Help! I am bound to Aizen!

Chapter 262

2-in-1 chapter

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“Wait—hold on a second.”

Kaelith raised a hand, interrupting Shiba Shōta.

“Shiba Kaien…he should be getting close to academy age, right? If he’s a genius, then maybe in twenty or thirty years, he’ll be ready to take over. You’re not that old, so why act like you can’t wait that long?”

Hearing Kaelith’s words, Shiba Shōta showed a somewhat wry smile.

“Captain Kaelith, how old do you think I am?”

Kaelith blinked. “Well, you look pretty young. I’d guess…four hundred?”

Shiba Shōta shook his head. Meeting Kaelith’s curious gaze, he said with a laugh, “I’m eight hundred and twenty.”

“?”

Kaelith couldn’t help letting a question mark pop into his head.

Shinigami do have long lifespans, but as they age, their appearance typically changes. Shunsui Kyōraku is only six or seven hundred, yet he already looks like he’s pushing fifty—and that’s with his great strength prolonging his life more than the average Shinigami.

No matter how skilled Shiba Shōta might be, he shouldn’t surpass Kaelith’s own senior brother in longevity. At eight hundred plus, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’d grown as wizened as Ginrei Kuchiki.

Apparently guessing Kaelith’s thoughts, Shiba Shōta lowered his voice.

“If a Shinigami wants to keep a younger appearance, it can be done through their Reiatsu. Consider Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division—she’s been an active force since over a thousand years ago, so by normal reasoning, shouldn’t she be… Well.”

Kaelith took a sharp breath and quickly waved a hand to stop him. That topic was a slippery slope best avoided.

Still, Shiba Shōta’s explanation made sense. Unlike Yamamoto or Unohana, his own overall power wasn’t enough to grant him such extraordinary longevity. At over eight hundred years old, he was truly at the tail end of his prime. Much like Chōjirō Sasakibe, old injuries and ailments had piled up, so it wouldn’t be long before he stepped down as captain and let someone new take over. If that “someone new” was Shiba Isshin, it would be much better.

Kaelith understood Shiba Shōta’s request perfectly—but he wasn’t particularly interested. Everyone Kaelith had gathered under his wing so far was to strengthen the 11th

Division for his own purposes.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda was a special exception, sent there because Kaelith got along with his father and was paid handsomely. As for Shiba Isshin—yes, he was the future father of the original storyline’s main character, so he was certainly important in canon. But to Kaelith, there was nothing personally compelling about him.

That in mind, Kaelith stood up, preparing to leave.

Seeing Kaelith’s movement, Shiba Shōta showed a flash of disappointment. But right then, a voice rang in Kaelith’s ear:

[Kaelith, bring some things back for me.]

The voice came from a small mechanical device he wore at his ear. Recognizing it immediately, Kaelith cleared his throat.

“Captain Shiba, may I borrow your restroom?”

“?”

Shiba Shōta found it odd. Kaelith had clearly been about to say his farewells, so why the sudden change of heart? Despite his puzzlement, he hurriedly pointed out the way.

Hiding away in the restroom, Kaelith gave a low cough.

“What do you need me to bring?”

[You’re at the Shiba estate?]

Aizen’s tone carried a hint of amusement instead of an answer.

“Yep. The old man here wants me to babysit his kid—trying to dump him on the 11th Division. As if the 11th is so easy to join!”

[The Shiba family child? Which one?]

“That’d be Shiba Isshin. But why are you so interested in the Shiba clan all of a sudden?” Usually, Aizen paid only cursory attention to noble matters.

“Oh…”

Hearing Kaelith’s response, Aizen raised an eyebrow. He did know of Shiba Isshin.

[Kaelith, agree to it. Bring Shiba Isshin back. Don’t worry about anything else; leave his training to me. I’ll handle it.]

Kaelith nodded. Although he couldn’t fathom why Aizen wanted Isshin, if Aizen was willing to do the work, Kaelith didn’t mind doing the Shiba clan this favor.

…Though, speaking of work, what was Kisuke Urahara up to lately? Perhaps Kaelith ought to assign that guy more tasks—milk him for some added value.

…

Shiba Shōta was beyond delighted. Who would have imagined that after a quick trip to the restroom, Kaelith would return and agree to accept Isshin? Could the toilet of the Shiba household have some mysterious power that changed Kaelith’s mind? Overjoyed, Shiba Shōta nearly wanted to erect a monument for that restroom.

In gratitude, he gifted Kaelith a special writing brush. As long as Shiba Shōta remained the acting head of the Shiba family, Kaelith could come anytime with this brush in hand and request a favor—anything Shiba Shōta could manage, he would.

But Kaelith didn’t think much of it. Honestly, there was little the Shiba clan could do that Kaelith couldn’t already do himself. The brush’s significance meant less to him than its quality. It felt perfectly balanced in his grip, the tip the ideal firmness, so good it made him want to write something straight away. Perhaps he could visit the old man Yamamoto and add a few new flourishes to his study…

After arranging a time to pick up Isshin, Kaelith departed. He then swung by the 8th Division to see his dear senior, Shunsui Kyōraku. The two buddies—who had a considerable age gap—found a courtyard, where they relaxed with warmed sake, enjoying the snowy scenery.

Around midway, Jūshirō Ukitake appeared, carrying a box of dried persimmons. He had planned to drop off some for Kyōraku first, then bring more to the 11th for Kaelith. Finding both men in one place saved him a trip.

Seeing Ukitake in a cloak and looking somewhat pale, Kaelith shook his head. “Brother Ukitake, winter’s not the best time for you to be out and about.”

With that, Kaelith patted his Zanpakutō.

“Rixiang Jimie—give us some warmth.”

At a faint tremor of the blade, a gentle heat spread out, warming the small table. Ukitake gave him a grateful nod.

“Thank you, Kaelith.”

After three rounds of drinks, Kaelith stretched, then prepared to leave—taking his share of the persimmons, of course. Although not the prettiest fruit, they tasted wonderful. He planned to share them with everyone back in the 11th.

Walking along with the paper bag of persimmons, Kaelith hummed a tune on his way back. Mid-journey, he suddenly halted and looked into the distance. He sensed a familiar Reiatsu.

A slow grin spread across his face.

“Finally out, huh? I’ve been waiting for this.”

In a blur, he vanished into the snow.

…

At the Shihōin estate:

Kaelith arrived via Shunpo, landing in midair. From afar, he spotted two figures beneath a large tree—one person sitting on a sturdy branch, legs swaying idly, and a petite figure standing beside her like a vigilant guard.

Seeing the pair, Kaelith felt genuine pleasure deep in his heart. Dispelling his foothold of Reishi, he dropped down before the tree.

“It’s been a while, Yoruichi, Soifon. Judging by your aura, I guess I should say congratulations?”

Perched in the tree, Yoruichi peered down at him and grinned.

“If you want to congratulate me, how about testing it out firsthand?”

“Sure.”

Kaelith agreed readily. The moment the words left his mouth, Yoruichi’s figure blurred, appearing instantly before him.

“Soifon, you’re not joining in?” Kaelith asked.

Yoruichi shook her head. “During training, yes, Soifon and I often fight as a team. But what I’m about to show you isn’t suitable for fighting alongside an ally.”

“Oh?”

Kaelith looked intrigued. When Yoruichi landed, Soifon flashed away, repositioning herself on a small distant hill. Kaelith shrugged off his Haori, readying himself. Seeing him toss the Haori aside, Yoruichi smirked.

In the next instant, searing arcs of electricity flared around her body.

“Shunkō!”

With crackling thunder, Yoruichi vanished, dashing straight for Kaelith. Her speed amazed him.

Before her secluded training, Yoruichi had already been the fastest in the Onmitsukidō. Now, with added lightning, she’d reached a whole new realm.

Boom!

Kaelith raised his left forearm to block. Almost the instant he lifted it, Yoruichi’s whiplike kick came crashing in, enveloped in churning lightning. Her blow slammed into the outside of his forearm, making Kaelith feel a rare flash of pain.

Well…managing to hurt me is proof enough her retreat wasn’t wasted.

Kaelith gave her an internal nod of approval. Even as he thought this, he continued his defensive maneuvers. Yoruichi’s onslaught didn’t stop at one strike; her attacks poured down like a wild thunderstorm, coming in from every angle.

If Kaelith’s style balanced strength and speed, Yoruichi leaned more heavily on speed—enough strength to do the job, then everything else into agility. If they were at the same level, he likely wouldn’t be able to fend off all her hits. Unfortunately for her, real battles don’t equalize power levels. Within a few seconds, Kaelith had parried nearly a hundred of Yoruichi’s strikes.

“Heh heh heh, my dear lady, your fancy strikes sure look good, but they’re not quite enough to wound me.” He gave a dramatic laugh. “If you don’t have anything stronger, I might just carry you off for my own pleasures~”

From a distance, Soifon narrowed her eyes, her blood pressure rising. Yoruichi unleashed a spinning kick, using the recoil from Kaelith’s counter to widen the gap between them. Staring at him—still smiling, still standing in the same spot—she felt a pang of resignation.

Every time she thought she was gaining on him, she’d realize she wasn’t even close. And the more time passed, the more that gap seemed to widen. At first, she’d stressed over it, struggling to catch up. Now, she’d begun accepting reality: surpassing Kaelith was impossible. Yet even so, she wanted to show she hadn’t given up on moving forward.

She flashed a feral grin. “Kaelith, watch yourself on this next move.”

“If you get hurt, don’t say I didn’t warn you first.”

Kaelith laughed. “Bring it on!”

Yoruichi took a deep breath and slowly lowered herself to all fours. Not quite lying down, but pressing both palms to the ground, arching her lithe figure and pushing up her hips—like a cat rising from a nap, stretching languidly.

Gold lightning flickered over her body, destabilizing. Usually, her Shunkō crackled around her shoulders and back. Now it flowed across her entire frame, as if uncertain or anxious. Kaelith couldn’t help wondering what kind of technique could make lightning itself “uneasy.”

Then he noticed a small cluster of electricity forming on top of Yoruichi’s head, shaping into a pair of pointed cat ears.

“Hah, that’s pretty nice,” Kaelith commented.

He watched, fascinated, as parts of Yoruichi’s body truly began transforming. Her legs shifted to accommodate a four-legged stance, morphing into feline hind limbs. A long black tail extended from her lower back, swishing about.

Zzt!

The golden lightning gathered until it clung firmly to her arms and legs, fusing so tightly with her flesh that each limb seemed made of living thunder.

“Nya~”

Opening her mouth, Yoruichi let out a cat-like cry. A shudder ran through Kaelith—(not that kind of shudder, mind you). He did notice that even her little tongue glowed with golden electricity. Anyone on the receiving end of that might… well, it could be lethal, in multiple senses of the word.

Kaelith grimaced slightly in awe. Just then, Yoruichi vanished from his line of sight.

“?!”

By instinct, he punched hard to his left. Crackle! The golden, catlike Yoruichi flashed into view—but Kaelith’s preemptive strike missed entirely. In the instant he threw that punch, she vanished again. Deceiving him with three feints in quick succession, she finally raked her claws across his back, leaving a long gash.

Pain flared along his shoulder blades, and Kaelith’s eyes lit up.

Fast… and sharp!

He glanced at Yoruichi, who withdrew immediately and prepared for a second pass. Overcome with curiosity, he shouted:

“What’s this technique called?”

She didn’t reply. The moment Kaelith spoke, Yoruichi blurred once more, weaving left to right and vanishing again.

“Oh… so serious you won’t even chat? Fine.”

Seeing her so focused ignited Kaelith’s own fighting spirit. In cat-spirit form, Yoruichi fought differently than normal. If anything, her approach reminded him of himself—discarding all formalities and letting raw instincts dictate her moves. A mindless, single-minded quest to take down the opponent. That carefree, primal style was a pure delight. Among so many in the Soul Society, only Zaraki Kenpachi had given Kaelith that same thrill. He hadn’t expected to see it again from Yoruichi.

“Your fighting intent is so pure—I’m really happy for you!”

Roaring these words, Kaelith unleashed a swirl of blue flames. If Yoruichi was going for an all-out Shunkō finish, so would he. Lightning clashed with fire, speed collided with ferocity, cat against Kaelith. Bolts crackled, flames roared, echoing across the sky.

Soifon watched the frenetic battle from afar, growing uneasy. Was Kaelith going to hurt Lady Yoruichi…?

For nearly half a minute, thunder and flame rang out, obscured by a dust cloud. When the sounds finally subsided, Soifon waved an arm, using a gust-based Reiatsu to clear the air. She saw Kaelith pinning Yoruichi to the ground, both hands gripping her arms.

“Mrrrow!”

Even pinned, Yoruichi refused to yield, letting out a defiant feline cry. Only now did Kaelith realize that when she hadn’t spoken earlier, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to—it was that in this form, she couldn’t.

Possibly, her human intellect was being overpowered by something more primal. He made a wry face and glanced at Soifon, who dashed over.

“Lady Yoruichi!”

Soifon crouched to check Yoruichi’s condition. Confirming she was unharmed, Soifon breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hey, Soifon—how do we turn Yoruichi back?” Kaelith asked, still holding Yoruichi down to keep her from running wild.

“Just give me a moment!”

Soifon flickered away and soon returned, carrying a few wispy stalks of foxtail grass. She hesitated, then held them out to Kaelith.

“Um…Lord Kaelith, Lady Yoruichi is now basically an ordinary cat in temperament. As long as you’re restraining her like this, she won’t calm down. Please use these to soothe her mood.”

Kaelith raised an eyebrow. Though he’d suspected as much, hearing Soifon confirm the half-cat transformation was real still struck him as amusing.

So he took the grass, thoroughly entertained, and started teasing Yoruichi with it. In no time, she went from furious thrashing to happy purring.

“Haha, this is great, this is great!”

Kaelith laughed, playing with her ears, stroking her cheeks, giving a pat here and there.

“Mmph…”

Soifon stood off to the side, face a mix of anger and envy. If she’d known it would turn into a cuddle session, she might have done the calming herself instead of worrying about rank and etiquette.

Unexpectedly, Kaelith proved quite adept at “cat-taming.” A bit of chin-scratching, some ear-rubbing, a pat or two on her… ahem. Not long after, Yoruichi gave a little yawn and drifted off to sleep. All the lightning cat features melted away, dissolving into the air as Reishi.

Relieved, Kaelith stood up. Soifon opened her mouth to speak, then froze. Only now did she notice the numerous wounds on Kaelith’s body—some just surface claw marks, but others clearly inflicted by lightning-augmented Shunkō, the flesh scorched and torn.

“Lord Kaelith, your injuries—”

“Hm?”

He glanced down at himself, then smiled and shook his head. “No worries. Yoruichi’s cat-woman form is strong, but if I’d really defended myself, none of this would’ve happened. I only let her hit me so she wouldn’t take rebound damage and hurt herself. Give it a few days, and I’ll be good as new.”

Soifon’s eyes softened. Though they hadn’t met in years, Kaelith was still the same as ever—benevolent behind his irreverent exterior. She reached into her uniform and pulled out a small jar of ointment.

“Lord Kaelith, please sit over there. This is a medicinal salve Lady Yoruichi and I used in our training—applied to wounds, it accelerates healing and prevents scarring.”

She guided Kaelith to sit down. Kneeling behind him, Soifon used her delicate fingers to spread the ointment on his back. Kaelith shut his eyes, enjoying the moment. Ah…it had been so long since he’d been tended by Soifon. Being willingly “injured” was definitely the right call.

Before long, she finished applying medicine to the wounds on his back and moved around to the front. He watched her kneel there, so focused on treating him, and took a deep breath as he leaned closer. Noticing his intent, Soifon gave him an annoyed glance.

“Lord Kaelith, don’t do anything reckless. I haven’t finished treating your injuries.”

“Heh, forget the wounds for now—there’s a more important matter at hand…”

“No! Lady Yoruichi is still right here…”

“Relax. I’m only going to do a bit. Won’t take too long.”

“…Fine. Hurry up, then.”

Soifon stood up, tacitly allowing his request.

…

Some time later, Yoruichi stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Blinking groggily, she stretched her arms overhead, then frowned at the unfamiliar ceiling.

She was back in the Seireitei.

A low moan reached her ears.

Turning her head, she saw Kaelith lying on his stomach, his Haori tossed aside. Standing on top of him, Soifon hesitantly pressed her bare foot against his back, her expression stiff with embarrassment.

Yoruichi stared.

Soifon immediately tensed, nearly losing her balance. “I-I wasn’t—! He said it would help his muscles, and—!”

Kaelith exhaled in satisfaction. “She’s surprisingly good at this.”

“Shut up!” Soifon snapped, her entire face burning red.

Yoruichi smirked, resting her head back against the pillow. “I leave you two alone for one night…”

Soifon’s head whipped around. She gasped. “L-Lady Yoruichi! You’re awake!”

Soifon’s face lit up. Yoruichi nodded, offering a relaxed smile.

“Thanks, Soifon. I’m guessing you helped me lift that ‘black cat battle princess’ form when I couldn’t revert on my own.”

Before the fight, she’d been so eager to show off for Kaelith that she’d completely forgotten to explain how to undo her transformation. Fortunately, Soifon had been present. Otherwise, it could’ve become a real disaster.

Hearing this, Soifon instinctively started to nod—then froze, recalling something. Under Yoruichi’s puzzled gaze, Soifon’s cheeks reddened even further somehow, and she forcefully shook her head.

“It… it was all Lord Kaelith’s doing! I didn’t do anything at all!”

Yoruichi: “?”

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