I Thought You Were Crazy

A moment later, Retsu Unohana calmly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her Zanpakuto.

Yuko covered her forehead and lay sprawled across the table. Her muffled voice came from beneath it: "That means I was framed!"

Retsu Unohana lowered her head and continued wiping her Zanpakuto, her expression unchanged. "But weren't you the only one who figured that out?"

"Whether it was me or anyone else, all they could sense up there was your spiritual pressure."

"Ah, you're making me confused too! That's not what I was trying to say!" Yuko scratched at her hair, looking somewhat agitated.

"If you're going to go crazy, I suggest turning right after you leave."

"Turn right after I leave? Where does that lead?"

"Who knows? Just stay away from me."

"...That's too much. That's really too much."

Retsu Unohana aimed the freshly cleaned Zanpakuto at Yuko's head again. "If that's all you have to say, I can be even more excessive."

Yuko's lips twitched slightly. "Well, actually, there's something I wanted to ask you."

"Go on."

"I need a traitor... Ah, no, an insider... An informant? No, that's not it. A like-minded companion."

Yuko extended a hand toward Retsu Unohana with a determined look in her eyes.

Without even thinking, Retsu Unohana slapped her hand away.

Yuko's expression fell. "Sister Hana, we've been through life and death together, at least. I've always trusted you."

"You should be grateful I didn't report you." Retsu Unohana snorted before asking, "So? What do you need my help with?"

Yuko rolled her eyes. "Obviously, fighting. What else? Did you think I was looking for you to treat an illness?"

Several vein-shaped lines appeared on Retsu Unohana's temple, and she forcibly suppressed the urge to cut her down.

As if she hadn't sensed Retsu Unohana's