CHAPTER 276: Vicious Attack

(Half an hour ago)

Kazuya basked in bliss from the soft sensation of Unohana's thighs beneath his head. The gentle lap pillow was his "reward" for surviving the extreme training, which Unohana promised him back at his home. Unohana agreeing to his request was not on his list of surprises today.

She pinched his cheeks gently. "Is this enough? I have to check back on my squad too, after I bathe."

He placed his hands over hers. "No. I'm still tired. Let me relax a bit more on my future wife's lap."

She made a troubled expression before letting out a sigh. Since he had to leave tomorrow, she was spoiling him a little. She might have given too much leniency. "My Shihakusho is drenched in sweat. There is your blood on my clothes, too. How this is relaxing for you in any capacity is beyond my comprehension."

"Doesn't make you any less attractive," he whispered, kissing her palm. "I quite enjoy spending time with my future wife. You probably don't, I guess. But you'll learn to appreciate small intimate moments one day, that's my promise."

"Small moments…" She raised her head, contemplating his words.

Kazuya closed his eyes and let the older woman digest his promise in peace. Rolling around, he found a more comfortable position. Exhausted from the long training, he didn't take long before the loving arms of slumber embraced him.

His peaceful rest lasted a while but came to an unfortunate end by the distinct sound of a katana sliding out of its sheath. The sound was subtle, but it may as well have been the howl of a wolf against his ears.

Before he could open his eyes, an overwhelming bloodlust enveloped his entire being, wrapping him in its cold, hostile domain. A sharp pain in his chest followed the bloodlust.

"Kuh." He groaned, his eyes flying open to the gloomy smile of Unohana beneath the dark sky.

Her hands gripped the katana protruding from his chest.

"R-Retsu, what the hell?" He asked incredulously, the blood rushing up his throat and filling his mouth. "O-Oi, don't be crazy."

Rather than listening to him, she forcibly pulled the katana, blood spurting from the gaping wound in his chest.

She raised the katana over him and stabbed him again, aiming for his heart.

He barely caught the katana between his hands. "Retsu, snap out of it."

The katana slipped from Unohana's grasp, landing with a dull thud on Kazuya's chest. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and the blood-stained blade. The familiar green glow of Kaido enveloped her hands as she began to heal him. Not even a scar was left when Kaido and his natural regeneration worked on the wound together.

"What happened here?" She asked, despite understanding the crux of the matter. "Did I… do this?"

Kazuya focused, allowing a tiny amount of Reiatsu to envelop him. It clung to the excess materials on his clothes before shooting off in the shape of a blood-red bullet.

He sat up and dusted his clothes. "If you're referring to the injury you just healed, yeah, you did." His hand found the tear in her Shihakushō, fingers grazing her thigh."You stabbed right through me."

Though he had anticipated Unohana might attack him someday, he hadn't expected it so soon. Somehow his involvement had made her violent tendencies worse than her anime counterpart, that too by a long shot at that.

{This is what you get for sleeping on a madwoman's lap,} Nami spoke with an edge in her voice. {Partner, there is still time to ditch her route.}

'I thought she was your idol.'

{Still is~.}

Unohana pressed a hand to her forehead, looking a little lost. "Just what am I doing?"

She vividly remembered a sound, like that of shattering of glass, when she saw him sleeping so peacefully on her lap. Little did she know it was the sound of her dark urges breaking out of its shackles. In her carelessness, she had tried to assassinate the last hope of the Soul Society.

A gentle pinch on her thighs brought her attention to the present. She looked down to Kazuya caressing her thigh through her torn hakama.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. I'll treat it like a valuable training lesson."

She brushed his hand away and stood. Frictionlessly sliding the katana out of its sheath, she placed it against his neck, which made him raise a brow in surprise. "It's not your fault. You were sleeping and vulnerable. And I… I tried to kill you. It's inexcusable…"

Clenching her trembling fists, she pointed the sword to her own neck before bringing it down to the middle of her chest, right where she had stabbed him. "An eye for an eye. A wound for a wound… Kazuya, take the sword and drive it into my chest."

His eyes flicked from the sword's handle to her face, not a hint of emotion on his face.

She pushed the sword towards him. "You can heal me afterward."

"What's the point of it then?"

"To even the suffering caused by my weak will."

More so than the physical pain, she craved punishment. Any form of punishment would do as long as it held her responsible for her violence.

He grabbed the sword and tossed it aside before bringing her into his arms, all in an instance. Stunned by his actions, she stared up at his charming face. "I knew your murderous side, and I still slept like a log on your lap. Can you blame yourself for my lack of caution?"

Frustration welled up in Unohana, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Anybody else in his situation would freak out and leave her alone. But he — he had the audacity to treat it like just another day in his life. The whole situation made her wonder if his head was in the right place.

"Say something," he whispered. "Or I'll touch you."

Unohana punched his belly. "Don't you dare blame me if this happens again."

"This? You mean by this warm hug?" He tightened his hold, pressing her against his chest. "I'll gladly welcome it."

She shoved him away, her eyes frosty. "I'm not joking. Next time I lose control, it won't end up with one wound. I might kill you."

He erupted into a hearty laughter. "Retsu, don't overestimate yourself. If I'm serious, not even two of you can take me down. For you, I may as well be an immortal."

"I have made immortals crawl at my feet, begging for death…" Unohana whispered, slowly walking toward her Zanpakutō. As she picked it up from the ground, she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Immortality doesn't come with resistance to pain. Even if it did, my sword will burn through everything and make you regret ever claiming immortality."

Kazuya crossed his arms before holding up his chin. "Ah, you're talking about your Bankai."

All the seriousness faded from her face, her eyes widening in shock. "How do you know—"

He flashstepped to her back and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Retsu, I know everything there is to know about you."

***

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