Chapter Fifty-One: Prelude

Bubbling sounds rose from the steaming hot spring, accompanied by bursts of air breaking the surface.

On the edge of the spring, Kirinji sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the water before him.

The bubbles soon ceased. Narrowing his eyes, Kirinji reached into the spring and gently lifted out the smooth form of a young girl.

Her body, save for her head, was wrapped thickly in bandages, through whose gaps traces of blood could be glimpsed. The girl’s head drooped lifelessly, her posture resigned, as if surrendering herself to whatever fate awaited her.

Kirinji simply stared at her, then finally closed his eyes.

“So you really are here.”

Startled by the voice, Kirinji turned, his expression impatient as he shifted the wooden stick in his mouth.

“Oh, it’s you…”

“Lord Yasuda.”

Standing there was Motonobu Yasuda, the former Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

“How is Minasho’s injury?” Yasuda’s eyes, filled with the tenderness of age for the young, rested on Minasho cradled in Kirinji’s arms.

“…Both her soul chain and soul sleep have been damaged. Her career as a Soul Reaper ends here.” Kirinji looked down at the still-unconscious Minasho, a rare softness in his eyes. “But for her to have survived at all is a miracle. That, I suppose, is thanks to Oshiro-maru.”

“There was little choice. Minasho and Oshiro-maru both underestimated the power of the Quincy.” Yasuda sighed quietly.

“But, Lord Yasuda, isn’t it a bit hasty to send Yachiryu into the fray as well?” Kirinji hesitated, then finally voiced his question. “You know as well as I do—Yachiryu’s nature… She’s not fit for battle. Forcing her is—”

“You’re pushing her.”

Yasuda gazed at the steaming surface behind Kirinji and spoke slowly, “I know. Even with the title of ‘Kenpachi,’ Yachiryu isn’t suited for this burden. That’s why I nominated her for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads in the first place.”

“I’m actually rather interested in that man,” Yasuda added.

“That man?” Kirinji raised a brow. Within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, who besides Shigenori Yamamoto could so capture Yasuda’s attention?

“But enough of that. Tenshirou, take Minasho back at once. I have something to discuss with you…”

…

“…So, that’s the general situation regarding squad affairs…” Nagajirou gathered the scattered papers on the table and arranged them neatly in front of Unohana.

Really, Lord Noji, I do appreciate this chance to be so close to Unohana, but a little warning would have been nice—thrown in headfirst like this, I can barely handle it… Nagajirou exulted inwardly.

“Is there anything you’re unclear about, Captain Unohana?”

“I understand for the most part. I’ll be troubling you for a while, it seems.” Despite being Kenpachi, Unohana’s refined demeanor only deepened Nagajirou’s admiration for her—imagine, a captain treating a vice-captain from another squad with such courtesy; truly the ideal of a virtuous wife and caring mother…

Ahem, back to the point.

“Not at all, you’re too kind…” Nagajirou scratched the back of his head, feigning embarrassment.

A strange silence fell between them. Suddenly, not even the faintest sound passed between the two.

What is going on! How did things end up like this!

Nagajirou kept up his awkward smile, but inside he was on the verge of panic.

Conversation! Conversation, where the hell have you gone at such a crucial time?!

How could you abandon me now! Damn it!

“I’ll… just go make some tea…” Nagajirou sighed in defeat. Just think, a century ago I was an idol who captivated thousands of wayward girls—now, faced with my fated heroine, I can’t even manage a word. Pathetic…

“I’ll do it. I brought some fine tea leaves,” Unohana said, rising to retrieve what she’d brought from the Yasuda estate.

“Oh? Ah, no need, I can handle it,” Nagajirou quickly protested. How could he let a lady do the work? All the hardship should be borne by him!

That shameless scoundrel congratulated himself in his heart.

“You don’t know where anything is. Let me,” Unohana replied, pulling a wooden canister and a bamboo tube from her bundle and handing the tube to Nagajirou. “Would you mind fetching some water?”

“Oh, of course,” Nagajirou replied, delighted at the chance to be useful. He stepped forward and, in his enthusiasm, grasped Unohana’s delicate hand with his broad palm.

And so, inevitably, the age-old melodramatic scene played out once more…

“Hey, how are you settling in, Unohana?” Kirinji, chewing on his wooden stick, flung open the door to the Fourth Division captain’s quarters, only to be greeted by this tableau.

“Oh, isn’t this Heihachirou and Koetsuki? Long time no see, I seem to have entered the wrong room…” Kirinji’s eyes darted over their ‘clasped’ hands before he turned to leave.

“Get back here, you bastard!” Nagajirou roared.

“Feels good, doesn’t it? Ruining someone else’s romantic moment, you must be loving this, huh? You old bachelor and lolicon! By the way, who the hell is Heihachirou? Is that your stage name? Huh? You bastard?” Nagajirou pressed his hand hard on Kirinji’s bristling scalp, his face twisted in a terrifying expression as he addressed the Eighth Division captain seated on the tatami.

“I was just about to leave,” Kirinji replied indifferently.

“How can you just walk away after seeing this!” Nagajirou barked.

“Not a bad retort.”

“…”

“So… what brings you here, Tenshirou?” Unohana, who had been quietly watching the two, finally spoke.

“I told you, just dropping by to say hello,” Kirinji sighed, head tilted. “You don’t think I came to cause trouble, do you?”

“One more word and I’ll cut you down,” Nagajirou retorted, drawing his blade without hesitation.

Meanwhile…

“Are they all here?” Yhwach stood high above, gazing down at the sea of white beneath him, his voice low.

“The Silver Cross Order.”

“All captains and soldiers are assembled, Your Majesty,” Saidritz said respectfully at Yhwach’s side.

“Excellent.” Yhwach narrowed his eyes, then raised his hand as if to lift the darkness itself, his lips curling into a smile.

“Today marks the end.”

“We Quincy have endured until now—today we wash away our humiliation in full.”

“We will trample the Soul Society, letting our law prevail across the land.”

“We will sweep away the darkness, and our light shall engulf the world.”

“Come, Soul Society…”

Clenching his fist, Yhwach swung it downward, his eyes gleaming with icy, fevered anticipation.

“Soon you will be but a memory.”