Yoruichi Shihōin Wouldn't Take the Bait

Yan Si left the Second Division barracks and walked back, feeling noticeably more at ease.

He subconsciously patted his flat stomach, feeling a little more secure.

With the "Spirit Mist Bomb" and "Substitution Wood Talisman" Urahara had given him, this trip to the Human World should be much safer.

As for the claim that "a large gathering of souls might attract a Great Hollow"...

He had made that up on the spot to scare Urahara into giving him some useful goodies.

Before deciding to approach Urahara, he had specifically asked Captain Kensei about the details of this mission.

Though the captain usually looked stern, he was fairly considerate toward the Seat Officers in his division and told Yan Si everything he knew.

The reason this mission had ended up with the Eleventh Division was rather convoluted.

It had started when Thirteenth Division Captain Ukitake Jūshirō suffered a relapse of his old illness. He was unwell and unable to lead this large-scale Human World Soul Burial support mission.

Shiba Kaien, the Thirteenth Division's Third Seat, was certainly capable, but he was still too inexperienced to handle such an important cross-division coordination assignment.

So the higher-ups had first gone to the Fifth Division.

The moment Fifth Division Captain Hirako Shinji heard about it—leading the team? Coordinating? Being responsible for a whole group's safety? What a hassle!

He had immediately turned it down on the grounds that "division affairs were too busy."

The Fifth Division was never short on missions anyway. He could not be bothered taking on this exhausting support work with barely any fighting involved.

After making the rounds, the mission had finally landed on the Eleventh Division.

The moment Captain Kurayashiki Kenpachi heard it: Going to the Human World? Might be a fight? Sure! No problem!

The Eleventh Division members were even more eager, practically rubbing their hands together. To them, any chance to stretch their limbs was a good mission. Whether it was support work or cutting people down did not matter.

So, at its core, this mission was merely an enhanced Human World Soul Burial support operation. At most, there might be more Hollows than usual, and stronger ones, but it was nowhere near as exaggerated as Yan Si had claimed when scaring Urahara. As for a Great Hollow, that was even more out of the question.

With a clearer understanding of the situation and Urahara's "black tech" in hand, Yan Si's steps became lighter.

He wondered whether he could still "form some connections" elsewhere and further improve his safety.

Just after leaving the Second Division barracks and turning the corner, he spotted a familiar figure.

Long purple hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and healthy light-brown skin caught the light. She leaned casually against the wall by the street, one leg bent with her heel braced against the wall, looking as relaxed as if she were sunbathing in her own backyard.

Yoruichi Shihōin.

Yan Si's eyes lit up, and the little abacus in his heart immediately began clattering away.

He adjusted his expression, and a faint, melancholy sorrow of parting instantly appeared on his face.

He strode over and stopped in front of Yoruichi, his voice several shades lower than usual.

"Yoruichi, what a coincidence. I was just planning to find you and say goodbye."

Yoruichi tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes turning toward him. She said nothing, only curling her lips into a faintly amused smile.

Yan Si continued in a slightly mournful tone.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll be leaving for the Human World with the Eleventh Division. Once I go... sigh, weapons are merciless and the world unpredictable. Perhaps I won't make it back."

He paused, gauged Yoruichi's expression, and continued in the sincere tone of someone entrusting his final affairs.

"At least we've known each other for a while and share some friendship. In the future, during holidays and festivals, if you still remember me, please find somewhere to burn a little paper money for me and pour me a cup of wine, so that over there... I won't end up too destitute."

Yoruichi remained against the wall. Her golden eyes flickered slightly in the sunlight, and the curve of her lips deepened, but she still said nothing.

Yan Si muttered inwardly, This reaction isn't right, is it? Normally, shouldn't she mock me or comfort me?

He forced himself onward, making their "friendship" sound deeper.

"Of course, I don't like forcing people, and I don't like owing favors either. We've known each other... if you count carefully, it's been thirty years, right?

"When the time comes, just burn me enough for thirty years. That isn't too much to ask, is it? One offering per year. Perfectly reasonable."

Yoruichi finally spoke. Her voice carried a lazy hint of amusement, crisp and direct. "Not too much."

Joy rose in Yan Si's heart. There's a chance!

Yoruichi added, "I'll burn offerings for you for a hundred years."

The sorrowful expression on Yan Si's face nearly collapsed, and his brow twitched uncontrollably.

Huh? Why isn't this girl playing by the usual rules? She agreed far too readily! She even raised the amount herself? Something's wrong!

He coughed twice, steadied himself, and decided to try another approach.

"Ahem... in that case, I can rest a little easier. Oh, right, there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you."

He put on a nostalgic expression. "Lately, a little stray cat has occasionally come to the Ninth Division barracks to play with me. It's completely black, with beautiful golden eyes.

"That little thing is rather attached to me. If I don't come back... it'll probably be upset when it can't find me.

"Could I trouble you to check on it when you have time and play with it for a while? Don't let it feel abandoned."

As he said this, he looked at Yoruichi with utterly "sincere" eyes.

Yoruichi's golden eyes narrowed slightly.

She stared at Yan Si for two seconds, then nodded, her tone calm. "All right, I promise."

Huh?

Yan Si felt even more confused. Still no reaction? That shouldn't be possible.

He was somewhat unwilling to give up. He had to find a way to get something out of her.

She was Yoruichi Shihōin, the current head of the Shihoin Clan, one of Soul Society's five greatest noble houses.

The Shihoin Clan controlled the Division of Heavenly Armaments. The treasures in their collection were undoubtedly far more effective and powerful than Urahara Kisuke's experimental products!

If he could get a genuine Heavenly Armament from Yoruichi as backup, even if only on loan, he could practically walk sideways during this Human World trip! His safety would be maxed out!

But he had already played the emotional card this far. He had even brought up "burning paper after my death" and "taking care of the little cat," yet Yoruichi remained like a stone, completely unmoved.

He tried once more and continued.

"Oh, and there's one last, most important thing. The second volume of The Killer of Meteor City... I've actually already finished half the first draft.

"If I really don't come back... leaving those manuscripts in my room would be a waste.

"Could I trouble you to find them, organize them somehow, and publish them?

"It would at least give the readers an explanation."

Surely this will move her, right? Yoruichi seems pretty interested in this book too.

Yoruichi nodded again, her expression unchanged. "Mm, I can do that."

Yan Si was completely out of options.

He had played every card he had, but the other side simply would not take the bait.

He took a deep breath, gave up on trying to fleece her, and returned to his usual tone.

"Then that's it. We're gathering and leaving early tomorrow morning, so I need to head back and pack some things, make some preparations. Goodbye, Yoruichi."

"Mm." Yoruichi remained leaning against the wall and merely responded faintly, not even changing her posture.

Yan Si turned around and headed toward the Ninth Division barracks, his back looking just a little dejected.

Without Yoruichi's "Heavenly Armament" blessing, he felt as though something was missing from his sense of security. Urahara's things were good too, but compared to treasures secretly stored by a noble clan, they somehow still felt a little lacking.

Sigh, forget it. What is meant to be will come; what is not meant to be cannot be forced.

He comforted himself and quickened his pace.

By the street, Yoruichi watched Yan Si's retreating figure, an amused and delighted smile on her lips.

That boy was still as entertaining as ever.

Though he was not weak and had exquisite control over his Reiatsu, he always liked pretending to be fragile and helpless in front of her.

But... the Human World?

Yoruichi tilted her head, interest and contemplation flashing through her golden eyes.

Come to think of it, she really had not been to the Human World in a long time.

When had she last gone? Decades ago? Or even longer?

Captain-class Shinigami truly could not travel to the Human World freely without reporting it first.

Their Reiatsu was too powerful. If they descended without adjustment, they could disrupt the balance of Reishi in the Human World and even cause trouble.

But...

The smile on Yoruichi's lips deepened.

She was not an ordinary captain.

She was Yoruichi Shihōin, head of the Shihoin Clan.

As one of Soul Society's five highest-ranking noble houses, the Shihoin Clan naturally possessed methods and channels for traveling independently to the Human World without relying on the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' Senkaimon.

Should she go over there and have some fun?