Chapter 86: The Past Is my Present?

Before Zaraki and I left the underground prison, I checked the Buddha pendant hanging from my wrist and saw that it was fully charged. 'Finally, I can leave this world.' I sighed, clutching the pendant. As the elevator reached the top and we stepped out, we were greeted by Unohana, and the unmistakable chaos of another invasion by Yhwach.

Zaraki and I stared at Unohana until she spoke, her eyes fixed on me, then to Zaraki. "Captain Kenpachi, it seems you have remembered."

Zaraki let out a laugh before heading toward the battlefield. Before he took off, he turned back to me, his expression filled with joy. "When we see each other again, it'll be a fight. Got it?"

I snorted, nodding. "Got it."

As he disappeared into the fray, Unohana turned her gaze back to me. "Sasaki-san." she spoke slowly. I noticed she was holding the box that contained Eri. She handed it to me, her expression unreadable.

"Do you realize what you've done? By preventing me from atoning for my sin?" she asked.

I frowned, but gave a nod as I stepped closer to her. "From the pieces I've gathered, you knew Zaraki before he became the current Kenpachi. You were also the reason he started holding back in fights as much as he does." We were less than an arm's reach apart, our eyes locked as I continued. "There can only be one Kenpachi, and you who has returned as Unohana Yachiru, the First Kenpachi. Cannot exist alongside Kenpachi Zaraki. If you two continue like this, the tradition will fail. However… there is a way out."

Her eyes narrowed, but she remained silent. I extended my right hand, the pendant glinting on my wrist. "Leave all of this behind, and come with me. Come with Eri and I. There won't be a need to change yourself for anyone, nor will you need to hide who you truly want to be. There won't be any Soul Reapers, no Soul Society, no divisions, and no one bearing the title of Kenpachi."

There were several reasons I wanted Unohana to come with me. First, she was an incredible healer. The second reason was pity. I didn't know her whole story, but what I did know told me she was a kind person, or at least, she had been to me. The third reason, though far less logical, was simply that she was beautiful. It wasn't a practical reason, but it was one that I couldn't ignore all the same.

I watched as Unohana's eyes widened, only to narrow again as she processed what I'd said. For what felt like an eternity, we stared at each other, the raging battle around us intensifying, yet somehow distant. Then, she reached out and clasped my hand, offering me that wonderful smile of hers. "Very well, Ryou-san. I'll come with you. But if, at some point I decide to leave… promise me you won't try to stop me."

Her grip tightened, making me suppress a wince, and I returned her smile. "I promise on my name Ryou Sasaki, that I will not stop you if that day ever comes."

She nodded, and I began channeling cursed magic into the pendant to activate it. As it started to glow, I turned to her. "Keep hold of me. I don't know what would happen if we let go."

She gave a brief nod, and with the pendant's light intensifying, it enveloped us. For an instant, the bright glow caught the attention of the invaders, distracting them just long enough for the Soul Reapers to land fatal strikes.

The familiar array of colors danced behind my closed eyes. When they faded, I opened them, and the first thing I saw was Unohana's face, eyes still shut. I let go of her hand as she opened her eyes, and I took a look around. The place felt strikingly familiar. 'Is this...?'

The room was neat, with a table against one wall beside the door. A hallway led to a gray wooden door, there was a bathroom door in the corner, and a bed tucked against the far wall. 'I'm back home.' A laugh slipped out, catching Unohana's attention. As joy coursed through me, I laughed louder, my whole body shaking from the overwhelming relief and elation. I impulsively grabbed Unohana around the waist, mindful of the box strapped to my back, and spun her around. She raised an eyebrow, amused by my reaction as I exclaimed, "I'm back! I'm back home!"

She gave my arm a light pat, signaling for me to let go. As I set her down, she spoke in that gentle tone I was used to. "From your reaction, I take it you didn't expect us to end up here? And is this your place?"

I nodded, smiling. "Yeah, it is." Walking over to the desk and placing the box next to me, I sat at the computer, booting it up. "Might be a good time to fill you in on why I was in your world." I began, retelling my story. From the destruction of my world to battles against gods and demons, how I found Eri and finally, my arrival in her world. I was finishing up just as the computer loaded. "And that about sums it up." I said, clicking on the calendar icon while Unohana looked on, visibly surprised by what she'd just heard before going back to her calm expression.

When the calendar opened, my eyes widened. [01/01/2002.] 'I'm… in the past.' I shot up, bolting to the bathroom and nearly stumbled back when I caught my reflection. A younger version of myself stared back, maybe fourteen or fifteen. Most of my scars were gone except a few, the thin line that crossed my eye, the wound Zaraki left from striking me in the heart, and the scar from Zeus and Heracles on my right side. My hair was still partly white, but the rest looked darker and fuller.

I then realized I was shorter, maybe around 5'3". 'My height! Wait—Eri!' I dashed back out the door, only to see Unohana standing there, holding a baby Eri in her arms. She turned to me with a amused smile. "I heard crying from the box, and when I opened it, I found a baby inside. It also seems you've noticed your... new appearance."

'What the fuck is going on?!'

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