The Rukongai Soul Disappearance Incident

After the Hōgyoku incident came to an end, Ye Yang's life returned to peace. After a year's vacation, Ye Yang returned to the Shin'ō to teach. However, this time Ye Yang did not teach a class. Instead, he chose to become a guest lecturer, teaching two classes a week. The rest of the time he stayed in the squad to carry out missions, help Yoruichi review documents, or tease Soi Fon and play pranks on Byakuya, that awkward kid. In short, he lived a very carefree life.

Four years have passed in the blink of an eye, and it has been nine years since Urahara became the captain of the Twelfth Division.

Ye Yang was walking aimlessly down the street when suddenly someone appeared in front of him and greeted him, "Good morning, Ye Yang."

"Good morning, Shinji and Sōsuke," Ye Yang replied.

Hirako pretended to ponder and said, "Speaking of which, it seems like it's been a long time since we last met..."

"We just met two days ago..." Ye Yang couldn't help but complain.

Hirako laughed awkwardly, "Is... is that so? Ahahaha..." He turned his head and saw Urahara coming out with Hiyori and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, greeting them, "Hello, good morning!"

Urahara saw Hirako and Ye Yang approaching on horseback and said, "Good morning, Captain Hirako, Ye Yang."

"Hmm, Kisuke," Ye Yang replied.

"Didn't I tell you to just call me Shinji? You're such a pain," Hirako said, disgruntled.

Hirako then turned to Mayuri Kurotsuchi and said, "Good morning, Mayuri."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi away from Hirako: "Didn't I tell you to be a little distant and call me Kurotsuchi? You're such an unpleasant guy."

Hirako muttered to herself, "What a difficult guy." Turning to Urahara, she said, "Oh, by the way, Urahara, Ye Yang, have you heard about that?"

Ye Yang asked, "What is it?"

Suddenly, a foot struck Hirako's backside, kicking Hirako to the ground. He glared at Hiyori, who had kicked him, with a resentful expression. "What are you doing, Hiyori? Why did you kick me all of a sudden?"

Hiyori frowned deeply, hands on her hips, and said, "Hirako, you bald guy! You haven't even greeted me yet. Why are you the only one who won't greet me?" As she spoke, she went up and grabbed Hirako's hair.

Hirako, unconvinced, pulled Hiyori off. "Why do I have to greet you?"

Upon hearing this, Hiyori immediately started fighting with Hirako, causing Urahara to burst into silly laughter. Aizen then said to them, "By the way, Captain Urahara, Ye Yang- senpai, have you heard about that matter?"

Urahara looked confused. "What's wrong?"

Ye Yang said softly, "Sōsuke, didn't you say you'd just call me Ye Yang?"

"How can that be? After all, Senior Ye Yang, you saved my life." Aizen insisted, and Ye Yang went along with it.

Aizen continued, "Haven't you heard? The bizarre deaths in Rukongai?"

At that moment, Hirako suddenly stood up, his face still bearing Hiyori's foot, and said, "That's right, that's what I was just about to say. Well done, Sōsuke!" He then gave Aizen a thumbs up.

Urahara and Ye Yang said at the same time, "A bizarre death?"

At this moment, Hirako's playful expression vanished, replaced by a serious look. "That's right, about a month ago, there were several incidents of residents of Rukongai disappearing in succession, the cause of which is unknown!"

Urahara asked, "Disappeared? You mean we don't know where they went?"

Hiyori, realizing the seriousness of the situation, released Hirako and continued, "If that's the case, then they're just missing, right? If they're missing, who cares what the reason is? It's just their own decision anyway." Hirako raised his index finger to emphasize, "No, it's vanished!"

Hirako continued, "Only one figure remained in place, but the person was nowhere to be seen. If they had died and transformed into Reishi, then their attachment would also have disappeared. So those people didn't die; rather, they were alive but unable to maintain their human form, and ultimately perished. This is the only guess we can make for now."

Urahara asked in bewilderment, "He's clearly alive, yet he can't maintain his human form?"

"I'm sorry, I just relayed what Captain Unohana told me in full. Actually, I don't understand it either." Hirako turned to leave. "Anyway, the Ninth Division has been deployed to find out the cause."

"Sōsuke, let's go back to our unit. Goodbye," Hirako said as he walked away.

"Ah, goodbye Captain Hirako."

Hirako waved his hand without turning his head. "I already told you, call me Shinji..."

Hirako walked away and Urahara asked, "Ye Yang, how could something like disappearing be possible?"

"Who knows?" Ye Yang replied, after all, the world is full of wonders.

"Then what should we do?" Urahara asked again.

"I'm going back to find my older sister and tell her first," Ye Yang said, then vanished in Shunpo. Only Urahara remained, standing there muttering, "Disappear?"

Night fell, and in the Second Division Captain's room, Yoruichi's voice rang out, "What? The rakugo has disappeared? This seems serious."

Ye Yang pursed his lips. "Of course, the Ninth Division has already investigated this matter, and I believe the results will be out soon."

"Ugh..."

Just then, an alarm suddenly sounded inside the Seireien: Emergency summons! Emergency summons! All squad captains, please proceed immediately to the First Division Barracks. An anomaly has occurred in the Ninth Division. The Spiritual Pressure of Captain of the Ninth Division Kensei Muguruma and Vice-Captain Mashiro Kuna has disappeared. Therefore, an emergency captains' meeting is being convened. This is to reiterate...

"Hmm?" Yoruichi exclaimed, "If the Spiritual Pressure reaction disappears, it means..."

Ye Yang smiled wryly, "Anyway, this incident is huge; it's even involved Captain-level figure."

"Come with me," Yoruichi said.

"That's fine too."

The two quickly arrived at the First Division. Since it was the closest to the First Division, no other captains had arrived before them. Ye Yang let Yoruichi go in first, while he hid outside to eavesdrop. After all, he was still the vice-captain, and the captains' meeting had nothing to do with him.

However, Yamamoto seemed to have spotted him and said to Ye Yang's hiding place, "Ye Yang Shihoin, come out."

Ye Yang couldn't get out. "Wow, Captain-Commander, your observation skills are as sharp as ever!"

Yamamoto didn't speak, but just gave a heavy "humph!", acknowledging his presence.

Soon the other captains arrived one after another, and none of them said anything about Ye Yang's presence. After a while, only Urahara and Kenpachi Zaraki were missing. Urahara was unknown, and as for Kenpachi, he was probably lost somewhere again...

Without waiting any longer, Yamamoto said directly, "It's an extremely urgent matter! According to the report from the forward Ninth Division, the team leader Kensei Muguruma and the vice-captain Mashiro Kuna have both lost their Spiritual Pressure for unknown reasons! This is one of the worst-case scenarios we could foresee. We must now stake the honor of the Goen 13th Division and resolve this case as quickly as possible!"

Yamamoto's cane thudded. "Therefore, I have selected five Captain-level figures and entrust them to proceed to the scene immediately." Just then, Urahara rushed in, panting, and said, "Please let me go."

Yamamoto opened his eyes and looked at him. "No!"

Urahara began, "But my adjutant is on his way... I..." Before he could finish, Yoruichi interrupted him, "Kisuke! This is unbecoming! Don't panic. Your disarray is an insult to her!"

Shunsui pulled him into the queue. Yamamoto continued, "Third Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Fifth Division Captain Shinji Hirako, and Captain of the Seventh Division Love Aikawa, these three will immediately proceed to the crime scene. Second Division Captain Yoruichi Shihōin will remain on standby until other orders are issued. Sixth Division Captain Ginrei Kuchiki, Eighth Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, and Thirteenth Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, these three will be responsible for protecting Seireien. Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana, prepare in advance for the necessary treatment upon your return and remain on standby in the infirmary."

At this moment, Retsu Unohana said, "Please wait a moment, Captain-Commander. If we're considering treating the wounded, I should go to the scene myself."

"I'll have someone else go to the scene in your place. Come in," Yamamoto said, facing the door.

The door opened, and two people walked in. One was wearing a blue robe, had black hair styled in a strange way, and wore glasses. The other was wearing pink clothes, was enormous, and had white hair and a beard.

Yamamoto said to them, "You both know now, right? I want you two to go to the crime scene."

"Clear"

"Knew"

At this moment, Shunsui suddenly stood up and said, "Old Man Yama, everything at the front is still uncertain. Don't you think it's a bit inappropriate to send both the Great Kidō Daoist and the Deputy Kidō out together?"

"Then what do you suggest?" Yamamoto asked.

"Let my team's vice-captain go in their place, hey- Lisa..."

Suddenly, Lisa Yadōmaru's face appeared in the window. "What are you doing?"

A bead of sweat appeared on the captain's forehead again; he even dared to peek into the captain's meeting.

Shunsui turned her head. "Didn't we say we couldn't eavesdrop on the captain's meeting?"

She replied with an air of self-righteousness, "There's nothing we can do about it; the more secret something is, the more we want to peek at it—that's human nature."

"Can I give it to you?"

"Of course," he said, and ran off.

Yamamoto angrily retorted, "How dare you act on your own initiative!"

"It's alright, let your subordinates gain more experience. Don't let her appearance fool you, my team's Lisa is quite formidable." Shunsui turned to the two Kidō priests. "So, could you please step back as well, Great Kidō Priest?"

The old Kidō priest said expressionlessly, "I don't care, I'll go and rest first," and then he withdrew.

"Then, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, Hachigen Ushōda, Lisa Yadōmaru, these five will form the Soul Disappearance Incident Aftermath Special Task Force." After Yamamoto finished speaking, they Shunpo.

Meeting adjourned!

Afterwards, the captains all left, and Ye Yang followed Yoruichi. Shunsui patted Urahara on the shoulder and said, "It's alright, Hiyori is strong, but not as strong as my little Lisa. Don't look worried. Trusting and waiting is also the captain's job..."

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