Chapter 61

"Eh?" 

Hearing Kaelith's outburst, Tessai Tsukabishi froze, pointing to himself. 

"Grand Kidō Master... are you talking about me?" 

Realizing his mistake, Kaelith awkwardly scratched the back of his head. 

"Oh, my bad. I just recovered from my injuries, and my brain's a little scrambled," he said with a forced laugh, brushing off the slip. 

Tessai nodded politely. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kaelith. Yoruichi-sama often speaks highly of you." 

"I am Tessai Tsukabishi, currently a retainer of the Shihōin family, assisting them with Kidō-related matters." 

Kaelith raised an eyebrow in surprise. 

He had assumed Tessai, even if not the Grand Kidō Master yet, would at least hold a high-ranking position in the Kidō Corps. 

He hadn't expected him to be a family retainer for the Shihōin clan. 

Yoruichi clapped her hands to get their attention. 

"Yo, Tessai, is everything ready?" 

"Yes, Yoruichi-sama. Everything is prepared!" 

Puffing out his chest, Tessai answered with a tone of pride. 

"Great! Then... let's get started!" 

Setting down Shaolin Fēng gently, Yoruichi approached a large pit, gesturing for Tessai to get to work. 

The two busied themselves, placing various materials into the pit while performing intricate hand seals and Kidō incantations. 

As they completed the final steps of the ritual, Tessai clapped his hands together and shouted— 

"Open!!" 

A massive boulder on the nearby wall slowly rose with a rumble. 

Crystal-clear spring water gushed through the revealed channel, flowing into the pit until it was entirely filled. 

When the boulder lowered again, the water within the pit had transformed into a steaming, rejuvenating hot spring. 

Kaelith stepped closer to the edge, peering curiously into the pool. 

With his sharp eyes, he could see the spring's unique properties—continuous heating, self-purifying water, and a steady replenishment from the rock crevices to counter evaporation. 

Satisfied with the setup, Tessai bowed and excused himself. 

Kaelith watched his retreating figure with curiosity. 

Tessaii's spatial and temporal Kidō abilities were among the most incredible techniques in Soul Society. 

If he could learn even a fraction of it, Kaelith thought, it might lead to some exciting new discoveries. 

Still, healing his injuries took precedence. 

Turning back to the hot spring, Kaelith nearly jumped in shock. 

Yoruichi was crouching by the edge, completely undressing the unconscious Shaolin Fēng. Without hesitation, she slipped the girl into the spring. 

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Yoruichi began untying her own sash, removing her form-fitting Shihakushō. 

In no time, the stunningly bare, dark-skinned beauty stood at the water's edge. 

Testing the water temperature with her toes, Yoruichi let out a small, delighted cheer before diving in with a splash. 

She swam to the edge of the spring and leaned an arm lazily on the rocks. 

"Kaelith! Get in! It's amazing!" 

Kaelith stared in stunned silence at first, but then his expression grew serious. 

When he didn't respond, Yoruichi seemed to realize something. 

"Oh! Sorry, I forgot you can't undress yourself with those bandaged hands!" 

Yoruichi stood, casually draping a towel over herself before sauntering toward him. 

"Don't worry, I've got this," she said with a grin, reaching for his sash. 

Before she could get started, Kaelith cleared his throat. 

"Yoruichi." 

"Hm?" 

She paused mid-step, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, her expression one of mild curiosity. 

Kaelith's face was serious, though his eyes betrayed a mix of exasperation and faint amusement. 

He glanced toward the hot spring, memories surfacing in his mind. In the anime, there was that infamous moment where Yoruichi, shifting from her feline form, strolled casually into a hot spring completely unbothered. Ichigo, poor guy, had nearly combusted on the spot. 

Kaelith couldn't help but wonder—was it possible that Yoruichi genuinely didn't care about concepts like modesty? Did she see the human form as just… normal? Practical? 

The thought brought a small chuckle to his lips. Yet, he had to speak his mind. 

Looking back at her, he said firmly, "Yoruichi, just… promise me something." 

She tilted her head, her mischievous smile growing. "Depends. What's the favor? Sneaking out of the Fourth Division again?" 

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "It's about what you just did—casually walking around like this, no concern about boundaries." He gestured vaguely at her towel. 

Yoruichi blinked, clearly waiting for him to elaborate. 

Kaelith sighed and continued. "Just… don't do that with other guys, alright? Consider it a favor to me—and maybe the dignity of the Second Division while you're at it." 

For a moment, Yoruichi was silent. Then, the corners of her mouth twitched upward, forming a knowing grin. 

"Ah, I get it now…" she said, crossing her arms and leaning slightly toward him. "Kaelith, for someone so stubborn about staying independent, you sure know how to make it sound like you care. Is that your way of saying you've got a soft spot for me?" 

"Stop jumping to conclusions!" he snapped, his cheeks faintly red. "I'm just looking out for everyone's sanity!

Yoruichi laughed, the sound light and full of mischief. "Alright, alright. For you—and the supposed dignity of the Second Division—I'll behave… moderately." 

"Good." Kaelith finally relaxed, breathing a quiet sigh of relief. 

But then, her smile turned even sharper, a hint of mischief lighting her golden eyes. 

"Of course, your little rule doesn't apply to you, does it?" 

Before he could respond, Yoruichi quickly untied his sash with practiced ease. Before Kaelith could protest, she pushed him into the hot spring with a splash. 

"Y-Yoruichi!" he sputtered, glaring up at her. 

She leaned against the edge of the spring, laughing as she joined him. "Relax, Kaelith. You make it way too easy to tease you." 

With a content sigh, Yoruichi sank into the water, the faint traces of her laugh lingering in the air. 

"Today's a good day," she said, more to herself than anyone else. 

Kaelith, still half-drenched and half-annoyed, couldn't entirely disagree. 

…

…

Seireitei, the First Division squad quarters.

Yamamoto stood in the room, listening quietly to his subordinates' reports.

Upon hearing one of them, he suddenly opened one eye.

"Captain, a patrol squad has reported witnessing a Shinigami covered by Kidō with shadows on the night of the incident."

"Based on the scene, the one who defeated the Seventh Division lieutenant, Sakamoto Naoki, is likely this person!"

"Their characteristics perfectly match those of the shadow killer we've been chasing in Rukongai!"

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T/N: 1/6 weakly extra chapter!