Yoruichi smirked, tossing three small vials of ointment in Yuichi, Mei, and Hui's direction. The vials glinted in the faint light, catching each of their gazes as they instinctively reached up to catch them. Byakuya, however, stood empty-handed, looking rather unbothered.
"Good job keeping little Byakuya safe while I was away," Yoruichi said, her eyes gleaming with approval.
Yuichi, Hui, and Mei uncorked their vials, the cool, minty scent of the ointment filling the air. They began applying it to their cuts and bruises, immediately feeling its soothing effect sink into their battered skin.
Byakuya, observing the scene with crossed arms, let out a light scoff and narrowed his eyes at Yoruichi. "How long have you been here, Lady Yoruichi?" he asked, his tone slightly suspicious. "I find it hard to believe that an attack of this scale wouldn't catch the attention of the 2nd Division. Surely you were aware of it."
Yoruichi chuckled, placing a hand on her hip and glancing at Byakuya with amusement. "You know me too well, Byakuya." She shrugged casually, as though his suspicions were hardly worth addressing. "I came back not too long ago."
Byakuya raised an eyebrow, catching onto her evasiveness. "So, you were here, just watching us?"
Yoruichi grinned playfully, clearly relishing his probing. "Alright, alright. Maybe I arrived a little earlier than I let on. But when I got here, the mansion was sealed off tightly," she explained, a glint of amusement in her golden eyes. "It took me a while to slip through the barrier. When I finally got in, well, I saw you all were handling things quite nicely, so I decided to sit back for a bit."
Yuichi, who had just finished applying the ointment to a particularly nasty cut on his arm, let out a laugh. "So, you just sat there watching us while we nearly got cut to ribbons? Honestly, Lady Yoruichi, a little sooner wouldn't have hurt!"
Yoruichi shot him a smirk, shrugging. "Oh, don't get dramatic on me, Yuichi. I wasn't just lounging around. I took out a whole squad of reinforcements that was headed this way. Trust me, I wasn't completely useless."
Mei, seated with her usual calm expression, couldn't help but smile faintly at their exchange. Hui, ever composed, finished applying the ointment to her own bruises but gave a respectful bow to Yoruichi. "Regardless of when you stepped in, Captain, we're grateful. Your timing was... fortuitous."
Yoruichi's smirk softened into a satisfied smile as she looked at each of them. "I expect nothing less from you three. You've come a long way, and your teamwork was impressive to watch. It's good to know I can count on my people when things get intense."
Byakuya, meanwhile, held his stoic composure, though his curiosity had clearly not been fully satisfied. "Observing was one thing, Lady Yoruichi," he said with a slight edge to his tone, "but for a member of the Kuchiki family, such delays can be a cause for concern. If we are to entrust you with our safety, we should not feel like we are being tested."
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow at his words, her expression turning contemplative as she held his gaze. "Noted, little Byakuya," she said with a small nod, her voice serious but laced with the faintest hint of respect. "I won't make a habit of it."
Seeing Byakuya's composed yet subtly disapproving look, Yuichi let out a small, weary chuckle. "Well, whether we were being tested or not, we all made it out. And that's what matters."
Yoruichi's grin returned, full force. "Now, let's wrap up this little chat. Head to my study and rest up. I'll have the 2nd Division take care of the mess here. You've all more than earned a break."
Mei, Hui, and Yuichi exchanged nods before making their way toward the study. Yoruichi could feel the weight of the battle's fatigue lifting, replaced by a sense of accomplishment and relief. It was only at moments like this that he truly felt like he had grown stronger. That strength helped relieve some of the worries he held for the future.
The study was a welcome sight—a familiar, quiet room that exuded an air of calm and warmth, far removed from the chaos of the battle they'd just endured. They settled onto the cushions, each letting out a sigh of relief as they finally allowed themselves to relax.
Yuichi looked over at Mei, who had closed her eyes, seemingly meditating as her breathing slowed. Hui, ever vigilant, checked the injuries she had tended to earlier, making sure they were healing properly. Byakuya joined Mei in her meditative sitting with his eyes closed.
The silence was comforting, a balm for their frayed nerves. Yuichi closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the cushion, feeling the fatigue wash over him. Every muscle ached, but it was the good kind of ache—the kind that came from knowing they had fought for something important and, against the odds, come out on top.
He couldn't help but let a smile play at the edges of his lips, thinking back on Yoruichi's casual attitude amidst the intensity. It was typical of her—never giving too much away, always keeping everyone on their toes. But he had to admit, she had been watching out for them, in her own way.
Mei opened her eyes, glancing over at Yuichi with a rare, softened expression. "I think… we can take a lesson from this. We managed to fend off a force we would have once found impossible to handle. We've come far."
Yuichi chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, but let's not make it a habit. I'd rather not fight fifty assassins on a regular basis."
Hui smiled, a faint glimmer of amusement breaking through her typically stoic demeanor. "But we held our ground. And as Lady Yoruichi said, it's good to know we're trusted to handle things."
The three shared a moment of silent understanding, each of them aware of the unspoken bond that had solidified through this ordeal. Byakuya seemed uninterested so they let him be.
As they settled into a more comfortable silence, Yoruichi entered the study, her presence commanding but relaxed. She looked them over, her gaze lingering a moment longer on each of their faces.
"Rest well tonight," she said, her voice softer than usual. "You'll have a full report to make tomorrow, of course, but for now, consider this my thanks."
Yuichi, exhausted but satisfied, gave her a grateful nod. Mei, her usual stoic demeanor softened by the words, bowed her head slightly in respect. Hui simply inclined her head, though her gaze held a rare glint of warmth.
Yoruichi stepped forward and placed a hand on Byakuya's shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "You've done well, Byakuya. The Kuchiki family can be proud of you," she said quietly. Byakuya met her gaze, his expression still controlled, though there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes. With a slight nod, he finally allowed himself to relax.
The atmosphere shifted, the weight of the battle finally fading as the room filled with a sense of camaraderie. The silence was broken only by the faint crackling of a candle on the table, casting a warm glow over the room.
"Now," Yoruichi continued, a hint of mischief returning to her eyes, "don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow's debrief might bring a few surprises. I expect everyone to be ready."