"Captain, Captain, what exactly is your relationship with that Arrancar?"
After Harribel left, Rangiku hurried over with a gossipy look. She had actually come with Toshiro, but everyone present had simply ignored her earlier. After all, she was only Lieutenant-class... anyone there was stronger than her. No one paid her any mind.
Rangiku, having some 'self-awareness' that she couldn't help and might even be a burden, had stayed quietly in the back, not coming forward.
"Come on, Captain, spill it! You two looked pretty familiar. Don't tell me you've got a thing going? Getting involved with an Arrancar... Captain, your taste is certainly unique, ehehehe..."
Rangiku said with a rather lecherous grin.
"Hmph! Don't ask about things you shouldn't!"
Toshiro scolded with a cold face.
"What's the big deal? You can do it but I can't talk about it?"
Rangiku said discontentedly.
"Enough. Just don't bring this up again, and don't go spreading it around. Got it, Rangiku?"
Toshiro said seriously.
"Ah, I got it, Captain!"
Seeing Toshiro's grave expression, Rangiku understood this was no small matter and gave him a solemn promise.
"And Ichigo, don't mention that I know Harribel either."
Toshiro said to Ichigo, who was standing not far away looking somewhat dejected.
"That female Arrancar is named Harribel? Got it, Toshiro. I won't tell anyone else."
Ichigo also promised.
"Good."
Toshiro nodded.
Toshiro didn't want Rangiku or Ichigo to talk about it mainly for Harribel's safety.
If Aizen found out Harribel knew Toshiro and was even willing not to be enemies with the Shinigami because of him, who knows what he might do.
He might even strike against Harribel before the final battle, as he hadn't hesitated to kill a defeated Harribel in the original work, let alone knowing she might disobey his orders.
"By the way, Ichigo, how is Rukia?"
Toshiro asked suddenly. When he had arrived earlier, he noticed Rukia lying on the ground, but her Reiatsu was stable, not life-threatening, so he hadn't attended to her immediately.
"Rukia?"
Ichigo went to check on her again. "She was injured by Grimmjow and passed out, but thankfully, it seems her life isn't in danger."
"That's good."
Toshiro said.
Whoosh!
A figure suddenly appeared.
"Rukia! What happened to Rukia?!"
Renji asked hurriedly.
"Renji, don't worry. Rukia just fainted. There's no serious danger."
Toshiro explained. The newcomer was Renji.
"Is that so?"
Renji breathed a sigh of relief. After glancing at the scene, he asked, "So, those Arrancars all went back to Hueco Mundo? Does that mean we won?"
"We won!"
"We lost!"
Two completely opposite answers came simultaneously. The one saying 'won' was Toshiro... the one saying 'lost' was Ichigo.
"Huh? What's going on, Ichigo?"
Renji asked, puzzled. He was more inclined to believe Toshiro's answer, given Toshiro's strength, it was impossible for him to lose to some Arrancars.
"For you guys, maybe it's a win, but for me, it's undoubtedly a loss."
Ichigo said, somewhat dejectedly. "That Arrancar named Grimmjow beat Rukia right in front of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop him. Not only that, but in our fight, I gave it my all and still couldn't touch him. He didn't even draw his sword... he clearly wasn't serious."
"I know in my heart, if he had gone all out from the start, if Toshiro hadn't arrived in time, I might be dead. So how can I have the nerve to say I won?"
Seeing Ichigo so dejected, Renji tried to comfort him. "Don't be an idiot! You're still alive, aren't you? That's definitely a win!"
"Don't try to fool me! If you were in my place, could you still say that?"
Ichigo refuted.
"Do you know? I was actually quite proud before. Other Shinigami train for decades or centuries and might not get this strong, but I've only been a Shinigami for a few months and I have power comparable to the Captains. But now... I couldn't kill a single one of those guys! I couldn't protect anyone! How ridiculous does my so-called pride seem now!!"
"So this is a complete and utter defeat for me!!"
Ichigo's pained expression showed he was agonizing over his own powerlessness.
Hearing Ichigo's words, Toshiro and Renji fell silent, not knowing how to comfort him.
Grimmjow had led a group to attack the Living World, and aside from himself being taken away by Tosen and Harribel, all the others were killed by Shinigami.
The result was clearly a great victory for the Shinigami side. Yet, hearing Ichigo talk, it sounded like the Shinigami had suffered a crushing defeat.
Fortunately, this somber atmosphere was broken by the arrival of Orihime.
She had obediently hidden in a safe place as Toshiro and Rangiku had advised. Sensing the battle was over, thinking someone might be injured and need her help, she had quickly come out and followed the Reiatsu to find them.
While Orihime treated Rukia, Toshiro asked Renji, "By the way, Renji, how are Sojiro and Ashido? You were fighting together earlier, right?"
"Sojiro and Ashido? They found a new place to stay, so they left after the battle."
Renji said.
"A new place to stay? Weren't you guys fighting? How did you suddenly and inexplicably find a place to stay?"
Toshiro asked, puzzled.
"Oh, it's like this. During the fight, an ordinary human got caught up in it. He turned out to be Ichigo's friend, named Keigo or something. Sojiro and Ashido saved him, so they decided to stay at this Keigo's house."
Renji explained.
"It's Keigo? Really, that guy wandering around so late at night. He was lucky to be saved this time. If something happens next time, it'll be too late for regrets. I'll have to give him a good talking to when I get back."
Ichigo frowned.
Then, Rukia regained consciousness after Orihime's treatment, and everyone went their separate ways, returning to their own lodgings.
…
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.
"You're back, Grimmjow."
Aizen sat upon his throne, looking down at Grimmjow as he walked in with Tosen.