Kaien Shiba

Soul Society, Seireitei, Shihōin estate backyard.

The weather was nice today, and Yoruichi Shihōin was in a good mood as well. So she decisively gave herself a day off. Uh... a day off she gave herself.

She moved a chair beneath a tree and lounged there with the pastries Shadow had just brought her in hand.

Before she knew it, the plate of pastries had quickly been emptied. Yoruichi Shihōin licked her lips, still wanting more. Just as she was about to call Shadow over for another serving, Shihōin Shanqing walked in.

"Yoruichi, you..."

"Ah! Father!" Yoruichi Shihōin leaped up in fright and shouted, "Shadow, run!"

Before her voice had even faded, Shihōin Shanqing saw a black blur flash before his eyes. Yoruichi Shihōin had vanished from in front of him. His mouth twitched and veins bulged on his forehead. Shihōin Shanqing took a deep breath and tried his best to suppress his anger, but...

Boom!

The shattered stone table bore witness to Shihōin Shanqing's failed attempt at restraint.

West Rukongai, Eleventh District, forest.

A black figure silently appeared with a girl with wheat-colored skin and short purple hair on his back. The birds in the surrounding trees seemed not to have noticed them at all. They neither chirped nor flew away.

"Father didn't catch up to us, right?"

Yoruichi Shihōin jumped down from Shadow's back and looked behind her.

"No, Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow answered at once. He had great confidence in his Body Flicker Technique.

"That's good!" Yoruichi Shihōin nodded and laughed. "We can play to our hearts' content again today! Shadow, let's play hide-and-seek!"

"Ah?"

Shadow froze, but Yoruichi Shihōin gave him no time to object. She turned and ran into the forest.

"Lady Yoruichi..." Shadow rubbed his forehead, feeling both helpless and nostalgic. "She really is just like Lady Anko."

"Lady Yoruichi!"

With a voice that was cold yet helpless, Shadow jumped down from a tree branch.

"Haha..."

Yoruichi Shihōin poked her head out from beneath a tree and laughed. "You found me, Shadow!"

"Did I even need to look?" Shadow's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he grumbled, Within the range of my spiritual detection net, I can see her with a single thought! And I still have to pretend I can't find her. What a hassle!

Of course, Shadow would never say such things aloud.

"Since you found me, it's your turn to hide, Shadow! I'll look for you!" Yoruichi Shihōin laughed.

Shadow sighed inwardly. Again? Still, seeing how happy Yoruichi Shihōin was, the corners of his lips curved ever so slightly.

"Damn it, where did Shadow hide? Why can't I find him anywhere?!"

Half an hour later, Lady Yoruichi Shihōin, having searched for ages without finding anyone, was beside herself. But she immediately swung her arms and encouraged herself. "I'm the great Lady Yoruichi Shihōin! How could I possibly admit defeat?! I'll definitely find him!"

Suddenly, her body stopped just as she was about to turn away. She looked in a certain direction, her gaze turning grave.

"That Reiatsu is... Kaien!"

Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes widened. Before she had time to think, she used Shunpo and rushed toward the source of the Reiatsu.

On a tree branch not far from Yoruichi Shihōin, Shadow's figure suddenly stiffened before vanishing in an instant.

Shunpo was originally Yoruichi Shihōin's specialty, and the distance was not far. She soon arrived at the place where the Reiatsu had come from.

She saw a Hollow as tall as a man, wearing a bone mask, attacking a young man. Rather than attacking him, though, it was more like toying with him. Its scarlet eyes looked upon the youth as though he were an ant.

Boom!

The messy-haired youth was sent flying again and slammed into the ground.

Kaien Shiba felt stifled. He had finally gotten a rare day off from Shin'ō Academy and merely wanted to go home for a visit, only to be targeted by a Hollow that had suddenly appeared.

If it had been an ordinary Lesser Hollow, then with his talent, even if he could not defeat it, he could at least escape. Yet the unlucky Kaien Shiba had encountered an Adjuchas instead—a Menos Grande with strength comparable to a captain's.

This is bad! Kaien Shiba grimaced. When he turned his head and saw his friend Yoruichi Shihōin arriving, his expression became even uglier.

Before he could say anything, the Adjuchas noticed Yoruichi Shihōin as well. Excitement flashed in its scarlet eyes. "Another delicious morsel with fairly decent Reiatsu. Wonderful!"

"What are you doing here? Coming here to die?!" Kaien Shiba gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening.

"Kaien..."

"Yoruichi, run!"

Kaien Shiba roared, then turned and charged at the Adjuchas with his Zanpakutō in hand. No matter what, he had to buy time for his friend to escape. He had no idea how much time he could buy, but it was the only thing he could do.

"Revolve, Water and Heaven! Nejibana!!!"

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow suddenly appeared where Yoruichi Shihōin had last been, only to flash away again immediately.

"Damn it, I was too careless!"

Yoruichi Shihōin regretted it now. She regretted it deeply. Why had she been so reckless? Why had she not brought Shadow with her? She also regretted not studying Kido properly. Now, aside from the Shunpo she excelled at and used to sneak out of the Shihōin estate, she could barely do anything. But it was already too late for regret.

All she could do now was pray that Shadow would quickly realize she was missing and rush over.

Yoruichi Shihōin swore to herself that if she could return safely this time, she would study hard from now on and never skip class again. But she did not know whether she would still be alive by the time Shadow arrived.

"Yoruichi, get out of the way... Aah!!!"

A sharp arm pierced straight through Kaien Shiba's chest as he leaped in front of Yoruichi Shihōin. Blood stained the ground red.

"Kaien!"

Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes went wide as she watched pain twist Kaien Shiba's face.

"Run... run..."

Kaien Shiba murmured softly. He no longer had any strength left.

"No one is going anywhere!" The Adjuchas bared its pale white teeth. "How could I allow my prey to escape?"

Pulling its sharp arm from Kaien Shiba's body, the Adjuchas grinned wickedly as it approached Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Let me eat you first, little brat!"

Yoruichi Shihōin gritted her teeth. Just as she was preparing to risk her life in a final struggle, a pitch-black blade flashed like lightning and forced the Adjuchas back. A figure then appeared before her.

"Shadow!"

"Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow picked Yoruichi Shihōin up and used the Body Flicker Technique several times to reach Kaien Shiba. Shadow had a fairly favorable impression of the youth who had saved Yoruichi Shihōin.

"I'm fine, Shadow!"

Yoruichi Shihōin shook her head, sat up straight, and looked at Kaien Shiba with concern. "How is Kaien?"

Shadow frowned slightly and answered, "Don't worry, Lady Yoruichi. He won't die anytime soon!"

"Really?" Yoruichi Shihōin finally let out a breath of relief.

Shadow nodded, then turned around. His pitch-black gaze instantly became cold and filled with killing intent. He truly did not dare imagine what would have happened if he had arrived one step later.

"You deserve to die!"