Black Cat

By the time they stepped out of the restaurant, it was late at night.

Few people walked the streets of Rukongai, and only a handful of shops still had their lights on.

"We'll be heading back, then," Kaien said, waving goodbye. "I had a great time today. You should head back early too, senpai. Let's get together again sometime."

"Sure."

They waved goodbye to one another.

After seeing the Shiba siblings off, Wang Xun prepared to return to the Spiritual Arts Academy.

He had taken two steps when he suddenly stopped.

He saw a cat crouching on the wall of a nearby courtyard.

It was black all over, its eyes alone gleaming gold in the moonlight as it watched Wang Xun in silence.

Its posture was graceful and composed. It looked less like a stray and more like it was patrolling its territory.

Wang Xun was taken aback.

Then he held out a hand to the cat.

"Pspsps, kitty..."

The cat watched him silently, without reacting.

Wang Xun clicked his tongue.

No way...

After a moment's thought, he turned back to the new Ichiraku restaurant and asked the kitchen for a few freshly grilled yakitori skewers. Carrying them in a greaseproof paper bag, he went back.

Sure enough, the black cat was still there. Its tail swayed gently when it saw him return.

Wang Xun walked up to the wall and held up the yakitori skewers.

"Want some?"

The black cat tilted its head, seemingly sizing him up.

A few seconds later, it jumped lightly down from the wall, then hopped onto a stone platform nearby and watched Wang Xun in silence.

Wang Xun got the message and placed the yakitori, still on the greaseproof paper, on the clean stone platform. Only then did the black cat step forward, lower its head for a sniff, and bite off a piece of chicken.

It ate slowly and elegantly, chewing each mouthful carefully. Its golden eyes narrowed, revealing an almost human look of satisfaction.

After finishing an entire skewer, the black cat licked its paw and looked up at Wang Xun.

Wang Xun crouched down and tentatively reached out, wanting to stroke its head.

But the black cat nimbly stepped back, avoiding his hand.

It gave Wang Xun one last look. There seemed to be some deeper meaning in its gaze, as though it were both appraising and approving of him.

Then it deftly picked up the greaseproof paper bag, with several yakitori skewers still inside, and bounded up the wall in a few steps before disappearing into the night.

Wang Xun stood there, looking at the empty wall, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

That cat was definitely no ordinary cat.

Could it really be her?

Eh, whatever.

Wang Xun yawned, put it out of his mind, and turned to leave.

On a flat rooftop in the distance, a black shadow flashed past, so quickly it might have been an illusion.

The next moment, a lithe figure appeared on the roof, holding a yakitori skewer and eating it with relish.

"Not bad."

Yoruichi Shihōin licked the sauce from the corner of her mouth, her golden eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"That kid knows how to play along."

Beside her, Soi Fon crouched there holding Yoruichi's clothes, a look of utter dismay on her face.

"Lady Yoruichi, acting like this... is unbecoming of your station."

"What's the big deal? Soi Fon, you care too much about what other people think. Keep that up and you'll turn into a fuddy-duddy."

A fuddy-duddy?

Me?

Soi Fon was stunned.

Smiling, Yoruichi put on the clothes Soi Fon handed her.

"All right. I finally got a chance to go out for a stroll, and I didn't expect to run into that kid."

Soi Fon fell silent for a moment. Seeing Yoruichi's casual expression, she did not think it had been a purely chance encounter.

Soi Fon spoke softly.

"What do you think of him?"

Yoruichi's smile remained unchanged, but her gaze grew profound.

"He hides himself well. He clearly has the strength of a Seated Officer, yet he had the patience to pose as an ordinary student at the Spiritual Arts Academy for years. His character, endurance, and acting are all first-rate."

"Then why recruit him into your ranks?" the young Soi Fon asked, looking puzzled. "Wouldn't someone like that be more dangerous?"

"Soi Fon, only a blade you can't see is truly frightening. At least for now, I know where the blade is and how sharp it is."

"Precisely because he's dangerous, I need to keep him where I can see him. Besides, don't you think he's a good fit for our Stealth Force?"

Yoruichi patted Soi Fon on the shoulder.

"And we still haven't discovered why Hasegawa sought him out. You remember the testimony, don't you? Hasegawa kept him behind alone. Do you think that was just a coincidence?"

Soi Fon's gaze sharpened. Though she couldn't fathom Lady Yoruichi's deeper meaning, that didn't stop her from seeing how complicated the matter was.

Yoruichi vaulted off the roof, moving as lightly as a cat.

She glanced in the direction of Shin'ō Academy, then looked toward the direction the Shiba siblings had gone, a smile curling her lips.

"All right, I'm going to visit a few old friends in a bit. You can head back first."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi, but... please don't turn into a cat again..."

"...Just go on."

"Yes..."

Soi Fon turned and left. After walking a short distance, she secretly glanced back.

Yoruichi was still standing where she had been, quietly watching her leave.

Startled, Soi Fon dared not look back again and went straight on her way.

Once Soi Fon was far away, Yoruichi's lips curved slightly upward. Her form shifted, and she turned into a black cat once more.

After hiding her clothes in a nearby bush, she slipped away into the distance with light steps.

Yoruichi traveled through West Rukongai under cover of night until she saw the Shiba Clan's distinctive pair of giant stone arms, casting silent shadows in the moonlight.

Deep inside the residence, Kaien Shiba and Kūkaku, who had only recently returned, were drinking tea and chatting in the hall, reminiscing about that evening's meal.

Ganju, worn out from running deliveries during the day, had already gone back to his room to rest.

Suddenly, Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, who were guarding the entrance hall, raised their heads almost simultaneously and looked sharply toward the stairs leading to the surface.

As loyal servants of a former great noble family, they were far more sensitive to Reiatsu than the ordinary souls of Rukongai.

"We have a visitor,"

Koganehiko said quietly, his voice steady.

"They're moving very quietly. Shall we take a look?"

Shiroganehiko replied. The brothers exchanged a glance and rose soundlessly to their feet, their bodies already on alert.

They climbed the steps and gently pulled open the heavy door.

Moonlight spilled like mercury across the open ground before the entrance.

Outside the door, an elegant black figure sat quietly, its golden eyes shining in the darkness.

Though it was looking up at the two men, its expression somehow had an air of looking down on them.

Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko both froze, then realization and reverence appeared on their faces. They immediately bowed slightly.

"Lady Yoruichi, it's you."

Koganehiko lowered his voice, his tone respectful.

"It has been a long time. Please forgive us for not coming out to greet you. The head of the house and the second head are inside. Please, come in."

Yoruichi, in the form of a black cat, nodded lightly in response.

She descended the steps gracefully, landing without a sound, and followed Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko at an unhurried pace into the unusual residence built underground.

"Lord Kaien, Lady Kūkaku, Lady Yoruichi Shihōin has arrived!"

Koganehiko announced in a loud voice.

Kaien and Kūkaku both froze at the news. It was only when Yoruichi appeared in the doorway of the hall that they came to their senses.

"Yoruichi?"

Kūkaku cried out in surprise, and Kaien's hand paused slightly as he held his teacup.

"Hey, it's been a while, Kaien, Kūkaku."