Chapter 76

The door behind me opened, and I turned slightly to see the others from yesterday walk in. Ichigo took in the scene and asked, "Uh… what's happening?"

Kisuke, with an inquisitive glint in his eye replied, "Kurosaki-san tell me, do you sense anything off about our friend here?"

Ichigo frowned, blinked, and then shifted into a stance. "He doesn't have any Reiatsu. Who are you really?"

I twitched, but Kisuke answered before I could, moving back to the counter and keeping a steady gaze on me. "Sasaki-san's oddness doesn't end there." He reached under the register and pulled something out, Eri's body.

'W-what? H-how?'

"He's been carrying a dead body."

My bloodlust erupted, freezing Ichigo and his friends in place. Tessai and Kisuke merely frowned, unfazed.

"Hand her over." I demanded, summoning Muramasa and charging it with cursed magic. The curse clawed at my mind, but I forced it down, channeling more cursed energy to strengthen my body. The blade radiated a dark red and black aura.

Suddenly, a dark-skinned foot struck Kisuke's head, and in one swift motion Eri's body was taken. Yoruichi, now in her human form, stood in front of me holding Eri.

"Calm down." she said smoothly. "This is just a fake. See?~" She let it crumble to dust, and I sighed in relief but didn't lower Muramasa, still burning with dark energy. Her piercing gaze held mine as she put a hand on her hip. "Relax~ no one's going to hurt you. We just want to ask a few questions."

I took a breath, stopped channeling Muramasa's power, then shifted it instantly into a Shundo, appearing directly in front of Kisuke with my blade at his neck.

"Do that again." I warned. "and I'll make sure nothing remains."

I unsummoned Muramasa, limped out of the store, no one tried to stop me.

'That was stupid.' I thought wearily, sitting on a park bench with my head resting in my hand. I shouldn't have reacted like that. I sighed. 'I feel like I did back home… I just want to keep sleeping.'

I heard someone sit beside me and glanced over to see Kisuke.

"What do you want?" I asked, colder than intended, though he seemed unfazed.

"I'm here to apologize." he replied.

I raised an eyebrow. "Apologize? For intruding on someone's privacy? For doing something as vile as replicating a dead body to see their reaction?"

He nodded, looking out at the trees. "Partially. I'm here to apologize for having people poke through your precious things. But you understand why, don't you?"

I sighed, nodding as I turned my gaze to the trees. "I get it."

"I was advised to bring a peace offering." I raised an eyebrow as he held up a bottle of plum wine. "It's a few hundred years old. Think you can handle it?"

A reluctant smirk tugged at my face. "What do you want in return?"

He gave me a feigned look of hurt, placing a hand over his chest. "I'm hurt! What makes you think I'd want anything after offering such a generous gift?"

I snorted, taking the bottle, popping the cork, and drinking half of it in one go. "I know your type, smart and stupid, but cunning."

He took the bottle back and sipped, his expression intrigued. "There's more to you than I thought. But you're right, I'd still like to ask you a few questions."

I held out my hand, and he passed the bottle back. I drank another half, noticing his faint annoyance. "What's in it for me? You leaving me alone? Because if that's it, I think I'll pass. Like I said, I know your type."

He snatched the bottle out of my hand, finished it, and gave me a wide smile. "I can get your limbs back."

I glanced around the underground training area beneath the shop with mild awe, but I shrugged it off. 'I'll see more interesting stuff in time.' Kisuke, Ichigo, his friends, and Yoruichi were all there, though I struggled to keep from staring at her. 'I've fought gods, battled the Demon King, seen the end of the world, and here I am, distracted by her looks?' I scolded myself, trying to focus. 'Fuck sake, focus Ryou!'

"Yo~ Ryou-kun, you there?~" Kisuke's voice snapped me out of it. His face was inches from mine, and I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

"What are we doing here, Kisuke-san?"

He smirked, gesturing toward Ichigo, who looked as confused as I felt. "You two will be sparring!" he said, clapping his hands.

I stared blankly at Kisuke. "Why?"

His smirk widened as he motioned for me to hand over Eri's box. I shook my head and limped over to Orihime instead. "Protect her." I said, before walking back to Kisuke and Ichigo.

"I have a few reasons for this spar. For one, we've had a problem recently arise, and I believe you can help. I also want to see what you're capable of, to understand how you might assist us." I sighed as I heard his words.

I nodded, and while Ichigo didn't look entirely convinced, I was curious. I wanted to understand the power gap between this world and my own, and though I wasn't at full strength, I figured I could overwhelm him briefly.

I summoned Muramasa, and Ichigo burst into a cloud of smoke, emerging in his Soul Reaper attire with his giant sword over his shoulder.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Ryou-san?"

I gripped the hiltless Muramasa and flared my cursed magic and bloodlust, taking a step forward. I could feel the curse trying to seize control, but I focused through it.

"What, can't handle a cripple?"

I heard a woman's laugh ring out, but I stayed focused, launching myself toward Ichigo. I couldn't rely on Shundo too much, or I'd risk my wooden leg snapping. We clashed, his massive sword meeting mine, and I felt the difference in physical power between us. 'Can't wait to get my other arm back.'

Using the weight of his swing, I slid my katana along his blade and struck him in the face with the blunt end. He stepped back, a small trickle of blood running from his nose where I'd hit him.

"Really, that's it?" I taunted.

Instead of answering, he began radiating a powerful aura around him. 'Must be Reiatsu.' I released more cursed magic to try matching his output, finding I was still slightly weaker than his Reiatsu. 'Interesting.'

We charged each other again, and I used a low-output Shundo to catch him off guard. But he was ready this time, and we clashed swords once more.