The main hall of the Shihoin estate was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
In the front two rows sat the high-ranking nobles and the captain-level Shinigami.
Behind them were the ordinary nobles and seated officers.
The entire room was filled with figures in formal attire.
Kenma sat in the deepest part of the room, with Yoruichi, dressed in a magnificent white gown, on his left.
The two of them sat upright, a golden screen behind them as a backdrop.
To Kenma's side sat his three family members: Tensen Shōun, Yoichi, and Nobunaga.
And on Yoruichi's side sat her father, Shihoin Shun'gen, and her brother, Yūshirō.
Kenma's gaze swept over the dark figures below. While a group of young boys and girls were pouring wine, he reached out and tugged at his collar.
The clothes felt a little restrictive, and Kenma was not quite used to them.
Yoruichi, beside him, was fine. Her white dress was, at least, the same color as a wedding gown.
But the clothes Kenma was wearing, although they looked formal, had no auspicious or joyful meaning at all.
Besides the clothes, what made Kenma feel even more uncomfortable was the atmosphere of the wedding.
He had never thought that a wedding ceremony in the Soul Society would be like this.
There was none of the festive atmosphere of a wedding that Kenma remembered. Instead, it was like a funeral. Both host and guests wore solemn expressions.
The air seemed to have been infected, becoming heavy, and the room was filled with an oppressive atmosphere.
Kenma held a small sake saucer in both hands. After the two children in front of him had filled it, he drank it in one gulp and then handed the saucer to Yoruichi beside him.
Yoruichi did the same. After the saucer was filled, she raised it and drank.
The two children retreated. Kenma picked up a roll of white paper and unrolled it in his hands. On it were written the wedding vows.
Kenma's gaze fell, and his dull voice echoed in the room.
"This auspicious day has been chosen for our wedding. From this day forward, we two shall be husband and wife, and we shall share both joys and sorrows, respecting and loving each other."
"May our happiness last forever, for all eternity, our hearts unchanged. We hereby make this vow together."
"Husband, Shihoin Kenma."
Yoruichi's expression was solemn. She glanced at Kenma at her side, her heart in a daze.
'Am I... really getting married...'
'This seemingly dull and uninteresting man beside me will be my partner for the rest of my life.'
Yoruichi had thought of this wedding scene many times. Every time she imagined it, her feelings were a complex mix of sadness, anger, helplessness, and sometimes even a secret joy.
But now, truly facing it, she found that she was not as resistant as she had imagined.
Experiencing it in person today, she was not that dissatisfied.
It seemed she had already accepted this result.
'Perhaps this is her destiny...'
A strange emotion welled up in her heart. Yoruichi paused, then continued after her husband's voice.
"Wife, Shihoin Yoruichi."
With that, Kenma and Yoruichi were officially husband and wife.
At the side, Shihoin Shun'gen stood up with the help of Yūshirō and bowed to the guests in the hall.
"Dear friends and relatives, dear guests."
"Today is the joyous day of my little daughter's wedding. I am sincerely grateful to all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here. I am truly grateful!"
The old man's face was wreathed in smiles, his aged voice filled with a heartfelt joy.
Even the pain in his body had lessened considerably because of this.
And with the old man's congratulatory speech, the wedding ceremony of the father and daughter was successfully completed.
Due to his health, he retreated to the back of the residence to rest with his son's help, leaving the wedding scene to the protagonists, Kenma and Yoruichi.
Kenma led Yoruichi to toast the guests one by one.
First were the other three of the Four Great Noble Clans.
Kenma didn't know the people from the Ise family. The words they exchanged were limited to empty pleasantries like "eat well, drink well, and be happy."
The person from the Shiba family was a rather young-looking man with short, spiky black hair, grayish-blue eyes, and was dressed in a Shihakusho. He had the look of a protagonist.
"Senior Kenma, I wish you a happy wedding."
"Kaien, long time no see. How have you been in Squad 13 recently?"
Kenma naturally recognized this person.
Shiba Kaien had just graduated from the Shin'o Academy a few years ago. He had completed the six-year curriculum in just one year, a true genius.
After graduating, he did not immediately join the Gotei 13 but remained at home for a period of time. Eventually, at the invitation of Ukitake Jūshirō, he joined Squad 13 and was given a high-ranking seated officer position upon entry.
He was also the protagonist's cousin in the original story!
"Thank you for your concern, senior. Captain Ukitake treats me very well, and the squad members are also easy to get along with."
After a brief chat with Shiba Kaien, Kenma led Yoruichi to Kuchiki Ginrei.
"Lord Kuchiki, why don't I see Senior Kōga and Young Master Sōjun?"
Kuchiki Ginrei bowed, his etiquette impeccable.
"Sōjun is not in good health, and Kōga, for some reason, has been grounded by me, so he cannot personally attend the wedding. Please forgive us."
Kenma was taken aback.
He knew that Kuchiki Sōjun was not in good health, so that was not surprising.
What surprised him was that Kōga had been grounded by Kuchiki Ginrei.
'Could it be... that the time for Kuchiki Kōga's rebellion is approaching?'
After leaving Kuchiki Ginrei, Kenma's brow was furrowed and did not relax.
Although his outward appearance did not change much, it did not escape Yoruichi, who had been observing him at his side.
"What's wrong? You seem distracted."
"I remember that man, Kuchiki Kōga, also shares the title of 'The Three Greats' with you. Were you two close?"
Yoruichi deliberately lowered her voice so that the people around them would not hear.
Kenma shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"It's nothing. My relationship with him is neither good nor bad."
After a simple reply, Kenma said no more.
Seeing this, Yoruichi did not press further.
And after the Four Great Noble Clans came the captains of the Gotei 13.
The first person the two of them approached was the vice-captain of Squad 1, Sasakibe Chōjirō.
After all, he represented the will of Captain-Commander Yamamoto, so the proper respect had to be shown.
After a few simple pleasantries, they moved on to the other captains.
"Captain Unohana, thank you for your treatment of my father. Yoruichi and I are eternally grateful."
"Captain Hikifune, long time no see. I am sincerely grateful that you could come in person."
"Captain Hirako, Sousuke is a rather dull person. I will have to rely on you to guide him."
"Captain Kyōraku, did Captain Ukitake not come? What a pity..."
Unohana Retsu, Hirako Shinji, Kyōraku Shunsui, Hikifune Kirio.
Excluding Yoruichi, who was the bride, and the aforementioned Kuchiki Ginrei, half of the total number of captains had come to Kenma's wedding.
The great ship of the Shihoin clan still held considerable weight in the Soul Society.
"I'm sorry, Captain Yoruichi, and little Kenma. That fellow Ukitake is seriously ill and couldn't come to congratulate you in person. I apologize on his behalf," Kyōraku Shunsui said, lifting his straw hat, a hint of apology on his face.
Kenma was also aware of Ukitake Jūshirō's health condition.
Not seeing him here at this moment was actually a great relief to Kenma.
In fact, in the current Seireitei, the person Kenma was most wary of was not Captain-Commander Yamamoto, nor Aizen, nor Kōga, nor Azashiro Sōya, who was in the Muken.
It was the good-natured Ukitake Jūshirō, who was perennially ill.
There were too many unknown mysteries about him: his identity, his duties, his Zanpakuto, his abilities... everything was too mysterious, making it impossible to know the full picture.
Moreover, his position in the Soul Society was too special.
In Kenma's mind, considering the sacred object residing in Ukitake Jūshirō, it was not impossible to see him as the will of the Soul King on earth.
Even Aizen was aware of Ukitake's special nature, which was why he had said things like "you are too arrogant" when he left in the original story.
Coupled with Kenma's deep memory of Ukitake's performance in the Hell Verse arc...
All of this couldn't help but make Kenma wary of him.
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