Going Blind! (1)

By evening, Liu Ziyun had dragged himself back to the Fourth Division Barracks, exhausted and drenched in cold sweat.

All the way back, his thoughts had raced like a torrent of scrolling comments: What on earth does Old Man Yama want? He tested my Hakuda and my Zanjutsu, then sent me back without saying anything? That's not how this is supposed to go! Shouldn't he praise me first, then say, "Kid, I've got high hopes for you," and finally give me an impossible mission?!

The more he thought about it, the less sense it made:

Could he be... planning to shove me into the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force?!

The moment the thought surfaced, Liu Ziyun felt terrible.

Damn! If I really get sent to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, nine times out of ten I won't make it back!

He frantically searched his memory for information about the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force—

Its death rate was frighteningly high, and it was perpetually short-handed. The people sent there were either unlucky souls who had offended nobles or madmen who wanted military merits badly enough to risk their lives.

Even if I'm lucky enough to come back alive... I'll be completely exposed! How the hell am I supposed to keep a low profile then?!

No, no! Absolutely not!

He began thinking of countermeasures:

How about... cutting off a leg?

No, the medical team could reattach a severed leg in minutes.

Then... pretend to be blind?

His eyes lit up at the thought:

That's it! Blind! I'll pretend to be blind!

Surely they wouldn't send a blind man on an expedition? Wouldn't that be abusing a disabled person?

And being blind would let me avoid Aizen, the big boss, perfectly—who'd pay attention to a blind man?

It's settled! I'll find a chance to blind myself!

My Heal can restore my eyes anyway. Once things blow over, I can just heal them!

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He even began planning the details:

What's the best way to do it?

An accident? Yes! An accident makes the most sense!

For example... I could accidentally fall while walking and happen to poke my eyes?

Mm, perfect!

He was immersed in his "perfect plan" when he suddenly realized—

He had already reached the door to Captain Unohana's office.

"..."

Uh, I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't even notice...

He took a deep breath, composed his expression, though no one could see it, and knocked. "Captain, I'm back."

Unohana's gentle voice came from inside. "Mm, come in."

Liu Ziyun pushed the door open and saw Unohana standing by the window, tending to a potted orchid.

He quickly bowed. "Captain, I'm here."

Unohana didn't look up. "Mm. Did the Captain-Commander... ask you to pass on a message?"

Liu Ziyun scratched his head. "No, Captain. He just... gave me some pointers on Hakuda and Zanjutsu, then told me to go back and practice more. Other than that... he didn't say anything."

Unohana's hands paused. "Oh... what did he find out about you?"

Liu Ziyun answered honestly. "First it was Hakuda, then Zanjutsu. Captain, what do you think the Captain-Commander meant? We just sparred for a while, and he sent me back to train hard without saying anything else..."

He paused, then asked cautiously, "Could he... be thinking of transferring me to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force?"

Unohana finally raised her head and glanced at him. "If you want to know what he meant, go ask the Captain-Commander yourself. How could I possibly know what he's thinking?"

She put down her pruning shears. "All right, if there's nothing else, you can leave."

Liu Ziyun: "..."

She's sending me away already?

No! I have to fish something out of her!

His eyes darted about, and a plan came to him. "Um... Captain, have you eaten?"

Unohana: "?"

"How about... I go make dinner? We could have a few drinks?" Liu Ziyun put on his most obedient expression. "To celebrate my safe return?"

Unohana narrowed her eyes and looked at him for several seconds.

Then she slowly nodded. "All right."

She paused. "Well, why... aren't you hurrying off?"

A hint of dangerous amusement colored her tone.

Liu Ziyun's heart tightened. I have a feeling... this isn't good?

But he didn't dare dwell on it and quickly replied, "All right! Please wait a moment, Captain!"

With that, he dashed off.

An hour later.

Four dishes and a soup had been laid out in the small dining room of the Fourth Division Captain's office.

Sichuan Boiled Pork, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of tomato and egg soup.

Their fragrance filled the air.

Unohana and Liu Ziyun sat across from each other, each with a flask of sake in front of them.

"Captain, a toast to you!" Liu Ziyun raised his cup. "Thank you for looking after me all this time!"

Unohana raised her cup as well and took a small sip.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Seizing his chance and pretending to be tipsy—he was actually drinking juice diluted with water—Liu Ziyun asked casually, "Captain... do you think our Fourth Division... might take part in an expedition to Hueco Mundo?"

Unohana looked up at him. "Do you want to go?"

"No, no, no!" Liu Ziyun shook his head like a rattle drum. "Absolutely not! I have a feeling that if I go to Hueco Mundo, I definitely won't make it back!"

Unohana raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How can you be so sure?"

Liu Ziyun said "drunkenly," "Ah... I don't know either. I just have a feeling. Besides... the nobles must have planted people in the expeditionary force."

He paused. "It wasn't easy keeping a low profile in the division until they stopped paying attention to me. If I stick my neck out now, they'll definitely have their eyes on me again. If things go badly... the entire expeditionary force might even be wiped out!"

That was half true and half false. The nobles really might cause trouble, but "wiped out" was a bit of an exaggeration.

Unohana looked thoughtful. "Then what if... the nobles pull some strings to transfer you there?"

Liu Ziyun immediately began flattering her. "But I still have you, Captain! You definitely wouldn't let them send me, right?"

He blinked, trying to look cute.

But Unohana didn't fall for it. "Not necessarily."

She paused. "After all... I hate how timid you are."

Her tone grew serious. "You're clearly quite strong, so why are you afraid of those schemes and plots?"

Liu Ziyun smiled bitterly. "Captain, I'm not afraid... I just think it's a hassle."

He sighed. "As for strength... no matter how strong I get, I can't be stronger than you and the Captain-Commander. When the time comes, those nobles will surely collude with Central 46 and find me guilty..."

He looked at Unohana. "Then you and the Captain-Commander would have no choice but to take action. That would be... so awkward."

After listening, Unohana nodded gently. "You do see things clearly."

She paused. "So what are you planning... to do?"

Liu Ziyun's eyes lit up—his chance had come!

He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Naturally... I'll curry favor with you, Captain, so you won't let them take me!"

He paused, then added, "Besides... my eyes haven't been very good lately. I think I'll be blind soon."

Unohana: "...?"

Liu Ziyun continued, "When the time comes, they can't possibly take a blind man on an expedition, can they? The Captain-Commander would definitely be angry. Those guys in Central 46... wouldn't be able to do anything about it either."