Captain Urahara

Urahara arrived at the hut, brazenly kicked the door open, and strode inside. In an instant, Spiritual Pressure surged within the hut, its tangible force nearly demolishing the building. A storm of Spiritual Pressure spread outward, forcing the surrounding squad members to stumble back involuntarily. Ye Yang hurriedly pulled Soi Fon behind him and shielded her from the storm.

Once the storm passed, the squad members ran into the hut. Soi Fon came to her senses and rushed over too, but the sight inside left her stunned: fugitives lay scattered everywhere, every one of them gravely wounded and dying. Urahara appeared behind Soi Fon without a scratch. "All right, leave the rest to Ye Yang."

There was not a speck of blood on Urahara, and his breathing was not even disturbed. Soi Fon did not know what to say. She could not even be sure she could defeat enemies of this caliber herself, yet the man she usually looked down on had dealt with them in an instant. It had been a one-sided slaughter!

"Yeah, you should still have time. Hurry along; they're waiting for you," Ye Yang replied. He turned to Soi Fon. "Shaoling, leave this to me. You go ahead with Kisuke."

Soi Fon could no longer find any words and merely nodded. The words Ye Yang had once said to her echoed in her mind again: "Shaoling, you can't judge a person by appearances alone. Appearances can be deceiving..."

Urahara left with Soi Fon, and Ye Yang sighed inwardly. Shaoling, I hope you can understand that.

"Take them to the prison. We'll deal with them later," Ye Yang ordered.

"Yes!" The Punishment Force members took them away, vanishing with Shunpo...

The next day, while Ye Yang was idling away in boredom, a Hell Butterfly suddenly appeared before him. "Orders! All captains and lieutenants of the Thirteenth Division are to report to the First Division before noon for a congratulatory meeting. Former Twelfth Division captain Kirio Hikifune has retired. Three days ago, a candidate recommended by a captain successfully passed the captain's test. The announcement ceremony for the new captain will be held today. That is all."

Ye Yang went to the captain's office. "Hey, sis! Are you coming or not?"

Yoruichi leisurely began eating. "What's the rush? Go on ahead. I promised Grandpa Kuchiki I'd go with him."

"Tch... I'll go first, then." With that, he used Shunpo to hurry to the First Division.

At the gate of the First Division, Ye Yang happened to encounter Shunsui Kyōraku, his lieutenant Lisa Yadōmaru, and Jūshirō Ukitake walking together. "Hey, Ye Yang! Why are you here alone? Where's Yoruichi? Why isn't she with you?"

"Oh, she said she was coming with Captain Kuchiki, so I came ahead."

Shunsui looked as though he understood. "If you don't mind, why don't we go together?"

"Of course."

The four entered the First Division together, and as soon as they stepped inside, they heard Hirako's voice. He seemed to be discussing the captain of the 11th Division. However, because of Ye Yang's appearance, the captain of the 11th Division was now Kenpachi Zaraki, and Hirako was only saying that his sense of direction was poor.

Shunsui spoke up. "It's not nice to talk behind someone's back."

Seeing the four approach, Hirako said, "Ye Yang, long time no see! Mr. Shunsui, you're here awfully early today."

Shunsui adjusted his straw hat. "What are you talking about? I'm always the first one here." Yadōmaru stepped forward without giving him any face. "I kicked him in the butt and dragged him out of bed today."

Shunsui's face immediately fell. "Don't bring up my embarrassing moments in front of the other captains."

Ye Yang also spoke. "Captain Hirako, Captain Love, and Sōsuke, long time no see. You've even become a lieutenant, Sōsuke. Not bad at all."

Aizen smiled gently. "I have to thank you for your guidance back then, Lieutenant Ye Yang." As he spoke, an unusual glint reflected off his flat lenses.

The group headed toward the meeting room. Hirako suddenly said, "Lately it seems like the captains keep changing. Will the Gotei 13 really be all right if this goes on?"

Shunsui replied, "Everything changes eventually. We just happened to run into a time like this. Come to think of it, the only ones who've been captains for over a hundred years are Ukitake, Old Man Yama, and me, right?" Shunsui turned to ask Ukitake.

"It's not just us, is it? There's Captain Unohana too," Ukitake said.

Shunsui realized his mistake. "Oh, right. I'll get scolded for forgetting a senior. Scary, scary..."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind them. "What's so scary?" It was Unohana. The two immediately stopped in their tracks, their previous expressions frozen on their faces. They had been caught in the act.

Shunsui gave a dry laugh. "N-nothing. We were just saying how scary the weather is today, right, Ukitake?"

Ukitake laughed awkwardly too. "That's right." The two then faced each other and laughed awkwardly.

Unohana let the matter pass and stepped forward. "The Third Division captain retired, and the Twelfth Division captain was promoted. Both happened peacefully. Isn't that a good thing?" A saintly smile rose on her face again.

"Promoted?" A voice rang out as Aizen stepped forward. "Excuse me. I couldn't help overhearing your conversation, captains."

Shunsui looked unconcerned. "It's all right, Sōsuke. What did you want to say?"

Aizen continued, "We lieutenants weren't informed. Was Captain Hikifune of the Twelfth Division promoted rather than retired?"

"That's right," Shunsui replied.

Aizen stepped forward. "If it's a position above captain, then it must be Central 46. But I've never heard of a captain being promoted to Central 46."

Shunsui shook his head. "Not Central 46. She joined... the Royal Guard, the Zero Division!"

Aizen's eyes filled with surprise as he murmured, "The Royal Guard..."

Just then, an aged voice called out, "What's going on? Why is everyone gathered here?" Ginrei Kuchiki walked over with Yoruichi following behind him. Unohana leaned toward Yoruichi and whispered, "Congratulations."

"If you want to congratulate someone, you should tell him yourself, Captain Unohana," Yoruichi replied. With that, she walked away with Ginrei Kuchiki.

Hirako thought to himself, What's going on? Could the new captain be from the Second Division...?

Before long, the captains who had arrived were standing in their places in the meeting room. As a lieutenant, Ye Yang naturally stood behind Yoruichi. Just then, the Captain of the Ninth Division entered and said, "The newly appointed captain seems to be almost here."

A rapid set of footsteps followed, and the doors opened. When Urahara saw the people inside, he was immediately at a loss. Scratching his head, he said, "Um, am I the last one here? Sorry I'm late. And it's nice to meet you all. I look forward to working with you." He smiled.

Hirako muttered under his breath, "What's this? They sent us such a laid-back guy?"

Rose, the Third Division Captain beside him, could not resist retorting, "Are you one to talk?"

Urahara was still at a loss. "Um... may I come in?"

Hearing that, Ye Yang nearly laughed. Was this guy really going to be a captain? Yoruichi, however, reminded him, "Stop being so timid! Aren't you a captain already? Walk in with your head held high, Kisuke!"

The Captain-Commander's voice came from behind him. "Get in there already!" He shoved Urahara inside, then struck the floor heavily with his cane. It landed with a thud. "The new captain's succession ceremony will now begin!"

"I believe you captains have already heard. Seven days ago, the order was issued for Twelfth Division captain Kirio Hikifune to step down following her promotion. At the same time, selection for a new captain began, and the order was conveyed to each division's captain." At this point, Yamamoto glanced, deliberately or not, at Ye Yang behind Yoruichi, then continued, "The following day, Second Division Captain Yoruichi Shihōin recommended the Second Division's Third Seat. Yesterday, the captain's test was conducted before me, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and three captains. We concluded that there were no issues with either this person's strength or character. Therefore, I hereby appoint former Second Division Third Seat Kisuke Urahara as the new captain of the Twelfth Division!"

Urahara merely grinned foolishly without saying a word. Hiyori alone did not look very happy.

The next day, Urahara brought people to the Second Division to move his belongings. Smiling, he also said goodbye to Ye Yang and Yoruichi. Before leaving, he said to Yoruichi, "Yoruichi, I hope being a captain will be interesting, just as you said."

—Three days later—

A meeting was underway in the Second Division captain's office when a Punishment Force member suddenly rushed in. "Excuse me, Lady Yoruichi. Twelfth Division captain Kisuke Urahara has requested entry to the Second Division's Maggot's Nest. He says he already has your approval."

Yoruichi took a drink. "When did that happen? But if it's Kisuke, let him look around. He must know what he's doing."

Soi Fon stepped forward. "But..."

Before Yoruichi could speak, Ye Yang cut in. "In that case, I'll go with him."

"Mm, all right."

As he waited, the gates of the Second Division finally opened. Urahara immediately smiled. "Let's go." But in the next instant, he moved away from where he had been standing. A figure dropped from the sky, smashing a large crater into that very spot.

Without hesitation, Ye Yang rushed forward and engaged Kisuke Urahara. They exchanged blows so quickly that ordinary people could not even see them, trading attacks in a spectacular Hakuda duel.

But Hakuda was Ye Yang's specialty. How could he lose? Catching an opening Urahara exposed for an instant, he appeared behind him and placed one hand on his shoulder. "Kisuke, it seems you've gotten rusty lately," he said slowly.

Hiyori had been stunned by their spectacular Hakuda duel. Was this his true strength? It was astonishing. Hakuda at this level was in a completely different league from hers! He really did have what it took to become a captain!

Ye Yang also surprised Hiyori. A lieutenant's Hakuda was good enough to defeat a captain. Although she knew Yoruichi's younger brother could not be weak, guessing was different from seeing it with her own eyes. Hiyori had thought her own Hakuda was among the best of the lieutenants, but only now did she realize there was always someone better. She had already been a lieutenant when Ye Yang first entered Shin'ō, and now his strength had surpassed hers. Hiyori could not help marveling at his genius!

(Please add this to your collection and recommend it!)