78 Seeing Soi Fon Again   

"Swish..."

Using Shunpo to follow behind Ailin, Byakuya Kuchiki's heart was filled with both sadness over his grandfather's impending death and a desire for greater strength.

If he had attained captain-level strength earlier, taking over the responsibilities of the Kuchiki Family and the Sixth Division from his grandfather, his grandfather could have retired and enjoyed his later years at home in peace.

Thinking of this, Byakuya Kuchiki couldn't help but take a deep look at his uncle Ailin in front of him.

A few years ago, when Uncle Ailin and Aunt Haruko were still with the Kuchiki Family, everyone was the most relaxed and happiest.

Unfortunately, later on, Aunt Haruko developed health problems, and to treat her, Uncle Ailin resolutely gave up his position as the captain of the Sixth Division and took her to the living world.

Seeing Uncle Ailin's current appearance, it seemed that Aunt Haruko's body had mostly recovered.

From Grandfather's perspective, Uncle Ailin had undoubtedly fallen short in his duties. But from Aunt Haruko's perspective, Byakuya felt that Uncle Ailin had done nothing wrong.

These complicated emotions made Byakuya feel very conflicted. Heaving a deep sigh, he quickened his pace and asked, "Uncle, where are you taking me?"

"We'll go to the Second Division first and find two people."

Over these years, Ailin had not been in contact with Kisuke Urahara and others. But to Ailin, since he already owed Kisuke Urahara a favor, it was almost as if he had been tied to Kisuke Urahara's war chariot, so owing him a few more favors didn't matter. After all, Ailin didn't dislike the current world and had no desire to change it.

"Who are you looking for?"

"The captain of the Second Division, Yoruichi Shihōin, and the Third Seat of the Second Division, Kisuke Urahara."

Byakuya Kuchiki's footsteps paused. Just a moment ago, he had suspected that the person who attacked his grandfather was someone from the Shihōin Family, and now he was going to seek their help, was that appropriate?

"Don't daze out, Byakuya." Ailin's speed didn't slow. "To help you complete your Bankai training within three days, we need their assistance. If you dare let me down, you'll see how I'll deal with you three days later."

Hearing Ailin's words, Byakuya instinctively shuddered. Although his strength had greatly improved after Uncle Ailin's special training, the fear of constantly teetering on the brink of death and Uncle Ailin's unfathomable spiritual pressure made him feel utterly hopeless and terrified.

Unless necessary, he didn't want to fight Uncle Ailin again.

Swish!

***

"Captain Yoruichi, I'm sorry to disturb you again."

"And Soi Fon, it's been a long time."

After being led to the captain's room of the Second Division by a Second Division member, Ailin greeted Yoruichi and Soi Fon, who were sitting in the captain's room, with a smile.

It had to be said that in the Soul Society, a person's age and mindset were closely related.

As for Soi Fon, a decade ago when Ailin first met her, she had the appearance of a young girl. Ten years later, when they met again, Byakuya had grown from a young boy into a mature and composed heartthrob, but Soi Fon still had the same little girl appearance.

Perhaps it would only be when Yoruichi defected that her body and mind would transform into the cold and beautiful "Soifon."

"Ai, Ailin?"

"Didn't you leave the Seireitei? When did you come back?"

After more than ten years, when Soi Fon saw Ailin again, she was so surprised that she nearly jumped out of her seat.

In the past, when Ailin served as the lieutenant of the Second Division, he was most familiar with the young Soi Fon, who often handled the squad's affairs on behalf of Yoruichi Shihōin.

At that time, besides her most admired Yoruichi, Soi Fon also got along best with Ailin. Speaking of which, the young Soi Fon had some other feelings for Ailin back then. When Ailin left the Second Division, she had once tried to persuade him to stay.

But Ailin had shattered her faint hopes with a single sentence: "Little bee, the next time we meet, you should probably address me as Captain Ailin."

The bud of her feelings had been crushed before it could truly blossom. Soi Fon knew that in the Second Division, Ailin could never become the "captain." Sure enough, less than a year later, Ailin became the captain of the Sixth Division.

When she accompanied Yoruichi to attend the captains' meeting in the First Division, Soi Fon secretly glanced at Ailin.

Compared to when he was a lieutenant in the Second Division, Ailin, who had already become a captain, carried himself with confidence and majesty, instantly making Soi Fon feel that Ailin had made the right choice.

It was just that Soi Fon had never expected that Ailin would only be a captain for six years before resolutely giving up his initial boast from when he left the Second Division to pursue treatment for his wife.

"I didn't want to come either, but Lord Ginrei is nearing his limit, so I had no choice but to come."

When Soi Fon heard Ailin say he "didn't want to come," her heart sank.

What did that mean? Did it mean that in the entire Soul Society, there wasn't a single person worth coming back for? Immediately, Soi Fon couldn't help but cross her arms and mock him, "Oh, it's rare for our 'Captain Ailin' to have a sense of shame and know that he's embarrassed, so he doesn't want to come to the Soul Society anymore."

"Huh?"

Ailin looked at Soi Fon with confusion and incomprehension. "Little bee, what does my coming or not coming to the Soul Society have to do with shame? Also, how have I been embarrassed? You'd better tell me quickly so I can pay more attention and avoid being laughed at again without knowing the reason."

When Soi Fon said those words, she had already begun to regret them. However, upon realizing that Ailin had no other thoughts and was actually asking her about what he had done that was embarrassing, her heart lightened.

At the same time, for some inexplicable reason, through her conversation with Ailin, Soi Fon found herself regaining some of the feelings she had when she used to work with Ailin. She then arrogantly tossed her head back, "Heh heh, who was it that told me when he was leaving the Second Division that the next time we met, I should address him as 'Captain Ailin'?"

"Now, if I dare to call you 'Captain Ailin', would you dare respond?"

Seeing Soi Fon's arrogant demeanor, Ailin smiled. How many years had it been since he had seen these attributes he used to love the most?

It was just a pity that Soi Fon's voice actress wasn't Rie Kugimiya, and she didn't have the consecutive kill technique, otherwise he...

Shaking his head, Ailin tossed aside those out-of-place thoughts from his mind and dramatically slapped his forehead.

"I made a mistake..."

"Soi Fon, when I became the captain of the Sixth Division, I should have worn the captain's haori and flaunted it at the gate of the Second Division for a few days, so you could have called me 'Captain Ailin' a few more times."

"Hmph!" Soi Fon let out a cold snort and stopped talking.

Since Ailin had come to the Second Division to see Yoruichi, he must have had some urgent business. If she delayed him any further, it wouldn't be good.

"Ailin, you brought the young master Byakuya to see me, so you must want to...?"

"Ah, it's just as you think, Captain Yoruichi." Ailin shrugged, "As you may know, Lord Ginrei was ambushed in the living world this time, and Captain Unohana said Lord Ginrei may only have a few days left.

The old man has devoted his life to the Kuchiki Family, and what he can't let go of the most is the Kuchiki Family. "To allow Lord Ginrei to pass on more peacefully, I promised him that within three days I would return a grandson to him who has achieved Bankai. "So, I have no choice but to seek the help of Captain Yoruichi and Urahara."

"Hahaha, Ailin, Urahara was right, you really are a mysterious guy."

As for Ailin's request, Yoruichi Shihōin didn't say much more, only laughing heartily. At the same time, Yoruichi Shihōin was also inwardly startled.

Previously, when Ailin had approached Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara for Haruko Kuchiki's sake, the two of them had speculated that Ailin might have possessed some means to monitor the entire Soul Society.

Otherwise, based solely on the outward strength Kisuke Urahara had displayed, who would know that Urahara's greatest strength lay in invention and research?

Moreover, this time Ailin had directly brought the young master Byakuya to see her, even saying he would return a grandson capable of Bankai to Lord Ginrei within three days, his goal directly pointing to Kisuke Urahara's previous invention - the Tenshintai.

Only the Tenshintai could possibly allow someone to complete Bankai training within three days.

Yoruichi Shihōin remembered that when Urahara had invented and created the Tenshintai, it seemed to have been around the time when Ailin had challenged former Vice Captain Omaeda.

Yoruichi speculated that shortly after joining the Second Division, Ailin had completed the cultivation of his Zanpakutō, but perhaps due to insufficient strength, the first Zanpakutō Ailin created had the ability of observation.

After realizing this, Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara felt that the things they had exposed over the past thirty years seemed quite substantial.

However, Urahara had also told Yoruichi that Ailin's ability might have some flaws.

For example, the last time Urahara had created an artificial body for Haruko Kuchiki, he had done so in the living world.

When Urahara brought Ailin and Haruko before the artificial body, Ailin couldn't determine whether there were any problems with it until he released a new Zanpakutō and used some kind of investigative ability to confirm that it hadn't been tampered with before entering it.

"But Ailin, although our relationship is good, you still haven't returned the favor from when we helped you treat Lady Haruko Kuchiki last time. This time, what are you prepared to offer to make us help you?"

"Well, Captain Yoruichi, we're all so familiar with each other..." Ailin was joking around with Yoruichi here, but on the other side, Byakuya couldn't sit still anymore.

"You demon cat, if you want to request our help, it's me you should be talking to. Whatever demands you have, just tell me directly. I believe that with my status as the future head of the Kuchiki Family, I should be able to compensate you for this request."

"Um..."

Yoruichi Shihōin and Ailin were caught off guard by Byakuya's sudden interruption, leaving them at a loss for words.

The conversation they were having was not on the same frequency as what Byakuya had heard.

"Young Master Byakuya, it's not that I look down on you. What the Kuchiki Family possesses, the Shihōin Family also has. What the Kuchiki Family doesn't have, the Shihōin Family also doesn't have."

"What do you think you could use to sway me into helping you, your Bankai?"

Yoruichi Shihōin had a smile on her face, but the words she spoke were colder than the winter snow to Byakuya.

From a personal level, Yoruichi still thought highly of Byakuya. But on a family level, there were unsavory things between the Five Great Noble Families, and they were not united.