The Unforgettable Past

Soul Society, Seireitei, Second Division Barracks.

Slap!

Yoruichi Shihōin, dressed in the Punishment Force's backless uniform with short purple hair, tossed the pen in her hand onto the untouched documents on the desk. She leaned weakly against the back of her chair, her golden eyes filled with worry and irritation as she frowned lightly and gazed through the window at the dim sky outside.

After an unknown amount of time, the door opened. Shihōin Shanqing, wearing a pure white captain's haori, walked in and placed the tray in his hand on the desk. "Eat something, Yoruichi."

"Father!"

Yoruichi Shihōin turned her head and looked at the food on the table. They were all things she had once loved to eat, but now she had no appetite at all.

With a sigh, Shihōin Shanqing said helplessly, "Still worried about that brat 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 stood up. "Then I'll be going."

Shihōin Shanqing nodded and watched Yoruichi Shihōin leave. With another sigh, he began working through 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, he had come every day as well.

Normally, whenever the two met, there would be plenty of bickering and fooling around. But now, neither Yoruichi Shihōin nor Byakuya Kuchiki had the mood or energy for it.

As they entered the Fourth Division Barracks, while they were still some distance from Shadow's ward, faint sounds of noisy arguing reached them. Yoruichi Shihōin and Byakuya Kuchiki sighed in perfect unison and continued forward.

Just as expected, Hiyori Sarugaki was still arguing loudly with the injured Shinji Hirako. Kaien Shiba was angrily lecturing Kukaku Shiba, who was injured yet still smoking a pipe. Mashiro Kuna pouted as she talked to an obviously impatient Kensei Muguruma. The only relatively normal one was Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who sat off to one side sighing with a sorrowful expression.

"Yoruichi, you're here!"

Sharp-eyed Kukaku 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?"

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

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

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

"Yoruichi!" Kukaku Shiba called after her.

"What is it?"

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

"Mm."

When Yoruichi Shihōin entered Shadow's ward, Retsu Unohana was standing beside his bed with one hand supporting her chin, her brows furrowed as though she were thinking about something. Hearing the door open, she 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 that he's about to wake up."

"Is that so?"

Her golden eyes dimmed. Even though she had known it would be like this, 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 wore was gone, leaving only a peaceful, tranquil expression.

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 stopped. The atmosphere was oppressive, yet no one broke the heavy silence.

"Teacher! Teacher!"

Byakuya Kuchiki suddenly leaped up like a monkey with its tail on fire. "Teacher seems to be crying!"

"What?"

Startled awake, Yoruichi Shihōin hurriedly raised her head. Sure enough, crystalline tears were sliding down from the corners of Shadow's tightly shut eyes. His lips moved as he mumbled something indistinctly.

Retsu Unohana immediately began examining Shadow's body. Yoruichi Shihōin, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Kukaku Shiba 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, perhaps only an instant. Shadow stood there blankly, his gaze vacant and confused. He did not know why he had appeared here, nor what kind of place this was.

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

"Lady Anko! Lady Anko..."

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

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

Yoruichi Shihōin sat by the bed with her head slightly lowered. No one made the slightest sound as they listened and felt that helplessness and pain, that sadness and loss.

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

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

"Lady Anko, from now on, eat properly. Don't always eat dumplings. Drink less alcohol, wear more clothes, and stop kicking off the blanket when you sleep at night, or you'll catch a cold. Go to sleep earlier at night, and don't sleep in so late in the morning. As for money, save a little. Even if you don't take missions, it should still be enough!"

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

"Lady Anko, Lady Anko! How could I possibly leave someone like you behind? How could I leave you alone!!!"

"Ah!!!"

"Lady Yoruichi..."

His brows suddenly knitted together, and his expression kept changing. His once even breathing became rapid, cold sweat densely covered his forehead, and his body trembled faintly.

"Lady Yoruichi! Lady Yoruichi!"

"I'm here, Shadow. It's okay. 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 rare gentleness. She had never seen Shadow look so fragile and helpless.

"Lady Yoruichi! Lady Yoruichi!"

His voice gradually lowered until it faded away. Shadow returned to his earlier quiet state, but the dry tear tracks at the corners of his eyes proved that something had happened.

The same dark space remained, when a deep sigh suddenly rang out.

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