Dong. Dong. Dong.

The sound echoed in their skulls like a funeral drum.

Perhaps Aiyan's oppressive presence was simply too overwhelming.

Sarugaki Hiyori, Kuna Mashiro, and Yadōmaru Lisa—all three facing this godlike force—could now hear even the blood coursing through their veins. Each heartbeat pounded like thunder in their ears, violent and out of control.

"Don't joke around."

"I won't let you take Captain Kirio away for execution!"

Sarugaki Hiyori clenched her teeth.

Her mind replayed every memory she had of Hikifune Kirio—her smile, her voice, the warmth in her eyes. A mother's gentleness… a captain's strength.

With trembling hands, she drew her Zanpakutō—and without hesitation, dragged the blade across her own arm.

Poof—!

Blood sprayed.

Pain seared through her nerves.

And fear, the kind born of overwhelming Reiatsu… was burned away.

"Even if it costs me my life… I will never let go!"

The words rang like iron.

Turning away, Hiyori hoisted Hikifune Kirio onto her back and began to flee.

Pain could overcome the fear that surged from the disparity in Reiatsu.

But pain alone couldn't bridge the gap in power.

And Hiyori knew it.

"Impressive."

Aiyan watched her slash her own arm, watched her wield pain like a sword to slash through fear.

And praised her for it.

"If you truly want to protect Hikifune Kirio, then hold onto her."

"If you can do that… I'll let you leave Seireitei."

The words had barely fallen—

When a wave of golden Reiatsu descended like a divine mountain.

Crushing.

Boundless.

Snap!

In a single instant, all three of them—Sarugaki Hiyori, Yadōmaru Lisa, Kuna Mashiro—collapsed to the ground like struck puppets. Their limbs convulsed. Their bodies twitched.

As if thunder had passed through their veins.

"Move!"

"Get up—damn it!"

"Hiyori! How can you be so weak!"

Hiyori screamed within herself, trying with all her might to lift her trembling hands.

But her fingers betrayed her.

One by one, they opened against her will.

And she lay there—face pressed to the earth.

Hikifune Kirio, who she swore to protect until death, slid from her back and collapsed beside her.

"Ah—!"

Hiyori's eyes went wide as she watched Kirio fall.

Pain and despair twisted her face. She even raised her blade, nearly severing her own hand in rage.

"Enough."

"Don't embarrass yourselves."

Aiyan stepped slowly toward Yadōmaru Lisa and Sarugaki Hiyori.

Neither moved.

They remained sprawled on the ground, hands still trembling toward Kirio's fallen form, unwilling to surrender.

"Lisa. Hiyori."

"Give them to me."

"What I said earlier still stands. I'll give you an answer worthy of your loyalty."

Aiyan knelt down.

With the gentleness of a father, he wiped away the tears from Lisa and Hiyori's faces.

"Captain Aiyan… please…"

"Don't kill Captain Kirio!"

Sarugaki Hiyori raised her head, eyes filled with desperation… and a faint, flickering hope.

"Fine."

"I won't kill them."

"Not Kirio. Not Shutara."

"Not only will I not kill them—I'll heal them."

Aiyan's words landed like lightning.

"What...?"

Hiyori and Lisa both looked up in shock, unable to believe what they'd heard.

He… would save them?

Even now, after Central 46 had issued a final execution order, Aiyan was going to openly defy Soul Society and save Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru?

"He's not lying."

Another voice came from above.

A figure appeared with a flash of Shunpo, clad in captain's robes—Shihōin Yoruichi.

"Aiyan risked everything to save Kirio."

"Back in the First Division's chamber, he already saw through your plan to lure him to Hueco Mundo."

"But he still left Seireitei willingly."

"He went there not to fight… but to search for a cure. To find a way to reverse the Hollowfication consuming Captain Kirio and Lieutenant Shutara."

"Even if he couldn't save them completely—he wanted to give them control over the hollow force eating at their souls."

Yadōmaru Lisa turned to Yoruichi, disbelief still clouding her voice.

"But… does Captain Aiyan really understand Hollowfication?"

"Not even Captain Unohana… nor the Twelfth Division's top scientists… could solve it."

"They said it was hopeless."

Her voice trembled with uncertainty.

No one in Soul Society had ever solved this.

And Aiyan, though mighty, was a warrior—not a healer. Not a researcher.

"Some people are born rivers, and some are born mountains."

Yoruichi's voice was calm.

"You've seen Aiyan's Kidō skills. Since the incident at the Kuchiki clan, he's been developing a Kidō that can cleanse Hollowfication."

"This journey to Hueco Mundo served two purposes: rescue the expedition… and test that very Kidō on the Menos Grande."

Lisa and Hiyori looked at each other. Their disbelief began to falter.

"When we returned to Seireitei and felt Aiyan's Reiatsu at the Execution Grounds, we knew he'd stepped in."

"He came to stop you—not to punish, but to save you from yourselves."

"To stop you from going down the wrong path."

"To prevent your interference from endangering the very ones you were trying to save."

"I went to the Twelfth Division myself and brought back several survivors of the Tsunayashiro Hollow incident—detained there for years."

"They are living proof that Aiyan's Kidō can reverse Hollowfication. That Kirio and Shutara can be cured."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed at the three women.

There was no hiding her irritation.

She had seen Aiyan working day and night for this. Pouring himself into it.

And yet… here they were. Doubting him. Fighting him.

Even now.

"What are you doing?"

"Captain Aiyan…"

"We—"

The three remaining Visored—Kuna Mashiro, Yadōmaru Lisa, Sarugaki Hiyori—were silent.

Their faces turned red, then purple.

Guilt, shame, and overwhelming gratitude tangled together in their hearts.

They hadn't forgotten.

They had drawn blades against him—for the sake of Hirako Shinji.

They had fought him, cornered him.

And yet, even knowing this, Aiyan had come back. Risked everything. Not to retaliate.

But to save the ones they loved.

"Only Aiyan would still help us after all this."

"Anyone else…"

"Hmph."

Yoruichi scoffed quietly.

"We're sorry, Captain Aiyan."

Lisa rose shakily to her knees, head bowed.

"We misjudged you."

"We nearly made a fatal mistake."

"Captain Aiyan… we were wrong."

Kuna Mashiro's voice was small but sincere as she followed Lisa's example.

As for Muguruma Kensei, who still lay buried somewhere beneath a mountain of rubble—

Well, Mashiro had momentarily forgotten about him.

After all…

It was they who had drawn blades.

And if a captain died because of that—

Then they had no right to complain.

At the very least, she understood that much.

And if Muguruma Kensei's soul had descended into hell—

She prayed he would not hold it against her.

...

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