8.At the edge of life

Zaraki and Ichigo were lying on the ground at the centre of the explosion. After the explosion, many people were coming towards this place. The first to reach the place was Yoruichi she was in her cat form.

She looked at Ichigo and says, "Sorry for being late. But that was some power. I never thought you had it in you. You got lucky it was a tie. Don't worry now I won't let anything happen to you...."

Just as she was about to take him away. Another person reached there, Yachiru.

Yachiru bowed down to Ichigo, "Thank you, Ichi. It's thanks to Ichi that Ken-chan had lots of fun!! It's been a long while since Ken-chan had lots of fun. So don't die Ichi! Take care of Ichi neko-san"

Yachiru placed Kenpachi on her shoulder and say, "Ah! Neko-chan when Ichi wakes up. Tell him Ken-chan will come to play another time. Pretty please.~~"

Yoruichi nods her head in agreement. Yachiru used flash steps to take away Kenpachi. Yoruichi transforms into her female form and carried Ichigo away before anybody could find them.

Guard 1: "Phew the spiritual pressure finally stopped...."

Guard 2: "I heard that the whole seat suffered damage. Even captains are going there"

Guard 1: "What's wrong deputy? Are you shaking from the spiritual pressure even if the fight was far away."

Guard 2: "What are you talking about even you were shaking when they were fighting. You still are shaking"

Guard 1: "No. I'm not"

Drip! Drip!

Two drops of tranquillizers fall on Guard 1 and he loses consciousness. Taking the opportunity Ganju comes behind the Guard 2 and knocks him out. They both went to prison while still worrying about Ichigo.

Kenpachi wakes up and finds himself lying on the ground, gazing at the sky. He turns his head and sees Yachiru sitting by his side.

Yachiru Kusajishi: "Ah!"

Zaraki Kenpachi: "Yachiru."

Yachiru jumps up in excitement and exclaims, "Yay! Yay! Ken-chan is awake! Yahoo!! I called Unohana!"

Zaraki Kenpachi: "What about him?"

Yachiru Kusajishi: "He's been taken by his friend. He'll be okay."

Zaraki Kenpachi: "That's good. I can return what I owe him."

Yachiru Kusajishi: "But you don't owe him anything."

Zaraki Kenpachi: "I do. I lost."

Yachiru Kusajishi: "No, Ken-chan didn't lose!"

Zaraki Kenpachi: "Idiot. Don't make that face."

Yachiru Kusajishi: "It's because it was a 2v1 fight. Ichi said he and Zangetsu were fighting together. So Ken-chan didn't lose!"

Kenpachi grips his broken sword tightly and says, "A Soul Reaper and his Zanpakuto fighting side by side. At that moment, while I was fighting, I felt it. My sword, my power, it was waking up. I was waking up. Hey, I know I'm late in doing this, but... can you tell me your name?"

Still receiving no answer, Kenpachi couldn't help but shed tears. He continues, "Tch! It doesn't work after all..."

He covers his face to hide his tears, exclaiming, "DAMN IT! I WANT TO GET STRONGER! I finally had a worthy opponent... I can get stronger... I want to fight... I want to get stronger... It's been a while since I felt this desire... I WANT TO GET STRONGER!!!"

Witnessing Kenpachi's intense desire, Yachiru couldn't help but recall her own past. She remembers being a child in Kusajishi, a district governed by the law of the jungle. Every second, her life hung in the balance. However, it was Kenpachi who gave her a name and protected her.

Yachiru Kusajishi: "We'll get stronger, Ken-chan. Together, let's get stronger! I know that Ken-chan is the best. So let's get stronger, Ken-chan..."

Receiving no response, Yachiru calls out his name again. Still met with silence and seeing Kenpachi motionless, she can't help but scream, "KEN-CHAN!"

On the other side, in the rubble of the 8th Division, Akira remained lying among the debris. Shunsui Kyōraku, the captain of the division, started playfully throwing pebbles at Akira to check if he was still alive.

Shunsui Kyōraku: "Are you alive, Mr. Guy in the wall?"

After getting hit a few times, Akira couldn't bear it any longer and pushed away the rubble, managing to free himself. Despite having only one leg, he Flash Stepped in front of Nanao Ise, the vice-captain of the division.

Akira, while balancing on his one leg, politely said, "Nanao-senpai, Akira, 3rd seat from the 4th Division, reporting for duty."

Nanao sighed wearily, "During work, you have to address me as Vice-Captain."

Akira responded, "Okay, Nanao-senpai."

Shunsui Kyōraku interrupted, "Oi! Oi! You're ignoring a captain here."

Akira's eyes showed contempt as he replied, "Oh, I'm sorry. I've never seen the Captain of the 8th Division actually working, so I failed to recognize you."

Nanao slapped the back of Akira's head, scolding him, "Show some respect. He is a captain."

Shunsui Kyōraku waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's okay, Nanao-chan. I'm sure he's just joking."

Akira smiled, looking at Shunsui Kyōraku, "Yeah! See, Senpai? Your captain gets my joke."

Glancing around the now-destroyed 8th Division, Akira spotted Yasutora Sado lying on the ground. He walked over to him and said, "So, this is the infamous Ryoka. He looks badly injured. Would you mind if I healed him first?"

Shunsui Kyōraku responded, "That would be best, but are you able to do it?"

Shunsui Kyōraku observed Akira, noting his one-legged condition and his damaged clothes, which indicated he had been in a fight. Akira simply nodded and began the process of healing Sado. Meanwhile, Shunsui Kyōraku asked Akira about his whereabouts the previous night.

Shunsui Kyōraku lowered his hat and inquired, "Where were you last night?"

Akira, focused on healing Sado, asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Nanao Ise placed her hand on his neck, Reishi circulating around it, forming a Reishi knife-like effect. She demanded, "Answer him."

Akira looked at her and let out a sigh, "Okay, okay! Chill out. After putting Vice-Captain Renji in prison, I went to the Senzaikyū with Captain Zaraki and Vice-Captain Yachiru. Are you happy now?"

Shunsui Kyōraku remarked, "There's no need for that, Nanao-chan. Akira-kun isn't talented enough to kill Captain Aizen."

Akira Akatsuki complained, "Although I'm deeply hurt that you underestimate me, it's true that killing a captain-class individual without making a sound is impossible for me."

Nanao removed her hand from Akira's neck, and he acted like a child, saying, "It truly hurts my heart that Nanao-senpai didn't trust me. How could I learn to trust again in this cold world? Only if a beautiful lady could give me a lap pillow to provide warmth in this cold world."

Nanao readied her knife hand and warned, "Never! You pervert. And I'm telling Inori-san."

Akira covered his ears playfully, "I can't hear anything. I want compensation."

Shunsui Kyōraku and Akira joined in, chanting together, "Compensation! Compensation! Compensation!"

Nanao became increasingly irritated, shouting, "Shut up! I'm not doing it."

Akira pleaded, "Please, Nanao-senpai."

Nanao relented, "Sigh, I'll do one thing. But not that. Give me something else."

Akira stood up, took out a document and a pen, and said, "Okay. This document states that you'll be a one-time model for women's collection clothes from the human world. If you agree, sign here."

Nanao angrily replied, "You! I'm not doing this. It's embarrassing."

Akira patted his chest, assuring her, "You have to believe me. I won't publish any photos of you wearing inappropriate clothes. Many women, like Captain Suì-Fēng, Vice-Captain Nemu Kurotsuchi, Vice-Captain Rangiku Matsumoto, Vice-Captain Momo Hinamori, and many more, have agreed to the same terms."

After much deliberation, Nanao reluctantly decided to sign the document, warning Akira, "If you try anything inappropriate, as a vice-captain, I will dispose of you."

Shunsui Kyōraku walked over and took a look at the contract, teasingly remarking, "It says you can't publish any inappropriate photos, but it doesn't say you can't keep them to yourself."

Akira took the contract back, adopting a flat tone, "I can't confirm or deny the existence of such photos."

Nanao became angry, demanding, "Give back the contract."

Akira responded resolutely, "Never. I want to see Nanao Senpai in swimwear, sailor uniforms, cheongsams, and so many more dresses. I won't ever let this go."

Seeing this, Akira used Flash Step to escape, and Nanao ran after him to retrieve the contract. While running, Akira's eyes suddenly dimmed, and he felt his body stop responding. His vision started to darken, and he fell unconscious. Seeing Akira fall, Nanao grew increasingly annoyed.

Nanao Ise: "What new prank are you doing, Akira..."

She sat beside him, poking his arm and calling out, "Akira?"

She turned his body and placed him on his back. Looking at his pale and lifeless eyes, she panicked. She checked his pulse and breathing but found none.

She tried to wake him up but got no answer and started crying, "NO, NO. You idiot, wake up...Don't die...Please don't die"

Swish! Swish!

Looking back she saw Inori, Mana and Captain Shunsui running towards her. She couldn't stop crying, "Inori-san... Akira...he isn't breathing"

Inori used Flash Step to reach him quickly. She sat behind him, kissing him to pour air and her Reiryoku into him. Placing her hand on his chest, she attempted to restart his Reiatsu by merging her Reiryoku with his.

Akira woke up gasping for breath, his sense of humour still intact, "Please tell me I got kissed by a beautiful girl."

Looking up, he saw Inori, her face all puffed up and tears streaming down her cheeks. Mana had tears in her eyes as well. He couldn't help but open his arms, and Inori and Mana dove right into them.

Inori Yuzuriha: "Don't die, Akira..."

Mana Ouma: "Don't leave me alone... Adam..."

Akira Akatsuki: "Okay, okay! Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere without you two. We three are going to be together forever."

After calming them down, with a little help from Inori and Mana, Akira managed to stand up. He looked at Nanao, who still had red eyes, clearly indicating that she had been crying.

Akira opened his arms and said, "Looks like you cried. How about I give you a hug?"

Nanao readjusted her glasses and replied, "I didn't cry. Anyone spreading that rumor should be careful."

Akira simply smiled wryly, and she continued, "It's good that you're okay."

Akira Akatsuki smiled back, saying, "You don't have to worry about it. Although dying in the arms of a beautiful woman is my dream, making a girl cry is the worst."

Hearing this, Nanao also smiled. Meanwhile, Inori and Mana let out relieved sighs, knowing that Akira was safe and sound.

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