By the Lake, Beneath the Moon

P. S.: Updates may be slower for the next month or so. I'm currently doing an internship at a factory arranged by the school, working eleven hours a day. Please forgive me. Also, thank you all for your support!

"Mmm," it was just a soft sound, almost inaudible if you didn't listen carefully. Fireworks burst in the sky, as if blessing the lovers, their light illuminating their faces.

Ye Yang's face instantly lit up with a smile, and he turned Soi Fon around to face her with great joy. "Really?"

Soi Fon's rosy cheeks looked exceptionally charming in the firelight. She nodded, then lowered her head, not daring to look at Ye Yang, and let out a barely audible "Mmm."

Unable to hold back any longer, he pulled Soi Fon into his arms, feeling her warmth, and whispered softly in her ear, "Shaoling, I love you! I don't know when it started, but at first I just saw the longing in your eyes, so I couldn't help but help you fulfill your wish. Originally, I just wanted you to stay by Yoruichi's side so she wouldn't be lonely."

Ye Yang paused here, his eyes softening as he continued, "But I don't know when it started, but your spirit touched me. No matter what hardships lay ahead, you persevered. Gradually, I grew accustomed to having you by my side, until later I realized I couldn't live without you, because my heart is with you."

Soi Fon felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey. What could be happier than hearing the one you love say "I love you"? In that instant Soi Fon's body trembled. "Brother Ye Yang, I know everything. It's just that I hadn't recognized my own feelings back then. I made you wait in Hueco Mundo for fifty years. I'm sorry."

Ye Yang released Soi Fon, looked into her eyes, and said, "Don't say sorry. I'm the one who should be apologizing. You must have been desperate when I left Soul Society. I didn't consider your feelings."

"It's alright. I understand Brother Ye Yang's feelings, which is why I am who I am today. I should be thanking you." Soi Fon finally raised her head and looked directly into Ye Yang's eyes. His eyes were free of all those other thoughts, leaving only love.

Soi Fon seemed to have returned to her former self. Ye Yang looked at the girl in front of him. How could she still look like the Second Division Captain outside? She was just an innocent girl. She had completely shed her disguise. This was the true appearance of a young girl in the prime of her life!

Looking at the innocent face of the girl before him, Ye Yang couldn't help but Shaoling down and slowly kiss her crimson lips. Her lips were slightly cool, but her gentle aura was irresistible to him, and his hands unconsciously embraced Soi Fon's soft waist. At that moment, Ye Yang truly wanted to lose himself in her.

Soi Fon slowly closed her eyes as Ye Yang's kiss, gentle yet with a hint of domineering, gently parted her pearly teeth, his masculine and domineering aura penetrating her.

"Mmm..." Ye Yang's hot breath fell on Soi Fon's face, making her even hotter. She could only respond to him clumsily, her little tongue being invaded one after another.

Ye Yang didn't know how much time had passed. The fireworks, maple forest, moonlight, lake, and the two people embracing each other were like the most beautiful painting in the world.

After a long pause, their lips parted. That moment felt like an eternity; this must be the legendary instant that lasts a lifetime...

The two sat on the ground, while Soi Fon lay in Ye Yang's arms, quietly watching the fireworks explode one by one in the sky. It has to be said that Kūkaku's fireworks-making skills are really excellent; she truly deserves to be called the number one pyrotechnician in Rukongai.

Soi Fon nestled quietly in that warm embrace, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Brother Ye Yang, you won't leave again this time, will you?"

Ye Yang hugged her even tighter. "No, I won't leave you again. I'll only ever be by your side. If one day you get tired of life in Soul Society, we'll leave here together and go to the World of the Living to find Yoruichi."

A strange glint still flashed in Soi Fon's eyes when she mentioned Yoruichi. This subtle movement didn't escape Ye Yang's notice. "What's wrong? Thinking about Yoruichi again?"

Soi Fon nodded and said, "Yes, I wonder how Lady Yoruichi is doing now? When will she be able to come back?"

"Don't worry, she's doing better than us in the World of the Living. As for when she'll come back, I don't know. Maybe she'll come back after everything is over." Recalling Yoruichi's hearty laughter, Ye Yang looked up at the distant starry sky.

"Brother Ye Yang, Lady Yoruichi was with that man who was an exiled person from Soul Society. Is he really like what the Central 46 said? Was that incident also the reason why you had to go to Hueco Mundo?" Soi Fon didn't speak in a questioning tone, but rather as if stating a fact. Since Ye Yang left, she had frantically investigated the incident and discovered many questions, but in the end, she had to stop investigating due to pressure from the Central 46.

"You don't need to worry about this. All I can tell you is that Urahara was framed, and the eight Captain-level Shinigami who were victimized in the incident are still alive. Perhaps we'll see them again in the future," Ye Yang said calmly. Deep down, Ye Yang didn't want Soi Fon to get involved in this issue, but he still revealed some details to raise Soi Fon's guard.

The reason Ye Yang didn't tell her about Aizen was because Aizen too cunning. If Soi Fon knew the truth, she would inevitably reveal her true Soi Fon when interacting with Aizen in the future, and Ye Yang didn't want Soi Fon to take that risk.

Although Aizen desperately wanted to get rid of Ye Yang, given his character, he would never lay a hand on someone who was completely unaware of the situation and could not affect his plans. This would make Soi Fon's situation much safer.

Soi Fon's mouth opened slightly, but she didn't ask Ye Yang about the truth of what happened back then. She only asked, "Captain Hirako and the others didn't die? That's great!"

"Yes, maybe I'll see them again in the future." Just thinking about what they looked like made Ye Yang feel guilty. Not being able to help them escape the pain of Hollowfication has always been a great regret for Ye Yang.

Soi Fon didn't press further but instead asked, "By the way, what did the Captain-Commander say to you today? You seemed hesitant. Is something wrong?"

"Well, the truth is, Captain-Commander Shin'ō," Ye Yang said with a smile and a questioning tone. "Shaoling, do you think I should agree?"

"Of course we should agree. Isn't it great to educate the next generation in Shin'ō? Besides, Brother Ye Yang's teaching ability is obvious to all. The students who were educated by Brother Ye Yang back then are now at least at the level of Seated Officer," Soi Fon said matter-of-factly.

"But if I go to the Shin'ō, who will help you with the affairs of your squad? I'm still the vice-captain of the Second Division. Besides, if I go to the Shin'ō, won't I have less time to spend with you?" Ye Yang looked into Soi Fon's eyes, revealing a hint of reluctance.

Soi Fon was instantly moved, feeling her lover's embrace tighten even more. Soi Fon said, "Brother Ye Yang, please say yes. I've gotten used to things in the squad over the years, and I always felt that you, Brother Ye Yang, are most suited for the profession of teacher."

"Since you've said so, Shaoling, then I'll go. I'll just have to trouble you to take care of the squad," Ye Yang said with a sigh.

Ye Yang seemed to remember something and asked, "Soi Fon, now that you've become a captain, you should have mastered Bankai, right?"

"Of course, the minimum standard for the captain's assessment is to master Bankai. Brother Ye Yang, would you like to see my Bankai?" Soi Fon was quite proud, after all, it is not easy to master Bankai.

"It's not necessary. Bankai here would cause unnecessary trouble." Although there are no restrictions on releasing swords here, the immense Spiritual Pressure generated by Bankai can be felt even in the Seireien. It's better not to.

Soi Fon cursed herself for lacking self-control, almost causing trouble. Ye Yang then asked, "Your Shikai ability is a two-hit kill, so what about your Bankai?"

"One-hit kill! Suzumebachi Raikōben!" Soi Fon said calmly.

Although Ye Yang was somewhat surprised, he wasn't too astonished. A one-hit kill sounded like an abnormal ability, but such an abnormal ability must have corresponding drawbacks. Either the activation conditions were too demanding, or it could only be used once in a very long time. Every advantage has its weakness.

Soi Fon continued, "My Bankai can only be used once every five days now, and I'll be incredibly weak after using Bankai. It's a trade-off, isn't it?"

Ye Yang nodded knowingly and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your Bankai requires a considerable amount of preparation time, or it's probably extremely cumbersome, so the hit rate shouldn't be high."

"Huh? How did you know? It's true. Because it's so big that it can't be hidden, and it's too heavy to move, this technique is too conspicuous for covert assassinations, violating the dignity of Stealth Force. So it's generally not used unless absolutely necessary," Soi Fon said slowly.

Generally, no one would reveal the weaknesses of their Bankai, but Soi Fon was completely unguarded around Ye Yang, and she had a deep-seated trust in him.

Ye Yang's lips curled slightly as he said, "I'll take you to a place, a place that belongs only to me~ Bankai - Spatial Domain!"

A dazzling white light illuminated their figures. With his control over his Spiritual Pressure, he was completely undetectable. A familiar feeling came over them, and the two had arrived in the space of the Silver Rend.

Soi Fon stared wide-eyed at everything before her—an unfamiliar space, the center of which was entirely silver-white, and the two of them were standing in the void.

One moment they were enjoying fireworks under the moon, and the next they found themselves in another dimension. Anyone would be shocked, but out of trust in Ye Yang, Soi Fon wasn't worried at all.

Ye Yang explained, "This is the independent space formed by my Bankai. Here, I have complete control over all the spatial rules. Not bad, right?"