The Unforgettable Past

Soul Society, Seireitei, Second Division Barracks.

Smack!

Yoruichi Shihōin, dressed in the Punishment Force's backless uniform, tossed the pen in her hand onto the untouched documents on the desk and slumped weakly against her chair. Her golden eyes were filled with worry and irritation as she frowned slightly, staring through the window at the gloomy sky outside.

After an unknown amount of time, the door opened. Shihōin Shanqing entered in a pure white captain's haori, set the tray in his hands on the desk, and said, "Have something to eat, Yoruichi."

"Father!"

Yoruichi Shihōin turned her head. The food on the desk was all her old favorites, but now she had no appetite at all.

With a sigh, Shihōin Shanqing said helplessly, "Still worried about that boy Shadow?"

"Yes." Yoruichi Shihōin nodded. "It's already been half a month, and there's still no sign of him waking up. We don't even know why he fell unconscious. His body is clearly fine, yet even Captain Unohana is at a loss. Sigh..."

"Is that so?" Shihōin Shanqing picked up the pen from the desk. "Since you're so worried, go to the Fourth Division. Leave these documents to me."

"Father!" Yoruichi Shihōin froze briefly, then rose to her feet. "Then I'll be going first."

Shihōin Shanqing nodded and watched Yoruichi Shihōin leave. With another sigh, he began dealing with the mountain of documents.

When Yoruichi Shihōin arrived at the Fourth Division, she happened to run into Byakuya Kuchiki, who was hurrying over from the other direction. Over the past half month, Byakuya Kuchiki had come every single day as well.

Whenever the two met in the past, they would always argue and fool around. But now, neither Yoruichi Shihōin nor Byakuya Kuchiki had the mood or energy for it.

As they entered the Fourth Division Barracks and were still some distance from Shadow's room, they faintly heard a noisy commotion. Yoruichi Shihōin and Byakuya Kuchiki sighed in perfect unison before continuing forward.

Just as expected, Hiyori Sarugaki was still bickering in her arrogant voice with the injured Shinji Hirako. Kaien Shiba was angrily lecturing Kūkaku Shiba, who was injured yet still smoking her pipe. Mashiro Kuna pouted as she spoke to the clearly impatient Kensei Muguruma. The only relatively normal one was Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who sat off to the side, sighing with a face full of sorrow.

"Yoruichi, you're here!"

Sharp-eyed Kūkaku Shiba spotted Yoruichi Shihōin at once and immediately changed the subject.

"Yo, Yoruichi!" Kaien Shiba greeted her, then looked at Byakuya Kuchiki a few steps behind her and smiled. "Byakuya came too, huh?"

"Mm." Yoruichi Shihōin and Byakuya Kuchiki answered at the same time.

"Perfect timing. Captain Unohana just went into Shadow's room."

Hiyori Sarugaki sat on Shinji Hirako and pressed down hard, making him roll his eyes.

"Is that so?" Yoruichi Shihōin nodded. "Then I'll go in first."

"Yoruichi!" Kūkaku Shiba called after her.

"What is it?"

"He'll wake up. Don't worry too much."

"Mm."

When she entered Shadow's room, Retsu Unohana was standing beside his bed, supporting her chin with one hand and frowning as if deep in thought. Hearing the door open, Retsu Unohana turned around.

"Yoruichi, Byakuya, you're both here."

"Captain Unohana." Yoruichi Shihōin walked to the bedside. "How is Shadow?"

"Still the same." Retsu Unohana sighed. "There's still no sign of him waking up."

"Is that so..."

Her golden eyes dimmed. Even though she had known this would be the answer, hearing it still made her heart sink.

Yoruichi Shihōin sat beside the bed and silently watched Shadow as he "slept."

The man who had been unconscious for half a month lay there quietly. The unchanging coldness he usually carried was nowhere to be seen. He looked peaceful, tranquil, and still.

But when would you wake up, Shadow? The days without you by my side really feel so unfamiliar. So please, open your eyes soon.

Time seemed to have frozen. The atmosphere was stifling, yet no one broke the heavy silence.

"Teacher! Teacher!"

Byakuya Kuchiki suddenly sprang up like a monkey with its tail on fire. "Teacher, I think he's crying!"

"What?!"

Startled awake, Yoruichi Shihōin hurriedly looked up. Sure enough, crystalline tears slid from the corners of Shadow's tightly shut eyes. His lips moved as he mumbled something indistinctly.

Retsu Unohana hurriedly examined Shadow's body. Yoruichi Shihōin, Byakuya Kuchiki, and the others, who had been drawn over by the shout, stood silently to the side, afraid of disturbing Retsu Unohana.

Darkness. Boundless darkness. Time seemed to have lost all meaning. Perhaps it had been a long time, or perhaps only an instant. Shadow stood there blankly, his eyes dazed and confused. He did not know why he had appeared here, nor what this place was.

In that silent, empty world of darkness, Shadow could do nothing but stand still. After an unknown amount of time, scenes he had not remembered for a long time suddenly began replaying before his eyes.

"Lady Anko! Lady Anko..."

Warm, damp tears continuously flowed from the corners of his eyes, dripping onto the pillow already soaked through.

Lying on the bed, he murmured and called out unconsciously. His voice was soft, but it was filled with sorrow and grief.

Yoruichi Shihōin sat beside the bed with her head lowered slightly. No one made the slightest sound. They listened and felt the helplessness and pain, sorrow and loss in his voice.

"Lady Anko! I'm so sorry. I clearly promised I would always stay by your side, but I still left you all alone!!!"

"I clearly promised I would always protect you, yet I always let you get hurt. I really am hopelessly useless!"

"Lady Anko, from now on, make sure to eat properly. Stop eating dumplings all the time, drink less alcohol, and wear more clothes. Stop kicking off your blanket when you sleep at night, or you'll catch a cold. Go to bed earlier at night, and don't sleep in so late in the mornings. As for money, be more frugal. Even if you don't take missions, it should still be enough!"

"And don't always lock yourself in your room to cry, then act as if nothing happened and smile the next day. Your acting is terrible. Anyone can see through it!"

"Lady Anko, Lady Anko! How can I possibly leave someone like you alone? How can I leave you all by yourself!!!"

"Ah!!!"

"Lady Yoruichi..."

His brows suddenly knitted tightly together, and his expression kept shifting. His previously even breathing became hurried. Dense beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly.

"Lady Yoruichi! Lady Yoruichi!"

"I'm here, Shadow. It's all right. I'm here."

Yoruichi Shihōin tightly held Shadow's head, pressing her forehead against his sweat-covered face as she murmured softly. Her golden eyes were filled with a gentleness rarely seen. She had never seen Shadow look so fragile and helpless before.

"Lady Yoruichi! Lady Yoruichi!"

His voice gradually lowered and faded away. Shadow returned to his earlier peaceful state, though the dry tear tracks at the corners of his eyes proved what had happened.

In that same dark space, a low sigh suddenly rang out.

"See clearly. Think it through. If you keep running away and refusing to face it, it will destroy you, my... master!"