Kaelith reacted just as fast, triggering a small contraption that shot toward the window. Yoruichi flinched, darting back just in time. She fled silently, her heart pounding as she put distance between herself and that bizarre misunderstanding.
A short while later, perched in a tall tree on Second Division grounds, Yoruichi caught her breath. Confirming she wasn’t followed, she let out a tiny sigh of relief. That was… intense. She had mentally prepared herself for odd scenarios when leaving Soifon under Kaelith’s care, but actually seeing something like that—even if it was just a misunderstanding on her part—left her rattled.
As the head of the Shihōin family, Yoruichi knew some things about...these matters. The elders had been thorough, if embarrassingly so. She flicked her tail, recalling Soifon’s flustered expression.
No, wait—that wasn’t the main point.
The real problem was Kaelith’s expression. He’d looked… pleased. If Kaelith ever married into the Shihōin family, would she have to do stuff like that for him too? The mere idea made her tail swish faster. Thinking back, she and Kaelith had always been more like buddies than anything else. Even seeing him half-naked before never stirred any weird thoughts.
Now, though, that silly, easily misunderstood scene kept replaying in her mind—Kaelith’s smug face, Soifon’s grumbling, the odd tension. It left Yoruichi strangely warm as if her reiatsu was off balance. She shook her head vigorously. This was nonsense. She needed to clear her mind. Some extra training back at the Shihōin estate would calm her down.
Making a graceful leap, the black cat hopped down from the branch and darted off. She’d sweat out these strange feelings in the training hall and forget all about Kaelith’s “sacrifice” and Soifon’s frustrated muttering. It was all just a big misunderstanding—one that, unfortunately, refused to leave her thoughts so easily.
.......................
After wrapping up their awkward little chore, Kaelith and Soifon left the dim room behind and headed toward Bambietta’s temporary cell. The Quincy girl seemed a lot less defiant now—perhaps due to her earlier encounters. Seeing the pair step in, Bambietta pressed her legs together nervously, a faint blush on her cheeks as if bracing for something… dramatic.
The once-proud Quincy looked more nervous now, and oddly eager, as if remembering the strange pressure she’d experienced before. She seemed almost curious about what they’d do next.
Kaelith stood before her, arms folded. “We’ve reached a decision about your fate,” he said, tone matter-of-fact.
Bambietta swallowed hard. Anxiety flared:
Would they execute her quietly?
Burn her at the stake?
Or something even worse—like tossing her into a pit of rowdy Shinigami? Her imagination ran wild, and oddly enough, the last of those dire scenarios made her breathing grow a bit heavier.
Kaelith tilted his head, puzzled by her reaction. She looked more… embarrassed than frightened. Strange, but he didn’t dwell on it.
“Originally, you were to be disposed of in secret,” he said. “But considering your potential usefulness, we’re giving you a chance to redeem yourself.”
Bambietta’s eyes widened. Was this real? She’d expected something harsher, but this was surprisingly mild. Still, she couldn’t forget that odd, intense feeling from before.
If that was just an illusion, what would the “real thing” be like if she stayed useful?
Kaelith continued, “From now on, you’ll assume a civilian identity and join the Onmitsukidō as my personal guard. You’ll remain under strict surveillance, wear a special Kidō seal—disobey and you’ll blow yourself to pieces.
You’ll follow my orders without question, serve as a test subject for research, and demonstrate Quincy abilities when required. Understood?”
Bambietta blinked, stunned. This was far gentler than the brutal torture she’d imagined. Of course, being “test material” meant repeated examinations and experiments, but it still felt more lenient than expected. She recalled her loyalty to Yhwach, but what choice did she have now? It was all Haschwalth’s fault for leaving her behind anyway. And besides, she just had to wait til Yhwach awakened.
Steeling herself, Bambietta raised her head and nodded. “I understand. Please use me however you see fit.”
Kaelith gave a vague nod, still feeling something about her behavior was off. Did all Quincy think ? Either way, the arrangement pleased him. He’d gained a potentially valuable asset—though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Bambietta’s flushed expression had little to do with fear.
That evening, he summoned Bambietta to his private training ground. Excitement flickered in her eyes. No Soifon this time—just Kaelith and her, alone. She wondered if this meant a new kind of “session” would begin. Yet when Kaelith stripped off his upper Shihakushō, all he said was, “Activate your Vollständig and come at me with everything you’ve got. I need to gauge your full strength.”
“Eh?” Bambietta’s shoulders slumped at the anticlimax.
No… interrogation? No teasing? Just sparring? She pouted for a moment but then shrugged. If she impressed him here, maybe she could earn another “session” of whatever twisted scenario she thought was going on.
For now, she’d fight seriously. With a determined grin, Bambietta spread her glowing wings and prepared to give Kaelith a real show—just not the kind she’d originally expected.