Ten Years

Day after day, year after year, as spring gave way to winter, another ten years passed.

Soul Society, Seireitei, Shihōin estate, rear courtyard.

Beneath the cherry blossom tree, a man stood as straight as a spear. His short black hair was tousled, with a few strands left hanging beside his ears. An iron forehead protector was tied around his brow, and he wore a black skintight combat suit with half-finger gloves. A pitch-black Zanpakutō rested on his back. His black eyes were as cold and indifferent as ever, radiating a faint, bone-chilling chill.

"Shadow!"

Suddenly, with a loud cry, a figure pounced onto the man's back. She had short purple hair cut to her ears, healthy wheat-colored skin, and wore the Punishment Force's skintight uniform beneath a short orange-yellow jacket, with a black ribbon tied around her neck.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Gone was his usual indifference. The instant Yoruichi Shihōin leaped onto him, Shadow felt the softness against his back and froze stiff, speaking with considerable helplessness.

"What's wrong?"

Blinking her amber-like eyes, Yoruichi Shihōin asked innocently, though inwardly she was overjoyed.

"N-Nothing." Shadow was instantly defeated.

"Really? If there's a problem, you have to tell me!"

Feeling Shadow's body stiffen at once, Yoruichi Shihōin secretly laughed, though she spoke in all seriousness. Not only that, she deliberately wriggled her body.

"Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow's sharply defined face flushed red. Gritting his teeth, he said weakly, "You're overthinking it. There really is nothing!"

"Is that so?"

Yoruichi Shihōin narrowed her eyes, smiling adorably and shamelessly. Shadow—the man who had stayed by her side since childhood, shielding her from the wind and rain and risking his life for her—was still as adorably cold as ever!

A light breeze drifted past, and the cherry blossoms on the tree seemed to answer some summons, fluttering down one after another. Accompanied by their faint fragrance and the crisp chirping of birds, they formed a spectacular, breathtakingly beautiful rain of blossoms.

As though completely immersed in the tranquil atmosphere, neither Shadow nor Yoruichi Shihōin spoke. They gazed at the sun in the distance. Spring had come!

Ten years was neither long nor short, but it was enough to change many things.

Not long ago, Soul Society had gone to war with the Quincy of the World of the Living. It was said to have been a brutal battle, with many seated officers and Lieutenants dying. However, it had little to do with Shadow or Yoruichi Shihōin. As the heir of the Shihōin family, she naturally had no need to go to the battlefield. Moreover, Yoruichi Shihōin did not hold any seat in the Second Division, so no matter what, it would not have been her turn.

Yet it was precisely because of that battle that so many had died. Kensei Muguruma was appointed Lieutenant of the Ninth Division, Mashiro Kuna became the Ninth Division's Third Seat, Kūkaku Shiba was appointed Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, and Kaien Shiba, due to certain personal circumstances, had only been promoted to Third Seat. Hiyori Sarugaki became Lieutenant of the Twelfth Division, Lisa Yadomaru became Lieutenant of the Eighth Division, and even Kisuke Urahara, whom Isshin had been studying, was promoted to Fourth Seat.

After completing the nearly closed-off training of the Punishment Force, Yoruichi Shihōin heard that everyone else had become Lieutenants, with even the lowest-ranking among them reaching Third or Fourth Seat. Thinking of herself, still without any seat at all, the young lady of the Shihōin family immediately went berserk.

However, Shihōin Shanqing readily gave Yoruichi Shihōin the Third Seat position left vacant by someone who had fallen in battle not long ago. As for the reason? Yoruichi Shihōin's Reiatsu had truly reached Captain-class, and more importantly, she had already learned Bankai.

Shihōin Shanqing intended to let Yoruichi Shihōin first familiarize herself with the work of the Second Division, the Punishment Force, and the Stealth Force. Once she had fully mastered Bankai, he would hand all his burdens over to her.

And this so-called familiarization with work meant that, aside from major matters, Yoruichi Shihōin handled nearly everything else.

This left the naturally active Yoruichi Shihōin groaning in misery. In her eyes, this was plainly Shihōin Shanqing's shameless attempt to dodge work.

Still, it also made the young lady Yoruichi Shihōin realize that Shadow was remarkably skilled at handling documents. He was measured in both advance and retreat, and his work was clear and organized. Thus, Yoruichi Shihōin immediately decided that Shadow would handle all documents from then on, while she turned back into a Black Cat and went off to "play" in the Seireitei every day.

And so, another half year passed in such a life.

During Yoruichi Shihōin's so-called "playtime," the name Flash God officially began to spread. With her supersonic Flash Step and terrifying Hakuda, no one dared deny Yoruichi Shihōin's strength, not even the Captains.

The development of Utsusemi had been completely successful. It was also an extremely useful move in battle, though to this day, it remained a technique unique to Yoruichi Shihōin.

As for Shunkō, it was simply too dangerous. One mistake in controlling it, and she would be blasted into nothingness by powerful Kido. Thus, even the normally bold Yoruichi Shihōin did not dare try it lightly.

Shadow, meanwhile, remained much the same. If he had changed at all, it was only that he had become even colder. The cloth strip across his forehead had been replaced with a forehead protector, and he had let hair grow beside his ears. Every day, he handled documents for Yoruichi Shihōin before following behind her.

Over these ten years, whenever they had free time, Yoruichi Shihōin would always talk in Shadow's ear about Bleach, Zanpakutō, and all sorts of other things. Yet Shadow always let it go in one ear and out the other.

The identity of a ninja had long since seeped into his bones. How could it be changed so easily?

Yoruichi Shihōin was utterly helpless about this. She did not deny that power, similar to yet different from Kido, but she had always felt that Shadow's worries must have something to do with her.

Yoruichi Shihōin had never asked him anything. His own matters were best resolved by himself. Besides, most importantly, Yoruichi Shihōin trusted Shadow, just as Shadow trusted Yoruichi Shihōin.

Today, both the Shihōin family and the Second Division were exceptionally lively. There was no other reason: today was the coming-of-age ceremony for the Shihōin family's princess, Yoruichi Shihōin.

That was to say, after today, Yoruichi Shihōin would truly become an adult.

Shihōin Shanqing had arranged for the coming-of-age ceremony to be held in the Second Division. After all, Yoruichi Shihōin would soon become the new Captain of the Second Division, and the nobles belonging to the Shihōin family, the Punishment Force, and the Stealth Force all had to attend this ceremony.

Because it also carried another meaning: a declaration of loyalty. Loyalty to the Shihōin family, and loyalty to Yoruichi Shihōin.