond to her emotionally charged complaint.
He did not even maintain his trademark foxlike smile.
Gin Ichimaru lowered his gaze to inspect Rangiku's injuries, his eyes lingering for a moment on the wounds that cut down to the bone.
Her abdomen was severely injured, her wrist hung limply, and her Reiatsu was utterly depleted.
"You're in absolutely terrible shape right now."
Gin Ichimaru raised his wrist and said bluntly, "You've completely lost your ability to fight. Stay out of the battles from here on."
Those words instantly ignited Rangiku's competitive side.
Her original thought of taking the opportunity to rest flew straight out the window.
"Don't underestimate me."
Gritting her teeth, Rangiku wiped