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10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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"You shouldn't get swept up by Captain Zaraki's pace, Ichigo-kun. Not only did you almost fatally injure the Shinigami of the Eleventh Division, but you also destroyed the training hall, making it unusable for the time being."

"Sorry, Retsu. I didn't think it through."

Looking at Retsu with a wry smile, Ichigo heaved a sigh of relief when she shook her head with a faint smile. Retsu hadn't been too pleased when he carried the unconscious and bloodied Kenpachi to the Relief Station, so it had worried him slightly. Although he found her scary part adorable, he didn't want to take a chance. Fortunately, his sincere apology managed to ease her up.

"Tch! Don't scold the kid. He did nothing wrong. You guys just don't know how to enjoy life," Kenpachi stated in irritation on his bed while being healed by Retsu.

"You are free to enjoy your life, but please think about the peace of everyone in your surroundings, Captain Zaraki," Retsu retorted with a grim smile.

Kenpachi bit his tongue and turned his gaze away. His bravery withered under Retsu's stare. Ichigo would have chuckled if he hadn't also been scared by the gaze. Fortunately for him, Retsu didn't look at him with the same eyes. He didn't even bother denying how beautiful her smile was this time.

Bidding his farewell to Retsu and Kenpachi, Ichigo headed to his residence. On his way, he was intercepted by Yoruichi. The Shihōin princess asked him to follow her even before he could ask why she was in Soul Society. Complying, he followed her lead to the Study Chamber under Sōkyoku Hill. Expecting to see his friends there, he was quite puzzled to find no one there.

"Are we going to do something intimate here?" Ichigo questioned humorously.

"Hoh? It seems your dates with Retsu have finally paid off," Yoruichi remarked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Trust me, it is not the kind of date you have in mind." Ichigo shrugged. "Seriously, though, why did you take me here?"

"You guys are returning tomorrow. I want to make sure you can already enter your body."

"Has my body not adapted yet to my Reiatsu?" Ichigo frowned.

"It has, but you have gotten stronger after your Quincy power's awakening. I am here to measure your control over your power and decide whether it is enough not to make your physical body explode."

Accepting the explanation, Ichigo complied with Yoruichi's request to forego his Zanpakutō. As soon as he put Zangetsu aside, Yoruichi delivered him a kick to his face, which he easily dodged. Yoruichi noted his new speed and mentally praised him. Using her advanced Shunpō, she appeared behind him with another kick. The kick connected, but she didn't feel an impact. Her eyes widened when the Ichigo that she had kicked flickered from existence.

"That was quite disorienting," Ichigo remarked, shaking his head faintly a few meters away from Yoruichi.

"When did you learn Utsusemi?" she asked curiously.

"Every information comes with a price, darling," Ichigo answered, quirking his lips teasingly.

"Tch. I will have a date with you later, so just tell me," Yoruichi said impatiently.

"An eager one, aren't you?" Ichigo blinked his eyes before explaining, "I learned it from Retsu. She taught me an interesting way to utilize Reiryoku in Shunpō, leading me to learn Utsusemi. I am still not good at it, though. As you can see, it messes with my vision for some time."

As soon as he stopped speaking, Yoruichi flickered into existence in front of him. She grinned widely as she drove her foot to Ichigo's head.

"You shouldn't reveal your weakness easily to your opponent!"

She felt an impact this time, but much to her surprise, Ichigo disappeared like smoke. She felt a tug on her orange shirt's collar before being yanked into the air. She caught a glimpse of the unscathed Ichigo pointing his index finger at her before a Byakurai covered her vision. Hastily, she cast a Byakurai to negate Ichigo's.

When the Kidō dispersed, the air buzzed. She lifted her arms above her head as she didn't have time to turn around. A kick impacted her arms, sending her to the ground. Softening her landing with Reiryoku, she looked at Ichigo who was smirking at her. She was sure he had not used Shunpō earlier. Whatever it was, it was way faster than normal Shunpō.

Yoruichi was deeply impressed.

"You more than deserve the date with me."

Still, Ichigo had not yet surpassed her.

"Here I thought I could match your speed."

Ichigo stared at the index finger under his chin. Yoruichi had turned around even before he could do anything to her. He had thought Yoruichi wouldn't have noticed that he had moved to her back given her speed. He was right, but Yoruichi's reaction time was faster than he could imagine. He mentally berated himself for taking her title, Flash Goddess, for granted.

"Is it enough?" Ichigo asked.

"Yup." Yoruichi nodded before explaining, "Actually, I only wanted to confirm Ryūken's claim. Kisuke believed him but refused to believe that you can learn Kidō."

"You should have been more direct," Ichigo said with a sigh. "Judging from your reaction, I passed, didn't I?" Yoruichi nodded. "Then, if that is all—"

"What about our date?" Yoruichi asked with a grin. "I know a good way to have it."

Yoruichi unceremoniously undressed herself, ignoring Ichigo's bewildered look. Grabbing his Shihakushō, she took him to the hot spring in the Study Chamber using Shunpō.

Splash!

"Come on, join me!" she invited after jumping into the hot spring.

Ichigo stared at her silently for a moment before taking off his clothes. Yoruichi grinned when he didn't even bother to cover his body. Her gaze couldn't help but stray to his lower body part. Whistling in appreciation, a streak of red crossed her face when she heard Ichigo's grunt. When Ichigo sat in the pool, she immediately took his side. Much to her disappointment Ichigo barely reacted.

Leaning on the wall of the pool, Ichigo closed his eyes and relished in the warmth of the water. He didn't get to enjoy it during his training to master his Shikai and regretted that he didn't try it sooner. While not foreign to hot springs, this hot spring was different. It was infused with Reiryoku which had a special property to heal injuries. It was way more pleasant than ordinary hot springs.

"Are you gay by any chance?"

"What?"

Yoruichi's question made his eyes open widely. The question that she had just casually asked made him wonder if his act didn't scream that he liked girls enough.

"You don't seem interested in these babies," Yoruichi stated in wonder, pronouncing her chest.

"I am interested in those, but what do you want me to do with them?" Ichigo asked in bewilderment.

"Ogle them or something." Yoruichi shrugged.

"I am not a pervert. I need sex in life, but I don't live for sex," Ichigo said with a frown. "Do you think men only show interest to you when they behave like sex offenders?"

Although it was not in the way she had intended, Yoruichi managed to rile Ichigo up. Grinning mentally, she pushed her chest further upward with a quirked eyebrow.

"Well, I want to know if you are interested in me."

"I am sexually interested in you," Ichigo easily conceded.

"Well, don't you want to touch them?" Yoruichi wiggled her eyebrow, gesturing at her glistening, plump breast.

Ichigo smirked. "Do you want me to?"

They stared at each other silently, daring the other to take action. They were more similar than they were aware of. Their stubbornness and unwillingness to back down from someone's challenge led them to this situation. They knew that they shouldn't push forward to not make things awkward in the future, but their nature made them say 'hell to it.'

"Do it."

"No regret."

Ichigo grasped Yoruichi's breast, causing her to stifle a sensual groan. Clarity returned to Ichigo's mind once he heard that, but Yoruichi pushed forward, causing it to disappear. Everything went in a blur. By the time their clarity returned, Yoruichi had her arms around Ichigo's neck and was about to kiss him. It was quite ironic that after what they had been doing, the kiss they were about to initiate was the one making them think it was time to stop.

With a faint blush on his cheeks, Ichigo said, "Let's not talk about this until we are ready."

"A- Agreed," Yoruichi confirmed with a raging blush that made her skin darker.

The moment they came out of the Study Chamber, they acted like nothing had happened inside—at least, one of them did. Yoruichi said she would stay for the night, so they walked together to their residence. Once they reached their residence, they went to bed and slept. Morning came quickly for Ichigo and the opposite was true for Yoruichi.

Around nine in the morning, Ichigo and friends stood before the Senkaimon. Those who considered them Ichigo's acquaintance saw them off. Among them were four captains, namely Shunsui, Kenpachi, Jūshirō, and Byakuya. He hadn't hoped for Retsu to come, but he was slightly dejected not to see her. Of course, his dejection immediately vanished the moment he recalled her red flags.

While Shunsui's presence was unexpected, Ichigo was not surprised. He had drunk with Shunsui once, which was enough to make the Captain think of him fondly. He was surprised by Byakuya's presence, though, as he didn't think they had bonded for the last week.

"Kurosaki-san, before you leave, I want to give you this." Jūshirō stepped forward and handed Ichigo a pentagonal badge. "This is a Substitute Shinigami Badge. It will notify you whenever a Hollow pops up and pulls your soul out whenever you need it."

Knowing the true function of the badge, Ichigo didn't want it anywhere near him. Despite so, he had to keep up an appearance, so he accepted it.

"Thank you, Ukitake-san," he thanked at face value. Turning to Rukia, he said, "See you next time, Chibi."

"Bye, Ichi-chan!"

"Visit us sometimes so we can fight, Ichigo!"

Giving them a light wave, Ichigo turned around and entered the Senkaimon. His friends bade their farewell before following suit.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Daoist Mufasa

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal SilverWolf