C6 Being Targeted by the Two Captains

"One punch knockout? Lucia, that's not a laughing matter," Abarai Renji warned with a meaningful glance.

He was well aware that the noble paragon, Captain Kuchiki, had a notoriously short fuse.

Lucia, too, was on edge, realizing her claim sounded like a tall tale. Yet, she dared not overstep in front of Captain Kuchiki, knowing the truth could easily be uncovered.

She quickly clarified, "Captain Kuchiki, this... this is the truth... If you have doubts, we can confront Shiba Taku directly..."

While speaking, Lucia gestured for Abarai Renji and Captain Kuchiki to take a look.

But the sight that met their eyes left Lucia dumbfounded.

Moments before, Taku had been drinking and playfully sparring with a child.

Now, he lay sprawled on the ground, snoring thunderously, fast asleep.

Mumbling in his sleep about wanting more to drink, he hardly seemed like the hero who had taken down the Black Bandits, Ijiri.

"Big... Big Brother, it really was him. I'm not lying. The Black Bandits and their allies just fled. If I capture one, I can clear this up," Lucia pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

At that moment, she was tempted to kick Taku awake herself.

But the thought of Taku's drunken stupor possibly causing a blackout was a genuine concern.

"Ha-ha, Captain Kuchiki, did I hear right? Someone punched out a mutated evil spirit? That's quite the feat. Mind if I join the excitement?" Zaraki Kenpachi's booming laughter filled the air, as he and Madarame Ikkaku of the Eleventh Division quickly approached.

The sudden arrival of the Eleventh Division members caused Lucia and the others to tense up.

They realized that the battle's spiritual energy fluctuations had been detected by the Twelfth Division's Technological Development Department, which had alerted the combat-ready Eleventh Division to provide backup and investigation.

"Little Eight, he looks dead..." A childlike voice piped up unexpectedly.

They all turned to see the doll-like Kaya 8, amusingly poking a straw into Taku's nostrils.

"Wine, good wine, let's all have a drink..."

Taku brushed aside the intrusive grass and rolled over to resume his deep slumber.

They observed this out-of-place figure amidst the battlefield.

The mood in the area suddenly turned eerily silent.

Yet, witnessing this spectacle, Lucia snapped to attention.

For a Shinigami, drinking was against the regulations.

Only those like Captain Kyoraku Shunsui were permitted to indulge during daylight hours—otherwise, it was strictly forbidden.

And here was Taku, so inebriated he'd collapsed into a stupor.

What's more, Taku carried the weight of his noble lineage.

Captain Kuchiki was the epitome of nobility.

To be drunken and babble nonsensically before him was to commit a grave offense.

The last thing Lucia wanted was for Taku to be disqualified from the Shinigami assessment because of this.

"Haha, a noble with such poor taste in liquor, what an amusing character," laughed Zaraki Kenpachi heartily, "especially since he exploded that fiend with a single punch—a refreshing sight indeed."

"True, drinking goes against our code, but this young man has dealt with those skulking cowards admirably," he continued, "I doubt Captain Kuchiki would retract his approval and deny this lad's admission to the Shinoreijutsuin so hastily."

"Big brother, Captain Zaraki's right. Besides, he saved me earlier..." Lucia chimed in eagerly.

But feeling Captain Kuchiki's piercing gaze, she quickly retracted her words.

"As a Shinigami, being saved by someone who hasn't even graduated from Shinoreijutsuin is not something I wish to hear again," Captain Kuchiki stated coolly.

"His case has been settled at the meeting, with Captain Ukitake's endorsement. It's no longer my concern."

"Still, considering his disregard for the ways of the nobility, his chances of being admitted to Shinoreijutsuin seem slim. It's unfortunate for Captain Ukitake's guarantee."

Lucia was taken aback, having not anticipated so many developments during her absence.

She cast a glance at Taku, still lost in his drunken stupor, and the vivid memory of his timely intervention.

The silhouette shielding her merged with the memory of Kaien Shiba's retreating figure. Lucia, summoning courage from some unknown place within, clenched her fists and declared, "Big brother, I trust Captain Ukitake's judgment, and I believe in Shiba Taku's ability to succeed as a Soul Reaper."

Renji and Captain Kuchiki were taken aback. In their recollections, Lucia had always been meek and reverent in the presence of her esteemed brother. This was the first instance of her openly defying Captain Kuchiki, and it was all for a young man she had never met.

"Indeed? I shall look forward to it," Captain Kuchiki said, his composure restored. After a final glance at Taku, he departed.

Watching his figure vanish, Lucia snapped back to reality, realizing the gravity of her defiance.

"Haha, young lady, your bravery is commendable. Take good care of the lad; I have plans for him," Zaraki Kenpachi chuckled heartily.

"Captain Zaraki, what use could he possibly have for you?" Lucia inquired, unable to shake the ominous feeling in her mind.

"Didn't you mention he could obliterate a Hollow with a single punch?" Ikkaku interjected with a ruthless grin. "Captain Zaraki is vouching for him because he's looking forward to a real fight, where they can trade blows like true warriors!"

Ikkaku was spot on, Zaraki Kenpachi confirmed with a booming laugh. "Renji, you and Lucia escort this fellow back. But the report says he can't hold his liquor, so let's confine him in the detention chamber to prevent any mishaps until he sobers up."

"Leave the escaped Hollows to us. It's a rare treat to be back in Zaraki District; we might as well pay a visit to some of the hardliners..."

As Zaraki Kenpachi and Ikkaku walked away, Lucia remained frozen in place, contemplating whether to inform Taku. Being marked by two captains before even passing the Shinoreijutsuin exam and officially becoming a Soul Reaper was the stuff of nightmares for anyone.

Yet, observing Taku, still mumbling in his sleep and devoid of any aristocratic poise, Lucia's resolve deflated.

The moment Lucia reflected on her impulsive confrontation with Captain Kuchiki, a twinge of regret settled in her heart.

As a graduate of the Shinoreijutsuin, she was acutely aware that the path to becoming a Shinigami was not one that could be forged through brute strength alone.

Considering Taku's penchant for drinking at such a tender age, Lucia's confidence in his ability to successfully navigate the examination waned considerably.

Suddenly, she felt utterly deflated, like a balloon losing all its air.