The first districts in the east, west, south, and north of Rukongai are all very close to the Seireitei, so Kibune Makoto and Fūjin Taichi soon arrived at Junrinan.
The homes here were simple and crude—mostly single-story wooden houses with thatched roofs, low and modest in height. From the outside, the place looked very much like an old village from the Human World.
However, the streets and alleys were clean and well kept. Grass and trees surrounded the area, and there were many streams and ponds nearby. Because of this, the residents here never lacked food or clothing, and their lives were incredibly comfortable.
Kibune Makoto's former home had been on Tanzaku Street West in Junrinan, a decaying old house where he had once lived with his parents.
About a hundred years ago, both of his parents passed away. From then on, the only family he had left in the world was his childhood friend Hoko. The two lived together, searched for food together, and grew up together.
Then, more than three months ago, while they were out searching for food, they "picked up" Fūjin Taichi, who had fainted by the roadside. From that moment on, the three of them set off together on the long road toward becoming Shinigami.
Yet after not seeing her for several months, Fūjin Taichi was surprised to find Hoko lying on the tatami by the doorway, holding a brush and copying calligraphy from a practice book.
"Hey! Hoko!"
From far away, Kibune Makoto saw Hoko studying someone's calligraphy with great concentration. It made him strangely uncomfortable, so when he spoke, there was already a trace of irritation in his voice.
"Ah! Makoto! Taichi-kun! You're back!"
Hoko quickly scrambled up from the tatami and waved at Fūjin Taichi and Kibune Makoto.
"Come over quickly! I want to introduce you to a few friends!"
Kibune Makoto stomped over angrily, kicked the calligraphy copybook off the tatami, and sat down with his arms crossed.
"Who cares about meeting your friends!"
"Makoto! Stop being grumpy!"
Hoko picked up the calligraphy book and put it away, then glanced at Fūjin Taichi before calling into the house.
"Isane! Hanatarō! Come and see who's here!"
"Taichi-kun!"
A timid Hanatarō Yamada poked his head out from inside the house, wearing a shy smile.
"Long time no see!"
"Long time no see, Yamada!"
Fūjin Taichi was quite happy to see Hanatarō, since the latter was probably the only genuinely kind Shinigami in Bleach.
"Don't block the way, Hanatarō!"
Isane Kotetsu lifted her foot and kicked Hanatarō aside, sending him tumbling to the floor. Then she grinned brightly at Fūjin Taichi.
"Good morning, Taichi! It's been a few months—you've gotten even more handsome!"
"Oh, you're right!"
Hoko looked at Fūjin Taichi as if she had discovered a new continent. After staring for a while, she exclaimed in admiration,
"If you hadn't said it, Isane, I might not have noticed! Taichi-kun really has changed a lot!"
"Tch!"
Like a Persian cat whose tail had been stepped on, Kibune Makoto jumped up from the floor and muttered unhappily to Hoko and Isane.
"When did you two go blind?! This guy—"
But halfway through his sentence, he suddenly seemed to realize something. Turning back, he stared at Fūjin Taichi for quite a while before murmuring,
"…He really does seem different. But just a few days ago in the big lecture, he still looked like the same annoying guy as always…"
"Oh? Sounds like jealousy between men," Hoko giggled, covering her mouth.
"Shut up! I'm not jealous! I just think it's abnormal for a man to be as pretty as a woman!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down."
Hoko gently ruffled Kibune Makoto's brown hair.
"Isane and I will go prepare lunch now. Makoto, make sure you properly entertain our friends!"
"Hmph! This young master doesn't need any friends!"
Kibune Makoto turned his head away and ignored her.
Hoko secretly gave Fūjin Taichi a meaningful look before leaving with Isane Kotetsu to prepare dinner.
But Fūjin Taichi already knew that Kibune Makoto was the type who appeared cold but was actually warm-hearted—a classic stubborn tsundere—so he wasn't surprised by the reaction.
He sat down on the tatami and stared blankly at the distant sky.
It was already late morning, and large stretches of orange sunlight poured across the streets of Junrinan.
In that golden light, a blond-haired boy—Fujiwara Tatsuma—and a red-haired girl named Abito walked side by side from the entrance of Junrinan.
"Good afternoon, Taichi-kun!"
Fujiwara Tatsuma greeted the absent-minded Fūjin Taichi with a smile.
"Looks like my guess was right… you're also someone who can't stand being lonely."
"What are you talking about?"
Fūjin Taichi frowned, not understanding what Tatsuma meant. He glanced at Abito, then asked her,
"And why are you here too?"
"I—"
Just as Fujiwara Tatsuma opened his mouth to speak, Isane Kotetsu leaned halfway out from the nearby house and called out to Fūjin Taichi:
"Tatsuma is here because I invited him. We've known each other for a long time!"
"Oh!" Fūjin Taichi looked at the smiling Fujiwara Tatsuma in front of him with slight surprise. He truly hadn't expected that this guy actually had such a deep connection with the future vice-captain of the Fourth Division.
"Taichi."
Fujiwara Tatsuma sat down on Fūjin Taichi's right side, gazing at the bright sun hanging in the sky. In a low voice, he asked:
"You've already manifested your Zanpakutō, haven't you?"
What the hell?!
Fūjin Taichi was shocked inside.
He had only obtained his Zanpakutō last night, yet this guy already knew about it this morning?
What was going on?!
"Don't look so surprised, Taichi."
Fujiwara Tatsuma glanced at the Zanpakutō tucked under Fūjin Taichi's arm. A strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"But I'm curious… in the end, will your sea of flames be superior, or will my frozen river prevail?
What do you think… Taichi?"
"…."
Fūjin Taichi realized that Fujiwara Tatsuma simply wanted to compete with him and didn't seem to harbor any ill intentions, so he lowered his head and thought quietly.
Tatsuma's Zanpakutō was Seiran (Azure Phoenix), which he had mentioned was an ice-type Zanpakutō. Coincidentally, it directly countered Fūjin Taichi's fire-type Zanpakutō — Hōō (Fire Phoenix).
Although the names Seiran and Hōō sounded like they belonged together like some perfect pair, Fūjin Taichi firmly believed he was a straight man of steel. There was absolutely no way he'd allow any kind of romantic fantasy nonsense to happen between himself and Fujiwara Tatsuma.
So if Tatsuma wanted to fight—
Then they would fight.
Battle intent surged in Fūjin Taichi's eyes. He also wanted to test his strength by fighting someone who was known as a genius like Fujiwara Tatsuma.
But when he thought about the spiritual pressure fluctuations their battle might cause—and how that might attract the attention of powerful figures from Seireitei—his rationality ultimately suppressed the excitement in his heart.
Holding back his rising emotions, he instead asked quietly:
"What I'm more curious about is… how exactly did you know?"
"The King's Seal."
Fujiwara Tatsuma lazily lay back on the wooden floor and said casually:
"That night, I left the power of the King's Seal on you. So any change in your spiritual pressure can't escape my notice."
"I see…"
Fūjin Taichi suddenly remembered the sixteen-petaled black chrysanthemum that the crow had left on his chest that night. His heart immediately filled with anger.
"You invaded my privacy! I'm reporting you the moment I get back! I'll have that Royal Family agent lurking in Seireitei chop you to pieces, you bastard!!"
"Hmph."
Fujiwara Tatsuma gracefully rolled over on the ground and waved his hand dismissively.
"Do as you like, Taichi. But let me remind you of one thing—
Right now… you're already on my pirate ship."
"…."
Fūjin Taichi knew exactly what Tatsuma meant.
Because the King's Seal mark was on his body, if he reported Tatsuma, he himself would also be targeted by the Royal Family's agents.
Even though he was burning with anger inside, there was nothing he could do about it.
So he reluctantly lay down on the wooden boards and whispered to Tatsuma:
"I accept your challenge. When?"
"This afternoon."
"Where?"
"Walk straight out of this courtyard until you reach the end. There's a small river there."
"Fine."
Fūjin Taichi sat up again, staring at Tatsuma's back as he clenched his teeth.
"When the time comes, I'm definitely going to beat you until you can't even take care of yourself!"
"Likewise."
After saying that, Fujiwara Tatsuma seemed to remember something and added:
"You don't need to worry about the spiritual pressure disturbance. I'll use the King's Seal to open a space and transfer us somewhere else."
"So…?"
Fūjin Taichi glanced sideways at Tatsuma. He had already guessed what the guy was about to say.
"So—"
Fujiwara Tatsuma stared at him with burning eyes and said word by word:
"Release all of your power to your heart's content.
No matter where that power comes from, I will prove it to you with my strength!
Your tiny spark can only bow before my overwhelming glacial river, Taichi!"
"Tch!"
Fūjin Taichi gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō — Hōō (Fire Phoenix) — tightly. Flames seemed to burn in the depths of his eyes.
"Then I can only regretfully tell you this…
Even if it's just a spark, it is still the strongest fire!
Just wait and see, Fujiwara Tatsuma!"