After Kurotsuki Renya had been accepted among the Visoreds, Yoruichi Shihōin — in her black cat form — called him aside and asked quietly,
"So, you said the current Commander of the Stealth Force is Soi Fon?"
Renya nodded. "Yes, Captain Soi Fon now leads the Second Division and serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō."
Yoruichi's golden eyes softened, and a faint smile crossed her feline face.
"I never imagined that the little girl who used to trail behind me would grow that powerful."
Renya's tone grew more respectful. "She's always held you in deep regard, Lady Yoruichi."
"Let's change the subject," Yoruichi replied quickly, flicking her tail. She didn't want to dwell on old emotions. "I hear you've mastered Shunkō, haven't you?"
Renya nodded. "Yes. It's a technique Captain Soi Fon and I refined together — combining Hadō and Hakuda into simultaneous flow."
Yoruichi tilted her head. "That sounds like her — but what you're using is still an incomplete version. Your method is sound, but your energy flow's direction is off. I can teach you the perfected form."
Renya smiled. "Actually, Lady Yoruichi, I already know that the true Shunkō gathers Kidō energy not in the limbs, but around the shoulders and back. Captain Soi Fon and I experimented with this. However, since my Zanpakutō's attribute is lightning, I can channel Reiatsu through my entire body. It gives me strength equal to your full version of Raijin Senkei. So I focused on refining my own variation."
Yoruichi's eyes widened slightly. "I see… I didn't expect that after all these decades, Soi Fon would master Raijū Senkei — and even evolve it."
Renya chuckled. "Of course, Captain Soi Fon is incredibly strong."
Yoruichi turned to look at him more directly. "You call her 'Captain Soi Fon,' but a moment ago you said 'Sister Soi Fon.' Which is it?"
Renya scratched his head sheepishly. "When we're alone in the barracks, I call her Sister Soi Fon, but in public, I always address her as Captain. That's our rule."
Yoruichi smirked. "She's never liked people getting close. If she allows you that, you must share a strong bond."
Renya smiled proudly. "Sister Soi Fon is my girlfriend. She said once I'm taller than her and have mastered Bankai, she'll marry me. We've already held hands—and even kissed."
Yoruichi froze mid-step, her cat eyes wide. "You… kissed Soi Fon? You're telling me that Soi Fon agreed to marry you?"
Renya nodded cheerfully. "That's right."
Yoruichi let out a slow sigh and shook her head. "Unbelievable. She's learned Raijū Senkei, commands the Stealth Force… and now she has a boyfriend."
Then, with a small grin: "Since you already have your own form of Shunkō, I suppose there's nothing left for me to teach you."
Renya waved his hands. "No, not at all! You could help me refine my Raijin Shunkō. I've been theorizing ways to spread lightning-based Kidō evenly across my entire body — maybe even form external energy focus points to maintain constant output and increase mobility."
"Energy focus points?" Yoruichi's tone sharpened. "Explain."
"Just like the legends of the Thunder God," Renya said, "who manifested floating magatama behind him. If I could shape my lightning Reiatsu into magatama, they could supply energy continuously."
Yoruichi's golden eyes gleamed. "You're onto something. I had similar thoughts once — a further evolution of Raijin Senkei — but couldn't visualize the mechanism."
She paused, then laughed softly. "It seems I'm getting inspired by a kid again."
Renya smiled modestly. "No, you're helping me as much as I'm helping you, Lady Yoruichi."
Yoruichi chuckled. "You say you don't even need my Shunkō, yet you still offer to collaborate. You're full of surprises, Renya."
Renya's voice softened. "If you master a higher version, I can pass it on to Soi Fon. Making her stronger makes me stronger."
Yoruichi's gaze softened, almost wistful. "That girl really did find herself someone rare… but you're still just a brat."
Renya grinned. "I'm thirty-two years old!"
Yoruichi let out a playful laugh. "Thirty-two? You're still a child. In Soul Society, you're not considered an adult until you're a hundred."
Renya blinked. "A hundred?"
"That's right," Yoruichi teased. "So you're still a brat."
Renya sighed, defeated. Still, he smiled faintly. For a Shinigami, a century was barely adolescence.
Yoruichi's tone grew serious again. "Since you don't need me for Shunkō, I'll teach you more advanced Hakuda and Shunpo instead. You're already fast — but speed always has room to grow."
Renya's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd be honored!"
Yoruichi nodded. "You've helped me refine my own ideas. Consider it a fair trade."
"Thank you, Lady Yoruichi," Renya said sincerely.
"Alright," Yoruichi said, stretching. "I'll head out for now. I'll return in a few days."
With that, she trotted over to Urahara Kisuke. "Kisuke, I'm heading out."
"Take care," he replied with a lazy wave.
Yoruichi blurred away in a flash of black lightning.
Renya watched her vanish, unable to help but think about the odd, almost unspoken bond between Yoruichi and Urahara. Childhood friends, comrades, fugitives — able to sacrifice for one another, yet never lovers.
He smiled faintly. Some bonds defy definition.
He turned to Kisuke. "Manager Urahara, I suppose you're leaving too?"
Urahara adjusted his hat. "That's right, Renya-kun. I'll be in Karakura Town. If you ever need anything, my shop's always open."
Renya hesitated, then said, "Actually, there's something only you can help me with."
Kisuke raised a brow. "Oh? Do tell."
"I need a Reiatsu-cloaking mantle," Renya said. "A black cloak infused with Kidō that renders its wearer invisible to spiritual detection."
Kisuke chuckled, tapping his fan against his shoulder. "You even know about that? Those prototypes were never meant for general use."
Renya smiled wryly. "Aizen replicated three versions from your design."
Kisuke's fan froze mid-swing. His eyes narrowed. "So he did… Hmph. Then I suppose you've earned one of the originals."
Renya continued, "Also, I'd like a Spirit Suppression Bone — one that masks spiritual pressure without fully erasing it."
Kisuke sighed, though a faint grin tugged at his lips. "You really do your homework. Alright, I'll prepare both for you."
Renya smiled. "Thank you, Manager Urahara. That's all I'll need for now."
Urahara gave a short nod. "Then I'll take my leave."
As he disappeared into a Senkaimon, Hirako Shinji walked up beside Renya. "Alright, kid — let's get you settled. You'll be staying with us from now on."
Renya nodded, looking around at the Visoreds — warriors outcast from Soul Society, yet stronger and freer because of it.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like he truly belonged.