Inside the training arena, little Suì-Fēng stood clad in a tight black uniform, her face half-covered by a black veil. Her adorably serious look practically made Shirō melt on the spot.
He made up his mind right then and there: misunderstandings aside, she was still his fiancée. He had to look after her, protect her, and at the very least, help her grasp the key techniques. Techniques to keep her from getting hurt... especially by Yoruichi!
But Yoruichi's next move completely shattered Shirō's well-meaning plans.
She casually pulled Suì-Fēng over to her side and declared,
"Bee-chan's with me!"
"I swear to protect Lady Yoruichi with my life!!" Suì-Fēng responded with unwavering conviction.
Even as she faced Shirō and the three hundred black-clad men behind him (no, Yoruichi hadn't gotten weaker, Shirō had just gotten stronger, which meant the number of black-clad muscleheads had stayed the same), she didn't show a hint of fear.
Shirō nearly blurted out, "Determination is admirable, but girl, get a grip!"
Still, he forced a smile and asked politely,
"Yoruichi, isn't this a bit too dangerous?"
He was obviously referring to Suì-Fēng. He still remembered how brutal training with Yoruichi had been, even under her protection, it had nearly killed him. And Suì-Fēng? She wasn't the type to accept protection. She'd throw herself headfirst into danger without a second thought.
"Of course it's dangerous~" Yoruichi said with a sly grin.
A chill ran down Shirō's spine. Here we go again. She's plotting something...
"Listen up! None of you are allowed to lay a finger on her!" Yoruichi pointed straight at Suì-Fēng.
"Yes, ma'am!" the three hundred men shouted in unison.
Shirō had just started to relax when Yoruichi added with a grin,
"Bee-chan, forget everyone else. Just focus on that guy!"
Yoruichi's finger swung to point directly at him.
Shirō's eye twitched. To test her theory, he stepped aside.
Yoruichi's finger followed.
"Don't do this to me, Yoruichi..." he muttered in disbelief.
Once upon a time, he was the one bringing backup to try and raid Yoruichi, the game's final boss. Sure, they got wiped every time, but at least they had a fighting chance.
Now?
Now the final boss was bringing a sidekick, Suì-Fēng, and together, they were about to farm Shirō as if he were some low-level miniboss.
One Yoruichi was already more than he could handle. Add in Suì-Fēng? He was doomed. Worse, he couldn't even fight back, this was his fiancée! What was he supposed to do, dodge forever?
"Lady Yoruichi, allow me to help take down the others instead!"
Shirō's eyes welled up.
She finally grew up... she's actually going to spare me?
And then Suì-Fēng said:
"This guy's too weak."
Shirō turned to stone on the spot.
She didn't actually mean to insult his strength. Compared to everyone else here, she just didn't see him as a threat. With her mind set on protecting Yoruichi, she was determined to reduce her burden however she could.
"I'm not here to play house with this guy. I'm here to protect Lady Yoruichi." Her face was dead serious.
"Hahahahaha!" Yoruichi laughed shamelessly, patting her on the shoulder. "Bee-chan, I'll tell you the truth, this guy's the one I hate the most here. So your job is to keep him busy, alright?"
"Roger that! No, I'll take him out completely and be back before you know it!" Suì-Fēng declared, eyes blazing.
"Perfect," Yoruichi said with a wicked smile toward Shirō. "Well then, shall we begin, little Shirō~?"
Swoosh!
Three hundred black-clad men charged at Yoruichi.
Shirō didn't move. Didn't advance. Didn't retreat.
He just... stood there, expressionless.
Unfortunately, not everyone stayed still. Suì-Fēng still had a mission.
She wanted to eliminate Shirō as fast as possible to return to Yoruichi's side.
"Lady Yoruichi underestimates me! No, she just doesn't know me well enough yet. Doesn't understand how strong I really am. This is my chance to show her!"
"You, yes, you're the perfect stepping stone!"
With that, Suì-Fēng rushed at Shirō, blade slashing down with lethal force.
As expected of someone raised in the Fēng family, she had been groomed for assassination. Her speed was unreal, and her strikes vicious. More than that, she didn't even bother defending herself. Every blow was a reckless trade: her injury for his death. Sometimes even her life for a wound.
Only now did Shirō understand why all her older brothers had died so early.
Someone like her... without constant protection, wouldn't survive long.
But if she made it through all that and kept growing, she'd be terrifying.
In fact, Suì-Fēng had become a Squad Captain for a reason. Her Bankai, something so few in Soul Society had ever mastered, wasn't some gift. It was the result of throwing herself into death's jaws again and again.
Still... she was attacking him now. That part didn't make Shirō happy at all.
Fighting her was somehow worse than fighting Yoruichi. At least Yoruichi would go easy on him, tone down her strength, and even block when she had to. She was always wary that Shirō might try some dirty trick, so their fights had balance.
But Suì-Fēng?
She didn't care if she died.
And Shirō couldn't hit her.
Every time he spotted an opening in her reckless assault, his heart skipped a beat. She wasn't holding back at all. If he landed a counterstrike, she'd get seriously hurt, maybe worse.
Maybe I should just knock her out...?
But no. If she woke up afterward, she'd hate him forever.
That wasn't an option either.
Honestly, the best plan was to fake being knocked out. Pretend to lose.
But the way she was glaring at him, full of murderous rage... he had a hunch she'd stab him a few more times just to make sure.
"Hey, Suì-Fēng, can't we talk this out? This isn't how things are supposed to go down..."
Shirō kept dodging as he tried to reason with her.
Even without fighting back, she had no way to hurt him.
But Yoruichi?
If she joined in, he was toast.
So he had to try and persuade Suì-Fēng.
Logically speaking, this was probably her first meeting with Yoruichi. Their bond shouldn't be that strong yet. Maybe, just maybe, he could shake her loyalty.
He clearly underestimated the Fēng Clan's brainwashing.
They trained their heirs like devout believers. Even if they'd never met the goddess, their faith remained absolute.
"You bastard! Stop running!" Suì-Fēng shouted from behind.
She was furious.
She had spent this entire time trying to prove herself, yet this man still hadn't fallen.
This was her chance to shine! If Yoruichi thought she was incompetent...
She didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
Would Lady Yoruichi be disappointed?
Would she... cast her aside?
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter