As expected, Ichigo found another Shinigami and that little girl in the courtyard.
"It's still too cold out here, Princess Rurichiyo. Let's return to the house," said a tall Shinigami, gently advising the girl named Rurichiyo.
"If you have business with Kurosaki Ichigo, you'll have to wait. Her Highness needs to rest now," Inuzō said bluntly.
After speaking, he set up a barrier with kidō.
That arrogant attitude really irritated Ichigo.
"Bastard! Even Byakuya never spoke to me like that!"
But the three who had gone inside didn't hear him—otherwise, they might've wet their pants out of fear...
...
Rukia, rubbing her chin, muttered, "Since they're wearing gigai, someone must've provided them."
Ichigo calmed down. "You mean Urahara Shop?"
Rukia nodded. "After all, people like you and Senna are rare. Other Shinigami need gigai to act in the human world."
"Then let's go ask that geta-hat guy!" Ichigo said hotly.
"I'll go alone. Ichigo, stay with Xiling at home. If any Hollow appears, you'll be needed," Rukia instructed.
"I'll go too. I want to buy something," Senna said.
"Alright," Rukia agreed.
Since they'd be living together, it wasn't good to argue all the time. Constant bickering would wear them out.
Ichigo had no objection.
However, when Rukia and Senna returned that night, they both wore frowns.
"What's wrong? Did Urahara piss you off?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"We didn't even see Kisuke Urahara," Senna replied, annoyed.
"Yeah, and that guy named Tetsuri refused to tell us who those three are, citing business confidentiality," Rukia added with a scowl.
Ichigo stroked his chin. "Could that little girl really be some noble?"
"But even if she is," Senna said, "can her status be higher than yours, Rukia? You're the heiress of the Kuchiki Clan, the top of the Four Great Noble Houses. And you don't travel with that much pomp."
Rukia shrugged. "Our Kuchiki family doesn't care about that. Even my brother travels alone. When have you seen him surrounded by attendants?"
Ichigo sighed. "Exactly. Only nobles who need to show off would act like that."
Meanwhile, news arrived from Yoruichi and Byakuya—none of the Four Great Noble Houses had recently used the senkaimon.
Which meant only one gate had been used recently!
...
The next day, at school—
Ichigo and the others were stunned by the new transfer student.
Yep—it was Rurichiyo and her two attendants!
Orihime leaned toward Rukia and whispered, "These three don't look like high schoolers at all, do they?"
Ichigo frowned. These three were clearly here for him. But they didn't say why and just hovered around him—it was irritating.
And not just Ichigo.
Even Tatsuki and the others noticed something was off. The way those three behaved clearly screamed "Soul Society."
But since they weren't being openly hostile, Ichigo chose to ignore them and live his normal life.
Late at night—
Ichigo was fast asleep when he suddenly sensed a spike in spiritual pressure from the neighbors next door.
He instinctively woke up, Shinigami-fied, and jumped to the rooftop.
He wasn't alone. Rukia and Senna appeared beside him.
"What's going on?" Senna asked.
"Something's up next door—their reiatsu suddenly spiked," Ichigo explained.
Just then, Inuzō burst through the roof and landed in front of Ichigo, begging, "Kurosaki Ichigo-dono! Please help us!"
"Huh?" Ichigo was confused by the sudden change in attitude.
Still, unlike a certain official who laughs at everything, Ichigo stayed calm and asked, "Who are you people?"
"Please help us first, Ichigo-dono. We'll explain everything afterward," Inuzō pleaded, unusually polite.
Ichigo looked at Rukia and Senna.
"Let's help them first," Rukia said.
After all, they were nobles—technically vassals of the Kuchiki family.
If Byakuya never married, the family's main bloodline might fall to Rukia. That would make these people... her subordinates.
"Fine," Ichigo agreed.
He and Inuzō jumped through the hole into the room—only to find that Rurichiyo had already been carried away by the other Shinigami.
But the assassin was still inside!
"Hmph," Ichigo grunted, swinging his zanpakutō toward a shadow.
A strange blade blocked his swing.
Once discovered, the assassin fled through the roof hole that Inuzō had made.
But two others were already waiting outside!
"Get back here!" Rukia shouted. She cast a bakudō that slammed the masked assassin back.
He tried to redirect his trajectory and landed on the rooftop rather than crashing into the room.
Ichigo leaped onto the rooftop. "Who are you!?"
The man said nothing. His right arm held a bizarre weapon—there was even a mirror at the end of the blade.
Ichigo had never seen such a design before, but he didn't hesitate.
The man used the mirror to reflect moonlight, momentarily blinding Rukia and Senna.
But Ichigo remained—"Shing!"
With a single slash, Ichigo severed the man's arm!
The intense pain made the assassin scream. "Aaahhh!!"
Yet it also woke him up. He turned to flee.
"Don't even think about it—Getsuga Tenshō!"
Ichigo swung his blade into the air.
To his surprise, the assassin didn't even try to dodge. He turned and charged straight into the blast!
"Boom!"
The assassin's body was consumed by the attack, dissolving into spirit particles—leaving nothing behind.
That stunned Ichigo.
"Was that... a death operative?" Rukia asked, shocked.
Senna turned to Inuzō. "You're being hunted by death operatives? Who exactly are you people?"
"Let Princess Rurichiyo rest first. I'll explain everything afterward," Inuzō requested.
"Fine."
Inside the room—
Rurichiyo was sound asleep.
Inuzō and the tall Shinigami knelt before Ichigo and the others.
"We are retainers of the Kasumiooji family. Princess Rurichiyo is the rightful heir—Kasumiooji Rurichiyo," Inuzō said.
"Kasumiooji? The family that manufactures Soul Society's weapons and equipment?" Rukia said, suddenly understanding.
"You know about the Kasumiooji family?" Inuzō was surprised.
"Of course. Rukia is the heiress of the Kuchiki family," Ichigo said offhandedly.
Hearing that, Inuzō and the other Shinigami immediately bowed.
"We didn't realize we were in the presence of Lady Rukia! Please forgive our rudeness!"
Ichigo and Senna twitched at how fast they changed their tune.
Even Rukia almost broke character.
So much for being high nobles—these two folded in seconds.
Rukia quickly waved her hand. "No need to be so formal. Just act normally."
Still, the two remained kneeling, visibly stiff.
"Forget about me—why did you come to the human world? Isn't Rurichiyo the heir?" Rukia asked.
"That's a long story," Inuzō sighed. "Her parents died. One of the family elders, Yunushi, sees her youth as an opportunity to seize control. He's already assassinated several loyal retainers. We had no choice but to flee."
"And not just that," the other added. "He's trying to arrange an 'accident' to eliminate the Princess and secure the family for himself. It's only in the human world that we can protect her."
"But now…"
Things weren't looking good.
"You just arrived, and Yunushi already sent assassins?" Senna asked.
Rukia frowned. "If that's the case, why didn't you report this to the Gotei 13?"
Inuzō shook his head. "How could we? The Kasumiooji family manufactures weapons. If the Gotei 13 learned of this internal strife, our family's reputation would be ruined."
Senna scoffed. "And besides... You're afraid someone in the Gotei 13 might be colluding with Yunushi, aren't you?"
The two Shinigami remained silent. They didn't deny it.
Rukia asked, "If Soul Society isn't safe, how can you protect her here? There are only two of you."
Inuzō and the other exchanged glances.
"We heard about Kurosaki Ichigo-dono. All of Soul Society knows that Captain Unohana's top disciple came from the human world. And he's said to be as strong as a captain."
Inuzō looked at Ichigo with hopeful eyes.
"That's why we used the Kasumiooji family's senkaimon to reach you. But we didn't expect you to be even more incredible than the rumors said!"
Their flattery didn't inflate Ichigo's ego. He calmly looked at the two and asked, "You do know about my relationship with Rukia, right?"
The two nodded.
"There are rumors in Soul Society that you will be the future husband of Lady Rukia."
That made Rukia blush slightly.
Senna, on the other hand, snorted in displeasure.
"Aren't you worried I might use this as a chance to get the Kuchiki Clan involved?" Ichigo's tone grew sharp.
He wasn't dumb.
"We've run out of options," Inuzō replied. "Even if you or the Kuchiki Clan plan to take control of the Kasumiooji family, we'd accept it—if it means Her Highness survives."
Both of them bowed deeply to Ichigo and Rukia.
"Please, help our Princess!"
Ichigo and Rukia exchanged a glance.
Ichigo sighed.
"…Why didn't you just say that from the start? Fine. I'll help you."
Rukia crossed her arms. "Don't worry. The Kuchiki family wouldn't go after your family. The Kasumiooji aren't that important to us."
That statement reassured Inuzō and his companion—but also chilled them to the bone.
If the Kuchiki family didn't care, then it meant they'd tolerate whoever ran the Kasumiooji family—as long as they obeyed.
The two were grateful. Coming to the human world had clearly been the right decision.
"There's one more thing… Please keep this secret from Her Highness. She's young and doesn't know about the assassination attempts or the family feud."
Ichigo looked to Rukia and Senna. They nodded.
"Alright. We won't bring it up in front of Rurichiyo," he agreed.
"Thank you so much!"
Inuzō and the other knelt again—this time completely abandoning all pride.
Back home, Ichigo sighed again.
"So, even Soul Society nobles play these political games just like in the human world?"
Rukia snorted. "Only because they're weak. If any of them were captain-level, this wouldn't be happening at all."
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