Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Chapter 4

'Hmm, I thought she would say that if I passed the academy, she'd help me out. Instead, she's saying she'll help me train before the academy. I wonder if she's still suspicious and wants to keep me close to observe me. Well, I better play my role well so she doesn't find anything on me.'

Yuichi smiled and did his best to show pure, naïve elation at this offer. He eagerly stood up and said, "Yes, of course, please help me. If there's a way I can get into one of those squads you mentioned, please tell me how."

Yoruichi walked over to him and smacked him on his back, knocking the wind out of him. She laughed as he fell over and said, "Looks like we have much to do if you want to even be admitted into the academy, let alone graduate. How about you come live with me until the entrance exam?"

Yuichi put on an anxious face and said, "But I don't want to inconvenience you," to which Yoruichi simply replied, "Nonsense, it's no inconvenience at all."

'Looks like she does want to keep an eye on me. It's best if I don't resist too hard and give her a reason to further doubt me.'

"Okay, if it's really not going to impose on you, then I will do it," said Yuichi, backing away so she wouldn't smack his back again.

Suì-Fēng walked in after Yuichi said this and whispered something to Yoruichi, whose facial expression didn't change. She then said, "Good job making the report, Suì-Fēng. Looks like Yuichi here has a decent level of reiatsu. I plan to have him take the academy entrance exam in 2 months. Until then, he'll be staying at my manor, and we'll train him a little."

Suì-Fēng said nothing and simply nodded to Yoruichi's words. She then opened the sliding door, Yoruichi walked out followed by Yuichi, but Suì-Fēng grabbed his arm and said, "Lady Yoruichi believes in your potential, so I hope you'll do your best to live up to her expectations."

Before Yuichi could respond, Yoruichi, who was outside the restaurant, yelled, "Come on, I need to take a nap!"

Suì-Fēng let go of Yuichi's arm roughly and walked out. Yuichi followed the two women, and as soon as he stepped out of the restaurant, Yoruichi once again grabbed him and sped off. Within a few seconds, they reappeared in front of a large Japanese mansion, and five seconds later Suì-Fēng appeared too.

"Your mastery of the Flash Step is still too low, Suì-Fēng. Keep practicing it, or later you won't be able to keep up with me," said Yoruichi.

In less than a second after she spoke, more than twenty female servants walked out and greeted her with a, "Welcome back, mistress!"

Yet again, Yoruichi dropped Yuichi, but this time he was well prepared and managed to use his arms to break his fall. Yoruichi then ordered the servants to prepare a room for Yuichi to stay in. She then called over one of the servants and said, "This is Mei; she will be taking care of you while you're staying here. If there's anything you need, ask her."

Mei was a tall and slender, white-skinned woman who had an out-of-place feel to her. A particularly notable feature was the air around her smelled of lilacs. She had a small scar on her forehead that was mostly hidden by her shoulder-length white hair with the ends dyed a purple-lilac color. She had soulless, wide, aqua-blue eyes, a straight nose, and slender eyebrows. She wore an immaculate, mostly dark-colored, and well-fitted kimono. She was beautiful but also had a simple look as she wore no makeup.

Mei bowed and said, "My name is Mei, and as ordered by Lady Yoruichi, I shall be at your service. Please don't hesitate to request anything of me, and I shall do my best to comply."

"Thank you; I'll be in your care, and I apologize for any inconveniences I cause you all," responded Yuichi.

'I bet her real job is to watch me and report back if I make any suspicious moves. This act is beginning to get exhausting. I just have to pretend a little longer.'

Yoruichi yawned and said, "Mei, show him around the compound. He'll be here for a while, so it's best if he knows where he can and can't go."

Mei bowed and led Yuichi away to see the manor. When she was sure they could no longer hear them, Suì-Fēng said, "Lady Yoruichi, why would you bring him here? I checked with the medical unit, and it truly was indeed a hollow that killed 5th seat Otake Susumu. He did seem suspicious, especially wandering through the forest known to hold hollows."

"At first, I thought he wanted a zanpakuto, so he tricked Susumu into a battle with the hollow to get it, but he relinquished it easily, so my suspicion died. However, as we talked in the restaurant, I felt the same feeling as when I'm being deceived. I have no proof, but my instinct tells me something is suspicious about that young man," said Yoruichi.

"Your intuition has never been wrong, my Lady. Mei is new to the unit, but she is very good at subtle interrogation. Whatever he's hiding, she'll get it out of him. My Lady, will we truly allow him to become a soul reaper?" said Suì-Fēng.

"We'll keep a close eye on him for the next 2 months while helping him with the basics. If he passes, of course, we'll let him go to the academy. Mei also needs to go to the academy to learn the other branches of techniques. I won't ask her to observe him then, but I'll order her to report if she hears any strange news involving him," said Yoruichi.

As Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng were having their discussion, Mei first showed Yuichi the training ground. There they saw a young, dark-skinned boy with black hair, which was in a thick ponytail secured with a white tie. He wore pink, fingerless gloves that extended to his elbows, white shoulder pads, and a black garment that covered his torso and legs.

Mei then bowed and said, "Greetings, Young Master Yūshirō."