First Division, at the Captains' Council.
His Excellency, the Captain-Commander, distributed the report from the First Division's 3rd Seat to the various Captains, then sat in his chair without saying a word, lost in thought.
More than nine hundred years have passed since the battle back then. Is the false peace maintained for so many years finally about to be broken?
However... The Captain-Commander furrowed his brows. He really couldn't figure out the reason why the Quincys would actively start a war with the Shinigami.
To put it bluntly, in his perception, regarding the Quincys remaining today, he feared that even Sajin Komamura or Tōshirō Hitsugaya could solo them.
The report stated that the Quincys were looking for someone, but who exactly were they looking for...
"Captain-Commander," Soifon spoke up at this moment. "The Quincys in the World of the Living are provoking us. Perhaps looking for someone is just an excuse."
Shifting his gaze to Soifon, the Captain-Commander narrowed his eyes. Being short and having a bad temper certainly fit the description, but Soifon wasn't a Quincy.
"My, my. I was present when the armistice agreement was signed back then..." Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down on his straw hat with a sigh. "I wonder, did the Ishida family participate this time?"
The Captain-Commander shook his head. "Members of the Ishida family were not present."
"Then, perhaps there is still room for a turnaround." Shunsui Kyōraku rubbed his stubbly chin. "Going from fratricide to declaring war on the Shinigami... this simply doesn't seem like the style of that group of survivors..."
The so-called survivors were naturally the Quincys who had survived the Thousand-Year Blood War. To survive, they signed an armistice with the Shinigami; unless it was for self-preservation, they would not hunt Hollows, nor would they use their power to interfere with the World of the Living.
For such a group of people who clung to life and feared death, or rather, loved peace, logically speaking, they shouldn't be going crazy.
"Hmm, let's investigate the whole story clearly first... regarding their move against us this time, we will note it down for now."
Thinking for a moment, His Excellency, the Captain-Commander, gave the final verdict.
After all, the people who made the move were dead, while the Shinigami had zero casualties. Using this reason to start a war with the Quincys would make it look like the Shinigami were bullying people.
Moreover, the World of the Living not only had Quincys but also the Visoreds. If those guys were to get mixed up in this, it would indeed be troublesome.
Night, inside the courtyard of the Second Division.
Ding—
Blade lights intersected. Both Unohana's and Soifon's swords were stained with each other's fresh blood, and the stone path was dyed crimson by the blood of the two.
Ever since Unohana found a long-lost pleasure in Soifon, she couldn't go back... even though after every battle, Unohana would imply to herself that this was the last time.
But she could no longer remember... how many "last times" this had been.
Over time, their arranged battles naturally couldn't be hidden from Soifon's two students.
However, whether they were naturally airheaded or had too heavy a filter on Unohana Retsu, Momo Hinamori and Rukia merely felt that it was normal for the Captain of the Fourth Division to be strong in Zanjutsu.
After all, her Zanpakutō was a healing type, so naturally, she had to learn some skills to protect herself.
Incidentally, not wearing the Shihakushō for the duel was also a little clever idea of Momo Hinamori and Rukia. Using the excuse that sparring shouldn't damage the Shihakushō and the Captain's Haori, it was all just to catch a glimpse of Teacher Soifon's... well.
Sitting on the eaves gnawing on peaches, they had already grown accustomed to the ground full of fresh blood left after the two Captains sparred.
Rip—
Another clash of blades. After separating, the two panted for breath. The overburdened white yukata rose and fell, expanding with Unohana Retsu's breathing.
Suddenly, the side of the yukata on Soifon's body was sliced open by a blade, and a small, cute side-breast became faintly visible.
Plop.
The peaches in their mouths involuntarily fell onto the tiles of the eaves, then rolled down into the courtyard, covered in dust.
Rukia and Momo Hinamori craned their necks, their eyes wide and round, their gazes glued firmly to that tear on the side of Soifon's yukata.
Gulp.
Someone, unbeknownst who, swallowed a mouthful of saliva first.
It wasn't until their heads bumped together with a thud due to leaning forward too much that they suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Damn it, what are you looking at!"
"I should be asking you!"
The two were like two kittens with their fur standing on end, glaring at each other.
In the field, Soifon and Unohana had sheathed their swords simultaneously.
Both of them bore quite a few fresh wounds. Their yukatas were cut in many places, stained with spots of blood.
Soifon looked down at the tear on her side waist. Her expression didn't change much; she simply raised her hand to pull together the front lapel of her yukata.
At this moment, the two on the eaves finally couldn't hold back, trotting down while hugging the clean clothes they had prepared long ago.
After Unohana Retsu left, Soifon took the clothes and walked into the bathroom.
Soon, the rustling sound of friction against clothes came from inside, followed by the splashing sound of water.
Momo Hinamori and Rukia stood in place, pricking up their ears in unison to listen for a while, then looked at each other again.
"Hey, how about we two learn Kendo?"
Squatting at the door of the bathroom, Momo Hinamori scratched the ground with a twig.
"You mean, we knock Teacher Soifon's clothes flying during sparring, and then..."
"Mmhmm!"
"Then how long do we have to train to reach that level?"
"It should be... like Captain Unohana, I guess."
"Sigh."
...
Sitting on a chair, Soifon, having finished her shower, was blow-drying her hair when a streak of black shadow on the roof beam triggered her spiritual sense warning.
Soifon's fingers paused amidst the tips of her hair. She turned off the hair dryer, and the room instantly fell into silence.
Then, she rose from the chair, the belt of her bathrobe tied loosely, and moved soundlessly to the edge of the bed...
Almost simultaneously, a figure pounced toward her back.
Pounced on empty air?!
Yoruichi, having transformed into human form, crashed into the bathrobe that carried Soifon's body scent, her golden cat eyes full of astonishment.
—It was actually Utsusemi?!
But, if Soifon used Utsusemi in that state just now, wouldn't that mean...
Yoruichi's brain spun rapidly, but a familiar voice already came from beside her ear.
"Lady Yoruichi..." Soifon's chest pressed against Yoruichi's back with no barrier between them. "Why are your moves still so old-fashioned?"
In that split second, Yoruichi didn't even see her movements clearly; she only felt warm breath from behind and arms that suddenly encircled her waist.
Soifon had completely restrained Yoruichi from behind.
Thud.
A muffled sound. Soifon "held Yoruichi hostage" and fell onto the bed, pulling the curtains shut.
After trying a few times without being able to break free, Yoruichi sighed. It seemed she really had been surpassed by the other party.
"Lady Yoruichi, just sighing won't make me let you go..."
Soifon's lips almost touched Yoruichi's earlobe.
A warm current brushed past, and Yoruichi subconsciously shrank her neck.
"I didn't expect... your Kendo skills to be so formidable, to actually be able to fight Unohana that fellow to such a state."
Seeing she couldn't run away, Yoruichi could only change the subject and turn on praise mode.
"Praising me is useless, Lady Yoruichi." Soifon tilted Yoruichi Shihōin's chin up. "Besides... guess for whom I became this way?"
"Alright... actually, I came to ask you for some internal information." Yoruichi Shihōin turned her head slightly. "The Quincys in the World of the Living are acting like they're crazy. Is the Seireitei really going to go to war?"
If so, then she, Kisuke Urahara, and those in the Visoreds would have to prepare to move house in advance.
Once this war broke out, the scope of the impact would definitely not be limited to just Shinigami and Quincys.
Soifon listened quietly, her arms around Yoruichi's waist loosening a bit, yet still circling her loosely.
Immediately after, she confessed the decision of today's Captains' Council to the other party.
Yoruichi obviously breathed a sigh of relief. Her tense shoulders relaxed, and she moved, seemingly wanting to get up and leave.
But Soifon's arms tightened some more, and the breathing against Yoruichi's back became somewhat heavy.
"You come as you please, and leave as you please? Lady Yoruichi."
"Wait! Now?"
"Shh... It's fine, leave it to me, Lady Yoruichi."
Lightly twisting, slowly plucking, then teasing again;
Between the raised fingers, the cry of a golden oriole is heard.
____
New Story: Danmachi: But I am a God, time to make a family!
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