Two Against One Is Only Fair (Thanks to Ziye Xuedao for the tip)

Ryan was playing a game of cat and mouse with Yoruichi in the alleys. Having lived in the inner district for over a hundred years, he was like a fish in water, loving every minute of it. Every time he turned a corner, he fired a few arrows at Yoruichi, making the most of his long-range advantage.

After being ambushed a few times, Yoruichi was thoroughly fed up. Turn a corner? I'm done turning corners! I'm stubborn as a rock, and I'm only going in a straight line! Once I blow this whole place up, let's see how you dodge me!

As Yoruichi and Ryan fought tooth and nail, someone in a cave dozens of meters underground was leisurely whistling. His black Shihakusho marked him as a Soul Reaper. His pale yellow hair curled up slightly at the ends, making him look as if he'd just gotten out of bed. He was none other than the last member of the trio of close friends—Urahara Kisuke!

After returning from the Royal Palace, Urahara had gone straight to the 12th Division and become its Third Seat. But being only a Third Seat wasn't enough to get him involved in the three most important operations of the Star-Extermination Siege. So he had advanced into the Sternritter Fortress from the front with the Star-Extermination Force.

But the Star-Extermination Force had only just finished clearing the outer district and was now sweeping through the middle district. How had Urahara ended up underground in the inner district?

Simply put, he'd had to choose between Yoruichi and his squadmates. The answer was obvious: as one of her closest friends, he couldn't leave Yoruichi alone without worrying!

So Urahara Kisuke, a Third Seat, had left the group as soon as he entered the Sternritter Fortress and headed toward the inner district alone. He avoided the Quincies whenever he could; when he couldn't, he killed them as quickly as possible.

And it wasn't just Quincies. When he passed through the middle district, a squad leader of the Onmitsukido had been trapped and badly wounded. Urahara could have saved him, but he only spared him a glance and didn't even break stride.

After hurrying along at full speed, Urahara finally reached the inner district not long after Hongjiang and Yoruichi had split up. When he saw that the battlefield had divided into two, he first made sure Ao was under no pressure atop the clock tower, then turned his attention to Yoruichi.

This was where Urahara's intelligence deserved some praise. If it had been Yoruichi, she would've charged in headfirst without a second thought. She wouldn't have bothered to observe the situation first.

Urahara had naturally seen Yoruichi being kited around, and he'd figured out most of Ryan's strengths and weaknesses. There was one thing he could say for certain—and it was the only thing that mattered: if even Yoruichi couldn't hit Ryan, he had no chance either!

That didn't mean he was useless, though. Urahara knew perfectly well that Yoruichi needed an opening—a chance to land a solid hit on Ryan. And creating that opening wouldn't be difficult.

So Urahara had secretly dug a tunnel all the way to a spot near the center of the inner district. There, leaning on Kurenai, which he had already released, he waited quietly for the right moment.

A rumble sounded in the underground cave once more. In truth, it had never stopped. But this time was different: gravel and sand began pouring down, as if the cave were about to collapse.

"So, it's finally here?"

Urahara stopped whistling. There wasn't a trace of a smile on his face as he looked sharply at the rocks overhead. "Sing, Kurenai!"

Aboveground, Ryan had just taken advantage of an explosion that tore through a house to leap behind another one. As he retreated, he fired an arrow in advance. But at that moment, the ground behind him began to shake, and a tremendous spiritual pressure surged up from below!

A crimson beam of light burst through the earth. If Ryan hadn't stopped in time, he would've taken the hit head-on—and even if it hadn't killed him, it would've left him gravely wounded!

Just as Ryan was congratulating himself on his good fortune, a cold voice came from behind him. "Play with fire, Kurenai!" Crimson light flashed again. Ryan felt the air behind him grow hot and turbulent, and instinctively jumped.

"Urahara, don't you dare interfere!" The moment Yoruichi saw the beam, she knew Urahara had arrived. The next instant, a figure shot diagonally into the sky. Who else could it be but Ryan, the man who'd been driving her mad? Yoruichi planted her right foot, cracking the ground beneath her. At long last, she had somewhere to vent all the fury she'd been holding in!

Seeing Yoruichi charge straight at him, Ryan's heart pounded. He hurriedly fired an arrow and adjusted his body's position, hoping to use the coming blast to escape danger.

"Hyah!!!"

Yoruichi roared, swinging a long staff so quickly that it formed an impenetrable barrier. She blocked the arrow's detonation, then absorbed it with the Vortex Fire Pattern. No more hiding! This man had to die!!

"Bind, Kurenai~" Urahara's eyes curved slightly when he saw Yoruichi, and a smile returned to his face. He murmured, "I'm not interfering. I'm just setting up a 'fair' arena for you two~"

Suspended in midair, Ryan realized that he was covered in countless red threads. He couldn't move at all. All he could do was watch Yoruichi approach, her face twisted with fury, and stare at her in despair!

Crack~! The staff collided with Ryan, making a sharp sound. Yoruichi didn't hold back this time. One strike broke his spine. Ryan opened his mouth wide but couldn't make a sound; his throat had filled with blood.

Did that satisfy Yoruichi? Don't be ridiculous! The staff moved like a snake. The end that struck Ryan was like the snake's head; after looping around, it bit its own tail, encircling the dazed Ryan. Ten sword-shaped fire patterns shone brighter and brighter. By the end, all Urahara could see of Ryan was a crimson human-shaped outline.

"The Flame Heart stirs; all ten directions perish!" Yoruichi's soft murmur was like a finger pulling a trigger. Crimson flames erupted from the sword-shaped fire patterns, merging together and completely engulfing Ryan.

Then the long staff in Yoruichi's hands seemed to take a short breath. The fire patterns on the stone dimmed, then brightened—and the sword-shaped patterns had become round shield-shaped ones.

The crimson fireball, which had been about to explode outward, seemed to hit an invisible wall and surged back inward.

A setting sun now hung in the air. It was small, only a little over three meters across, but it still seemed to radiate warmth. The air echoed with the sound of great waves crashing against rocks. It was a wonderfully soothing sound.

With the setting sun at her side, Yoruichi looked like the Statue of Liberty holding a torch, beautiful and graceful. But the next instant, the scene changed completely. Yoruichi pulled her hands apart, separating the snake's head and tail. Then she swung the beautiful "little setting sun" away like a top.

The sun rose into the sky as if breaking through layer upon layer of water. Rings of fire spread slowly outward in its wake, then it finally burst apart, becoming a beautiful cloud.

As for what happened to Ryan? His traces were scattered throughout the crimson sky!

"How do you feel?" Urahara shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth as Yoruichi landed beside him. He couldn't help it—the roar from the sky was like thunder exploding right beside their ears. It was simply too loud!

"How do I feel?" Yoruichi took a deep breath and looked up at the sky, smiling as she said, "Much better~!"