Having nothing better to do, Kensei Kenzuru finally returned to the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy—a place he'd only mentioned when he first arrived and had scarcely visited since.
Although his official status was still that of an academy student, Kensei had rarely attended classes. The one time he did, he ended up beating up Instructor Inoue.
But now that Old Man Yama had arranged for Komamura to study here, Kensei felt he should check in, least the honest big dog couldn't adapt to life here.
Komamura was alone, practicing the most basic sword-swinging motions against a wooden post. Though his movements were still somewhat jerky, the gaze visible from the slit in his specially made helmet was extra serious. Even though some students around still pointed and whispered, the present Komamura paid no mind to such gossip.
Kensei nodded with satisfaction. Komamura now possessed a determined heart. The rest depended solely on his own efforts.
As for daily practice guidance? Wasn't that what Old Man Yama was for?!
Swaggering back to his dorm room, Kensei froze the moment he opened the door.
On his bed lay a familiar petite figure, almost completely buried in his pillow, her head swaying slightly from side to side. What rendered Kensei speechless was the way Soi Fon's shoulders rose and fell in a slow, deep rhythm. She seemed to be taking deep breaths.
Looks like Soi Fon's been repressing herself.
Kensei didn't want to disturb Soi Fon at a moment like this. Such a scene would undoubtedly be incredibly awkward—like getting caught red-handed by a parent while playing with the "Spring Breeze Sprite" in your room because you forgot to lock the door. It was the kind of social death no one wanted.
But some things had to be faced eventually.
"Soi Fon."
Kensei called her name softly.
With a whoosh, Soi Fon sprang up from the bed like a released spring. Her face was flushed an unnatural red from excessive nervousness and shyness as she tidied her hair and clothes.
"L-L-Lord Kensei!" Soi Fon's voice was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, with a distinct vibrato. "I-It's not what you think! I... I was conducting a security inspection of your bedding!"
Kensei looked at the girl before him. She resembled an overloaded CPU. A little more exaggeration, and he might see steam rising from her head.
"Soi Fon, I don't remember teaching you to become a child who lies."
Kensei shook his head, seemingly disappointed. This action made Soi Fon's heart clench, and she hurried to explain.
"Forgive me, Lord Kensei! It was presumptuous of me to enter your room and... do such a thing..."
Though her initial apology was serious, her voice grew smaller and smaller, finally becoming a bee-like buzz.
"Such as what?"
"It was... lying on your bed, Lord... and smelling..."
The bully Kensei was using Soi Fon's loyalty to tease this innocent girl. Such a person was truly the Soul Society's disgrace, deserving of universal condemnation.
"...Smelling Lord Kensei's scent!"
Having given up struggling, Soi Fon seemed to deflate like a dehydrated human from The Three-Body Problem after uttering those words, her face wearing a "my life is over" expression.
"It's fine. I'm not going to scold you."
The empathetic Kensei pulled Soi Fon to sit on the bedside, drawing her small body into his arms. One hand gently stroked her hair as he began to comfort the girl who had abandoned all hope.
Why Soi Fon felt her life was over need not be mentioned again.
Feeling the warmth from behind and the gentle rubbing on her head, a trace of vitality returned to Soi Fon's body. The dull light in her eyes reignited.
Lord Kensei isn't punishing me for such behavior. Instead, he's comforting me so体贴ly. From now on, I must serve him with even greater devotion!
Soi Fon silently vowed in her heart.
"Alright, you must have come here for a reason. Tell me."
Hearing Kensei's words from behind, Soi Fon suddenly remembered she had serious business. Clearing her throat and trying to look serious despite her red face, she said, "Lady Yoruichi sent me to inform you. She requests your presence at a secret annex of the Shihōin Clan. She says the 'surprise' for you is ready."
Soi Fon wasn't sure what exactly Lady Yoruichi's "surprise" was, but based on her understanding of Yoruichi, it probably wasn't anything particularly serious. Even if it started serious, it likely wouldn't stay that way.
Kensei raised an imperceptible eyebrow, his thoughts aligning with Soi Fon's. After all, Yoruichi had previously mentioned wanting to dose him with several pounds of aphrodisiacs, then dominate and ravish his body. Though it sounded like a joke, who knew if Yoruichi would actually do it?
"Let's go!"
But then again, as the saying goes, if I don't enter hell, who will? Just because Yoruichi coveted his perfect body, should he, a man, retreat? Wouldn't that be a joke?
Utterly unmoved by Yoruichi's Beauty, Kensei, led by Soi Fon, marched toward the destination, his steps quickening heavily.
The secret locations of the great noble families weren't exactly spread throughout the Soul Society, but they weren't far from it. If Yoruichi hadn't told Soi Fon about this place, no one but Yoruichi herself would have been aware of it.
"Lady Yoruichi is inside." Soi Fon stopped at the entrance. "I'll wait outside for you to come out..."
She couldn't participate in what came next for now. However, Yoruichi had instructed her to wait outside, as she would be needed later.
Kensei nodded and walked in briskly, without a shred of anticipation. Seeing the figure in the hot spring at the center of the courtyard, Kensei's eyes widened in disbelief.
Whether by chance or intention, just as Kensei's gaze fell upon her, Yoruichi was slowly entering the pool, her movements carrying the composure and elegance of a feline. The water first lapped over her slightly arched feet, then her slender calves, before caressing the stunning curves of her thighs and waist/hips, finally engulfing the last, heart-stirring, voluptuous figure.
If the initial sight of Yoruichi's significantly increased height had been a visual shock for Kensei, then witnessing Yoruichi's agate-like body up close in such a relaxed and private environment now brought him nothing but an undisguised aggression.
Seemingly to showcase her mature charm to Kensei, Yoruichi swept her water-dampened purple hair back. A few drops slid down her neck, tracing the graceful line of her collarbone before descending into the hidden cleavage that invited endless reverie.
Her specially made Onmitsukidō uniform, which she hadn't removed, was soaked through by the pool water, clinging tightly to her more mature and shapely form after her transformation. Compared to outright exposure, this veiled beauty was far more alluring.
"Seen enough?" Yoruichi lowered her arm, her eyes filled with a mischievous smile. "Well? Are you satisfied with my surprise?"
More than satisfied. I'd be more than willing to conduct a personal, hands-on inspection.
Yoruichi's transformed voice carried a mature, magnetic quality, like a fine, aged wine, intoxicating without one realizing it.
Kensei closed the distance for a more detailed examination of Yoruichi's change.
"You really don't hold back." Yoruichi wasn't angered by Kensei's action; instead, she laughed a few times happily. "After we finish discussing serious matters, you'll be able to see even more clearly."
"I think there's no more serious matter than this."
Yoruichi reached out irritably and tapped Kensei's head. Though she was also in a hurry, they couldn't skip the serious matter. Mainly, she was afraid they'd forget about it afterwards.
"Your terms, please."
"First, I can mobilize Shihōin clan resources to provide you and Aizen with any necessary instruments and materials from now on." Yoruichi raised a finger. "But in return, I require partial usage rights to the results. Of course, for my personal use only, and I will inform both you and Aizen beforehand, using it under your joint supervision."
Kensei's expression turned weird. "Shouldn't you discuss that with Sōsuke?"
"Don't interrupt." Yoruichi's beautiful eyes glanced at Kensei. "If you agree, that guy must agree."
Raising another finger, Yoruichi continued, "Second, you have to take me along when you act together with Aizen from now on."
Kensei frowned, thinking simply. The second condition was nothing. The first he didn't care about personally, but Sōsuke's opinion had to be respected.
However, Sōsuke had said the Hōgyoku contained a part of him, so he was half-owner and had the right to dispose of it. Besides, he already had one of his own; he didn't need Sōsuke's half-owner.
"Fine. But I can only promise usage rights for the Hōgyoku. For Sōsuke's future results, you'll have to discuss with him yourself."
Yoruichi nodded. That was all unimportant. The main goal was to prevent that guy Aizen from being alone with Kensei.
"Alright. Serious business is done. Time to attend to my serious business."
***
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