Help! I am bound to Aizen!

Chapter 263

2-in-1-chapter

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Yawning loudly, Kyōraku Shunsui strolled along the streets of the Seireitei. Along the way, any patrolling Shinigami who spotted him immediately stopped to bow. Kyōraku greeted them with a friendly wave. Once they moved on, he let out another long yawn.

Seeing him like this, Yadōmaru Lisa cast a doubtful glance his way.

“Captain, you didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night for a drink again, did you?”

Kyōraku looked shocked. “Lisa, you can’t go around saying that. I, Kyōraku Shunsui, am an esteemed captain of the Eighth Division, a noble from a venerable house, and personally trained by the Captain-Commander. I’d never do anything so shameless.”

Lisa snorted. She might trust him on other claims—at least by a fraction of a percent—but that “personally trained by the Captain-Commander” bit held no weight. There were three such disciples, and two of them were notoriously troublesome. Especially Kaelith, who stirred up big incidents at the drop of a hat.

Not long ago, the Captain-Commander had chased him halfway across the Seireitei, causing widespread mayhem. Had the two troublemakers not both held high positions, the Central 46 might well have thrown them in a cell.

Compared to that, her own captain—who just liked to sneak drinks and laze around—actually seemed more reliable. The moment she realized someone else surpassed her captain in irresponsibility, Lisa couldn’t help clicking her tongue. Who else but Kaelith could manage such a feat?

Lost in thought, the pair arrived at the 1st Division’s barracks. Lisa immediately straightened her posture, falling half a step behind Kyōraku with a serious face. In the division itself, she could act freely around him, but once they went out, she had to maintain the captain’s dignity—that was the art of being a proper subordinate.

Kyōraku entered the meeting chamber while Lisa waited outside. She glanced around and noticed most of the lieutenants already gathered. The most eye-catching among them was an exceptionally tall man with long hair—Zaraki Kenpachi, lieutenant of the 11th Division.

This 11th Division was truly odd. The captain wasn’t “Kenpachi,” but the lieutenant filed in for the still-alive captain. In previous generations, that would have been unthinkable.

Zaraki Kenpachi leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes closed, as if dozing off. His uniform collar gaped wide, revealing a solidly built physique beneath. Lisa couldn’t help recalling something Kaelith had mentioned on a visit to the Eighth Division a few years ago—about Zaraki Kenpachi’s build.

Apparently, when he first joined, he’d been quite skinny. Kaelith had the mess hall feed him heavily every day, telling him not to worry about calories. Lisa had assumed Kaelith was fattening him up like a pig, predicting the 11th would end up with its first plus-sized lieutenant. But surprisingly, none of that extra food had turned to fat; it all converted to muscle. Countless would-be weight-watchers would surely cry tears of envy.

As Lisa mulled over these random thoughts, Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly raised his head and glanced her way. In that split second, her entire body tensed up. The look in his eyes was pure beast. Though he merely looked at her for a moment, she felt pinned in place, like there was no chance of escape. Alarmed, she nearly reached for her sword.

Fortunately, Zaraki quickly lost interest and closed his eyes again, resuming his nap. Lisa exhaled, shaken.

The 11th Division really was home to a swarm of monsters.

Just then, someone walked up to Zaraki. He frowned slightly, opened his eyes, and saw a handsome man wearing a silver hair ornament and a polite smile.

“Greetings, Lieutenant Zaraki. I’m Kuchiki Sōjun, lieutenant of the Sixth Division. I’m a good friend of Kaelith’s. Since you’re Kaelith’s lieutenant, I figure we ought to be friends as well. Nice to meet you.”

He extended a hand in greeting. Zaraki didn’t take it at first, simply staring impassively. A few seconds later, he reached out for a brief, casual shake.

“You look decent—like you can fight. But you’re too weak. Boring.”

With that, he shut his eyes again, saying nothing more. Kuchiki Sōjun smiled wryly. “You can fight, but you’re too weak”—two phrases that summed up all his frustrations. As expected of Kaelith’s lieutenant…

…

Inside the meeting room, Yamamoto stood at the head, both hands resting on his cane.

“Today, I’ve summoned you all to discuss the matter of appointing a new captain for the 2nd Division. A few days ago, the Shihōin family submitted a letter stating that their head, Shihōin Yoruichi, has completed her training and is ready to assume the captain’s seat. The 2nd Division’s lieutenant, Marenoshin Ōmaeda, has already expressed his support. Do any of you object?”

Many of the captains looked surprised. While the 2nd Division captain was indeed typically from the Shihōin family, Yoruichi seemed quite young for the post. Normally, even for a prodigy, it took over a century to become captain—barring oddities like Kaelith.

Ukitake Jūshirō spoke up. “Teacher, does Lady Shihōin have Bankai?”

Yamamoto shook his head. “Shihōin Yoruichi abandoned her Zanpakutō’s development early on, dedicating herself to secret family techniques instead.”

At that, the captains exchanged glances. Without Bankai, how could her combat strength be guaranteed?

For something like the Fourth Division, perhaps it wouldn’t matter.

Even the Fifth or Tenth might allow some flexibility since they saw fewer large-scale battles.

But the 2nd Division was a serious combat force, constantly facing major conflicts. If its captain were weak, it could lead to dire consequences. Generally, Bankai was a baseline requirement for a captain—again, excluding “freaks” like Kaelith.

And so, after a bit of low-voiced discussion, everyone turned to look at Kaelith.

“?”

Seeing all eyes on him, Kaelith cocked his head. Hirako Shinji, hands tucked in his sleeves, said, “Kaelith, what do you think?”

Kaelith pondered a moment. “I sparred with Yoruichi a few days ago. She’s strong—hurt me pretty good. I’d say she’s more than qualified to be a captain.”

Hirako Shinji: “…”

Everything about that sentence was irritating, in its own way.

Having given his opinion, Kaelith discreetly suppressed a yawn. He guessed the meeting would go on for a while, and he was tired from staying up late playing LSP2. Time to bust out his secret move—sleeping while standing…

But before he could close his eyes, the other captains chimed in one after another:

“In that case, I have no objections.”

“I agree with appointing Shihōin Yoruichi.”

“No problem here…”

To Kaelith’s surprise, those who had been hesitant moments earlier were now all voting in favor. Brow furrowing, he sidled over to Ukitake.

“Senior, am I really that influential in the Gotei 13? They were all so doubtful before, but turned right around because of one comment from me. Is this a signal that I should raise the banner of revolution and overthrow our Teacher?”

Ukitake chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Kaelith, your opinion is absolutely valued—no question. But the reason they changed their minds so quickly is that they trust your judgment. For all the wild stunts you pull, everyone knows you’d never recommend a friend for a dangerous position if they couldn’t handle it. Especially the 2nd Division, where several captains have died in the line of duty over the years.”

Once all captains cast their votes, Yoruichi’s succession was formally decided. Three days later, Yamamoto reconvened the captains to present her commission and captain’s Haori.

Watching Yoruichi don the Haori, Kaelith nodded. Despite her lively, sometimes mischievous nature—even climbing rooftops for fun—she looked unexpectedly fitting in the crisp white coat. The austere Haori, combined with her spirited, striking beauty, exuded a unique, regal aura.

One couldn’t help but stare.

Yoruichi glanced at herself, lifting an arm experimentally.

“Huh… It’s a bit cumbersome, doesn’t seem great for fighting.”

Kaelith gave a short laugh. “Don’t worry. Wear it without concern. Once we’re done here, I’ll have my people make a hundred copies and send them to your place. The Kaelith Clothing Workshop produces top-quality replicas. Even Teacher would find it hard to tell real from fake! If anyone else needs something, just let me know—I’ll give you all an insider discount!”

Kaelith clasped his hands with a grin, smoothly advertising his workshop.

Yamamoto: “?”

The meeting wasn’t even over, and he was right there! His blood pressure spiked.

…

Exiting the 1st Division building with a noticeable bump on his head, Kaelith carried on as if nothing had happened. Years ago, a single punch from Yamamoto had been like a mountain dropping on him, sending him crawling home. Now…all it did was raise a lump.

He couldn’t help musing about whether he should stage some heartfelt performance—something like the “Boyu Weeping at the Staff” routine—to move Yamamoto’s heart. Maybe if he succeeded, and eventually he truly did rebel, his venerable teacher would step aside quietly without fighting back.

“Hey, what are you lost in thought about?”

Snapping out of it, Kaelith realized Yoruichi was at his side, smiling.

“I was thinking about Soifon,” he replied solemnly.

“Seems the Captain-Commander went easy on you,” Yoruichi remarked a little irritably.

After brief farewells with the other captains, Kaelith found Zaraki Kenpachi.

“Kenpachi, head back to our division, get Marechiyo, and bring him here to the 2nd Division.”

“Got it!”

Kenpachi nodded and started to set off.

“Wait—hold up.”

Kaelith stopped him. Zaraki turned, eyes puzzled. Kaelith spoke seriously:

“Ask for directions along the way. Don’t rely on your own sense of direction. Worst case, grab someone and make them guide you.”

Zaraki Kenpachi cracked a grin. “No worries, Boss, I won’t get lost!”

With that, he strode off toward the 11th Division. Kaelith watched for a few seconds, confirming Kenpachi was at least heading the right way, then nodded. He and Yoruichi walked toward the 2nd Division.

Standing once more in the 2nd Division’s quarters, Kaelith felt a wave of nostalgia. Unknowingly, it had been years since he left.

Shinigami perceived time differently from humans; their longer lifespans dulled their sense of passing years. In the original storyline, captains often remained at a plateau for decades or centuries, basically “coasting.” Only when major crises occurred did they scramble to train, shooting up several levels in a matter of months—like certain novelists ignoring their work all month then frantically writing at the deadline.

Kaelith once clung to a near-human perception of time, but slowly became numb to it. Even though he’d been away from the 2nd Division for years, it felt like merely a month.

“Lord Kaelith!”

Many Shinigami recognized him, greeting him warmly. Then they noticed the white Haori on the person beside him. Taking a closer look, they gasped.

“Commander of the Corps!”

“Welcome back!”

“No…not the Corps Commander now—she’s Captain!”

Seeing “2” stitched on the back of Yoruichi’s Haori, the squad members buzzed with excitement. The 2nd Division hadn’t had a captain in a long time. Although Marenoshin Ōmaeda had done well keeping things running, it still felt incomplete.

Now, with a proper captain, they were overjoyed.

Before long, Marenoshin Ōmaeda arrived. Spotting Yoruichi’s Haori, he became so emotional he nearly wept.

“Finally… Lady Yoruichi, you’ve taken up the Haori at last! The old family head would be so pleased…”

Watching him cry, Yoruichi offered a gentle smile. Under the expectant gazes of the squad, she headed to the captain’s office with Marenoshin Ōmaeda to handle official handover tasks. At first, she tried her best to listen as he explained all the division’s affairs. But soon enough, Yoruichi grew restless—this wasn’t how she pictured being captain. She hadn’t sought the position just to sit in an office all day!

She turned, fixing Kaelith with an innocent look.

“Kaelith, isn’t there something you can do? Help me out here.”

Kaelith chuckled. “I figured this would happen. Don’t worry—I have just the solution!”

He stepped out, returning after a few moments with a Shinigami slung by the collar. Yoruichi blinked in surprise as Kaelith plopped the new arrival down before her—a man wearing a hat, looking resigned to his fate.

“Presenting my invention: a fully automated document-processing device! Give him food, water, and a little fist-based encouragement, and he’ll churn out solutions to every stack of paperwork. A must-have for anyone who wants to slack off.”

Yoruichi: “…”

She glanced at Urahara Kisuke, sitting on the floor with an air of quiet despair, and couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. Still, she was the captain now, so she couldn’t turn her back on the chance to delegate.

Putting on a solemn face, she said, “Urahara Third Seat, I’ll leave these to you.”

Urahara Kisuke: “…”

He felt his soul leave his body.... somehow.

Spotting his sulky expression, Kaelith—an expert in the “stick and carrot” principle—promptly dangled a carrot.

“Don’t look so glum, Kisuke. I’ve got good news for you. Captain Kirio Hikifune of the 12th Division will likely be stepping down within the next few decades. When that happens, I’ll recommend you for captain. Doing this paperwork is the perfect warm-up, right?”

Hearing this, Urahara Kisuke only looked more devastated. That would mean covering the workload for three captains at once…which was the last thing he wanted!

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