A mushroom cloud slowly rose into the sky.
The overwhelming blast obliterated the Yamata no Orochi so thoroughly that not even a trace remained. The violent shockwave swept up Suzumebachi Ayame, its user, and Kisuke Urahara beside her, hurling them helplessly through the air.
"Cough… cough…"
At the impact point, Yūshirō Shihōin had already broken free of the crystal prison. His body was charred black from head to toe, a miserable sight.
"So reckless! I was standing right next to that serpent, you know!"
Yūshirō shouted up at Suzumebachi, who was still floating in the air.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Suzumebachi landed in front of him, still gripping Urahara by the collar. With a flick, she tossed Urahara to the ground, planting her hands on her hips.
"So? What's really going on here? Don't tell me, Lord Yūshirō, that you'd actually lose to a mere Hollow of that level."
From the moment she had taken a blow from the Yamata no Orochi, Suzumebachi understood the truth. Yūshirō would never be defeated by something so pathetic. Clearly, there was more beneath the surface. Considering how insistently Urahara had pressured her to use Bankai, she guessed the two of them had orchestrated something—but she still wanted to hear Yūshirō's explanation.
"Well… you see… it's complicated. Best if Mr. Urahara explains it all to you."
Grabbing the fallen Kisuke, Yūshirō pulled him upright and used him as a living shield.
"You'd better tell me the truth. Or else…"
Suzumebachi unsheathed her Zanpakutō, the golden stinger gleaming coldly under the light.
"Calm down, I'll explain everything!"
Sweat poured from Urahara's forehead. He had studied her Shikai before—its brutal, unreasonable lethality. With Nigeki Kessatsu, if she marked a target twice, even a Captain could be killed outright. Her Bankai was even worse. Facing that stinger now, he didn't doubt she could end him instantly.
"The truth is… Lord Yūshirō was only worried about you. He thought you might refuse to accept your Bankai, or even stray down the wrong path. That's why he asked me to help."
Without hesitation, Urahara sold Yūshirō out.
"Exactly! I did it all for you!"
Kicking Urahara aside, Yūshirō stepped forward, taking Suzumebachi's hands in his. His voice was firm, his expression earnest—if nothing else, he could bluff his way through with sheer charm.
"Yūshirō…"
Suzumebachi felt the warmth of his hands, looked into his striking face—then burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahaha! Look at you, completely blackened! You're ridiculous!"
"…Really now."
Yūshirō's brow twitched, but as long as she was smiling, he knew the worst had passed.
"Little Bee, about your Bankai—can it fire continuously?"
The thought of her golden missile spraying like a machine gun made his scalp crawl.
"Of course not. With my current reiatsu, I can use it once every five days at best. In extreme cases, maybe once every three days. Any more than that, and my body wouldn't handle it."
She shook her head.
"So theoretically, if your reiatsu grows stronger, you might be able to achieve rapid-fire?"
"In theory, yes… But Yūshirō, could you at least take a bath first? You look so ridiculous I can't stop laughing."
Relieved that he didn't seem troubled by her Bankai's limitations, Suzumebachi's mood loosened, and she teased him freely.
"Fine. I'll go bathe right now."
Sweeping her up in his arms, Yūshirō vanished in a flash step, leaving Urahara behind.
"Youth really is wasted on the young…"
Urahara muttered sourly, feeling strangely bitter.
Smack.
A pink silhouette appeared beside him, patting his shoulder.
"You dodged that blast just now, right?" Urahara asked.
"No. The missile actually hit me."
The figure smiled faintly, speaking words that froze the blood.
"Then how—?"
"You're wondering why I'm standing here unharmed? Simple. I just lost one life. Nothing serious."
The casual answer sent chills down his spine.
Meanwhile, in the grand bathhouse of the Shihōin estate—
With a splash, Yūshirō tossed Suzumebachi straight into the pool. She sputtered like a drenched kitten, then rose to glare at him.
"Hahaha! I only look like this because of you. Shouldn't you take responsibility?"
He stepped close, lifting her chin with his fingers, his smile mischievous.
"You… shameless!"
Flushed from the steam and his words, Suzumebachi felt her strength melting away, her protests losing force.
"Ahh nothing like a bath after work"
Just then, a sultry voice echoed as a beautiful, dusky-skinned woman wrapped in mist entered the bath—completely nude.
"Oh? Already occupied?" She glanced around, then burst out laughing. "Yūshirō, did you fall in a coal pit? And Little Bee, how can you bathe without taking off your clothes?"
"You… shameless!"
Scarlet-faced, Suzumebachi screamed and bolted from the bathhouse.
"…Did I say something wrong?" the woman asked innocently.
"Haha… not really, Sister," Yūshirō replied awkwardly.
Later, after bathing, Yūshirō changed into a robe and wandered down to Rukongai for food. He knew Suzumebachi wouldn't talk to him anytime soon.
At the ramen shop entrance, he bumped into a familiar figure.
"Well, fancy meeting you here."
The man smirked, his tone carrying a hidden edge. "Lord Yūshirō of the noble Shihōin Clan, choosing to eat commoners' food? Tired of luxury, are we?"
"Save the talk. Does your stomach really have room for more?" Yūshirō countered.
"I can handle at least ten bowls!" the man boasted.
"Then let's see it."
The two marched inside, the tension like gunpowder.
"One Yūshirō Special Ramen!"
"One Aizen Special Ramen!"
They ate fiercely, bowl after bowl, neither conceding defeat.
Finally, as they slouched back, Aizen Sōsuke asked casually, "Tell me, Yūshirō—why do you always wear that eyepatch? Was your eye injured?"
"No. Just a habit."
"A habit, hmm? Doesn't it bother you? Make it hard to see at night?"
"Oh? You want to see my eyes, don't you?" Yūshirō shot back suddenly.
Aizen froze, caught off guard.
"You've been watching me, haven't you? Hoping I'd take it off? Don't tell me… you're interested in me?" Yūshirō leaned back, widening the gap between them. "Sorry, I'm flattered, but I only like women. Maybe you'd get along better with Urahara—he might share your tastes."
"…!"
Cold sweat slid down Aizen's temple. For a moment, he thought his secret had been discovered.
Yūshirō chuckled, then waved it off. "Relax. Just kidding. So what's really going on with you today?"
"Nothing serious. There's been unrest in the Dangai, so I've been assigned to investigate."
He revealed the Fifth Division insignia on his arm.
"Ah, congratulations. I should be calling you Vice-Captain Aizen now."
Aizen smiled. "Once I return from this mission, let's have another match. Next time, I'll win."
"You'll need a thousand years before that day comes."
They parted ways with casual farewells.
But once alone, Aizen's polite smile vanished. His brow furrowed, his thoughts sharpening. He had hoped to test whether Yūshirō could be influenced by Kyōka Suigetsu—but Yūshirō was no fool.
"It seems I'll have to proceed according to plan after all."
Meanwhile, Yūshirō also mulled over the strange encounter.
"Why now? If he was truly curious, he should've asked the first time we met. Something isn't right…"
Both men returned to their quarters, each carrying his own suspicions. One slept soundly without a care, the other stayed awake all night, refining his schemes.