Provocation

"Sōgo will be Urahara's opponent?"

Yoruichi Shihōin was momentarily taken aback by Sōgo's words.

"Please, Sis~" Sōgo Shihoin pressed his palms together and bowed to Yoruichi in supplication. "I really want to play with Urahara~ Don't worry~ I won't break him, and I'll make sure he masters his Bankai."

"Yoruichi."

Kisuke Urahara spoke Yoruichi's name with deep feeling. He had a premonition that Sōgo would definitely play dirty with him.

"That works, too, but you must know where to draw the line."

Yoruichi Shihōin had great faith in Sōgo's strength and nodded lightly.

"Don't worry, Sis!"

Sōgo Shihoin bowed to Yoruichi and gave his assurance.

"Kirinji's palace has special healing hot springs. No matter how serious the injuries, a soak will have you full of life again in no time!" Afraid Yoruichi would not believe him, Sōgo Shihoin turned to Tenjirō Kirinji for confirmation. "Am I right, Kirinji?"

"Of course. Even if you're half dead, as long as you aren't actually dead, my hot springs can save you. I'm super confident about that."

Tenjirō Kirinji gave a thumbs-up as he spoke, a thumbs-up for his own talent that far surpassed that of ordinary people.

"That puts my mind at ease."

Yoruichi Shihōin nodded lightly at Sōgo.

"No, that doesn't put my mind at ease at all." Kisuke Urahara shook his head repeatedly. "Sōgo is obviously planning to beat me half to death, isn't he?"

"What are you talking about, Urahara?" Sōgo Shihoin draped an arm around Kisuke Urahara's shoulders, looking as though he had Urahara's best interests at heart. "I'm doing this for your own good. The beatings you take now mean fewer blades in you on the battlefield later."

"Indeed, Sōgo has a point. Taking more beatings now means shedding less blood on the battlefield later. In any case, let's both do our best, Urahara!" Yoruichi Shihōin folded her arms across her chest and nodded lightly. She knew her younger brother was still serious when it came to serious matters. After encouraging herself and Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin turned toward Tenjirō Kirinji. "Master Kirinji, let's begin our training, too!"

"Hmph~ So impatient. Since you can't wait, let's begin~" The corners of Tenjirō Kirinji's mouth rose slightly at Yoruichi Shihōin's words. "But let me warn you first: my training is grueling. Don't blame me if you die."

"Don't worry, Sis~" Before Yoruichi Shihōin could speak, Sōgo Shihoin patted Kisuke Urahara's shoulder and smiled. "If you suffer so much as a scratch, I'll send him to meet you immediately, then kill Kirinji to avenge you."

"Wait, I have to die even if she's only injured?"

Tenjirō Kirinji felt this was very unfair.

"No, you've got it good enough already. I'm the unluckiest one here." Kisuke Urahara raised his hand like a student. "I came here to get beaten up in the first place, and now I'm going to lose my life for no reason."

"What are you talking about, Mr. Male Consort? Isn't accompanying your lord to the next world precisely your duty?"

Sōgo Shihoin patted Kisuke Urahara's shoulder, trying to reassure him.

"No, the male consort part is already strange."

Kisuke Urahara shook his head with a wry smile.

"Don't worry, Sis! I know Squad Zero's secret. As long as Tenjirō's connection to the Soul King remains, he can revive endlessly. So after killing Tenjirō to avenge you, I'll immediately destroy the Kirinden, then force the Big-Eyed Monk to sever Tenjirō Kirinji's connection to the Soul King."

Sōgo Shihoin ignored Kisuke Urahara's retort and addressed his older sister, Yoruichi Shihōin, instead.

"Are you a devil?"

"Killing me isn't enough? You have to dig up my grave and scatter my ashes, too?"

"If that's how you're going to be, find someone else, all right? I can't train a fragile vase."

Tenjirō Kirinji took two steps backward as he spoke.

"Don't mind what Sōgo says. I'm not that fragile."

"Sōgo, the battle ahead belongs to me. If I die, it simply means I lacked the caliber and was, at most, just some small fry who would die during training. You absolutely must not avenge me! Return to the Shihoin family immediately and inherit the position of family head. This isn't a request from your older sister, but an order from your family head."

Starlight flickered in Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes. Her short hair looked both beautiful and dashing, and everything about her was crisp and decisive!

"Understood, Family Head."

Sōgo Shihoin 'looked' at his sister before him and lowered his head slightly to show he understood.

"Master Kirinji, let's begin!"

After giving Sōgo her instructions, Yoruichi Shihōin turned to Kirinji.

"Now I know why the little monster likes you so much. An older sister, huh~ How nice~ Now I want an older sister, too~"

Tenjirō Kirinji rubbed his chin, his face full of enjoyment. He liked this feeling.

"Don't worry, kid~ Someone like your sister belongs on a bigger stage. She won't die here with me."

Tenjirō Kirinji beckoned to Yoruichi, signaling for her to train elsewhere, and spoke to Sōgo before leaving.

"That puts my mind at ease."

Sōgo slowly let out a breath and grabbed Kisuke Urahara by the collar.

"Hm?"

A bad premonition instantly rose in Kisuke Urahara's heart.

"Our battle starts now, too~"

As he spoke, Sōgo hurled Kisuke Urahara toward the rock-filled training ground.

"Awaken, Benihime~"

While airborne, Kisuke Urahara instantly released his Zanpakuto, flipped several times through the air, and landed steadily on the ground.

"Oh?"

Sōgo narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Urahara handle his surprise attack with ease.

"Um, if the goal is to train my Bankai, I actually have a better method. I have an invention that can effectively train my Bankai."

After landing, Kisuke Urahara wore a relaxed smile, but inwardly he was deeply startled. Had he not actually been on guard against Sōgo all along, he would already have fallen for that move.

"No need. Actual combat is the most effective training."

Sōgo rejected him without even intending to ask what Urahara's invention was.

"Ahahaha... I suppose you're right?"

Kisuke Urahara held his head and smiled wryly.

"Enough nonsense, Urahara. Didn't you come here to get stronger? While we're somewhere I can act freely, hurry up and chase after me with everything you've got~ The weak can't protect anything."

Sōgo Shihoin beckoned to Kisuke Urahara, signaling for him to attack.

"All right~ Then be careful, Sōgo!" The instant Urahara spoke Sōgo's name, Kisuke Urahara moved. "Scream, Benihime!"

A scarlet beam like a Cero instantly flashed from Kisuke Urahara's hand and shot toward Sōgo Shihoin.

"Now that's a surprise."

Watching the bloodred blast roar toward him, Sōgo Shihoin shifted slightly to the side and dodged it.

Boom~

A roar instantly came from behind Sōgo, along with endless clouds of dust and sand.

"Oh my~" Kisuke Urahara gave Sōgo Shihoin a smug smile. "I still can't quite control Benihime's power, so you'd better be very careful, little Sōgo. Otherwise, if you get hurt in a moment, I won't be able to explain it to Yoruichi."

Having said that, Kisuke Urahara lowered his head slightly, his gaze exceptionally calm and serious.

Provocation?

Sōgo Shihoin instantly understood Kisuke Urahara's tactic. Since his opponent was someone he could not defeat head-on, he had to resort to little tricks. It was a clever way to fight, and it had worked.

Whoosh.

Provoked, Sōgo Shihoin instantly appeared behind Kisuke Urahara and kicked straight at his backside.

(End of chapter)