Vice Captain Rangiku

"Then we won't disturb you any longer," Nanao said, pulling her captain to their seats. Ukitake smiled slightly and followed his friend.

Ye Yang looked at them curiously and asked, "Shaoling, you're also a member of the Women's Association, right?"

"Yes"

"Will they ask any strange questions?"

"A strange question? Surely not..." Soi Fon replied (please forgive her, because Soi Fon wasn't in charge of this at all).

Ye Yang asked, "That girl named Nanao was the vice president of the Women's Association. Who is the president?"

Soi Fon thought for a moment and said, "It's the 11th Division Vice-Captain, Yachiru Kusajishi, a very cute little girl."

Ye Yang was taken aback, and then the image of the little child beside Kenpachi flashed through his mind—a rosy-cheeked face and an adorable appearance that would make anyone feel a sense of familiarity. Every time Ye Yang saw him, Kenpachi was always by his Kenpachi, saying, "Ye Yang, fight me!"

"11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is paying a visit..."

Ye Yang sighed, rubbing his forehead. It was truly a case of what he'd been told coming true. Although all the squads had sent out invitations, Ye Yang hadn't expected all the squad leaders to attend. Given Kenpachi's personality, why would he attend such a banquet?

From afar, Ye Yang could see Kenpachi's Kenpachi figure, with Yachiru naturally perched on his shoulder, never leaving his side. Behind them were two team members, both quite distinctive: one bald and the other resembling a peacock.

Seeing Ye Yang, Kenpachi quickened his pace and swiftly approached Ye Yang. "Ye Yang, let's fight!" Meanwhile, Yachiru fanned the flames from the side, saying, "Little Ye-Yе, just say yes Kenny!"

Ye Yang could only smile wryly. If a real fight broke out, they'd probably tear the whole compound down. "Hey Kenpachi, do you even know what kind of banquet it is today?"

"I don't care what kind of banquet it is. I just heard you're back and want to fight you. Or is it that your sword has become dull?" Kenpachi sneered.

"Today is my succession ceremony, you know. Did you get that sorted out before you came? Kenpachi, how about this: I'm back now and I'm not leaving, you'll have plenty of opportunities to find me later. Can we postpone our battle a bit?" Ye Yang finished speaking and, as if by magic, produced a bag of konpeito (Japanese candy) and handed it to Yachiru: "What does Yachiru think?"

While eating konpeito, Yachiru said, "Yeah, yeah, Kenny, why don't you wait a bit?" Poor Kenpachi was sold out by Yachiru just like that. Is Kenpachi really worth less than a few pieces of konpeito...?

Kenpachi pouted, a hint of displeasure in his voice. "Fine, but you absolutely can't run away the next time!"

Ye Yang nodded in agreement, but then asked, "How did you find this place? Given your terrible sense of direction, you shouldn't have been able to find it."

Yachiru immediately retorted, "How could that be? I brought Kenny here!"

Ye Yang looked at Yachiru suspiciously, while the bald team member behind them spoke up, "We were the ones who brought the captain and vice-captain here, weren't we?"

"Baldy, shut up."

The veins on the team member's forehead bulged as he shouted, "Don't call me Baldy!"

Yachiru jumped onto his head and opened his mouth wide to bite the bald man, drool dripping down his face as he stammered, "Baldy is Baldy!"

He hurriedly begged for forgiveness, "Vice Captain, please come down, I was wrong 555..."

Yachiru down his throat, his mouth was still watering; it must have tasted good.

Ye Yang asked, "Who are these two...?"

The veins on the team member's brow, which had just relaxed, began to bulge again, but he suppressed them and said, "You... don't you recognize us?"

Ye Yang carefully examined them, but still couldn't recall. He truly had forgotten; after all, it was over sixty years ago. Who would remember how many people were around during their first battle with Kenpachi? "I don't remember."

The bald man reminded him, "My name is Ikkaku Madarame," and pointing to another team member, "His name is Yumichika Ayasegawa, don't you remember him?"

Ye Yang thought for a moment and said, "I don't remember."

"Huh, doesn't Little Ye-Yе remember Baldy?" Yachiru exclaimed in surprise, continuing, "They were there when Little Ye-Yе and Kenny first fought. Baldy even challenged Kenny back then."

Ye Yang carefully recalled the scene at the time. It seemed that he had gone over after seeing someone fighting. Then, Ye Yang looked like he suddenly realized something and said, "Oh, I remember now, it was you who challenged Kenpachi, right?" Ye Yang pointed to Ikkaku Madarame.

Ikkaku nodded, but tears welled up in her eyes: Was my presence really that insignificant?

"Please take your seats first, I'll come over later," Ye Yang said.

"Huh? What's this about taking your seat?" Yachiru asked curiously, seemingly a little reluctant.

Ye Yang couldn't help but facepalm. Did these people even know what kind of banquet it was today...? But it didn't matter. Ye Yang slowly said, "Anyway, there's delicious food inside." At this point, Yachiru's mouth started drooling again, his eyes gleaming, and he kept saying, "Kenny, Kenny, let's go in!"

"And there's good wine too," Ye Yang continued.

Kenpachi was also taken aback. "Let's go inside," he said, leading Yachiru and Yumichika Ikkaku.

Soon, several familiar faces arrived, including Isshin Shiba, whom Ye Yang had just mentioned. Beside him walked a beautiful woman with a mature and sophisticated figure, her golden wavy hair was captivating, and a beauty mark on the corner of her mouth, her smile as lovely as a blooming lily.

"Yo! Uncle Isshin, long time no see!" Ye Yang looked at the mature beauty and asked in surprise, "You are... Rangiku?"

Rangiku looked heartbroken. "Yes, Teacher Ye Yang, you've completely forgotten about me. I'm so sad..."

Ye Yang stared at her in disbelief. Had the little Rangiku who used to only know how to drink alone grown up to this extent? Was the person in front of him with such a devilish figure really Rangiku?

"You really have changed so much as you grow up! I almost didn't recognize you. The little girl from back then is now a beautiful woman. Are you in the Tenth Division now?" Ye Yang quickly recovered.

Rangiku smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Teacher Ye Yang, but won't Captain Soi Fon be jealous?"

Soi Fon blushed, unsure what to say. Rangiku couldn't help but burst into laughter, "I knew it! Captain Soi Fon never comments on anything in the Women's Association, and she never mentions any handsome guy we call the 'Ice Beauty.' I didn't realize she already had someone! Teacher Ye Yang is amazing; he can actually melt icebergs!"

Ye Yang flicked Rangiku on the head. "So, you dare to tease your teacher? I wouldn't mind teaching you a few more things."

"Ouch!" Rangiku exclaimed, then said with an unnatural expression, "Teach? Forget it." Even now, Rangiku couldn't help but feel lingering fear when she thought about it. She never wanted to experience that kind of hellish training again in her life. She still thought it was the Miracle that she was able to survive it!

Seeing that things were going badly Rangiku quickly changed the subject. "Sensei, I'm the vice-captain of the Tenth Division now~ Pretty awesome, right? You can ask the captain if you don't believe me." Rangiku looked at Isshin.

Sensing the murderous intent in his vice-captain's eyes, he decisively chose to compromise. "Yes, yes, Rangiku is a very good vice-captain." He wanted to slap himself as soon as he said it. How hypocritical! He'd heard that speaking against one's conscience would get one struck by lightning. Good heavens, would he be struck by lightning?

Ye Yang didn't believe this at all. After six years at Shin'ō, didn't Ye Yang know what kind of person Rangiku was? "She slacks off at work, sleeps, and always puts off documents whenever possible. She also frequently abandons work to go out and have fun, and it's always to drink. She even keeps some alcohol in the office and drinks it during work hours. Rangiku, am I right?"

"How did you know? Ah!" Rangiku covered her mouth and changed her words, "How could that be? I work diligently every day."

Ye Yang curled his lip. "Nobody would believe that! Uncle Isshin, I'm not wrong, am I?"

Isshin felt as if she had found a kindred spirit. "How did you know all this? Are you kindred spirits?"

"I just described her school days as work; she hasn't changed at all, Rangiku," Ye Yang said with a smile, looking at the embarrassed Rangiku.

But who is Rangiku? She's the kind of person who can make her own captain so angry he vomits blood. She's no ordinary person. Soon, her expression returned to normal. "Oh, teacher, that's all ancient history. Why are you bringing it up again? Now I'm the Tenth Division vice-captain, with ideals, ambitions, and a serious work ethic. I'm known as the Tenth Division's flower." Rangiku continued to boast about her achievements.

"Yes, I believe 'one flower,' but please remove the prefix."

Rangiku decided to stop wasting time with Ye Yang and asked directly, "Teacher Ye Yang, what experiences have you had in Hueco Mundo over the past fifty years? How does Hueco Mundo compare to Soul Society?"

"If I told you everything I've been through, would today's banquet even be able to proceed? But speaking of Hueco Mundo, the environment there is indeed terrible. It's just an endless desert, where killing is commonplace. It's nowhere near as peaceful as Soul Society. There's only one law there!" Ye Yang paused here.

"What law?" Rangiku asked curiously.

He sighed softly and uttered four words: "Survival of the fittest!"

Rangiku fell silent. She couldn't imagine how Ye Yang had managed all these years in Hueco Mundo. These four simple words revealed the true nature of Hueco Mundo. Perhaps it wasn't just Hueco Mundo, but also Soul Society and the World of the Living, just not as explicitly stated in Hueco Mundo. Being able to return from Hueco Mundo meant that Ye Yang was a strong person!

Isshin then asked, "Have you ever encountered danger in Hueco Mundo? Like that time when your Spiritual Pressure disappeared?"

Ye Yang smiled wryly, "I almost didn't see you all again that time, but luckily hell didn't accept me. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll tell you about it when I have time. Please take your seats."

The two nodded and went inside.