Back

"Ichigo-ni! Ichigo-ni! Ichigo-ni!" Yuzu kept calling as she pulled his brother's sleeve again and again.

"Yes Yuzu..." Ichigo's voice contained some annoyance and fatigue.

"When will Shin-ni come back?" Yuzu asked, seemingly not bothered by her brother's tone of voice.

"Yuzu... this the thirteenth time you asked me in the past couple of hours, and the answer will not change, I don't know!" Ichigo was really tired of this, he was going to beat Shin up as revenge once he came back.

"But, he has been gone for two days already... I miss Shin-ni" Yuzu had tears in her eyes as she spoke, she was happy that he was back from his study and now he is once again gone.

Even Karin was sad even though she didn't show it, she wanted her brother back.

"Ha..." Ichigo let out a heavy sigh as he picked up his sister and put her on his lap. "Shush, don't cry, I am sure he will come back soon." He tried his back to calm her down.

But he has to admit it was not his forte, Shin has always been the one to take care of this kind of situation. Normally it was teamwork, Shin would calm them down and he would beat up the one who made them cry.

Now the reason for her crying was Shin himself, what was he supposed to do? That fucker... he better come back quickly.

Still, he couldn't help but find it unjust, he could be gone for some days and nobody cared but when it was Shin everyone directly missed him. What kind of injustice was that?

Well, perhaps was it because he was never one to truly be in the sentimental stuff... He merely protected everyone the best he could, his brother was the one that really took care of them.

Ah yes, there was also the fact that he did that from time to time, you know... leaving the house...

"You promise?"

"I promise." He patted the little girl.

Yep, those two little girls were definitively different from how they were supposed to be... Butterfly effect.

...

"You have changed..." Zangetsuha spoke to the figure facing him.

"You think?" Shin spoke, but his voice was deeper and more mature and elegant than it was before, one could just stop to hear him speak all day just because of how majestic it was. (Consider it as being between Zhongli's English, Japanese, and Chinese voice. since I couldn't decide, or imagine what you want... Damn I like his voices.)

"Absolutely, but It's not just, physically, mentally as well, the vibe you are giving off is completely different." Zangetsuha couldn't but be surprised even though he had been watching over him all this time.

"I guess you are right." Shin nodded, but even this single gest of his seemed cinematically calculated, not just that, his vibe was really bizarre.

"I have been years for a bit more than 11 years already..." Shin spoke as he looked at his own figure that was reflected in the water not far from him.

First off, he looked way older than when he first came here. He was obviously taller than before easily in the 1m90cm, his skin was fair, his expression stern, and his eyes are bright and sharp. His dark brown hair became way longer, tied in a ponytail and falling down his back and fading amber brown at the tips. He was also still wearing the earing given to him by his sister.

His appearance surely befitted his age and his mentality, no in truth mentally he was way older than his physical age make it seems.

He radiated an ora of cultivation... in the sense of knowledge, with a single look one would point him out as a scholar of sorts due to the accountable amount of knowledge taking domicile in his mind. But do not be misunderstood as behind this regal air of his, also existed a martial artist like few others.

"Time sure went fast." Zangestsuha sighed before continuing. "Anyway, are you finally leaving? " He asked.

"Indeed." He once again nodded, his air a little nostalgic. "I already accomplished everything I came here for, and even more."

"It wouldn't be wise to remain further." He posed the cup of tea he was drinking till this point as he elegantly stood up.

One could confound him as noble purely based on his manners. How? Because he learned those manners during his time here.

Although most tended to forget, he was from a Noble Shinigami family, the Shiba clan to be precise. Thus since he was learning everything he could, he found it quite amusing to learn, so he did.

He snapped his finger and spiritual energy started gathering toward him, covering him whole, his clothes started shifting and became a three-piece suit, with a black shirt, a white necktie with an amber gemstone embedded in it, a dark brown waistcoat matching his hair, and finally a black Jacket with intricate design.

"Nice, this is a 10/10 for me." the spirit gave him a thumbs up of appreciation.

"Thank you..." Shin bowed ever so slightly.

This was easy for him to do, his entire attire except his earing was like the Shinigami Shihakusho, solely made of spiritual energy. And with his control over spiritual energy, doing something like that was like a walk to a park for him.

He could change his clothing as he desire without any kind of restriction or problem.

"You're welcome but if you leave like that, you are bound to shock many."

"Don't worry, I have my way." Shin smiled a bit before his face turned stern again... that was its natural state now.

"Then once again, thank you, your help was much appreciated."

"I told you already, It was nothing. Don't make a big deal out of it." The spirit waved him away as if chasing him away.

Then with a last smile, Shin left his inner words and the Dangai at the same time.

The reason why he was so grateful to Zangetsuha was because of his help during these past 11 years.

Enduring this amount of time alone was not something easy to do, it could drive a man crazy. Zangetsuha knowing that full well decided to help Shin out by talking to him from time to time.

It didn't seem like much but in the grand scheme of things his help was considerable.

There was also the fact that he was the one with whom he fought time and time again in order to objectively testify his progress.

"He really is something else..." Zangetsuha spoke aloud as he drank his tea.

...

"Hello..."

"Who?!"Yoruichi just finished her rather bland meal when she heard a charming voice coming from behind her. She was first surprised but soon contemplated who it was and whatever to attack or not.

Though something told her not to attack, rather she realized that this voice, although more mature seemed rather familiar. Her mind raced to try to find out who it was.

All of this thinking happened within a split second. Suddenly as if realizing something, without any warning she used shunpo and appeared before the one who spoke with merely a single step.

Not even looking carefully looking at his face she threw a punch. The man didn't even try to evade, on the contrary, he lowered his defense considerably and welcomed the punch.

Her fist connected to his cheek but there was not much force behind it, the man was still able to tank it without any problem.

"That was for disappearing after letting nothing but a single message." Yoruichi retrieved her fist with a hmph as she turned around, not even looking at him.

Seriously, couldn't he just talk with her before disappearing somewhere? She knew that he went training but even then, it wouldn't hurt to tell her about it or take her with him.

To be honest, she was not really angry, she just missed him. She didn't get to see him for two whole days... though she expected him to come back far later than this.

As she thought, she felt a pair of hands wrapping themself around her. At last, this familiar heat was back... But wait, something was different. Was he always this tall? were his hands always this long?

"I apologize for my lack of... tact. I didn't think that it would bother you this much." Once again... this voice. It was different from what she was used to hear.

Decisively, she broke the hug and turned around to have a good look at him, something was different about him, and after this look. Her mouth was left open in surprise.

"What... the fuck happened?" She couldn't help but ask.

Followed a long discussion.

...

"Ni-san, You are back!" Yuzu jumped into the arm of her brother as soon as he entered the house and hugged him.

Shin put the familiar black cat in his hand on his head as he picked his sister up and spoke. "Of course, I am back. What? Did you expect me to just run off somewhere?" He asked.

"Yes!" She nodded, a little tear in the corner of her eyes. That answer though made Shin smile as he wiped the tear away. "Silly girl... don't worry, no matter how many times or how much time I am going away. I will always be back."

"You are not lying?" Ha, those puppy eyes...

"Did I ever lie to you?" Shin asked to which she shook her head.

"Then don't cry next time, okay?" This time, she nodded.

"Now, how about I cook something good for lunch? Would you like that?"

"Yes!" And she turned bubbly all excited.

"Then we are settled." He didn't let her down and supported her with his right hand on his side.

"What about your sister?"

"She is with dad at the clinic. She missed you too." She said, her voice one of joy and purity.

"Hm... I shall make it up to her as well then." He patted the girl's head as she jiggled.

At this point, he knew that Ichigo was at school as well, thus there was no need to ask about him.

In fact, he just decided to ask by convenience, if he wanted to know, he would know.

"They should be here in an hour or so, do you want to help me in the kitchen?" He asked as he looked at her.

"Yes, please! I love helping."

...

"Oh Shin you are back?" Isshin asked as he entered the kitchen. He heard his voice when he was changing his shoes to his slippers near the door.

"I almost thought he forgot where he lived." Karin said, seemingly a little disinterested... but a single look was enough for Shin to know her real thoughts.

"Why are you acting as if I left for years when I was only away for two days?" Shin could understand but he still asked... it truly was a curse to know... things...

But it didn't bother him to act this way, Ichigo and his father would understand but his sisters weren't ready just yet.

"Perhaps because you didn't tell anyone anything?" That was Ichigo... he was going it intentionally.

Shin did tell them, they just didn't tell the little girls about it. Now he was using that against Shin.

"I see." Contrary to Ichigo's expectation, Shin didn't react the way he predicted, instead, he apologized. "I apologize for not doing so."

"You... Who are you?" Ichigo asked as he got ready for a fight, he refused to believe that this was his brother.

"Have you lost your mind? I assume that my face didn't leave much to doubt."

"Yep, you are definitely not him." Ichigo said as he prepared to undertake further actions.

"Hm... I guess you do not wish to eat what I have cooked for lunch." Shin said as he removed the lid from the pan. Immediately after the entirety of the kitchen was filled with the scrumptious scent of the dish.

"Of course, it's you, my brother, Shin. I was just playing with ya." His behavior shifted faster than that of bitch realizing that you got no money.

"I much prefer." Shin nodded in contentment. Looking at Karin he said. "You, come here."

Though he said, he walked to her on his own and picked her up. "Wha- What are you doing?" She stuttered a bit as she asked.

"Hugging you obviously." And he did. Her face turned a little red, hidden from all she smiled, she liked it. She also wanted to be patted... but it's too embarrassing to say it.

"I told you she missed you!" Yuzu said on the side, happy to see her sister happy and smiling... as to how she knew Karin was smiling... she felt it.

"Missed! I didn't! I definitely didn't! Let me down, let me down!" Karin shouted a bit, her face even redder in embarrassment.

"Here, now, now. It's alright, you don't need to shoot. It's fine, you didn't, I believe you..." Shin said as he patted the little girl. He knew she was becoming tsundere-like, but that was also fine.

"Hehe... Liar..." Yuzu giggled on the side.

"No, don't say that, I know my Karin is not a liar. Right, Karin?" This question made Karin feel a little Guilty. She didn't want to disappoint her Ni-san.

"I may have missed you a little bit..." Karin muttered, her tone mosquito-like.

"See, it was not hard was it?" Shin said before bursting into a laugh "Hahaha." And the others joined rather quickly.

"It was just a bit! A tiny little bit! Don't laugh! Why are you laughing?!" Karin shouted again with red cheeks but it fell into deaf hear as they continued laughing all the same.

"I hate you all..." her voice was so low that it was almost impossible to hear. But she of course didn't think it.

Even the black cat on Shin's head seemed to be laughing at her... No, she takes it back! She definitely hated them!

...

"Ni-san why is there one more plate?" Yuzu asked as she was making the table.

"That's because we will have a guest for lunch." Shin said as he helped her out.

"A Guest? Who is it?" Karin asked, she already forgot about the earlier event.

"Is it your Girlfriend or something?" She jokingly asked, but her answer was a smile.

"She should almost be here... let me." He said as he walked out of the house for a moment.

Five minutes after, he was back with a girl... Dark skinned and with the same eye color as Shin.

At this point everyone already took a seat, they were only waiting for them... barely, the dish smelled amazing, and they really wanted to eat.

"So everyone, let me officially present you, my girlfriend." Shin introduced.

Yoruichi smiled and waived a bit.

Ichigo and Isshin knew already.

Yuzu was shocked then she became happy.

Karin however was pretty much thunderstricken, she was flabbergasted.

Oi, Oi, majikayo? She was just joking for God's sake!

...

Why did no one except Yoruichi notice the change in Shin? Do you know? Have you discovered it? Tell me your thought on it.