Kenpachi Zaraki's roar gradually faded into the distance.
The Third Division's courtyard fell quiet again.
Yoriichi looked down at the low table.
The pieces on the board were a complete mess, and Kenpachi had even squeezed cracks into a few of them.
Clearly, he had really tried his best.
Yoriichi put the pieces back into their wooden box one by one, then stowed the board beneath the table.
He was just about to resume his division duties when a head of long blond hair suddenly appeared above the courtyard wall.
Then a hand grabbed the top of the wall.
Rangiku Matsumoto struggled over the wall, slipped as she landed, and nearly plunged headfirst into the flower bed.
Yoriichi looked toward the open courtyard gate.
It was less than five steps from where she had climbed over.
Rangiku dusted herself off and explained, "It's easier to get spotted going through the gate."
She glanced around, made sure no one was chasing her, then hurried beneath the tree.
A moment later, Rangiku crouched opposite Yoriichi, hugging her knees as though she had lost all hope in life.
Yoriichi poured her a cup of tea.
"What's wrong?"
Rangiku accepted the cup and heaved a long sigh.
"Captain Yoriichi, I might not survive this."
"Are you injured?"
"It's worse than an injury."
"Poisoned?"
"It's scarier than poisoning."
Yoriichi looked at her for a few seconds.
Rangiku was healthy, her reiatsu was stable, and there was nothing unusual about her face.
Except that she looked a little guilty.
"Out of booze?"
Rangiku clutched her chest.
"Pretty much."
To her, this truly was a life-threatening matter.
Rangiku drained her tea in one gulp and said miserably, "The Tenth Division went over budget this month."
"The captain told me to collect the miscellaneous payments the other divisions