"Na... Nani???"
Tessai's eyes nearly popped out of his head and hit the floor.
He adjusted his glasses, asking in disbelief, "Yoruichi-san actually has an engagement with that... Kai from the Noble House?"
Although he had long known that the relationship between the Noble House and the Shihōin Clan was special—intimate enough that calling them a community of shared interests was an understatement; they practically breathed through the same nostril—Tessai truly never expected that Yoruichi Shihōin, the former head of the Shihōin Clan, would have an engagement with Kai, the future head of the Noble House.
"Ah, that was from many years ago."
Yoruichi flicked her tail, squinting her eyes. "Truly nostalgic. I wonder what that little brat looks like now."
In her vertical pupils, the silhouette of that young boy from the past seemed to be reflected.
Unlike the sullen and tsundere Byakuya, Yoruichi was far more interested in the precocious and surprisingly mature Kai.
"For you to remember it so clearly, it seems this Kai isn't simple," Urahara opened his fan, covering half his face and revealing only his eyes as he spoke.
"He is indeed a very interesting fellow. You'd best not treat him like a child," Yoruichi rolled her eyes at him, offering a reminder before suddenly changing the subject. "We can try making contact with him. If he's willing to help us, it would save us a lot of trouble."
"My, my. It seems Yoruichi-san is going to make a move personally. Is hearing the news of your fiancé appearing in the World of the Living making your maiden heart restless?"
Urahara teased with a weird chuckle.
His reward was a flurry of cat claws.
"Take this! Rocket Cat Claw!"
"Hiss... my face..."
After a chaotic scuffle, Urahara, now sporting a face full of scratches and a crooked hat, squatted meekly on the ground. He had learned his lesson.
"Say one more word, and I'll tear your face off."
Landing on the wooden floor, Yoruichi shot him a sideways glance, then leaped up to open the door and walked out.
"Manager, Manager! Quick, tell me! What exactly is the deal with Yoruichi-san and Kai's engagement?"
"Logically speaking, even if there was an engagement, shouldn't it be between Byakuya and Yoruichi-san? Their ages are much closer, after all."
As soon as Yoruichi left, Tessai leaned in close to Urahara with a gossipy expression, squatting down to ask.
He was incredibly curious about the events of those years.
On one hand, he wanted to know why Yoruichi would be engaged to Kai.
On the other hand, he wanted to understand why Byakuya wasn't chosen. Compared to the silent Kai, Byakuya—who was already a Captain, the head of the Noble House, and visibly powerful—seemed like the obviously superior choice.
Anyone with a brain would know how to choose, right?
Unless... there was a secret hidden from outsiders.
"Ahem. That is a long story. Want to know? It'll cost you this much."
Urahara covered his face with his fan, making a 'money' gesture with one hand.
Instantly, black lines appeared on Tessai's forehead.
"Three months. I'll work for free for three months, okay?"
"No, not enough. You have to add more. Minimum one year."
"A year is too long. I can only agree to six months at most."
"Fine, six months it is."
"You got a bargain this time. To learn the past of the Noble House and the Shihōin Clan so easily... This story takes a long time to tell..."
Urahara's eyes grew distant, as if falling into a specific memory.
What he didn't notice was that the door behind him, which hadn't fully closed, had creaked open a sliver. A black cat sat motionless behind the two of them, staring at their sneaky backs.
Its eyes were gradually replaced by a crimson glow. Yoruichi slowly licked her claws.
Hunting time has begun!
...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Deep in the night, a knock sounded on the door.
Kai crawled out of bed expressionlessly. Opening the door, he found a woman with messy hair and unrestrained clothing standing there, holding a bottle of sake.
"Who are you?"
Wait... she looks familiar.
Kai took a few more looks and nearly cursed out loud. That scandalous body... who else could it be but that wild woman, Rangiku Matsumoto?
But what the hell was up with this drunk appearance?
"Truly heartless. Has Little Kai forgotten me so quickly?"
Rangiku leaned against the doorframe, not giving Kai a chance to close it, giggling mischievously.
"Why are you still in the World of the Living? And... how much did you drink?"
Kai rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
"The Captain always says the sake in the World of the Living is delicious, so I wanted to stay and taste it too~"
Rangiku hiccupped, leaning against the frame and tucking her long hair behind her ear with immense femininity.
He had to admit, she really knew how to flirt.
But...
Those seductive eyes, that weird blush on your face, and the heavy smell of alcohol... You must have been drinking fake alcohol, you big-chested woman!
Kai's eyelid twitched. He pointed at Rangiku. "Don't come any closer! Stay right there!"
Rangiku: "..."
What is that look?!
Why do I see disgust in your eyes?
Am I seriously being rejected right now?
Rangiku's eyes filled with resentment.
"Wait a second."
Kai thought for a few seconds, then used Shunpo to leave the room instantly.
Rangiku let out a charming laugh, her eyes becoming bright and clear. The drunken state from before vanished completely.
She leaned lazily against the door, murmuring languidly, "Little Kai seems like a very reliable man. But... was the incident in the World of the Living really your doing?"
"You're very suspicious, Kai-kun."
Rangiku smiled, and the moment Kai returned, she instantly reverted to the "damsel in distress about to be picked up" mode—or rather, the "stumbling big sister" mode—looking so weak she might collapse at any moment.
That's right. She was testing Kai.
Out of woman's intuition, and perhaps her sixth sense, Rangiku had felt since the Soul Burial practice that Kai was hiding something.
With Renji's deformed Shikai, it was absolutely impossible to defeat two Adjuchas.
So, who defeated them?
And judging by the crime scene of the Adjuchas that died in Karakura Town today, the residual aura clearly carried traces of lightning-attribute spiritual pressure.
That spiritual pressure was highly similar to the residual aura on the two Menos killed during the practice. In fact, it likely came from the same person.
And that person... was very likely Kai, right?
Rangiku narrowed her eyes, lazily playing the fool.
"Drink this hangover medicine, then go back to sleep and hurry back to Soul Society."
Kai facepalmed silently and shoved the medicine at her, pushing Rangiku out the door.
In a tree outside the room, a black cat sat licking its sharp claws, squinting its eyes as it stared unblinkingly at the scene unfolding below...