Chương 11: 11
"Seriously, what's with everyone wanting to talk to me suddenly? Have I become more popular ever since I came back?" Yurei muttered under her breath, glancing toward the horizon as she crossed her arms. The soft breeze ruffled her silvery white hair, giving her a fleeting moment of peace. But as soon as she sensed the approaching presence, her calm evaporated.
"I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but this once, lend me some of your time."
Yurei turned, her gradient green-and-gold eyes narrowing slightly as they landed on a figure she hadn't expected to see so soon. The boy standing before her was none other than Ichigo Kurosaki, the substitute Soul Reaper who had been causing ripples in the Soul Society ever since his arrival.
Yurei tilted her head, clearly unimpressed. "And what exactly do you want with me, boy?"
"I just want a few questions answered," Ichigo said, his tone resolute but not aggressive.
Yurei sighed, brushing her hair back. "Fine. Ask your questions, then. Just don't waste my time."
Ichigo straightened, his brow furrowing as he chose his words carefully. "That time... when Rukia was about to be executed. Why did you decide to save her? Even though it meant going against the Gotei 13, risking being labeled a traitor, and possibly losing your position as Lieutenant. No one else stepped in, but you did. I just want to know why."
For a moment, Yurei stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, to Ichigo's surprise, she laughed—a soft, melodic sound, but there was an edge to it, like it concealed something deeper.
"So that's what's been bugging you, huh?" Yurei said, shaking her head. "Do you really think someone needs a reason to save an innocent person? Rukia was wrongly accused and sentenced to die. Does that not bother you enough to act?"
Ichigo opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. He only stared at her, a mixture of confusion and awe in his expression.
Yurei sighed, her tone growing sharper. "I see. You're not convinced. Fine. Let me put it another way. My captain, Soi Fon, didn't want Rukia to die either, but she couldn't intervene because of her duty to the Soul Society. As her Lieutenant, I acted in her place. Satisfied?"
Ichigo blinked, his gaze softening as her words sank in. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "I think I understand now."
Yurei's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Good. Now, if that's all you needed—"
"Wait!" Ichigo interrupted, stepping forward. His expression was serious, his determination unmistakable. "Captain Yurei, I have one more request."
Yurei raised an eyebrow at the title, clearly amused. "Oh? What is it?"
"I want to spar with you," Ichigo said, his voice firm.
The request took Yurei by surprise. She paused, looking him over with an expression that was equal parts curiosity and exasperation. "A spar?"
"Yes," Ichigo said, meeting her gaze head-on. "Ever since you arrived, I've heard stories about how strong you are. Rukia told me a little about you, too. But I've never seen your strength for myself. I want to test my limits—to see if I can stand against someone like you."
Yurei studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes piercing into his resolve. She could see the fire in his eyes, the determination driving his words. A part of her admired his courage, but another part—one born of experience—knew how foolish he was.
"You want to test your strength," Yurei repeated, her voice softer now but laced with understanding. "You want to see if you're capable of protecting those you care about, even against opponents far stronger than yourself. Is that right?"
Ichigo's breath caught in his throat. How had she so easily unraveled his intent? After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah... that's exactly it."
Yurei exhaled, shaking her head. "You're reckless, boy. But fine. If you're so eager to measure your strength, I'll humor you."
Ichigo's eyes widened slightly, not expecting her to agree so easily.
"But don't get angry when you can't lay a single finger on me," Yurei added, her tone sharp and slightly teasing. "You're still young and inexperienced. If you want to fight someone like me, you'd better be ready for a harsh lesson."
Ichigo gritted his teeth, feeling a flash of irritation at her condescending tone. "We'll see about that."
Yurei smirked. "Alright then. Follow me. The training grounds aren't far from here."
The two of them walked in silence for a time, the tension between them growing thicker with each step. Ichigo glanced at Yurei out of the corner of his eye, noting her graceful movements and calm demeanor. It was hard to believe that someone so serene could command the kind of overwhelming power he'd heard about.
When they arrived at the training grounds, Yurei unsheathed her Zanpakutō, the elegant blade catching the sunlight as it gleamed with an almost ethereal glow.
"Let's make this quick," Yurei said, her voice cold and composed. She held her blade loosely in one hand, her posture relaxed, as if Ichigo wasn't even a threat worth preparing for.
Ichigo drew Zangetsu, gripping it tightly. "I won't hold back."
"Good," Yurei said, her eyes narrowing. "Because neither will I."
Before Ichigo could even process her words, Yurei vanished in a flash of shunpo. She reappeared behind him, her blade resting lightly against his shoulder.
"You're too slow," she said flatly, before disappearing again.
Ichigo spun around, searching for her, but she was already behind him once more. A sharp flick of her blade sent a gust of wind toward him, forcing him to leap back.
"You'll need to do better than that if you want to land even a single hit," Yurei taunted, her voice echoing around the training ground as she moved too fast for him to track.
Ichigo growled, tightening his grip on Zangetsu. "Alright, then. Let's see how you handle this!"
He swung his blade, releasing a powerful arc of energy toward her. Yurei didn't even flinch. With a single motion, she deflected the attack, the force of her counterstrike sending a shockwave through the air.
"Impressive," Yurei said, though her tone was clearly mocking. "But still not enough."
Ichigo charged at her, determined to close the gap between them. But Yurei danced around his attacks effortlessly, her movements so fluid and precise that it was as if she could predict his every move.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ichigo collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. Yurei stood a few feet away, completely unscathed and utterly calm.
"Do you see now?" she said, lowering her blade. "There's a difference between confidence and capability. You've got potential, Ichigo. Don't mistake confidence for strength, you need to learn how to control your own powers."
Ichigo looked up at her, his frustration fading into a grudging respect. "Yeah... I get it. Thanks, Captain Yurei."
Yurei smiled faintly, sheathing her blade. "You've got spirit, boy. Keep working on it. Maybe one day, you'll surprise me."
With that, Yurei turned on her heel and began to walk away, her Zanpakutō sheathed at her side, its faint glow fading like a firefly disappearing into the night. Her footsteps were soft against the training ground, almost as if she was floating, leaving behind a faint ripple of reiatsu in her wake. Ichigo, still kneeling and catching his breath, watched her retreating figure, the weight of the spar and her words pressing heavily on his shoulders.
Just as she reached the edge of the clearing, Yurei paused and glanced back over her shoulder. Her emerald-and-gold eyes glimmered with an almost mischievous light, though her voice carried the same composed and cutting edge that Ichigo was starting to expect from her.
"By the way," she began, her tone almost casual, "if I really wanted to, my Bankai could cover the entirety of Karakura Town."
Her words hit Ichigo like a thunderclap, and his jaw tightened as he struggled to process the sheer magnitude of what she'd just revealed. The entirety of Karakura Town?
Before he could respond, Yurei turned away again, her silvery-white hair swaying in the breeze as she began to walk off. "I'll leave you to it," she added, her voice trailing off as though she'd just mentioned something trivial, like the weather.
Ichigo's grip on Zangetsu tightened, his knuckles whitening. He remained frozen in place, his mind racing. "Cover the entirety of Karakura Town...?" he muttered under his breath. His orange hair clung to his sweat-drenched forehead as he stared at the ground in disbelief.
He replayed the fight in his mind: her impossible speed, her flawless technique, her overwhelming control. Even without releasing her Shikai or Bankai, Yurei had completely outclassed him. If she'd truly held back this much, how vast was the gap between their abilities?
"What kind of genius... or rather, what kind of monster is she?" Ichigo finally said aloud, his voice tinged with awe and a trace of unease.
The thought of a Bankai that could engulf the entire town—a power on a scale he couldn't begin to comprehend—made his stomach churn. He had faced terrifying opponents before, from Renji and Byakuya to the captains of the Gotei 13, but Yurei was something entirely different. She was calm, calculating, and unfathomably powerful. She wasn't just a warrior; she was a force of nature.
Despite the overwhelming sense of inadequacy welling up inside him, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a flicker of determination.
"If her Bankai can cover all of Karakura Town... and if she's as strong as she says..." Ichigo thought, clenching his teeth, "then I need to become strong enough to face that kind of power. I need to become strong enough to protect everyone, no matter what."
For now, though, all Ichigo could do was sit in the silence of the training grounds, letting the weight of Yurei's words—and her overwhelming presence—sink in. He looked up toward the sky, his breathing finally steadying, and found himself wondering just how far he'd have to go to stand on the same battlefield as someone like her.
In the distance, Yurei walked away, a faint smile curling at the edges of her lips. She could still sense Ichigo's reiatsu behind her, flickering with renewed determination despite his exhaustion.
"Good," she murmured to herself, the wind carrying her voice away. "Keep fighting, Kurosaki Ichigo. You'll need that resolve in the days to come."
With that, Yurei disappeared into the horizon, leaving Ichigo alone in the training ground, his resolve burning brighter than ever—even if it was dwarfed by the towering shadow of the Captain he had just faced.
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