So-Called Longing

A week after Aizen defected.

11th Division.

Bang!!!

A figure smashed the window and flew out from the training ground of 11th Division.

"Very good! Next!"

The bare-chested Ikkaku held a wooden knife in his hand and shouted loudly to the team below, his shiny head shining in the sunlight.

"Hey! What's wrong with you? Did no one catch up? Soft feet shrimp."

Seeing that the team below were all cowering with their heads down to their feet, Ikkaku shouted with dissatisfaction. Because he was injured and stayed in bed for so long, he was now very uncomfortable. Now he urgently needed to fight with someone to relax.

"I really can't do anything about you guys. Since that's the case, then let me fight you!"

"Whoa, you're quite bold, Ichigo!"

Ikkaku put the wooden knife on his shoulder, the corner of his mouth raised, and looked at Kurosaki Ichigo who stood up provocatively.

"Is that okay? Didn't you just recover? I won't show mercy."

"Didn't you and I just recover? Besides, I'm not sick. I just suffered some injuries."

"Isn't that the same? Didn't the wound just recover?"

"Of course not!"

"Then tell me, what should I call the wound?"

"This... I don't know either."

"See, you don't know at all! Go back and recite the national language from the beginning! Idiot!"

"What did you say? I think you are the one with an empty head!"

"Alright! Then let's see who wins and who wins is right. How about it!"

Ikkaku looked at Kurosaki Ichigo, with excitement on his face, and the wooden knife in his hand was raised high.

"Oh! Come on! I will let you know that my national language is the strongest!"

In the face of Ikkaku provocation.

Kurosaki Ichigo was also not to be outdone. He raised the wooden knife in his hand and looked at Ikkaku with a face full of fighting spirit.

Just as the two of them were about to exchange their wooden blades.

Shua ---dong!

"Good morning."

"Good morning, captain!"

"Eh? Isn't this Ichigo? Why? I see that you are in a very good condition. Ichigo, is the wound fine?"

"Yes, thanks to your care, my wound is no longer..."

Swish -

Before Kurosaki Ichigo could finish his words, he only felt a flash of light in front of him. The wooden knife in his hand was immediately cut into two pieces.

"Is it? That's good. I wanted to find Kimura. But I don't know where he hid. Now that your injury has been healed, then let's have another fight with me without any scruples!"

Whoosh ---

Zaraki Kenpachi's words had not finished. Feeling that the atmosphere was a little wrong, Kurosaki Ichigo directly threw down the wooden hilt in his hand and turned to run. Are you kidding? Fighting with this guy? The terrible scene when he fought with Muyang a few days ago was still in Kurosaki Ichigo's mind. Unless he wanted to die, he would not fight with Kenpachi again.

"Hey! Ikkaku! You stinky boy, stop!"

Seeing that Kurosaki Ichigo turned around and ran without saying anything, Zaraki Kenpachi called out behind him.

"I just wanted to talk to you! I don't want to fight with you anymore!"

The brain once again put back the scene of Muyang and Zaraki Kenpachi fighting before, and Kurosaki Ichigo could not help but shiver.

-----------

6th Division Courtyard.

"Are you wondering why I am still alive?"

Kuchiki Byakuya sat on the bed. Looking at the changing scenery outside the window, he suddenly asked softly.

It has been a week since the battle. Although there are some changes in the heart of Kuchiki Byakuya after a battle, but after a week of peace, he has returned to the unsmiling head of Kuchiki family. After all, the habits that have been developed over the years will not be easily changed.

"How can it be... If you die, who can I aim for the next level?"

"So that's your goal..."

Hearing Renji's words, Kuchiki Byakuya whispered and his face was thoughtful.

"Does Captain also have a goal to strive for?"

Seeing the thoughtful expression on Kuchiki Byakuya's face, and then thinking of what he heard on the Sokyoku Hill after the great war, Renji puffed up his breath and asked the thoughtful Byakuya: "That Mr. Kimura?"

"Ah..."

Turning to look at Renji who was sitting in the distance, Kuchiki Byakuya suddenly had an impulse to talk to him. Perhaps it was because of the loneliness for a long time, or because he saw the teacher who had been away for a hundred years again, his mood was difficult to control, or maybe because of Renji, he saw his own shadow that looked forward to Muyang.

"Teacher Kimura, he was once the goal I longed for and wanted to catch up with."

Kuchiki Byakuya looked straight ahead, and his eyes showed the color of memories, apparently falling into his own memories.

When I was born, it was when the teacher was at the height of Soul Society's reputation. At that time, the teacher was the most famous person in Gotei 13th. Even Head-Captain Yamamoto, at that time, he was not as famous as the teacher.

"He graduated from True Central Academy in half a year. He was appointed as a vice-captain as soon as he graduated, and he was promoted to captain a year later! Although his teacher came from Rukongai, the talents he showed made all the nobles of Soul Society blush with shame. Moreover, the teacher who was born in Rukongai did not have any conflicts with the nobles. On the contrary, many nobles admired him."

"During the time when the teacher was the captain, all the members of Gotei 13th admired him. Even in Rukongai, he enjoyed a great reputation. As a student, I often felt happy and proud to have such a teacher. Now that I think about it. Even after what happened that year, deep in my heart, I was still proud of being his student."

Hearing Kuchiki Byakuya slowly telling everything in a nostalgic tone, Renji slowly outlined an image in his brain. Originally, in his heart, Muyang was just a little mysterious and terribly powerful guy. But after listening to the description of his captain, the image of Muyang slowly developed in his brain, and an image that was still mysterious but made him feel admiration took shape in the brain of Renji.

But...

Why would such an admirable person leave Soul Society and live in seclusion in the modern world? And what did Captain mean?

"Captain, what you said..."

"Renji"

"I am about to ask something important!"

"Oh... Yes... Sorry."

Seeing the unhappy expression on Renji's face, Kurosaki Ichigo apologized without sincerity, and then his face was slightly straight: "Do you know where Rukia went?"

"Ah? What happened to Rukia?"

"Forget it, forget it if you don't know."

"Ichigo, how did you climb up the window on the third floor? It's very dangerous."

"Ah? You are the one, right? You are really amazing. How did you climb up?"

Seeing Orihime beside him, a drop of cold sweat slid down Kurosaki Ichigo's face. He really couldn't judge a person by their looks. He really didn't know how she climbed up from the bottom of the well. She clearly looked like a lady.

"Sorry! Renji, Byakuya, then let's go first."

"Sorry to disturb you. Renji, Byakuya."

"What are the two of them doing?"

Looking at Orihime and Kurosaki Ichigo who quickly left the well, Renji whispered.

"Eh? What happened to you, Captain?"

Turning his head, seeing Kuchiki Byakuya look thoughtful, Renji was stunned.

"Nothing."

Stretching out a hand and stroking his chin, Kuchiki Byakuya whispered: "That guy, it should not call my name straight after?"

Hearing Kuchiki Byakuya like talking to himself, a drop of cold sweat slid down from Renji's forehead, it seemed that it was really possible to keep calling him like this.

"Come to think of it, Captain. What do you mean by 'that thing' you just said?"

Seeing Kurosaki Ichigo and Orihime leave the well, Renji sat back on his stool and looked at Kuchiki Byakuya and asked. For Kimura, who was not familiar for him yet, Renji was now full of curiosity.

"Nothing, I am not very clear about what happened in the past."

Hearing Renji's question, Byakuya said coldly. After Kurosaki Ichigo's disturbance just now, he had lost his interest to continue. What's more, he did not know much about the things of that year. After all, he was still young at that time, and he had not joined the Gotei 13th, and was not qualified to touch those.

Damn it! Ichigo that bastard! It's all his fault that he came to disturb now Captain obviously lost interest. The next time I see him, I must beat him up!

Seeing that Kuchiki Byakuya had lost the topic of conversation, Renji was slightly disappointed. He could only curse in his heart and secretly decided to teach him a lesson the next time they met. Poor Renji, completely forgot that his strength was not enough to teach him a lesson.

But...

The powerful figure of Muyang on the Sokyoku Hill flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but be moved. He really wanted to know the person whom the captain looked forward to so much.

Speaking of which, Ichigo seemed to know Senior Kimura. It seemed that his Slash and Shunpo were taught by Senior Kimura. Speaking of which, that kid was really lucky.

If there was a chance to go to the Modern Realm to carry out a mission next time, he should be able to see Mr. Kimura. After seeing him, perhaps he could understand why the captain looked forward to him so much. No, not only that, if he could get his guidance, he might be able to catch up with the captain!

Thinking that he could catch up with Byakuya, Renji felt a burning desire in his heart. If there was a mission sent to the Modern Realm next time, he must strive for it!