Moving Into the Kurosaki Clinic

As Isshin Shiba's voice rang out, the laboratory door was pushed open, and the former Soul Reaper Captain strode in. He was visibly taken aback when he saw Liu Hao sitting in the room.

"When did Lieutenant Liu Hao arrive?!" Isshin Shiba's surprise was undisguised.

Liu Hao shrugged, a helpless smile on his face, "I'm not a Squad Lieutenant anymore."

"What happened?" Isshin Shiba asked curiously, his gaze darting back and forth between Liu Hao and Kisuke Urahara.

Yoruichi Shihōin onto a nearby table, flicked her tail, and said calmly, "He's a wanted criminal in Soul Society now."

"What?! How could this be?!" Isshin Shiba's face was filled with shock. "What did Lieutenant Liu Hao do?"

Kisuke Urahara quickly waved his hand, covering half his face with his fan. "Oh dear, it's not that serious. Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Captain Unohana both know that Lieutenant Liu Hao was framed. We just need to keep a low profile for now."

"Oh," Isshin Shiba nodded thoughtfully, "So, Lieutenant Liu Hao will also be staying in the World of the Living from now on?"

"Yes," Kisuke Urahara continued, "That's why I asked you to come. You've set up a clinic now, so it's perfect to have Lieutenant Liu Hao help out there. After all, he's the Fourth Division's medical expert, with superb medical skills."

Isshin Shiba's eyes lit up. "That's great! After all, I haven't specifically studied medical techniques. With Lieutenant Liu Hao here, things will be much easier for me."

Yoruichi Shihōin chimed in sarcastically, "But Lieutenant Liu Hao said you might not be able to afford to keep him here."

"Ah, what should we do?!" Isshin Shiba turned to Liu Hao, looking somewhat troubled. Although he ran a clinic in the World of the Living, his income was indeed limited, and supporting two Soul Reaper was not easy.

Liu Hao waved his hand with a smile, "Alright, just kidding. I don't need much money to live in the World of the Living; basic food and lodging are enough. From now on, I'll follow Captain Shiba."

"Haha, Lieutenant Liu Hao is joking. I'll have to rely on Lieutenant Liu Hao in the future." Isshin Shiba sigh of relief and said with a smile.

Yoruichi Shihōin flicked her tail impatiently. "Now that it's settled, let's get going. This isn't the place to chat."

Isshin Shiba grinned sheepishly as he led Liu Hao away from Urahara Shop. The two walked along the streets of Karakura Town in the early morning, the sun just rising, casting long shadows of the buildings.

After walking for a while, Liu Hao suddenly asked, "How are things going between you and Masaki Kurosaki?"

"What do you mean, how is it?" Isshin Shiba's tone was somewhat unnatural.

Liu Hao chuckled mischievously, "What else could it be? When are you two getting married?"

"Ah, what marriage? We're just friends, okay?" Isshin Shiba's face turned visibly red, and his eyes darted around.

Liu Hao gave him a disdainful look. "Tch, I wonder who was so hung up on him back then, sneaking off to the World of the Living and ending up accidentally saving him."

"Cough, cough, no, no," Isshin Shiba to explain guiltily, "I was just on patrol, afraid of another White like him, and I just happened to run into him."

Liu Hao gave him a look that said, "I don't believe you," then stopped talking and just smiled as he walked forward.

Isshin Shiba caught up and continued to explain, "Really, you believe me."

"Bullshit," Liu Hao said without turning his head. "If you don't like her, then I'll make my move. Putting everything else aside, that girl is really nice."

"Cough, cough, alright, alright," Isshin Shiba finally surrendered, "But that depends on what they want, doesn't it?"

Liu Hao nodded in satisfaction. "Oh, it's good that you have the intention."

"What does that mean?" Isshin Shiba, completely puzzled.

Liu Hao smiled mysteriously, "It's alright, you'll understand later."

The two chatted and unknowingly arrived in front of the clinic. Liu Hao looked up at the sign, which read "Kurosaki Clinic".

He pointed at the sign, a half-smile on his face, and said, "The clinic is even called Kurosaki Clinic, and you say it's boring?"

"Um," Isshin Shiba scratched his head sheepishly, "if I used 'Shiba,' it would be easy for people to discover my identity, so I used 'Kurosaki.'"

Liu Hao nodded understandingly. "Alright, I'll have to trouble Captain Shiba from now on."

"Just call me Isshin," Isshin Shiba said with a smile. "We're all in the World of the Living now, so let's not be so formal."

Liu Hao laughed too, "Then don't call me Squad Lieutenant anymore."

"Okay," Isshin Shiba a smile.

In the days that followed, Liu Hao officially moved into Isshin Shiba's Kurosaki Clinic. The clinic was small, but well-organized. The first floor housed the treatment area and pharmacy, the second floor was Isshin Shiba's residence, and Liu Hao lived in a small attic on the third floor.

Liu Hao quickly adapted to life in the World of the Living. During the day, he helped out at the clinic, using his superb Medical Kaidō and modern medical knowledge to treat patients; at night, he cultivated in his room, maintaining his combat readiness. To avoid being exposed, he always maintained his altered Reiatsu characteristics, only briefly reverting to his original state in very rare circumstances.

Masaki Kurosaki often helps out at the clinic. She's a cheerful and outgoing student at Karakura Town High School and quickly becomes acquainted with Liu Hao. Every time she comes to the clinic, she brings some homemade snacks or tells him funny stories from school. And whenever she interacts with Isshin Shiba, the natural intimacy makes Liu Hao often sigh—these two clearly like each other, but neither of them is willing to confess.

Liu Hao would often quietly find an excuse to leave when the two were showing off their affection, or watch them with a teasing look. After a while, Masaki Kurosaki noticed Liu Hao's teasing and would protest, blushing, "Mr. Liu Hao, you're here again!"

Two years passed peacefully like this. Masaki Kurosaki graduated from high school. Instead of continuing her studies, she decided to work full-time at Kurosaki Clinic. This decision surprised and worried Isshin Shiba —surprised that he could see her every day, but worried that she might jeopardize her future.

After Masaki Kurosaki officially started working at the clinic, her relationship with Isshin Shiba finally made a breakthrough. It was a rainy evening, and there were no patients at the clinic. Liu Hao tactfully made an excuse to go out to "purchase medicine," leaving the two of them alone.

When he returned, he saw Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki sitting hand in hand on a bench in the waiting area, both with happy smiles on their faces. Seeing Liu Hao return, Isshin Shiba a little embarrassed, but still said firmly, "Liu Hao, we've decided to be together."

Liu Hao smiled and nodded, "It should have been done a long time ago."

A year after confirming their relationship, Isshin Shiba and Masaki Kurosaki got married. Due to their special circumstances, the wedding was very low-key, with only the Ishida Family, Kisuke Urahara and his group, and a few friends who knew Isshin Shiba's true identity invited.

The wedding was held in the backyard of Urahara Shop; it was simple yet heartwarming. Masaki Kurosaki looked stunning in her white wedding dress, while Isshin Shiba, usually so carefree, appeared unusually nervous in a black suit.

Looking at the newlyweds, Liu Hao felt a complex mix of emotions—a sincere blessing for them, but also a touch of melancholy. He thought of his old friends in Soul Society, his comrades in the Fourth Division, and those comrades he couldn't see because of Aizen's schemes.

At the wedding banquet, Liu Hao decided to have some fun. He quietly approached Ryūken Ishida and urged, "Ryūken, look how happy Isshin is today, shouldn't we 'celebrate' a bit? How about we get him drunk?"

Ryūken Ishida pushed up his glasses, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Good idea."

So the two of them teamed up and took turns toasting Isshin Shiba. However, to their surprise, Isshin Shiba's alcohol tolerance was unexpectedly high, while Liu Hao himself showed signs of drunkenness after a few rounds.

"Again! We won't leave until we're drunk!" Liu Hao raised his glass, his cheeks flushed, and his voice grew louder.

Seeing this, Kisuke Urahara laughed and joined in the drinking. As a result, the three of them worked together and finally got Liu Hao drunk.

Drunk, Liu Hao completely let loose. He slammed his fist on the table, saying things he would never normally say, his usual composure completely gone.

Isshin Shiba, focused on the drunken Liu Hao, had a sudden thought and tentatively asked, "Liu Hao, how strong are you now? Can you easily defeat Aizen?"

"Aizen?" Liu Hao waved his hand, his eyes blurry with drunkenness. "What trash is that? Don't even mention Aizen, even if that Old Man Yama came, I could beat him to a pulp."

Upon hearing this, Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Shiba exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai was a legendary figure in Soul Reaper; anyone who dared to say such a thing was either insane or truly possessed the power to back it up.

Ryūken Ishida also became interested. He adjusted his glasses and asked, "What if I put you in charge of dealing with Yhwach?"

"Him?" Liu Hao said with a disdainful tone, "Aside from the Almighty, which is rather disgusting, he's nothing special. I don't even need to lift a finger; my Imperial Princess can easily crush him."

These words stunned everyone present. The name Yhwach was unfamiliar to most people, but Ryūken Ishida and Kisuke Urahara knew that he was the progenitor of the Quincy, a legendary being.

Ryūken Ishida looked at Kisuke Urahara and asked in a low voice, "Does he really have that kind of ability?"

"Could he be bragging because he's drunk?" Isshin Shiba asked, somewhat uncertainly.

Liu Hao immediately retorted, his voice loud enough to be heard throughout the entire courtyard. "Who said I was drunk! I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk! You three look down on everyone; this little bit of alcohol isn't even enough to rinse your mouth!"

Isshin Shiba immediately covered his face, while Ryūken Ishida turned his face to the side, giving him an "I don't know him" look. Kisuke Urahara, on the other hand, watched with a smile as Liu Hao, who was drunk and acting silly, went about his business.

Liu Hao continued casually, "Hey, you two finally got married! I've been so anxious for you all these years. You were always showing off your love in front of me, do you know how cruel a blow that is to a single person like me?!"

He picked up the wine glass on the table, downed it in one gulp, and then sighed, "Every time I see the two of you like that, I think about my Little Hana and Little Oto. When can I go back to see them?"

"Who are Little Hana and Little Oto?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked, leaning closer to Liu Hao with a sake cup in hand. She had transformed back into human form, wearing a kimono, her long golden hair standing out in the night.

Liu Hao looked at Yoruichi Shihōin was approaching and blinked. "Oh, it's the most beautiful Yoruichi. What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly?"

Yoruichi patiently repeated, "Who are those Little Hana and Little Oto you mentioned earlier?"

Liu Hao propped his chin on his hand, his gaze shifting from Yoruichi to the wine glass on the table, his tone becoming somewhat melancholic. "Who else could it be but our Captain Unohana and our Vice-Captain Isane Kotetsu? It's been so long, I've missed them terribly."

After saying that, he let out a burp and then emptied the glass on the table.

Hearing Liu Hao's words, the others stared at him as if he were a monster, thinking to themselves, "This guy really dares to say that!" Retsu Unohana was the Fourth Division Captain and one of the most senior Captains in the Gotei 13, holding a very high position. And Liu Hao actually dared to call her "Little Hana"...

After finishing his drink, Liu Hao looked at Yoruichi Shihōin and grinned mischievously, "Look, Isshin Shiba is now married into the Kurosaki Family. When are you and Kisuke Urahara getting married?"

Upon hearing this, Ryūken Ishida, Isshin Shiba, and Masaki Kurosaki all looked at the two with great interest. Tessai Tsukabishi looked at Kisuke Urahara, then turned to look at Yoruichi Shihōin, before sighing and shaking his head.

Kisuke Urahara covered his face with his hands, his ears slightly red. Yoruichi Shihōin blushed and hurriedly protested, "Don't talk nonsense! Kisuke and I aren't like that!"

"Really?" Liu Hao tilted his head, looking incredulous. "But I heard you two were childhood sweethearts. And back in Soul Society, you two were inseparable."

"That's just because our two families are old friends!" Yoruichi Shihōin's voice was somewhat flustered.

Kisuke Urahara finally lowered his hand, and said with a wry smile, "Liu Hao, please stop joking with us."