[Soul Society Arc] Part 74: Gaol Named Remorse

# Somewhere in the Seireitei #

Hanatarō: "My name is Hanatarō Yamada."

Ichigo/Ganju: "It's so ordinary it's actually hard to remember!" - They both spoke simultaneously.

Hanatarō: "What?! E-Everybody says it's a good and easy name to remember!"

Yato: "It's easy to remember, yeah..." - He teased Ichigo.

Ichigo: "Don't give me that! You've told me yourself that you have trouble remembering names. I bet you can't recall half the students in our class..."

Yato: "You're right, I can't..." - He laughed.

Ganju: "Hey, you're our enemy... why are you introducing yourself?" He asked Hanatarō.

The Shinigami remained silent for a few moments before finally responding.

Hanatarō: "Well... I don't know."

Ichigo: "Why did you bring this guy?!" - He shouted at Ganju, pointing at Hanatarō.

Ganju: "I was distracted and ended up dragging him along without thinking!!" - He shouted back.

Yato: "I think we should be doing something much more important... like focusing on saving Rukia." - He casually remarked.

The name seemed to catch the attention of the 4th Division member.

Hanatarō: "Rukia..." - He spoke suddenly. - "The person you mentioned... Is it Rukia Kuchiki?"

Ichigo quickly turned his head in Hanatarō's direction with a surprised expression, while Yato remained silent, discreetly observing everything from the corner of his eye.

Hanatarō: "That's what I thought..." - He spoke in a low, hesitant voice. - "She's the younger sister of Captain Kuchiki of the 6th Division..."

Yato: "So, you know about the white tower where she is?" - He casually asked, despite already knowing the answer.

Hanatarō: "The white tower... is the Senzaikyū..." - He averted his gaze for a brief moment, still deciding if it was the right choice to divulge more about the matter. However, he continued. - "I... know a secret path to the tower."

Minutes later, the member of the 4th Division led Yato, Ichigo, and Ganju to a secret passage, removing part of the Seireitei's floor and guiding them into an underground canal. They walked in single file along the narrow pathway, the dim light of the underground canal cast shadows on their faces.

Ichigo: "Wow... I would've never guessed that all this was down here."

Hanatarō: "Yes. This network of subterranean canals spreads beneath the entire Seireitei. You can go anywhere unimpeded."

As they made their way through the intricate network of subterranean passages, Yato's silence seemed contemplative. He remained silent as he walked ahead of Ichigo, following the 4th Division member. The teenager glanced around, taking in the vastness of the underground canals and already formulating plans for the future.

Ichigo: "Hanatarō..." - He called the Shinigami's attention. - "Why are you... helping us? We're the enemy. Is it because we want to go to the white tower? Is that why you're guiding us without asking questions?"

Hanatarō: "... It's just that I've heard a lot about you... from Rukia-san. I know you well... Yato Yasakani and Ichigo Kurosaki."

Yato's casual demeanor was momentarily disrupted, and he turned to look at Hanatarō.

Yato: "Oh, She mentioned us?" - He asked, feigning disinterest in the topic but secretly eager to hear what Rukia had said about him.

The group walked for a few more seconds until they reached an area with a bit more space. They all sat down, eager to hear what Hanatarō had to say.

Hanatarō: "Before Rukia-san entered the Senzaikyū Shi-Shinrō... she was held in the 6th Division detention area. I was assigned... cleaning duties there. At first, I was very afraid of her... because she was from an noble family... but..."

Ganju: "But what?"

Hanatarō: "The first time I called her Rukia-sama... She corrected me... She told me to call her Rukia." - He smiled faintly as he recalled the moment. - "Her voice was kind... and it put me at ease. From then on, I couldn't wait... to clean her cell each day. Little by little, Rukia-san... told me all kinds of things... and much of it was... about you two, Yato-san... Ichigo-san..."

The group continued to look at Hanatarō, their attention fixed on him, their expressions were a mix of curiosity and empathy, as they hung on to Hanatarō's every word.

Hanatarō: "Rukia-san said that... even though she only spent two months with you two... she mentioned that she felt she could trust you completely from the bottom of her heart. There were moments when I'd hear her softly humming, and she shared that she picked up this habit after her time in confinement, as it helped soothe her nerves..."

Yato: 'Well, this is new...' - Yato thought to himself. - "She was humming...?" - He inquired, genuine curiosity in his voice.

Hanatarō: "She told me it was a habit of yours, Yato-san." - Hanatarō smiled warmly, reminiscing. - "She said she would sometimes hear you singing when you were alone."

Ichigo and Ganju immediately shifted their attention to Yato, and a brief silence filled the air as they waited for his response. Yato, on the other hand, lowered his head, his cheeks tinged with a warm blush of embarrassment.

Hanatarō: "Rukia-san mentioned that she always had the uncanny feeling that... you've known her for years, even though you've only interacted briefly, Yato-san..." - Hanatarō looked at Yato with a curious expression, trying to discern Yato's reaction.

Yato's brow furrowed slightly as he absorbed Hanatarō's words. He shifted his gaze to the distance, contemplating the implications of Rukia's statement.

Cheshire: 'Well... she's not entirely off the mark with that~ hehe~.' - Cheshire's voice purred playfully in Yato's mind. Yato's eyes flickered as he heard Cheshire's comment.

Hanatarō: "But..." - The member of the 4th Division briefly cast a meaningful glance at Ichigo, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and understanding. - "She said that because of her, your destiny took a twisted turn... She believed she had caused you great pain, Ichigo-san." - Hanatarō hesitated for a moment, his gaze remaining on Ichigo, as if searching for a reaction. - "She said she could never make amends for what she'd done to you... Whenever she said that... her face would cloud with sadness."

Ganju: "....She's a strange shinigami... too..." - Ganju's voice was tinged with a mixture of confusion and intrigue. He scratched his head, clearly contemplating the enigmatic nature of the shinigami they were discussing.

Ichigo suddenly sprang to his feet and began walking briskly, his brows furrowed in deep thought. Ganju and Hanatarō exchanged concerned glances, their concern growing as they tried to keep up with his rapid pace. None of them noticed Yato, who remained seated by the underground canal, lost in contemplation of the information Hanatarō had shared.

Ichigo's footsteps echoed through the underground passage, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and determination.

Meanwhile, Yato's eyes remained fixed on the gently flowing water, his mind lost in a different kind of turmoil. His thoughts oscillated between Rukia's words and the realization that he, too, needed to be with the group. He heaved a sigh, standing up, and with a sense of determination, he raced after Ichigo, Ganju, and Hanatarō, determined not to lose them in the labyrinthine underground passages.

**

# Seireitei - Conference Room Two #

Yasochika Iemura, the co-3rd Seat officer of the 4th Division, sat with an air of tension in a dimly lit room, where the lieutenants of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 10th divisions had gathered. The room was heavy with the weight of unspoken worry as Iemura carefully read through the report.

Iemura: "3rd Seat of the 11th Division, Ikkaku Madarame, 5th Seat of the same Division, Yumichika Ayasegawa, and Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi of the 9th Division have all been incapacitated due to battle injuries." He paused for a moment, the grim reality of the situation sinking in. "The 3rd Division's lieutenant was also defeated in battle, but his injuries are not life-threatening, and he is expected to return to his duties soon... Damage assessments are currently being prepared for all units... but it appears that... with the exception of the captain and lieutenant... the 11th Division has been utterly decimated."

The lieutenants sat in stunned silence, their faces reflecting the gravity of Iemura's words. Shock and fear spread through the room, and their expressions revealed the deep concern for their comrades. Some exchanged glances, as if trying to grasp the enormity of the loss, while others were lost in their thoughts, contemplating the implications of this devastating news for their Soul Society.

Iba: "How did these intruders manage to cause so much chaos in such a short time...?" - The 7th Division lieutenant's brow was furrowed.

Iemura: "So far, we've positively identified five of the intruders, and it appears that three of them have taken a member of my Division as a hostage and are advancing in this direction." - Iemura's voice held a sense of urgency.

Iba: "Actually, I haven't received any updates from my 4th Seat for quite some time..."

Rangiku: "4th Seat? Isn't that Jirōbō? The Kamaitachi?" - She exchanged glances with Iba, her eyes widened as she recognized the name, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing her features.

As the lieutenants engaged in conversation, the 5th Division lieutenant couldn't shake off her growing concern, particularly because she knew that one of the defeated shinigami was her friend, Izuru Kira. Her eyes darted between her fellow officers, her expression a mix of anxiety and deep thought.

Momo: "Th-things are getting crazzy...Huh, Abarai-kun?"

Worried about Izuru's well-being, she turned to Renji, who was standing nearby. Her intention was to discuss the situation and seek reassurance, but to her surprise, Renji had already silently slipped away from the gathering.

Momo: "Abarai-kun...?"

**

Hanatarō continued to guide Yato, Ichigo, and Ganju through the labyrinthine underground canals of Seireitei. The air was damp and heavy, and the echoes of their footsteps reverberated in the confined space. After what felt like an eternity, Hanatarō led them to a flight of stairs that ascended to a hidden exit.

Hanatarō: "It's clear... you can come up." - He whispered cautiously, his eyes scanning their surroundings to ensure there were no immediate threats.

Ganju: "Phew!! Feels good to breathe fresh air again!" - Ganju's relief was palpable as he ascended the stairs and emerged into the open.

Hanatarō: "The canals don't reach the base of the tower. This is the closest exit."

As Ganju remarked on how close they were to the tower, Yato and Ichigo fixated their gazes on the staircase. Just as Ganju started to make a move to continue, Ichigo swiftly extended his hand, blocking Ganju's path and causing him to halt in his tracks.

Ichigo: "Did you sense that, Yato?"

Yato: "Yeah... there's a deadweight blocking the stairs..." - Yato's words were laced with a touch of disdain, and he exchanged a knowing look with Ichigo.

Standing on the staircase, Lieutenant Renji Abarai of the 6th Division appeared, his characteristic glasses in place. Renji raised the special glasses, placing it on his forehead, as he fixed his unyielding gaze on the group of intruders.

Renji: "It's been a long time... do you remember me?"

Yato: "Nope..." - Yato's retort was accompanied by a mischievous smirk, challenging Renji's question.

Ichigo: "....Renji Abarai!"

Yato: "Oh yeah... that guy..." - Yato responded in a tone of mock surprise, though in reality, his memory was far from forgetful.

The stage was set for a confrontation.