New Captain: Shusuke Amagai Part 1, 2-7

Lady Rurichiyo Kasumiohji is...

What, the Kasumiohji? As in, Kasumiohji Clan?

You've heard of them, Rukia?

They're nobles, second only to the Four Great Noble Clans.

And uh, that particular detail didn't pop into your head the first time her name got tossed out?

Rukia... Rukia?! Am I to understand that you're a member of the Kuchiki Clan?!

I-I beg your pardon. I never imagined I'd find a Kuchiki living in a place like this.

That's all right. No need to stand on ceremony.

Lady Rurichiyo is the sole legitimate heir to the Kasumiohji Clan now.

We've been her guardians ever since she was born, standing in for the parents she never knew.

Lady Rurichiyo's mother, the previous matriarch of the family, passed shortly after her daughter was born. Her father followed soon after, taken by illness.

She hasn't taken her place as the head of the family yet?

It's too soon. She's still young. We thought it better to wait until she had a chance to come of age, but the situation is more complicated now.

A man by the name of Gyokaku Kumoi is acting as temporary viceroy for the clan.

Lately, vassals under his service have begun to disappear.

Seems he's been disposing of anyone who doesn't fall in line.

We believe he's been abusing his station, using his influence to seize control of the Kasumiohji Clan.

And more recently, strange things have been occurring around Lady Rurichiyo.

The situation had grown too precarious. We needed to get Lady Rurichiyo to safety.

We left without telling a soul under the cloak of a fog-heavy night. We passed through the Kasumiohji's personal Senkaimon and fled to the world of the living.

So that's why the Soul Phone had no record of you crossing over.

Yes, exactly. As you know, the Soul Phones aren't able to access any data that pertains to private Senkaimon.

Ichigo Kurosaki, your reputation amongst the Soul Society is clearly well earned. Your strength is undeniable.

There are sure to be more assassins coming for her.

Members of a highly specialized unit assembled by Gyokaku Kumoi, using the Kasumiohji Clan's vast political power.

Please, Ichigo. Won't you consider being Lady Rurichiyo's bodyguard?! I beg of you!

If word of this internal strife were to get out, then I fear the noble Kasumiohji Clan would be in danger of dissolution. We simply can't turn to the Court Guard Squads with this!

Luckily, however, you're only a substitute, not an actual Soul Reaper.

Lucky for you, maybe...

Please! We can't fend off Gyokaku Kumoi's assassins on our own!

Why don't we capture one of his men and present him with his own treachery?

He'd just deny any knowledge of them. Not that it matters. When they fail their mission, they commit suicide.

Their methods are chilling, and their skill is a force to be reckoned with.

............

You're doing it, Ichigo. I'll assist you as well.

Lady Kuchiki, but we couldn't possibly ask that of you!

Nonsense. Coming from a clan much like hers, I'm well versed in the burdens of nobility. You have my aid.

Well, that's that then, huh?

You have our thanks!

There's just one other thing. Lady Rurichiyo has no idea she's being targeted, and we'd like to keep it that way.

It would traumatize her, and she's been through enough already. She needs to be kept innocent of all this at any cost.

Ridiculous.

Felled by a Substitute Soul Reaper?

Yes, my lord. And a very skilled one at that.

I think it would be in our interest to speed things up, or we could run into problems.

Very well, then. I leave it to you.