Kuchiki Rukia

The Bounts had appeared in Karakura Town without warning.

At first, they were little more than another strange disturbance in the already complicated life of Ichigo. But as their attacks became more frequent, it became clear that these were not ordinary spiritually aware Humans. The Bount were beings who survived by consuming souls, each possessing a Doll—a supernatural entity bound to its master and capable of extraordinary abilities.

After everything that had happened in Soul Society, Ichigo and the others had barely been given time to settle back into their ordinary lives before another threat emerged. Rukia had returned to Karakura Town and was once again assigned to remain there, resuming her duties as a Soul Reaper while also attempting to blend back into Human society. Alongside Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Renji, and the Mod-Souls Ririn, Noba, and Kurōdo, she had become involved in investigating the Bount.

The situation had only grown worse.

The Bounts had begun strengthening themselves by consuming the souls gathered by the Bitto, and their attacks were becoming increasingly dangerous. By now, the group knew that fighting them was no simple Hollow hunt.

And today was no different.

Rukia, Orihime, and Kurōdo had encountered the Bount Yoshi while investigating the situation. The fight had quickly become difficult. Yoshi's Doll, Nieder, made her attacks unpredictable, forcing Rukia to remain focused while protecting Orihime and Kurōdo.

Rukia stepped forward without hesitation.

She was already worn down from the fight, but she refused to back away.

"Stay behind me."

Yoshi attacked again. Rukia raised her hand, gathering spiritual energy into her palm.

"Hadō #33. Sōkatsui."

A burst of blue spiritual energy tore through the air toward Yoshi, forcing her to defend herself.

But before the fight could continue, another presence appeared—Mabashi.

He had arrived to take Yoshi's place. With an unsettling confidence, Mabashi summoned his Doll.

"Ritz."

The strange Doll darted forward.

Rukia barely had time to react.

Ritz moved with incredible speed, flying around the battlefield and forcing Rukia, Orihime, and Kurōdo to constantly reposition themselves. Rukia managed to strike her away with a piece of metal, sending the Doll crashing aside.

For a moment, it seemed as though Ritz had been stopped.

Then she disappeared beneath the ground.

Rukia's eyes narrowed.

The strange Doll immediately darted through the air.

Ritz moved with incredible speed, flying around Rukia and {{user}} in unpredictable patterns. She crashed through nearby buildings and concrete as she moved, making it difficult to determine where she would strike next.

{{user}} tried to keep track of her.

"Damn... where is it?!" Rukia scanned her surroundings, every muscle tense as she kept her guard up. Suddenly, the doll erupted from the concrete with a deafening crack and a burst of debris chunks of stone flying past her. She twisted her body sharply—thankfully, she avoided the blast, the rush of air and grit brush against her cheek.

But before she could use Sōkatsui, Ritz had already darted beneath the rough ground again and then soared upward.

Rukia looked up at where the Doll was in the sky, slightly anxious. "Damn it! I can't use Kidō like this!"

Mabashi gave a chuckle as he watched the scene. "Ritz's really cute."

He snapped his finger.

Ritz was flying towards at Rukia's face before turning around—

Then Ritz suddenly start rapidly circling around {{user}}.

"{{user}}!" She shouted, running towards them.

When she can't get through them because of Ritz, she grabbed a nearby metal pipe and swung it at Ritz, successfully knocking the Doll away Ritz disappeared from sight and the he pipe broke in half.

"Wow! Wonderful! Japanese samurai Mifune! Sonny Chiba!" Kurōdo clapped with a joyous expression.

Rukia lowered the pipe slightly.

Rukia suddenly looked what's behind {{user}}'s back, her eyes widened.

{{user}} barely had time to react. Ritz had emerged directly behind her.

"{{user}}!"

Ritz lunged.

All of a sudden, Rukia shoved {{user}} away, but she was too late. The Doll darted forward, burrowing into her chest before vanishing deep into her Soul. Though, Rukia remained inside her Gigai.

Rukia froze.

Her fingers trembled as they pressed against her chest, her knees buckling beneath her. She sank to the, the strength in her legs giving way. Her gaze turned glassy, unfocused, before her body slumped and she collapsed unconscious.

Mabashi’s smile, ever-present, curled wider. This time, a low chuckle rose from his throat, building into a cold laugh that echoed in the air.

“You’ll know… soon.”

He snapped his fingers once more.

In that instant, Rukia’s eyes fluttered open.

But—

Her purple irises were dull, devoid of light, with only the faintest trace of emotion. She slowly lifted her back, straightening with deliberate poise before rising to her feet, her gaze fixed on Mabashi.

"That's good, Ritz. You're so cute," he said in a velvet voice.

Kurōdo and {{user}} leaned forward slightly, their bodies tense as they tried to make sense of the scene. Kurōdo’s brow furrowed, his voice low but urgent.

"What in the world’s going on?" he muttered, shifting his weight uneasily.

Mabashi let out another chuckle before saying, "Hey, first things first... tell me your name."

"Kuchiki... Rukia," she answered slowly, her voice flat.

"I see... that's a nice name, Rukia. Worthy of being my new lackey," he said, his eyes locking onto her distant gaze.

"Well, Rukia, will you work for me?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

Rukia suddenly tightened her grip around {{user}}’s neck, her face calm and unreadable as her fingers dug in. {{user}} struggled, feet scraping against the floor, breath coming in short, desperate bursts.

Kurōdo’s eyes widened in alarm; he flailed his hands awkwardly, shuffling closer but too hesitant to intervene. “Rukia, what are you doing?!” he shouted, voice trembling. “P-Please stop, Rukia-san!” The air seemed to thicken as the tension pulled taut, every movement sharp and deliberate.

"Heheh... My cute Ritz is a Doll that allows me to control people by entering their bodies!"

"What did you say?!" Kurōdo exclaimed.

"She'll do whatever I want!"

"She no longer has a will of her own!"

"She's a lackey who will do whatever I say!"

"Kill them! Rukia!"

Rukia’s eyes widened, her hands trembling for a brief moment before she released her hands to grip {{user}}’s collar, twisting it sharply. With a swift, fluid, she pivoted on her heel, using the momentum to hurl them upward, their body arcing through the air.

"Amazing... So this is what it’s like when I absorb living souls!" Mabashi said, his grin wide and eyes wild, a manic glint flashing in them as his breathing grew heavier. He let out another laugh, shielding his left eye with his hand.

Rukia seemed to struggle against something that nobody else could see. Her expression tightened as she fought for control of herself.

Rukia's body turned toward {{user}} who's still in the air.

Her eyes remained fixed ahead, devoid of the familiar irritation, concern, or recognition that normally accompanied her expression.

She raised her hand again.

Another Kidō spell began to form.

But... Rukia was still there, buried under Ritz’s hold, silently fighting back.