You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Yinmeng brought over some tea and snacks and gently placed them beside him. She asked casually, "Brother, that guest this morning... Mr. Nie, is he one of your subordinates?"

"I guess so. He used to work under me."

Iori didn't even look up, continuing to rummage through the fabric in her hands: "He's the captain of the 12th Division now, so what?"

Yinmeng was silent for a while, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup, before finally speaking softly, "Is he my father?"

"..."

Iori's movements stopped.

After a moment, he looked up at Yinmeng's face. The girl's expression was calm, but her eyes revealed a hint of complexity.

"How did you know?"

Iori frowned slightly, but didn't intend to continue hiding it.

“I have memories from when I was a child.”

Yinmeng's voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear, "Including what happened before I was born, while I was still in the nutrient solution."

"You remember everything?"

"...It's nothing much, really. Most of the time was spent in darkness...long and endless, sometimes I couldn't tell if I was still alive."

She paused, then continued, "I remember the lights in the lab, every word I heard through the nutrient solution in the pod, and... my father's voice."

Why are you only telling me now?

Iori put down the fabric in her hand and looked at her quietly.

"Because at the time I didn't know that the voice was my creator, and instead I mistook the brother I first saw for my father... Later I slowly realized what really happened, but I only felt that my 'father' had been killed by my brother and that the past had nothing to do with me."

Yinmeng's eyes did not dodge; instead, a relieved smile appeared on her face.

"I never thought I would meet him again... However, to me, he is just a stranger."

Brother, sister, mother-in-law... you are my family—I have never doubted that.

Iori paused for a moment, then asked, "So, what are your impressions of him...?"

Yinmeng tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said calmly, "He looks very pitiful."

"Pitiful?"

"Ah."

She nodded. "Although he always has a strange and arrogant demeanor, he would secretly observe me every time he came to the store, but he didn't dare to get too close."

She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and continued, "He clearly cares a lot, but he pretends to be indifferent, and he doesn't even have any friends in his life—he's even bad at making excuses to buy things."

Aren't people like that... very lonely?

He probably enjoys it.

"You don't need to worry about Mayuri Kurotsuchi's matter, I'll handle it."

"Thank you, brother... But to be honest, I don't find it bothersome at all. His presence at the store actually contributes to sales... and improves the store's financial situation!"

Looking at Nemuro's profile, Iori suddenly realized that she was much more mature than she appeared.

"Do you want to see him and get things cleared up?"

he asks.

Yinmeng shook her head: "This is enough for now. After all, that person gave me life, so I don't hate him. But as for kinship... there's no more room left for him."

After saying that, she stood up, straightened her skirt, and gave a gentle smile. "I'm going to help Grandma sort the new fabrics. Remember to have some snacks when you're done, brother."

"Thank you~"

Iori watched her departing figure, lost in thought.

"You've really grown up...both physically and mentally."

Outside the window, a gentle breeze swept by, and cherry blossom petals drifted into the water vat in the courtyard, creating ripples.

……

The sky over Karakura Town was torn in two, one side shimmering with dazzling golden light, the other shrouded in deep darkness.

Aizen Sōyūhime hovered high in the sky, her pure white wings outstretched, each feather radiating a sacred yet chilling aura. Her gaze looked down upon the wounded Aizen Iori on the ground.

"Iori, how long are you going to keep struggling?"

Yuuki's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority: "Your power is almost gone, while I—have already surpassed you."

Iori's arms were covered in cracks, and her shihaka armor was soaked in blood.

He struggled to support himself, looked up at Yuuki, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Sister, you are still the same as before... you like to make decisions for others."

Yuuki frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed: "This is not a decision, but destiny!"

We are destined to ascend a higher throne, and you—are the only heir I acknowledge.

"I've never heard of a younger brother succeeding his older sister."

"Then you can give me a perfect child to be my successor."

"I've never heard of such a thing before!"

"Isn't that what Izanagi and Izanami are like? Why can't you understand!"

She slowly raised her hand, a dazzling ball of light condensing at her fingertips. "Surrender, Iori. What I possess now is something you cannot defeat!"

"surrender?"

Iori repeated in a low voice, her eyes gradually sharpening, "Sister, you've been talking to yourself the whole time, but you've never asked for my opinion."

"A younger brother should always listen to his older sister! A younger brother who is more outstanding or independent than his older sister... doesn't exist!"

"It's hard to tell!"

Before she could finish speaking, Iori's figure suddenly vanished from the spot.

The next second, his blade was already pressed against Jin Yuji's throat, the sharp aura making her skin taut.

However, Yuuki simply turned slightly to the side and flicked her finger at the ball of light—

A powerful burst of energy erupted instantly, sending Iori flying.

"It's no use, Iori."

Yuuki sighed, "I can predict every attack you make. Your spiritual pressure, your thoughts, even your breathing—all are under my control."

Iori fell heavily to the ground, coughing up blood. He struggled to his feet, gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, but his eyes grew even more determined: "Sister, you forgot something."

"Oh?"

Yuuki raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You rely too much on the power of 'evolution'."

Iori slowly raised his Zanpakuto, and the cracks on the blade began to spread with a dazzling light. "But you forgot that true power is never just about the level of spiritual pressure."

Yuuki's pupils suddenly contracted: "This is—!"

"The final raging waves of Orochi."

Iori's voice was calm yet resolute, "At the cost of my life, unleash the full power of my Zanpakuto!"

In an instant, the world changed color, and eight enormous phantoms emerged from behind Iori, resembling the legendary Yamata no Orochi. A violent spiritual pressure swept across the entire Karakura Town, and even space itself began to distort and collapse.

Yuuki finally showed a look of shock: "Are you crazy? If this continues, you'll also—!"

"I know."

Blood trickled from the corner of Iori's mouth, but his smile was one of utter relief. "But at least... this time, it was my own choice."

"No, I won't allow you to leave my palm!"

Eight phantom figures completely engulfed Yuuki, and dazzling light flooded the entire world.

"Iori, you can only be mine!!!"

……

"what?!"

Aizen Sōyūhime abruptly lifted her head from the lab table, her forehead streaked with cold sweat, clinging to her pale skin. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and the data and instruments before her seemed distorted, as if she had not yet completely emerged from a dream.

"It's a dream again..."

She murmured softly, her fingers digging deep into her hair, her knuckles turning white from the force, "Damn it... is the pressure too much?"

This kind of lapse in behavior must not be seen by anyone!

In the laboratory, the unfinished Hogyoku floated in a specially made spiritual container, emitting a ghostly blue light, as if silently mocking her wavering.

Yuki stared at it, her gaze gradually becoming sharp and cold.

"No, this can't just be mental pressure; it must be a trial that the Hogyoku is giving me."

She stood up, the hem of her white coat swaying gently with her movement. "Is it influencing my consciousness... or is my subconscious resisting something, being triggered by the Hogyoku to bring out things I don't want to face?"

She walked to the Jin Hogyoku and reached out to touch the outer wall of the container. The cold touch calmed her down a little.

“Iori…”

She whispered the name, and the scene from her dream reappeared—

He stood before her, his eyes resolute, the light of his Zanpakuto tearing through the darkness, and she... was actually afraid.

It's not the fear of death that's the fear, but the fear of losing him completely...

"ridiculous."

She sneered, her fingers tightening. "Why would I be afraid? I am a being beyond everything, while he... is just an annoying younger brother!"

The two are more like competitors, so Yuuki shouldn't be so nervous.

But the more I thought about it, the clearer the emotions in my dream became—that feeling of being out of control, that fear of losing something, made me restless.

"It seems I need to adjust the direction of my experiment."

She withdrew her hand, turned around and walked to the terminal on the other side, quickly entering a series of commands.

"Before it is completely finished, the Hogyoku must be sealed with Kido, otherwise it will have a great negative impact on me."

Wait!

Yuuki was about to unleash a demonic technique but suddenly stopped, an incredible thought flashing through her mind:

Both Taoist and Buddhist thought contain the concept of fighting against inner demons. As long as one can overcome one's inner fears, one's spirit can be elevated to a whole new level.

In Yuuki's calculations, the Hogyoku should not be a demonic tool, but rather a divine artifact that can actively guide people's evolution... In that case, these nightmares can be seen as some kind of test.

Only by overcoming one's own nightmares can one be qualified to control the Hogyoku?

right! That must be it!

Yuuki found herself a very good excuse, no, a reason.

If that's the case, then how can I overcome my inner demons?

Iori!

The key lies with Iori!

Since the man in my dream was unyielding and unwilling to be controlled, then...

"I won't let you escape again. You can only belong to me, Iori!"

The laboratory lights flickered, illuminating Yuuki's deep eyes, while the Hogyoku in the container emitted a faint, eerie blue glow.

……

"What era are we living in? Yandere brother complex is long gone!"

In the Eighth Division barracks, Iori, who had returned to Seireitei from Rukongai, lay on the tatami mat, casually flipping through Kyoraku Shunsui's latest masterpiece, shaking his head and making a few comments.

"In the end, the younger brother also has problems. Since he is required to inherit the family business because of his talent, he should take it without hesitation. How can he deliberately slack off to help his sister get into university?"

The result was that her older sister found out, hurting her pride and escalating their relationship... Wait, isn't this supposed to be all-ages? Why are there kidnapping and dungeon scenes?!

"cough!"

Chunshui scratched his cheek sheepishly: "When that time comes, we'll just use something like 'the magpie is calling on the branch' to fool them."