Captain's Succession

While he had been unconscious for nearly a month, several matters, large and small, had also occurred in Soul Society.

Juji Nanma, captain of the Third Division, had lost an arm during the battle in Hueco Mundo and chose to retire after returning to the Seireitei.

The captains of the Ninth and Tenth Divisions had also suffered severe injuries and stepped down from their posts. Division affairs were handled entirely by the three Lieutenants, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Kensei Muguruma, and Kūkaku Shiba, who were only waiting to fully master Bankai before succeeding to the captaincy.

After the great battle in Hueco Mundo, the names God of Slaughter Shadow and Flash God Yoruichi became even more renowned. But that was not the most important matter. What mattered was that a month after returning from the battle—uh, no, a few days from now—Yoruichi Shihōin would officially succeed Shihōin Shanqing and become the next captain of the Second Division, Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force, Commander-General of the First Division Punishment Force, and the twenty-second head of the Shihōin family, among a string of other titles.

In March, the leaves in the Seireitei had begun to sprout tender buds. There was neither summer's stifling heat nor winter's chill, only a distinctive freshness.

It was a wonderful season, but Shadow was not in a good mood.

Standing before the window and gazing up at the night sky, Shadow let out a heavy sigh in boredom. There was nothing wrong with his body anymore, but Yoruichi Shihōin had made up her mind not to let him leave the Fourth Division. That was how the current situation had come about.

With another soft sigh, Shadow closed the window and turned around.

"Meow..."

A cat's cry suddenly rang out. As it did, the wooden door slid open, and a black cat nimbly darted into the room. Once her tail was inside, the black cat flicked her hind leg, and the door immediately shut behind her.

The entire sequence of flawless, flowing movements left Shadow dumbfounded.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

"Mm!"

Black Cat Yoruichi answered, then leapt into Shadow's arms in a few bounds and yawned lazily.

"It must have been hard on you, Lady Yoruichi. How about I..."

"No need. I can still handle it," Black Cat Yoruichi said without even raising her head.

"My body is really fine, Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow persisted. He did not want to remain in the Fourth Division.

"Even so, no!"

Black Cat Yoruichi remained just as firm. She extended a cat paw and waved it before him, and the cold gleam of her claws made Shadow lower his head helplessly.

Holding Black Cat Yoruichi, Shadow rested his right hand on her sleek, soft back and stroked it back and forth. He sighed. "But, Lady Yoruichi, I..."

"No buts!" Black Cat Yoruichi said. "When you hadn't woken up yet, wasn't I the one handling everything?"

"I am deeply sorry, Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow lowered his head slightly, and his hand stopped moving.

"What are you apologizing for now?"

Black Cat Yoruichi froze for a moment, then realized that Shadow was apologizing for having been unconscious for nearly a month. She could not help cursing inwardly. "Idiot!"

"..." Shadow fell silent.

"I'm tired."

Black Cat Yoruichi closed her eyes and rubbed her little head against Shadow's hand.

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow walked to the bed and gently placed Black Cat Yoruichi from his arms onto it. But when he tried to stand and leave, he discovered a pair of cat paws tugging at his collar. Shadow froze.

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Without answering, a faint glow suddenly emerged from Black Cat Yoruichi's body. Then her entire body continuously shifted into human form: short purple hair falling to her ears, an exquisite figure, smooth wheat-colored skin, and slender, voluptuous legs. Her entire being radiated a wild allure.

Shadow's body instantly stiffened, and he immediately turned his flushed face away.

"Oh? Does it look good?"

The corner of Yoruichi Shihōin's lips curled up as she smiled with blatant mischief and pride. "Say, Shadow, haven't you seen it plenty of times already? Why are you still making that face?"

"Even if I get used to it, I'm still a man, Lady Yoruichi!" Shadow no longer had the strength to complain.

"Oh?"

Yoruichi Shihōin deliberately drew out the word as she watched Shadow's twitching face, secretly laughing to herself.

"Um, didn't Lady Yoruichi say she was tired? Then..."

"Huh? Shadow, what do you mean? Don't tell me you want to..."

"No, no, Lady Yoruichi, what I meant was, um..."

Seeing Shadow stammering without being able to get a word out, Yoruichi Shihōin burst into laughter. Since childhood, she had loved teasing Shadow. Seeing the ever-changing expressions on that cold face always gave her an especially strong sense of accomplishment.

Shadow was well aware of that. But knowing was one thing; every time she teased him, he still ended up utterly flustered and helpless. Yoruichi Shihōin's wicked sense of humor gave him quite a headache.

Perhaps she had laughed enough, or perhaps she was truly tired. Yoruichi Shihōin yawned and transformed back into a black cat.

Shadow could not help sighing in relief, but Black Cat Yoruichi's next words sent his heart leaping into his throat again.

"I say, why are you sighing, Shadow? Are you disappointed because you didn't get to see enough of my perfect body? If so, just say it. I'll let you admire it properly, you big pervert!"

"No, no, absolutely not!" Shadow shook his head repeatedly, his face red.

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying my figure isn't good enough to stir even the slightest interest in you?" Black Cat Yoruichi pressed the advantage without mercy.

"No, Lady Yoruichi, I..."

"If not, why do you always look so miserable?"

"I don't!"

"You don't? Then why won't you even look at me? Are you looking down on me?"

"..." Shadow broke down. "Lady Yoruichi, please spare me!"

"Hahahaha..."

At once, Black Cat Yoruichi's laughter rang through the silent Fourth Division Barracks at night, waking countless people.

Seven days later, Soul Society, Seireitei, First Division, outside the meeting room.

With flamboyant short purple hair, wheat-colored skin that carried a unique wild allure, a straight nose, and golden eyes glimmering with liveliness and cunning, Yoruichi Shihōin wore the uniform of the Punishment Force beneath a loose, imposing pure-white captain's haori. A large "Two" was emblazoned on it. She was none other than Yoruichi Shihōin, who had passed the captain's examination.

Yet Yoruichi Shihōin showed none of the excitement one would expect from someone about to become a powerful captain. She merely kept yawning, looking as though she had not woken up.

"Man, how much longer do we have to wait?"

Yoruichi Shihōin complained. Ever since she and Shihōin Shanqing had arrived that morning, they had done nothing but wait. Thinking about how she still had to visit places like the Stealth Force afterward gave her a headache.

Sure enough, being a captain was not easy. It was practically synonymous with trouble!

Yoruichi Shihōin turned around and planted her hands on her hips as she stared at the closed doors before her. Just when her patience had finally run out, the doors opened from within.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the head. The remaining captains stood in rows, with the Lieutenants of each division behind them. In the vacant Third, Ninth, and Tenth Divisions, however, the Lieutenants stood at the front.

Thud...

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto did not waste words. He heavily struck the floor with his cane, and his aged yet authoritative voice rang out.

"Upon the recommendation of the former Second Division captain, Shihōin Shanqing, this old man and three other captains, including Sixth Division captain Ginrei Kuchiki, conducted the captain's examination. In terms of both strength and character, she is fully qualified for the position of captain!"

"Therefore, I, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, hereby appoint the former Third Seat of the Second Division, Yoruichi Shihōin, as the new captain of the Second Division. Her succession begins immediately!"

Soul Society, Seireitei, Second Division.

Looking at the densely packed division members in the plaza, Yoruichi Shihōin calmly walked onto the platform and began her speech. Dressed in a captain's haori, she had none of her usual playfulness. Every gesture carried a trace of nobility and authority.

"...Anyway! From this day forward, I will be the new captain of the Second Division. I will lead everyone to fight together and work hard together. Please believe in me, because I am... Yoruichi Shihōin!"

"Captain!!!"

The atmosphere in the plaza seemed to ignite in an instant. All the division members raised their arms and cheered loudly.

Watching the boiling plaza, Shihōin Shanqing, who stood atop the roof of the barracks opposite them, could not help sighing in relief.

"At last, one matter has been settled. I hope Yoruichi can truly do as she said. But with her personality..."

"Yoruichi is not that reckless. Don't worry too much, Shanqing," Ginrei Kuchiki said.

"Mm! You're right!" Shihōin Shanqing nodded. Then his expression suddenly became solemn and earnest as he said, "Shadow, from now on, I'm truly entrusting Yoruichi to you!"

"..."

"Hey! I'm talking to you. Shouldn't you give me a serious answer to such a serious matter?"

"Hmph..."

At that cold snort, Shihōin Shanqing's face darkened. Seeing the cold expression on Shadow's face made anger rise in his heart, but then he remembered that today was Yoruichi Shihōin's succession as captain—a happy occasion.

Don't lose your temper. Hold it in! I have to hold it in!

After encouraging himself like that, Shihōin Shanqing gradually calmed down, though the corners of his mouth twitched. How could he not know? Shadow's loyalty meant he could finally rest at ease.

Yoruichi!

The Shihōin family, the Second Division, the Stealth Force, and the Punishment Force are all in your hands now!