Black Cat

At night, a bright moon hung high in the sky, its gentle light lazily spilling over the quiet Shihōin estate.

Yet deep within the Shihōin estate, one room was still lit.

The purple-haired girl slept soundly, her nostrils fluttering now and then, a faint line of drool at the corner of her mouth. She looked adorable and peaceful.

Beside the girl sat a boy with tousled black hair and a strip of cloth tied around his forehead. He wore a black short-sleeved top and shorts, with a pitch-black Zanpakutō strapped across his back.

The night grew darker, drawing the entire Seireitei into its embrace.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Watching Yoruichi Shihōin sleep so peacefully, Shadow's lips curled into a relieved smile. He gently pulled the slipped blanket back over her, then turned to the oil lamp and blew softly. The flame that had lit up the night went out.

Only after hearing her faint, even breathing did Shadow turn and leave. At the instant he turned around, Yoruichi Shihōin, who had supposedly been asleep, fluttered her eyelashes and opened her eyes. Her amber-like pupils rolled about...

After closing the door, Shadow leaped lightly onto the roof and sat cross-legged. Looking at the bright moonlight, he suddenly felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment. It was the first time he had felt this way since coming to Soul Society.

In a world where the strong preyed on the weak and only the fittest survived, I have to protect Lady Yoruichi!

At that moment, a faint but somewhat familiar ripple came from behind him. Shadow turned around.

"Lady Yoruichi?"

There was no reply. A black cat poked its head out, then, seeing that Shadow had noticed it, sprang into his arms and meowed twice.

The familiar yet slightly unfamiliar black cat in his arms made Shadow frown. After a pause, he said slowly, "Lady Yoruichi...?"

"It's me!" Black Cat Yoruichi replied in a male voice.

Shadow fell silent. Now that he had confirmed it, there was nothing else to say. Still, "Lady Yoruichi, weren't you already asleep?"

"I woke up again after you left!" Black Cat Yoruichi asked in confusion, "You don't seem very surprised. Aren't you curious why I turned into a cat?"

Shadow nodded. Yes, he was neither curious nor surprised. Ninja Transformation Techniques could turn someone into all kinds of things, including cats. There was nothing strange about that. Soul Society probably had some secret transformation art as well.

Black Cat Yoruichi immediately lowered her head, feeling utterly powerless.

"How can you not be curious? This is such an unreasonable thing!"

"Ah!" Shadow paused. "Lady Yoruichi..."

"Forget it, forget it!" Black Cat Yoruichi waved a paw helplessly. "Although this exercise was incredibly dangerous and we nearly didn't make it back, everyone awakened their Zanpakutō. That counts as something gained!"

"Is that so?" Shadow said. "Congratulations, Lady Yoruichi."

"What was that? There's no sincerity in it at all!" Black Cat Yoruichi bared her teeth.

"Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow suddenly felt like his brain was no longer working properly.

"Oh, right, Shadow!" As if remembering something, Black Cat Yoruichi asked, "Shunpo is always movement in a straight line, so why was your..."

"That was the Body Flicker Technique, not Shunpo, Lady Yoruichi."

"Then what was that Kido that used a wooden post to take the attack for you?"

"That was the Substitution Technique!" Shadow answered. "It instantly exchanges one's position with an animal or plant to evade attacks!"

"Is that so?" Black Cat Yoruichi looked thoughtful.

"Lady Yoruichi, what is it?" Shadow asked curiously.

"I have an idea, Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi raised her feline face and said solemnly, "A way to use Shunpo, like your Substitution Technique: when activating it, discard the outermost layer of something around the body to slip past an attack!"

"It's something I've been thinking about these past few days, and I already have some leads!" Black Cat Yoruichi said. "I even gave it a name: Utsusemi. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"Utsusemi?" Shadow paused slightly. "That's a very good idea! The name fits well too!"

When it came to Shunpo, Yoruichi Shihōin was undoubtedly a genius.

"Just like you said, Shadow, my Zanjutsu is ordinary. My Kido is decent, but not particularly strong either. Only Shunpo and Hakuda are what I truly excel at, so of course I have to put more effort into them!"

Black Cat Yoruichi said animatedly, "Since Shunpo can't attack, then I'll become so fast that my enemies can't attack me either. They'll only be able to take a beating!"

"I'll make all of Soul Society understand that Shunpo is more than just speed! I'll make all of Soul Society know me, Yoruichi Shihōin, the future God of Shunpo!"

"Lady Yoruichi, you're really fired up." Shadow smiled faintly, holding Black Cat Yoruichi as he chuckled softly.

"Of course I am!" Black Cat Yoruichi laughed, exposing her sharp teeth. "In another half year, I'll apply to graduate early and enter Stealth Force training. One day, I'll make a name for myself across Soul Society with the title of a god!"

"No problem, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Hey, Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi jumped onto Shadow's shoulder, touched the pitch-black Zanpakutō with a paw, and asked curiously, "What is your Zanpakutō called?"

"No, Lady Yoruichi." Shadow shook his head. After a moment of silence, he answered, "It has no name."

"No name? Don't all Zanpakutō have their own names?" Black Cat Yoruichi asked in confusion. "You're Captain-class! Don't tell me you can't release it!"

"A release? I really can't." Shadow looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. "Because I was never a Bleach."

"If I'm not a Bleach, there's no need to know the sword's name. It doesn't need a name at all!"

"To a ninja, a blade is merely a tool in their hand... nothing more!"

"Shadow!!!"

"Ah!!!!!!"

Early that morning, a scream rang out from within the Shihōin estate.

The scene drew closer, revealing the old butler with a livid face, staring at the... black cat in front of him, which was holding a plate and stuffing its face.

His anger surged from the soles of his feet straight to his head, causing his already wrinkled old face to scrunch together even more.

"Where did this stray cat come from, stealing food..."

In his fury, the old butler subconsciously overlooked Shadow, who sat cross-legged beside the black cat, and shouted in exasperation.

"Stray cat!"

Black Cat Yoruichi immediately choked. She raised her head, but her face froze just as she was about to speak.

"Shadow, stop!"

But she was still too late. Shadow suddenly appeared before the old butler, and his icy gaze frightened the old man into standing there dumbly, trembling all over with a pale face.

Clang!

The blade aimed at the old butler's throat collided abruptly with a Zanpakutō thrust out from the side.

Shadow snorted coldly, his killing intent surging. The blade in his hand carved an arc through the air, slipping past from one side, still aimed at the old butler's throat.

"Shadow!" Black Cat Yoruichi called out again.

Shadow stopped, his eyes openly filled with killing intent. He said coldly to the old butler, "Watch your words. Next time, no one will be able to save you!"

The old butler nodded instinctively. Shihōin Shanqing, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion and blocked Shadow, sheathed his Zanpakutō and said helplessly, "I say, Shadow, why are you so angry so early in the morning?"

Shadow turned his head away and completely ignored Shihōin Shanqing, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

Black Cat Yoruichi quickly jumped onto Shadow's shoulder. "Good morning, Father!"

"Y-You... you're Yoruichi?"