" Rurichiyo, please rest here for now. Enryu and I will wait for Enryū in the next room..."
A man named Kenryū, with short black hair, sharp and determined eyes, and a loyal retainer of Rurichiyo, knelt on one knee before Rurichiyo Kasumioji and spoke respectfully.
"Okay." Rurichiyo, sitting on Ichigo Kurosaki's bed, nodded slightly after hearing Kenryū's words, then asked, "Have all the houses next door been bought yet?"
" Rurichiyo, you can rest assured about this. We bought all the houses in the surrounding area at three times the market price."
After hearing what Rurichiyo said, Kenryū smiled slightly. The Kasumioji Clan had nothing else but money, especially the head of the family's guards. The amount of money they could control was an astronomical figure that was impossible to count.
"That's good..."
"You may all step back!"
"Thank you all for your hard work today. You should all go back and get some rest!"
"You need not worry about my safety."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji nodded in satisfaction and smiled slightly at Kenryū and Enryū.
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving Rurichiyo's order, the two immediately knelt on one knee, accepted the command, and took their leave.
"I'm entrusting Rurichiyo to you..."
After Kenryū and Enryū left the Kurosaki Family mansion, they bowed slightly to Isshin Kurosaki and the others who had seen them out of the room.
"Although we don't have much space at home,... it's possible for the two of you to stay at the clinic next door, provided you both don't mind..."
Isshin Kurosaki pointed to the clinic next to the Isshin Kurosaki Family, where he usually worked and where the Kurosaki Family's income came from.
"Thank you for your kindness, but it's not necessary. We live right next door."
After hearing Isshin Kurosaki's words, Kenryū smiled slightly and bowed again to express his gratitude.
"Forehead..."
"Next door?"
Isshin Kurosaki thought he had misheard and looked at Kenryū with a questioning gaze.
"Yes, next door..."
"To be honest, just now, we bought the room next door... at three times the market price."
Kenryū spoke, he held up three fingers, emphasizing the number three!
"Three times?!"
"The wealthy... Kasumioji Clan."
Isshin Kurosaki's lips twitched slightly. He was once again shocked by the Kasumioji Clan's extravagance, while inwardly complaining, "No wonder they make more money doing anything than selling fireworks. I don't know what their ancestors were thinking. They're a family that produces artillery, yet they only let the family sell fireworks..."
"In short, I entrust Lady Rurichiyo Kasumioji to you all."
Kenryū bowed deeply to everyone once more before leaving with Enryū.
"You'd better make me proud, Ichigo!"
Isshin Kurosaki clenched his fists, inwardly cheering for his good son.
Not long after Kenryū and Enryū left, the lights in the Kurosaki Family were turned off... Perhaps because the Kurosaki family had experienced too many shocks today, everyone was exhausted and went to bed early.
Time flies, and soon it was midnight...
The deserted streets echoed with the chirping of insects. Even after darkness enveloped the entire city, what remained awake, wandering endlessly through the world, were... ghosts and demons that could not be seen by human eyes!
Five people, dressed in black bodysuits that obscured their faces and made it impossible to discern their genders, stood silently observing from a building not far from the Kurosaki Family.
"Set off..."
After a while, once they were sure that the Kurosaki family had indeed fallen asleep, the leader, whose voice was hoarse, coldly gave the order.
In an instant, several men in black, like untouchable shadows, moved through the streets and arrived at the gate of the Kurosaki Family's Kurosaki Family in a flash. A few flashes of cold light appeared, but the gate was meaningless to them. The men silently passed through the stairs, went up to the second floor, and stealthily slipped into the room where Rurichiyo Kasumioji was sleeping...
"Call..."
"Call..."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji was fast asleep. She had experienced so much today and was exhausted. All she wanted was a good night's sleep. However, just as she relaxed and rested, she suddenly sensed danger nearby. In an instant, the hairs on her body stood on end, and cold sweat poured down her entire body...
"Help..."
Subconsciously, Rurichiyo was about to call out.
However, just as Rurichiyo was about to scream, a pair of hands firmly covered her mouth.
"Awoo!"
Rurichiyo, never one to hold back, took a bite directly.
"Shh..."
" Rurichiyo, it's me, Kenryū!"
The person who was pressing down on Rurichiyo Rurichiyo's mouth was bitten painfully by her lips and quickly explained.
" Kenryū?"
How did you end up here?
Rurichiyo Kasumioji looked at Kenryū beside her with some confusion. She didn't understand why Kenryū had attacked her at night.
" Rurichiyo, keep your voice down, the enemy is coming."
"Those people are at Kurosaki's house right now."
Kenryū gently held Rurichiyo Kasumioji in his arms, speaking nervously.
"The enemy? In Kurosaki's house?"
"And... what about Ichigo Kurosaki's family?"
Rurichiyo Kasumioji's expression changed. She instinctively broke free from Kenryū's embrace, looked around, and finally climbed to the window, looking at the Kurosaki Family with its lights on.
"I'm sorry... Rurichiyo..."
"It was my decision to rescue you without my consent and to use the Kurosaki family as bait. My only task was to ensure your safety."
After hearing what Rurichiyo Kasumioji, Kenryū lowered his head and apologized. He felt sorry for Kurosaki's family, as he was powerless to help them.
"Why..."
"It's my fault, Kurosaki's family..."
Rurichiyo looked out the window and cried. Tears streamed down her face, and her small body trembled. She was filled with confusion. All she wanted was for everyone to be alright, so why did she have to endure such cruelty...?
She recalled the smiling faces of the Kurosaki family, the maternal love that Masaki Kurosaki showed her, the tender and loving look in Isshin Kurosaki as he gazed at her, and the complex emotions in the eyes of Yuzu Kurosaki and Karin Kurosaki...
Rurichiyo Kasumioji trembled uncontrollably. She couldn't face the good people she had indirectly caused to die; she couldn't forgive herself for being so selfish...
" Rurichiyo- sama..."
Looking at the Kenryū, cowering Rurichiyo Kasumioji, Inuryu wanted to say something, but ultimately couldn't utter a word. He didn't know how to Rurichiyo Kasumioji, the strongest noble family below the Five Great Noble Clans —was this a good thing or a bad thing? Kenryū couldn't say. All he could do was risk his life to protect Rurichiyo Kasumioji...
"Well..."
"Making such a cute little girl cry is not something a qualified guard should do."
Just as Rurichiyo was crouching by the window, clutching her head and weeping, a slightly weary voice rang in their ears.
Who is it?
Upon hearing the voice beside him, Kenryū froze instantly. He immediately turned around and saw a burly, handsome man dressed in Shihakusho.
"You... you are..."
If the other person were just wearing an ordinary Shihakusho, Kenryū wouldn't be so frightened that his voice would tremble. However, the tattered haori fluttering on the other person's shoulder was simply too eye-catching. Anyone would know that the man standing in front of Kenryū was a former captain of the Gotei 13 in Soul Society.
"Yo~"
"Since you've come looking for Ichigo, you must have investigated me beforehand."
"Now it seems you were also fooled into coming here..."
"Former Captain of the Tenth Division of the Gotei 13, Isshin Shiba, here to report!"
The middle-aged man made an exaggerated gesture, announcing his arrival.
" Uncle Isshin, are you alright?!"
The little girl, Rurichiyo, suddenly jumped into the old man's arms and shouted excitedly.
"Hey-hey..."
"It's okay~ Of course it's okay~"
"Damn, if only Yuzu and Karin were this cute."
Isshin Kurosaki held Rurichiyo Kasumioji in his arms, a lewd smile on his lips. Rurichiyo's age reminded Isshin Kurosaki of Yuzu and Karin. It was a pity that his precious daughter only liked her brother and not her father!
" Isshin Shiba, the former captain of the Tenth Division, mentor of the current captain of the Tenth Division Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and head of a branch family of the Shiba Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans of Soul Society!"
"A legendary man who possesses strength surpassing that of ordinary captains, who once fought against Menos Grande of what appeared to be Vasto Lorde level in the World of the Living and escaped unscathed, ultimately defecting from Soul Society and living in seclusion in the World of the Living..."
"My apologies, I never expected to encounter a legend here!"
Kenryū stared at Isshin Kurosaki, his mouth slightly agape in shock. It wasn't that he wasn't familiar with Isshin Shiba's background; it was just that Isshin Kurosaki's appearance was so different from when they were in Soul Society that Kenryū hadn't even considered that possibility.
"Hahaha..."
"I'm not as powerful as you say~"
"What legend... it's all in the past, everything is over."
Isshin Kurosaki gently picked up Rurichiyo Kasumioji Rurichiyo Kasumioji, patting her back playfully as he walked over to Kenryū's side with a big laugh.
Hey! Kid!
"Explain everything to me clearly..."
"I haven't settled accounts with you yet for using my whole family as bait today!"
Isshin whispered something into Kenryū's ear.
"Forehead..."
In an instant, Kenryū was so frightened that cold sweat poured down his body. Who wouldn't be scared if they were being targeted by a man who had made it far beyond the captain's domain?!
" Uncle Isshin, I'm scared..."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji nestled in Isshin Kurosaki's arms, wiping away tears.
"Good boy~"
"As long as I'm here, there's nothing to be afraid of. No matter what kind of bad guys come, or how many bad guys come, Uncle will help you fight them off!"
Isshin Kurosaki truly regarded the young Rurichiyo Kasumioji as his own daughter, and he gently patted Rurichiyo's back as he spoke to her.
"Go home and get a good night's sleep. When you wake up, all the bad guys will have disappeared."
Isshin Kurosaki carried Rurichiyo Kasumioji all the way back to Rurichiyo Kasumioji Ichigo Kurosaki's bedroom, covered her with a blanket, and spoke gently like a father.
" Uncle Isshin, could you tell me a story?"
"When my father was alive, he would tell me stories whenever I was scared."
Rurichiyo Kasumioji lay in her blankets, her eyes glistening with tears, looking at Isshin Kurosaki with the fearful gaze of a young animal filled with dread.
"Of course, no problem."
Isshin Kurosaki enjoying himself. He hadn't felt this way about spending time with his daughters in a long time. His status within the Kurosaki Clan was quite low. In the Kurosaki Family, Masaki Kurosaki was the undisputed head of the family, followed by her daughters, then that Ichigo Kurosaki, and finally him. He hadn't felt needed like this in a long time.
"Um!"
Rurichiyo Kasumioji smiled happily...
After a long while.
Isshin Kurosaki Rurichiyo Kasumioji. He carefully and quietly left Rurichiyo Kasumioji's room and came to the courtyard, where he saw Kenryū dealing with the five men in black who had been instantly killed by him in a single encounter.
"I've already dealt with all the bad guys."
When Kenryū saw Isshin Kurosaki dressed in his Shihakusho, he immediately sidled up to him, like a lackey, trying to curry favor with Isshin Kurosaki.
No! There's still one bad guy who hasn't been dealt with.
Isshin Kurosaki gently shook his head, smiling as he looked at Kenryū.
"What? Where are the enemies?"
"Watch me take care of him!"
Startled, Kenryū immediately drew his Zanpakuto from his waist and cautiously looked around.
"Isn't the bad guy right in front of us?"
Isshin Kurosaki looked at Kenryū with a half-smile.
"No way?! Captain!"
"I had no choice in the matter!"
Seeing Isshin Kurosaki's expression, Kenryū instantly understood. He frowned and gave a bitter smile.
"I know it's your duty. I'm a good person, so I won't kill you. How about that? Isn't that being considerate?"
Isshin Kurosaki laughed. "What do I care about your duties? Do you think you have the right to use my family as bait? Go to hell... I'm only being kind to the Kasumioji Clan by not killing you."
"Please be gentle, I'm actually afraid of pain..."
Reluctantly, Kenryū sheathed his Zanpakuto, looked at Isshin Kurosaki with an apologetic gaze, and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Afraid of pain? Just bear with it!"
Isshin Kurosaki revealed a kind smile, his teeth gleaming, exuding power.
"Ah!!!"
The next moment, a scream came from Kenryū's mouth, but unfortunately, Isshin Kurosaki had set up a soundproof barrier around him beforehand, so no one could hear it.
As a doctor, Isshin Kurosaki to beat Kenryū to death if he couldn't kill him. He beat Kenryū for a full Kaidō, then used his healing powers to heal him in ten minutes, and then beat him for another hour, repeating this process until dawn...
Early in the morning, in the Kurosaki Clan clinic, Kenryū knelt on the ground, trembling as he looked at Isshin Kurosaki, who had healed him once again, unable to utter a single word.
"Please tell me the specifics."
Isshin Kurosaki calmly took a sip of tea and asked Kenryū, who was kneeling on the ground.
" The Kasumioji Clan is in turmoil... Rurichiyo is still too young, and some elders in the clan are planning to seize power. Rurichiyo needs an accomplice to help her consolidate power."
The Kenryū knelt on the ground and answered truthfully.
"So you've got your eyes on Ichigo Kurosaki?"
Isshin Kurosaki calmly nodded. What the other party said was similar to what he had thought. If there hadn't been internal strife, how could the princess of the Kasumioji Clan have appeared in the World of the Living?
" Ichigo Kurosaki... at such a young age, he mastered Bankai and possessed the strength of a captain. He even caused a great disturbance in Soul Society a few days ago, making him a prominent figure Soul Society. Furthermore, I heard from a rumor that Ichigo Kurosaki is related to the Shiba Clan. I didn't believe it at first, but now... I do."
Kenryū's face turned ashen. He hadn't taken it seriously when Rurichiyo Kasumioji told him that Ichigo Kurosaki was a member of the Shiba Clan, assuming it was just something the Shihōin Clan elder had told Rurichiyo. But now it seemed... he had been too hasty. He should have been more careful and done his research.
"Wow! You've even dug up my family's history, impressive!"
"Who's the source of this gossip?"
Isshin Kurosaki was startled by Kenryū's words. Although he no longer cared about whether he revealed his secrets, he still believed that his affairs in Karakura Town should not be known to an informant who sold gossip.
"Well... how should I put it?"
"It's... that guy from the Shihoin Family, the current captain of the Second Division..."
Kenryū watched Isshin Kurosaki speak cautiously.
"Understood."
Isshin Kurosaki instantly understood. He decided to skip the topic and pretend he hadn't heard what he had just heard.
So what are you planning to do?
"Isshin Kurosaki asked."
"Indeed, as you can see, we've brought gifts this time. I think, why don't our two families arrange a marriage? Of course... it doesn't necessarily mean your son has to marry our princess, but... at least there should be a marriage agreement. I think with this connection, the elders will behave themselves a bit more..."
Kenryū lowered his head, not daring to look at Isshin Kurosaki's face, and spoke cautiously.
"Um?!"
" Ichigo Kurosaki is my first and only son, the future heir of the Kurosaki Clan. He's engaged to your Kasumioji Clan. If he marries into the family, wouldn't that mean my Kurosaki Clan's heir is gone?"
Isshin Kurosaki's expression changed, and he spoke in a cold voice.
"I understand. Please pretend I didn't say anything. I'll take my princess back to Soul Society right away."
Upon hearing Kenryū Isshin Kurosaki's stern voice, Inuryu trembled with fear, terrified that Isshin Kurosaki might be displeased and hang him up again for a beating.
No! I think you've misunderstood...
When Isshin Kurosaki heard that Kenryū was going to take Rurichiyo Kasumioji away, he immediately frowned. Rurichiyo Kasumioji was his treasure trove, how could she be taken away?! He quickly grabbed Kenryū's hand.
"Oh?! Isshin, what do you mean by that?"
Looking at the strong hand gripping his arm, Kenryū's heart skipped a beat, and he asked.
"What I mean is, it's not impossible for Ichigo Kurosaki, as the eldest son of the Kurosaki Family Kurosaki Family the current heir, to marry into the Kasumioji Clan... but he'll have to pay extra!"
Isshin Kurosaki crossed his arms and spoke in a very serious tone.
"No problem!"
Upon hearing this, Kenryū felt instantly reassured. The Kasumioji Clan might not have much else, but they certainly had plenty of money!
It's the last day of October~ Another 5,000 words! I'll try my best to write 5,000 words a day next month~
(End of this chapter)