Family Upheaval

The Shihoin Clan, the clan head's chambers.

The moment Ye Yang and Yoruichi heard the news, they both thought the same thing: Impossible! How could their grandfather, who had lectured them just a few days ago, be critically ill? How could Ye Yang, who had been healthy just a few days ago, be at death's door?

The two of them grabbed the Punishment Force member and questioned him repeatedly in agitation, but the answer remained the same. They rushed back to the clan at top speed. When they reached the clan head's chambers, they found a crowd outside, all people of standing in the Shihoin Clan. As soon as Ye Yang arrived, the steward hurriedly took his hand. "Young Master Ye Yang, please go see the master with Miss Yoruichi. He's been calling your names."

The siblings ran straight to the bedside. An old man lay there, his usual dignified bearing gone. Now he was no more than an ordinary old man. It was as though, overnight, he had changed from the powerful head of the Shihoin Clan into an ordinary old man. His aged voice rang out. "Is that Yoruichi and Ye Yang? Come here."

Many people had gathered around his bed, including his parents and several elders of the Shihoin Clan. When the old man spoke, they made way for the siblings, who came to his side.

Tears fell silently. A man did not shed tears lightly; he simply had not yet reached the depths of sorrow! Though the old man had usually been strict with the siblings, he had placed his hopes in them! Everything he did was for their sake! And it was not as if he had been unaware of Yoruichi sneaking out. He had simply turned a blind eye.

Yoruichi was weeping uncontrollably. The two knelt beside Shihoin Tōno's bed, and he said to them in an aged voice, "You're back. If I died without seeing you one last time, I could not die in peace."

Yoruichi sobbed, "What are you saying? How could you die?"

The old man managed a smile. "Silly child, how could anyone not die? Even if we're Soul Reapers, we aren't immortal. Don't grieve for me."

Ye Yang was already unable to speak. He could only look at the old man in silence, hoping to keep him in his heart forever. Then the old man suddenly addressed everyone. "All of you, leave. I want to speak with them alone for a while." His words still carried the unquestionable authority of the Shihoin Clan head!

An imposing air befitting a man in power began to radiate from him, nothing like what a dying man could possess. No one said a word. After all, Shihoin Tōno was still the clan head, and though he was critically ill, his word was absolute in the Shihoin Clan. Soon, only Ye Yang, Yoruichi, and Shihoin Tōno remained in the room.

Once everyone had left, the old man's imposing air vanished in an instant. It turned out that he had only been putting on a show. His voice weakened as well. "Ye Yang, Yoruichi, I watched you grow up. I know your talents well, so I asked you to stay because there's something I want to entrust to you."

Yoruichi had already lost her composure. She cried, "Grandfather, you won't leave us. We'll ask Captain Unohana to come and cure you. Our Shihoin Clan needs you, sob..."

Shihoin Tōno's voice grew gentle. "There's no need. I know my own body. If I hadn't wanted to see you grow up, I might have passed away long ago. I've only lived this long because of that lingering attachment. No matter how skilled Captain Unohana is, she can't restore the life force I've lost."

Though Ye Yang was also grief-stricken, he still retained a trace of composure. His voice was full of sorrow. "Grandfather, you must have something important to tell us if you asked us to stay."

Shihoin Tōno looked at Ye Yang with relief in his eyes. "Yes. After I'm gone, there may be unrest in the clan. Some people in the clan didn't dare act rashly while I was keeping them in check, but once I'm gone, they'll certainly make their moves."

"Then you mean..." There was a question in Ye Yang's voice.

"Cough, cough... What I want to ask is for you to take charge of the entire Shihoin Clan. You have strength, resourcefulness, intelligence, and a sense of responsibility. Most importantly, there's Ye Yang's cunning. Don't deny it. I can tell that Kisuke Urahara among you is exceptionally clever, but Ye Yang, you're certainly no less capable than him. Cough... cough..."

At that, Shihoin Tōno could not help coughing up streams of blood, and his face turned pale. Ye Yang hurried to support him, but Shihoin Tōno motioned for him to put him down. He continued, "If you siblings join forces, believe me, the Shihoin Clan may enter a glorious age. It wouldn't even be impossible to surpass the Kuchiki Clan."

Faced with the old man's final request, Ye Yang had no reason to refuse. He and Yoruichi knelt on one knee and said together, "Yes! We will live up to your expectations and bring glory to the Shihoin Clan!" The two made their vow at his sickbed!

The old man finally smiled. He took a golden ring from inside his robes and handed it to Yoruichi. "This is the token of the Shihoin Clan head. From now on, you are the head of the Shihoin Clan. As for you, Ye Yang, do your best to assist your sister. I know you're free-spirited by nature and like to live without restraints." As he spoke, he took out a token bearing the large character for "pardon."

"Ye Yang, this is a Pardon Writ passed down from our ancestors. As the name suggests, it carries a power: the ultimate power of pardon. Once you produce this token, you can pardon a person of all their crimes, no matter what they are! But this token can only be used once. It was obtained by an ancestor of our Shihoin Clan who fought alongside the Soul King, and it has never been used. I hope you won't use it in the future if you can help it!" He placed the token in Ye Yang's hand.

Ye Yang took the token and said, "Don't worry, Grandfather. I'll protect the Shihoin Clan."

The old man's voice grew weaker and weaker. "You are the hope of our Shihoin Clan! I'm already content to have seen you grow this far. Ancestors above, I have no regrets..." With that, his eyes slowly closed, and he passed away with a peaceful expression.

"Grandfather!"

"Grandfather!"

Two cries of grief rang out across heaven and earth. The Shihoin Clan elders and Ye Yang's parents rushed in at once. All they saw was Ye Yang and Yoruichi weeping bitterly beside Shihoin Tōno's bed, while the old man in the bed had passed away unnoticed.

"Father!" It was Ye Yang's father, Shihoin Seigen, who cried out. He rushed to the old man's body in agitation and wept bitterly as well. Their mother, Tsukiyo, stood before the bed with reddened eyes. Ye Yang and Yoruichi threw themselves into Tsukiyo's arms, only now truly showing their vulnerability. Their former strength was completely gone, and they were like helpless children.

Tsukiyo held the siblings without speaking. A glimmer flashed in Ye Yang's dim eyes, and he silently swore to himself, I'll protect you. I'll never let you be sad again...

The next day, at Shihoin Tōno's division funeral.

News of Shihoin Tōno's passing struck the Seireien like a thunderclap. He had been the Second Division Captain and the head of the Shihoin Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans. Most people found it hard to believe, but once the news was confirmed, voices of regret rose everywhere.

As a veteran captain, Shihoin Tōno's reputation and popularity in the Gotei 13 were beyond question. Many people attended the division funeral that day. The captains and lieutenants of all thirteen divisions were present, as were members of the Kuchiki and Shiba Clans, the other members of the Four Great Noble Clans, along with the heads of some high-ranking noble families and others.

Shihoin Seigen and his wife knelt before Shihoin Tōno's tomb with Ye Yang and Yoruichi, while the other Shihoin Clan elders stood to the side. They were not entitled to receive the captains or the others who came to pay their respects to Shihoin Tōno, because they were not his direct relatives.

First came Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, the elderly Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. He did not wear his Captain's Haori that day, only a black Shihakushō, clearly out of respect for his departed friend.

Shihoin Tōno's closest friend in the Gotei 13 had been Ginrei Kuchiki, followed by the Captain-Commander. After all, the three were white-haired old men, so they were naturally especially close.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai approached with heavy steps. His imposing presence was no longer as overwhelming as usual, but much gentler, perhaps because he was grieving the loss of a good friend. He took the three incense sticks Ye Yang offered him, walked up to Shihoin Tōno's gravestone, and said, "Tono, you were a forceful man all your life, yet who would have thought it would end so bleakly? Rest in peace, my friend." With that, he offered the three incense sticks.

After offering the incense, Yamamoto departed with a somber expression. Ye Yang and Yoruichi bowed to him. Yamamoto glanced at the siblings and suddenly smiled. "You've done well! I imagine Tono can leave in peace now." Then, as he walked past Ye Yang, he said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I hope you won't cause too great a disturbance this time. Can you promise this old man that?"

Ye Yang's heart jolted, and he could not help smiling bitterly. Ginger really does grow spicier with age. Had his plans already been seen through? Yamamoto knew the Shihoin Clan's situation well. With the clan head's sudden death, conflict was bound to arise within the family. If Shihoin Tōno had entrusted the clan to Ye Yang and his sister, he must have had absolute confidence in them. That would inevitably lead to a purge, but Yamamoto did not want too much blood spilled, which was why he had said those words to Ye Yang.

Ye Yang replied just as quietly, "Rest assured, Captain-Commander. I won't resort to extreme measures."

Yamamoto merely nodded at Ye Yang's words and left. Next came the captains of the other divisions to pay their respects. Seeing such a good friend pass away, Ginrei Kuchiki naturally could not avoid feeling sorrow, but he was the head of the Kuchiki Clan, foremost among the Four Great Noble Clans, and could not show weakness in public. He merely paid his respects to his departed friend without saying a word. Afterward, he patted Ye Yang on the shoulder, and Ye Yang could clearly feel his hand trembling!