Near the Shihōin Clan estate, Amamiya Miyako adjusted the cloak that Kisuke Urahara had given him. Its fabric shimmered faintly, perfectly concealing his reiatsu, allowing him to blend with the stillness of the night.
He leaned against a shadowed wall, arms folded, his amber eyes quietly watching the entrance. Midnight crept closer, and still, Yoruichi-san had not arrived.
"Yare yare…" Miyako muttered under his breath, trying to remain patient.
But his guess hadn't been wrong. A sleek black cat appeared at the edge of the wall, its golden eyes glinting as it prepared to slip inside.
"Please wait, Yoruichi-san," Miyako said softly, pulling back his hood.
The cat froze. Her sharp eyes narrowed. "You are… Amamiya Miyako? Did Kisuke-san give you that cloak?" Yoruichi hadn't sensed even the faintest fluctuation of reiatsu from him—it surprised her.
Miyako nodded calmly. "That's right."
"Why… do you know I'm here?" she asked warily. After leaving the others, she hadn't regrouped right away. Instead, she had planned to sneak into her clan to retrieve something crucial for what lay ahead.
"The Shihōin Clan are known as the guardians of the Tenshi Heisō… the Heavenly Armaments," Miyako explained. His voice was steady, though his eyes carried quiet resolve. "I thought you might come home, Yoruichi-san. After all… Aizen Sōsuke's Kyōka Suigetsu isn't something to take lightly, is it?"
"Mm… kid, you know quite a lot," Yoruichi's feline eyes gleamed sharply. She hadn't expected him to guess her true intent—that she needed the sacred tools hidden in her clan's treasury.
"What exactly do you want from me? You didn't wait here just to have a chat, did you?"
Miyako's gaze didn't waver. "I hope Yoruichi-san will lend me the Shihōin Clan's Tenshi Heisō—the ones powerful enough to destroy the Sōkyoku."
"I see… did Ukitake-san tell you?" she asked. For a moment she thought her old comrade had finally decided to intervene in Rukia's execution, sending Miyako to secure the armaments.
But Miyako neither admitted nor denied it. His silence was answer enough.
Yoruichi exhaled softly. "Hmph. I understand. Wait here, I'll return shortly." In one graceful leap, she scaled the wall, her figure melting into the darkness.
Miyako pulled his hood back up, vanishing into the shadows once again.
Inside the estate, Yoruichi moved swiftly and silently, her paws padding across familiar ground. The patrols hadn't changed in a hundred years—it was almost nostalgic.
'A century has passed, and yet this place hasn't changed a bit…' she thought. It was just like her clan. Bound by pride and tradition, they clung to old customs and rigid order. Even the placement of furniture and the layout of the halls remained the same.
She padded toward the main wing, her golden eyes gleaming. 'The Head's chambers are here… and beneath them lies the Tenshi Heisō.'
A flicker of tension crossed her feline features. 'Tch… if the one in charge is still that stubborn old man, then I'll never get my hands on them without a fight.'
Carefully, she slipped the door open. But instead of her father's stern presence, she was met with the sight of a slender young man with short, black hair.
"…Shiro," Yoruichi whispered.
It was Yushirō Shihōin—her younger brother.
A wave of relief and guilt washed over her. 'So, this brat became Head after all. Hah… I'm glad it isn't Father. That would've been impossible. But… seeing Yushirō like this, I can't help but feel ashamed for leaving so suddenly a century ago.'
Yoruichi's eyes softened briefly before her mischievous side returned. She padded forward, lifted her paw, and swiped it across Yushirō's face with sharp claws.
"Argh! Who dares attack the Head of the Shihōin Family!?" Yushirō yelped, springing to his feet.
"Calm down, Shiro. It's me." Yoruichi's voice carried exasperation and amusement both.
That familiar voice… and those amber eyes. Yushirō froze, staring at the black cat before him. His lips trembled. "…Onee-sama?"
His eyes reddened, and in an instant, he leapt forward, throwing his arms around the small feline form. "Sister!"
"Oi oi, stop clinging already!" Yoruichi hissed, flailing her paws. She slashed at him with both claws, scratching his cheeks until he released her.
"Oww! Why, Onee-sama?!" Yushirō cried, his face a mess of claw marks.
"Because you're crying like a fool," Yoruichi huffed. "You're the Head of the Shihōin Clan now. Start acting like it."
"But… but the real Head is you, Onee-sama! I'm just—" Yushirō's voice broke into sobs. He never truly wanted the title—it had been forced on him after she vanished.
"Alright, alright, enough already," Yoruichi sighed, her tail flicking with annoyance. "I didn't come back to lecture you. I need your help."
At once, Yushirō stopped sniffling. His eyes widened, shining with determination. "Help you, Sister? Of course! Just say the word—whatever you need, I'll do it!"
Yoruichi studied him for a moment, her expression softening again. 'Still the same Shiro… loyal and foolish to the bone.'
"That's good," Yoruichi nodded with a rare smile. Then her expression hardened as she padded toward the hidden compartment built into the walls of the room—a secret only the Clan Head should know. "I need to borrow the Tenshi Heisō… the Heavenly Armaments."
Yushiro's eyes widened. "T-The Tenshi Heisō?! Demo… Father said those divine weapons were never to be used carelessly!"
"Shiro," Yoruichi's voice dropped into a low, serious tone. "This time… they're necessary. Trust me."
The weight in her words silenced Yushiro. For a moment, he saw not his playful, mischievous sister, but the unshakable warrior who had once been Captain of the 2nd Division. He clenched his fists, then nodded. "I… I understand, Nee-san. If it's you, I'll believe."
With his authority as Clan Head, Yushiro opened the secret chamber. Together, they entered the vault where the legendary armaments were sealed.
"Shiro, wait here a moment. I need to change," Yoruichi said, shifting into her human form. She donned the black cloak Kisuke Urahara had given her, preparing herself for what lay ahead.
The moment Yushiro saw her true form again after so long, his eyes blurred with tears. "Nee-san…" He rushed forward and hugged her tightly, trembling like a child.
"You really are hopeless, kid…" Yoruichi murmured, half-smiling, half-exasperated. Even after a hundred years, her brother's heart was as fragile as ever.
After carefully selecting the necessary Tenshi Heisō, Yoruichi bid her brother farewell. "Don't cry, Shiro. Maybe… after this is over, I can finally return openly to Soul Society and see you again."
"Eh?! Hontou ni, Nee-san? Really?!" Yushiro's eyes glimmered with hope.
"Yes," Yoruichi smirked. "So keep this a secret for me. Not a word, understood?"
"Hai! I'll keep my mouth shut, I promise!" Yushiro declared proudly.
Outside the Shihouin estate, Amamiya Miyako was waiting. When he saw Yoruichi emerge in her human form, he tilted his head.
"Yoruichi…-san?" Miyako blinked in surprise.
"Oh, right," Yoruichi chuckled lightly, "this is your first time seeing me like this, isn't it? But that's not important." She tossed something toward him—a small shield etched with the crest of the Shihouin Clan. "Here. This is what you asked for. I've already released its seal. When the time comes, you just need to pour your reiatsu into your Zanpakutō to activate it."
Miyako caught it, his eyes narrowing with resolve. He could feel the dense spiritual power radiating from the artifact—the Tenshi Heisō meant to shatter the Sōkyoku itself.
"Arigatou, Yoruichi-san," Miyako said firmly. "With this, Aizen's plans won't succeed." A confident smile spread across his face. Once the Sōkyoku was destroyed, Aizen would have no choice but to reveal himself to all. His deception would end.
Most importantly… Miyako was ready. All that remained was for everyone to gather. Then, at last, the promised battle would begin.