Chapter 168: Reminder
With cooperation intentions established, what followed was settling details.
Releasing hands, Yoruichi's face recovered that relaxed smile.
"I'll organize the list and specific requirements properly, giving them to you next time we meet."
"Just help bring items out when you're conducting suppression missions."
"I'll find you myself to collect them."
"This matter isn't urgent—only requires stability."
Entering and exiting Seireitei never posed problems for her in cat form. The trouble lay only in how to transport items out.
"Alright."
Suoh nodded knowingly.
His Third Seat status and suppression team duties indeed provided natural convenience and cover.
As long as actions remained somewhat careful, this carried essentially no additional risk.
The two briefly communicated about some details, mainly emergency contact methods and contingency plans for self-preservation.
"Good, serious business concluded. I should leave too."
"Well then, see you next time, interesting kid. Train well—I have high expectations for you."
"Dealing with us proves quite dangerous without sufficient strength."
Yoruichi rose and stepped back twice, waving.
Her tone carried half teasing, half serious warning.
Subsequently her figure vanished without trace from before Suoh's eyes.
Suoh's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly for an instant.
His spiritual perception had grown quite acute now, yet still failed to completely capture her departure trajectory.
He could only sense a thread of spiritual pressure residue weakened nearly to dissipation, streaking toward the distance at unimaginable speed, instantly exceeding his perception range.
"Worthy of the Flash Goddess name—reputation well-deserved."
"Seems if I get the chance, I should properly request shunpo instruction from her."
Suoh's eyes held no frustration, only blazing interest and fighting spirit.
The room returned to tranquility, leaving only gradually rising birdsong outside the window plus that cup of steaming clear water on the table.
Suoh sat alone in place, smiling freely.
New cooperation, also new possibility.
He walked to the bedside, picking up his wooden sword before pushing the door toward the courtyard.
Regardless of future developments, daily training represented an unshakeable routine.
The Shiba family courtyard appeared especially tranquil in early morning mist.
Frost-covered withered grass, ice-hung branches, plus that silently towering jet-black chimney in the distance—all immersed in winter morning's characteristic crisp atmosphere.
Time flowed past.
Faint white mist rose steaming in the cold air.
"Huff..."
Suoh exhaled a long steady breath of white air, sheathing his blade while standing.
"Kukaku, morning. Did you need me for something?"
Suoh used a towel to wipe fine sweat from his temple corner, turning to ask.
Shortly after he began morning practice, Shiba Kukaku had already been leaning against a corridor pillar with crossed arms watching and waiting.
With his spiritual awareness, he'd naturally detected this long ago.
Shiba Kukaku lowered her arms and approached, asking straightforwardly.
"Morning. She came to find you?"
"Yes."
"That woman brings troublesome matters every time she visits. I guessed early on she'd come find you!"
"She knew my brother couldn't possibly agree to those things, so she set her sights on you again."
Shiba Kukaku pursed her lips with an 'as expected' expression.
"From my position, I have no reason to refuse. The conditions she offered prove quite tempting."
Suoh nodded in response.
"Alright then. Since you've already negotiated with her, I won't say more. Just that woman is trustworthy, but that doesn't mean the other one doesn't require caution. Be careful when you meet him."
"I understand."
Suoh naturally understood whom she meant, also grasping the deep meaning in her words.
What Yoruichi Shihoin and Urahara Kisuke shared was their unquestionable core of goodness.
Their expression forms differed completely. Yoruichi represented free will and passion, Urahara Kisuke represented heavy wisdom and calculation.
To protect the Spirit King system's stability and the world, Urahara Kisuke could employ any necessary means.
In the original work, to oppose Aizen he calculated and sacrificed Kuchiki Rukia, using her as a sacrificial piece.
To protect the world, he tacitly approved Squad Zero using Kurosaki Ichigo as the Spirit King's replacement wedge.
While treating them well, he could also easily deceive them, hiding cruel truth and fate's choices behind layers of words.
He cultivated Kurosaki Ichigo hoping Ichigo could break the deadlock and fate with his own power rather than becoming a simple sacrifice.
He handed choice rights and decision rights to Kurosaki Ichigo himself.
But he also wouldn't actively explain stakes clearly, instead choosing to privately prepare other plans backstage in case the worst situation occurred.
Cooperating with such a person, one could both borrow his incomparable wisdom and technology while also constantly staying alert against being covered by his heart's salvation blueprint, maintaining self-independence and choice clarity.
"Good that you understand."
Seeing his expression calm and clear, not blindly trusting, Shiba Kukaku also relaxed.
Actually she didn't know much about Urahara Kisuke either—merely maintaining some wariness from instinctive gut feeling.
That smile looked nothing like a good person at all!
"Let's go. Breakfast should be ready soon too."
"You've trained so long—must be hungry."
"Alright, wait a moment. I'll put the sword back first and grab an outer garment before coming immediately."
Suoh smiled slightly in response.
Morning light gradually intensified, dispelling the courtyard's mist and cold.
After brief conversation, the two walked together toward the dining room's direction from which food fragrance drifted.
The Shiba family's Japanese-style breakfast proved simple but sufficiently substantial.
After the meal, Suoh and the Shiba couple changed into shihakusho, shouldering travel packs as they stopped outside the Shiba family mansion's main gate.
Kanehiko and Ginpei bowed in farewell.
Shiba Kukaku appeared completely relaxed. Beside her, Shiba Ganju held the small boar, eyes full of reluctant tears.
"Enough, Ganju. A man shouldn't cry."
"We're leaving."
Shiba Kaien waved toward the family inside the gate, turning to prepare for the return journey.
"I'm not crying! Tsukasa-niisan, I'll write you letters. Remember to reply when the time comes!"
Shiba Ganju wiped away tears, turning to call toward Suoh.
"I will. Everyone, farewell."
Suoh tightened the bundle on his body, smiling his goodbyes.
The three proceeded along the mountain path they'd come by.
Forest silence held only wind sounds passing through withered branches' whimpers.
"Speaking of which, Tsukasa."
After walking some distance, Shiba Kaien suddenly spoke, tone carrying his habitual cheerful directness.
"What do you think of Kukaku?"
Suoh's steps didn't stop, expression remaining normal.
"Kukaku? Very good—not only beautiful but excellent personality too. Quite an outstanding person."
Shiba Kaien turned his head, eyes flashing with mischievous anticipatory light.
"I thought you two got along quite well. Last night watching fireworks, you chatted so happily. This morning at mealtime you still sat together talking."
"Kaien-niisan, are you trying to play matchmaker?"
Hearing this, Suoh couldn't help laughing.
"I'm considering my own sister. That girl Kukaku has extremely high standards—ordinary people can't catch her eye."
"She's devoted to inheriting Shiba family techniques, doesn't want to become a Shinigami. There's no one suitable beside her for the future."
Shiba Kaien sighed slightly.
He paused, tone half joking half serious.
"Besides, look—if you became the Shiba family's son-in-law, we'd truly be one real family."
"Main Shiba house secret techniques—whatever you can learn, I'll teach you everything. You wouldn't need to change surnames either. Anyway by my generation the Shiba family doesn't have many people. Rules aren't that rigid."
"Will you consider it?"
"Kaien, don't talk nonsense. Tsukasa and Kukaku have only met a few times. How can you be like this?"
Following alongside, Shiba Miyako hearing this gently chided.
"Miyako, I'm genuinely worried... You know that girl's personality!"
Shiba Kaien sighed long before turning to continue.
"Tsukasa, you say it yourself—isn't Kukaku a good girl?"
Suoh met Shiba Kaien's gaze full of expectation plus Shiba Miyako's slightly apologetic gentle attention, responding calmly and unhurriedly.
"Of course Kukaku's a good girl. However, matters of the heart emphasize fate and timing."
"Right now I still have many things to do, many paths to walk. It's still early!"
"I love this straightforward directness of yours! Alright, you young people handle your own affairs!"
"But I won't give up matchmaking—such a good brother-in-law candidate, what a shame to miss!"
Shiba Kaien froze momentarily before bursting into loud laughter.
Not directly refusing meant hope still existed!
Shiba Miyako shook her head helplessly, though gentle smile rippled through her eyes, clearly extremely approving of this statement.
The three continued forward.
Topics shifted from Shiba Kukaku toward division duties and the about-to-begin new year.
In the distance, the towering White Road Gate loomed close before them.
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