Sakura Festival

"It was nothing!"

Yoruichi Shihōin blinked her golden eyes, looked at Shadow, and said with a smile, "By the way, Shadow, what brought you here?"

"I spotted a promising prospect."

Shadow sighed softly and decided not to dwell on it. Anyone who got in Lady Yoruichi's way could simply be cut down with a single stroke.

"A promising prospect?"

Yoruichi Shihōin looked around, then finally fixed her gaze on the little Soi Fon standing before her. "Her? She's quite a cute child!"

"Yes." Shadow nodded. "She is from the Bee Family."

"The Bee Family, huh?"

Yoruichi Shihōin nodded in understanding. She knew a little about the Bee Family; they were a minor noble house specializing in executions and assassinations.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Hearing Yoruichi Shihōin mention the Bee Family, the head of the Bee Family, who had been kneeling to the side, respectfully spoke up.

"Mm."

With a light laugh, Yoruichi Shihōin stroked little Soi Fon's head, narrowing her eyes. So smooth. It felt nice.

"Shadow says you have talent. I can't see it myself, but I trust Shadow, so..." After a pause, Yoruichi Shihōin tilted her head and smiled. "Would you like to join the Punishment Force? I'll take good care of you."

"Thank you for your favor, Young Lady. The Bee Family swears to serve you unto death!"

The head of the Bee Family promptly declared his loyalty, while Soi Fon excitedly dropped to her knees.

"Ah, all right, all right!" Yoruichi Shihōin waved dismissively, then turned and said, "Shadow, it's time to go."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow replied. "Are we returning to the Shihōin?"

"No, we're going to the secret base!" Yoruichi Shihōin narrowed her eyes, revealing a very dangerous expression. "Kukaku and Kaien were too busy with division duties to attend my coming-of-age ceremony, but Kisuke actually didn't come either. That's absolutely unacceptable. I need to teach him a proper lesson!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Kisuke! Who is that? How dare he skip the princess's coming-of-age ceremony? What an awful person!"

Little Soi Fon's eyes blazed as she watched Shadow and Yoruichi Shihōin walk away. She swore to herself that she would find out exactly who that awful person was and teach him a proper lesson.

At that moment, Kisuke Urahara, who was conducting experiments inside the cave at the secret base, suddenly shivered for no apparent reason.

Rubbing his head, Kisuke Urahara muttered to himself.

"What's going on today? I keep feeling like I've forgotten something. What could it be? Sigh, never mind. The experiment comes first!"

Shaking his head, Kisuke Urahara buried himself in his experiment once more.

It had to be said, Kisuke Urahara, you poor fellow had just been marked by someone...

"Father," little Soi Fon asked the man beside her, "who is that Shadow?"

"Him? He's a very formidable Bleach, and he is also... Lady Yoruichi's most trusted person."

"Her most trusted person? Then I want to become the person Princess Yoruichi trusts most by her side!"

"Then, Soi Fon, you must work hard."

"Mm!"

Little Soi Fon nodded fiercely, clenching her tiny fists, her gaze firm and unwavering.

The Soul Society also had several major festivals, and the Sakura Festival was one of them.

In the Soul Society, sakura bloomed at the beginning of April and lasted for roughly a week, which was why it was also called Seven Days of Sakura.

Sakura had a very short blooming season, no more than seven days at most. Thus, when the sakura were in full bloom, they were also beginning to fall. Blossoms bloomed and withered upon the trees at the same time, creating a beautiful scene like drifting snowflakes, as though they were willing to exhaust their entire lives in pursuit of that fleeting splendor.

Whenever that time came, whether they were Bleach from the Seireitei or residents of Rukongai, everyone set aside what they were doing. They gathered beneath the sakura trees to admire the blossoms, chat, and laugh together.

During those days, each division of the Gotei 13 had previously decided its own starting and ending times. But this year, at the suggestion of several captains, including Shihōin Shanqing, Shinji Hirako, Shunsui Kyōraku, Retsu Unohana, and Jūshirō Ukitake, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto decided that the entire Gotei 13 would hold a one-day Sakura Gathering. This was the first time such a thing had happened in over two thousand years of Soul Society history.

Because there were so many people, the location was chosen to be the largest sakura grove in the Soul Society, beside the Sixth Division.

In April, sakura drifted through the air. Amid the blooming and falling flowers, time flowed like an ever-running river.

Today was once again the annual Sakura Festival, and the friends who had not seen one another for a long time took this rare opportunity to gather properly.

The crowd was lively and boisterous. Though it was not yet time to begin, that no longer mattered. Such was life, wasn't it? At a time like this, who cared about status? They laughed, chatted, and played around. Perhaps tomorrow everyone would return to how things had been before, but at least today, they were happy!

"Ah, it really is liveliest when there are lots of people!" Shinji Hirako said, touching his long hair and grinning broadly.

"Indeed. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since all of us gathered for a drink!" Shunsui Kyōraku said wistfully. "Old Man Yama, you should have done this ages ago!"

"Is that so?" On such a happy day, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto unusually wore a smile. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"..." Shunsui Kyōraku fell silent for a moment, then raised his cup. "Drink, drink!"

"Cough, cough..."

Jūshirō Ukitake poured himself a cup as well, but his body truly did not cooperate.

"If you're unwell, then don't drink," Retsu Unohana said with a smiling expression.

"Yes, yes, Senior."

Faced with Retsu Unohana's smile, which looked sinister no matter how he viewed it, Jūshirō Ukitake nodded repeatedly in fright.

"Shanqing, that girl Yoruichi still hasn't arrived?" Ginrei Kuchiki asked seemingly casually as he drank his tea.

Shihōin Shanqing nodded. "I reminded her yesterday, but who knows whether she's still asleep right now."

He sighed and said helplessly, "Who would dare wake her? It would be a miracle if Shadow didn't beat them out the door!"

"That's true."

Ginrei Kuchiki nodded knowingly. In the current Soul Society, every Bleach knew there was one person they could never provoke, no matter what: Yoruichi Shihōin.

Her own strength was absolutely Captain-class. In the vast Soul Society, there were certainly few who could defeat her. But even if they did defeat her, well, it would be fine if Yoruichi Shihōin chose not to pursue the matter. If she did, however, then congratulations: they would have to face that cold and merciless man behind her, and it would definitely be a fight to the death.

In the current Seireitei, which captain had not fought Shadow before? The cause had almost always been that troublemaking Yoruichi Shihōin.

www. Welcome, readers! The newest, fastest, and hottest serialized works are all available on Qidian Original!