CHAPTER 242: Unwell Wishes

After the strangest meeting of Kazuya's life concluded in unanimous agreement to Unohana's crazy plan, Kazuya took his time strolling back to the 4th Division's barracks, content to let Yoruichi and Unohana catch up along the way. Yoruichi entertained her old friend with tales of her crazy adventures, most of which included him, while Unohana could only offer tidbits of the Soul Society's mundane recent history in return.

Nothing of importance had happened in Yoruichi's absence.

The black cat suddenly jumped off his shoulder and faced him with an uncharacteristic serious glint in her eyes. "Listen, I have to go to the second division."

"Soi Fon?" Kazuya asked with a frown. "Is she giving you too much trouble?"

She shook her head at his probing inquiry. "It has nothing to do with Soi Fon. I must… retrieve something important. Why don't I fill in on the details later?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Run along then. You have your husband's permission."

Yoruichi rolled her eyes exasperatedly that conveyed fondness more than annoyance. "Thank you, my gracious husband. You're the best."

"I sure am," he agreed with a shameless grin, which prompted Yoruichi to shake her head. "Off you go."

As Yoruichi dashed to the roof, Kazuya turned to check on Unohana's reaction. The battle-maniac healer wore an expression of utter incredulity, as if she couldn't quite believe the exchange she had just witnessed.

"Did that really just happen?" she muttered, more to herself than to Kazuya.

Kazuya had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from bursting into laughter at her flabbergasted look. "What, you don't think I'm husband material?"

"Far from it," Unohana said, shaking her head. "Was that real, or were you just fooling around?"

"What do you think it is?"

"I think it's both," Unohana slowly said. "She is always laidback and carefree about most things, but she is also quite aloof and proud to call any man 'her husband'… it's simply unprecedented."

"Even as a joke?"

"Even as a joke," she repeated in a solemn voice. "Her teasing doesn't extend to these lengths. I know she isn't the same woman I used to know. She couldn't have changed to that extent."

They might not have been the closest, but Unohana had worked together with Yoruichi ever since her introduction by the Shihōin Family.

"She didn't change much," Kazuya said, stroking his chin in contemplation. "I just managed to domesticate the stray kitty."

"An impressive feat, to be sure… Isane is here."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the hurried arrival of a familiar figure — the endearingly awkward Isane Kotetsu,. A slight frown marred her delicate features, hinting at her displeasure at being left out of her captain's latest excursion outside the division.

"Captain, Kazuya… where did you two sneak off without me?"

Chuckling, Kazuya waved off her question with a dismissive gesture. "Unohana had some business with Shunsui. I just tagged along with her."

Calmed by his explanation, Isane started to nod in understanding, only to pause mid-motion, a look of confusion clouding her features. "Wait, you addressed our Captain by her name…"

Unohana glared at him, the glee in her eyes refuting any real anger. "Yeah, who told you to use my last name? Did you forget I gave you the permission to call me 'Retsu'?"

Poor Isane could only gape at the exchange, her mind reeling at the notion of someone addressing her captain so intimately. Only a handful among the senior officers of the Gotei 13 would dare to use Unohana's given name so freely, even though the person couldn't care less about these things.

'What just happened between them?' Isane wondered, her imagination running wild with possibilities. 'It's like how he and Nanao became a lot closer when they returned from the Living World.'

As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, Kazuya reached out to give Isane's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don't worry, Isane. It's just a one-time thing. I promise I won't steal your job of shadowing Retsu everywhere."

He had a much better idea in mind.

"As if I'll let it happen," Unohana scoffed, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Although, I must say… Kazuya, you are overqualified to be a mere lieutenant."

"That's true," Isane agreed readily, her momentary curiosity about Unohana and Kazuya forgotten in the face of Kazuya's undeniable talent. "He will be a Captain for certain."

At that, Unohana's expression grew pensive. She glanced over at Kazuya, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "He won't stay long enough to be a Captain."

As much as it pained her to admit, Unohana knew that Kazuya's path lay elsewhere. For all his prodigious skill and leadership qualities, she could envision no future in which he remained bound to the Soul Society as a Shinigami.

Isane glanced in his direction. "He's going to leave for the 10th Squad. Captain Shiba wants to promote him to his seat one day."

Unohana simply smiled, making no attempt to correct Isane's innocent assumptions. "Isane, show him to his new home."

"Of course, Captain!" Isane cheerfully saluted before turning her attention to him. "Right his way."

"Sure."

As Kazuya followed the steps of the tall, silver-haired girl, Unohana caught hold of his sleeve, forcing him to pause. "Make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. I need you at your best tomorrow."

He nodded at her. "It's not like I have anything to do in my room."

Beyond the occasional drinking session or casual chat with fellow Shinigami and friends, the Soul Society offered precious little in the way of leisure activities to occupy anyone's free time.

And today, he didn't even have Yoruichi or Momo to mess around with.

{It's 1950 outside, mate. They don't have smartphones or gaming rigs.}

'Fuck. I gotta wait another five decades for good games.'

{On the bright side, you'll be watching the old classic anime as they air. Maybe the shows in this reality will be completely different from the ones you grew up with.}

'I hadn't thought of that. Can't wait to turn Mila Rose into an anime addict!'

Putting his musings aside for the moment, Kazuya trailed after Isane as she led him to his newly assigned living quarters. Truth be told, he would have been perfectly content with a simple bedroom — after all, he really only required a place to lay his head at night.

Unohana, it seemed, had other ideas.

The residence she had set aside for Kazuya was nearly a mini-sized mansion by Soul Society standards. Boasting two sprawling floors and more rooms than he could ever need, the place was neatly furnished and equipped with every convenience possible.

...

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