Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

On the wide street, Aozaki Mayuki watched Rukia beside her with great interest.

She feigned composure, but her eyes revealed curiosity.

It's hard to imagine that this little girl will one day become the captain of the 13th Division, a girl who is both playful and adorable yet dignified.

Rukia held Aozaki Mayuki's hand tightly, gazing up at his handsome, almost otherworldly face, and couldn't help but ask curiously:

"Brother, are you a god?"

"Gods? As of now, I'm just an ordinary human being."

Aozaki Mayuki softly murmured the name of the god Rukia spoke of, a slight smile playing on her lips.

He has indeed transcended the dimensions of ordinary souls, but he is not arrogant enough to believe that he can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Spirit King.

At this time, the Spirit King was still the supreme being in this world.

Just then, Aozaki Mayuki suddenly remembered something, looked at Rukia in front of her, and asked:

"Are you hungry? How about we go grab another bite? I know a good place."

After saying that, he gently stroked little Rukia's head.

Rukia's face turned bright red, seemingly embarrassed, and she quickly shook her head, saying:

"No... I'm not hungry anymore."

She recalled those days when she went hungry for nine meals in three days, and sometimes she couldn't even get a bite of food in a whole day.

Now, her belly is full, and this feeling of fullness makes her feel incredibly happy and satisfied.

At this moment, she finally believed that the adult beside her was not short of money.

From the moment they entered Seireitei, they kept searching for delicious food, stopping every so often to sample local delicacies.

The man seemed to believe the landlady's words, as if he were worried that he would starve to death.

Although she gets hungry easily compared to others, she's not a bottomless pit!

She didn't yet understand that this hunger wasn't a weakness, but rather a gift.

Soon after, the two walked through the noble street and arrived at a magnificent mansion.

This mansion is solemn and dignified, exuding an air of nobility and elegance.

"This will be your home from now on..."

Aozaki Mayuki held Rukia's slender hand tightly in his large hand, looking at her tenderly.

His eyes were full of affection, as if he wanted to pass on all his warmth to the girl.

"From now on, I'm family to you. Just call me...brother. I prefer that title."

"Aozaki Mayuki said softly, her voice tinged with affection."

He knew what a real family meant to little Lucia, who had been an orphan since childhood.

"elder brother……"

Little Rukia carefully raised her head.

A pair of clear eyes gazed at Aozaki Mayuki beside her, tears glistening in them.

Her voice was soft and gentle, but it contained boundless gratitude.

Ever since she was sold to that tavern, little Rukia has lived in fear every day.

The beatings and scoldings from that voluptuous woman plunged her into darkness, and she longed countless times to escape that horrible place.

This idea had been lingering for a long time, and she was finally ready to make up her mind to leave that place.

But then luck smiled upon her.

There was someone who not only took her away, but also wanted to become her family.

Am I dreaming?

Little Rukia couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

She gently placed her small hand on Aozaki Mayuki's cheek, feeling its warm temperature.

She murmured to herself, fearing that this was just a fleeting dream.

"Of course it's not a dream."

Aozaki Mayuki smiled slightly.

He gently pinched little Rukia's cheek, feeling her delicate skin.

He ran his fingers through her soft, black hair and said gently:

"From now on, you're family. I'll take good care of you and never let anyone bully you again."

"elder brother……"

Rukia felt the warmth of Aozaki Mayuki's large hand, her heart filled with emotion and joy, and tears streamed down her face.

"Can I finally have a home...?" she murmured to herself.

Aozaki Mayuki looked at the fragile yet strong little girl in front of her.

He gently wiped away the tears from little Rukia's eyes and tenderly comforted her:

"Don't cry, this is your home from now on. I'm here with you, you won't be lonely anymore."

As he spoke, he picked up little Rukia.

He gently patted her back, bringing her a sense of comfort.

Rukia heard Aozaki Mayuki's words and felt the warmth of his embrace, and her mood gradually calmed down.

She lay quietly in Aozaki Mayuki's arms, enjoying this hard-won tenderness.

She soon fell into a deep sleep.

Aozaki Mayuki looked at the sleeping Rukia in her arms and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

He carefully carried her into the room, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

…………

In the early morning, a ray of warm sunlight shone through the window onto the bed, and the soft yet dazzling light gradually awakened the black-haired girl in bed.

Rukia seemed to feel the bright sunshine as well. While she was enjoying a wonderful time in her dream, her expression suddenly changed, and she subconsciously sat up.

"Oh no, I was sleeping so soundly."

She hurriedly opened her eyes and said with a hint of anxiety.

"The landlady is definitely going to throw a tantrum again."

Having endured hardships in Rukongai, she has now become exceptionally clever and sensible.

In the past, whenever she woke up late like this, that fierce woman would always whip her with a thin bamboo stick.

Thin bamboo sticks hurt the most.

Although a rough beating can cause serious injuries and look frightening, the pain is bearable.

A single blow from a thin bamboo stick is incredibly painful, like being pulled into the very bone.

However, the surroundings were unusually quiet, which made Rukia suspicious.

Logically speaking, she should have already heard the landlady's curses by now.

But why is there no sound at all today?

She found it very strange.

But soon, memories of yesterday flooded back.

That generous and magnanimous nobleman turned out to be her older brother...

Rukia's expression changed as she recalled everything, and she began to examine her surroundings.

The luxurious and elegant beams and furniture say it all.

This place is so much better than the dilapidated little house she used to live in.

Moreover, the soft couch she is sleeping on now is incomparable to a haystack or a broken plank.

only……

Looking around anxiously, Rukia scanned her surroundings with her bright eyes, as if searching for something.

She's probably trying to find someone...

However, they did not find what they were looking for.

Rukia hurriedly put on her shoes and rushed out the door.

"Oh, Rukia, you went to bed so late last night? Aren't you going to sleep in a little longer today?"

A gentle voice came from the courtyard, causing Rukia to stop in her tracks.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Questions about Rukia and the timeline.

I'll briefly explain it to you, combining the plot of the comics, anime, and official novels.

Ichigo Kurosaki is fifteen years old when he first appears, and Rukia says that she is ten times older than him, which is about 150 years old.

Therefore, she must have been born in the mid-19th century.

The timeline of this book is well into the 20th century.

When Rukia met the protagonist, she was at least in her seventies or eighties.

Next, let's talk about the timeline.

The original story of Hishin and Byakuya takes place 55 years before the main storyline.

After living together for five years, Hishin passed away.

The year after Hisana's death, Byakuya found Rukia at the Shinigami Academy.

Before entering the Shinigami Academy, Rukia and Renji Abarai had already met and lived together for ten years.