"Vice-Captain Yachiru, what are you doing here?"
Kurotsuki Renya looked up at Kusajishi Yachiru lying on the wall and asked curiously.
Yachiru grinned mischievously. "This is the Women's Shinigami Association's secret base. Wanna come in and see?"
The Women's Shinigami Association?
Renya recalled that within Seireitei, there existed a surprisingly powerful group—the Women's Shinigami Association.
Created to raise the voice of female Shinigami, it held incredible influence, rivaling and even overriding other associations.
At the annual Seireitei budget meetings, Vice-President Nanao Ise always presided. Attendees included Unohana Retsu of the Flower Arrangement Association, Byakuya Kuchiki of the Calligraphy Association, and Tetsuzaemon Iba of the Men's Association. It showed just how important the Women's Association's voice truly was.
Their base was hidden inside the Kuchiki estate. Byakuya had tried many times to drive them out, but they always returned—having built countless secret passages within the manor.
More outrageous still, they had once seized the only storage room used by the Men's Shinigami Association, forcing them to hold meetings in the men's bathhouse.
Such was the Women's Shinigami Association—an organization everyone found impossible to control.
Its president was none other than Kusajishi Yachiru. Despite her childlike demeanor, she essentially ruled the association, even designing official merchandise in canon.
Yes, Yachiru Kusajishi was arguably the most powerful "woman" in the Gotei 13—not in battle, but in authority within this strange sphere.
Renya couldn't help but feel curious. He wanted to glimpse the legendary base. Since no one else seemed around, he leapt up onto the wall. "Then I'll trouble you, Vice-Captain Yachiru."
"Come this way!"
Yachiru hopped down and darted away in a blur. Renya followed closely.
The Kuchiki estate was massive—long corridors, rock gardens, streams, and bridges stretched across its grounds.
Yachiru led him into a small room. She opened the door, revealing what looked like an ordinary storage chamber.
"Close the door."
Renya obeyed.
Yachiru then twisted an incense burner on a closet. The closet slid open silently, revealing a hidden passage.
"You first."
Renya crawled inside, followed by Yachiru, who sealed the passage behind them.
Unable to see, Renya held out his hand, forming a small flame of reiryoku to light the way. The tunnel branched left and right.
"Left," Yachiru said quickly. "The right one's longer and full of traps."
Traps? In Byakuya's house? Renya thought with a sweatdrop. Still, he obeyed.
The crawl ended at a drop.
"Down!" Yachiru chirped.
They dropped into another tunnel and continued until a door appeared. Renya opened it—stepping into a bright, spacious chamber.
Inside were several women.
Matsumoto Rangiku was fixing her makeup. Kotetsu Kiyone munched on senbei. Nemu Kurotsuchi read silently. Suì-Fēng—shockingly—was licking honey from her finger. And Ise Nanao sat with documents in hand, completely serious.
Renya's entrance drew their attention. Suì-Fēng froze, still holding honey, and frowned. "Renya? Why are you here?"
Rangiku's eyes lit up. "Oh, it's Renya!"
Renya quickly bowed. "Captain Suì-Fēng, Senior Rangiku, Vice-Captain Ise, Senior Kotetsu, Vice-Captain Kurotsuchi."
Some of them blinked in surprise. Nanao asked coolly, "Who is this?"
Yachiru skipped over, climbed onto a chair, and sat cross-legged. "This is Renya-chan. I found him outside the Kuchiki gate and brought him in."
Nanao adjusted her glasses. "President, this is the Women's Shinigami Association. Men aren't permitted—"
"It's fine!" Yachiru waved cheerfully. "Renya-chan's special. I allow it!"
Nanao sighed. "Since the president brought him, he may stay… but who is he?"
Suì-Fēng, having set the honey aside, said curtly: "He is my patrol adjutant in the Onmitsukidō. Reliable."
Nanao nodded. "Understood."
Suì-Fēng then asked, "Why were you at the Kuchiki estate?"
Renya explained about Rukia's adoption. It wasn't something to hide.
Suì-Fēng frowned. "The Kuchiki clan is a high noble family. This adoption violates strict traditions. Byakuya once swore before his ancestors' graves that he would never break the rules again. That oath is the reason he later opposed Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji when they came to rescue her."
Nanao added: "Indeed, it's reckless."
Both Suì-Fēng and Nanao, as heirs of noble families, valued tradition heavily.
Rangiku, however, smiled warmly. "Adopted into the Kuchiki clan from Rukongai? That's a blessing. She deserves it."
Rangiku, who had also grown up poor, believed kindness was often rewarded.
Suì-Fēng sighed. "Regardless, it is an opportunity. Hopefully she won't waste it."
Renya smiled. "I believe she won't."
"Enough talk!" Yachiru waved at him. "Renya-chan, come eat sweets!"
Renya took a sweet, popped it into his mouth, and chewed.
Before he could swallow, Yachiru clapped her hands. "I declare this Women's Shinigami Association meeting over!"
"…That's it?" Renya thought, surprised.
But none of the women objected. They calmly began packing up.
Then Yachiru grinned again. "Now Renya-chan will treat us to dinner!"
Renya froze. Treat them? Why me?
Rangiku immediately latched onto his shoulder. "Let's go to that Chinese restaurant again!"
Suì-Fēng, surprisingly, nodded. "Yes. Their food is good."
Nanao smiled faintly. "Not bad. Taking the initiative is admirable."
Nemu bowed politely. "Thank you in advance."
Kiyone raised her hand. "Me too!"
Yachiru leaned in with sparkling eyes, as if daring him to refuse.
Faced with their enthusiasm, Renya sighed helplessly. "It would be my honor to invite everyone."
"Let's go eat!" Yachiru cheered, hopping down from her chair.
Everyone filed out. Renya touched his wallet anxiously. The money I brought… will it be enough?