Common Interests

"What!"

After hearing Saikyō's words, Madarame Ikkaku froze for a moment, his eyes becoming conflicted.

"Saikyō, don't change the subject so easily. Let's continue this fight!" After a brief pause, Madarame Ikkaku gripped the red-tasseled spear in his hand, choosing to ignore Saikyō's words.

"Ikkaku-san, I have a suggestion that I think you might find interesting," Saikyō said suddenly.

"Huh? What are you trying to say?"

Ikkaku glared at Saikyō with a guarded expression. He had been looking forward to a good fight ever since the confrontation began.

"It's simple, you're planning to go to the Zaraki District, right? Actually, I plan to go there too," Saikyō said, snapping his fingers with a slight grin.

"You're going to Zaraki District too?"

Ikkaku's frown deepened.

"Be careful, Ikkaku-san, don't let him confuse you," Ayasegawa Yumichika interjected from the side. "The Zaraki District isn't a place to step into casually."

However, contrary to Yumichika's concerns, after a brief hesitation, Ikkaku made his decision. He lowered his red-tasseled spear, staring at Saikyō intently.

"Saikyō, why are you planning to go to the Zaraki District?" Ikkaku asked seriously, as if trying to confirm something.

"Zaraki Kenpachi."

"Even though I've been living in Seireitei, I've heard his infamous name more than once. That's why I came to North Rukongai," Saikyō quickly responded.

"As I thought, it's because of that monster," Ikkaku muttered, his heart struck by Saikyō's words like a bolt of lightning.

After another moment of silence, Ikkaku's expression finally softened, and he showed a rare smile. "I see, I understand now. It seems we have the same goal."

"Ikkaku-san... Are you saying...?"

Yumichika had a bad feeling about this.

Sure enough, as Yumichika feared, Ikkaku offered an unexpected invitation. "Saikyō, why don't we call this fight off? What do you say?"

"What!"

"You're actually backing down? Is this the same Ikkaku we know?"

The crowd of underlings was in an uproar. Having followed Ikkaku for years, they knew him well. Never backing down, never compromising, always fighting to the bitter end—those were the qualities they associated with Madarame Ikkaku. But the scene before them shattered that image completely.

For the first time, Madarame Ikkaku was retreating.

"Saikyō, what do you think of my proposal?" Ikkaku asked, looking at Saikyō expectantly.

In the chaotic world of Rukongai, it was rare to encounter someone with similar goals and strength. Ikkaku felt lucky that such a situation had occurred and wanted to seize the opportunity. After all, Zaraki Kenpachi was a monster with unimaginable power, and facing him without a strong companion was essentially suicide.

This was why Ikkaku hadn't left yet.

"Baldy, since we have the same goal, why don't we head to Zaraki District together?" Saikyō smiled brightly, accepting Ikkaku's proposal.

"Great! I knew I was right about you!" Ikkaku exclaimed, ecstatic.

"Saikyō, after all, it's true what they say—you don't really know someone until you've fought them. Let's put this whole thing behind us." Ikkaku offered a peaceful solution.

"Wait!"

Yumichika quickly interjected. "Ikkaku-san, are you sure about this? Have you really thought it through? We just got beat down!" Yumichika said, still clearly agitated by the earlier exchange.

"I know, Yumichika," Ikkaku said firmly, turning to his friend. "If Saikyō really wanted to kill us, we wouldn't have stood a chance."

"But..."

Yumichika was reluctant, still smarting from the earlier insult, particularly being called a "feathered man," a term that stuck like a thorn in his side.

"Feather man, huh? I could still play with you if you want," Saikyō teased with a sly grin.

"What feather man?! You're the feather man!" Yumichika snapped, visibly fuming.

"Enough, Yumichika. Control yourself. This misunderstanding ends here." Ikkaku waved his hand, dismissing the argument. Though they had only recently met, Ikkaku felt a sense of camaraderie with Saikyō after their fight. He didn't want things to escalate any further.

"Alright..."

Yumichika reluctantly gave in, swallowing his pride for the sake of Ikkaku's decision.

"Saikyō, it's remote out here. Why don't we head back to our place and chat for a while?" Ikkaku suggested, his attitude suddenly warm.

"Sure, I'm not familiar with the area. Having a guide would be great," Saikyō replied, accepting the offer without hesitation.

And so, what began as a tense confrontation turned into an unexpected alliance, as Saikyō and Ikkaku found common ground in their shared goal of reaching Zaraki District.

---

Soon, the group arrived at Ikkaku's territory, a secluded place in the southeast. While the buildings looked a bit run-down, compared to the rest of Rukongai, it was a rather pleasant area. The property had a large courtyard, with some vegetation and fields filled with rice.

In the central room of Ikkaku's home, Saikyō, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and a few others sat around a square table, each with a cup of hot tea in front of them. The tea's aroma filled the room, and the atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to their earlier battle.

"Madarame Ikkaku, I have to say, your place is much nicer than I expected," Saikyō remarked honestly, noting the difference between this area and the dilapidated conditions of the rest of Rukongai.

Inside the room, the tea continued to steam as Saikyō and Madarame Ikkaku quickly warmed up to each other.

"Saikyō, so you're from the Shihōin family? That explains your incredible talent," Ikkaku said after chatting for a while.

"Honestly, talent has little to do with status," Saikyō responded, calmly sipping his tea without much emotion.

"I've heard that before," Ikkaku agreed, nodding. "A lot of the Shinigami in the Gotei 13 originally come from Rukongai."

As they talked, they found they had much in common and got along quite well. However, Yumichika, sitting quietly, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

"Ikkaku-san, doesn't Yumichika-kun seem a little unhappy?" Saikyō asked, noticing Yumichika's mood.

"Don't mind him. Yumichika is like that sometimes. Once he gets to know you better, he'll lighten up. Let's get back to the topic," Ikkaku said, laughing heartily. When he thought of the conversation ahead, he grew more excited.

"Zaraki Kenpachi..." Saikyō began. "I assume you've heard that name?"

Picking up his teacup, Saikyō took a slow sip.

"The villain of Zaraki District has killed countless warriors. Even the Gotei 13's Shinigami avoid stepping into his territory," Ikkaku replied, his expression serious.

"But as far as I know, that wasn't always his destiny. The title of 'Kenpachi' belongs to the captain of the combat division in the Gotei 13, doesn't it?"

Ikkaku's knowledge surprised Saikyō. It was clear that during his years in Rukongai, Ikkaku had picked up valuable information about Shinigami and their world.

"Yes, the title of 'Kenpachi' is only given to the strongest fighter in Seireitei," Saikyō explained briefly.

"Calling himself 'Kenpachi'... That monster really is terrifying," Ikkaku said, his voice filled with respect and a bit of fear.

Zaraki Kenpachi's legend had spread throughout North Rukongai, and his reputation as a "great demon" had only grown with time. The mere mention of his name was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

"Yes, 'monster' is the right word for him. Zaraki Kenpachi is not only a battle-crazed lunatic but also an unkillable beast," Saikyō said, a rare hint of fear creeping into his voice.

---

Their conversation continued, leading them deeper into their plans for confronting the fearsome Kenpachi. As the night wore on, their resolve only grew stronger.