Kūkaku Shiba

The next day, Soul Society, Seireitei, Shihōin Family training grounds.

"Shadow, let's go. We're going to the Fourth Division to see Kaien!"

After training all morning, Yoruichi Shihōin remembered Kaien Shiba, who was still in the Fourth Division, and hurriedly called for Shadow.

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

The Fourth Division was the medical unit of the Gotei 13. It had the most elegant environment of all the divisions in the Seireitei. No matter the season, flowers appropriate to spring, summer, autumn, and winter bloomed in succession, lifting the spirits of the patients and injured resting there and helping them recover quickly.

Since it was not wartime, there were very few patients in the Fourth Division, and most of its members appeared rather idle.

Yoruichi Shihōin and Shadow had just entered the Fourth Division Barracks and were about to ask someone which room Kaien Shiba was in when a familiar gentle voice came from behind them.

"Ah! Yoruichi, you're here. You came to see Shiba, didn't you?"

The newcomer was none other than Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana. Dressed in a pure white captain's haori, she carried herself with practiced grace and gentleness, radiating a maternal warmth. Her black braid rested across her chest as she spoke while studying Shadow.

"Yes, Captain Unohana. How is Kaien?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked.

"He's fine, don't worry, Yoruichi." Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes and smiled. "And this must be Shadow!"

"..."

Shadow said nothing and did not even glance at Retsu Unohana, as if he had not heard her.

Yoruichi Shihōin smacked Shadow on the head and scolded him, "Captain Unohana is a respected senior! Show some manners!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

Shadow answered respectfully, then turned around and greeted her in an exceptionally cold, indifferent tone. "Captain Unohana."

Yoruichi Shihōin immediately broke into a cold sweat. "Sorry, Captain Unohana. Shadow is just like that. He doesn't mean anything by it!"

"I know." Retsu Unohana still smiled as she nodded. "Shiba's room is the second one on the third floor. You can go on ahead."

"Thank you, Captain Unohana!"

Yoruichi Shihōin answered, grabbed Shadow, and headed straight over.

"He really is cold." Watching the two figures walk away, Retsu Unohana suddenly smiled. "Still, Yoruichi has rather good luck, doesn't she? Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake, Captain Hirako?"

As soon as she finished speaking, three figures appeared nearby.

When they reached the third floor and pushed open the door to the room, they heard Kaien Shiba's usual hearty laughter before even seeing him.

"Yoruichi, what took you so long? I thought you'd forgotten all about this wounded patient!"

Kaien Shiba was the eldest son of the once-declined Shiba Family. Before the family's downfall, it had been one of the five great noble houses. With his messy black hair and bold, cheerful personality, he got along with anyone. He was currently studying at Shin'ō Academy and had awakened his Zanpakutō shortly after enrolling, making him an absolute genius. During yesterday's battle, he had even comprehended Shikai. He and Yoruichi Shihōin were very close friends.

"I trained all morning, but I came, didn't I?" Yoruichi Shihōin entered the room, looked at Kaien Shiba, and said, "You're recovering pretty well."

"Of course! This genius, Lord Kaien, won't be brought down by such minor injuries!" Kaien Shiba boasted shamelessly.

"Is that so?" Yoruichi Shihōin curled her lip.

"Oh, it's you!" Kaien Shiba turned and spotted Shadow, who had entered behind her. He immediately cried out, "That incredibly strong guy! My name is Kaien Shiba. One day, I'll surpass you!"

Shadow gave him a disdainful glance. Surpass me? With you?

Seeing that Shadow did not respond, Kaien Shiba jumped down from the bed.

"Give me some kind of reaction, you cold bastard!"

"Get lost."

Hearing Shadow's icy voice, Yoruichi Shihōin's eye twitched. She knew this was a sign that Shadow was getting impatient.

With that in mind, Yoruichi Shihōin hurried over and stood in front of Shadow, forcing a change of subject.

"By the way, Kaien, didn't Kukaku come?"

"I didn't tell her because I was afraid she'd worry." Kaien Shiba nodded. "Anyway, it's nothing serious now. I can go home in a while."

"Then I'll go back with you." Yoruichi Shihōin smiled. "It's been a long time since I last saw Kukaku."

"Mm!"

The Shiba Family had declined long ago. Its greatest specialty now was fireworks, and it had always lived in West Rukongai. As for why it did not live within the Seireitei, no one knew for sure. But regardless, even in decline, the Shiba Family still bore the name of nobility and retained its status.

By the time they arrived at the Shiba Family home, it was already afternoon. Shadow set Yoruichi Shihōin down from his back, bowed slightly, and vanished in a flash.

Yoruichi Shihōin had long grown accustomed to Shadow appearing and disappearing without warning, but this was the first time Kaien Shiba had truly seen it. He froze in astonishment.

"Yoruichi, where did he go?"

"Who knows?"

Yoruichi Shihōin waved a hand casually, ignored Kaien Shiba's conflicted expression, strode forward, and kicked open the Shiba Family's front gate. "Kukaku! Lady Yoruichi is here! Why aren't you coming out to welcome me?"

"Hey, hey! Yoruichi, that's my front gate!" Kaien Shiba wailed from behind her.

The two guards at the entrance did not so much as blink. In truth, they had long since gotten used to Yoruichi Shihōin's unique way of opening doors.

"What are you shouting about, Yoruichi?"

A girl about Yoruichi Shihōin's age emerged while yawning, a pipe in her hand. She wore a vivid, exquisite white silk robe over a red bodysuit. Though still young, her figure had already developed remarkably well, making it easy to imagine how stunning she would be once grown.

Kūkaku Shiba was the daughter of the Shiba Family and Kaien Shiba's younger sister. She was the same age as Yoruichi Shihōin, and the two had been close friends since childhood. Even the Shiba Family's decline had not changed their relationship in the slightest. She had loved smoking a pipe since she was young and hoped to one day become Soul Society's greatest fireworks maker.

Before Yoruichi Shihōin could reply, Kaien Shiba, who had entered behind her, lunged forward, snatched away the pipe, and shouted angrily, "Kukaku, how can you smoke!"

"I'm not!" Kūkaku Shiba refused to back down. She took several steps back and said with utmost seriousness, "Big Brother, I'm just airing it out. If I leave it unused for too long and it breaks, Father will be heartbroken!"

"..."

Watching his younger sister calmly and confidently defend herself, Kaien Shiba was left speechless and on the verge of tears.

"Putting that aside, Big Brother, why did you only come back today? And with Yoruichi too!"

Kūkaku Shiba spoke in an extremely suspicious tone, her eyes constantly darting between her brother and Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Could it be that Big Brother likes Yoruichi?"

"Kūkaku Shiba!" Kaien Shiba roared. "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't try to change the subject!"

"Kukaku!" Yoruichi Shihōin, who had somehow been dragged into this, looked furious.

"Is that so?"

Kūkaku Shiba remained exceptionally calm, casting a sidelong glance at Kaien Shiba. Her meaning could not have been more obvious.

Before Kaien Shiba could say anything, a wave of Reiatsu suddenly enveloped him. The cold it gave off and its immense pressure instantly crushed the breath from his lungs, turning his face pale.

"Big Brother, what's wrong with you!"

Perhaps it was true that siblings shared an instinctive bond. Kūkaku Shiba was the first to notice Kaien Shiba's abnormal state and hurried over.

Feeling the familiar fluctuation of Reiatsu in the air, Yoruichi Shihōin instantly understood what had happened.

"Shadow!"

The moment she spoke, the pressure vanished. Kaien Shiba collapsed onto the ground, gasping heavily, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

It was terrifying. Faced with that Reiatsu, Kaien Shiba realized that he could not summon even the slightest desire to resist. Remembering how he had declared that he would surpass Shadow, he finally understood just how vast the gap between them was.

But Kaien Shiba refused to admit defeat. Just because he could not do it now did not mean he never would. One day, he would succeed.

He would surpass that cold bastard.