Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

Rangiku's gaze froze as her eyes followed the hand gripping her wrist. Her gaze traveled upward along the arm, and a face came into view—a face that seemed to blend the gentleness of a spring breeze with the warmth of the sun.

Senju Makoto.

This man… Rangiku's memory stirred, faint recollections rising to the surface.

Once, Gin had told her about him—Senju Makoto, the man who had saved her life. Gin had urged her to remember this debt of gratitude forever, to repay it no matter what.

Not only had Makoto saved her, but he had also visited Gin and her, leaving behind enough money to drastically improve their precarious lives. Thanks to him, their days of struggling to survive seemed like they might finally come to an end.

But everything changed when Gin disappeared. What had once been peaceful and hopeful turned distant and uncertain.

"Makoto... Makoto-sama?"

Rangiku's voice trembled as she instinctively murmured his name. Almost reflexively, she raised her free hand to cover her face, retreating deeper under the table in a futile attempt to hide herself.

This is too disgraceful, too humiliating…

She couldn't believe herself. To let her savior, Makoto-sama, see her in such a despicable state—how could she face him? Her eyes reddened almost instantly, and she dared not lift her gaze to meet his.

The commotion between them caught the attention of the vendor nearby, who crouched down to investigate. When he spotted Rangiku hiding beneath the table, his face twisted in anger.

"You little brat! Stealing from me again, huh? I swear, I'll kill you today and toss your body into the gutter!"

The vendor, a burly and rough man, roared with fury. Without hesitation, he raised his arm, gripping a rolling pin as thick as a forearm, and swung it down towards Rangiku's head.

Rangiku's wide, terrified eyes watched as the rolling pin descended swiftly towards her. But just as it was about to strike her forehead, an arm moved in front of her, firmly blocking the blow.

"Thud!"

The dull sound of the rolling pin hitting flesh echoed sharply.

The vendor turned in shock, his anger dissolving into pale fear as he realized the arm belonged to Makoto. His black shihakushō marked him as a Shinigami—a figure of authority and strength.

Attacking a Shinigami, even accidentally, was a grave offense. It gave the Shinigami the right to strike back without consequence, even to the point of killing the attacker.

But Makoto's expression showed no trace of anger. Instead, he crouched down and gently reached under the table, pulling the trembling Rangiku out. Once she was standing on her feet, he gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm sorry, Makoto-sama. Are you hurt? It's all my fault…"

Rangiku stammered in panic, guilt and shame overwhelming her. She wanted to check his arm for injuries but hesitated, afraid to dirty his pristine shihakushō.

Before she could say anything more, Makoto's warm hand rested atop her head. He tousled her hair lightly and crouched down again, his gentle smile calming her frantic emotions.

"Don't worry about me. I'm perfectly fine. I'm just glad I finally found you—do you know how long I've been searching?"

Turning to the vendor, Makoto's tone remained calm and polite.

"I apologize for the trouble my little sister has caused. If she's caused you any loss, I'll gladly compensate for it."

Rangiku's eyes widened in disbelief.

Little sister?

Her fingers instinctively clenched the hem of her tattered clothing, her heart filling with a mix of gratitude and shame.

The vendor, who only moments ago had struck Makoto with the rolling pin, was now too terrified to even think about accepting his money. He looked as though he wanted to kneel and beg Makoto to leave as quickly as possible.

Makoto, who didn't view himself as superior to the people of Rukongai, sighed softly. He placed three hundred kan(環, Ring) on the vendor's table, then took Rangiku's hand and led her away.

The vendor hesitated for a long moment after they left, finally picking up the coins with trembling hands. He stared in the direction Makoto had gone, his expression a mix of confusion and respect.

"That Shinigami… he's different from the others," he murmured to himself.

---

Makoto led Rangiku to a quiet, deserted corner nearby. Once there, he let go of her hand and turned to her, his tone warm and gentle.

"Rangiku, do you know how long I've been looking for you? I was starting to think I'd never find you."

His words were no exaggeration. Without the help of the "Seeds of the Forest," finding her in the vast expanse of Rukongai would have been almost impossible.

Rangiku lowered her head, her guilt overwhelming her.

"I… I'm sorry…"

"There's no need to apologize."

Makoto's smile remained steady and kind, his calm demeanor helping to ease her anxiety.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" he asked softly.

"I…"

Rangiku hesitated, her fingers clutching the edge of her tattered clothing. After a moment, she spoke in a trembling voice.

"Gin… Gin left. He said he'd never come back. I have to find him."

Makoto's gaze softened as he looked at her, taking in her frail and malnourished appearance. At this point, Rangiku was little more than a child, her thin frame and pale skin reflecting years of hardship. Yet, despite her fragile state, her determination was unwavering.

Gin had ventured into danger for Rangiku's sake, sacrificing everything to recover her soul. And now, Rangiku was wandering aimlessly through Rukongai, desperately searching for the one who had left her behind.

Makoto sighed. Despite his usual disapproval of such youthful attachments, he couldn't bring himself to dismiss the bond between them.

"Did Gin leave you any money before he left?" he asked.

"No… I hid the money at home. It's for buying persimmons for Gin. He loves them…"

Before she could say anything more, her stomach let out a loud growl, interrupting her words. Her pale face flushed with embarrassment, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

"I… I'm fine. If I get hungry, I can just bear with it. Sometimes I can even find scraps to eat," she added quickly.

Makoto sighed again, his heart aching at her words.

"Enough of that…"

He dismissed the idea of sending her back to her original home. Rationally, he knew that Rangiku's damaged soul limited her potential, making it unlikely for her to ever achieve bankai. In the grand scheme, her becoming a Shinigami might only hold her back or tie her fate too closely to Gin's.

But as he looked into her determined eyes, he knew she would never stop searching for Gin, no matter what.

"Rangiku, from now on, you'll stay with me," he said firmly.

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