Fifteen days later, in the Human World.
Yoruichi stood in a clearing beside a stream, her hands behind her back.
Beside her stood Hyorinmaru, wearing Yan Si's Gigai.
Hyorinmaru maintained Yan Si's usual calm expression, but his eyes were a little colder than the real Yan Si's.
He had spent half a month in this Gigai and had grown increasingly adept at imitating Yan Si's words and mannerisms, though people who knew him well could still spot the subtle differences.
Yoruichi, for instance.
She turned to glance at Hyorinmaru, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
"He should be here soon."
Just as she finished speaking, a faint rush of wind came from deep in the woods.
A figure emerged from the shadows of the trees.
Siwei Yan.
He paused when he saw Yoruichi and Hyorinmaru by the stream. Then he crouched down and, using the bushes for cover, slowly approached from Yoruichi's blind spot.
His steps were light, making almost no sound against the grass.
Five meters.
Three meters.
Just as he reached out to tap Yoruichi's shoulder—
"Hey."
Yoruichi abruptly turned her head, her golden eyes brimming with amusement.
"You might be able to conceal your presence, but grass still bends when you step on it."
Yan Si froze.
He looked down at his feet. Sure enough, the blades of grass he had stepped on were slightly bent, leaving a few shallow footprints.
He straightened, walked over to Hyorinmaru, and pressed a hand against the Gigai's chest.
Blue reishi light shone from his palm. Hyorinmaru's soul was drawn out of the Gigai and condensed back into the form of a Zanpakutō.
Yan Si grasped the hilt and returned Hyorinmaru to his waist.
Then he raised his other hand, pointing his index finger at the Gigai on the ground.