"Yama-jii! There's still one matter we haven't dealt with!"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto had already called the meeting to an end when Ukitake Jūshirō suddenly remembered something everyone had overlooked.
"Another matter? Haven't we handled everything already? What else is there?"
Kazuma had been ready to leave, only for Ukitake's shout to drag him back.
"The Ryoka."
Ukitake looked a little embarrassed as he spoke.
He couldn't tell whether everyone present had deliberately ignored the issue or genuinely forgotten it, but not one person had brought it up.
"Oh, right. I really did forget about those poor bastards. How are they?"
Kazuma had honestly forgotten about them.
The plot had changed so much that they'd slipped his mind!
"Everyone except Kurosaki Ichigo is currently staying with the Fourth Division. None of them are in serious condition," Unohana answered.
She had generously taken in Ishida Uryū and the others.
"Yama-jii, even though those Ryoka entered the Seireitei without permission, they're decent people at heart. I think they're still worth saving. Why don't we clear their charges and send them back to the World of the Living?"
For once, Kazuma actually pleaded on someone's behalf.
After all, he'd once spent some time acting as Orihime and the others' disciplinarian.
There was still a little affection between them.
"Captain Kazuma, even if they are decent at heart, breaking into the Seireitei remains a serious crime. Wouldn't simply pardoning them make our laws look like a joke?"
Suì-Fēng immediately found another opening to argue with him.
By now it almost seemed as if she meant to oppose anything Kazuma suggested.
"How about this, then? You've all seen Kurosaki Ichigo's combat ability. He mastered Bankai barely a month after gaining Shinigami powers, which makes him a respectable captain-level fighter. We can have him serve as a Substitute Shinigami to atone for their crimes, and use his service to offset the others' punishment."
Kazuma proposed a compromise.
Soul Society would gain another powerful fighter in the bargain. There was no downside.
"I support it!" Komamura declared at once. "Captain Kazuma's idea is excellent. The others are only minor figures anyway. Executing them brings us no benefit, so we might as well put them to good use and trade their freedom for Kurosaki Ichigo's service as a Substitute Shinigami."
Kazuma's most devoted supporter was as loyal as ever.
"A Substitute Shinigami?" Suì-Fēng frowned. "Have you forgotten that the first Substitute Shinigami, Ginjō Kūgo, betrayed Soul Society? You were the one who personally captured him, Captain Kazuma. I believe reviving that system carries too much risk."
Suì-Fēng was apparently set on fighting this to the end, with no intention of sparing Kazuma's dignity.
"You don't need to worry about that. Kurosaki Ichigo's situation is different. He's Shiba Isshin's son, so his loyalty can be guaranteed. There won't be another incident like Ginjō Kūgo."
Even as Suì-Fēng kept pressing him, Kazuma had no intention of arguing seriously with the little girl.
Children needed patience and tolerance.
"Huh?!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo is Captain Shiba's son?"
It wasn't only Suì-Fēng who froze.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō was equally stunned. He'd never imagined Kurosaki Ichigo's background could be so complicated.
"If Kurosaki Ichigo is that brat Isshin's son, then the matter is settled," Yamamoto declared. "Jūshirō, the Substitute Shinigami system has always been under your supervision. Once Kurosaki Ichigo is found, you will handle the arrangements with him."
With that, the Captain-Commander made the final call and resolved yet another issue.
Since Yamamoto had spoken, Suì-Fēng finally stopped arguing.
She had enough sense to know which people she could challenge and which she absolutely could not.
"Don't worry, Yama-jii. Leave it to me."
Ukitake readily accepted the assignment.
"Is there anything else that has not been handled?"
Yamamoto frowned and looked around the room, his expression grave, still faintly uneasy.
He was clearly afraid they'd overlooked yet another important matter.
Several times already, someone had waited until the exact moment he dismissed the meeting before suddenly raising a new issue, forcing everyone to stay longer.
It was beginning to infuriate him.
"Are you certain there is nothing else?"
His gaze passed slowly over each person, refusing to miss even the slightest shift in expression.
No one spoke, and no one looked ready to raise another matter.
Only then did Yamamoto relax a little.
"Very well. This captains' meeting is now concluded. Dismissed."
As the captains began to leave, Kazuma suddenly called out.
"Proud little lady, stay behind. I have something to tell you."
Suì-Fēng stopped and turned to glare fiercely at him.
'What does this annoying bastard want now?'
"Hmph! You tell me to stay, and I'm just supposed to obey? Do I have no dignity? The Second Division's work is piled up like a mountain. Not only do I have my own division to manage, I also have to investigate the Third and Fifth Divisions. I don't have time to stand around wasting it with you!"
Suì-Fēng crossed her arms over her chest and raised her chin proudly.
For all those forceful words, though, her body stayed planted firmly where it was.
She didn't move even half a step.
Her bright eyes flicked toward Kazuma now and then, making it obvious she was dying to know what he meant to say.
"Oh my. Captain Suì-Fēng truly is a busy woman with a thousand duties. I'd planned to talk with you about Yoruichi, but it seems you just don't have the time to listen. In that case, hurry along and deal with your work. I won't keep you. Safe travels, and don't expect me to walk you out."
A sly smile appeared on Kazuma's face. He knew exactly how to grab Suì-Fēng by her weakness.
Sure enough, the instant she heard Yoruichi's name, her legs might as well have been nailed to the floor.
She stood there obediently, not moving at all.
"Where exactly is Yoruichi? What do you know? Tell me immediately!"
Suì-Fēng's voice carried an urgency she couldn't hide.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at that attitude, Captain Suì-Fēng. It's terrible! If you speak to me like that, how could I possibly tell you anything about Yoruichi?"
Kazuma deliberately shook his head and answered at an infuriatingly slow pace.
"I know Captain Kazuma is a kindhearted man. You even tried to help Ryoka who have nothing to do with you. Surely someone as generous and warmhearted as you would be willing to tell me about Yoruichi too."
Suì-Fēng forced a smile onto her face.
It looked far more painful than crying, twisting her normally beautiful, severe features into something strange.
Her eyes, though, were filled with such desperate hope that it seemed she'd do almost anything for word of Yoruichi.
"That's it? That's all you've got?"
Kazuma stared at her, speechless.
'This little brat is trying to get something for nothing. Does she seriously think I'm that easy to fool? Keep dreaming.'
He gave a soft snort and turned his head away.
Suì-Fēng apparently didn't notice the change in his attitude.
She kept staring at him expectantly, waiting for an answer.
But after a long silence, Kazuma still said nothing.
"Hmph! Fine, don't tell me. I'll use the Onmitsukidō and find out myself!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Suì-Fēng threw out those words angrily and turned to leave.
"All right, all right! I'll stop teasing you. Yoruichi is in the Captain-Commander's tea room. Go find her yourself."
Kazuma sold Yamamoto out at once, completely ignoring the murderous glare aimed at him from across the room.
"I'll remember this favor!"
The moment Suì-Fēng learned where Yoruichi was, she shot toward the Captain-Commander's tea room like a gust of wind.