"Kaein-senpai, Miyako-chan, I've come to visit you," Yamahiko said as he arrived at the Shiba household. A few days ago, he received an invitation from Shiba Kaien, a special gesture of gratitude for saving Miyako.
Yamahiko had initially felt that there was no need for such gratitude, but he agreed to the visit nonetheless.
Upon arriving at the Shiba household, he knocked on the door, and both Shiba Kaien and Shiba Miyako appeared to welcome him.
The Shiba family had moved away from the Seireitei and now lived in the Rukongai. Despite their status, they chose not to return to the Seireitei. However, they often resided in the Thirteenth Division barracks.
The Shiba family's compound was quite large, with two traditional courtyards, front and back connected by long corridors. The iconic chimney, a crucial part of the Kakaku Taihō
used to fire the Reishūkaku, still towered in the distance.
"This is the Shiba family's cannon, a piece of technology passed down through generations," Shiba Kaien explained.
"Yamahiko, please come inside," Miyako added with a warm smile.
Yamahiko followed them into the house. Inside the main hall, two imposing figures were waiting. They stood nearly three meters tall, and Shiba Kaien introduced them, saying, "They are Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, our family's guards."
"Hello, Lord Yamahiko," both retainers greeted him with formal bows.
"Your voices are quite loud," Shiba Kaien teased, pushing them aside. Then he led Yamahiko into the living room. Yamahiko removed his shoes and joined them on the tatami mat. Miyako went to prepare tea, while Shiba Kaien gestured for him to sit.
"Thank you for coming today, Yamahiko," Kaien said. "We invited you here to express our gratitude for saving Miyako's life. Without you, she might not have survived. Thank you, Yamahiko."
Shiba Kaien sat down and bowed his head in thanks.
"Yamahiko, thank you so much," Miyako chimed in with a smile.
Yamahiko was touched but quickly responded, "There's no need to be so formal, Vice-Captain Kaein, Miyako-chan. You don't have to thank me this much."
Shiba Kaien lifted his head and smiled, saying, "Why are you calling Miyako 'chan' and me 'Vice-Captain Kaein'? It's too formal."
Yamahiko replied, "Well, Miyako-chan is beautiful and young, but Vice-Captain Kaien..."
Shiba Kaien's face twitched as he said, "Are you saying I'm old and ugly?"
Miyako chuckled at the exchange.
Yamahiko, trying to smooth things over, said, "I didn't mean it that way, Vice-Captain Haien."
Kaien retorted, "But that's what you implied..."
Miyako joined in the laughter.
Miyako quickly changed the subject, asking, "How long have you been with the Second Division now?"
Yamahiko replied, "It's been eight years already."
Shiba Kaien shook his head in amazement and said, "Eight years and you already have the strength of a captain. You're truly remarkable, Yamahiko."
Yamahiko smiled and said, "I still have a long way to go. I have my shortcomings."
One of his weaknesses was his lower reiryoku. He couldn't reach the seventh-class that captains had, and even Shiba Kaien had a higher spiritual power than him.
But he excelled in his Zanpakuto abilities and Shunpo skills.
Shiba Kaien might not have mastered his Bankai yet, considering the recent timeline with Metastacia. Once he did, Yamahiko's advantage might diminish.
"You're too modest," Kaien said, shaking his head. "You've accomplished a lot in eight years."
Yamahiko had considered Shiba Kaien's development. In the Bleach story, it was likely that he would master his Bankai soon. In a decade or two, Kaein might surpass him, especially considering his remarkable talent.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and a figure rushed in, exclaiming, "Sorry, I'm back late. I'm so thirsty. I need something to drink."
Without waiting for a response, the person made a beeline for the table, grabbed a tea cup, and downed its contents. Then she looked longingly at the cup Yamahiko had in his hand.
Yamahiko noticed her gaze and raised the cup, saying, "If you don't mind, here..."
Before Yamahiko could finish his sentence, the woman snatched the cup from him and downed its contents.
Yamahiko chuckled as he observed her. This woman had a tall and alluring figure. Her hair was concealed by a headscarf, and two black braids hung down her back. She had sharp, well-defined eyebrows and bright, lively eyes. Her nose was elegant, and her lips were sensuous. Her facial features were distinct, with a hint of androgyny.
The most striking aspect of her appearance was her curvaceous body. She wore a red sleeveless top with a hollow symbol on her left arm and an attractive crop top. Her figure was well-endowed, and her hourglass waist was evident, showcasing her smooth, shapely curves.
She wore a white skirt with a generous side slit, revealing her seductive, rounded thighs as she moved. Bandages were wrapped around her slender calves, and she wore wooden clogs. The scent of gunpowder hung in the air.
This was Kūkaku Shiba, Shiba Kaein's younger sister.
Yamahiko had expected to find her with a missing arm, as in the original story, but her arm was intact. She had not experienced the same tragedy that drove her to resent the Soul Reapers in the original Bleach storyline.
Kūkaku Shiba drained the cup and plopped down beside Yamahiko, looking at him with a mischievous grin. "Is this the little guy who saved my sister?"
Kaien, annoyed, said, "Didn't I tell you Yamahiko would be here at three? Why are you so late?"
Kūkaku Shiba chuckled and replied, "I had some business with the family that provided me with fireworks. It delayed me a bit, but it's not my fault."
Yamahiko suddenly realized that Shiba Kukaku was a fireworks expert and asked, "Are you a pyrotechnician?"
Kūkaku Shiba proudly proclaimed, "That's right, I'm the most renowned pyrotechnician in the entire Soul Society."
Kaien complained, "That's why you cause explosions in the backyard all the time, and we keep getting complaints."
Kūkaku ignored her brother and turned to Yamahiko, asking, "Little guy, do you want to see my laboratory?"
Intrigued by Kūkaku Shiba's fireworks expertise, Yamahiko eagerly agreed, "Can I?"
Kūkaku smiled and said, "Then come with me."
She stood up, and Yamahiko followed her as they left the room, disappearing from Shiba Kaein and Miyako's view.
Kaein scratched his head and said, "This Kūkaku, just took Yamahiko away."
Miyako chuckled, saying, "Isn't it better this way? Yamahiko might feel a bit uncomfortable sitting with us, so having Kukaku keep him company is a good idea."
Kaien asked in a somewhat annoyed tone, "And what about Ganju? He still hasn't returned. My two brothers and sister are really making me worry."
~End of the chapter~
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