Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 63 - World of the Living Special Operations Squad

"It's fine, I guess..." Ichigo scratched his head. "It's a really impressive ability, no question—but the drawbacks are pretty obvious too."

"First off, even though the ability itself is strong, Orihime doesn't have enough spiritual pressure, so what can be done is just about at its limit. On top of that, self-defense is a bit lacking—against anyone at a Captain's level, there's still not much to be done."

"It's not like Captains are everywhere." Kukaku shook her head and quipped, "Don't assume Captains are common just because you're at that level yourself and most of the people around you happen to be in that league."

"You have to understand, every single Captain has mastered Bankai. They're all figures worthy of going down in the history books."

"The Soul Society's history books don't really feel worth all that much though... (quietly)"

"Hah?"

"Ah, never mind." Ichigo waved a hand. "Anyway, we should probably be heading out."

"Leaving so soon." Kukaku frowned. "That Ganju hasn't come back from running wild somewhere, I was actually going to introduce the two of you."

"Ganju?"

"Ah, my little brother." Kukaku thought for a moment. "Something like your cousin too, I suppose. That guy still hasn't grown up."

"I see." Ichigo nodded and spread his hands helplessly. "The Senkaimon was pretty much ready when we came out, and those guys are all waiting on us."

"Alright, can't keep the Captains waiting." Kukaku flexed the right hand and tightened it into a fist. "I won't say too much about being grateful, just remember to bring your parents along next time."

"Ah, I've also got two little sisters, Karin and Yuzu, I'll bring them over to play too."

"Ha ha! Deal! Just give me a heads-up, and I'll have the biggest and most spectacular fireworks ready!"

"Oh yeah! Then I'll look forward to it!"

Squad 12's open lot.

On an open lot belonging to Squad 12, a massive gate stood at the center. It looked fairly normal, a rooftop eave set between two stone pillars, the style leaning traditional, but unquestionably far better than anything Kisuke Urahara had ever thrown together.

"This is the official Senkaimon." Jushiro Ukitake said. "The spirit particle converter is already set up as well."

"Oh!" Ichigo rubbed his chin, staring at the gate. "It really is way better than the Senkaimon Urahara put together."

"By the way, Yoruichi—you coming or not?"

Yoruichi in cat form was currently being cradled in Sui-Feng's arms. Sui-Feng wore an expression of pure bliss, holding on with such obvious reluctance to let go that it genuinely felt like a shame to interrupt.

"Hey! Sui-Feng!"

"Y-yes, Yoruichi!"

Sui-Feng released the hold, then fixed Ichigo with a furious glare, exactly like a child whose favorite toy had just been snatched away.

"Staying behind is fine too, you know." Ichigo spread his hands. "No objection from me."

"Never mind, there's still a lot that needs my help on Kisuke's end." Yoruichi flicked her tail and walked on ahead. "Besides, Soul Society is too chaotic and busy right now, I want some peace and quiet."

"Alright, alright."

"Ichigo." Jushiro Ukitake stepped forward, holding a white garment. "The Captain-Commander asked me to pass this on to you."

"What is it?"

Ichigo took it and unfolded it, and froze. What he held wasn't a garment at all. It was exactly the same as what the Captains standing before him had draped over their shoulders. The symbol of a Captain's rank.

A Captain's Haori.

"This... is for me?!" Ichigo exclaimed. "Wait, what is everyone thinking?! I'm heading back home!"

Ichigo looked around. Apart from Kenpachi Zaraki, who got lost as a matter of course, and the Captain-Commander, every other Captain was present, and not one of them seemed to have any objection. Which meant...

"Take a closer look, Ichigo Kurosaki." Toshiro Hitsugaya spoke up. "That is not a numbered squad Captain's Haori."

"...There are different kinds?"

Ichigo flipped the Haori over. The Captain's Haori in hand was indeed different from all the others. On everyone else's, the back displayed the number representing their respective squad. But the back of this one had a single large character printed on it.

[Special].

"This... what does 'Special' mean?" Ichigo's mouth twitched. "Why not put a zero on it? At least that'd match yours, they're all numbers."

"Don't go saying strange things... Squad Zero is a royal family secret service, nothing like the rest of us..." Shunsui Kyoraku paused, then laughed. "Though in your case, Ichigo, becoming a member of Squad Zero probably wouldn't be a problem."

"The 'Special' character stands for the World of the Living Special Operations Squad." Jushiro Ukitake explained. "After the Captain-Commander discussed it with us, the decision was made to formally establish a new operations unit, partly to make it easier going forward to recruit and bring in special humans like yourself."

"...Using me as a test case, huh?" Ichigo swung the Haori. "Speaking of which, will other Soul Reapers even recognize this thing? I'd hate to get cut down by someone who has no idea what it is."

"Of course not, a notice will be distributed announcing the establishment of the Special Operations Squad." Jushiro Ukitake looked at the rest of the World of the Living unit. "Ichigo is Captain of the Special Operations Squad, Ishida is Vice-Captain, Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue are squad members, four in total."

"The insignia and proof of rank for the Vice-Captain and squad members haven't been made yet. Once they're ready, we'll have Kisuke Urahara send them over."

"Oh, okay, sure." Ichigo draped the Haori over his shoulders. "By the way, will this thing disappear? When I shift from spirit form back to a physical body and then back again?"

"Don't worry, it won't. This is a special-issue piece, once you put it on, it binds to your Shihakusho."

"Got it. So it works as identification too, no issues entering and leaving Soul Society or Seireitei going forward, right?"

"No issues whatsoever."

"Then I'll accept it."

With that, Ichigo turned and walked toward the Senkaimon. The white Haori billowed out behind him, and the large [Special] character came into full view of every Captain assembled there. At the edge of the sky, the sun was just about to set, as though heralding the end of an era.

"Rukia will remain in Soul Society." Just before Ichigo stepped through the gate, Byakuya suddenly spoke. "Squad 13 will dispatch other Soul Reapers to Karakura Town."

Ichigo's footsteps faltered for just a moment. A hand went up in farewell, but nothing was said. Rukia's mission was complete, naturally, there would be no return to the World of the Living. That much had been known long before setting foot in Soul Society.

Still, there was a pang of reluctance. They had been close companions for so long. Having Rukia disappear from daily life all at once was something he hadn't quite adjusted to yet.

"You know, this World of the Living Special Operations Squad is starting to feel a lot like Squad Zero."

"One Transcendent, one Quincy unaffected by Auswählen, one human with Captain-level power." Watching Ichigo and the others depart, Shunsui Kyoraku pressed the brim of the hat down. "And then there's an ability user who could be called a trespasser into the domain of God, this little unit could hold its own against our entire Gotei 13."

The assembled Captains fell silent. At that moment, every one of them had the creeping feeling that all their years of effort had amounted to nothing. Each of the four people from the World of the Living looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. Toshiro Hitsugaya, the youngest Captain among them, had held a Captain's post for what seemed like well over fifteen or sixteen years already.

And yet.

➤ Next: Kisuke Urahara's Bewilderment