The Fourth Division's temporary barracks.
The wounded filled almost every room. People constantly came and went through the corridors, and the air was thick with the smells of blood and medicine.
Yoriichi stepped around two stretchers and stopped outside the innermost room.
"Come in."
Retsu Unohana's voice came from inside.
Yoriichi pushed the door open and saw her washing blood from her hands.
Her white haori was stained with large patches of blood, but none of it was her own.
"Captain Yoriichi."
Unohana dried her hands and looked at him gently.
"Your wounds haven't been treated yet."
"These wounds won't get in the way."
Yoriichi closed the door, his gaze settling on her face.
Unohana did not hurry him.
She rarely saw this expression on Yoriichi's face.
He was still calm, but not as direct as usual, as though there were things he did not know how to say.
"The Zero Division is going to take me to the Soul King Palace."
"That's a good thing."
Unohana walked over to him and reached out to undo his bloodstained Captain's Haori.
Yoriichi did not stop her.
"Before I leave, there's something I want to tell you."
"Sit down first."
Unohana pointed to the chair beside him, then took out medicine and bandages.
Yoriichi sat down.
She cut open the damaged clothing over his chest. When she saw the wound that had nearly pierced through it, her hands paused slightly.
He called this a flesh wound?
If Ichigo Kurosaki heard that, he would probably wonder whether his past injuries even counted as scratches.
"Haschwalth's ability left some Reishi behind."
Yoriichi looked down at the wound.
"The Sun Reiatsu has already burned it away."
"So you were going to let it heal on its own?"
Unohana looked up at him, the smile on