Chapter 18

"Damn it! Stay right there!!"

Ichigo roared, slashing his blade twice — two arcs of Getsuga Tenshō shot toward the Garganta.

But it was no use.

Whatever was on the other side of that black portal had already taken Grand Fisher away!

Watching the Garganta close, Ichigo let out a beast-like roar of frustration.

"AAAAAAAHHH!!"

The Shinigami who had been hiding in the shadows witnessed the scene and decisively gave up on his mission.

Clearly, he had no desire to lose his life here.

After all, his target was a noble from the Kuchiki family — one of the Four Great Noble Houses. Surely, even if he failed, the Soul Society wouldn't dare to punish a Kuchiki!

Comforting himself with this thought, the Shinigami quietly slipped away.

"Damn it! Damn it! Who was it?! Who took that monster?!"

Ichigo wildly swung his Zanpakutō around, his rage boiling over.

Only the last shred of reason prevented him from firing off another Getsuga Tenshō indiscriminately.

Even so, the hatred and despair of seeing his mother's killer snatched away right in front of his eyes left Ichigo on the brink of madness.

Seeing Ichigo like this, Rukia's heart ached.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her forehead gently against his back.

"Ichigo... that's enough. Ichigo!"

Ichigo stabbed Zangetsu into the ground, still seething with frustration.

"How can it be enough?! It got away!" he shouted bitterly.

But he didn't struggle.

He was afraid... afraid of hurting the girl holding him tightly from behind.

"Ichigo... Shinigami live very long lives. You'll have plenty of time to find it and make it pay. You'll avenge your mother — I'm sure of it," Rukia said softly, trying to comfort him.

Hearing her words, Ichigo collapsed to the ground, empty and exhausted.

Rukia knelt down too, resting his head gently on her lap.

For the first time, her expression softened with true human warmth.

She cradled his head, whispering to him with a gentleness she rarely showed.

...

Time passed.

Finally, Ichigo stirred.

"Rukia... thank you."

Hearing his voice, Rukia quietly released him.

"Sorry, Rukia... for showing you such a pathetic side of me," Ichigo said, his voice low.

Rukia shook her head slightly. "It's alright."

Ichigo got up and returned Zangetsu to its sealed form, sliding it back into its sheath.

Rukia, who had been kneeling for hours, tried to stand up — but her legs had gone completely numb.

Seeing her struggle, Ichigo hurried over and helped her up.

The two leaned on each other, supporting one another.

For the first time, their bond deepened beyond that of mere battle companions.

They were beginning to truly step into each other's lives.

Since what followed wasn't something Rukia should get involved in, she quietly returned to the Kurosaki house.

Ichigo watched her retreating figure and smiled faintly.

It felt like... he had gotten to know Rukia all over again.

Elsewhere, Tatsuki was growing increasingly anxious, though she tried not to show it in front of Isshin and the others.

She could only silently pray for Ichigo's safety.

"Dad, Karin, Yuzu — I'm back."

Just as Tatsuki was about to burst from worry, Ichigo finally returned.

"You little punk! Where the hell did you go?! You had us worried sick!" Isshin scolded, grabbing his son.

"Sorry..." Ichigo apologized sincerely.

Seeing that Ichigo's mood was heavy, Isshin pulled him aside.

Before they realized it, they found themselves standing before Masaki's grave once again.

Isshin, for once, dropped his usual goofiness, standing quietly and solemnly.

Ichigo stared at his mother's grave. Tears welled up again.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Hm?" Isshin tilted his head, unsure what Ichigo meant.

"Why don't any of you blame me?"

"Yuzu, Karin, you, Dad — why doesn't anyone hate me?"

Today, Ichigo's defenses had crumbled enough that he could finally ask what had weighed on his heart for so long.

But instead of scolding him, Isshin only smiled warmly.

"Why would we blame you? A mother protecting her child — isn't that how it should be?"

"If I dared to blame you... Masaki would never forgive me!"

Hands in his pockets, Isshin stared at the grave with deep affection.

"I couldn't help it. I fell in love with a woman like that. Her death isn't anyone's fault."

"And you — you're the son she risked her life to save. My son!"

Isshin lit a cigarette — a rare sight, since he had long quit smoking.

"But every year on this day, I light one up. She used to say I looked cool when I smoked," he said with a grin.

Then, acting casual as always, he ruffled Ichigo's hair with a firm whack.

"Stop moping around. Live your life well. Die well. And preferably, die after your old man does!"

With that, Isshin turned and walked away, leaving a cool, carefree figure behind.

Ichigo stared at his father's back, unsure what to say.

After dropping Tatsuki off at her home, Ichigo collapsed onto his bed.

Turning to the closet where Rukia was hiding, he muttered, "Rukia... thanks."

"No need to get all mushy now! That's not the Ichigo I know!" Rukia teased.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it..." Ichigo grumbled.

After a pause, Ichigo added, "Going forward... I'm counting on you."

Even though his words came out of nowhere, Rukia understood.

"Yeah. From now on... we'll support each other, Ichigo."

The next day, Ichigo had returned to his usual self.

He went to school with Rukia, hung out with Tatsuki, as if nothing had happened the day before.

Of course, the daily work of purifying Hollows continued.

However...

"Huh? No Hollow spiritual pressure around here either?" Ichigo muttered, carrying Rukia on his back and scanning the surroundings.

Rukia also looked puzzled, fiddling with the device in her hand.

"No mistake... According to the Soul Pager, the Hollow's signal was coming from here."

Ichigo frowned. "I definitely sensed one earlier, but when we got close, it disappeared. Could it be that the Hollow sensed us and ran away?"

Rukia shook her head. "Low-level Hollows don't have the ability to sense Shinigami. This shouldn't happen."

Ichigo scratched his head. "Maybe your Soul Pager is broken?"

Rukia couldn't figure it out either.

"Well, if there's no Hollow, that's good news. Let's go back," Ichigo said decisively.

"Fine... I'll swing by Urahara's shop later. Maybe that shady guy sold me a defective one!" Rukia muttered, still baffled.

(End of Chapter)

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