Restricted Death

Chapter 209 Became a Father
At the captains' meeting, Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the 12th Division was absent for some reason, and his adjutant Nemu Kurotsuchi attended in his place. However, she did not stand in the front position symbolizing the captain's status, but stood quietly at the back of the meeting hall, holding a dossier and silently fulfilling the duties of a scribe, attentively recording every resolution of the meeting.

Throughout all the captains' meetings, Mayuri Kurotsuchi has been absent the most times, and the reason he gives each time is surprisingly consistent: he is conducting a crucial and uninterrupted research project and simply cannot spare the time.

While Captain-Commander Yamamoto felt helpless about this, he didn't criticize it harshly. The Soul Society's technological advancements and innovations in many areas relied almost entirely on the Research and Development Bureau, its core force. Considering this, Captain-Commander Yamamoto had to show exceptional tolerance and tacit approval towards this maverick tech fanatic.

Vice-Captain Chojiro Sasaki read out the important recent decisions on behalf of the Captain-Commander. One decision was particularly noteworthy: the 10th Division would include the entire Rukongai area in its daily patrols, and the 3rd Division, as a support unit, was required to fully cooperate with the 10th Division's operations whenever needed.

After the meeting, many team leaders left the solemn meeting hall. Some left in a hurry, while others lingered outside in twos and threes, exchanging a few pleasantries.

The Third Division Captain, Shiba Kaien, was quick to react, almost instantly reaching Shin's side the moment he stepped out the door. He put his arm around Shin's neck and said in a tone that was half complaining and half teasing, "Hey kid, you've caused all this trouble again, and now we, the Third Division, have to clean up your mess."

As a support squad, the Third Division adheres to the principle of being a brick that can be moved wherever needed, and has always been the hard worker among the Thirteen Divisions.

Shin, pulled slightly to the side, glared at the other person without any politeness: "How is this considered trouble? Wasn't what I did something beneficial to Soul Society?"

Upon hearing this, Shiba Kaien immediately chuckled and quickly went along with him, saying, "Yes, yes, you're a great philanthropist. It's just that I can't distinguish between good and bad people, okay?"

The team leaders walked out of the meeting room one after another; some left immediately, while others lingered and chatted.

As the two were talking, Aizen Sousuke, the captain of the Fifth Division, and Ukitake Jushiro, the captain of the Thirteenth Division, happened to pass by side by side.

Aizen, with his usual gentle smile, took the initiative to speak to Shin, saying, "Captain Tachikawa, it seems you intend to reform the division's philosophy, just like you did in the Fourth Division."

"It's not about reform, it's just about doing more within our capabilities," Xin said.

Ukitake praised, "The outskirts of Rukongai have always been a complex and chaotic place, frequently threatened and harassed by Hollows. It is a remote area, beyond the reach of the Seireitei, making it difficult to achieve full coverage. The 10th Division is now willing to take on this responsibility, investing energy and manpower, which will save many residents of Rukongai."

The 10th Division is still the same 10th Division. Although the captain's position has changed several times, the basic framework of the division has not undergone any major changes. As for why, over the long years, all the captains have turned a blind eye to the plight of Rukongai, were they really powerless to take care of it?

He knew perfectly well the reasons behind it, but he was too lazy to delve into it, and had no intention of exposing those subtle and complex things to their faces. He simply exchanged a few trivial words with Ukitake and Aizen.

After Aizen and Ukitake took their leave, Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the Sixth Division, walked steadily past Shin. He suddenly turned his head slightly and glanced at Shin with a cold look, his eyes seemingly containing an indescribable indifference.

This glance sent a sudden, inexplicable shock through Xin, as if he had been touched by something cold.

"Why was he looking at me just now?" Shin asked Shiba Kaien beside him, looking at Kuchiki Byakuya's tall and indifferent back with a puzzled expression.

Following his gaze, Kaien saw that Kuchiki Byakuya had already walked away, and he looked bewildered: "Can't I even look at you?"

Xin frowned, his tone certain: "It felt like he was glaring at me just now. Did I offend him?"

"Really? You're overthinking it." Shiba Kaien shrugged.

Shin seemed to be deep in thought. He could count his interactions with Byakuya Kuchiki on one hand. Their meetings were basically limited to nods, meetings, and formulaic responses. Apart from the negligible overlap in their work, they had virtually no contact in private.

Could it be... that he found out about my relationship with Rukia?

"Let's find a place to have a drink." Shiba Kaien seemed completely unaffected by the situation, instead appearing quite enthusiastic, and without further ado, he grabbed Shin and headed out.

Xin glanced at him helplessly, her tone tinged with disdain: "Don't you have anything else to do all day but drink?"

Today, Shiba Kaien seemed to be in an exceptionally bright mood, completely different from usual. He grinned widely, his eyes sparkling, and his tone was unusually firm, with an irrepressible excitement: "Drinking today is a big deal."

Shin still accompanied him to an izakaya (Japanese pub) and they sat down. After ordering drinks and food, Shiba Kaien's smile never faded as he poured Shin a drink.

"What's wrong? What's making you so happy?" Xin asked with a smile.

Shiba Kaien did not answer immediately. Instead, he boldly picked up the clear glass of wine in front of him, clinked it loudly with Shin's glass, tilted his head back, and gulped it down in one go, making a satisfying sound in his throat.

He chuckled and said, "I'm going to be a father."

Xin was stunned when he heard this.

Shiba Kaien burst into laughter: "You didn't expect that, did you? Hahahaha, I didn't expect it either. Although we've always had this idea, we were really caught off guard when we found out."

Xin laughed and said, "Congratulations!"

He felt a pang of emotion. Because of his intervention, Shiba Kaien not only escaped that calamity but also became the captain of the Third Division, and now he even had a child.

The Shiba family also has a different future.

Overwhelmed with joy, Shiba Kaien's face was flushed. He hurriedly refilled both glasses with wine, clinked glasses with Shin's, and excitedly said, "We're sharing this joy! You're going to be an uncle too!"

His face beamed with genuine joy, and he said to Xin, "I've thought about it carefully. After the child is born, you will be his teacher. His future achievements will definitely surpass yours and mine."

Xin couldn't help but laugh out loud, with a hint of teasing: "You and I are already captains, and you want this kid to be the overall captain?"

Shiba Kaien, without any modesty, said, "It's not impossible."

Xin pondered, "Is it a boy?"

Shiba Kaien nodded: "Yes, it's been confirmed. The Shiba family has a successor."

"Have you chosen a name yet?" Xin asked casually.

“My uncle has come up with an idea, but it’s not finalized yet. Why don’t you come up with one too and give it a try?”

Shin also pondered for a moment: "...How about calling her Oboro?"

"hazy?"

Shiba Kaien smacked his lips for a moment, then his face contorted with disgust, his brows furrowing as he shook his head repeatedly: "What a load of rubbish! It's not even as good as the name Uncle came up with."

Shin immediately retorted irritably, "Then what name did Captain Shiba choose?"

Ichigo.

"..."

The letter was stunned: "What's your name?"

Shiba Kaien then repeated, "Ichigo, Shiba Ichigo."

He gently stroked his chin: "I think the name is quite good, but it doesn't sound like my son. It sounds more like my uncle's son, my cousin."

Then, Haiyan noticed that Xin's expression had become unusually strange, as if he had frozen for a moment, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock, even a hint of confusion. She couldn't help but ask, "What do you think?"

"...I think...it's pretty good."

Shin's voice was a little dry; his brain was processing the information rapidly, and he didn't know how he managed to say those words. Upon hearing this, Shiba Kaien nodded in agreement: "Is that so? Tomoya and I have also been considering whether to respect Uncle's opinion. After all, he doesn't have any children and has sacrificed a lot for this family."

"..."

Xin opened his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbed, but no sound came out.

"Why are you dazed?"

Xin was abruptly pulled back from that chaotic thought. He quickly forced a smile to cover it up and said in a voice filled with complicated emotions, "No, it's nothing. It's just that I suddenly found out you're going to be a father, and my feelings are a bit complicated."

Shiba Kaien said dismissively, "What's with your complicated feelings? He's not your son."

He refilled his glass and clinked glasses with Xin again.

"Then it's decided, his name will be Ichigo! My future son, and your future student!"

"..."

After drinking the wine in one gulp, Xin's mind remained unsettled.

Ichigo has become Shiba Kaien's son?

Shouldn't these two be cousins...? And, without the powers of a Quincy and a Hollow, will Ichigo still be the protagonist from the original story?
Shin's mind was in turmoil. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that Kurosaki Ichigo might never have existed in the first place. With him becoming the captain of the 10th Division, Shiba Isshin would have lost his chance to go to the human world.

Without Ichigo Kurosaki, who will Yhwach rely on to defeat him?

I?
"Shin, have you ever thought about the day you become a father?" Shiba Kaien had already downed several glasses of strong liquor, and a noticeable blush appeared on his face. He spoke more slowly, with a gentle emotion of someone about to become a father.

"No."

His eyes were somewhat vacant, as if he were savoring this new emotion: "Yeah, how could you possibly consider that? I never even thought about it before I met Du."

He then looked at Xin and asked with a smile, "You've got plenty of girls around you, haven't you thought about developing a serious relationship with any of them?"

Xin simply smiled and remained silent.

After a few drinks, Shiba Kaien's face began to flush, and his tone softened considerably.

"You knew all along, didn't you? I had thought about setting you up with Kukaku before."

"I understand," Xin nodded.

Shiba Kaien scoffed, "I knew it, you little rascal!"

He tilted his head back and drank another cup, saying, "Kuhe's temperament is something most people can't handle. If you really get together with her, you'll suffer enough."

Is it okay to talk about your own sister like that?

Shiba Kaien said with a slight lisp, "Kukaku doesn't seem to have those kinds of feelings for you, and there's no hint of that between the two of you. I was quite disappointed before."

"...You really want me to be your brother-in-law?"

Shiba Kaien retorted angrily, "Was being my brother-in-law a disservice to you? My sister is pretty, isn't she!"

letter:"……"

Didn't you just say that being with Kukaku was enough to make me suffer?

Xin pursed his lips speechlessly, choosing not to argue with a drunkard.

Shiba Kaien seemed to have forgotten what he had just said, and grabbed Shin's arm again, chuckling, "Shin, you'll be my brother-in-law!"

Xin replied dismissively, "Okay, I'll try my best."

The two drank for two hours. Shiba Kaien looked like he was already out of his mind, and Shin was also a little drunk, but fortunately he still retained some sobriety. Seeing that Kaien was so drunk that he started to stagger, Shin had no choice but to get up and help his swaying friend. The two staggered and pulled each other as they left the noisy and warm izakaya.

Instead of taking the disoriented Kaien back to the Third Division barracks, Shin helped him up and led him towards the direction of Shiba's house, relying on his memory.

The Shiba family home was rather quiet. Ganju was currently studying at the Spirit Arts Academy, and Shiba was probably in the Third Division at this time. Only Kukaku came out to greet them.

Upon seeing the drunken Shiba Kaien, she frowned, clearly disgusted, and pointed to the living room floor.

"Just leave him there."

But Shiba Kaien held onto Shin's arm tightly, refusing to let go, and said with tears in his eyes, "Brother-in-law, I'm going to be a father! Do you know how happy I am, brother-in-law!"

Shiba Kukaku was stunned.

Xin seemed oblivious to her reaction, replying, "Yes, yes, I know, brother-in-law."

But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold in the sweltering heat, and stiffened his neck to turn his head to look.

"..."

Shin quickly threw Shiba Kaien to the ground with a thud, saying, "I've left him here. I have things to do with my team, so I'm leaving now."

The living room door slammed shut at that moment, and Shiba Kukaku stood behind it expressionlessly, radiating a chilling aura.

She stared at the letter and asked, "Whose brother-in-law are you?"

Xin swallowed hard and chuckled awkwardly, "What brother-in-law? You misheard."

Shiba Kukaku then looked at Shiba Kaien: "Who is your brother-in-law? Which of your sisters is your brother-in-law?"

As if oblivious to any danger, Shiba Kaien drunkenly laughed at Shiba Kukaku, "Kukaku, my little sister Kukaku has grown so much. I still remember what you looked like when you were little. You were so cute back then, how come you are now... hiccup~ Kukaku, you're not getting any younger, it's time to find a man. Shin is someone you can entrust your life to..."

Shiba Kaien kept muttering to himself, while Shiba Kukaku's face grew increasingly dark.

In the end, she didn't choose to lay a hand on Shin. Instead, she strode forward, grabbed Shiba Kaien by the collar, and slapped him across the face.

hiss……

"what!!!"

Xin gasped, instantly becoming fully awake.

(End of this chapter)