Unohana Retsu

It was New Year's Eve, a Sunday. Lu Mingfei had been on break for a while, and now the whole family sat on the sofa, waiting for the Spring Festival Gala to begin.

Everyone munched on sunflower seeds and chatted, the atmosphere warm and cheerful.

Lu Mingfei hadn't felt this kind of warmth in a long time. Back then, he'd been rather unlucky, and his aunt had always disliked him. Every New Year had felt dull and joyless, and his parents never came to visit.

During his ten years in Soul Society, they hadn't celebrated this holiday. Now, all of a sudden, he found himself missing the days at his aunt and uncle's home. His aunt was actually all bark and no bite.

Whenever this time of year came around, he would gaze at the moon and think of home. He didn't know why Soul Society had a moon, either.

Now, in this world, sitting together with his uncle, aunt, and cousin to celebrate the New Year in such harmony filled him with a sense of contentment.

But when he was in Soul Society, he missed home, and here, he found himself thinking of his life in Soul Society.

Even though he'd always felt lonely and out of place there, whenever he missed home, Sister Hana would often invite him to stay at her place for a few days. He had no idea how she could tell what he was thinking.

Maybe because Sister Hana had been the one to take him in, she felt a strange sense of responsibility toward him.

As he watched his uncle, aunt, and cousin gaze intently at the television, Lu Mingfei closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift back for a moment.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Someone rapped on the door of his barracks. Lu Mingfei stepped away from the window and opened it.

"Mingfei, Captain Unohana asked me to come get you. She wants you to join her for dinner."

The woman standing there was tall and slender, about 187 centimeters tall, with somewhat tousled silver-gray hair cut short and a pair of red, bar-shaped earrings.

This was Kotetsu Isane, Sister Hana's lieutenant. She usually conveyed the captain's orders.

"Isane, what brings you here? You could've sent one of your squad members if you needed something!" Lu Mingfei said with a smile when he saw her.

"I'd feel a little bad making a squad member deliver a message for something like this," Kotetsu Isane said, lowering her head.

That was just how she was. Though she looked rather boyish, she was actually timid and introverted.

Lu Mingfei didn't press her any further. He just said, "Isane, could you wait outside for a bit? I'll get ready and be right there."

Kotetsu Isane obediently went outside to wait.

Lu Mingfei stood in front of the mirror and straightened his Shihakusho. It was entirely black, with a top half like a kimono and loose-legged trousers that reached his ankles and narrowed at the cuffs, secured around his waist with a black cord and a light-colored sash.

He fastened his Zanpakuto at his waist, then left his barracks and headed to Sister Hana's home with Kotetsu Isane.

Quite a few squad members greeted him along the way. As they left the 3rd Division, a young man with short silver hair, narrowed eyes, and a smiling face came toward them.

"Vice-Captain Mingfei, are you heading to Captain Unohana's again?" Ichimaru Gin asked curiously.

"Captain, you're teasing me. I'm only the Third Seat right now. If you call me that, Vice-Captain Kira will be unhappy," Lu Mingfei replied respectfully.

"Now, now, it's all the same. You've learned Bankai recently, after all. Kira will have to give up his position to you sooner or later. If there were a vacancy for captain, you'd be in the running for that, too," Ichimaru Gin said with a wave of his hand and a smile.

"Oh, am I keeping you? I'm terribly sorry. Go on ahead," Ichimaru Gin added, sounding apologetic.

Lu Mingfei and Kotetsu Isane saluted Ichimaru Gin, then continued on their way together.

"Five Senses Separation?"

Ichimaru Gin watched Lu Mingfei's retreating figure and opened his eyes, lost in thought.

When they arrived, they found that it wasn't a barracks but Unohana's private residence. The scenery outside was beautiful, with cherry blossoms drifting all around.

Kotetsu Isane opened the door, and the two of them went inside.

A woman with a gentle, serene appearance sat at the table, drinking tea. Her black hair was parted in the middle, braided, and draped over the front of her shoulder. She wore a white Captain's Haori with a grayish sakura-pink lining.

"Sister Hana, did you want something?" Lu Mingfei asked, casually taking a seat across from her. He was nothing like the proper young man he'd been outside.

Kotetsu Isane found a seat as well.

"Can't I call you over when I don't need anything?" Unohana Retsu replied with a smile, though there was a hint of pressure behind it.

Lu Mingfei sat up straight. "Of course you can. I'm your little brother, after all. Even if you called me over to keep you company in bed, I'd be happy to come!"

"Oh?" Unohana Retsu gave him a sly smile. "Then come keep me company tonight."

Lu Mingfei had been drinking tea and nearly spat it out. He could only cough over and over.

Kotetsu Isane covered her mouth and laughed, too. That was what he got for running his mouth all the time.

"That wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?" Lu Mingfei said, visibly backing down.

Her authority weighed too heavily on him. He'd been able to stand out at Shino Academy so quickly thanks in no small part to her guidance. He had no idea why someone with such incredible swordsmanship was part of the medical squad.

Unohana Retsu didn't take it to heart. She'd only been teasing him.

"I heard you learned Bankai recently," Unohana Retsu said.

At that, Kotetsu Isane couldn't help perking up her ears. She wanted to hear how Lu Mingfei had learned Bankai. She'd been a lieutenant for so long and still hadn't managed it.

"I had a dream while I was sleeping recently. When I woke up, I'd learned Bankai. Honestly, I'm not really sure how it happened," Lu Mingfei said with a sheepish grin, scratching his head.

Kotetsu Isane suddenly felt like hitting Lu Mingfei. She'd become a Soul Reaper before he had!

"Very well. You learned it faster than even those two prodigies, Ichimaru Gin and Hitsugaya. You might just be the next Captain-Commander," Unohana Retsu said seriously.

Lu Mingfei clasped his hands and bowed repeatedly. "You're setting me up to fail, Sister Hana!"

"Come over here. Let me have a look at you," Unohana Retsu beckoned.

Lu Mingfei obediently went and stood in front of her.

Unohana Retsu stood up and looked at Lu Mingfei, then patted him on the head. "You've grown quite a bit. When I first met you, I thought you were some little beggar. I didn't expect you to catch up to Isane so quickly."

Lu Mingfei let her pat his head. Her touch was gentle, soothing him like a big sister.

"Every year around this time, I can see a sense of loneliness in you. Come stay here with me for a few days. I've already prepared a room for you," Unohana Retsu said softly beside Lu Mingfei.

"All right, Sister Hana."

Festive music began to play, and the Spring Festival Gala started. Lu Mingfei opened his eyes, and the memories faded away with the music.