As he walked towards Toshiro and the others, several members of the 6th Division approached and greeted him, delaying him for a moment before he finally reached them.
"Yo, Byakuya, you're finally here."
Toshiro teased.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting."
Byakuya sat down beside Toshiro.
"Since you know you kept us waiting, then punish yourself with three cups as an apology."
Toshiro said with a smile.
"Honestly, that Renji is so annoying! He kept bickering with me, and in front of my brother and Captain Hitsugaya, he didn't spare my feelings at all."
Rukia grumbled indignantly as she walked towards her room.
Just moments ago, while Toshiro, Byakuya, and the others were enjoying the flowers and savoring the exquisite food and drink, Renji suddenly started arguing with Rukia over a trivial matter.
Of course, it wasn't a big deal. In fact, it was just their usual way of interacting. But this time, in front of Byakuya and Toshiro, Rukia felt embarrassed, as if her dignity had been challenged. So she 'indignantly left the party'.
Well, mainly because she had drunk a bit too much, and since the meal was almost over, she decided to go back to her room for an afternoon nap.
"Ah—!!!"
Just as Rukia reached her door but hadn't entered yet, a scream suddenly came from nearby.
Clatter, clatter, clatter...
Rukia, who was feeling a bit tipsy, instantly sobered up and quickly ran towards the source of the sound.
"Ah—!!!"
When Rukia arrived, she found several maids of the Kuchiki Clan screaming in panic as they ran out of a room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of things being smashed came from the room. Ignoring the maids who had fled, Rukia quickly looked inside.
Then she saw two oddly shaped large men smashing tables and chairs, wreaking havoc in the room.
"Stop!"
Rukia walked directly into the room and demanded loudly, "Who are you people! Behave yourselves!!"
As she spoke, Rukia's right hand subconsciously reached for her waist, but found nothing.
'Oh no!'
Rukia's heart sank. 'I forgot to bring my Zanpakuto!'
Earlier, because everyone was going to the flower viewing and banquet together, Rukia had left her Zanpakuto in her room. Although she had just walked to her door, she hadn't entered yet when she heard the scream and rushed over directly, forgetting her Zanpakuto.
Seeing Rukia suddenly appear, the two men wreaking havoc in the room shifted their target and attacked her.
Whoosh!
One of them swung his sword down at Rukia's head. Distracted by forgetting her Zanpakuto, Rukia didn't react until the attack was almost upon her.
So, forgetting about dignity, at the critical moment, she executed a clumsy 'lazy donkey roll' on the ground to dodge the attack.
But before Rukia could stand up, the enemies had surrounded her, grinning sinisterly.
"Damn it!"
Watching the enemies toy with her as they approached, Rukia felt a surge of anger and panic.
"Die!"
Both enemies swung their swords at Rukia from left and right. Weaponless and sitting on the ground, Rukia could only close her eyes in helpless despair.
Just then, a clear yet gentle voice suddenly rang out.
"Next Dance, White Ripple!"
Boom!
A powerful surge of cold air, like an avalanche, rushed towards the two enemies attacking Rukia. If they continued their attack on Rukia, they would not escape either.
Sensing the attack from behind, the two enemies were forced to abandon their assault on Rukia and dodge to the side.
Seeing this, Rukia also quickly dodged.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The entire room was frozen by the powerful white cold air, turning into an ice cave.
Undoubtedly, the one who suddenly appeared and saved Rukia was her Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. After all, the only person who could use the [Next Dance, White Ripple] technique, besides Rukia herself, was her Zanpakuto.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures flashed and suddenly appeared outside the room. They were the two enemies who had just attacked Rukia.
Then they tried to flee, but were blocked by Sode no Shirayuki, who had come to Rukia's rescue.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Sode no Shirayuki said coldly.
Rukia had almost been harmed by them, so even the usually gentle Sode no Shirayuki was angered.
"You're Sode no Shirayuki!"
Rukia, who had also run out of the room, couldn't help but stare at her in shock.
Of course, Rukia recognized Sode no Shirayuki. She was just very surprised that Sode no Shirayuki could materialize again.
But Sode no Shirayuki had no time to talk to Rukia. She immediately swung her sword at one of the men who had attacked Rukia.
Squelch!
Blood gushed out. Sode no Shirayuki left a huge wound on him.
"Ugh—!!!"
He screamed and tried to run far away.
"Hmph! I said you won't escape! First Dance..."
"Ha!"
Just as Sode no Shirayuki was about to attack the fleeing enemy, she forgot about the other enemy behind her.
The enemy behind her shouted and swung his sword directly at her back.
Sensing the attack from behind, Sode no Shirayuki turned to block, but it was too late.
Just then, countless cherry blossom petals, seemingly from nowhere, suddenly swept towards the enemy attacking Sode no Shirayuki.
Sclick!!
The enemy about to attack Sode no Shirayuki was like he had been tortured, his body suddenly covered with countless fine wounds, blood gushing like a fountain.
"Are you alright, Sode no Shirayuki?"
Senbonzakura, Byakuya's Zanpakuto, walked over calmly.
"I'm fine. Thank you so much, Senbonzakura-sama."
Sode no Shirayuki thanked him.
Then she looked at Rukia with concern. "Are you alright, Rukia?"
But Rukia stared dumbfounded at Sode no Shirayuki and Senbonzakura. "You... you... didn't you turn back into swords?!"
"What are you talking about?"
Senbonzakura.
"We never said that."
Sode no Shirayuki.
"Indeed, however..."
"If you want to misunderstand, that's your freedom. But we never said we couldn't materialize again."
Senbonzakura directly interrupted Rukia, looking at her as if she was making a fuss over nothing.
Rukia still looked unconvinced. "But..."
"What's going on? Hmm..."
Byakuya and Toshiro sensed the commotion and, forgetting about flower viewing and the banquet, immediately rushed over. But just as Byakuya was about to ask what happened, he suddenly saw Sode no Shirayuki and Senbonzakura beside Rukia.
Seeing Toshiro and Byakuya appear, Sode no Shirayuki and Senbonzakura respectfully nodded to them.
However, Byakuya frowned and asked, "Why?"