"This is West Rukongai. I've got a friend who lives around here, I'll take you to meet them!" Yoruichi announced cheerfully.
"West Rukongai? A friend?" Shirō narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me… it's Shiba Kaien?"
"Huh? How'd you know?!" Yoruichi blinked in surprise.
"Tch. I didn't expect it to actually be that annoying guy," Shirō muttered.
Yoruichi raised a brow.
"You two know each other?"
"Of course! Who doesn't know the 'once-in-a-century genius of Soul Society'? He was my classmate at first, completely the one in the spotlight at school. No one even remembered I existed," Shirō sighed.
"Ohh? So you, a guy without a Zanpakutō, still managed to make waves at school?" Yoruichi chuckled, patting his shoulder.
"If it weren't for him-" Shirō stopped and sighed. Everyone only remembers number one, who cares about second place?" Shirō said.
"Hahahahaha!" Yoruichi burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?!" Shirō frowned.
"No, no, it's just that I'm happy," Yoruichi said with a grin.
"Happy?" Shirō blinked in confusion.
Yoruichi looped her arm around Shirō's neck and pulled him closer, their faces inches apart.
"Remember when I introduced you to Urahara, and you said, 'your friends aren't my friends'? But this time, look at you, even without my introduction, my friend is now your friend too."
Shirō's face flushed red, and he quickly turned away.
"That's just a coincidence… besides, I never said we were friends."
"Aw, little Shirō, you're blushing!" Yoruichi teased, bursting into laughter again.
Just then, the sound of angry footsteps caught up behind them.
"He's here again! Shirō, let's go!" Yoruichi shouted, grabbing his hand and pulling him forward.
Shirō looked confused. As he glanced sideways at Yoruichi's face, he wondered, Could I really be-?
But then he remembered her wild personality, and instantly felt the pressure. This wasn't a game, or anime, or some fantasy, this was real life. If they really got together someday, who knew how much she'd mess with him?
Besides, he couldn't even tell what she really felt. Maybe she was just toying with him, like how she used to tease Ichigo by casually being naked in front of him in the anime…
At the Shiba Residence
The Shiba estate wasn't nearly as extravagant now as it would become later under Kukaku's management. Though technically one of the Five Noble Houses, even in decline, they chose to live in Rukongai rather than Seireitei, which was curious.
Shirō knew the Shiba family still held property in Seireitei. This estate in West Rukongai must have been their ancestral home, either they were too sentimental to leave, or maybe there was something important here they needed to protect.
He didn't know for sure. There wasn't much information about this in the library.
One thing was certain: wherever Yoruichi went, chaos followed. And today was no different.
As the trio arrived at the Shiba estate, Shiba Kaien spotted them from the gate. His eyelid twitched.
"What… kind of terrifying lineup is this?"
Shirō: "Sigh… this is gonna be a headache."
Byakuya: "All the people I hate have gathered in one place!"
Yoruichi: "How exciting!"
After a full ten seconds of stunned silence, Kaien suddenly smiled and declared:
"Today? We're closed!"
SLAM!, he shut the gate right in their faces before any of them could react. His smile had been so misleading, they thought he was about to say, "Welcome."
"Haha! So he locked us out? No problem, there are other ways in!" Yoruichi said, suddenly energized.
"I'm a Kuchiki. I would never stoop to such dishonorable actions as breaking in," Byakuya said coolly.
Just then, Kaien's voice echoed from inside.
"Secure all vital points! The enemy is at the gate! Do not let a single one through!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Ahem, well… if they don't want us here, maybe we should just go back," Shirō offered nervously. Who knew how bad this would get?
"Go back? Ha! You think a tiny door can stop me?" Yoruichi grinned maniacally.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't climb over walls, Byakuya?" she added, lifting her arms. "Fine. We won't climb."
Shirō's eyes widened. That stance, oh no.
She's seriously going to attack?!
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat!
Bakudō #63, Raikōhō!"
CRACK!
Lightning surged.
BOOM!!
The humble wooden gate, not made of seki-seki stone, was instantly obliterated, taking a good portion of the wall with it.
"SHIHŌIN YORUICHI!!!" Kaien's furious roar echoed from within.
Shirō sighed and shook his head.
Sigh… that's what you get for pissing off the Shihōin heiress. Ugh... How annoying.
Inside the Shiba Estate
"Sit," Kaien growled, face dark, as he reluctantly let the three inside. He was clearly afraid that if he didn't, Yoruichi would level the entire house.
Yoruichi plopped down boldly and smacked the table.
"Where's the tea?"
"There isn't any," Kaien replied coldly.
"That's not how nobles treat their guests," Byakuya said, clearly enjoying watching someone else get tormented for once.
Kaien's eye twitched.
"Have you ever seen a guest blow up the host's front door?!"
Shirō raised his hand.
"Didn't we just see that happen?"
"If you'd let us in from the start, none of this would've happened!" Yoruichi shrugged, completely unapologetic.
Kaien looked ready to explode again when a soft voice cut through:
"Big brother, what's going on outside?"
Shirō's eyes lit up.
Whoa~ What a cute little girl!
"Wait, is that… Kukaku Shiba?!" he gasped. He couldn't believe it. Kukaku was supposed to be a wild, boisterous older-sister type like Yoruichi. He expected a feisty tomboy, not this innocent, blushing loli.
Seriously, what is the Shiba family doing to their children? How did this sweet little thing grow into that dynamite-blasting, arm-missing madwoman?
"You, how do you know my little sister?! No, stay back!" Kaien suddenly stepped in front of Kukaku, face full of alarm.
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter