Hearing this, Marenoshin fell silent.
Though only the heir to the Shihōin clan, Yoruichi wielded considerable power due to the clan's structure.
"Since this is Lady Yoruichi's guest, I shall not inquire further." He bowed respectfully, "Now that you've returned, please remember the previous matter — the clan elders have been asking about it frequently."
Yoruichi's cheerful expression clouded over with irritation, and she waved her hand dismissively.
"I know, I know."
With that, she threw her arm around Akira's shoulders and dragged him toward the courtyard like an old friend.
Watching their retreating figures, Marenoshin's eyes flickered with worry as he muttered under his breath.
"This is a crucial time, Lady Yoruichi. If anything goes wrong, the consequences would be severe. And also..."
He furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Surely Lady Yoruichi isn't serious about what she said before? Even if Kisaragi is talented, she couldn't really intend to make him a son-in-law. Why not simply arrange a marriage with a lower-ranking noble? Or is she concerned that wouldn't be enough to secure his loyalty?"
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The Tea House.
They sat facing each other at the dark green tea table, fragrant tea wafting through the air and soothing their spirits.
Akira held his teacup, contentedly enjoying the moment.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do — and the Shihōin clan's tea was certainly superior to what they served at Genryūsai's place.
"Actually, I asked you here because I need your help with something." Yoruichi said, getting straight to the point.
"Is it about your Zanpakutō?" He set down his teacup, nodded with satisfaction, and looked up at the girl across from him.
"How did you know?" Yoruichi asked, surprised.
"Just by reading your expressions." Akira smirked, "The answer is written all over your face."
The previous two times he'd met her, the dark-skinned girl's face had always beamed with joy. This time, her eyes were filled with worry.
She had immediately asked for a divination about the Zanpakutō, then used money as an excuse to bring him to the Shihōin estate.
What else could it be about if not the Zanpakutō? Could she really be in such a hurry to make him a son-in-law?
"You guessed right." The smile faded from Yoruichi's face as she sighed softly, "It is indeed about the Zanpakutō. After your divination, I realized my previous concerns might become reality."
"Is it that serious?" Akira blinked.
"Extremely serious!" Her grave expression showed she wasn't joking.
He nodded, setting aside his playful mood, "Tell me more."
Yoruichi glanced around and, after checking their surroundings, grabbed his collar to pull him closer, speaking in a hushed voice.
"Actually, I don't have my own Zanpakutō."
Akira nodded, showing no signs of surprise.
From what he knew, many Shinigami didn't have their own Zanpakutō, especially among the Shin'ō Academy students.
As Yoruichi continued her explanation, he gradually understood the situation.
Throughout history, few heads of the Shihōin clan had possessed their own Zanpakutō. Instead, the clan possessed a hereditary one, left by their founding ancestor, which symbolized their traditions and status.
Before taking office, each clan head needed to gain the Zanpakutō's acceptance. Only then could they be considered a true head of the Shihōin clan.
This process had gone smoothly for generations, but problems arose with Yoruichi.
She couldn't gain its acceptance.
The exact reason remained a mystery. Despite trying various methods of Jinzen, she couldn't enter the hereditary Zanpakutō's Inner World — it was as if the blade completely rejected her presence.
The Shihōin clan elders initially doubted Yoruichi's suitability as clan head. However, when they had others attempt to gain the Zanpakutō's acceptance, they encountered the same barrier.
The hereditary Zanpakutō had sealed itself away. No one could communicate with it, much less gain its acceptance.
This crisis sent the Shihōin clan into a panic. They frantically gathered every known Jinzen technique from across Soul Society and collected all available information about Zanpakutō, even consulting the Shinigami Research Institute.
Yet every attempt failed.
As the next clan head, Yoruichi had to resolve this matter — after all, this Zanpakutō was her birthright.
She tried countless methods to restore the Zanpakutō to its original state. But neither her own efforts nor the clan elders' solutions made any difference.
The Zanpakutō remained dormant.
Frustrated, Yoruichi ventured out to clear her mind. By chance, she overheard passersby discussing rumors about Akira.
Following her instincts, she sought him out and requested a divination for the Zanpakutō. Though the results weren't promising, they sparked a new hope within her.
"You mean..." Akira asked in surprise, "You want me to perform an exorcism on the Zanpakutō?"
"Is that impossible?" Yoruichi asked uncertainly.
He replied with a troubled expression, "It's not impossible — it's just that I usually perform exorcisms for young ladies. Working with a Zanpakutō would be a first."
Despite his extensive experience in the Sakahone District, this request was unprecedented.
Yoruichi looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"We can try, right? Even if the chances are low, it's not completely impossible, right?"
Akira fell into deep thought.
His hesitation wasn't from unwillingness, but rather from considering which method would work best.
He had previously managed to communicate with his own Zanpakutō through ritual methods. Though the results weren't conclusive, it marked a promising start.
Perhaps, he reasoned, these methods meant for gods and humans could indeed work on Zanpakutō.
"Let's give it a try!" He said decisively.
Yoruichi's eyes lit up with delight, "Why wait? Let's do it today — now!"
Without hesitation, she grabbed his hand and led him out of the tea room, guiding them through winding corridors deep into the Shihōin estate.
Their familiar interaction drew curious glances from onlookers. Once they had passed, whispers began to spread.
Since when did Lady Yoruichi have such an intimate male friend...
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They soon arrived at an ancient building. Immediately, a heavy presence washed over them — like a mountain pressing down on their hearts.
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