In a dimly lit world, Senbonzakura felt her consciousness spiraling uncontrollably downward, struggling to awaken but utterly powerless to do so.
Everything was vague, hazy, and chaotic.
Somewhere in the murkiness, Senbonzakura sensed that her precious mask had been removed.
No!
The sensation triggered an instinctive discomfort and unease within her.
Before her consciousness could react, she felt the armor covering her body being unfastened—piece by piece—from her armguards, pauldrons, belt, and chest.
The feeling was vivid, unfamiliar, and intensely overwhelming.
For as long as she could remember, Senbonzakura had always worn that armor. It was her protection and a firm expression of her resolute and unyielding nature.
And yet...
Though unable to see, she had the vague impression of being exposed in that alien sensation.
"Huh?! A woman?"
Through the fog of her muddled consciousness, a voice drifted from a great distance, startling her awareness into an involuntary and turbulent reaction, as if some monumental secret had been discovered.
(Author's Note: In the original trajectory, Senbonzakura was only shown revealing her delicate lower face, but her true gender was never explicitly mentioned. This reimagining aligns with the belief that her name feels more fitting for a woman.)
(TL/N - In other words, this is not canon)
The next moment, Senbonzakura faintly felt something warm and gentle caressing her forehead. This tender sensation weighed heavily on her consciousness, dulling her perception of the outside world.
---
Meanwhile, at the threshold of a newly opened Senkaimon in the living world, Byakuya's cold, proud expression subtly shifted. His steps instinctively came to a halt.
Draped in the captain's haori of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Ginrei, who still carried the dignified air of nobility despite his age, noticed this and inquired, "What is it, Byakuya?"
"Nothing..."
Byakuya shook his head, his hand unconsciously pressing against his chest as he frowned. "It's just... strange. It's not just my inner self... It feels like something is amiss with my zanpakutō."
Ginrei speculated, "Could it be the influence of Koga's abilities? The Seireitei has no precedent for a zanpakutō spirit being separated from its wielder for such an extended period. No one knows what effects this could have on a Shinigami..."
After a pause, Ginrei surveyed their surroundings and continued, "That's why, Byakuya, you must recover your zanpakutō spirit as soon as possible. Moreover, you were too rash earlier in the courtyard. You shouldn't have released your zanpakutō under those circumstances."
Despite Ginrei's reprimand, Byakuya's expression remained unchanged. He merely reiterated, "Our first priority is to rescue Makoto, followed by retrieving Senbonzakura's spirit and apprehending Kuchiki Koga to restore the honor of the Kuchiki family."
Ginrei glanced at his steadfast grandson, still bearing bandages but radiating determination. The hint of sorrow that often lingered in Byakuya's eyes seemed momentarily replaced by approval.
For a noble house such as the Kuchiki Clan, the ability to maintain one's composure and prioritize rationality above all else was of utmost importance.
The Kuchiki Clan was the history of the Soul Society, a legacy spanning thousands of years.
And in Ginrei's eyes, Byakuya had grown into the future head of the family faster than expected.
"Still, Makoto-kun must be found quickly. Captain Unohana has been sitting in meditation on the other side of the Senkaimon for nearly three days. Her patience is waning..."
"Makoto-kun was abducted from the Kuchiki estate while protecting members of our family. The Kuchiki Clan bears an undeniable responsibility for this."
As Ginrei spoke, his aged, cloudy gaze reflected a trace of worry.
If Makoto were already dead, it was unfathomable what fury Captain Unohana might unleash, perhaps even dragging the entire Kuchiki Clan into her wrath.
At that moment, two figures—one large and one small—emerged from the still-open Senkaimon behind Ginrei and Byakuya. One of them spoke, "Captain Kuchiki is correct. But this isn't merely about Captain Unohana's pressure. Makoto-kun is also an excellent and outstanding vice-captain, one indispensable to the Seireitei."
Unlike his usual gentle tone, Aizen's voice carried a rare seriousness as he continued, "The Gotei 13 is already in turmoil. Losing someone as crucial as Makoto-kun is simply unacceptable."
Ginrei nodded, then addressed Aizen and his companion, Gin.
"No matter the circumstances, the Kuchiki Clan deeply appreciates your assistance. If you find any trace of Vice-Captain Senju, the Kuchiki Clan will owe you greatly."
"Captain Kuchiki is too kind. This is all for the Seireitei..."
Aizen's gentle reply quickly shifted to analytical precision.
"Based on the reports we've gathered, the most likely location for Kuchiki Koga to hide is still near Karakura Town. The spiritual density there would allow him to better mask his spiritual pressure from the Seireitei's detection."
"I'll leave it to you, Vice-Captain Aizen."
With that, Aizen and Gin parted ways with Ginrei, each heading to different areas to continue their search.
The Seireitei had only one tangible lead: the Senkaimon used by Koga led directly to Karakura Town.
Yet, given the vastness of the human world, Koga could have easily moved to another location after reaching Karakura.
Moreover, the Seireitei had to tread carefully. An overt and forceful search risked provoking Koga into harming Makoto.
After two to three days of searching, little valuable information had surfaced.
Reaching the bustling center of Karakura Town, Gin, who had seemed indifferent to the search, finally spoke.
"Vice-Captain Aizen, even if Kuchiki Koga has mastered several techniques of the Kuchiki Clan, if he's truly trying to evade the Seireitei's pursuit, staying in Karakura Town doesn't make sense."
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