"We're home."
Yoruichi looked at Soi Fon before her, barely able to contain her delight, and smiled fondly. She reached out and pinched her obedient subordinate's cheek.
"Oh my, still such nice skin." Watching Soi Fon's face flush crimson instantly—yet, out of deep respect, forcibly restraining herself from reacting—Yoruichi's mood brightened considerably. "Kensei, you try too. Let's properly check whether little Soi Fon missed us so much she starved herself while we were gone."
"How could I refuse such an invitation?"
Kensei cooperatively stepped forward, cupping Soi Fon's face and kneading her cheeks like dough. The pair looked like wicked bandits camping in the mountains, tormenting some innocent village girl.
"L-Lady Yoruichi! Lord Kensei!" Soi Fon finally couldn't help but speak out, her voice pleading. "Please stop teasing me!"
Her flustered yet slightly serious expression made the two bullies burst out laughing. They withdrew their hands—but not before ruffling Soi Fon's hair one last time.
"It seems your mental discipline still needs training, Soi Fon."
Kensei lectured with exaggerated solemnity, then immediately continued before Soi Fon could respond. "Was everything at home alright while we were away?"
Soi Fon instantly straightened her posture. Though traces of a blush lingered on her cheeks, her eyes focused sharply. "Yes, everything is normal. Rangiku's basic lessons are temporarily being taught by me. I inspected the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy as well. Lord Komamura and Gin Ichimaru are living normally."
"Why only report on Kensei's affairs? Forgetting the Shihōin Clan?"
Yoruichi's expression darkened—but just as Soi Fon tensed, preparing to continue her report, she burst into laughter and patted Soi Fon's shoulder. "Enough. Don't worry about that side. I'll handle things when I return."
She stretched languidly. "Looks like I need to find someone to take over handling the clan affairs. Otherwise, when will I have time to play?"
"The Five Great—ah, now the Four Great Noble Clans." Kensei corrected himself before continuing. "You don't even want the leadership. Sister Yoruichi truly doesn't appreciate her blessings."
"The one enjoying blessings is you. Once you become Captain-Commander, you won't have such leisure."
Yoruichi snorted lightly, then vanished in an instant.
Kensei shrugged at her words. Ridiculous. Yoruichi underestimated his intelligence.
Once he succeeded as Captain-Commander, even if Sōsuke wouldn't help with paperwork, couldn't he just Rehire the already-retired Old Man Yama?
Only Kensei and Soi Fon remained before the residence. The silence stretched between them.
Soi Fon glanced at Kensei from the corner of her eye, opening her mouth as if to say something—but ultimately remained silent, standing still.
Kensei noticed her hesitation. "Something you can't tell me? Do you think I'm that bad a person?"
Soi Fon took a deep breath, steeling herself before finally speaking. "Lord Kensei. I have a favor to ask."
As if afraid Kensei might refuse, she quickly continued: "During your absence, I have been diligently training. I have now achieved both Shikai and Bankai with my Zanpakutō."
Kensei raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Soi Fon to already be able to play RPG.
"I would like to request that you, my lord, inspect my abilities—and advise whether there is room for further improvement."
Kensei looked at the nervous Soi Fon and couldn't help but smile warmly. "Is that all? With minimal effort on my part, I could have Old Man Yama eating out of your hand."
Of course, Kensei was exaggerating. But not entirely. Once he and Soi Fon had kids and could use them to pressure Old Man Yama, surely that stubborn old man would comply.
In the large underground training facility beneath the residence, Soi Fon stood in the center, meeting Kensei's expectant gaze. She placed her hand on the Zanpakutō at her lower back.
"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi."
Soi Fon's voice echoed through the space. Golden light blossomed from her sheath, contracting and solidifying around the middle finger of her right hand—a golden, bee-stinger-like fingerthorn, marked with a bee pattern.
Having released her Shikai, Soi Fon stood frozen. She desperately wanted to demonstrate her Zanpakutō's ability, but with only herself and Kensei present... she could hardly test it on Lord Kensei himself, could she?
Seeing Soi Fon's momentary paralysis, Kensei understood. "No problem. Just explain it to me."
Kensei already knew Soi Fon's Zanpakutō ability, but under the circumstances, it was best to hear her explain it directly.
"Forgive me. I failed to consider properly."
Soi Fon apologized awkwardly, then explained her Shikai's Two-Hit Kill ability.
Kensei stroked his chin thoughtfully. If only this ability could be transferred to Sōsuke—with her spiritual pressure, was there any opponent it wouldn't work on?
"A Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual pressure. That's especially true for an ability as potent as yours."
Kensei grabbed Soi Fon's hand and quickly tapped himself twice. Two overlapping bee marks appeared on his chest, sending Soi Fon into a panic.
"L-Lord Kensei! I've killed you! It's all my fault!"
Seeing Soi Fon already in tears from distress, Kensei flicked her forehead. "Calm down. I'm still alive, aren't I? Our spiritual pressure gap is too vast—I can simply negate your ability."
Soi Fon stared at Kensei, who seemed completely unaffected. Suspiciously, she checked him over herself, only relaxing once she confirmed he was truly unharmed. Immediately afterward, disappointment flooded her heart.
She had thought she might finally be able to help Lord Kensei. A false alarm.
Realizing that anyone capable of fighting Kensei must possess spiritual pressure far exceeding her own, Soi Fon's expression darkened further.
"What's with that face? If your ability had worked, I'd be dead right now."
Kensei couldn't help but laugh. Though he couldn't transfer Two-Hit Kill to Sōsuke, he could certainly raise Soi Fon's spiritual pressure. Get her combat power up to one hundred Kensei-units—that would be enough against the Quincies.
"Spiritual pressure? I've got plenty of ways to lift it."
Never mind the Hōgyoku—even Hollowfication alone could elevate a Captain-class spiritual pressure by an entire level.
Come to think of it... maybe he should have Sōsuke mass-produce Hōgyoku. Every Captain in Soul Society gets one; give them to Ulquiorra and the other Arrancars too. What could Yhwach possibly do against that?
The more Kensei thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Might require a bit more of his bodily fluids, though.
Sigh. For the stability of the Three Realms, poor kidneys—bear the burden a while longer...
"Lord Kensei, are you telling the truth?"
"Of course. I only lie to Old Man Yama—never to beautiful young women." Kensei staked his personal honor on it. "So don't worry. You'll have plenty of chances to shine."
"Yes!"
Soi Fon stood tall, beaming. Even if he was deceiving her, just hearing Lord Kensei say those words was enough.
Suzumebachi faded from her finger, reverting to its regular Zanpakutō form and returning to the sheath at her lower back.
"You've worked hard recently. Get some proper rest."
Kensei ruffled Soi Fon's hair, urging her to return to her room.
Late that night, Kensei sat in a chair by the table, his expression uncharacteristically serious. Through the window, he gazed out at the Seireitei, his focus settling on the shadows beneath the moonlight.
The Thousand-Year Blood War. The Wandenreich. Quincies who could steal Bankai and use them as their own...
Kensei tried to recall the key events. He wasn't Kubo himself; he couldn't remember everything. That Arturo in Hueco Mundo, for instance—he had no recollection of him.
"The Wandenreich truly is Soul Society's greatest fortress. No way in right now."
Kensei thought and thought, but couldn't devise any plan to lead an assault on the Wandenreich now, to strike Yhwach while he was weakened. He sighed deeply.
He wondered—if he pissed into the shadows, would it drip onto Yhwach's face?
If that were possible, he'd mobilize every Shinigami in Soul Society. Drown the Quincies.
Harboring such impractical thoughts, Kensei abandoned further contemplation and went to bed. Yhwach was still recovering; even if his presence here caused some butterfly effect, it wouldn't accelerate Yhwach's revival.
Still... better prepare in advance.