Shadow

"Lady Yoruichi..."

"Wait!"

Kawasaki Ming's gloomy voice suddenly rang out. "What right do you have to stay by Lady Yoruichi's side? Do you think having spiritual power and a Zanpakutō is enough? You're still far from it!"

As he spoke, he raised the heavy blade in his hand and slashed down fiercely.

"Stop!"

"Stop, Kawasaki Ming!"

Kawasaki Jie and Yoruichi Shihōin spoke almost at the same time, but it was already too late.

The blade struck Shadow's back, but the cruel smile on Kawasaki Ming's lips suddenly froze. His pupils instantly dilated, his face filled with disbelief. Yoruichi Shihōin and the others beside him were equally shocked.

"No... impossible! How is this possible?!"

Kawasaki Ming shouted, his face pale. His blade had indeed struck Shadow's back, yet there was not even the slightest trace of injury—not even his clothes had been damaged.

Meanwhile, the hand Kawasaki Ming used to hold the blade was bleeding nonstop.

"There's nothing impossible about it!"

Without even turning his head, Shadow reached out and grabbed Kawasaki Ming's blade, casually flinging it to the side.

With a loud boom, that seemingly casual force smashed Kawasaki Ming's entire body into the wall.

Then Shadow's cold voice rang out. "You're too weak, and your blade is too dull. Unless you're prepared to die, you'll never be able to hurt me!"

Shihōin Shanqing frowned. He alone had noticed that this overwhelming strength had come purely from physical power. Just how strong did someone have to be to accomplish that?

Suddenly, Shihōin Shanqing thought of a possibility.

Could that Reiatsu from earlier, the one approaching Captain-class, have belonged to Shadow? If it really was him, then this boy was remarkable for someone so young. He was no longer merely a genius—he was a monster.

Then again, could his treatment of Yoruichi be part of some conspiracy? That thought only circled through Shihōin Shanqing's mind once before he dismissed it.

There were no such coincidences in this world, much less...

"Yoruichi," Shihōin Shanqing said softly.

"Father?" Yoruichi Shihōin turned back in confusion.

"Agree to it," Shihōin Shanqing said. "Didn't you want to take him in just now?"

"Of course I know!"

Yoruichi Shihōin nodded, then took Shadow's hand. A broad smile appeared on her wheat-colored face. "I was surprised that you possessed spiritual power, but we agreed on this beforehand. So, please take care of me!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow lowered his head respectfully. "Shadow understands!"

"Thank you, Lord Shihōin, Lady Yoruichi, for giving my son the chance to devote himself to you!"

Seeing how things stood, Kawasaki Jie immediately seized the opportunity. He did not even care about Kawasaki Ming, who lay unconscious nearby, and had completely forgotten how much he had disliked Shadow before.

"I have no father," Shadow said coldly from behind Yoruichi Shihōin.

"What are you talking about? Your name is Kawasaki Dao. You are my, Kawasaki Jie's, son—the third young master of the Kawasaki Family, the future head of the Kawasaki Family, you are—"

"When Mother died, she said she didn't hate you and told me not to seek revenge," Shadow said coldly. "Otherwise, do you think you would still be alive?"

"..."

"I've already made myself clear. My name is Shadow. I am only Lady Yoruichi's shadow, nothing more!"

With that, Shadow bowed to Yoruichi Shihōin. "If there is nothing else, Lady Yoruichi, Shadow will take his leave first!"

Before his words had even faded, Shadow's figure vanished in an instant, silently, as though he had never been there at all.

What incredible speed. This boy had truly given Shihōin Shanqing far too many surprises.

After walking far away from the Kawasaki Family, Ōmaeda Xizhijin finally could not hold back any longer.

"Captain, are you really at ease letting him follow Lady Yoruichi?"

"What is there to worry about, Ōmaeda?" Shihōin Shanqing smiled and asked in return. "Then what was your first impression of him?"

"My first impression?" Ōmaeda Xizhijin thought for a moment before finally uttering a few words. "Cold, proud, powerful, mysterious."

"Exactly." Shihōin Shanqing nodded solemnly. "People like that possess talent, diligence, and the heart of the strong. But precisely because of that, their pride means they will never easily devote themselves to anyone. Yet once they do, they usually never betray them!"

"Captain!" Ōmaeda Xizhijin still seemed only half convinced. "How could you tell?"

"By feeling," Shihōin Shanqing said with a smile. "An indescribable feeling. With him by Yoruichi's side, I'm quite at ease. When Yoruichi succeeds me in the future, he will definitely be her strongest support!"

Over the next few days, Shadow faithfully followed Yoruichi Shihōin wherever she went. No matter what she did or said, Shadow acted as though he would obey her every command.

After hearing from Shihōin Shanqing that Shadow was very strong, Yoruichi Shihōin had someone backing her up. In just these few days, she caused no shortage of trouble—never making any major mistakes, but constantly committing small ones. The Shihōin household became exceptionally lively.

Yoruichi Shihōin was happy, but her father, Shihōin Shanqing, was miserable. He had nowhere to vent his anger. Shadow being obedient was certainly a good thing, but being too obedient was not—especially when he listened only to Yoruichi Shihōin.

Soul Society, Seireitei, one of the Four Great Noble Families—the Shihōin residence, Yoruichi Shihōin's courtyard.

Inside the room, an old man held a book as he stood before a blackboard, explaining Reiatsu and Kido. Beneath the lectern sat Lady Yoruichi Shihōin, her eyes open but her mind obviously elsewhere.

At that moment, the old man closed his book, slowly turned around, and asked, "Did you understand?"

"What?"

Well, the old man's voice had one advantage: it instantly brought Yoruichi Shihōin back to her senses.

"I asked whether you understood."

The old man had no choice but to repeat himself, though he had clearly already guessed the answer.

"It's already noon!"

As expected, Lady Yoruichi Shihōin answered the wrong question. After thinking for a moment, she turned toward the door and called out, "Shadow, hurry up. I'm hungry!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

As his voice sounded, the door slid open. Shadow entered alongside the old butler, who had already prepared the meal. One after the other, they placed the food from their trays onto the table, then stepped aside.

"But, Lady Yoruichi, today's lesson hasn't yet—"

"Get out."

The emotionless voice was cold, yet it seemed to explode right beside him. The old man was so frightened that he did not dare say another word. He grabbed his books and fled. What a joke—if he stayed any longer and angered that God of Slaughter, his life truly would be in danger. He did not want to die yet.

Yoruichi Shihōin did not care whether the old man had left. She was already wolfing down a chicken leg, grease covering her hands and the corners of her mouth.

Her crude table manners, utterly lacking the refinement expected of a noble young lady, made the old butler's expression turn extremely ugly. He simply could not approve of such conduct unbecoming of nobility.

Unable to endure it any longer, the old butler spoke up. "Lady Yoruichi, please mind your noble etiquette!"

However, before the old butler could even react after speaking, the black tip of a blade was already pressed against his throat. The chill and killing intent emanating from it made cold sweat pour down his head. He could not help regretting that he had forgotten this fellow was still here.

"Get out."

It was still that single word. Without even glancing at him, Shadow withdrew his Zanpakutō, took a damp towel, and handed it to Yoruichi Shihōin.

The old butler used Shunpo to flee with a face full of lingering fear, not daring to say another word.

After the old butler left, Yoruichi Shihōin, still gnawing on her chicken leg, immediately burst into laughter. She gave the expressionless Shadow a grease-covered thumbs-up, her golden eyes turning with mischief written all over her face.