The savage glint of fangs accompanied the feral cry of the black cat.

Every limb on the feline was tense, its pupils narrowed to needle-points, locked tightly onto Shimo as if afraid he might slip away.

"Miss Yoruichi, I think the grudge between us—"

Shimo's smile was painfully awkward as he subtly shifted his foot, preparing to use Shunpo to escape.

"You think you can use Shunpo in front of me?"

With a twist of her body, the black cat immediately blocked the direction he was about to flee.

"Prepare to die, you wretched little Shimo!"

A vicious screech escaped her throat.

Suddenly, darkness swept across Shimo's vision—a paw blotting out the light as it slashed toward him.

Urahara had already dodged far into the distance, hiding his grin behind a folding fan as he spoke with schadenfreude:

"Oh dear, Shimo-kun. I do hope you survive this."

"I've fulfilled my promise to Miss Yoruichi, after all."

"Tessai, let's head back upstairs. Give the two of them some privacy."

At some point, Tessai had appeared behind Urahara, carrying two Hollows—one large, one small—under his arms.

As for Bawabawa, he had been quickly recalled into Pesche's body.

Seated atop Pesche's huge head, Nel tilted her head curiously, watching Shimo from afar as he engaged in what looked like a "battle of life and death" with a black cat.

"Is Shimo going to be okay?"

Without turning his head, Urahara replied calmly,

"Don't worry. Shimo-kun and that cat go way back.

They're… old acquaintances. He should be fine."

That final sentence, however, was tinged with hesitation—

Even with Urahara's intelligence, the outcome of this clash was difficult to predict.

Hopefully, it wouldn't end in… an accident.

---

In the underground chamber

The black cat leapt and twisted through the air, sharp claws repeatedly swiping at Shimo.

Fortunately, Shimo's Shunpo technique was solid enough that he narrowly avoided each strike.

Otherwise, his face would've needed quite some time to heal.

What's more, Shimo had secretly been accelerating time while using Shunpo—

This caused Yoruichi, who had experienced countless battles, to occasionally feel moments of time dissonance.

And yet, even that wasn't enough to deter her from her goal:

Clawing up Shimo's face.

"Little Shimo, just let me scratch you once—"

The black cat perched atop a boulder, her feline eyes flashing with eagerness.

"—and I'll let you off!"

To this, Shimo replied righteously:

"Absolutely not. No fucking way."

"Don't even think about it!"

"Meow—!"

With another furious cry, the cat leapt from the boulder, pouncing straight at Shimo.

As for the grudge between them… Shimo swore on his conscience that it was all just a misunderstanding.

How could he have known that the black cat lounging in his home was actually Shihōin Yoruichi?

Back then, due to a certain… technical error, Shimo had accidentally—

Singed the cat's tail.

As for how the former Commander of the Onmitsukidō, the Captain of Second Division, and the head of the noble Shihōin Clan had her tail burned by a young boy who hadn't even mastered basic Kidō…

Shimo still didn't know.

Maybe it was due to her own weakened condition.

Maybe it was his carelessness at the time.

Either way, that incident became the start of their feud.

Yoruichi had long vowed revenge for her scorched tail, but she had never found a good opportunity.

After all, as a noble clan leader, attacking a mere kid was… not exactly honorable.

Even though the misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, Yoruichi still couldn't swallow her pride.

She tried multiple times to get her revenge, only to fall into Shimo's traps each time.

As she said herself:

"This brat may be weak, but that doesn't mean he can't leverage strength."

External power was still power.

And Kyōraku Shunsui, for one, cherished his nephew deeply.

---

"Huff… huff…"

The black cat landed low, paws spread wide, panting heavily.

Even in her cat form, catching this boy was proving… a bit too difficult.

Worse, every time her claws got close to Shimo's face, time seemed to warp around them.

Looks like she'd have to revert to her true form!

Determination flickered in her eyes. With a sharp meow, she pounced once more—

Like a bolt of black lightning slicing through the air.

Just as Shimo was about to launch into Shunpo again, a thick mist suddenly rose before his eyes.

A terrible premonition struck him.

He was just about to call out the name of his Zanpakutō when he heard a sultry voice:

"Little Shimo… where do you think you're going this time?"

Through the mist, a tall, lithe figure appeared in flashes.

Shimo's pupils constricted, and his body froze for a split second—

And in that moment—

Yoruichi was already right in front of him.

"Finally… got you!"

--------------------------///

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