Yuichi awoke slowly, feeling an unfamiliar comfort in Yoruichi's study as he came back to full awareness. The usual scent of sandalwood filled the room, and he blinked in the soft light streaming in from the window. He stretched, feeling the satisfying ache in his muscles—a reminder of last night's battle and the hard-won victory. Rising to his feet, he noticed he was alone, the cushions nearby already empty and tidied up.
Deciding it was time to change and freshen up, Yuichi headed back to the guest room where he and Mei had been staying. As he slid the door open, he halted mid-step. Mei was already in the room, her hair freshly wet, and clad in a simple fundoshi with a sarashi wrapped around her chest. She was calmly drying her hair, seemingly unbothered by his entrance.
Yuichi froze, immediately feeling his face flush. "Uh… sorry, Mei. I didn't realize you were in here," he stammered, taking a half-step back. "I'll give you some privacy…"
Mei glanced over at him, her expression calm and entirely indifferent to the situation. "Why? It's our shared room," she replied, continuing to dry her hair with practiced ease. "You have just as much right to be here as I do."
Still processing the unexpected nonchalance, Yuichi watched as she finished drying her hair and reached for her Shihakushō, slipping it on with smooth, practiced movements. She brushed past him with a small, knowing smile as she tied her uniform in place.
"Breakfast will be ready soon, so make sure you're on time," she said simply before leaving the room.
Yuichi exhaled a long breath once she was gone, his face still slightly warm as he rubbed the back of his neck. The image of her calm expression and indifferent grace stuck in his mind, and he quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. Grabbing a towel and a fresh set of clothes, he headed straight to the bath, eager to distract himself with a cold rinse.
The bath was soothing, and after quickly scrubbing away the residual grime and dust from yesterday's events, he changed into a clean Shihakushō and made his way to the dining area. He stepped inside to find Mei already seated alongside Yoruichi, Byakuya, and Hui. The table was set with an impressive array of food: rice, grilled fish, miso soup, pickles, a fluffy Japanese-style omelet, and neatly sliced vegetables.
Yuichi paused, taking in the relaxed atmosphere as he joined them. Hui looked slightly anxious, casting nervous glances at Yoruichi. "Captain," Hui ventured, "shouldn't I be serving the meal instead of sitting here?"
Yoruichi waved her hand dismissively, her usual laid-back smile softening her expression. "It's fine, Hui. Sit down and enjoy breakfast. After what you all went through, I think you can indulge in being served for once."
Yuichi took his seat as the new maid entered, carefully setting out the last few items on the table before giving a respectful bow and leaving them to their meal. As they began eating, Yuichi felt a wave of gratitude for the calm and comfort of the meal after such an intense night. The food was delicious, and though the meal was quiet and respectful, it carried an air of camaraderie from their shared experience.
Once everyone had finished, Yoruichi leaned back, stretching slightly with a grin. "Alright, now that you're all fed and somewhat rested, let's get to the debriefing. Meet me in my study in ten," she instructed, rising from her seat and gesturing for the others to follow after they finished.
As they made their way through the halls, Yuichi couldn't help but be impressed at the quick repairs made since the previous night. Already, most of the damage had been patched up, the floor polished, and the cracked walls carefully mended. The traces of the intense battle that had taken place just hours ago were nearly erased, a testament to the efficiency and precision of the Shihōin estate's attendants.
They arrived at Yoruichi's study to find the room immaculate. The cushions were arranged neatly, and the scent of fresh incense filled the air, mixing with the lingering fragrance of sandalwood. Yuichi took a seat along with the others, anticipation building as Yoruichi leaned against her desk, crossing her arms and regarding each of them in turn.
"So," she began, her tone still casual but her gaze sharp. "You all did an impressive job last night, but I need each of you to walk me through it. Every detail matters here." Her gaze lingered on Yuichi and Mei. "Start with what you noticed and how you responded."
Yuichi nodded, leaning forward slightly as he recounted the night's events. "After we escorted the young lord to his room, Mei detected someone brushing against her spiritual senses. We prepared ourselves, thinking it was a scout or a small group, but soon realized it was a full-on attack." He paused, recalling the intensity of those initial moments. "We tried to manage the initial wave, but the numbers just kept increasing. I decided to lure them away from Byakuya and Hui to buy them time while Mei took on several of the attackers directly."
Mei nodded, continuing from where Yuichi left off. "I created an ice barrier around young lord Byakuya and Hui and activated my shunkō since my zanpakutō would be at a disadvantage against such numbers. I drew as many of the attackers to me as I could and used a technique named Fubuki to weaken their numbers, but my reiryoku drain was substantial. It left me vulnerable once it wore off."
Yoruichi listened intently, nodding as Mei continued to recount the fight with a calm and clinical tone. "Hui held her own, managing to incapacitate those that slipped past my defenses. When Yuichi returned, we were able to regroup, but by then, we were all running low on reiryoku."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed slightly as she turned her attention to Hui. "What about you? How did you handle things?"
Hui straightened, her face betraying only the slightest hint of pride. "I used my hakuda skills to hold off the remaining attackers while covering young lord Byakuya. We kept him safe, per your instructions."
Byakuya, who had been silent, spoke up then. "The battle was chaotic, but it was clear that each of them was focused on protecting me. Despite the overwhelming odds, they didn't falter."
Yoruichi's smirk softened, and she gave a small nod of approval. "You all did exactly as you were trained to do and managed to keep Byakuya safe. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome."
"Now," Yoruichi continued, her voice growing more serious, "we need to talk about the attackers themselves. It's no coincidence that they chose to strike when they did. The timing, their numbers, and the way they moved indicate they were well-organized and specifically targeting Byakuya."
Mei nodded. "Their coordination was too precise for a random ambush. They knew the layout of the mansion and were prepared for resistance."
Yoruichi crossed her arms, her gaze darkening. "Exactly. And that's what concerns me. This was clearly orchestrated by someone with access to detailed information about the Shihōin estate, which means we're dealing with more than just mercenaries."
Yuichi glanced at Mei, who nodded, both of them thinking the same thing. "So, do you think another of the great noble house could be involved?" he ventured.
"Yes," Yoruichi replied, her tone grave. "But we won't jump to conclusions yet. I will be investigating further. However, this attack was most likely perpetrated by the Tsunayashiro noble family. The Ankoku noble house was fully purged yesterday and in response, both the Shihōin and Kuchiki households faced an attack last night. This was most likely a warning to our houses not to push things too far and stop after taking down one of the lesser noble houses under them."
The room fell silent as Yoruichi's words settled over them, the gravity of her statement hitting each of them in turn. Mei, always composed, clenched her fists subtly, her gaze sharpening. Hui's face remained calm, though a flicker of concern crossed her features. Byakuya's expression was unreadable, but his gaze held a steely resolve.
"So, what now?" Yuichi asked quietly, his mind already considering the implications of the Tsunayashiro house orchestrating such a brazen attack. "If they're trying to intimidate us into inaction, what's our response?"
Yoruichi's smirk returned, though this time it was cold and determined. "We don't have a response. For now, lay low and don't draw any unwanted attention. The Tsunayashiro family might think they've sent a message, but that only strengthens the resolve of the Shihōin and Kuchiki Clans. We'll respond with precision and patience. However, until this matter is solved Mei and Yuichi will stick with little Byakuya so make sure to get along now."