[Memories of Nobody Arc] Part 143: The Fallen Dragon

Yato kept his eyes fixed on Ukitake. The young man was no longer concerned about having to take down Lieutenant Iba, since the lieutenant was already severely injured after Yato's attack. Moreover, when Komamura was defeated, the injured lieutenant ran towards the direction where Komamura had been thrown.

Suddenly, Yato surged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His grip tightened around Ōkagetsu, and with a sharp breath, he brought the blade down in a decisive vertical slash. The strike was fast and precise, intended to test Ukitake's reflexes, to force a reaction.

Ukitake intercepted the attack with his left-hand blade, meeting the strike effortlessly. Sparks flickered where steel clashed against steel, the impact ringing through the area.

Yato didn't hesitate. He shifted his weight, pivoting on his back foot, and followed up with a swift strike using the sheath of his zanpakutō, a maneuver meant to catch Ukitake off guard. But the captain was already a step ahead.

With his right-hand blade, Ukitake blocked the incoming sheath strike just as effortlessly as the first.

For a fraction of a second, the two locked eyes. Neither moved. Neither spoke. But in that brief pause, both felt something... different.

For Ukitake, it was the unexpected resilience of Yato's sheath.

When he blocked the strike, he had expected the sheath to crack, splinter, or at the very least, show some signs of strain. After all, no matter how well-crafted, a sheath was still just a sheath, meant to house a blade, not withstand the force of one. Yet, Ōkagetsu's sheath didn't so much as dent. The resistance it offered felt identical to that of a zanpakutō blade.

Ukitake's brows lifted slightly in intrigue.

For Yato, however, the revelation was far less favorable.

It wasn't just that Ukitake's reaction speed was superior, Yato had expected that much. No, what startled him was the raw power behind the captain's defense.

Even though their blades were locked in a contest of force, the difference in their physical strength became immediately apparent. Ukitake wasn't just faster, he was stronger. Far stronger. The moment their weapons met in a test of might, Yato felt his position begin to slip.

'Damn it...'

The disadvantage was obvious. Yato had attacked with his sheath, but his left hand was not his dominant one, making the strike inherently weaker. On the other hand, Ukitake was ambidextrous, his left arm held no such weakness. What should have been a simple clash quickly turned into a losing battle for Yato.

The pressure mounted.

His muscles strained as Ukitake's superior strength forced his left arm to buckle. The resistance lasted for only a few heartbeats before Yato's grip started to falter. The weight of Ukitake's blades bore down on him like an unshakable tide.

Yato narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He wasn't about to let brute strength dictate the flow of this fight. If sheer power was against him, then he'd simply have to tip the scales in his own way.

Without a word, he activated his Fullbring. Unlike many abilities that required gestures or incantations, Yato's control over the red threads was seamless, instinctual, he didn't need to move a single muscle to set them in motion.

Thin, nearly imperceptible crimson threads slithered through the air, weaving toward Ukitake like silent serpents. Some moved visibly, a deliberate distraction meant to draw his attention. Others, however, remained completely invisible to the naked eye, waiting for the moment to strike.

But Ukitake… was unfazed.

With an almost effortless move, he took a measured step back, then another, and another. His movements were smooth, practiced, and precise, as if he could see the threads before they even reached him. He pivoted, leaning just enough to let one thread skim past his shoulder. He shifted his footing, allowing another to miss him by the thinnest of margins.

It was unreal.

Yato's threads should have been undetectable, but Ukitake moved as if he had mapped out every single one in advance. His reactions were instantaneous, stepping to the side at just the right moment, tilting his head by a fraction to avoid a snare, lifting his blade ever so slightly to sever a thread that had come too close.

'Jeez...'

Yato's jaw tightened. A simple dodge was one thing, but Ukitake was cutting them mid-movement, severing the nearly invisible strings with nothing more than calculated flicks of his zanpakutō.

His fingers brushed against the blade of Ōkagetsu, just barely making contact. The moment steel met skin, a surge of crimson flames erupted along the threads, consuming them in a violent cascade of fire.

<< Yon no Uta, Zankyōsanka >> • Fourth Song, Reverberant Song •

The threads surrounding Ukitake exploded, one after another, in rapid succession. The air filled with a chain reaction of fiery detonations, bursting like a display of fireworks. The ground trembled beneath the concussive force, a haze of smoke and embers swallowing the captain's form entirely.

For a moment, Yato exhaled, watching the burning remnants of his attack.

Then—movement.

From within the smoke, Ukitake emerged. His haori fluttered slightly from the force of the blast, a few specks of soot staining the pristine white fabric, but aside from that, he was completely unscathed.

He landed a few feet away, adjusting the grip on his twin zanpakutō with an expression of calm curiosity.

Not a scratch. Not even a hint of exertion.

Yato felt a bead of sweat trail down his temple. He's mind raced. He needed an opening, one that didn't involve directly attacking Ukitake with a projectile or energy-based attack. He knew that Sōgyo no Kotowari would simply redirect any ranged attack right back at him.

In the blink of an eye, Yato vanished.

He shot forward at high speed, his movement enhanced by the combined use of Fullbring high-speed technique and Shunpo. In an instant, he was directly in front of Ukitake, but just as suddenly, he disappeared again, reappearing right behind him.

Yato struck with Ōkagetsu, his blade slicing through the air in a precise arc.

But Ukitake reacted as if he had expected it all along.

He pivoted easily, his right-hand blade rising just in time to intercept the attack. The sound of metal against metal rang through the battlefield as the two locked eyes.

Instead of pressing the attack, he jammed the sheath of his zanpakutō into the ground with his left hand.

The impact sent a pulse of violet flames outward, tracing a thin, circular ring around Ukitake's feet. The flames barely reached ankle height, flickering weakly as if they might extinguish at any moment.

Ukitake cast a brief glance downward at the ring of fire. His expression didn't change; if anything, it almost seemed like he found it curious rather than threatening.

The moment he looked down, Yato struck again.

His red threads lashed out once more, aiming to ensnare Ukitake in their invisible grip.

As expected, Ukitake evaded them effortlessly, his movements remained fluid, calculated, stepping and weaving around the attack. However, just as his right foot crossed the boundary of the flame ring a sudden burst of violet fire erupted around his leg.

<< Ōkagetsu - Dai Ichi no Encore >>

• Ōkagetsu - First Encore •

Ukitake's expression flickered with the briefest trace of surprise, not from pain, but from the sheer unexpectedness of the flames. They hadn't come from the fire circle. Instead, they had manifested directly on him the moment he crossed its threshold.

It was a misdirection. A delayed reaction trap.

And that moment's distraction was all Yato needed.

One of his red threads slipped through Ukitake's defenses—just barely. A single, thin strand sliced across the captain's cheek, drawing a faint trickle of blood.

Ukitake instinctively stepped back—

And more flames erupted on every part of his body that left the ring. His coat, his sleeve, even the strands of his hair caught the violet fire.

<< Otonoke. >> • 音気, Essence of Sound •

Yato uttered the name of the ability under his breath.

The flames weren't deadly, not to someone of Ukitake's level. They didn't scorch or sear his flesh. Instead, they clung to him like persistent embers, barely singing his uniform but demanding his attention nonetheless.

An illusion? No. The flames were real. But they were also something more.

Something designed to disrupt. To distract.

And Yato took full advantage.

He rushed forward, his Ōkagetsu slicing through the air in a flurry of rapid strikes, his sheath a second weapon moving in tandem. The blows came fast, forcing Ukitake onto the defensive. The captain's twin blades intercepted each attack, steel clashing against steel in a whirlwind of precision.

Yato's red threads surged forward, striking from impossible angles. Ukitake twisted and pivoted, sidestepping, ducking, cutting through the ones that came too close, but, moment he fully stepped out of the ring of fire, his entire body ignited.

Violet flames erupted across his back, his shoulders, his arms, as if the air itself had betrayed him.

Ukitake, despite being engulfed in fire, remained calm.

'If Shunsui were in my position, he'd probably say this zanpakutō is just as deceitful as Katen Kyōkotsu…'

The thought came idly, almost amused, even as the flames spread.

But amusement or not, he had seen enough.

A single, forceful strike from Ukitake's blade sent Yato flying back, the sheer strength behind it undeniable. Yato barely managed to block, his arms trembling from the impact as he skidded to a stop across the area.

Ukitake exhaled, his sharp gaze flickering toward the still-burning violet flames on his coat.

A theory formed.

He stepped back inside the ring of fire.

And just as he suspected—

The flames vanished.

Not slowly. Not gradually. Instantly. As if they had never been there to begin with.

Yato's body blurred as he activated Bringer Light, the greenish energy flickering at his feet, propelling him just in time to avoid crashing into the stone wall behind him. He landed lightly, regaining his balance, but his arms still trembled from the force of Ukitake's last strike.

Even through the numbness spreading up his limbs, Yato could feel the sharp sting of reality settling in.

He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders, choosing to keep his distance this time.

His gaze flicked toward Ukitake, just in time to catch the captain making a swift, precise slash with his zanpakutō. The blade bit into the earth, barely a scratch across the surface, but that was all it took. The disruption was enough to dispel the violet ring of flames entirely, snuffing it out like a candle in the wind.

A flicker of amusement stirred in Yato's mind.

'There goes the element of surprise…' Cheshire's voice echoed in his mind, laced with dry amusement.

'Truly impressive.' Ōkagetsu's tone, in contrast, carried a spark of genuine excitement rather than disappointment. 'Otonoke's flames may not be designed for raw destruction, but the fact that he came out practically unscathed… fascinating.'

Yato almost smirked, but it came out as more of a tired breath.

'Well… I did manage to leave a tiny scratch on his face. I'll take that as a win.'

And then, Cheshire's voice curled through his mind again.

'Should we turn up the heat a little?'

Yato's brow twitched slightly.

'What do you mean?'

A low chuckle hummed through the depths of his consciousness.

'Let's attack.'

Yato hesitated.

'Attack how—'

'Just do it.'

No further explanation. No strategy.

Just a simple demand, laced with reckless confidence.

Not far away, in the midst of another clashing storm of steel, Rukia risked a brief glance toward Yato's battle.

She could see the faint embers still dying out around Ukitake, the shifting stance of Yato as he reevaluated his approach. Concern weighed in her chest.

She wasn't worried about just one of them. She was worried about both.

Her moment of distraction nearly cost her.

Renji lunged forward, Zabimaru swinging down in a controlled arc. Rukia barely had time to turn her focus back, bringing Sode no Shirayuki up in time to deflect the attack. The force of the impact sent a sharp vibration through her grip, but she held firm.

Renji exhaled through clenched teeth.

He wasn't holding back, not entirely. He didn't want to fight her, but at the same time, he knew that if he didn't take this seriously, she'd cut him down.

And yet…

Something was off.

He could feel it.

It wasn't that Rukia had suddenly become stronger than him. It wasn't that her attacks were faster or that her swings carried more force.

No.

It was the air around her.

The very space between them felt wrong—thicker, colder, subtly slowing his movements just enough that she could keep up effortlessly.

Renji's grip on Zabimaru tightened, unease creeping into his mind.

'What the hell's going on…?' His gaze flickered briefly to the frost-coated ground beneath Rukia's feet. 'I didn't know her zanpakutō could do something like this…'

His brow furrowed, realization dawning.

'Did her power grow this much… just from spending a short time in the human world?'

Rukia's expression remained calm, yet focused, her posture unwavering as she gripped Sode no Shirayuki with both hands. She wasn't trying to hurt Renji, not truly, but she knew that the longer this dragged on, the more complicated things would become.

'Three attacks…' she noted, watching the way Zabimaru moved. 'He extends his zanpakutō, strikes three times—then there's a brief opening.'

A plan formed in her mind.

Rukia lifted her left hand, forming a deliberate seal, her voice barely above a whisper as she began the incantation for a Kidō spell.

He didn't need to hear the words to know what was coming.

A sharp glare. A split-second decision.

"Like hell I'm letting you finish that!" he growled.

Zabimaru lashed forward, its segmented blade unraveling through the air like a striking serpent.

But Rukia was already moving.

She sidestepped, her form barely shifting, but it was enough. The unnatural cold in the air seemed to slow Zabimaru's movements, its segments not snapping back with their usual fluidity.

Still, she didn't stop the chanting.

Even as precious seconds slipped away, even as Renji pressed forward, she continued, her small frame weaving effortlessly through Renji's second attack. She wasn't just dodging, she was keeping a measured distance, her every motion deliberate, her lips never ceasing their quiet incantation.

Renji could feel it that something was off. Even though he wasn't particularly skilled in Kidō, he knew enough to recognize that an incantation shouldn't take this long.

'What the hell is she doing?'

His grip on Zabimaru tightened. He wasn't about to let her finish whatever she was planning.

With a sharp exhale, he lashed out again, his zanpakutō extending for the third and final strike in his usual attack sequence.

But the instant Zabimaru snapped forward... Rukia vanished.

She reappeared at a calculated distance, just as Zabimaru's segments began retracting, leaving Renji momentarily open.

<< Bakudō #4, Hainawa! >> • 這縄, Crawling Rope •

A crackling yellow energy rope shot from her palm, snaking through the air with lightning speed before coiling tightly around Renji's arms and torso. His muscles tensed as the restraints bound him, locking him in place.

"Damn it!" he growled, trying to flex against the hold. But Rukia wasn't done.

<< Bakudō #61, Rikujōkōrō! >> • 六杖光牢, Six Rods Prison of Light •

The lingering energy from Hainawa shimmered, then suddenly six radiant beams of light materialized, slamming into Renji's midsection with force, pinning him completely.

Rukia prepared to cast yet another spell, but before she could release it, a thunderous cry tore through the battlefield

<< Sit Upon the Frozen Heavens! Hyōrinmaru! >>

Rukia's head snapped toward the source.

A massive dragon of ice coiled around Hitsugaya, its piercing blue form twisting through the air. The young captain's grip on his zanpakutō was steady, his sharp gaze locked on Ichigo.

With a single commanding motion, Hitsugaya swung his blade, and Hyōrinmaru surged forward, but Ichigo was already moving. His hands tightened around Zangetsu's hilt, muscles coiling like springs before he slashed forward with all his might.

<< Getsuga Tenshō!! >>

A roaring crescent of blue reiatsu exploded from Zangetsu, colliding with the incoming dragon. 

With a shattering explosion, the two attacks annihilated each other, sending shockwaves ripping through the battlefield. Ice shards and residual energy scattered in every direction, creating a temporary haze of mist and reiatsu-charged air.

The lingering mist from the clash between Hyōrinmaru and Getsuga Tenshō had yet to fully settle when Hitsugaya seized the opportunity.

With a burst of Shunpo, he surged forward, his zanpakutō gleaming as he aimed a decisive strike at Ichigo.

But Ichigo was faster than expected and reacted just in time, bringing Zangetsu up to meet the incoming blade. Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal, the force of their reiatsu colliding in an instant.

"Do none of you see how ridiculous this is?!" Ichigo's voice cut through the chaos, frustration clear in his glare.

Hitsugaya, unfazed, held his ground. "I don't have time for this, Kurosaki."

Without warning, Hitsugaya redirected Ichigo's blade, using the momentum to push it aside. The brief opening was all he needed.

A sharp kick.

Ichigo's breath hitched as Hitsugaya's foot connected with his chest, sending him skidding backward, his feet barely keeping him upright.

<< Bakudō #63, Sajō Sabaku! >> • 鎖条鎖縛, Ethereal Binding Chain •

Before Ichigo could fully recover, Hitsugaya raised his hand. A thick, golden rope of energy materialized, coiling around Ichigo's upper body and constricting him in place.

"Damn it!" Ichigo hissed, his muscles tensing as he struggled against the restraints.

But Hitsugaya was already moving.

With Ichigo bound, he turned his focus elsewhere... Senna.

Senna was locked in a fast-paced exchange with Matsumoto, the two women moving in blurred streaks of motion as their zanpakutō clashed.

Matsumoto had the clear advantage in raw power and speed, her strikes heavy and relentless but whenever a true opening appeared—Inoue was there.

Every time Matsumoto's blade neared its target, a orange shield materialized, intercepting the blow just in time. Santen Kesshun stood between Matsumoto and Senna, refusing to break.

Hitsugaya's gaze narrowed as he watched, analyzing the flow of battle.

Before he could act, Rukia made her move.

With Hitsugaya shifting his attention, Rukia wasted no time in dealing with Renji.

She extended her hands, reiatsu crackling at her fingertips.

<< Hadō #20, Shōtenkyū! >> • 昇天宮, Sky Shrine •

A sphere of condensed blue energy formed between her palms, pulsing with power.

Renji, still entangled in the Bakudō, fought against his restraints, his jaw clenched in frustration.

Rukia hurled the sphere forward. The impact struck hard, the force of the blast knocking Renji back before he could fully free himself. He tumbled across the battlefield, kicking up dust as he landed.

Rukia didn't waste a single moment.

With the battlefield shifting, she moved quickly, appearing near Senna and Inoue just as Hitsugaya closed in.

Hitsugaya's strike came too fast for Senna or Inoue to fully react.

But Rukia was faster.

With a flash of white steel, Sode no Shirayuki intercepted Hitsugaya's blade, stopping the attack just in time.

Their gazes locked.

"Kuchiki…" Hitsugaya exhaled the name, his breath visible in the chill of the air.

Across the battlefield, Soi Fon was a blur, her form flickering in and out of sight as she utilized Shunpo with effortless precision. Each step left behind only the faintest distortion in the air.

Tatsuki, on the other hand, was a storm of fury.

The moment she had lost control of her powers, she had become less human—her movements erratic, feral. Her glowing eyes locked onto Soi Fon with an unrelenting, primal focus, and she lunged with wild swipes of her clawed hands, each attack tearing through the air with lethal force.

But Soi Fon, Captain of the 2nd squad, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, was no ordinary opponent. She remained entirely on the defensive, weaving through Tatsuki's savage attacks with expert agility. A flicker to the left. A pivot to the right. A mid-air rotation, just barely clearing a swipe aimed at her throat.

And yet, despite her skill, her frustration grew.

Tatsuki wasn't slowing. She wasn't tiring.

And worse, her attacks were becoming faster.

The moment one of Tatsuki's claws came dangerously close, Soi Fon made her move.

<< Shunkō! >>

Her voice pierced the air, and an explosion of Reiatsu erupted from her body.

A violent burst of pure spiritual pressure surged outward, the sheer force blasting Tatsuki backward, buying Soi Fon the opening she needed.

With ruthless efficiency, Soi Fon closed the gap and in a flash of movement she throwed a sharp and precise kick that sent Tatsuki hurtling skyward.

Before she could recover, Soi Fon reappeared behind her in midair, giving Tatsuki no time to react.

A devastating punch to the face.

The force sent Tatsuki crashing to the ground like a meteor, the impact carving a crater into the earth. Dust and debris shot into the air, obscuring the battlefield for a brief moment.

Tatsuki's body bounced from the sheer force, but Soi Fon was already descending, a missile locked onto its target.

She twisted midair, aiming a devastating downward kick straight to Tatsuki's chest.

But something was wrong.

The attack connected, but instead of weakening, Tatsuki only grew more furious.

Her body jerked with a sudden, unnatural motion, and then she retaliated.

A swipe. Then another.

Soi Fon barely had time to shift her weight before Tatsuki's claws raked across her arms and face, sharp enough to slice through skin despite the captain's reinforced defenses.

A thin trickle of blood ran down Soi Fon's cheek and her eyes narrowed in irritation.

"This brat—!"

Her mind sharpened. She had enough.

With a fluid motion, Soi Fon twisted around Tatsuki's next reckless strike, her speed outclassing even this feral form.

She reappeared behind her.

A lightning-fast strike, a precise hit aimed at the base of Tatsuki's neck.

The intent was clear: knock her unconscious.

But the moment her attack connected, Soi Fon felt it.

Not flesh. Not muscle.

Tatsuki's scales had darkened, becoming thicker, tougher.

Soi Fon reacted instinctively, her body moving in a blur as she narrowly dodged another of Tatsuki's relentless, feral strikes. The moment her feet touched solid ground, she countered, her fist shooting forward like a bullet.

A direct hit to the solar plexus.

It was one of the few places on Tatsuki's body where the thick, darkening scales hadn't fully taken over.

Tatsuki's body lurched as the air ripped from her lungs, a strangled gasp escaping her lips.

Not hesitating for even a second, Soi Fon delivered another precise blow, this time striking just below Tatsuki's throat, forcing her opponent further off balance.

The captain's eyes narrowed in focused determination.

This wasn't working. If Tatsuki's mutating scales were becoming tougher with each passing moment, then sheer force wouldn't be enough.

She adjusted.

Rather than raw power, Soi Fon began focusing her energy at the moment of impact, directing the volatile bursts of Shunkō's compressed Reiatsu into each strike, attempting to bypass the defenses forming over Tatsuki's body.

Another attack came, a wild, reckless claw swipe.

Soi Fon redirected it with ease, her left hand brushing against the attack's trajectory with the barest flick of her wrist, shifting the force just enough to create an opening.

Before Tatsuki could react, Soi Fon grabbed the back of her head and drove her knee up into her face.

Even in her frenzied state, Tatsuki staggered.

A flicker of dazed confusion crossed her features, her limbs slowing for just a moment.

That was all the confirmation Soi Fon needed.

With blinding speed, the captain shifted behind Tatsuki, her next strike aimed at the back of her neck.

But this time, she infused it with the full force of Shunkō.

The energy crackled, pulsed, and then exploded outward the moment her strike connected, the resulting shockwave sending Tatsuki hurtling through the air.

Soi Fon didn't stop.

She advanced, her body already moving before Tatsuki even hit the ground.

This time, she was going to end it.

Her leg tensed—a final, decisive kick arcing downward toward Tatsuki's unconscious body only to be stopped.

Something solid.

Something immovable.

Her foot collided against a surface like reinforced steel, the force of the impact dispersing through the air in a violent shockwave.

Soi Fon's sharp eyes darted down. Chad.

The towering human had thrown himself between them, his massive Brazo Derecha de Gigante raised, absorbing the entirety of her kick.

Soi Fon used the force of the block to launch herself backward, flipping gracefully through the air before landing with effortless precision.

Her zanpakutō was already drawn.

She descended in a flash, her blade aimed straight for Chad's shielded arm, but at the last moment, she stopped.

The tip of her sword hovered just inches above his armored forearm.

Her narrowed eyes met his.

Chad stood firm, his expression unreadable. But his actions spoke louder than words.

A beat of silence passed.

Soi Fon's grip on her zanpakutō loosened, her fingers flexing before she slowly lowered the blade.

Tatsuki was unconscious, her body still, her breathing ragged but steady.

A flicker of irritation burned in Soi Fon's chest, but not at Chad's interference. That wasn't what bothered her.

No—what gnawed at her was the bitter taste of this so-called victory.

It felt… unsatisfying.

Frustrating.

Her eyes remained fixed on Tatsuki's unmoving form, memories of their first battle flashing through her mind like echoes of an unresolved grudge.

That fight had been humiliating.

Not just because she had been defeated—but because it had happened in front of Yoruichi.

The shame of it had burned deep, lingering like an old wound that refused to heal.

Tatsuki had trained under Yoruichi as well. A human, standing in the same place Soi Fon once had. And she had won.

Soi Fon had told herself that her loss had been a fluke, a result of allowing her emotions to cloud her judgment.

She had convinced herself that if she had fought with a cool head, without the seething resentment twisting inside her, the outcome would have been different.

So when Tatsuki challenged her again, Soi Fon had welcomed it.

This was her chance, not only to put Tatsuki in her place, but to prove, beyond a doubt, that she was the superior warrior.

And yet…

Now that the fight was over, she found herself feeling the same way Tatsuki had after their last battle.

Unsatisfied.

She had wanted to crush Tatsuki at her peak, to shatter her confidence and erase any doubt about who was stronger.

But Tatsuki had lost control.

Her power had spiraled into something feral, mindless.

That wasn't the opponent Soi Fon had wanted to defeat.

And because of that…

This victory felt hollow.

Soi Fon's sharp gaze locked onto Chad, watching for even the slightest indication that he might attack.

But he didn't.

He stood firm, his stance steady but not aggressive.

He was only bracing himself.

For her.

A silent acknowledgment passed between them.

Neither moved. Neither spoke.

Then, from the corner of her eye, Soi Fon noticed something.

Tatsuki's body, once tense and wild with uncontrollable energy, was slowly settling.

The darkness of her mutated power faded, receding beneath her skin like a tide retreating from the shore.

She was returning to herself.

Soi Fon exhaled through her nose, her severe expression easing, if only slightly. There was no reason to linger. No reason to waste time.

Her mission came first.

Without another word, she turned away from Chad, dismissing him entirely.

He watched her for a moment longer before shifting his focus back to Tatsuki. With effortless strength, he lifted her onto his shoulder, her weight meaning nothing to him. The he strode toward Ichigo, who was still bound in Hitsugaya's Kidō, struggling against the restraints.

As Soi Fon walked in the opposite direction, her thoughts flickered back to Tatsuki.

Had she made the right decision?

Had she really won?

The irritation from earlier hadn't faded.

Deep down, she knew this wasn't over.

She would settle this.

One day.

The thought struck her as strange, but she didn't dwell on it.

And just as quickly as it came, she pushed it aside.

"Tch…"

With a sharp breath, she pressed forward.