Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began When I Became Yoriichi's Sister

Chapter 574 They're just friends

Upon hearing Yuko's words, Byakuya was slightly taken aback.

Although he felt sore and tired all over, the pent-up frustration from being toyed with by Yoruichi for so long had actually faded a lot, replaced by a dizzying excitement.

To put it simply, it feels like I've finally gotten my revenge.

Although Yoruichi wasn't actually arrested, the way he made her look so pathetic was incredibly satisfying.

Sweat dripped down Byakuya Kuchiki's chin. He leaned on his wooden sword, his chest heaving, and looked at Yoruichi with a burning gaze.

"What? Byakuya, little brother, want to try again?" Yoruichi was slightly out of breath, but clearly still had some energy left, and she forced a playful smile on her face. "If Yuuko hadn't been secretly helping you just now, you wouldn't have really thought you could touch the hem of my clothes, would you?"

"Hmph." Byakuya snorted coldly, but he was not as angry as before.

He knew perfectly well that if it weren't for Yuuko-sensei's secret help, even if Yoruichi's actions were restricted to the dojo, he wouldn't have been able to force her into this sorry state.

Seeing the two of them panting, Yuko laughed and said, "That's not right, Yoruichi. Byakuya didn't get close to you entirely because of my Prism."

Yoruichi clicked her tongue in annoyance, her gaze dark and unsettling: "What I mean is, you bastard, you deliberately obstructed me."

Byakuya recalled traversing the bizarre and fantastical labyrinth. At first, he didn't know what the ability was, but even after he learned what it was, he still tried to dodge the Prism just like Yoruichi.

Byakuya honestly replied, "Because that strange cat avoided the prism..."

Yoruichi plopped down on the edge of the dojo, propping her cheek with one hand, and looked at Byakuya with a smile: "Even if you don't call me Captain Yoruichi, you should at least call me Yoruichi-neechan, right?"

"Heh." Byakuya simply gave her a cold laugh.

Yoruichi didn't mind; that's how she always played tricks on people—she only gave and never received anything in return.

Only Yuko, I don't know if she doesn't know much about this place, or if she's just a bit slow on the uptake, sometimes makes Yoruichi feel like he doesn't know what to say.

After a while, Byakuya regained some of his strength and looked at Yoruichi with a serious expression.

"Come again?"

Yoruichi exaggeratedly wiped the sweat from her face: "I'm exhausted! I don't want to!"

Immediately afterward, before Byakuya and Yuuko could say anything, she instantly perked up, flashed to the doorway, and made a face: "I'm free! Byakuya, little brother, you're still 20,000 years too early to touch the hem of my clothes!"

"I'm leaving now, Yuuko. If you can't find your way back, remember to have Byakuya take you."

Before Yoruichi's laughter had even faded, his figure vanished abruptly into the corridor.

What a joke!

Of course she had to run away!

Again? !

Isn't it obvious they're treating her like a free experience point?!

Yoruichi Shihouin had never been treated like this before!

slip away!

This thing runs really fast.

Byakuya looked in the direction she disappeared, but he wasn't angry; his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Yuko looked in the direction Yoruichi had left, smiled, and shook her head.

Byakuya took a deep breath and bowed slightly: "Thank you for your help, Professor Yuko."

Yu Zi accepted the greeting calmly: "It's nothing. I've been annoyed with that idiot for a long time."

At that moment, Byakuya suddenly realized what was happening.

He could so readily criticize Yoruichi because he was the head of the four noble families and the next head of the Kuchiki family.

But what exactly is the relationship between Ms. Yuko and that strange cat?

Even a vice-captain wouldn't speak to their captain like that, would they?

Byakuya hesitated for a moment, but couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked, "What is the relationship between Yuuko-sensei, that monster, and Yoruichi Shihouin?"

"what relationship?"

Yu Zi frowned slightly; this sudden question had caught her off guard.

what relationship?

tenant?

Something doesn't seem right; she doesn't have the money to pay Yoruichi either.

……

and many more!

If you don't have money to eat and drink at someone else's house, and you even live there... isn't that... being kept?!

This shocking realization struck Yuko like a bolt from the blue.

Her hand holding the wooden knife trembled, and the calm expression on her face instantly cracked, replaced by a look of shock, embarrassment, and disbelief.

Byakuya keenly noticed the drastic change in her expression and the instantaneous stiffness in her body, deepening his suspicions. This reaction... is too strange.

Is there some unspeakable secret?

"Cough!" Yu Zi suddenly snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing her turbulent emotions and trying to cover up her embarrassment with a cough.

She quickly straightened her face, trying to regain her teacherly composure, but the panic in her eyes hadn't completely faded. "Yes, they're friends... Yes! They're friends!"

Halfway through her sentence, Yu Zi suddenly realized, "If you don't have money to eat and drink at someone's house, isn't that a sign of friendship?!"

Being kept by a sugar daddy or something... that's terrifying!

She's really lost her purity because of the internet these days.

Sure enough, I need to take advantage of the days in Soul Society without a cell phone to purify my heart, which has been poisoned by the internet.

"I see." Byakuya nodded slightly, but reason told him that the relationship seemed somewhat subtle.

But soon a new problem arose in Byakuya's mind.

"Is Ms. Yuuko a member of the Second Division, which is under Captain Yoruichi's command?" Byakuya continued to ask.

“This shouldn’t be it.” Yuko’s expression turned a little strange. “After all, I only live in the Yoru family’s house.”

Byakuya paused for a moment: "Home? The Shihouin family's residence?"

"Correct."

"Which squad does Ms. Yuko belong to?"

"Hmm... I don't think so. If I had to say, it would be the Second Division, right?"

"..."

Doesn't this contradict what you said before?

Byakuya's lips twitched, and he suddenly felt that his teacher was a bit unreliable.

Or perhaps, this Ms. Yu Zi... is not a member of the 13th Protective Team, but rather a member of some more secretive organization.

Byakuya didn't press further, but instead said:

"With Ms. Yu Zi's abilities, she will likely become a senior officer or even a vice-captain very soon."

In fact, he always felt that with Yuko's strength, she was more than qualified to be the vice-captain. Putting aside the spiritual pressure fluctuations that day, the fact that her grandfather respected her so much was enough to explain the situation.

Yu Zi smiled but didn't answer directly: "Let's stop here for today."

"Eh? But..." Byakuya wanted to say something more.

“Cultivation requires a balance between work and rest; relentless training will only backfire.” Yuko shook her head. “Yoruichi probably does this because of that intention, which is why she often teases you.”

"……I know."

"I'll leave now, but I'll come back at the same time tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Ms. Yuko."

After leaving the Kuchiki family, Ikuko had nowhere else to go, so she went straight back to the Shihōin family.

"Hey, lost lady, you've finally decided to come back?"

As Yuko stepped into the courtyard, Yoruichi's languid voice drifted from the corridor. She seemed to have just been sweating, having changed back into her yukata, which she wore at home; a faint fragrance wafted in the air.

Yoruichi was like a black cat basking in the sun, swinging her legs comfortably, holding a piece of pastry in her hand, her whole body still a little damp.

"You haven't been back for long, have you?" Yuko rolled her eyes. She had left the Kuchiki family shortly after Yoruichi left.

This guy only knows about hermaphrodites.

Just as Yoruichi was about to open her mouth, she suddenly realized something and looked up at the courtyard gate.

A gentle yet slightly flippant voice came from the doorway.

"Excuse me, Yoruichi-san, Ikuko-san." Kisuke Urahara stood at the door with a smile, carrying a brightly wrapped gift box.

Yoruichi's eyelid twitched. Urahara Kisuke! This guy's appearance never means anything good!

but……

Yoruichi vanished down the corridor in an instant, and the next moment, she appeared in front of Kisuke Urahara. She took the gift box, tore it open without any ceremony, picked up a strangely shaped cookie, and looked at it. "Hmm? Why does this thing look so ugly?"

"Because I made it myself~" Kisuke Urahara said with a bright smile.

"You made this yourself?" Yoruichi looked at him in shock, taking two steps back. "Why are you being so solicitous? What are you up to?"

Kisuke Urahara scratched his head awkwardly: "Because of what happened before, I wanted to apologize to both of you, so..."

The two of them stared at him expressionlessly.

"Okay, actually I'm a little interested in Ms. Yuko's Zanpakuto."

Before Yoruichi could even ask a question, Kisuke Urahara raised his hands in surrender, saying, "I was just curious about Yuuko-san's Zanpakuto abilities, nothing more."

Yuko is just too perfect as material, an unprecedented demon. What kind of Zanpakuto did she awaken?

Since Ikuko awakened her Zanpakuto, Kisuke Urahara has not had any substantial exchanges or communication with her.

The only time he went to their door in the middle of the night, he was caught red-handed and got a severe beating from Yoruichi.

at this time.

"Urahara Kisuke!!!"

A roar filled with boundless rage, almost capable of lifting the roof off, exploded like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.

A figure, carrying a violent spiritual pressure, crashed through the gates of the Shihouin family like an out-of-control train, hurtling towards Kisuke Urahara with overwhelming force, accompanied by billowing dust and rubble.

"You bastard!!!" the newcomer roared, moving so fast that he left afterimages. The huge Zanpakuto in his hand, carrying the destructive wind pressure, mercilessly smashed down on Urahara Kisuke's astonished face. "You ran away again!"

"The research was at a crucial stage, and you dare to run away with me?"

"I'll kill you!"

Only then did Yuko manage to make out the appearance of the newcomer through the thick smoke.

The newcomer had short blond hair tied in two pigtails, bloodshot eyes, and looked like a child.

However, based on Yuko's understanding of the Soul Society today, this person is probably over a hundred years old.

"Whoa! Hiyori? Wait! Let me explain!" Urahara's flippant expression shattered instantly, replaced by terror. He instinctively covered his head and scurried away, desperately dodging the powerful blow that could split mountains.

Boom!

Hiyori's Zanpakuto slammed down on the spot where Urahara had just stood, instantly cracking the bluestone pavement and creating a large crater! Debris flew everywhere.

Yoruichi looked stiffly at the gate, then down at the large pit in the yard. After exchanging a glance with Yuuko, she turned her gaze to the two who were making a ruckus.

"Explain? I'll explain my ass!" Hiyori's anger flared even more after missing her first attack. She didn't listen to any explanations and turned around like a raging bull, locking onto Urahara, who was running away with his head in his hands.

Kisuke Urahara had lost all his elegance and composure as a captain. He was jumping around, his white coat torn in several places by the sharp wind of the blade, looking as disheveled as a mouse being chased by a cat.

"Misunderstanding! Huge misunderstanding, Hiyori! I just came to deliver condolences! Research! I'll go back and do my research right away!" Kisuke Urahara tried to cover his head and hide, while making a futile attempt to explain.

"Condolences? Condolences my foot!" Hiyori kicked a piece of rock blocking her way, sending it hurtling towards Urahara, forcing him to roll away to avoid it. "Die!"

She leaped high into the air, gripping her sword with both hands, and with the force of a mountain crashing down, slashed down at Urahara, who was rolling on the ground.

That stance was clearly one of cleaning house.

However, just as Hiyori was about to strike Urahara Kisuke, Yoruichi suddenly appeared between the two.

Wow, so fast! I didn't even see it clearly.

Hiyori's pupils contracted slightly, and she quickly changed her stance, holding her Zanpakuto in front of her.

"You're saved, Yoruichi..."

Before Kisuke Urahara could even express his gratitude, Yoruichi, her face dark, spun around and delivered a 180-degree spiral kick to his abdomen.

"Why is it..."

With a look of horror and confusion on Urahara Kisuke's face, there was a loud bang, and Urahara Kisuke's body flew backward, crashing heavily into the ruins of the courtyard wall with a muffled thud and raising a cloud of dust.

Kisuke Urahara clutched his stomach, curled up on the ground, and let out a series of painful groans: "Ugh...why, why..."

Yoruichi, her face dark, withdrew her long leg, patted off non-existent dust from the hem of her yukata, and said with an air of utter entitlement, "Who told you, you bastard, to vandalize my front door? Repairs are expensive!"

"But, but that's not Hiyo..." He wanted to argue, but seeing that none of the people present seemed to be willing to defend him, Kisuke Urahara could only silently weep and confess his guilt.

Hiyori maintained her blocking stance, looking at Urahara who was rolling around like a gourd, and then at Yoruichi, who was blocking her way as if she were just casually swatting away a fly.

She snorted heavily, hoisted the massive Zanpakuto onto her shoulder, and then turned her gaze to Yuuko, who had been standing to the side as if she were just a background character.

She's very beautiful, but I don't know her...

Because of this unreliable captain, she is quite familiar with the Second Division and the Shihouin family.

She went to the Second Division first, and then came to the Shihouin residence.

But neither the Second Division nor Shihouin's residence had ever seen this person.

"Nice to meet you, I am Yuuko Tsugikuni." Having already begun to get used to being involved with Yoruichi's social circle, Yuuko smiled slightly and greeted Himeko when she saw her looking at her.

“…Hiyori, Sarugaki Hiyori, let’s just say she’s this idiot’s right-hand woman.” Hiyori paused for a moment, then sheathed her Zanpakuto.

Deputy?

That is, the vice-captain of the 12th Division.

But how could he be beaten up by his own vice-captain?

These people are really interesting.

Yuko was able to tell that Hiyori's spiritual pressure level was no higher than Urahara Kisuke's.

This seems to be their usual way of getting along.