Yamamoto watched Yoriichi resting with his eyes closed, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
The brat knew perfectly well what he was waiting for, yet insisted on pretending otherwise.
In terms of strength, no one in the Gotei 13 could keep Yoriichi in check anymore.
In terms of shamelessness, the brat had lately been growing less and less like he had been when he first arrived in the Soul Society, too.
Silence settled over the Kendo Room once more.
In the end, Yamamoto spoke first.
"Yoriichi, boy."
"Hm?"
Yoriichi opened his eyes.
"Practice swordsmanship with me."
Yoriichi froze for a moment.
Not a mission report?
He wasn't asking about the Dangai, either?
His eyes immediately lit up.
Getting scolded was out.
Sword practice was fine.
Since becoming the Third Division Captain, Yoriichi had practiced swordsmanship with Unohana many times, and Zaraki often came looking for him to fight and spar, too.
But since Rukia's rescue had ended, he had yet to cross swords with the old man again.
Yoriichi stood and reached for Hekyō.
"All right."
The gray blade had barely slid half an inch from its sheath when Yamamoto's wooden staff struck the floor.
Thump.
"No Zanpakuto."
Yoriichi stopped.
Yamamoto stood, took off his outer Captain-Commander's haori, and placed it neatly beside his cushion.
"Today, we will compete in swordsmanship alone."
"With wooden swords."
Yoriichi glanced at the wooden swords by the wall, then released his grip.
Hekyō dissolved into tiny crimson particles of reishi, quickly disappearing and sinking back into his inner world.
Yamamoto raised his eyebrows slightly at the sight.
When an ordinary Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto was damaged, it took time to repair.
Yoriichi's Hekyō, however, was completely linked to his soul. It needed neither a sheath nor to be carried on his person.
"That certainly is