Chapter 58 - rrr

The purple-black halo of the Hōgyoku gradually dissipated. The mask on the skeletal Adjuchas's face cracked, and two clusters of purple flame suddenly ignited within its eye sockets.

It was a grotesque Arrancar composed entirely of pale white bone, devoid of any flesh.

"Skull."

It knelt on one knee before Aizen, its voice coarse as it uttered its name.

Aizen didn't even spare it a glance, merely tilting his chin slightly. "Go. Make it quick."

In the next instant, the ground where it had stood erupted. Soil and grass clippings sprayed in all directions as a white shadow tore through the air like an arrow released from a bow, shooting toward Soifon.

—It's here!

Soifon turned her head almost the moment the sound of breaking wind reached her, her gaze accurately locking onto the enemy lunging at her.

...That's it?

The Spiritual Pressure of this Arrancar was only barely at the Captain level. In terms of combat strength, it was perhaps worth more than three Kenseis but less than six.

Was he looking down on her because her power was restricted? Or was this... just bait?

While her thoughts swirled, Skull had already charged within ten meters of Soifon. It had no intention of pausing for conversation; its mandible snapped open—

Crimson energy rapidly gathered and compressed within its mouth.

Vrum—

A crimson pillar of light, meters in diameter, tore through the night, completely swallowing Soifon's petite figure.

The intense wind pressure generated by the Cero caused the large trees below to collapse in unison, and the barrier for the Konso internship shattered under this powerful Reiatsu.

*

"That's...!"

"A Cero!"

Inside the Urahara Shop over ten kilometers away, Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara sensed the Spiritual Pressure and looked at each other, speaking simultaneously.

"How could a Hollow of this intensity appear in Karakura Town..."

"Let's go take a look."

"Put this on. Be careful, it might be Aizen's trick."

"Should we intervene?"

"Observe first."

The two of them wrapped themselves in black cloaks identical to Aizen's and rushed toward the battlefield under the starlit night.

*

Directly below the Cero explosion.

The students participating in the internship, as well as the four Kidō Corps members maintaining the barrier, all involuntarily looked up, staring in horror at the Cero that had dyed nearly half the sky the color of blood.

The violent Spiritual Pressure poured down, making many students' legs go weak, nearly unable to stand.

"What is that?!"

"Is it a Hollow?! How can there be something like..."

"Captain Soifon!"

Cries of alarm and gasps of fear mingled together.

Meanwhile, Rukia and the others, who had already mastered Shikai, released their Zanpakutō and attacked the Arrancar in unison.

The first to hit were crimson fireballs and a roaring ice dragon. Skull stood perfectly still, taking the attacks head-on; not even a scratch appeared on its outer bone shell.

Following that, a crimson Bala condensed in Skull's hand. He aimed it at the six people attacking him from below and prepared to fire.

No, I can't move at all...

A murderous intent as tangible as solid matter locked onto them. Even the strongest among them, Tōshirō, could barely grip his sword hilt.

Move! Why won't you move!

BOOM—

A figure blurred in front of Skull, and a whip-kick slammed the Arrancar, who was about to release the Bala, into the ground below. Dust kicked up over ten meters high, as if a small earthquake had occurred.

When Soifon reappeared, she was completely unharmed; even her Shihakushō remained intact.

Taking a terrifying Cero like that head-on... and she didn't have a single injury!?

The Shinigami below were stunned, their moods soaring from hell to heaven.

—Thank heavens, Captain Soifon is strong. They wouldn't have to die.

"Everyone!" Soifon's voice clearly reached the ears of every Shinigami below. "Abort the exam immediately! Open the Senkaimon and retreat to the Soul Society!"

The students taking the exam felt as if they had been granted a divine reprieve, rushing into the Senkaimon at their maximum speed.

However, six figures remained in place, looking up at the petite figure in the sky with faces full of worry.

Rukia couldn't help but shout, "Teacher Soifon!"

"What are you still standing there for?!" Soifon didn't look back, her gaze still locked on the large pit below. "You can't even hold your swords steady!"

That final scolding sent a jolt through the six of them, and they shamefully rushed toward the Senkaimon.

Only after the last member of the Kidō Corps had retreated did the light of the Senkaimon slowly close and vanish.

Soifon glanced at the Arrancar that hadn't managed to climb out yet and opened her communication device. "Encountered a powerful enemy. Requesting limit release."

Although the Arrancar in front of her was pathetic, she wasn't sure when Aizen might appear behind her to deliver a strike.

Since Soifon was the only Shinigami carrying a limit, she received a reply almost instantly.

"Understood." Behind the communicator, the staff member's fingers flew across the machinery. "Captain Soifon, Gentei Kaijo complete. Reinforcements will arrive shortly."

The seal on the back of her hand vanished, and the discomfort of having her Reiatsu suppressed was finally released.

The dust was settling. The pale skeletal figure wobbled, slowly standing up from the crater, its joints making a tooth-grinding grinding sound.

Shhh—

A deep blue arrow of spirit particles cut through the night sky, accurately hitting Skull's cranium with a crisp 'ting'.

Soifon looked toward the source of the arrow. She saw a white-haired boy wearing glasses shielding a black-haired girl behind him, a blue spirit bow in his hand.

"Master Ryūken, that's no ordinary Hollow!"

The little girl being protected said timidly.

"Dammit..."

It was the first time Ryūken Ishida had encountered such a situation. As a genius Quincy, he had actually failed to break the defense of a strange Hollow.

Snap!

Another arrow was deflected again, shattering into points of spirit particle light.

These two itchy attacks successfully drew Skull's attention.

BOOM—

An ominous Reiatsu crashed toward the two children like a gale.

Their bodies fell back uncontrollably as they slumped to the ground, pure fear appearing in their eyes.

In the next instant, Soifon's figure flickered between Skull and the two children. Her left hand opened wide, pressing his head toward the ground.

BANG—

Skull's hideous skeletal head was forced into the ground by Soifon's palm, his entire body becoming embedded in the earth beneath him.

Creak.

Suddenly, a Senkaimon appeared out of thin air beside her, and Unohana Retsu, clad in white, rushed out with her sword in hand.

She first scanned the battlefield warily, her gaze lingering on the two children, Ryūken Ishida and the girl, for a moment before coming to Soifon's side to look at this strange Hollow.

"Captain Unohana..."

"Watch out! It's going to self-destruct!"

Just as Soifon was about to explain, Unohana's pupils shrank. She discovered that the Reiatsu inside this Hollow was gathering rapidly, the output power clearly exceeding the capacity of its spirit body.

Seeing this, Soifon's right hand blurred with golden light. The finger-blade of Suzumebachi easily pierced the mask.

Crack.

The mask shattered upon impact, and an exquisite Hornet's Crest pattern flashed momentarily in the center of the broken mask.

Then, starting from the Arrancar's head, it began to crumble inch by inch like weathered rock, turning into pale gray ash.

Soifon's right hand paused in mid-air before she slowly lowered it.

—She hadn't even used her 'Death in Two Steps' yet. She accidentally used too much force and poked it to death. Was this what high stats felt like?

At a high slope under a tree in the distance.

"Oh my, it failed." Gin Ichimaru narrowed his eyes. "Captain Aizen, are you going to step in?"

With Unohana Retsu joined by a Soifon whose strength was nothing like before, the fact that Gin Ichimaru could even ask such a question made it hard not to suspect he was being sarcastic.

Aizen didn't answer immediately. He pushed up his glasses, having made a judgment the moment the opponent struck.

—Even without the limit release, Soifon could have easily dealt with that Adjuchas ripened by the Hōgyoku.

Add to that Unohana Retsu, plus the likes of Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin who could appear at any moment...

"Not this time." Aizen slowly shook his head, his voice calm. "The plan failed. Retreat."

If they dragged it out too long, they would be noticed by the Soul Society. It was time to leave.

Hey, Kisuke. That girl Soifon seems to have gotten stronger."

Yoruichi Shihōin watched the familiar figure in the distance, her lips curling into a faint, involuntary smile.

"Mhm, Miss Soifon must have been training hard these past few years..."

Kisuke Urahara cleared his throat, sounding a bit guilty.

"It's a pity Unohana is there. Otherwise, I would have liked to see Soifon for a moment."

Ever since Unohana appeared, Yoruichi Shihōin's interest had waned, though her eyes never once strayed from Soifon.

Kisuke Urahara pulled down the brim of his hat. "We don't know where Aizen is watching from. If we act rashly..."

"Perhaps Miss Soifon would be forced to become a 'traitor' to the Soul Society, just like us."

Upon hearing this, Yoruichi Shihōin pursed her lips, her small face falling. She understood the logic, but it didn't improve her mood.

Back on the scene, the dust had settled.

Unohana stood beside Soifon with a gentle smile, looking at the two children not far away. "They... seem to be able to see us?"

Soifon nodded without skipping a beat. "They're likely just children with a bit of spiritual power nearby."

She wasn't yet certain of Unohana's current stance toward the Quincy, so she had no intention of revealing their true identity.

Seeing the two of them look over, Ryūken Ishida slowly retreated with Kanae Katagiri, his young face pale.

He wanted to manifest a spirit bow in his heart, but his nervousness prevented him from gathering spirit particles. This, ironically, saved his life.

"Is that so? Then don't mind them. Let's head back, Soifon."

Unohana Retsu laughed dismissively, thrusting her blade into the air to open a Senkaimon.

"But leaving two children here is a bit too dangerous," Soifon said, walking toward the kids. "I want to take them to a safe place."

Unohana, who was about to step into the Senkaimon, turned back in surprise. She stared at Soifon intently for a few seconds. "Fine... then be quick about it, Soifon. I'll wait for you here."

(Did Soifon... not realize those two children are Quincy?)

Unohana didn't particularly care, but she was uneasy about leaving Soifon alone. The appearance of that Hollow earlier had left her feeling unsettled.

Nodding, Soifon walked quickly to Ryūken Ishida and Kanae Katagiri.

"You are..."

"I am a Shinigami. I'm responsible for taking you two home now."

Soifon didn't give Ryūken Ishida a chance to continue. She scooped both children up and tucked them under her arms, kicking off the ground to soar into the sky.

"Master Ryūken..."

Kanae Katagiri, who was somewhat afraid of heights, whispered softly, her small hand lightly tugging at the boy's sleeve.

Looking out over Karakura Town, Soifon adjusted her grip on the two children. "Where is your home?"

As Soifon asked, Ryūken Ishida's body grew even more tense, his throat bobbing. "Are you... going to kill us?"

Noticing Soifon's displeased expression, the girl pointed a small hand. "Over there!"

For the sake of Ryūken Ishida's safety, Kanae Katagiri was sensible enough to lead the way.

In the distance, Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin, who had witnessed the entire scene, wore increasingly strange expressions. They glanced at each other.

—Was Soifon always someone who liked children this much?

—Maybe, maybe not.

And it would be one thing if they were ordinary children, but those two were Quincy.

Based on Yoruichi's understanding of Soifon—or rather, the logic of the Soul Society's noble class—the way to handle an encounter with a Quincy was nothing more than two options: kill them or ignore them.

A Shinigami helping a Quincy was something she had truly never seen before.

With a series of rapid movements, Soifon brought the two children to the front of a grand villa in the blink of an eye.

Sensing the fluctuation in Spiritual Pressure, Sōken Ishida pushed open the door. When he saw his child standing next to a Shinigami wearing a Captain's Haori, his heart sank halfway.

—A Captain-level Shinigami is very difficult to deal with.

However, Sōken Ishida quickly regained his composure. "Lord Captain, to what do I owe this honor?"

Soifon patted Ryūken and Kanae on the back, pushing the two children toward Sōken Ishida.

"Watch your children, Quincy." Soifon didn't care about his wariness. "If they stumble into a battlefield between Shinigami and Hollows again, they won't be so lucky."

Sōken Ishida looked surprised. He was still weighing his words, but Soifon had no intention of chatting further, turning to vanish into the night.

Only the conspicuous number [Two] on the white haori remained burned into the eyes of Sōken Ishida and the two children—and also Masaki Kurosaki, who was peering at them from a window on the second floor.

...

In front of the Shin'ō Academy gates.

The Senkaimon opened, and Unohana and Soifon stepped out of the portal side-by-side. The graduates who had participated in the Konso internship were all waiting here for the return of the two Captains.

"Teacher Soifon!"

"Are you alright?"

The moment they appeared, Rukia and the others swarmed them, circling Soifon several times. They only felt relieved after confirming she was unharmed.

"Alright, I'm fine."

Soifon pressed her hands on the heads of Rukia and Momo Hinamori, comforting them with a pat.

To the side, Unohana said with a smile, "Soifon, you're quite popular with the students..."

Once all participants had returned, the Captain-Commander and Aizen, who had been waiting for a long time under the nearby school building, slowly walked toward the students.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto first gave a few formulaic opening remarks, then praised the courage of the students during this assessment, noting their composure under pressure and their ability to follow orders in the face of a powerful enemy.

Immediately following that, he announced that everyone had passed the assessment. In a few days, members of the Gotei 13 would come to post the recruitment notices.

After the Captain-Commander finished his speech, Aizen approached with an easygoing smile. "Captain Soifon, it's wonderful that you returned safely."

"Captain Aizen has been waiting since the start of the assessment," Unohana added. "He was very worried about the students' safety."

(Really? I don't believe it.)

"I was just lucky." Soifon glanced at Aizen out of the corner of her eye. "The power of that Hollow was very strange."

"Oh? I wonder what Captain Soifon means by 'strange' power...?"

Aizen was interested now. He was curious how Soifon would describe the power of that failed Arrancar.

"It was clearly an Adjuchas, yet it seemed to have lost its sanity..." Soifon crossed her arms, tapping her finger against her bicep. "It was almost as if it had regressed into a Gillian, yet its power was quite strong."

"In short, it was a failed creation." Then, Soifon wore an expression of pure disgust. "I wonder if the Hollows in Hueco Mundo have all taken the wrong medicine lately? It wasn't even as impressive as the Adjuchas I killed back then."

His gentle smile stiffened for 0.01 seconds. This was the first time Sōsuke Aizen had been mocked so directly to his face.

"That Hollow looked like a skeletal humanoid, somewhat resembling the characteristics of a Vasto Lorde."

"However, its Spiritual Pressure was too weak," Unohana added.

...

When Soifon returned to her quarters, a long-awaited System mission surfaced before her eyes once again.

[Mission Triggered: The Intersection of Three]

[Mission Completed]

[Mission Reward: Kikaitō (Optimized Portable Version; you can bypass the Seireitei's surveillance to travel to the World of the Living and Hueco Mundo)]

"Kikaitō?" Soifon toyed with the crystal in her hand, which emitted a blue fluorescent glow. "I remember that thing didn't look like this."

Rather than Kisuke Urahara's Kikaitō, it looked more like a mini version of the Soul King's crystal coffin.

Stuffing the Kikaitō into her pocket, Soifon wouldn't have to worry about how to smuggle herself into the World of the Living anymore; it was a good thing.

Most importantly, she no longer had to worry about the issue of Aizen "standing in the heavens."

—Fine. He goes to Hueco Mundo, we go to Hueco Mundo too. Someone, go throw the Captain-Commander into Hueco Mundo!

A significant amount of time had passed since the harrowing Konso internship.

Early one morning, a few members dressed in Shihakushō were posting notices on the bulletin board in front of the Shin'ō Academy teaching building. It appeared the squad assignments for the graduates had finally been released.

A crowd gathered in front of the board, everyone jostling for a glimpse, searching for their names on the densely packed list.

"Unseated member."

"Unseated member."

"I'm an unseated member too..."

Aside from the few exceptional students who had skipped grades, almost every Shin'ō Academy student present could only start their careers from the bottom.

It wasn't until the crowd gradually dispersed that a group of six latecomers finally arrived at the bulletin board.

"Found it!" Momo Hinamori's eyes lit up. "I'm in the Second Division! Oh, Rukia, you are too!"

The mere thought of working alongside her admired teacher, Soifon, made Momo feel as though her career as a Shinigami was off to a wonderful start.

"Eh? Am I in the Second Division as well?!"

Rukia squeezed in next to Momo, her eyes widening in surprise.

5th Seat, Rukia; 6th Seat, Momo Hinamori.

The ranks were right next to each other. Not bad at all.

"Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Tenth Division... 3rd Seat?"

Tōshirō looked at his name, pointing at the rank with an uncertain expression.

Momo looked at him with a face full of pride. "That's only natural, Shiro-chan. Your Reiatsu is so powerful, after all."

"Ninth Division, 5th Seat."

Shūhei Hisagi looked at the results and nodded; it was exactly what he had expected.

"Third Division, 4th Seat."

Izuru Kira rubbed his nose. He didn't really care where he went, as long as he could secure a spot as a seated officer.

Finally, there was Renji Abarai.

He scratched his conspicuous red hair. "5th Seat of the Fifth Division, huh..."

While Captain Aizen seemed like a very nice person, Renji couldn't help but feel that he wouldn't be able to make much of a name for himself in the Fifth Division.

In truth, there was nothing wrong with coasting in the Fifth Division, but going to the Second Division to catch spies felt like it would offer much broader horizons.

"Teacher Soifon's favoritism is just too obvious." Renji really wanted to go to the Second Division to get into the action. "She even pulled strings to get you two into her squad. Sigh..."

"What do you mean, favoritism!" Rukia countered, her face flushing as she spoke. "Can things involving Shinigami even be called favoritism?"

...

The six of them bid their farewells at the gates of the Shin'ō Academy, each dragging their simple luggage toward their respective division barracks.

Just then, a massive and highly imposing figure waddled into view at the Academy gates, accurately blocking Momo and Rukia's path.

He had a pointed head, and a large gold chain around his neck shimmered with a blinding light.

"You two must be... 5th Seat Hinamori and 6th Seat Rukia, right?"

Marechiyo Ōmaeda tried his best to make his voice sound kind and approachable.

"Y-Yes."

Rukia and Momo were somewhat startled, nodding their heads slightly.

Having confirmed their identities, Marechiyo breathed a sigh of relief.

"I am the Lieutenant of the Second Division, Marechiyo Ōmaeda."

"By order of Captain Soifon, I have come specifically to escort you both to the squad!"

"Welcome, welcome! We're all family from now on, haha!"

Family?!

The two girls subconsciously glanced at each other. Was the Second Division really such a united and loving organization? You become family the moment you arrive?

However, to think this man was actually Teacher Soifon's Lieutenant...

Afraid of being rude, they only dared to steal a few glances at Marechiyo out of the corners of their eyes, thinking that his physique didn't exactly scream 'Stealth' or 'Force.'

"Lieutenant Ōmaeda, hello!"

Snapping out of it, the two quickly bowed in greeting, their voices clearly strained with formal tension.

"Aiyee, don't mention it! Follow me!" Marechiyo turned to lead the way. "Our barracks aren't far from here. We'll be there in a flash!"

As they walked through the streets of the Seireitei, they gradually entered an area with a significantly more somber atmosphere and a more oppressive architectural style.

In front of the towering gate of the Second Division barracks stood several expressionless guards. Their scrutinizing gazes lingered on Momo and Rukia for a moment before they stepped aside to let them pass.

This was a stark contrast to Lieutenant Ōmaeda's easygoing nature just moments ago.

As they stepped into the barracks, the light seemed to dim several shades. The corridors were winding and complex, with unadorned, dark gray walls.

As they ventured deeper, they could even faintly hear the cries and howls of prisoners coming from behind certain iron doors.

Just as the two were feeling uneasy, they arrived at a courtyard up ahead.

Soifon walked out from within. Seeing Marechiyo and the two girls behind him, she nodded. "Well done, Marechiyo."

Fawning over Soifon with a smile, Marechiyo vanished with a whoosh using Shunpo.

"Hehe, I've got people from the Sixth Division waiting for me outside. I'll take my leave first."

He moved so fast that neither Rukia nor Momo could even react.

"The Lieutenant is so fast!" Momo exclaimed instinctively.

"Idiot, that's a Lieutenant for you." Rukia nudged Momo with her elbow. "Being fast is only natural, right?"

Then, Rukia looked at Soifon with admiration—Am I right?

'Darn it, Rukia, that's not what you were saying just now.'

Momo felt like she had acted like a fool in front of Soifon, which was incredibly embarrassing. Coupled with the backstab from her best friend... it hurt. It hurt so much.

Soifon tapped both of their foreheads with her fingers. "You two, come with me now. First, get familiar with the Second Division's environment."

Rukia and Momo quickly trotted to keep up, flanking Soifon on either side as if guarding her.

As she led them deeper into the barracks, the scent of blood in the air seemed to grow thicker, and the temperature felt as if it had dropped several degrees.

"One of the primary responsibilities of the Second Division is surveillance, interrogation, and execution," Soifon's voice echoed through the empty hallway. "This area is for detention and preliminary interrogation."

She stopped in front of a heavy iron door that wasn't fully closed, leaving a small crack.

The two poked their heads toward the gap. They could see cold, metallic instruments, and the bloodstains on the floor hadn't even been cleaned yet.

Both of them retracted their heads almost simultaneously, their faces turning several shades paler. Momo even gave a slight shiver.

At first, Rukia and Momo had managed to maintain a distance of a few steps behind Soifon.

But as they went deeper, the two were now pressed tightly against Soifon's sides.

Momo's shoulder was practically touching Soifon's arm, and Rukia was almost brushing against Soifon's other side.

Creeeeeak—

A heavy door opened somewhere nearby.

Almost instinctively, the two of them grabbed Soifon's left and right arms, huddling themselves into her embrace.

Soifon stopped.

Looking down, she glanced at the two girls hanging off her like ornaments and sighed. "This is only the outer detention area. You haven't even seen the actual execution grounds and torture chambers yet."

She tried to gently move her arms, but after hearing those words, Momo hugged even tighter, and Rukia showed no intention of letting go either.

In fact, there was even a faint hint of a territory war breaking out within her embrace.

'There's only this much space, and you two are still fighting over it?'

Soifon: "..."

Left with no choice, Soifon could only head back toward the Captain's office, carrying the two clinging attachments with her.

...

Soifon had just stepped into the Captain's courtyard with her two human pendants when Marechiyo shouted "Captain Soifon!" and presented an invitation with both hands, standing respectfully before her.

Seeing this, the two girls hanging off Soifon finally felt a sense of shame. They both dropped their feet to the ground, pretending to admire the distant scenery.

Marechiyo, naturally, acted as if nothing had happened.

"What is this?"

"An invitation just delivered by some friends from the Sixth Division. It's for Captain Kuchiki's wedding."

"...I see. Go back to your duties."

Byakuya Kuchiki's wedding? I see.

Giving Rukia a strange glance, Soifon opened the invitation to check the time and location before tucking it into her pocket.

"Eh~~ Captain Kuchiki's wedding?" Rukia and Momo began to fantasize. "A wedding for one of the Four Great Noble Houses... it must be spectacular..."

Hard to say.

Soifon knew that Byakuya Kuchiki was marrying a commoner from the Rukongai, and almost no one in the Kuchiki Clan supported him.

Whatever. For Rukia's sake, she would go to show some support for Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Do you two want to go?"

Seeing the expectant yet hesitant expressions on Rukia and Momo's faces, Soifon asked the obvious question.

"We don't really want to go that badly..." Momo looked down, twiddling her fingers. "We just arrived at the Second Division, so if we go to a wedding, our work..."

"Fine, then I won't take you two along." Soifon curled her lips into a mischievous, black-hearted smirk. "I'll go by myself. You two stay here and work hard."

"Eh—?!" Rukia grabbed the hem of Soifon's clothes. "Momo was the one who said that! Teacher Soifon, please, you must take me!"

The Kuchiki Clan.

Due to Soifon's provocation, Byakuya Kuchiki's strength had progressed much faster than in the original timeline, reaching Captain-level ahead of schedule.

His father, Sōjun Kuchiki, had taken the opportunity to resign from his positions as Lieutenant and Head of the Clan to retire, thus avoiding any accidents while on duty.

Byakuya Kuchiki sat upright in the seat of honor, listening expressionlessly to the various questions and scoldings directed at him by the Kuchiki Elders in the room.

"A commoner from the Rukongai must not step through the gates of the Kuchiki Clan under any circumstances!"

"We will never recognize this marriage!"

Perhaps seeing that Sōjun Kuchiki and Ginrei Kuchiki, sitting to the side, had no intention of arguing on Byakuya's behalf, the words of those old fossils became increasingly harsh.

"Father, Byakuya is..."

"Right now, he is the Head of the Kuchiki Clan." Ginrei Kuchiki pressed down on his son's shoulder.

The noisy accusations continued for a long time until the elders seemed to grow tired of speaking, and the volume in the room gradually faded.

"The wedding will proceed as scheduled," Byakuya Kuchiki's voice was steady and calm. "The invitations have already been sent out in full." He didn't look back at the elders' faces, which had instantly turned even uglier, and simply turned to walk toward the door.

On the day of the wedding, at the Second Division Captain's office, less than an hour remained before the Kuchiki wedding was set to officially begin.

"How do I look in this?"

"Should I wear a hair accessory?"

"Is this hairstyle okay?"

When Soifon pushed the door open and walked in, she glanced at the wall clock, then at the two girls whispering in front of the mirror. A vein throbbed faintly on her forehead.

She walked over, grabbed one in each hand by the back collars of their Shihakushō, and lifted them out of the office like two disobedient kittens.

"Captain Soifon?!"

Two black arcs flashed through the air as Momo Hinamori and Rukia landed steadily.

"Just wear your Shihakushō," Soifon said, looking at the two who were hesitating. "You wouldn't want to be late for the wedding and have the guests treat you like a joke, would you?"

At the thought of the embarrassment of being late to such a solemn occasion, Rukia and Momo Hinamori shuddered simultaneously. "We're leaving right now!"

The three used Shunpo and soon arrived at the Kuchiki estate, located in the core area of the Seireitei.

From a distance, festive lanterns could be seen hanging at the entrance of the ancient and magnificent mansion. The line of people entering was sparse, completely lacking the grand spectacle that the wedding of the Head of the Four Great Noble Houses should have had.

"So beautiful..."

Despite this, Rukia and Momo Hinamori were shocked by the luxurious display before them. The food, clothing, and items here were all rare things they had never seen before.

"Let's go." Soifon's voice snapped the two back to reality from their awe.

When Soifon, clad in her white Captain's Haori, appeared at the gates of the Kuchiki estate, the noisy whispers at the entrance instantly went silent.

Whether they were guests handing over invitations or servants of the Kuchiki Clan, expressions of awe and fear appeared on their faces.

—Wasn't it said that Byakuya Kuchiki relied on the shadow of his family and had no popularity among the Captains? Why did Captain Soifon come?!

The butler took the invitations with both hands and respectfully led Soifon and the others through the gates.

After taking her seat, Soifon glanced around at the guests. Everywhere her gaze landed, people bowed their heads, terrified of being targeted by her.

None of the Four Great Noble Houses had sent anyone from their main families; those who came were low-ranking members of branch families and minor nobles.

Perhaps sending branch family members and irrelevant minor nobles to fill the space was the most 'gentle' way those opposers could boycott the event.

"How can they look so similar..."

"Perhaps it's a coincidence..."

When the elders sitting in their seats saw Rukia behind Soifon, they couldn't help but rub their eyes, then began whispering to each other regardless of etiquette.

However, Rukia, the center of the discussion, didn't hear them; she was focused on feasting alongside Momo Hinamori.

Taking a sip of tea, Soifon let out a bored yawn. "So slow. Why hasn't it started yet?" This was why she disliked great noble families; everything they did was a hassle.

"Gulp. Captain Soifon, aren't you going to eat?" (Chew, chew, chew.) Beside her, Momo Hinamori and Rukia had their mouths stuffed full like two hamsters.

Soifon facepalmed, looking at Rukia with pity. "I'm not eating. You two can eat my portion as well..."

"Uh, well, if you insist..." (Reaches with chopsticks.)

Cherish this, Rukia. Once you become the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki Clan, you won't be able to eat whatever you want like this anymore.

Finally, the wedding began. Byakuya Kuchiki, wearing an expensive kimono, walked out leading his mysterious bride.

Upon seeing the couple's faces, Momo Hinamori was stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned her head to look at Rukia. Her gaze traveled back and forth between Rukia and the bride's face, her mouth hanging open.

At the same time, before Rukia could even marvel at the grand ceremony, her gaze was captivated by the bride.

A sense of closeness arising naturally from her blood caused a single word to involuntarily surface in Rukia's mind.

—Sister.

Byakuya Kuchiki looked at the guests. Soifon's white Captain's Haori was very conspicuous, and he cast a grateful look toward her.

When his eyes caught sight of Rukia, Byakuya's pupils also shrank. He took a moment to recover before pretending nothing was wrong and continuing the ceremony.

"Rukia." Soifon reached out and held Rukia's clenched, trembling fist. "Stay calm. Relax."

"Teacher..."

Tears welled up in her eyes without warning, sliding down Rukia's cheeks. She didn't even realize she was crying; she just stared blankly at the bride, her body starting to tremble uncontrollably.

Soifon let go of Rukia's hand and instead pulled the girl into her embrace, using a tissue to gently wipe the tears from her face. "If you want to cry, you can lean on me for a while."

As she spoke, Rukia buried her face in the fabric of Soifon's shoulder, her warm tears quickly soaking the Captain's Haori draped over her.

Momo Hinamori, sitting on the other side, took in the entire scene. She looked at Rukia with worry, but also with a hint of envy that Rukia could act so spoiled in Captain Soifon's arms.

[Rukia is already crying, yet I'm thinking like this... I shouldn't.] Gently shaking her head, Momo Hinamori threw the ridiculous thought out of her mind.

After an unknown amount of time, the long ceremony finally approached its end. The guests began to stand up one after another, but Soifon's table didn't move, remaining quietly in their seats. The same was true for several Kuchiki Elders.

Having changed out of his heavy ceremonial robes, Byakuya Kuchiki walked toward Soifon and the others, leading his new wife, Hisana Kuchiki.

Byakuya Kuchiki stopped before Soifon's table and gave her a slight nod. "Captain Soifon, thank you for attending today." Today, Byakuya Kuchiki had finally reconciled with Soifon, who used to bully him.

His voice was somewhat dry, his gaze scanning Rukia beside Soifon with complexity. Could this girl, who looked so much like his wife, be... Hisana's sister?

The moment Hisana Kuchiki saw Rukia's face, she also trembled violently as if struck by lightning. She suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes—so similar to Rukia's—instantly filling with tears.

The Kuchiki Elders sitting nearby frowned, faintly sensing that something was wrong.

Gently patting Rukia's back, Soifon looked at the sobbing Hisana. "Since my student's sister is getting married, as her teacher, I naturally had to come and show my support."

"Regardless of anything else, Rukia is one of my favorite students..."

Patting the heads of the two girls, Soifon's gaze moved past Byakuya to the elders nearby, releasing her Spiritual Pressure to intimidate them.

"Ahem, I still have things to attend to. I'll be taking my leave first..."

"Me too."

To think she was the sister of Captain Soifon's favorite student—what a miscalculation! That damn commoner; if she had revealed this connection earlier, things wouldn't have come to this! The decaying elders fled in a hurry.

Rukia and her sister were embracing and crying in a room; it looked like they would be whispering to each other for quite a while. Soifon led Momo Hinamori quietly out of the room, only to run into Byakuya Kuchiki coming toward them.

"Captain Soifon, I want to take Rukia into the..."

"Impossible." Soifon rejected the idea without a second thought. "Rukia is definitely better off in the Second Division than the Sixth. Don't even think about it."

"But..."

Soifon blocked him again. "There won't be any safety issues either, so rest assured."

"In that case, if Captain Soifon needs anything in the future, you can come to me." Byakuya Kuchiki thought for a moment; it seemed he didn't have much to offer her, so he could only leave a blank check.

"I'll make this clear: during her temporary stay at the Kuchiki estate, do not let Rukia suffer any grievances, do you hear me?" Thinking of Byakuya Kuchiki's awkward attitude toward Rukia in the early parts of the original story, Soifon issued a warning just in case, even though Hisana hadn't died yet.

"I understand..." Byakuya nodded. "The elders won't give Rukia a hard time. After she learns the necessary etiquette, she can return to her squad."

A sickly commoner and a genius who could become a seated officer upon graduation were not the same concept. The Kuchiki Elders weren't stupid enough to make such an enemy.

Second Division, Captain's Office.

Today marked the third day after the wedding. To cultivate the administrative skills of Rukia and Momo Hinamori, Soifon had rarely instructed Marechiyo Ōmaeda to delegate some of the division's paperwork to the Captain's office for them to review.

Upon hearing this, the massive man was so moved that tears nearly streamed down his face.

Inside the room, Soifon lightly tapped the dazed Momo Hinamori. Watching the girl scramble to her feet and apologize in a panic, Soifon couldn't help but let out a helpless laugh.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted."

"Soifon-sensei, I..."

"It's not like Rukia isn't coming back. The Kuchiki Clan will have her return to the squad soon enough."

"I know..."

"Suit yourself. I'm heading to the Department of Research and Development. Do you want me to bring back some of those newly cultivated peaches for you?"

"No thank you, Sensei..."

Momo Hinamori patted her cheeks, picked up a division document, and began her review. She forced a "sunny" grin at Soifon.

Tsk, that smile is so fake. A young girl's heart really is hard to read.

Soifon didn't call her out on the forced smile. She simply gave Momo's soft cheek a playful pinch before heading out.

Bang—

The moment the office door closed, the smile on Momo Hinamori's face gradually faded, replaced by a listless expression.

—"Rukia, are you willing to join the Kuchiki family and become my sister?"

—"This was your sister Hisana's wish. From the moment she met me, she never stopped looking for you."

Momo recalled the words Byakuya Kuchiki had spoken to Rukia after the wedding yesterday, and her heart felt inevitably heavy.

She didn't know how long Rukia would be gone. The house rules of the Four Great Noble Houses were notoriously strict. She had heard that children there were tutored from the moment they were born.

Surely Rukia, this half-baked noble, wouldn't just slack off for half a year or a year and leave all the division paperwork to her, right?

But most importantly...

Now that Rukia was a member of the Kuchiki Clan, her ability to help Soifon-sensei in the future would surely be far greater than Momo's own. This gap made Momo feel a sense of melancholy.

She was happy for her best friend, yet frustrated by her own perceived incompetence.

Sigh...

She shook those intrusive thoughts out of her head.

Transforming into a 'desktop cleaning master,' Momo Hinamori processed the official documents on the desk with lightning speed before returning to her own room.

"Right now, I can't do anything..."

"Please, Tobiume."

Inputting that 'classic password,' Momo drew Tobiume from her waist and sat cross-legged on her bed to begin meditating.

*

At the Department of Research and Development, Soifon was currently negotiating with Mayuri Kurotsuchi for the equipment she needed.

"Hello. I need a device capable of real-time positioning, high concealment, painless implantation, and a protection mechanism that triggers if the target receives a lethal blow."

Bang—

Before Soifon could even finish her sentence, Mayuri slammed the door and stormed out, leaving her and Nemu Kurotsuchi staring at each other.

Soifon asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Nemu replied flatly, "Too little money, too much work."

So that's it? He just wants more funding? Our Second Division is the last place to lack money, thanks to the Ōmaeda family.

"Should have said so. I can increase the payment."

"Or perhaps you need some experimental subjects? The Second Division has plenty of prisoners waiting for execution..."

Soifon knew Mayuri hadn't gone far.

Creeak—

"Ahem, but then again..." Mayuri pushed the door open, grinning as if nothing had happened. "Captain Soifon's request just now is actually something I'm quite interested in."

Mayuri didn't ask what Soifon intended to use the device for. After all, combining so many questionable functions meant it certainly wasn't for anything 'above board.'

"I wonder when Captain Soifon needs this by?"

As it happened, Mayuri Kurotsuchi wasn't exactly a 'good person' either.

"Hmm..." Soifon calculated Ryūken Ishida's current age. "Can you do it in ten years, Director Mayuri?"

Such a generous deadline! Such a lavish client!

"Hee hee hee~~" Mayuri was overjoyed. "Of course. Once it's finished, I'll have Nemu deliver it to you personally, Captain Soifon."

"By the way, is there a way for souls without spiritual power to survive within the Seireitei?"

Soifon thought of Hisana Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya's grandmother. Those two seemed to suffer because they couldn't withstand the heavy pressure of souls...

"That's even simpler. Just make a portable device that isolates ordinary Spiritual Pressure. As long as they aren't deliberately targeted by a powerful Reiatsu, there won't be any problems."

Mayuri waved his hand dismissively, indicating he would bundle this in as a freebie.

*

Carrying a bag of the new peach variety, Soifon returned to the Second Division barracks.

"Momo, I've got peaches! Come eat some peaches."

Pushing open the office door, Soifon blinked at the empty room. She walked to the desk and leafed through the papers; the division documents had already been fully processed.

She then carried the bag to Momo Hinamori's dormitory. The curtains weren't fully closed, and she could see the girl sitting cross-legged on the bed performing Jinzen...

Actually, wait!

Momo's head was nodding rhythmically, teetering on the edge of falling over. She had clearly fallen asleep in the middle of her meditation.

Gently pushing the door open, Soifon set the peaches on the table. She supported the meditating Momo and helped her lie flat on the bed.

To actually fall asleep during Jinzen... Momo, I'm willing to call you the strongest when it comes to sleeping.

Tucking the girl in tightly, Soifon sat by the bed, picked up a peach, wiped it on her sleeve, and began to munch on it.

The Department of Research and Development's side business wasn't bad. This new variety was large, juicy, and packed with spiritual energy.

For the record, Soifon preferred soft peaches.

Sniff— sniff—

The aroma of peaches filled the small dorm. The sleeping Momo's nose twitched involuntarily as the cravings in her stomach gradually woke her up.

"Smells so good..."

Momo Hinamori opened her eyes, her first words a murmur of physical instinct.

However, when she saw the familiar figure sitting by her bed, her eyes widened, and two patches of crimson instantly flushed her cheeks.

"S-Soifon-sensei!?"

With a start, Momo scrambled into a sitting position.

"You're awake?" Soifon handed over a peach. "Hungry? Eat."

"I..."

Taking the peach with both hands, Momo's eyes suddenly began to sting for some reason.

"Momo... you?"

Soifon didn't have any tissues on hand, so she could only pull the girl into a hug, using her own Captain's Haori to wipe Momo's tears.

"I'm sorry, Sensei," Momo said, flustered. "I don't know why I..."

Buried in the embrace of the person she admired, Momo had initially just felt useless and downcast. But seeing Soifon-sensei being so kind to her, she truly felt like crying.

"Rukia has become a part of the Kuchiki family... she'll definitely be able to help Sensei more in the future..."

"But I... I can't do anything right..."

"Just now... I wanted to do Jinzen, I wanted to communicate with Tobiume and get stronger... but I ended up falling asleep..."

"And Sensei even went out of her way... to bring me peaches..."

She buried her face deeper into Soifon's haori, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Soifon listened quietly without interrupting, simply patting the girl's back.

Seriously, what is this all about?

After a long while, Momo's sobbing subsided, and she timidly lifted her head.

"What?" Seeing her like this, Soifon gave a dry laugh. "Finished crying?"

Momo Hinamori, with her eyes still red, decided to push her luck. "Can I stay like this for a little longer? Soifon-sensei..."

"Suit yourself."

A crying child always gets the candy. Soifon adjusted her posture and held Momo Hinamori in her arms, leaning back against the bed.

"By the way, remember to eat that peach in your hand."

"Eh? I'm supposed to eat it in Captain Soifon's arms?"

"You can, but if you get juice on my clothes, you're the one washing them."

"Yes! I'll definitely get them dirty!"

"Huh—?"

"No, I mean, I definitely won't get them dirty..."

Early the next morning, inside a certain dormitory.

After finally coaxing Momo Hinamori to sleep the night before, Soifon had used a Kikaitō on her own within the squad barracks. Little did she expect that her first attempt at an 'illegal crossing' would nearly end in disaster; she was almost swallowed whole by the Kōtotsu.

Alas, this was the fate of those who attempted unregulated travel without a schedule for the Kōtotsu's appearances.

Luckily, her Shunpo was currently the best in the Soul Society.

Before leaving the Dangai, Soifon had even turned back to glare at the relentlessly pursuing Kōtotsu, mentally noting that once she became a Transcendent, it would be the first thing she'd use for target practice.

After getting up and washing up, Soifon's footsteps instinctively drifted toward Momo Hinamori's dormitory.

The room was empty. The bed was neatly made, and the peach pits left on the table from the night before had vanished. The place was scrubbed clean.

'Out so early?'

Soifon turned around just in time to see Marechiyo Ōmaeda's round figure waddling through the hallway ahead, clutching a stack of documents.

"Ōmaeda."

"Captain Soifon!" Marechiyo stopped abruptly, a fawning smile plastered on his face. "What are your orders?"

"Have you seen Momo Hinamori?"

"Miss Hinamori..." Marechiyo paused to recall. "I saw her heading out before the sky was even fully light."

Soifon fell into thought for a moment before waving her hand to dismiss Marechiyo to his duties.

It wasn't until work was nearly set to begin that morning that the door to Soifon's office was pushed open, and a breathless Momo Hinamori walked in.

Momo's cheeks were flushed from exercise, and she had changed into a fresh Shihakushō. Soifon could even catch a faint scent of soap from a recent bath.

"Captain Soifon, good morning!"

Momo Hinamori steadied her breathing and bowed to Soifon.

Since it was during duty hours, she had to address her as Captain.

"Good morning, Momo," Soifon said, studying her for a moment. "Were you out training?"

Caught red-handed, Momo scratched her head sheepishly. "I practiced for a little while."

Soifon teased her, "No Jinzen today?"

"Tobiume said our synchronization isn't high enough yet. She said there's no point in continuing to meet right now."

Momo smiled and traced the hilt of the Zanpakutō at her waist.

Synchronization isn't high enough?

Translated, that meant she hadn't used her Shikai enough and her combat experience was lacking.

'Who knew Tobiume was a natural-born battle maniac?'

While Soifon was lost in thought, Momo had already officially entered 'work mode.' It made Soifon feel a bit awkward to be the only leader slacking off nearby.

And so, Soifon decided to head out and slack off elsewhere.

...

Tenth Division Training Ground.

A massive ice dragon collided with a searing flame slash. The crimson strike carved through the frost-colored dragon as easily as a hot knife through butter.

"Not bad, Tōshirō! You're already stronger than Rangiku."

Isshin Shiba raised a hand to brush the ice shards from his hair, a brilliant smile on his face.

Facing his Captain's praise, Tōshirō gave a bashful smile, though he soon turned a speechless gaze toward the source of the instigating voice nearby.

Seeing the Captain disparaging her again, Rangiku Matsumoto raised her cup. "Keep it up, Tōshirō! If you beat the Captain, you can take his job!"

She was perched on the eaves of a nearby roof, sipping from a porcelain-white sake jar, yet her face showed no hint of a flush.

There was no telling how many times she had 'practiced' her drinking during work hours to build up such a tolerance.

The two in the training ground moved again, their crimson and frost-blue Reiatsu clashing violently. Rangiku Matsumoto watched with fascination, instinctively lifting her jar for another drink...

'Wait, where did my giant sake jar go?'

A silent figure appeared behind her, snatching the jar right out of her hand.

It was none other than Soifon, out on her slacking-off excursion.

"Drinking during work hours?" Soifon frowned at her friend. "Rangiku, your slacking is getting out of hand."

'Even I'm not this excessive,' Soifon added internally.

"Captain Soifon!?"

"How do you have time to come over here? Don't tell me you're slacking off too?"

Seeing that it was Soifon who had taken her bottle, Rangiku lost her temperamental edge.

"Nonsense. How can anything a Captain does be called 'slacking'?"

Soifon tossed the bottle with pinpoint accuracy into a distant trash bin before sitting down beside Rangiku to watch the spar between Tōshirō and Isshin Shiba.

"Tōshirō's strength is progressing rapidly," Soifon remarked, propping her chin on her hand as she teased her friend. "Don't you feel any sense of urgency? Vice. Cap. Tain."

Rangiku Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "None at all. If anything, I'd rather let Tōshirō have this Lieutenant position. I think the 3rd Seat suits me much better."

Speaking of which, she was also somewhat confused about her own situation. She asked Soifon why it seemed like her Reiatsu had hit a bottleneck years ago and hadn't grown an inch since.

She was stuck at the transition between the 5th and 4th Spiritual Rank, completely motionless.

Given the average lifespan of a Shinigami, Rangiku was still in her youth. With the potential she had shown, it was impossible for her progress to simply stall.

"..."

Soifon couldn't help but shift her gaze toward the Fifth Division. She didn't know how to explain it to Rangiku.

She wasn't ready to tell her that because Sōsuke Aizen had taken a Soul King fragment from her when she was a child, her soul was incomplete.

"What does Haineko have to say?"

Soifon steered the conversation toward Rangiku's Zanpakutō.

"Don't even get me started, Captain Soifon," Rangiku said, touching the scabbard at her waist. "Since my Reiatsu won't go up, Haineko can't do anything about it either."

Soifon nodded understandingly. It seemed Haineko was in the dark as well.

If Rangiku wanted to take another step forward, it meant she had to strip the Soul King fragment from Aizen's Hōgyoku and restore the integrity of her soul...

Sigh. If only there were a way to make Aizen part with the fragment willingly.

For example... trading a larger piece of the Soul King for it?

"I understand."

Soifon stood up, brushed the dust from her clothes, and placed a hand on Rangiku Matsumoto's head.

"Leave it to me. Don't worry."

"Who knows? Maybe you're just accumulating power for a massive breakthrough, Rangiku."

Finally having a chance to pet Rangiku's head, Soifon felt a secret thrill.

After enjoying Soifon's 'head-pat kill' for a moment, Rangiku suddenly noticed dust and debris fluttering down in front of her eyes.

'Dandruff? No way! I washed my hair last night!'

Rangiku instinctively reached up to feel her head—

"SOIFON—!!!"

...

Back at the Second Division.

Momo Hinamori, who had finished her paperwork long ago, had run off to the training ground again. Soifon stole a few glances at the girl pouring her sweat and fireballs into her practice and felt a growing headache.

It was good for her student to be ambitious, but why couldn't she feel happy about it?

When Soifon saw the application form sitting on her desk, her headache intensified, and she leaned her head against her hand.

— Request for deployment to Karakura Town in the World of the Living to hunt Menos Grande.

Signed: Second Division, Momo Hinamori

Soifon finished reading the application written by Momo Hinamori.

The words in the document were practically a plea, but Soifon had no intention of discussing it with her. She rejected the application immediately.

Stationed in Karakura Town?

Did she want to replicate the plot where Kisuke Urahara buried the Hōgyoku inside someone only to encounter Ichigo Kurosaki?

Setting aside the fact that the timeline was all wrong, even if it were the right time, Soifon had no intention of letting her student be used as a pawn by Kisuke Urahara.

After staring at the application in a daze for a while, Momo Hinamori, having finished her training, returned to the Second Division barracks and nervously pushed open the office door.

Seeing Soifon holding her application in silence, Momo's heart leaped into her throat. She paced into the room with soft, hesitant steps.

"You're here?"

Sensing her arrival, Soifon slapped the application onto the desk and pushed it toward her.

"The request for deployment to the World of the Living—don't bring it up again."

"Why?"

Momo Hinamori was baffled. She had clearly explained her reasoning: she wanted to fight Menos Grande in the World of the Living to increase her strength. There was no reason for it to be rejected!

Soifon tapped her finger on the desk. "If you just want to fight Hollows... you don't need to go to the World of the Living."

Momo leaned against the desk with both hands. "But Captain Soifon, the Hollows in the Soul Society are so scattered..."

"When did I ever say we were looking for Hollows in the Soul Society?"

"But Captain won't let me go to the World of the Living either. It's not like you can take me to Hueco Mundo..."

Before she could finish, Momo was startled by her own bold hypothesis. She didn't even have the courage to continue the thought.

Without the Garganta technology from the Department of Research and Development, it was impossible to travel to Hueco Mundo. This was why Momo had never considered going there to 'grind' for experience.

However, any Adjuchas that had been granted Arrancarification by Sōsuke Aizen could practically open a Garganta to leave Hueco Mundo on their own.

It had to be said that the Hollow race truly possessed something unique; even the Soul King had been born for the sake of exterminating them.

Watching the dazed Momo Hinamori, Soifon walked up to her and whispered in her ear, "Do you want to go?"

The warm breath from Soifon's lungs tickled Momo's ear, sending a faint, tingly current through her earlobe.

Her legs momentarily lost their strength. Momo supported herself against the desk and unconsciously sat back onto it.

"I do..."

For some reason, she felt her heart racing. Her face was burning intensely; she was certain it had turned bright red.

Before the words could fully leave her mouth, Momo suddenly thought of her best friend, Rukia.

If she ran off to Hueco Mundo with Captain Soifon for special training right now, it felt a bit unfair.

Soifon saw through her expression. "What else is on your mind?"

"I want... to wait for Rukia." Momo pressed her hand against her thumping chest. "It feels too cunning of me to be the only one getting stronger."

What was happening? Why did her heart race so much whenever she was with Captain Soifon?

She loved this feeling.

Could it be that I like Captain Soifon!?

...

Half a month later.

A carriage bearing the Kuchiki Clan crest slowly came to a halt at the main gate of the Second Division. Any passing soul-reapers who saw the luxurious carriage couldn't help but cast curious glances toward it.

Rukia Kuchiki gripped her Shihakushō. Her mind was on a constant loop of the various etiquette rules her teachers had drilled into her, and her palms were growing damp.

She pulled back the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. Instantly, dozens of gazes fixed upon her.

This is so awkward. I want to curl into a ball and disappear.

Forcing her expression and posture to remain rigid, Rukia walked through the familiar corridors of the Second Division barracks and entered the Captain's courtyard.

"Rukia! You're back!"

Almost the second she pushed open the office door, Momo Hinamori launched herself from her chair like a rocket, circling Rukia to inspect her.

Rukia's return was a source of great joy for Momo. After all, Soifon couldn't spend every day entertaining her; she needed a partner by her side during practice to keep things from getting boring.

More importantly, now that Rukia was back, the two of them could go to Hueco Mundo together to level up. Momo was looking forward to it.

"Eh? You haven't changed at all after visiting the Kuchiki family."

"Are you secretly wearing any expensive jewelry?"

Seeing Momo's familiar smiling face, the tension in Rukia's heart finally snapped. The 'noble aura' she had been forcing herself to maintain dissipated instantly.

Since there was no one else here, she finally didn't have to pretend.

"How could I wear things that hinder my combat ability? I'm not..."

Rukia trailed off, suddenly remembering that Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda seemed to love wearing gold jewelry.

"Sigh... anyway, being a noble is so exhausting. I'm already starting to feel bad for my sister."

She returned to her seat, intending to handle a few backlogged official documents to relax.

However, Rukia saw that her desk was completely empty. Just as she was about to ask Captain Soifon where her work had gone, she froze at the scene before her...

She saw Captain Soifon holding a crystal that emitted a blue fluorescent glow. With a light stroke through the air in the center of the office, a black, alien space resembling a Senkaimon abruptly appeared.

It looked like the giant maw of some beast slowly opening, ready to swallow its prey.

"This is..."

Rukia stared blankly at the rift in space that looked like a black hole.

"A Garganta leading to Hueco Mundo." Soifon grabbed Momo Hinamori, who was about to charge straight inside. "It's a long story. For now, just follow me..."

Out of instinctive trust for Captain Soifon, Rukia followed behind her without hesitation, stepping into the Garganta.

...

The night in Hueco Mundo was eternal and boundless. Only a moon that never extinguished hung in the sky, providing a limited amount of light.

The world seemed to consist only of two colors: black and white. The wind blew past, kicking up white sand with a whistling 'whoosh.'

"This is..."

"Hueco Mundo."

Rukia and Momo, one on each side, were led out of the Garganta by Soifon. Both were stunned by the sight before them.

Time seemed to lose its meaning here. In the vast white desert, there were occasional withered white trees without leaves. Although it was Hueco Mundo, they couldn't feel the Spiritual Pressure of any life forms at all—not even Hollows.

They only had a limited understanding of Hueco Mundo's general appearance from textbooks at the Shin'ō Academy, which didn't even have pictures.

As for the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, they were already a relic of a bygone era. For the sake of the balance of souls between the three realms, the Captain-Commander had not sent anyone to hunt the Menos Grande of Hueco Mundo for a long time.

However, with Rukia and Momo's current strength, they didn't need to worry about the issue of three-realm imbalance yet.

"That's right." Soifon patted Momo's head. "Are you happy?"

Could she say she wasn't?

This was completely different from the Hueco Mundo she had imagined.

Momo's shoulders slumped. She used the scabbard of Tobiume to poke a scorpion-like Hollow that had crawled out of the sand; it wasn't even as big as her palm.

In her impression, Hueco Mundo should have been like the Second Division's interrogation rooms—covered in blood. She imagined that the moment they appeared, a steady stream of bloodthirsty Menos would attack them, and through combat, they would stimulate their potential and have Tobiume tell them the true name of their Bankai!

"Captain Soifon, where are the Hollows?"

"Didn't you just kill one?"

"..."

Rukia didn't oppose Momo's desire to get stronger, but at this moment, she was still uneasily clutching Captain Soifon's sleeve.

Soifon smiled and looked back. "What's wrong, Rukia?"

Rukia looked at the two of them. "Captain Soifon, if it's found out that we came to Hueco Mundo without permission..."

"Then don't let anyone find out." Soifon raised her eyes to the moon in the sky. "Come on. I'll take you to find some Menos Grande to practice on."

Soifon leaned against a withered, gnarled tree, her gaze calm as she watched the battle unfolding a short distance away.

Momo Hinamori and Rukia were currently tangling with a Gillian dozens of meters tall. They had just barely managed to dodge a clumsy, lumbering stomp from the beast, only for a crimson Cero to immediately follow, scouring the earth.

Seizing the opening after the Cero was discharged, the two of them activated Shunpo simultaneously. They blinked directly in front of the Gillian's porcelain clown mask and sliced it in half from top to bottom.

Momo and Rukia dropped back to the ground, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from the strands of hair near their ears.

They looked utterly bedraggled. To be covered in dust just from fighting a single, mindless Gillian felt like a pathetic showing.

Soifon shook her head helplessly.

However, before they could even catch their breath, a suffocating Spiritual Pressure erupted from the dark, dense woods behind them like a crashing tsunami!

The two girls spun around, their faces turning pale instantly.

Behind them, within the Forest of Menos composed of countless ghastly white trees, dense clusters of crimson light began to ignite. They looked like a multitude of demonic eyes snapping open in the dead of night.

Beneath every single red dot, the pale clown mask of a Gillian was faintly visible... and they were all currently condensing Ceros.

Against such a concentrated barrage of Ceros, there was simply nowhere to hide.

Despair, like a cold viper, instantly coiled around the hearts of Momo Hinamori and Rukia.

"I forgot to tell you," Soifon said, walking in front of the two girls with her Zanpakutō held in her arms. "The Gillians of the Forest of Menos are social creatures."

The sheer size of the Gillians was still too overwhelming for rookie Shinigami. In their hearts, the threat level of these beasts had already far surpassed the failed Arrancar they had encountered during their previous Konso internship.

"Soifon-sensei..."

Momo spoke with a clear, despairing sob in her voice. "It looks like we're going to die together today. I have something I want to say to you, Sensei..."

At this point, neither Momo nor Rukia believed they could survive. Even for someone as strong as Soifon-sensei, escaping unscathed from such an overwhelming number of Ceros seemed impossible.

Momo summoned her courage. She decided to confess the hazy, burgeoning emotions in her heart to Soifon. She didn't even care if Rukia laughed at her.

—If she didn't say it now, she would never get the chance!

"Soifon-sensei, I think I like—"

Crackle—

Suddenly, Momo's words caught in her throat. She was stunned into silence by the massive Spiritual Pressure radiating from Soifon-sensei beside her.

Soifon raised her arm, her palm crackling with blue-white lightning and terrifying Reiatsu.

"Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"

This was the first time Soifon had output her Spiritual Pressure at maximum power. A surging beam of blue-white light erupted from her palm.

The azure lightning beam collided with the hundreds of crimson Ceros screaming toward them. The clash held for less than half a second before the lightning overwhelmed the red light with crushing dominance. The moment it touched the first Gillian, a mushroom cloud erupted.

Rumble—

Wherever the lightning swept, a charred vacuum zone was plowed into the landscape for hundreds of meters ahead.

Momo Hinamori and Rukia stood frozen in place, their mouths hanging wide open.

After taking a moment to steady her breath, Soifon walked over to her two students. She first confirmed they weren't injured before belatedly looking at Momo.

"Momo, what were you about to say just now?"

Because she had been busy casting the Kidō without an incantation and the commotion had been so loud, she hadn't quite heard Momo's words.

"Soifon-sensei, Momo seemed to say she liked... mmph! @#$"

Rukia had just started to repeat it when her mouth was firmly covered by a hot hand, the palm feeling rough with traces of sand.

"Mmph! Mmph—!"

There's sand in there! You idiot, Momo!

While forcefully holding down the struggling Rukia, Momo gave Soifon a smile that radiated extreme guilt.

"Sensei, you definitely misheard..."

"I just wanted to say that before I died, I wanted to eat one of the peaches you brought me, ahaha~~"

Her eyes darted around, not daring to meet Soifon's gaze.

Soifon decided not to press the issue. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

She scanned the surroundings. The commotion in the Forest of Menos had been massive; it was likely that the residents of Las Noches had already noticed.

"That's enough actual combat for today. I'll open a Garganta to send you back."

Soifon produced the Kikaigai and made a slash through the air, summoning the Garganta. She signaled for Momo to let go of Rukia.

Taking down a Gillian together was already a respectable achievement for fresh graduates.

"Pah! Pah!"

"You idiot Momo! Don't you know how dirty your hands are!?"

The moment Momo let go, Rukia frantically spat out the sand in her mouth.

"If you hadn't been such a blabbermouth, Rukia, I wouldn't have..."

Look at them, bickering again.

"You two seem to have plenty of energy left. Should we go kill another Gillian?"

Soifon maintained the Garganta, watching them bicker with a cold, fake smile.

*

Meanwhile, in the monitoring room of Las Noches.

Szayelaporro opened the surveillance feed based on the red dots flashing on the map alarm, discovering the ruins of the Forest of Menos that Soifon had just decimated.

"Hmm?" His fingers tapped rapidly on the console. "There are still lingering traces of Spiritual Power from a Garganta being opened in the air..."

Which Arrancar was being this tedious?

Or was his leader, Aizen, conducting some other shady experiment again?

Regardless, he had to record it and report it. Szayelaporro understood the corporate culture of 'leaving a paper trail' all too well.

He quickly typed up a field report, attached photos of the scene, and packaged the data. This detailed investigation material was soon delivered to Sōsuke Aizen.

"An unusual intruder?"

Aizen flipped through the report, narrowing his eyes.

Charred ground, severed tree layers, sunken craters...

A Spiritual Pressure strike with elemental attributes, combined with such immense destructive power. Aside from the Espada under his command, perhaps only a wild Vasto Lorde could achieve this.

But why would a wild Vasto Lorde take action against Gillians in the Forest of Menos?

It was no different from going out of one's way to bully ants.

Furthermore, there were no traces of an evenly matched battle at the scene; it was complete, one-sided annihilation.

Add to that the detected residue of Garganta spirit particles... it was truly perplexing.

However... that's what made it interesting.

Aizen adjusted his glasses, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"What a fascinating individual. Can we deploy more surveillance in Hueco Mundo?"

"Also, I would like to add a video recording function."

It sounded like a polite request, but in reality, he gave Szayelaporro no room to refuse.

—Even if it's impossible, make it happen.

"Of course. I will see to it immediately."

Szayelaporro bowed and took his leave.

*

Inside the Second Division Captain's office, three figures stepped out of the Garganta one after another.

Feeling the familiar environment of the Seireitei, both Rukia and Momo Hinamori breathed a sigh of relief.

The sun, the breeze, and the aura of life—these things were truly precious.

The eternally oppressive atmosphere of Hueco Mundo, thick with the scent of death, had placed them under immense pressure even during their short stay.

Watching the two girls slumped on the floor, greedily inhaling the fresh air, Soifon helplessly flicked Momo Hinamori's forehead.

"Ouch!" Momo looked up piteously. "Why did you only hit me, Soifon-sensei?"

"You dummy, Momo!" Rukia followed up with a flick of her own. "It was your idea to go to—"

Rukia bit back the words 'Hueco Mundo' just in time.

In the Seireitei, they were not allowed to mention they had been to Hueco Mundo. That was the agreement they had made with Captain Soifon.

"Alright, alright, Rukia."

Squatting down, Soifon gently wiped the dust from Rukia's face.

"I have some tasks to take care of and need to head back for a moment. You two go get some rest, alright?"

Perhaps because Soifon rarely gave such gentle instructions, both Rukia and Momo were momentarily dazed. They could only manage a blank "Okay" as they watched Soifon's silhouette vanish back into the Garganta.

Inside the Second Division's bathhouse.

The sound of rushing water echoed as white mist billowed out from the shower stalls. From beneath the partitions, two pairs of slender, delicate feet could be seen.

"Hey, Rukia..."

Momo Hinamori let the water rinse the suds from her hair, the streams tracing her elegant collarbones before splashing onto the floor.

"Hmm? What is it, Momo?"

Rukia's voice drifted from her stall, mingling with the pitter-patter of the shower.

Turning around, Momo Hinamori tilted her head back to let the water wash over her face. She spoke in a muffled, dejected tone.

"I'm sorry..."

"Because of my selfishness and stubbornness, I dragged you and Soifon-sensei to Hueco Mundo and put you in such a dangerous situation.

"If it hadn't been for you, I would have never been able to defeat that Gillian on my own."

After realizing the gap between herself and a Menos Grande, Momo finally understood why Captain Soifon had rejected her application. She understood why her Captain had so readily agreed to take her to Hueco Mundo to hunt Hollows only after Rukia returned.

Momo Hinamori began to reflect on her actions. Perhaps a strange sense of rivalry and jealousy had clouded her judgment regarding her own strength.

"Why don't you look at it from a different perspective, Momo?"

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to kill a Gillian alone either.

"Besides... we might be the only two Shinigami in this entire graduating class who have actually killed a Gillian, right?"

Rukia's crisp voice resonated in Momo's ears. She didn't sound like she blamed Momo at all, despite how perilous their situation had been.

'Oh... can it really be interpreted that way?'

'Doesn't that mean we won again?'

WIN~WIN~

Quickly finishing her rinse, Momo Hinamori wrapped herself in a bath towel and stepped out of the stall, bumping right into Rukia.

Stare—

Momo didn't say a word. She simply stared intently at Rukia, as if she were getting to know her best friend all over again.

"Why are you suddenly looking at me like that..."

Rukia took a step back, feeling quite uncomfortable under such scrutiny.

"I think I finally understand what you've been learning at the Kuchiki household..." Momo smiled with relief. "You've mastered all the conversational tricks of the nobles, Rukia."

...

The outskirts of Karakura Town, World of the Living.

After causing such a massive commotion in the Forest of Menos, Soifon spent exactly one second reflecting on the experience before deciding to iterate and update her strategy.

—She would go to the World of the Living and get three black concealment cloaks from Kisuke Urahara.

As Soifon stepped out of the Senkaimon, the familiar sensation of having her Reiatsu suppressed by a Gentei Reiin did not occur. As expected, the Black Cavity opened via the Kikaigai was not monitored by the Seireitei.

To avoid the Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living, Soifon slipped into a pre-prepared Gigai.

She jumped in place a few times to adjust to the body's agility before heading toward the location of the Ishida family villa in her memory.

The blaring of car horns, the shouts of street vendors—it had been a long time since she had visited the World of the Living. She hadn't realized that the prosperity of a modern city had already begun to take shape in Karakura Town.

Due to Soifon's distant and cold aura, several talent scouts were tempted to approach her with contact cards along the way. However, they all lost their nerve and retreated when they were still several paces away.

Passing by a department store display window, Soifon glanced at her reflection in the glass. She was wearing a brownish-white blazer paired with a black miniskirt and brown boots.

[Beautiful. As expected of me.]

No wonder so many talent scouts wanted her to be an idol.

Arriving at the gates of the Ishida villa, Soifon pressed the doorbell.

After a flurry of footsteps, Masaki Kurosaki's head poked out from behind the door. She looked at Soifon standing outside the front gate.

"Uncle! Ryūken!" she shouted back into the house. "We have a guest!"

Soon, steady footsteps approached from the stairs.

Sōken Ishida walked down slowly, followed by Ryūken Ishida, who was clutching a book.

When they saw the face of the visitor at the gate, Sōken Ishida's expression momentarily froze. Ryūken Ishida's book slipped from his hand and fell straight onto the floor.

"Captain..." Sōken Ishida spoke first as he reached the gate. His voice was steady. "It has been a long time. To what do we owe this visit?"

Sōken Ishida bore no resentment toward Soifon, considering she had saved his child's life.

Soifon studied Sōken Ishida for a moment before taking a slip of paper from her blazer pocket and handing it over.

"I'm in the World of the Living for some business and need to find a place," Soifon said, her voice devoid of emotion. "You Quincies seem to have quite a bit of influence here."

Sōken Ishida took the note and unfolded it. On it, four characters were written in concise calligraphy: [Urahara Shop].

"I only know it's a general store. The owner is named Kisuke Urahara," Soifon added.

After leading Soifon into the villa, Sōken spoke a few words to someone on the phone while holding the note. He then looked at Soifon apologetically.

"I've already sent someone to look into it. It might take some time."

"That's fine."

Soifon was in no hurry. She picked up the black tea brewed by Kanae Katagiri and took a sip, casually patting the heads of the little maid and Masaki Kurosaki.

This subconscious act of intimacy left all four people in the room stunned for a moment.

"Captain... you don't seem to harbor hostility toward us."

Sōken Ishida sat down opposite Soifon. After saying this, he gave a self-deprecating laugh. If Soifon had been hostile, she wouldn't have brought Ryūken back.

In truth, he had always hoped for peaceful coexistence with the Shinigami.

Soifon didn't deny it. "Mr. Quincy, the same applies to you."

"How rude of me." Only then did Sōken Ishida realize he hadn't introduced himself. "I am Sōken Ishida."

He then pushed the three children toward Soifon, introducing them one by one.

"Soifon. Captain of the Second Division," Soifon introduced herself.

Silence returned to the living room, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall.

After about twenty minutes, the phone rang.

Ryūken Ishida answered it. After listening for a moment, he whispered, "I understand," and hung up.

He picked up a nearby notebook, copied down a section of text, tore it off, and handed it to Soifon.

Taking the paper, Soifon stood up and nodded. "Thank you."

Sōken Ishida opened his mouth as if to speak, then hesitated. Finally, just as Soifon was about to walk out the door, he made up his mind.

"Captain Soifon, that shop..."

"If you're interested, you can find a time to check it out, but be careful of that man." Soifon turned back to look meaningfully at Ryūken Ishida and Masaki Kurosaki. "He is very sinister, but sometimes, he is also very useful."

...

Following the address on the note, Soifon soon found the general store with the words [Urahara Shop] displayed prominently.

If electronic technology were to advance over the next few decades, perhaps Soifon could have used a navigation system to find Kisuke Urahara's 'secret base' in the World of the Living directly.

Standing on the street opposite Urahara Shop, Soifon watched as a stationed Shinigami dressed in a Shihakushō walked boldly into the shop.

The muscular Tessai Tsukabishi enthusiastically introduced various products in the shop, showing none of the majesty of the former Grand Kido Chief.

What a fall from grace...

But then again, the Captain-Commander's attitude was so ambiguous. It wasn't as if no one had ever reported the existence of a shop run by the wanted fugitive Kisuke Urahara before. However, the Captain-Commander had always turned a blind eye to it.

Perhaps this blurred, unclear stance was exactly why business at Kisuke Urahara's general store was so good.

Furthermore, after observing the customer traffic at the entrance for a while, Soifon realized she couldn't find a good opening to enter. After all, she had currently slipped away without permission.

So, the reason Urahara Shop could operate so openly in the World of the Living wasn't that the stationed Shinigami hadn't discovered it. Rather, it was because everyone had gradually reached a tacit understanding not to report it.

After all, Kisuke Urahara's high-tech gadgets were simply too tempting. Who doesn't want to survive?

the night deepened, the pedestrians on the streets of Karakura Town gradually thinned out.

Soifon sat in a roadside café until evening, waiting until Kisuke Urahara finally showed signs of closing up for the night.

It was time.

Tessai Tsukabishi walked outside the shop, preparing to pull down the rolling shutter.

Suddenly, a slender figure appeared a few paces in front of him without any warning, sending a jolt of shock through his heart.

—Such top-tier concealment techniques were far beyond anything the stationed Shinigami from before could hope to achieve.

Tessai paused mid-motion and squinted. As he finally made out the visitor's face, a look of pure astonishment broke across his rugged features for the first time.

"Captain Soifon...?"

Subconsciously, he instinctively raised both hands, rapidly circulating the Spiritual Power within his body. A few beads of nervous sweat even broke out on his face.

I told that guy Urahara not to be so flashy, and not to just accept every customer that walks in. Now look what's happened!

—A Captain from the Seireitei had arrived!

"Mr. Tessai." A hand clad in a green robe pressed down on Tessai Tsukabishi's shoulder. "Calm down. It's quite rude to treat a guest this way, you know."

Kisuke Urahara had appeared at the shop entrance at some unknown moment.

Soifon narrowed her eyes, giving Kisuke Urahara a cold look that carried a faint hint of hostility.

"I didn't think that as fugitives, you'd be so well-informed..."

"The Seireitei has truly... fallen so far it's hard to look at."

This snide remark caused the smile on Kisuke Urahara's face to falter for a moment before returning to its usual mask.

Why did she sound so much like an old friend of his?

"Well... it's a long story, a long story."

Kisuke Urahara stepped aside, clearing the doorway completely and making a 'please enter' gesture.

The shop interior was lit with warm yellow light. Soifon used her spiritual sense to probe for a moment; finding no trace of Yoruichi Shihōin's Reiatsu, she furrowed her brows and stepped inside.

A complex mix of scents hit her. Soifon's nose twitched slightly; despite the dilution, she still caught the faint, lingering fragrance of Yoruichi Shihōin in the air.

One should never doubt it: a keen sense of smell was a mandatory course for the Stealth Force and the Punishment Force.

"So then..."

Kisuke Urahara's voice came from behind her. He had walked into the shop and casually hung up the 'Closed' sign.

"What brings the Captain of the Second Division all this way to see a fugitive like me...? Are you looking to buy something?"

With a snap, Kisuke Urahara opened his folding fan and began to wave it gently.

Soifon didn't take the bait. Her gaze drifted slowly around the shop, finally landing on several items that were clearly intended for sale to Shinigami.

"I've been watching from nearby all day," Soifon said sardonically. "Your little shop... seems to have quite a thriving business, doesn't it?"

Urahara flicked his fan at the comment, which hung somewhere between a compliment and an insult.

"Thanks to the patronage of my former colleagues, I manage to scrape by.

"Of course, I must also thank the wise and discerning members of the Seireitei for not sending anyone to hunt down us 'fugitives'."

Urahara's smile was somewhat punchable.

Soifon's lips pulled down slightly. Just as she was about to ask after Yoruichi Shihōin's whereabouts...

Click.

A very soft sound.

It sounded like soft paw pads stepping on roof tiles.

Immediately after, a black shadow leaped nimbly through an open ventilation window above the shop, landing gracefully on the edge of the checkout counter.

Everyone froze, including Kisuke Urahara.

It was a black cat, its fur looking exceptionally vivid under the warm yellow light.

It sat down elegantly, wrapping its tail around its front paws, its golden eyes quietly watching the three people in the shop.

Tessai Tsukabishi clearly looked confused, and even Kisuke Urahara's fan-waving stuttered.

Yoruichi, what are you doing coming out now?!

It's not like Soifon hasn't seen your cat transformation before!

"Cough, cough..." Kisuke Urahara was the first to react. "This is just a cat Lady Yoruichi recently adopted, yes."

Clumsy acting, a forced excuse.

Soifon ignored his explanation, walking straight toward the black cat and silently locking eyes with it.

The black cat tilted its head, looking at the Soifon before it, and let out a soft, gentle "Meow."

Yoruichi Shihōin, what is the meaning of this?

Soifon had to admit that the current Yoruichi was indeed quite cute, but since she had inherited the 'will' of the original Soifon, she couldn't just let Yoruichi 'moe' her way out of this.

She would have to pet her enough to make it worth her while.

...

A few minutes ago.

Yoruichi Shihōin, who had transformed into a cat for her daily outing, returned to the vicinity of the Urahara Shop only to find a very familiar-looking urban woman standing at the door.

It wasn't until she got closer that she realized it was Soifon; she had almost failed to recognize her in modern human clothing.

Hiss, what is that girl Soifon doing in the World of the Living?

And she's even wearing local clothes. That's not like her at all.

She had even come to Urahara Shop without getting into a massive fight with Kisuke...

Could it be that, even now... they could reconcile?

Since Soifon had come to the door with the intent to talk, Yoruichi Shihōin wasn't the type to run away. Thus, this 'face-off' occurred.

...

Returning to the present.

Soifon stared silently at the black cat for a few seconds before turning to Kisuke Urahara. "I see. Just an ordinary black cat."

Hearing this, Kisuke Urahara's grip on his fan loosened slightly.

He hadn't expected her to actually buy it. Was the Seireitei's Gigai technology so poor that it interfered with a soul's spiritual perception?

In the next second, Soifon reached out with both hands, sliding them under the black cat's forelegs and easily hoisting it into the air.

The black cat's body swayed in the air, but it didn't struggle.

Soifon held the cat at eye level, her gaze calmly scanning the cat's body.

From the tips of its ears to the base of its tail, she inspected it with extreme scrutiny.

"Hmm..." After a moment, Soifon suddenly spoke. "It really is a cute female cat." (Pointedly)

The tip of the black cat's tail instantly stiffened, as if its fur were about to stand on end.

Tessai Tsukabishi turned his face away, his shoulders shaking suspiciously; Kisuke Urahara used his folding fan to block the lower half of his face, leaving only the crinkled corners of his eyes visible beneath the brim of his hat.

Wait, surely the two of them wouldn't be silenced by Yoruichi and Soifon later, right...?

"Oh dear, I just remembered that Mr. Tessai and I have some business to attend to. Miss Soifon, why don't you play with this black cat for a while?"

With that, Kisuke Urahara grabbed Tessai Tsukabishi's arm and fled into the back room.

A grocery store with the rolling shutter down, a tightly closed inner door, one person, and one cat.

Finally, just the two of us.

Soifon pulled her arms in, cradling the black cat against her chest, and began to rhythmically massage the back of its neck.

Then, she lowered her head, her cheek gently rubbing against the fuzzy top of the black cat's head.

"Good girl."

"If only Yoruichi were as well-behaved as you."

Her lips were practically pressed against the black cat's ear, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear.

Just as Soifon buried her face into the fur on the back of the cat's neck to take a deep breath, the cat in her arms suddenly stiffened. Immediately, Spirit Particles erupted, and the shop seemed to fill with a golden, holy light...

POOF—

As the smoke and holy light dissipated...

Soifon felt her arms grow heavy. The original fuzzy sensation was instantly replaced by a smooth, warm touch.

Yoruichi Shihōin maintained the posture of being held by her, her honey-colored skin glowing with a healthy luster under the warm yellow lights.

"I can't take it anymore!" Yoruichi Shihōin, who had returned to human form while still in Soifon's arms, was fuming. "A warrior can be killed but not insulted! Soifon, your cat-petting technique is absolutely terrible!"

"And why should I care to please you, Lady Yoruichi?"

Soifon curled her lips into a smirk, pulling off her lady's blazer and draping it over the other woman's body.

This was likely the most insincere "Lady Yoruichi" that Yoruichi Shihōin had ever heard.

There wasn't a shred of respect in it—only pure sarcasm—and yet she couldn't even get angry.

—After all, she was the one in the wrong to begin with.

The silent 'Lady Yoruichi' felt foreign to Soifon; the Yoruichi Shihōin in her memories was never such a quiet girl.

Did she think staying silent would make everything okay?

Soifon wrapped her arm around Yoruichi's waist while her other hand pressed down on her shoulder, her foot performing a nimble trip.

—THUD

The two of them fell together onto the wooden floor of the shop.

Soifon hovered over Yoruichi, her knee braced against the side of the other's leg.

The distance was too close—close enough to see her own reflection in the other's pupils, to smell the warmth of each other's breath, and to feel the body heat transferring where their skin met.

Soifon's voice was barely a whisper. "Lady Yoruichi... don't you have anything you want to say to me?"

Yoruichi opened her mouth, her golden eyes darting away several times before she finally gathered the courage to meet Soifon's gaze.

"I'm sorry..."

"It must have been exhausting during this time, Shaolin."

The blazer draped over her shoulders slipped down. Yoruichi Shihōin reached out a hand to cradle Soifon's cheek.