Just as in the original story, Kaien became Rukia’s pillar of support.
Not only that, but the joint Fourth Seats, Sentaro Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu, treated her without prejudice as well, and Rukia gradually regained her spirit.
Because of that, there was nothing in particular I needed to do.
I merely joined her training from time to time.
Still, I believed I was at least helpful when it came to training.
My Zanjutsu had yet to reach Kaien’s level, but in Kidō, I was his equal—or perhaps even better.
Most of Kaien’s strength came from the Zanjutsu he performed with his Zanpakuto, so it was not exactly something worth bragging about.
However, Rukia’s strength as depicted in the original story came less from her Zanjutsu or Kidō and more from the power of her Zanpakuto and her Reiatsu.
To draw out Rukia’s true strength, increasing her Reiatsu—the alpha and omega of the Bleach universe—was more important than refining her technique.
That was why adding me to the equation did not cause Rukia’s abilities to skyrocket.
Of course, the results simply were not as dramatic as training at the Soul King Palace. Building a solid foundation led directly to increasing one’s Reiatsu, so training could never be neglected.
"What’s the matter? You’ve still got a long way to go! Come at me, Rukia!"
"P-Please go easy on me!"
Hearing Kaien and Rukia shouting at the training grounds in the mountains near the Thirteenth Division had become an everyday occurrence.
Rukia charged boldly at Kaien, but after exchanging only a few blows, she lost her grip on her Zanpakuto.
Unlike her, she had somehow let her attention wander in the middle of training.
Kaien seemed to notice as well, because he soon sheathed his sword and called for them to stop and eat.
Come to think of it, I could have sworn I heard someone’s stomach growl just now. She could not really have gotten distracted because she was hungry, could she?
"...Rice balls again today, Lieutenant?"
Nine times out of ten, Kaien made do with rice balls containing nothing but a single pickled plum whenever we trained.
"What’s wrong with that? They’re filling and quick to eat. Nothing beats these on training days."
What were they, cultivation fasting pills...?
These people had no concept of balancing carbohydrates, protein, and fat, so ensuring they received the bare minimum of nutrition fell to me.
"So, Rukia, has something been bothering you lately?"
I asked while handing each of them a large chunk of jerky.
"It is because of you, you fool."
"...?"
"You. I mean you. Are you not the one who has looked as though something has been troubling him lately?"
Apparently, she had lost focus during training because of me.
"Now that you mention it, Ryunosuke has looked pretty gloomy lately, hasn’t he?"
With even Kaien agreeing, I must really have been broadcasting it everywhere I went.
"Everything shows on your face. When you refuse to say anything, it looks as if you are begging us to ask what is wrong."
"Come on, I’m not that obvious... am I?"
"Enough. Hurry up and tell us. Even if you do not wish to speak, I intend to hear it."
At this point in the original story, I was pretty sure Rukia still had all the spirit of a soggy cracker.
Now, however, she had completely recovered and was closer to the somewhat brazen Rukia who would eventually meet Ichigo.
"...There’s something I want to do."
Perhaps I had been waiting for someone to ask. The words came pouring out surprisingly easily.
"But if I do it... someone will definitely be helped, but even more people might end up suffering because of it."
"...."
"The deadline is right around the corner, but I can’t commit either way. I’m stuck in limbo."
"There is something you believe you should do, but you cannot predict the consequences?"
"That’s right."
"And you will not tell us what that thing is, will you?"
"...No."
Explaining it would require me to play prophet and start rambling about Aizen. Everything would become a complete mess.
"Then let me ask you this. Does it violate the law or basic morality?"
"No."
"Do you believe that the act itself is right?"
"...Probably... No. It is right."
"When everything seems uncertain, there are times when the answer is to follow the one thing you know for certain."
"The one thing I know for certain...?"
"Your heart, Ryunosuke."
"My heart? But...."
"You said it might lead to a bad outcome. But Ryunosuke, are you a prophet?"
"...."
"You cannot know how it will end without even trying. More importantly...."
Rukia took a drink from the bamboo flask, then continued after a moment’s hesitation.
"I do not believe anything you choose to do would be evil."
She could only say that because she knew nothing.
...And yet, perhaps because of that, my thoughts seemed a little clearer.
"Well, if things go wrong, can’t you just work yourself half to death fixing them?"
Kaien, who had quietly watched Rukia and me, added his own opinion.
"I’ve told you before. You may claim you have no confidence, but you always pull through in the end."
After saying that, Kaien grinned and turned to Rukia.
"That was some good advice, Rukia. But I’m only imagining that it sounded suspiciously like something Yours Truly told you recently, right?"
"L-Lieutenant Kaien, that was...!"
Rukia’s face instantly turned as red as a rabbit’s eyes.
It seemed our serious conversation was over.
"Then, Rukia, there’s something I want to tell you."
"...Say it."
"Renji, Momo, Izuru, and I arranged to take leave at the same time and meet up next month. Would you like to come too?"
That idiot Renji still had not managed to mend his relationship with Rukia. Left to his own devices, he would keep fumbling around for decades.
"...Do not tell me that was what you were agonizing over saying."
"Yeah. I was worried that bringing a friendless loner to a gathering out of nowhere might be a nuisance."
"Say that again, you bastard!"
And so began another delightful session of Hakuda training with Rukia.
*
"Captain Ukitake, please assign me to Third Seat Miyako Shiba’s investigation team."
"They have already departed, though."
...What... did he say?
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