Soul Society, Seireitei, Fourth Division Barracks.
Still closing his eyes tightly, Shadow was lying on the hospital bed with his strong upper body exposed. Beside him were Yoruichi Shihōin who looked worried and Retsu Unohana who was checking Shadow's body.
After that, there were Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Soi Fon, Ichigo Kurosaki who were unwilling to leave, and of course, Ran'Tao.
After a while, Retsu Unohana finally took back his hand.
"Captain Unohana······!"
Yoruichi Shihōin Seeing this, he hurriedly spoke, with a slight tremor in his somewhat hoarse voice.
"It's nothing serious anymore!"
Seeming to be secretly relieved, Retsu Unohana still maintained his signature gentle smile and said softly, "Don't worry too much, Yoruichi, he won't lose control again!"
"······"
Hearing this, everyone including Yoruichi Shihōin couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief and completely let go of their hanging hearts.
"Really!" Yoruichi Shihōin nodded, smiled, and then asked again; "So, Captain Unohana, Shadow... when will he wake up!"
"I can't say for sure..."
"What!!!"
"How could this happen..."
"Captain Unohana······"
"..." lowered his head, Retsu Unohana said; "Because of this loss of control, Purification Seal's power exploded in full force, but fortunately, you Yoruichi stopped it in time. Otherwise, based on Shadow's situation at the time, it would never have taken more than half a day before it would have exploded because it could not withstand the violent power..."
"And because of this, although I still don't know why, the power of Purification Seal has begun to merge with the power of Shadow itself!"
"..." He sighed lightly, and Retsu Unohana continued; "When Purification Seal's power is completely integrated, Shadow will probably wake up, but no one can guarantee how long it will take for this power to be integrated!"
"And when Shadow wakes up again, his strength will make a big leap!"
"That's it!" Yoruichi Shihōin clasped the broad palms in his hands, breathed a sigh of relief, and said in a low voice, "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay..."
"Hey!"
Slightly opening the corners of his cloudy eyes, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who was leaning on Zanpakutō's crutches, sighed heavily and spoke lightly.
"A hundred years ago, his strength was only slightly inferior to me. A hundred years later, his strength is no less than me. When he wakes up again, Shadow, he will completely surpass me. He is really old!"
"······"
Looking at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake and others who were thinking about themselves all the time, they couldn't help but have black lines in their heads and were extremely speechless.
"If... it's possible! I'd rather Shadow him not have that power..."
Yoruichi Shihōin opened his mouth softly and stared at Shadow's pale and weak face. A flash of pain flashed through his golden eyes. He stretched out his hand and touched the angular face.
As the 22nd generation head of the Shihōin Clan, he was born into a noble family, carries the honor of the nobles, abides by the rules of the nobles, and lives without freedom. That is not what Yoruichi Shihōin needs at all.
So what if the power is overwhelming, so what if there are many difficulties!
"Because you are by my side, Shadow, so no matter how hard it is, I will not flinch, no matter how dangerous it is, I will not be afraid..."
"Because, you promised that you will always be by my side. How can I live without you? No one will indulge my willfulness as recklessly as you do..."
"You bastard! Stop talking nonsense, Shade will not leave her master, right? Then, the same! How can we be considered complete without the inseparable Shade!"
"······"
"Na na! So I'm sorry! Lady Yoruichi!"
Slowly opening the corners of his eyes, there was an attractive and eerie red color in the darkness, and Shadow spoke, with an indescribable hoarseness and exhaustion in his voice.
"Shadow······"
Because, with you by my side, I will not be afraid of anything in this world...
······
It has to be said that Shadow's recovery ability is indeed excellent. Moreover, this is on the premise that he did not suffer any injuries. Therefore, after just one day of rest, he can stand up and walk. It seems that apart from his physical weakness, there seems to be nothing serious.
Because of the fusion of the power of Purification Seal, Shadow's strength has made a qualitative leap. At the same time, the rune pattern of Purification Seal completely disappeared the moment Shadow woke up. Only the dots of strange red light in the darkness deep in the pupils witnessed the scene that had happened.
Yoruichi Shihōin is very clear about Ran'Tao's thoughts and feelings towards Shadow. As a woman, how could she not understand!
But for this woman Ran'Tao, Yoruichi Shihōin couldn't tell what exactly she thought. She couldn't say she liked her, but she couldn't say she disliked her either.
From Ran'Tao's point of view, she didn't do anything wrong, but she should never have fallen in love with a man who had someone else in her heart. This was destined to be painful.
However, when talking about Ran'Tao, Yoruichi Shihōin just remembered something that was forgotten because of Shadow's loss of control.
That was the Bount she rescued a few days ago, which could also be said to be the last Bount.
At first, Yoruichi Shihōin acted alone and rescued Bount and Koga Gō who were fighting with Toshiro Hitsugaya and lost Doll who were submerged in ice blocks near Tenth Division!
Before returning to World of the Living, this person must be handed over to the person with the deepest bond with Bount.
And that person is undoubtedly Ran'Tao, and she is the only one.
······
The next day, before dawn, Soul Society, Rukongai were in the underground cave.
Gently put Koga Gō on the bed and covered him with the quilt. Ran'Tao, still wearing a white research uniform, stood up, looked at Yoruichi Shihōin opposite, and smiled gratefully.
"Thank you so much for saving him. Everything about Bount can be said to be my responsibility. If the clan is exterminated because of this, I will not have the face to see them!"
"No need to thank me!"
Hearing this, Yoruichi Shihōin shook his head and chuckled; "To be honest, I hesitated for a long time whether to save him or not!"
"What's more, didn't you also save that guy Shadow! That's why you said no thanks to me!"
"This is not the same thing at all!" Ran'Tao was a little helpless.
"Is there any difference?" Shrugging, Yoruichi Shihōin lowered his head slightly and said, "You saved my people, and I also saved your people. Isn't this even?"
"······"
Ran'Tao actually wanted to say, what do you call your person, Shadow! But there was silence for a moment, and she still didn't say anything.
Because, she knows, who has the right to ask!