The Unforgiven from Shinigami
A moment of silence followed.
This is a very strange feeling.
Marechiyo Ōmaeda fell to the ground, feeling the pain from hitting her head. Her mouth was open, but she couldn't utter a sound of pain.
The hands and feet were also damaged, as if they had been cut off and no longer existed.
What's going on?
The unknown plunged Marechiyo Ōmaeda into a state of extreme terror.
Byakuya Kuchiki realized something was wrong, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, and he loosened his grip on the sword hilt. " Bankai. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Huge blades rose from the cold, moonlit street, instantly disintegrating into petal-shaped pieces.
He coiled himself around the area in a spiral pattern to ensure he wouldn't be attacked, then crouched down and picked up Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
The petal-shaped blades carved a path through the rooftop as he Shunpo moved forward.
The gates of the noble street crumbled silently, petal blades gushing forth, reflecting the moonlight like a vast stream of cherry blossom-colored light.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished.
The guards were stunned for a moment before realizing the door was gone, and someone tried to ring the bell to warn others.
He was scolded by the Seated Officer next to him, "Don't knock, that's Captain Kuchiki's Senbonzakura."
They arrived outside the Fourth Division's General Infirmary.
Byakuya Kuchiki lowered his head, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who could have kept her eyes open, had her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
The heavy breathing and heartbeat were definitely not how one should fall asleep normally.
The petal-shaped blades spread out to the sides like the wings of an eagle.
Retsu Unohana stood in the courtyard.
With such a commotion, how could she possibly sleep? Her beautiful hair was draped over her shoulders, a little messy, with a few strands sticking up.
The moonlight shone on her, making it impossible to tell whether it was her fair skin or the moonlight that made her appear white.
So much so that her pale cherry-colored lips looked so delicious.
" Captain Kuchiki, what's going on?"
" Sōya Azashiro appeared in the noble district. I don't know what he did to Lieutenant Ōmaeda, but he turned into this."
The Gene Era
Byakuya Kuchiki quickly explained the whole story.
Retsu Unohana stepped forward, took his pulse, and said, "Huh, that's strange."
Lifting her eyelids, she could see her small, expectant eyes staring straight at her.
Then I checked the heartbeat.
"The Lieutenant Ōmaeda's body isn't caused by illness or medication; it's more like his hands, feet, vocal cords, and eyelids have been replaced with someone else's, resulting in a different Reiatsu response."
Retsu Unohana frowned slightly.
Having served as the Fourth Division Captain for hundreds of years, she has seen many difficult and complicated cases. She is certain that Ōmaeda's strange phenomenon is definitely caused by the power of his Zanpakuto.
Retsu Unohana thought for a moment, then looked around. The petals and blades obscured the stars and the moon, and the wind silently swept through the branches.
"..."
She sighed softly to herself. If that were the case, things would become very troublesome. "I'll take him to a ward and give him an injection that will induce a state of unconsciousness in his brain."
Even if it can't be cured, at least we can guarantee he won't suffer.
"Alright." Byakuya Kuchiki nodded, his handsome face still maintaining the aloofness of a great nobleman, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
The noble district is under the jurisdiction of the 6th Division and is known for its tight security.
If this Muken convict from the Sōya Azashiro were to be allowed to come and go freely, it would likely cause panic among the nobles regarding their own safety.
However, why Sōya Azashiro action against Ōmaeda?
Lost in thought, Byakuya Kuchiki entered the General Infirmary, placed Marechiyo Ōmaeda on a bed in a ward, and instructed, "Please do not notify Ōmaeda's family about the specifics of his condition."
"I see."
Retsu Unohana expressed her understanding of his choice to keep it a secret, as most nobles are only concerned with protecting themselves.
If news of Ōmaeda's affair were to spread among the aristocracy, countless nobles would pack their bags and flee overnight.
"Hmm." Byakuya Kuchiki nodded, Shunpo vanished from the ward with a Shunpo, heading straight for the Second Division's barracks without returning to the 6th Division.
If there was anything about Marechiyo Ōmaeda thought, he concluded that there was only one possibility: she was carrying out a mission for the Second Division.
He needs to find Soi Fon and get to the bottom of this.
call.
Byakuya Kuchiki Shunpo to reach the courtyard of the Second Division barracks.
Dark figures attacked from all directions.
Masked and dressed in black, Punishment Force soldiers stood with their hands behind their backs, surrounding him from the rooftops, to his left and right, and in front and behind.
" Captain Kuchiki, what brings you here so late at night?"
One of them spoke up to ask a question.
Byakuya Kuchiki said casually, " Lieutenant Ōmaeda was attacked by Sōya Azashiro. I'd like to ask Captain Soi Fon what mission he's currently carrying out."
"Please wait a moment." The person who spoke turned and went to the captain's bedroom, knocking gently on the door.
"Stop knocking! How can I possibly sleep with such a loud noise!"
Soi Fon has a bad temper when she wakes up, especially when she is forcibly disturbed from her sleep.
The man didn't dare to retort and retreated back into the queue.
The door opened, Soi Fon, dressed in military uniform, slipped her feet into cloth shoes, then bent down and hooked them with her fingers to put them on completely. She walked forward with small steps. " Captain Kuchiki, what brings you here?"
Byakuya Kuchiki explained in detail, "Just now I sensed Ōmaeda's Reiatsu, and when I arrived at his doorstep, I saw that Sōya Azashiro left."
He collapsed to the ground, unable to speak, unable to move, and eventually unable to even open his eyes.
I took her to the General Infirmary; Captain Unohana's chances of recovery are slim.
"What?!"
Soi Fon was completely shocked; her little brain couldn't process what was happening.
Byakuya Kuchiki asked, "What mission has he been on lately?"
Soi Fon instinctively replied, "Yesterday he reported that there were bad rumors about the Gold Seal Unit, so I asked him to investigate..."
"Immediately summon all the squad members in charge of this matter here, and also bring over the preliminary files left by Ōmaeda."
Several Punishment Force carried out the previous order, but the next order will be more difficult.
One of them walked up to her and whispered in her ear, " Captain Soi Fon and Lieutenant Ōmaeda only recorded things afterward; they didn't record anything beforehand."
"Huh?" Soi Fon turned her head, and the man immediately stood up straight in fright. She said angrily, "Didn't I request that there be records before and after investigating any case? What did Ōmaeda submit before?"
"Those were all written by someone else at the request of Lieutenant Ōmaeda."
The man replied weakly.
Soi Fon was so angry that veins popped out on her forehead. "Why didn't you report this to me beforehand?"
"... You didn't ask."
"Drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane!"
Soi Fon, too lazy to waste words, waved her hand, and the person was dragged away.
Before long, the Punishment Force who carried out the first order returned, each carrying a person on their back. " Captain Soi Fon, their symptoms are the same as Lieutenant Ōmaeda's; all the pre-emptive files they wrote have disappeared."
" Sōya Azashiro!"
Soi Fon clenched her small hands tightly, releasing a pale golden Reiatsu from her body.
Byakuya Kuchiki frowned slightly. Was everything Sōya Azashiro did on his own, or was someone behind the scenes helping him?
Perhaps only one person can answer this question.