BLEACH Chapter 106: A Disruptive Ceremony (Patreon)

Observing the Seireitei from afar and stepping through its colossal gates were worlds apart. Momo Hinamori found herself bewitched by the city's elegance, so different from the rough simplicity of Rukongai. Majestic buildings rose like titans, their stately arches and glistening rooftops lending the city a noble aura. The citizens on the streets wore decent clothes, their Reiatsu robust and more rigorous than 99% of the Rukongai population.

The wall dividing them did more than separate districts; it was a chasm cleaving heaven from earth.

Momo’s eyes darted everywhere without a stop. “This is so wonderful.”

"Stop gawking like an idiot," Toshiro scolded, though a hint of embarrassment and apology colored his tone. “It’s just a fancier version of our village.”

Momo glared at Toshiro as if he was an idiot, not her. Her unblinking glare strangely intimidated him.

“Yeah. Where is the paradise we were promised?” Kazuya poked Yoruichi who was resting on his head. “Life is never fair but the afterlife should have equality.”

Yoruichi bit his ear. “Get your head out of religious books.”

She didn’t shy away from speaking in her cat form. The boisterous crowd of three students made a good cover for her.

{Complains the motherfucker who spawned with Vasto Lorde-level power,} Nami’s sarcastic reply made him chuckle. {Partner, destroy the Seireitei after we come into power. Equally shitty life for everyone, baby!}

‘Hey, let others be happy.’

Soon the academy came into sight — a sprawling multi-story building with an architectural style resembling the Seireitei. Kazuya’s group, along with many other new students, were taken into different halls. Each hall basically had the same responsibility of providing uniforms and relaying the assigned dormitory numbers to each student.

Kazuya caught two unexpected faces in a different queue.

‘Rukia and Renji?’

Rukia looked focused and determined. He remembered her lacking both when she joined the academy. Only after meeting Kaien did she reveal more confidence.

{They were supposed to join two years later… What happened?}

Kazuya’s mind whirred, connecting the dots. ‘If I had to guess, it’s because of the balance disaster in Rukongai.’

He didn’t feel an ounce of guilt even after hearing the consequences of Barragan’s death. His alignment wouldn’t be ‘Neutral Evil’ if he began sobbing for random people.

{Possibly. I wonder if the world will force different events to fuel her growth.}

‘You talk like this world is a living entity.’

{World isn’t but fate truly is a thing, Partner, or we wouldn’t have been together like this.}

‘So smooth.’

Nami giggled. {Don’t flatter my innocent flirting skills. Do you know what bugs me about Rukia? Kaien. Will he go through the same events after meeting you?}

In a few years, Kaien’s wife would soon be killed by a discarded Hollow experiment made by Aizen. Kaien would try to avenge his wife but fall against the Hollow. Kazuya did want to save Kaien from his fate but it was difficult to convince Kaien. Miyako was a 3rd Rank Seated Officer and Kaien was a Vice-Captain. They both knew all the danger that came with the duty of purifying Hollows.

{Sacrifice the 4th Squad’s dreams and join their Squad.}

‘Nevah! I’m becoming a battle healer.’

Yoruichi patted his head, bringing his attention back to the queue. He received his uniform from the instructor then regrouped with everyone.

Momo looked crestfallen after hearing the dormitory number from him. “Why can’t we all be in the same dorm room? It’s so unfair.”

Boys and girls dormitories had different dorm buildings.

“Life is never fair,” Toshiro said with a chuckle. “I landed in the same dorm room as Kazuya-san.”

“It’s great. Nobody will bully you with me there.”

“It’s not like people even want to bully me…” Toshiro muttered under his breath, earning a soft look from Kazuya.

Today was reserved for students to get accustomed to the academy and dorm grounds. The classes would start tomorrow, beginning with an opening ceremony conducted by some bigshot from the Gotei 13.

…

The next morning.

As if following some type of tradition, sakura petals drifting everywhere in the morning. Students, donned in crisp uniforms, milled about the grounds, their blue and red hakama adding vibrant strokes of color to the scene. The student uniform’s design matched a traditional Shinigami outfit but with blue hakama (trousers) for male and red hakama for female students.

Kazuya personally wasn’t a fan of wearing traditional outfits but they were very light and comfortable.

He followed the herd of first year students to the courtyard, where the opening ceremony was set to take place. His steps faltered when he caught sight of the petite woman on the podium. She had short hair, with two thin braids bound in white cloth. She looked young but her dangerous Reiatsu kept anyone from uttering any word in her presence. The word ‘Captain’ was plainly written across her armband.

‘The Simp is here.’

Kazuya wasn’t surprised to see Soi Fon. A different captain from the Gotei 13 hosts the opening ceremony every year. This year’s responsibility fell upon the Commander of Onmitsukidō and the Captain of the 2nd Squad, Soi Fon.

Honestly, he’d have preferred someone like Unohana or Ukitake here. Soi Fon might sense her precious Yoruichi-sama and cause a massive ruckus.

“Wanna say hi?”

“Nope,” Yoruichi instantly replied before reclining against his shoulder. “Heh. Look at her act all tough now. She used to chase me like a lil’ baby.”

“Say it to her face, coward.”

“...”

Soi Fon, who was on a hunt for potential assassin candidates, suddenly felt goosebumps. Looking around the crowd, she came across a pair of striking golden eyes belonging to a black cat sitting upon a student’s shoulder. The cat’s eyes gave her a sense of familiarity, stirring something within her — a deep, visceral reaction that made her blood boil.

She narrowed her eyes on the white-haired man who surprisingly grinned back at her. It was a grin reserved to tease others. A grin that provoked memories of the most loved yet hated person in her life.

Both the pet and its master got on her nerves without saying a word. She could almost feel the satisfying crunch of her fist against that grinning face.

She pointed at him, making the students around him step away and single him out. “You with the black cat. Do you see anything funny?”

Kazuya cluelessly looked around before pointing at his face. “Me?”

His voice sent ripples of fascination across the students. Soi Fon also fell dazed for a second.

“Why were you grinning like a fool?”

“Uh…” Kazuya rubbed the back of his head. “Smiling isn’t a sin now, is it?”

Even though he was in a Captain’s presence, he showed no respect or courtesy. Soi Fon didn’t demand pure reverence but basic courtesy was the least a student could afford. It was not just an institution of learning; it was a crucible, molding future soldiers for the Gotei 13. Discipline was not an option; it was a mandate.

His nonchalance reminded her of the exiled Shinigami, the man she wouldn’t hesitate to murder in a heartbeat — Kisuke Urahara.

Soi Fon’s hand clenched involuntarily. “There is a time and place for every action,” she said, beckoning him with a finger. “Come over here.”

The entire crowd of students looked at him with pity. To offend a Seated Officer was to gamble with one's future; to offend a Captain was to dance with death itself. And this was no ordinary Captain. This was the master assassin, the one ruling over the Stealth Force Onmitsukidō and the 2nd Squad.

Kazuya’s response was anything but typical. He let Yoruichi slip down before he made his way through the path students made by parting, a carefree bounce in his step as if he wasn’t walking to his execution.

Jumping up the podium, he stood a few meters away from Soi Fon. “What can I do for you?”

“This opening ceremony will be a little different,” Soi Fon said as she turned to the students. “I’ll give you a little demonstration of Hakuda techniques and different ways to master them.”

Soi Fon decided to abuse her authority for the first time in her life.