~ Next Bonus, 200!
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"What in the world...?"
Yoruichi arrived at the training ground to find Shin giving pointers to Matsumoto Rangiku. She was completely floored.
Rangiku was in the 10th Division, right?
She was currently the 3rd Seat of the 10th Division. She had been the most likely candidate to beco the next lieutenant, but then the kid, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, had joined the squad and shot up the ranks to take the position.
"A 10th Division mber in the 2nd Division training grounds... and this guy is actually coaching her."
Yoruichi's expression soured. She was also aware that Rangiku and Shin had so history. From what Rangiku had said, Shin had saved her once.
"Well, you certainly look relaxed."
Yoruichi appeared behind Shin as silent as a ghost, without making the slightest sound. Anyone else would have jumped out of their skin.
Shin, however, didn't even flinch. He had known she was there the mont she arrived.
"I'm not a captain anymore. Of course I'm relaxed when I have nothing to do," Shin said to Yoruichi with a smile.
"Even if you're not a captain, you're still a mber of the 2nd Division. And as a squad mber, you have responsibilities. If anything, the work is even harder."
Yoruichi said to Shin.
And she was right. The mbers of the 2nd Division had a lot on their plates. But even though Shin was no longer the captain, every mber of the squad still respected him as if he were. They wouldn't dare ask him to do anything, which ant Shin was living a life of leisure.
"Soi Fon hasn't said a word. You're the lieutenant, you shouldn't be worrying so much." Shin waved his hand at Yoruichi dismissively.
"Oh really? I could beco captain in a heartbeat. You want to bet I won't march right over there, take the captaincy, and then assign you the most grueling job in all of the 2nd Division?"
Yoruichi glared at Shin, her voice laced with a playful threat.
"Is that so? I don't believe you." Shin genuinely didn't believe Yoruichi would beco the captain of the 2nd Division. She despised the position. How could she possibly take it on? Unless she suddenly stopped hating trouble, which was about as likely as Shin himself embracing paperwork. Their personalities were just too similar.
Well, when it ca to slacking off, the two of them were practically twins.
"Lady Yoruichi." At that mont, Rangiku stopped her training and walked over, addressing Yoruichi with respect.
"Not going to ask him out for a drink this ti?" Yoruichi glanced at Rangiku, recalling the last ti they went out drinking and Shin had to carry the intoxicated Rangiku back.
Rangiku looked a little awkward. She could sense that Yoruichi seed to have sothing against her.
She stole a glance at Shin and had a pretty good idea why.
What Rangiku didn't know was that Shin was only part of the reason. A much bigger factor was their difference in... assets.
While Yoruichi was far from flat-chested, she couldn't hold a candle to Rangiku. She was outclassed by a mile, which naturally soured her mood.
"Don't give her a hard ti," Shin said to Yoruichi, coming to Rangiku's defense.
Rangiku shot Shin a grateful look.
"Um... can I still co to you for advice on my training in the future?" Rangiku asked Shin after a mont of hesitation.
"If you want to learn, I can teach you. You were practicing your Flash Step, right? In that regard, I dare say I'm the best in the Soul Society," Yoruichi suddenly said to Rangiku.
"That's a bold claim." Shin shot Yoruichi a sideways glance. Calling herself the best? Yoruichi's mastery of Flash Step was indeed incredible, earning her the title "Flash Goddess," but compared to Shin, she still had a long way to go.
Shin was overwhelmingly powerful in every aspect.
Yoruichi really couldn't compare. But when it ca to teaching Rangiku, she was more than qualified.
"Um, wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
Rangiku looked at Yoruichi hesitantly.
She could ask Shin for pointers not only because she wanted an excuse to see him, but also because they were sowhat familiar with each other. But she barely knew Yoruichi, and the woman clearly harbored so hostility towards her.
"It won't be any trouble. Shin's even more allergic to work than I am," Yoruichi said to Rangiku.
In the end, Rangiku had no choice but to agree, though she felt a little dejected. She understood what Yoruichi was getting at. It seed her chances were slim. After all, compared to Lieutenant Yoruichi, she felt she couldn't asure up in any way.
In terms of strength, there was no comparison. Even though Yoruichi was a lieutenant, Rangiku knew she possessed captain-level strength. The only reason she hadn't beco a captain before was because the even stronger Shin was there. As for why Yoruichi was still a lieutenant now that Shin had stepped down, Rangiku had no idea.
After that, Rangiku left the 2nd Division. She still had duties in the 10th Division to attend to, her schedule was quite packed.
"Captain Shin, Captain Kyōraku and Captain Ukitake are here to see you." Suddenly, a mber of the 2nd Division ca to inform Shin.
Even though Shin wasn't the captain anymore, they were still used to calling him that.
"What are they here for?" Shin was a bit surprised, but he considered them friends. Since they had co all this way, he couldn't just ignore them. He decided to go see what they wanted.
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"Shin, we ca to congratulate you."
Kyōraku Shunsui said as soon as he saw Shin.
This out-of-the-blue congratulation left Shin a bit confused. 'Congratulate ? For what? I don't rember having anything to celebrate.'
"Congratulate for what?"
"For your glorious retirent, of course! For being freed from the shackles of the captaincy," Kyōraku said with a smile.
Kyōraku himself found the duties of a captain to be a hassle, but he couldn't just quit like Shin. If he told Old Man Yama he was stepping down, the Captain-Commander would probably kill him.
Despite his casual and sotis disrespectful way of referring to Yamamoto as "Old Man Yama," Kyōraku was genuinely afraid of him. After all, he was his teacher. When Yamamoto established the Shin'ō Academy, Kyōraku and Ukitake were among the first students, and they had both been taught by him.
"You're right, that is worth celebrating." A smile spread across Shin's face. To him, the title of captain ant nothing.
"Don't listen to him. Shin, you were doing a great job as captain. Why did you suddenly decide to step down?" Ukitake Jūshirō asked.
He was a perfect fit for the role, and if he had continued, he might have even beco the next Captain-Commander. Ukitake couldn't understand why he would just give it all up.
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