Yoruichi-sama

"Is it over?!"

"It won't be that simple. A Vasto Lorde is nothing like an Adjuchas!" Shihōin Shanqing frowned.

Sure enough, Nonial's furious roar came from within the smoke filling the sky.

"Bleach, you actually destroyed my Phantom Clone! I'll kill you!"

With those words, he instantly appeared before Shadow, his sharp arm stabbing forward viciously.

"Substitution Technique!"

The Reiatsu in his body was only enough to use the Substitution Technique one more time. Looking at the wooden log pierced through, Shadow collapsed to the ground. Had he finally reached his limit?!

His vision blurred, and he could no longer see clearly. Am I going to die again?!

No! He did not want to die. He could not die yet. He had promised Yoruichi-sama that he would return alive. How could he break that promise?!

Struggling to raise his head, Shadow seemed to see Yoruichi Shihōin's tear-filled face. Then, the image of Mitaraishi Anko crying in despair from his previous life surfaced before his eyes again.

Shadow let out a low growl.

"I can't die, absolutely not! Without Anko-sama, I can't lose Yoruichi-sama too. I won't let that happen again!"

It felt as though his chest had been struck by a heavy hammer. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his throat as Shadow struggled to rise, his breathing growing increasingly ragged.

"It looks like he's truly reached his limit." Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down the brim of his straw hat, his tone heavy.

"For someone already badly injured to force a Vasto Lorde this far is already incredible! Even Captain-class fighters... how old is he?" Jūshirō Ukitake sighed.

"Should we step in?" Shinji Hirako asked.

"No need." Yoruichi Shihōin lowered her head slightly. "I believe in Shadow. He won't lie to me!"

"Yoruichi..."

"You're strong, Bleach. Strange Kido, peculiar Shunpo... I have to admit, you're remarkable. Perhaps in less than a hundred years—no, in just ten years—Hueco Mundo will likely have few Hollows capable of suppressing you!" Nonial said coldly. "So I can only erase you before you fully grow..."

"Is that so?" Shadow took a deep breath and placed his hand on the hilt behind his back. "You sure talk big."

"Bleach, are you finally willing to draw your sword?" Nonial sneered. "And what if you do? You have no Reiatsu left, do you?"

"That's right." Shadow nodded. "But so what?"

"I have to say, you've successfully enraged me!" Nonial's expression darkened. "And the price is that I get to kill you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Nonial activated Sonído. His sharp arms stabbed out repeatedly as Shadow dragged his heavy body aside to evade the attacks.

Suddenly, Shadow curled his lips into a faint smile. Forcefully gathering his meager remaining Reiatsu, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear above Nonial.

"Nonial, was it? Remember this—I'm not some Bleach!"

Shadow drew the pitch-black Zanpakutō behind his back and raised it high toward the sky.

He mobilized every shred of spiritual power in his body, forcibly controlling the Reishi in the surrounding area and gathering it around the blade.

Blood flowed continuously from his wounds. The pain was heart-rending, as though every cell, bone, and meridian in his body were screaming in agony. It felt as if countless steel needles were relentlessly stabbing into his mind. Even Shadow, who had long grown accustomed to death, could barely endure such overwhelming pain.

Yet he pressed on without hesitation.

Under the control of his spiritual power, countless particles of Reishi condensed wildly. A massive blade aura nearly solid enough to take form, dozens of meters long, spread forth with madness and savagery...

"Damn it! Cero!"

Nonial finally realized something was wrong and unleashed his strongest attack without hesitation.

"Swordsmanship! Heaven Slash!!!"

Shadow roared as he brought his blade down with all his strength.

Boom!!!

A violent explosion kicked up waves of sand and dust. Amid the haze was a massive crater a hundred meters deep. Covered in blood, Shadow's face could not be seen clearly, making him look frighteningly feral.

With a muffled grunt, Shadow ignored his violently trembling legs and slowly pushed himself up onto one knee. The hands braced against the ground also loosened with great difficulty.

Yet this simple movement seemed to have drained every last bit of his strength. He opened his mouth, gasping for breath.

At last, Shadow rose to his feet and staggered step by step out of the dust that was beginning to settle.

He had promised that he would return alive. He had done it.

"Shadow!"

Yoruichi Shihōin wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and hurried over.

"Yoruichi-sama!"

Unable to hold on any longer, Shadow crashed heavily to the ground. Yet his lips were still faintly moving, murmuring something.

When Shadow woke from his coma again and opened his eyes, he found himself in a simple yet spacious room. He tried moving his body, but felt utterly weak, as though his limbs no longer obeyed him.

"You're awake, Shadow-kun!"

A gentle voice sounded by his ear. Shadow turned his head and saw Retsu Unohana.

"Where is Yoruichi-sama? Is she all right?" Shadow asked hoarsely.

Retsu Unohana froze. She had thought Shadow's first question would be about himself. She smiled.

"Yoruichi is fine. I told her to go back and rest this morning. Right now..." As she spoke, Retsu Unohana glanced at the dim sky outside the window. "She might already be on her way here."

"Is that so?"

"Still, Shadow-kun..."

Seeing that Shadow had no intention of speaking again, Retsu Unohana had no choice but to ask. Before she could finish, however, she was interrupted.

"Shadow, you're awake!"

The door slid open, and the moment Yoruichi Shihōin entered, she saw Shadow with his eyes open. A smile immediately appeared on her wheat-colored face.

"Yoruichi-sama!"

Shadow struggled to sit up, but Yoruichi Shihōin stepped forward and pressed him back onto the bed.

"You haven't recovered yet. Why are you moving around?" Yoruichi Shihōin said with some displeasure.

"But..."

"No buts!" Yoruichi Shihōin pulled a stern face and put on a fierce expression.

"Oh my! You woke up after only three days? I thought you'd sleep for seven or eight."

Kaien Shiba teased him. Such an opportunity was rare, so he had to treasure it.

"What do you mean by that, Kaien Shiba?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked, her face dark as she turned around and enunciated every word.

"Nothing, haha..." Kaien Shiba laughed awkwardly.

"Big brother, you brought this on yourself." Kūkaku Shiba tilted her head as she mocked her tactless brother.

How could he say something like that at a time like this? Even if it was only a joke without ill intent, he should have picked the right moment! Kūkaku Shiba was truly speechless at her own brother.

Before long, the spacious room was filled with people. Yoruichi Shihōin, the Shiba siblings, Kensei Muguruma, and the others were naturally there. But Shadow could not understand why Captains like Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Shinji Hirako had come. They were not familiar with one another, were they?

"Yoruichi-sama..." Shadow opened his mouth and looked at Yoruichi Shihōin. "Sorry, I was too useless!"

Too useless...

Shinji Hirako and the others immediately broke out in cold sweats, their mouths twitching. What kind of joke was this? That had been a Vasto Lorde! A Vasto Lorde, a Menos Grande beyond Captain-class—not some Adjuchas! He had been severely injured and still blasted a Vasto Lorde into nothingness, yet he called himself useless? Was he trying to make them all look bad?!

"Why would you say that?" Yoruichi Shihōin was taken aback.

"I... didn't protect Yoruichi-sama properly!" Shadow gritted his teeth.

"Well, don't worry about that." Yoruichi Shihōin smiled. "Aren't I perfectly fine?"

"But... if I hadn't rashly chased after him, Yoruichi-sama wouldn't have..."

"You idiot!" Yoruichi Shihōin shouted. "I already told you before, Shadow. You've done very well. It's enough, okay? Don't you understand?!"

"Yoruichi-sama..." Shadow stared blankly.

"Don't say things like that anymore!"

Yoruichi Shihōin narrowed her amber-like eyes and smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth. Her voice carried a trace of gentleness, and something indescribable.

"When I say it's enough, it's enough!"

"Yoruichi-sama!"

After a long silence, a flash of determination appeared in Shadow's dark eyes, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"I'll become stronger. I'll always protect Yoruichi-sama!"

"Hey, Shadow, let's make a promise." Yoruichi Shihōin smiled sweetly. "You have to stay by my side forever, okay?"

"Yes, Yoruichi-sama!"

Shadow looked out the window. The sun would soon set completely.

Anko-sama, I feel a happiness just like the one I felt with you!