Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

Ayasegawa Yumichika stared at Yoruichi with a dumbfounded expression. Two punches and a slap... that, that was it?

Yoruichi seemed a bit unsure herself. She kicked Edrad’s head twice more, but he didn’t react. It seemed he had truly passed out.

”Take this guy to the Urahara Shop. Remember, your Captain Chōzuka wants him alive. Also, bring that bald idiot Ikkaku along too.”

”Yes!”

Yumichika quickly responded to Yoruichi, then lowered his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, ”U-Um, could you please keep my secret and not tell anyone about my Zanpakutō, Lady Yoruichi?”

In less than a minute, Yumichika’s emotions had been on a rollercoaster ride: the despair when Ikkaku was about to die, the regret of fearing he’d be too late even if he risked everything, and the relief when Yoruichi appeared to save Ikkaku. Now, all those emotions had morphed into apprehension and embarrassment.

At least a few people knew the secret that Ikkaku had achieved Bankai, but the fact that his Zanpakutō was actually a Kidō-type Zanpakutō named Ruri’iro Kujaku was known to absolutely no one but himself.

It couldn’t be helped. In the combat-worshipping Squad 11, Kidō-type Zanpakutō were always viewed as a disgrace. He didn’t want to be the odd one out among his comrades.

Yoruichi’s reply never came, which was sheer torture for Yumichika. He had never felt that the nickname ’bald idiot’ suited Ikkaku so perfectly.

’But what does Lady Yoruichi’s silence mean? Asking why would be fine, or even scolding me would be better than saying nothing at all!’

Yumichika really couldn’t stand this ambiguity anymore. Even a rejection would be a quick and merciful end.

”Lady Yoruichi, you—! Where did she go?” Yumichika raised his head, but there was no sign of Yoruichi anywhere. Now he was conflicted again. ’Did Lady Yoruichi not even notice my situation?’

’That would obviously be the best-case scenario, but... should I really push my luck?’

Such an internal struggle was unlikely to settle down anytime soon. For Yumichika, his first night in the World of the Living was destined to be a sleepless one.

At this moment, Yoruichi had no idea she had put Yumichika under so much pressure. In fact, she was under quite a bit of pressure herself.

Testing Edrad’s limits had wasted too much of her time. There were still two more over on Kaien’s side, so time was a bit tight.

Compared to her, Urahara appeared much more leisurely. He even had the spare time to call out to the hastily departing Renji, ”Have a safe trip!”

Of course, Renji, whose mind was entirely on Rukia, completely ignored him. This left Urahara feeling somewhat helpless. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, ”At a time like this, you’re generally supposed to reply with ’I know’ or ’You be careful too,’ Mr. Abarai.”

Turning his head, Urahara didn’t seem to notice that there was another person present who was preparing to leave without saying goodbye.

Although the man had barely faced him since appearing, Yylfordt could tell at a glance that this was the Shinigami Ulquiorra and Yammy had encountered.

Of course, the woman who had beaten Yammy to the point where he could barely fight back didn’t seem to be here, and this hat-wearing man hadn’t made a move back then either. But from Ulquiorra’s perspective, this hat-wearing man had been keeping a close eye on Ulquiorra the entire time.

’This hat-wearing man’s strength probably isn’t any less than that woman’s. And a woman who could subtly suppress Yammy—even an unreleased Yammy—is that someone I can contend with?’

Answering this question wasn’t difficult. The answer was, of course—no!

In less than five seconds, the previously arrogant and overbearing Yylfordt turned around and bolted in the opposite direction of Urahara, fleeing like a panicked bull.

In his Resurrección state, his speed and power were already vastly enhanced, and his straight-line sprinting speed was even faster. Paired with his proud horns, he possessed an unstoppable momentum!

’Using it to escape right now is a good choice. That damn hat-wearing man lost the initiative because of his own arrogance. What an idiot!’

Just as Yylfordt was secretly rejoicing, the man he was certain had stayed in place before he turned around suddenly appeared right in his path. ’Are my eyes playing tricks on me?’

”Leaving without saying goodbye right after we just met... That puts me in quite a difficult position, Mr. Nameless Arrancar.”

That somewhat teasing voice told Yylfordt that what was happening before his eyes was absolutely no illusion. He instinctively wanted to turn and run, but his reason told him that he absolutely could not stop!

The giant horns on his head flashed with golden light, and Yylfordt’s eyes turned completely red. He understood that retreating was no longer an option. Smashing through—or even impaling—the man in front of him was his only way out.

’It seems he wasn’t going all out when he fought Mr. Abarai earlier.’

Facing the incredibly imposing Yylfordt, Urahara remained remarkably calm. Opening and closing his fingers, he gripped that seemingly ordinary wooden cane as if it were a sword.

Instead of blocking, he took the offensive. With a tap of his toe, he dashed right in front of Yylfordt in the next instant and lightly thrust his cane forward.

Yylfordt felt a sharp pain in his chest. Not only was he forced to halt his momentum, but he was nearly knocked flat on his back.

’What a terrifying guy!’

Even though he had the thought of fighting back, he had no opportunity to do so. Urahara thrust his cane a few more times. Yylfordt’s upper body, covered in white Hierro, was like a block of tofu; every strike from Urahara left a perfectly neat, round hole in it.

”D-Damn it!”

The only thing Yylfordt could do now was hurl impotent, broken curses. He just felt his mind go blank as his entire body plummeted from the sky.

’Is this bastard insulting me?’ Yylfordt raised his head in anger. That cane, still dripping with blood, was pressed right against his forehead. The man holding it revealed a serious expression for the first time.

”Death is not the only conclusion between us, Mr. Nameless Arrancar,” Urahara said, before suddenly asking in what seemed like a provocative tone, ”Can you still stand up?”

’He really is humiliating me!’ Yylfordt pushed himself up with both arms, but just as he was halfway up, his limbs suddenly went numb, and he collapsed back onto the ground.

’Are my injuries really this severe? But these few insignificant little holes... I can’t even feel any pain from them. How could they make me unable to stand up and fight?’

’Wait, why can’t I feel any pain?’ Yylfordt finally realized what was wrong. Combined with Urahara’s earlier words, this man probably wasn’t trying to humiliate him, but rather... testing him?

”What did you do to me?!”

Yylfordt shouted, but that slurred, gurgling sound... ’Was that really me speaking?’

”An extra-strength anesthetic. Ten times the dosage for a normal Hollow. The fact that you managed to hold out this long is truly remarkable.”

”Could you tell me your name? Mr. Nameless Arrancar.”