Yoruichi Shihōin

Soul Society, Seireitei, Kawasaki Family, training ground.

"Boom!"

Following the sound, a figure smashed heavily into the solid ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. When the smoke cleared, it turned out that the figure was actually a rather young boy. His whole body was clad only in tattered robes, covered in footprint and bloodstains, and his messy hair obscured his face, revealing only a pair of pitch-black, lifeless eyes.

"Kawasaki Dao, you piece of trash, you're really disgracing our Kawasaki Family!"

An older youth holding a meter-long heavy blade looked at the boy with eyes full of disdain and disgust, and even a hint of murderous intent.

"That's right, a piece of trash like you without a shred of Reiatsu doesn't even deserve the noble surname of Kawasaki!"

"You have to know, the Second Young Master is a top student at the Shin'ō Academy, and also the future and only head of the Kawasaki Family. What kind of status do you even have!"

"You're just a bastard born to a maid, and you still want to act like a young master of the Kawasaki Family? What a daydream!"

"..."

As soon as the youth Kawasaki Ming finished speaking, the followers behind him immediately began to curse and jeer one after another, their faces turning red and necks swelling as if they held some deep-seated grudge. Yet everyone understood that the only reason they cursed with such vigor was simply to curry favor in front of Kawasaki Ming, a youth who might potentially become the head of the Kawasaki Family.

Yet the boy remained motionless, as if he hadn't heard a thing. Fresh blood flowed from the wound on his head, dripping down his face onto the ground, yet it failed to make the boy knit his brows by even a fraction.

"Not hurting, are you? Then let your older brother here give you a proper workout!"

The boy's behavior seemed to completely enrage Kawasaki Ming. Wearing a gloomy expression, he roared, "Hit him! Beat him to death, I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

"Yes, Second Young Master!"

Hearing Kawasaki Ming's words, the followers behind him chorused their acknowledgment. Instantly, they cracked their knuckles and swarmed forward with grim grins.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

Sounds of beating and cursing suddenly echoed through the training ground once again, but the boy's voice was the only thing absent.

Meanwhile, outside the gates of the Kawasaki Estate, a large crowd had arrived. Every single one of them was dressed in bright, splendid attire, their gazes filled with an arrogant air of superiority. Yet whenever they shifted their gazes toward the man at the very front, all of them revealed a mix of awe and a hint of fear.

The man had a square face, straight eyebrows, and tightly pressed lips that revealed a lofty, supreme majesty—the majesty belonging to one who stood at the absolute pinnacle.

He wore standard Shinigami attire, over which was draped a pure white haori representing his rank as captain. A large kanji for 'Two' was inscribed upon it, signifying the man's identity.

The current head of the Shihōin, one of the Four Great Noble Families, captain of the Gotei 13 Second Division, commander-in-chief of the Onmitsukidō, and supreme commander-in-chief of the First Division Punishment Force—Shihōin Shanqing.

Following behind him were the current heads or important figures of various medium and small noble families from Soul Society. Their common trait was that every single one of them belonged to families affiliated with the Shihōin. Among them was the current head of the minor Kawasaki Family, Kawasaki Jie, who served as a seated officer in the Second Division.

"Lord Father, walk a bit faster!"

Bouncing along ahead of them, a girl who had already fallen behind a short distance suddenly turned around and called out.

"I say, Yoruichi!"

A hint of helplessness appeared on Shihōin Shanqing's dignified face as he said, "My precious daughter, what on earth are you trying to do, dragging all these people along with us? There's still plenty of work to do back in the division!"

"What does that have to do with me!" Yoruichi Shihōin puffed out her small cheeks and retorted, "It's not like I dragged them here. They insisted on following us of their own accord, right? I only asked Lord Father to come over, I didn't invite them!"

"Besides, what I'm going to do is my secret, I'm not telling you!"

Tossing her head with a grin, Yoruichi Shihōin turned straight around and walked ahead.

Yoruichi Shihōin, princess of the Shihōin and at the same time its sole heir. Her wheat-toned skin was as naturally beautiful as her name suggested, possessing the captivating charm of the night. Her short, ear-length purple hair perfectly inherited the straightforward and bold temperament characteristic of the Shihōin, while adding a touch of vitality to her. Her golden-yellow eyes, resembling yellow topaz, were brimming with liveliness and slyness, along with a trace of hidden wildness.

At these words, Shihōin Shanqing shook his head helplessly, and spoke indifferently to Kawasaki Jie, who was lagging a few steps behind, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Tenth Seat Kawasaki!"

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" Kawasaki Jie waved his hands repeatedly, keeping his head bowed respectfully as he said, "It is the greatest honor for the Kawasaki Family that Lady Yoruichi is able to visit!"

"Mn!"

Shihōin Shanqing nodded, and just as he was about to speak again—

"Boom!"

With a sudden, violent crash, the wall by the entrance was blasted open, and a figure was sent flying straight out, crashing heavily into another wall. Fresh, crimson blood continuously flowed from the forehead, bridge of the nose, corners of the mouth, and body, rapidly pooling into a bloody puddle on the ground.

Strangely enough, the figure did not emit the slightest sound, nor did he even twitch.

Yoruichi Shihōin, who had been standing closest and was startled by the event, wore an annoyed expression as she was about to open her mouth to demand an explanation, but her gaze suddenly locked onto that pair of pitch-black eyes devoid of the slightest ripple. There was no life within them, only a vast expanse of dim, dead silence.

Yes, that's right, absolute dead silence. If she didn't know that the person before her was a living human, Yoruichi Shihōin would never have believed he was still breathing. Taking another look at the injuries and blood covering his body, Yoruichi Shihōin felt a sense of disbelief, though the overriding emotions were unbearable pity and sympathy.

Right at that moment, Kawasaki Ming walked out with several followers, muttering curses under his breath. Upon catching sight of Yoruichi Shihōin, Shihōin Shanqing, and the group led by his father Kawasaki Jie, he abruptly cut off his scolding and hurried over.

"Lord Shihōin, esteemed family heads, Lord Elders!" Kawasaki Ming executed a respectful aristocratic bow. Once finished, he turned his gaze toward Yoruichi Shihōin and bowed again, saying, "Lady Yoruichi!"

"Don't call me that!"

Yoruichi Shihōin showed him no courtesy whatsoever. Given her status and position, she indeed had no need to care about Kawasaki Ming's thoughts.

Seeing the abusive manner Kawasaki Ming had displayed when he appeared, Yoruichi Shihōin knew instantly that this fellow was the one who had beaten the boy before her into such a state. Just how cruel of a heart must one possess to do that!

"Kawasaki Family Head, what is the meaning of this!"

Shihōin Shanqing's expression also turned somewhat ugly. He was no fool or idiot; whatever Yoruichi Shihōin could figure out, naturally he could too.

The Shihōin, much like the declining Shiba Family of the Four Great Noble Families, possessed a core nature that was bold, unrestrained, and unconcerned with minor details.

"Lord Shihōin!"

Feeling Shihōin Shanqing's displeasure and hearing the deliberate inclusion of the word 'Family Head' in his address, Kawasaki Jie knew that Shihōin Shanqing was questioning him in his capacity as head of the Shihōin. Therefore, he had no choice but to respond in his capacity as the head of an affiliate family to the Shihōin.

"This is my youngest son, the same age as Lady Yoruichi this year!" Kawasaki Jie replied with his head lowered, though his tone carried an indelible disgust, "It's just that he was born completely devoid of spiritual power, and moreover..."

"So what if he has no spiritual power!" Before Kawasaki Jie could finish, Yoruichi Shihōin cried out angrily, "Without spiritual power, is he no longer your son?!"

That's right, in Soul Society, power was indeed the most paramount thing, but weren't there still various bonds between people? Not to mention the bonds of father and son, or brothers—relationships couldn't simply rely on power alone. Although as someone born to nobility, she understood the importance of strength far better, and noble youths without power were essentially left with nothing, Yoruichi Shihōin had always firmly believed that beyond power, there were also emotions: familial affection, friendship, or love.

"Lady Yoruichi!" Kawasaki Ming spoke softly, "However..."

"I already told you not to call me that!" Yoruichi Shihōin yelled in exasperation, "Shut your mouth!"

"I... don't need your pity..."