Chapter 26

                                    

                                          
Ichigo tried to hide it but the action only made it even more suspicious to Byakuya.

                          
"Did you just... cough up blood?" The noble asked with a straight face, looking at Ichigo and the hand he was trying to hide.
                          
The orange-haired Taichou smiled sheepishly. It seemed he was caught red-handed, literally and figuratively. The Hollows they've been fighting for a while now weren't even that strong and yet his body already felt like he was fighting Aizen for some hours. Just some seconds ago, he coughed and covered his mouth with his hand, only to see blood on his palm. It seemed his body had yet to recover from the huge blow it took, courtesy of the Bounto Kariya. Of course, he tried his best to hide it from Byakuya... in vain. The man was just as observant as he was, if not even more. 
                          
"We should rest." Byakuya voiced stiffly but Ichigo immediately shook his head.
                          
"No, Byakuya, I'm fine." He insisted, wearing his usual scowl. He knew Byakuya must be pretty worried to even put the mission on hold just for his sake. However, simply resting would not help. He was quite sure of that since he'd been resting for some months now and his body was still as damaged as ever, if not worse. "Resting here now will not actually make my body heal..." 
                          
The noble closed his eyes, knowing full well that he couldn't win the argument. In the end, he nodded in assent. "...You strain your body too much, Ichigo. You should take care of yourself more." Ichigo didn't know if he would simply blush in embarrassment or if he would smile and giggle, although the latter was out of bounds for a man like him. He didn't know that having someone saying those words to him would make him feel a lot lighter and better. 
                          
The words were simple and he was sure Kaien and Juushirou had already said those same words to him a hundred times before. He knew it made him happy then. But somehow, it felt different when Byakuya said it. 
                          
Ichigo could also feel their other companions' strong reiatsus and knowing that everyone was okay made him more relaxed and cheerful, although still very much alert.
                          
The last set of doors at the far end of the corridor immediately gave Ichigo the feeling that the main event was bound to set there. The man exhaled deeply before he and Byakuya both shunpod in front of the two sets of huge oak doors.
                          
"He's inside." Byakuya voiced quietly. Ichigo knew even without saying the name that the noble was pertaining to Kariya. He quietly nodded, indicating he understood and was more than ready for it.
                          
"Welcome, or rather, this will be your last destination, Shinigami." Kariya's voice rang inside the huge high-ceilinged room. The air he emitted was of pure power, which only meant that he managed to tend to his wounds and regain his strength somehow.
                          
"Are they the ones who cut you that badly the last time?" Another voice echoed throughout the room. Kariya scowled at the newcomer just as the male laughed at his own statement. It was at that time that Byakuya gave the orange-haired Taichou a small signal. Ichigo nodded discreetly before he faced the one who spoke. Judging from the appearance, he'd say Kugo Ginjo became even more powerful than in the picture. Or maybe that's just the difference between an unmoving photo and the personal appearance of the person. The picture greatly failed to show just how terrifying and great Ginjo's reiatsu was. 
                          
"Oh?" Kariya arched an eyebrow when he noticed the signals exchanged by the two Taichous. "So my enemy is not the orange-haired Taichou this time?" His cold eyes then turned to Byakuya as the latter gave him the coldest gaze possible. "You sure know how to intimidate people with your gaze alone, Taichou-san." He voiced in mockery.
                          
"Be ready. I will make sure to end your life." Byakuya answered with equal coldness. "I won't show you mercy."
                          
"I know that." Kariya's eyes gleamed as he sneered. "It's because you're all dogs of Seireitei. You will follow any command of those Central 46 ruffians without question."