Inoue Sora

The instant the wall cracked open, Orihime Inoue froze.

Before she could even react, her chest felt as though it had been struck by a sledgehammer, and her breath abruptly caught.

The next moment, her vision blurred.

Her own body had fallen to the floor.

"Orihime!"

Tatsuki Arisawa's expression changed drastically, and she hurried toward her.

But she had barely taken a step when the long tail reaching out of the black hole swept across, striking her forehead with a bang.

Tatsuki fell to the side before she could even grunt.

Blood trickled down from her temple.

Orihime Inoue's eyes widened.

She looked down at her hands, then at her own body lying on the floor, her face filled with bewilderment.

By then, the Hollow had crawled all the way out of the black hole.

Its slender, twisted body writhed like a snake.

Nauseating acid still clung to its tail.

Most unnerving of all, half a human face was exposed beneath its broken white mask.

It reached out and seized Orihime Inoue's soul.

"I found you... Orihime."

Its voice was hoarse and venomous.

Orihime Inoue trembled all over.

She knew that voice all too well.

"B... Brother?"

The Hollow's movements visibly faltered.

But soon, it grew even more agitated.

"Why?"

"Why can you smile and spend time with other people?"

"Why don't you think only of me anymore?"

"I'm... your brother."

Tears instantly welled up in Orihime Inoue's eyes.

Looking at that familiar yet twisted face, her mind went blank.

She had never imagined that the one attacking her would be Inoue Soraichi, who had already died.

She had always thought her brother had simply gone away.

She had never expected him to return like this.

"That's not true..."

Orihime Inoue shook her head desperately.

"I haven't forgotten you, Brother. I never have."

"You're lying!"

Inoue Soraichi roared, his grip abruptly tightening.

Orihime Inoue winced in pain, her face instantly paling.

Just then, someone slammed the door open.

Ichigo Kurosaki practically charged inside, Zanpakuto in hand.

"Let her go!"

He swung his blade straight at the Hollow.

But the Acid Thread Hollow's tail was astonishingly fast, coiling around the Zanpakuto's blade as though it were alive.

An acrid burning sensation immediately traveled from the hilt to Ichigo Kurosaki's palm.

"Hiss..."

He frowned.

The next moment, the long tail lashed violently.

Ichigo Kurosaki was sent flying along with his sword, smashing through the window and plummeting toward the ground below.

Rukia had just followed him inside when her expression changed.

"Ichigo!"

She was about to act, but Inoue Soraichi was already dragging Orihime Inoue toward the corner.

Through the Transparent World, however, Yoriichi Tsugikuni saw it clearly.

This Hollow did not simply want to eat Orihime.

It was in too much pain.

With that thought, Yoriichi Tsugikuni walked in through the doorway.

His footsteps were light, but Inoue Sora still noticed him.

His tail moved, whipping toward Yoriichi's neck like a hook.

It was fast.

But Yoriichi was faster.

His figure flickered, and he was already beside Inoue Soraichi, swinging his right hand with its fingers held together like a blade.

There was a swish.

The arm holding Orihime Inoue was severed cleanly.

Orihime Inoue's soul fell.

Rukia immediately rushed forward and shielded her behind her.

Inoue Soraichi flew into an absolute rage.

It opened its mouth, let out a piercing shriek, and lunged at Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

Just a simple turn to the side, a step, a twist of the wrist.

Yet he evaded every attack.

Standing behind him, Rukia's pupils contracted slightly.

The more Inoue Soraichi fought, the more erratic it became.

Its Reiatsu grew increasingly volatile as well.

Furniture in the room was repeatedly smashed by its tail, and acid corrosion scarred the walls everywhere.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni raised his hand, a gentle yet scorching trace of Reiatsu appearing in his palm, then lightly pressed it against Inoue Soraichi's mask.

Crack.

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

The mask cracked.

The Hollow's mask split down the middle and fell to the floor.

Inoue Soraichi stopped moving.

He stood there, the madness in his eyes fading little by little.

In the end, only bewilderment and sorrow remained.

"Orihime..."

Orihime Inoue covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"Brother."

She ran out from behind Rukia.

Rukia started.

"Wait!"

Yoriichi Tsugikuni did not stop her.

This soul would no longer hurt her.

Orihime Inoue threw herself into Inoue Soraichi's arms.

She held him tightly, as though afraid he would disappear the next second.

"I'm sorry... Brother... I'm sorry..."

"It's not that I don't miss you. I think about you every day."

"But I want to live my life, too..."

Inoue Soraichi looked down at her, his expression gradually softening.

He raised his hand and gently stroked his little sister's head.

Just as he had when he was alive.

"It's my fault."

"I was just... so lonely."

Orihime Inoue cried even harder.

Rukia stood beside them and fell silent.

Before long, Inoue Soraichi's body began turning into Reishi, little by little.

He could no longer hold on.

"Orihime."

"Yes..."

"Keep smiling as you live your life."

"I will."

Orihime Inoue gave him a smile through her tears.

Ichigo Kurosaki, who had just climbed back up from downstairs, stopped to watch the scene.

Soon, Inoue Soraichi turned entirely into motes of light and dissipated into the air.

Orihime Inoue held out her hand, staring blankly ahead.

Her tears were still falling.

But her expression was no longer as despairing as before.

The room fell quiet for a moment.

Rukia was the first to recover.

"Let's check the injured first."

She immediately crouched beside Tatsuki and examined her injuries, her expression darkening slightly.

"A head injury, but it's not too serious."

Then she looked at Orihime Inoue.

"Her soul was forcibly pulled out. She's severely depleted."

Clutching his numb palm, Ichigo Kurosaki frowned. "Can you heal them?"

"I'll try."

Rukia raised her hand and began using Kidō.

A faint light enveloped Tatsuki and Orihime Inoue.

But sweat soon beaded on her forehead.

It was working.

But its effect was very limited.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni glanced at them and said calmly, "Let me."

Rukia looked up.

"You know healing Kidō?"

"Didn't you just use it?!"

With that, Yoriichi Tsugikuni crouched down.

He raised his hand, a soft green glow gathering at his fingertips.

The purity of the Reiatsu made Rukia's breath catch.

The next moment, warm light covered Tatsuki's forehead, and the wound stopped bleeding and healed almost visibly.

Then that power settled over Orihime Inoue as well.

Her pale complexion visibly improved.

Rukia watched in shock.

"How is this possible..."

Ichigo Kurosaki was stunned as well.

"This technique isn't very complicated. One look was enough to understand it."

Yoriichi Tsugikuni spoke as he healed them.

"Who exactly are you?"

She realized she needed to reassess Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

"Just an ordinary human who happened to acquire special powers."

With the treatment finished, Yoriichi Tsugikuni withdrew the Kidō from his hand and stood.

"Now that things are settled, I should head back!"

With that, he walked toward the door.

Orihime had just opened her eyes after her soul reunited with her body when she saw Yoriichi Tsugikuni standing at the door, ready to leave.

"Yoriichi..."

Yoriichi Tsugikuni turned back and glanced at her.

"All better? You've recovered nicely!"

Orihime Inoue felt her nose sting.

"Th... thank you!"

Her voice was still thick with tears.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded, then waved and turned to leave.

"Kurosaki-kun, Rukia, thank you!"

As she spoke, Orihime bowed to Ichigo and Rukia.

Late at night.

Outside the Urahara Shop.

Rukia stood outside, looked up at the sign, then pushed the door open and went straight in.

Behind the counter, Kisuke Urahara was fanning himself.

"Well, well, what brings you here so late, Miss Kuchiki?"

Rukia stared at him and said, enunciating every word, "Shopkeeper, I need you to investigate Ichigo Kurosaki's classmate, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, for me."