51 Chapter 50

Byakuya cast a steady gaze at Rukia, then shifted his attention to Errol, who remained silent. "Aren't you going to attempt to prevent her from leaving?" he asked.

"We're not particularly close, and she refers to you as 'nii-san,' indicating that you're her brother. I don't believe it's my place to interfere in family matters," Errol responded calmly.

His answer took Rukia, Byakuya, and Renji by surprise. They had anticipated a different response, perhaps along the lines of him asserting that their relationship didn't matter and that he would stop them regardless.

Byakuya studied Errol, his demeanor calm. He sheathed his Zanpakuto, well aware of the challenging fight that lay ahead, even with his Bankai and the seal within his body.

"Let's go," Byakuya told Renji, who was jarred from his thoughts by Errol's unanticipated words. Rukia glanced at Errol, not blaming him for his decision, as she felt it was the correct one.

Renji opened the Senkaimon, the gateway to the Soul Society. As they were about to step through, a shout echoed from behind them.

"No!" Ichigo yelled. "Errol, what are you doing? They're taking Rukia away!"

Errol turned to face him, preparing to respond, but Rukia spoke first.

"Halt, Ichigo. Do you truly wish for me to endure further punishment after you've absorbed most of my powers?" Rukia's tone was icy, her words enough to stun Ichigo.

"This is our final encounter, and so I will speak honestly to you for once. I despise you. Because of our meeting, I am now facing a punishment that I shouldn't have to endure," she declared, her voice frosty.

She continued, "I merely used you all this time. That night, I intended to temporarily transfer my powers to you for survival. I didn't anticipate losing all of them. Transferring our powers to a human is considered a crime. I thought that perhaps I could lessen my punishment for transferring my powers to a human by defeating some Hollows."

With that, she followed Byakuya and Renji, who were waiting for her. "This is the last time, so I will repeat myself: I despise you."

She glanced back at him before she, Byakuya, and Renji entered the Senkaimon. It closed behind them, disappearing as if it had been an illusion.

Ichigo watched the spot where she had vanished, clenching his teeth in frustration. "AHHHH," he screamed, feeling utterly powerless. He remembered her final moments, her attempt to conceal her lie and her reluctance to leave with them. Overwhelmed by his injuries and the loss of his Shinigami powers, he lost consciousness.

Before Errol's arrival, Ichigo had battled Byakuya and been swiftly defeated. Byakuya had also destroyed his sources of power.

Errol looked at him, his usually expressionless face finally revealing some emotion. He understood what Ichigo was going through, having experienced the same feeling of powerlessness when trying to make someone stay.

Despite knowing he could have forced Rukia to stay and defeated both Renji and Byakuya, his instincts told him not to. He felt that he would miss an opportunity if he did so.

He wasn't sure what that opportunity was, but he trusted his instincts, as they had never led him astray since he arrived in this world. Errol glanced to the side before moving towards the unconscious Uryu and hoisting him onto his back.

"I'll leave him in your care, Urahara-san," he said.

Although he had healed Ichigo to some extent, he hadn't restored his powers. He believed that Urahara could not only help Ichigo regain his powers but also assist him in becoming stronger.

Urahara stepped forward, watching Errol's retreating figure before carrying Ichigo away for recovery.

The next day, Errol and Uryu went to class as usual. Upon arriving, they noticed something strange: everyone had forgotten about Rukia. 'Is this the work of the Soul Society or Urahara?' Errol wondered.

He shrugged it off and took his seat. Uryu arrived at his own seat, his mind preoccupied with the events of the previous night.

He had woken up that morning in Errol's house after being carried there and allowed to sleep in the guest room. His clothes had been mended, and his wounds healed by Errol, to prevent Orlando from worrying.

Uryu reflected on his powerlessness against Renji, a Shinigami who wasn't even the strongest. He was no match for the long-haired man in the white haori, Byakuya. The disparity in their strengths made him feel like a fool.

When Ichigo arrived at school, he was puzzled as to why everyone had suddenly forgotten about Rukia. However, recalling instances when he and Rukia had to alter people's memories, he didn't dwell on it.

He caught Errol's eye and wanted to scream at him for not intervening and allowing Rukia to be taken away. But he held back, knowing that it wasn't Errol's fault. He already owed Errol for saving him multiple times.

'In the end, the fault lies with me for being weak,' Ichigo thought.

Errol's gaze met Ichigo's. He saw Ichigo glare at him for a moment before it faded, replaced by a look of self-blame.

'It seems he has better control over himself than his counterpart,' Errol thought before drifting off to sleep, entering his dream to train.