Chapter 20

Shirou put a wet towel over Inoue's forehead and moved the blanket up to cover her. He had heard of what happened from Ichigo when they suddenly stormed the shop.

The girl was still asleep. The shock she got today was quite severe, causing her to develop a fever. But other than that, she was safe.

"I am glad that you made it in time." Shirou said after returning from the clinic with another towel.

"Yeah..." Ichigo replied softly, staring at the unconscious figure laying down before him intently. "Shirou, I'm worried..."

"About her condition? Or what she will ask after she wakes up?" The older brother asked.

Ichigo didn't reply and only lowered his head in silence.

Having been in Ichigo's shoes once before when he was suddenly introduced to the Moonlit World, Shirou understood his feeling.

In this strange world, friends could betray each other. The look of fear given by those close to them would pierce one's heart.

While hiding the truth was the best course, this situation would force Ichigo to come out and tell her about this secret world. How to tell the truth to Inoue was something that only Ichigo could decide.

Shirou looked at the ceiling with a distant gaze. 

"If you can't decide, then you don't have to tell her anything. Let her think this as a dream or a delusion. But if you treasure your bond, telling her everything would make things better. She might not be happy to know that her brother turned into that, but at least it would free her from her delusions."

Ichigo looked at Shirou and then back at Inoue. "... What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, you... When did you learn about all this?"

The question that Shirou had been dreading finally arrived, it was now time to decide. To tell or to not tell.

Shirou could just lie to Ichigo, telling that he only knew recently because he stumbled upon Urahara. But his closeness to the shopkeeper and the other residents in such a short time already made it suspicious enough.

That's why he decided not to lie while still keeping some secrets to himself, one that he entrusted with by his parents.

"It's been 10 years." Shirou admitted softly after a long pause.

"... 10 years."

The orange haired boy repeated numbly, unable to believe his own ears. His brother, whom he always looked up to, had been living a secret life ever since childhood. 

"And did you fight Hollows too?"

"Ah, no. You misunderstand something. I knew about their existence 10 years ago, but I seldom met them or even fought them. At most, I trained with Yoruichi-san to defend myself."

"Oh..."

Ichigo was silent, deep in thought about what he heard so far. At least his brother wasn't in danger for so long.

On one hand, Ichigo felt slightly betrayed. Why did Shirou keep it a secret?

But now he was in the same situation as him, so he understood his feelings. Still, he had to ask something.

"You hid all this from me, from Dad and Yuzu, from Karin. Why? Aren't you worried we might get attacked by Hollow?"

"I didn't know Hollow is attracted to someone with high spiritual power. Hat and Clogs have never explained it to me. Besides, the Shinigami before Kuchiki-san had dealt with all the Hollows here. There's no reason to be worried about it."

He sent a gaze toward Rukia sitting in the corner, who was busy eating snacks. She glared back when she felt an insult behind his gaze but said nothing because it was the truth.

Rukia hadn't managed to do anything since she was assigned here. She lost her power in the first few nights she arrived and had been relying on Kurosaki Ichigo to do the job. 

The Kuchiki heiress didn't like the feeling, it was like a princess who couldn't do anything and needed to rely on a knight.

"I...see." Ichigo nodded slightly, accepting the explanation provided by his older twin. "Phew, that lifted something from me. Thanks, Shirou. You're always reliable."

"Don't worry, that's what siblings are for, right?"

***

Soul Society.

The largest area where Souls gathered. One of the three biggest worlds in existence.

It's also where Shinigami, warriors who protected the balance of souls between realms lived.

It was divided into a few areas: Seireitei, which was located at the center and is where the Soul Reapers reside.

The Rukongai is the other area where souls gathered and lived their lives as citizens, protected by Seireitei and Shinigami.

Each district in Rukongai had their own numbers, and each number signified its level of security.

The further it is from the center of Seireitei, the worse the place gets, and the number of Soul Reapers assigned to it also lessened.

The last area, the lowest part of the Soul Society was unofficially called the Hell of Soul Society, a prison where the worst criminals resided.

In Seireitei, there stood 13 divisions, with 13 captains and their vice-captains who commanded them.

Each division had their own barracks with the division's number painted on its front. They served under the ruling authority of Central 46, and under them was the Stealth Force, the special force responsible for gathering information and spying on people, and the Kidō Corps, the elite squad that mastered spells and Kidō.

Right now, almost all Captains gathered in a meeting regarding something.

"So we've confirmed that Kuchiki Rukia has broken the rules. She gave a Human her power and turned him into a Shinigami. Punishment will be given in the Central 46 chambers." The head Captain of Division 1, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, announced gravely to everyone present.

No one voiced any complaint nor protest. The punishment would be execution.

"Do you have anything to say in your sister's defense, Captain Kuchiki?"

Yamamoto turned his attention toward the 6th Division's captain. A young man with jet-black hair tied neatly with a strand hanging down on his left face. He was also the Head of Kuchiki Family, a prominent family in the Seireitei and one of the most powerful ones among the Four Great Noble Houses.

"None." He said coldly, opening his eyes, "Rules have to be upheld, even if the one who breaks it is someone I know personally. Kuchiki Byakuya will not show mercy or interfere with Central 46's decisions. However, I would like to request something."

"Request? State it."

The Captain of 13th Division, Jushirou Ukitake, smiled at him, encouraging the Kuchiki to say it.

Byakuya glanced at the man and said, "If it's possible, I will capture her myself."

Everyone looked at him. Some nodded in understanding while some stayed silent.

Their calculating, suspicious gazes didn't escape his senses. The 9th Division's Captain Tosen spoke, "I see. A noble family should be responsible for their own."

"I don't allow it." Yamamoto rejected, his voice echoing loudly across the chamber. "A Captain isn't allowed to step into the Human World recklessly. Instead, I will allow you to send one person from your Division to retrieve her."

"I shall limit my power." Byakuya insisted, "And I shall personally execute the Human who stole Kuchiki Rukia's power."

"Captain, shouldn't you allow it?"

Unexpectedly, someone supported Byakuya. He pushed his glasses, showing off his 5th Division number on his haori.

"Aizen, what are you implying?" The Captain of the 2nd Division asked him curiously, tilting his head slightly at Aizen's suggestion.

Aizen Sousuke, a bespectacled man, smiled warmly. "A human with the power of Shinigami will cause trouble, no doubt about that. Sending one Shinigami to capture Kuchiki Rukia and execute the Human won't be enough. But if it's Captain Kuchiki, then I believe we could entrust him with this mission."

Byakuya didn't show anything, but inwardly, he was surprised by the sudden support. However, he said nothing because he got what he wanted.

"Very well then, we shall entrust this to Captain Kuchiki Byakuya." The Head Captain conceded, "Bring Kuchiki Rukia and execute the Human. We can't allow another Soul to break our rules. We need to set an example of the consequences of breaking them."

"Then, with that settled, I'll return to the barracks."

Standing up, Byakuya walked away from the meeting hall.

Everyone watched him go silently.

***Chapter End***

A/N:

Who's that bespectacled man called Aizen Sousuke? He seems to be so kind! He even support Byakuya to capture Rukia himself.

Maybe some stones will make the next chapter magically appear to know more? Or visit /ShuviLily if you are impatient!