New Wife?

Zaraki, Unohana, and Shinji looked on, their expressions a mix of amusement and mild shock, while Yachiru giggled.

Hikari, still perched on Kai's shoulder, squinted at Unohana. "Strong and pretty. Why do you keep bringing wives, Kai?"

Zaraki and Shinji visibly shivered. Even Kai felt a cold jolt run down his spine. He glanced at Unohana, whose smile seemed tinged with an unsettling calm.

"Hikari, it's not like that. They're here for training," Kai clarified, his tone laced with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

"Hmm, if you say so," Hikari hummed, clearly not convinced.

Unohana, maintaining her composed demeanor, asked, "What exactly are we here for, Kurogami-san?"

Kai sighed. "The muscle head here doesn't even know the name of his Zanpakuto. And Hikari has the unique ability to communicate with other Zanpakuto spirits."

To prove his point, Hikari waved her finger through the air, materializing two figures. Unohana gasped as she saw Minazuki, her Zanpakuto spirit, appear—an elegant woman draped in a sumptuous kimono. The patterns on the fabric moved like water, and her eyes were a mixture of fierce intensity and gentle compassion.

Next to her stood Sakanade, Shinji's Zanpakuto spirit. He looked like an impish jester, constantly shifting his orientation and wearing a perplexing mask that seemed identical from any angle.

"Minazuki," Unohana whispered, her voice tinged with wonder and a soft reverence.

Shinji rolled his eyes upon seeing Sakanade but didn't say a word.

In the Mirror Dimension, a realm awash with serenity and lush nature, Kai and his guests stood in a loose circle. Minazuki and Sakanade, the Zanpakuto spirits of Unohana and Shinji, respectively, appeared beside them—each looking distinctly impressed by Hikari, who had orchestrated their summoning.

"Unohana-san, you were planning on forcing Zaraki to remove his self-inflicted limits, weren't you?" Kai questioned, his tone devoid of its usual levity.

Unohana looked into Kai's eyes, her own shimmering pools of wisdom giving nothing away. "I was. But it appears you have other plans?"

Kai glanced at Zaraki, who was still absorbing the otherworldly atmosphere of the Mirror Dimension. "Limits can be inconvenient. I can take care of that, help him connect with his Zanpakuto Spirit."

Unohana nodded once, a barely perceptible lift of her chin. "Very well. And what of me?"

"You're here to revive someone," Kai responded cryptically. Unohana raised an eyebrow but didn't probe any further.

Kai then turned to Shinji, whose eyes were darting between his own Zanpakuto spirit and Minazuki. "Your Bankai's troublesome nature got it banned in Soul Society, didn't it? Well, I'll create an isolated zone where you can train. And don't worry; I'll make sure you have plenty of sparring partners."

Shinji grinned, an expression full of excitement. His Bankai had been shackled by rules and regulations for so long, he had nearly forgotten what it was like to unleash it freely.

Kai raised his head to meet Hikari's sparkling blue eyes. "Can you do it, please?" he inquired, breaking the silence. To his amazement, Hikari turned her face away and huffed.

"No."

"What? Why?" Kai's eyebrows shot up, baffled by her sudden petulance.

Hikari's lips formed a small pout. "I want a kiss."

Rolling his eyes, Kai briefly wondered if it would be less troublesome to open the portals himself. But then he remembered who he was dealing with—Hikari wouldn't let it go. Leaning upward, he placated her with a soft kiss. The air around them seemed to buzz with her contentment.

Instantly, her face lit up like a sunbeam, and she gestured theatrically with her hand. Two portals materialized in the middle of the green field, each adorned with a comical caricature—one of Zaraki and another of Shinji.

Zaraki and Shinji exchanged baffled glances before looking back at Kai, who only offered a shrug. "Go in and start. I'll pop by later."

Without another word, Zaraki and Yachiru entered one portal, and Shinji vanished into the other. Kai turned to Unohana, "Please follow me, Unohana-san."

Kai led Unohana toward the colossal tree at the center of the Mirror Dimension, Hikari clinging to his back like a contented cat. Around the base of the tree, a cozy gathering of women and three adorable, cherub-like infants played and chatted, clearly at ease in this serene sanctuary.

Hikari jumped off Kai's back and raced to join them. "Mom, everyone, we've got guests!"

Aiko, Kai's older sister, was the first to look up. Her eyes widened at the sight of Unohana. Emiko, Kai's mother, also glanced over, offering a gentle smile. The others—Yoruichi, Orihime, Tatsuki, Rangiku, Rukia, Chizuru, Michiru, Lisa, Mashiro, Yuzu, and Karin—greeted Unohana with warm smiles and waves. Amidst the small crowd, the four-month-old daughters, Akari, Hana, and Yuki, cooed and clapped their little hands.

Unohana took in the sight, her gaze lingering on the infants. Her eyes met Kai's for a moment, as if asking an unspoken question.

"These are my family and friends," Kai began, waving a lazy hand toward the group. "And these little ones," he picked up Akari, "are my daughters. Akari, Hana, and Yuki."

Emiko stood up, her smile maternal yet curious. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Emiko, Kai's mother."

"And I'm Aiko," the older sister chimed in, studying Unohana with an intrigued look.

"Everyone, this is Retsu Unohana. Some of you know her already," Kai said.

Most were aware of Unohana's reputation as a formidable healer and warrior, and their faces displayed varying degrees of surprise and respect.

Unohana offered a gracious nod, her eyes betraying a glimmer of emotion. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Your haven here is lovely."

Kai noticed Unohana's subtle glance at the babies again. Her eyes told a story—a mixture of wonder and a hint of wistfulness.

Emiko looked at Unohana with a bright smile that captured the room. "Is she my next daughter-in-law?"

The atmosphere suddenly turned electric, tension fizzing through the air. Kai felt the back of his neck tingle with a sense of imminent danger. Even Yoruichi, Orihime, and the others shifted uncomfortably. Kai sighed. "Mom, Unohana-san is here as a guest to help me with something."

Emiko's face deflated, her eyes dimming as if a light had been switched off. "Ah, I see."

At that moment, Kai felt a razor-sharp, icy glint flash through Unohana's eyes, as if she were considering the implications of the conversation. A chill crept down his spine.

Attempting to steer the conversation back to neutral territory, Kai adopted a more serious tone. "The war in Soul Society is looming. But this time, none of you can join the fight."

A cloud of disappointment fell over the gathered women. Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Why? What's going on?"

Rangiku, holding one of the infants, chimed in, her voice tinged with frustration. "We've grown stronger; you know that."

Murmurs of agreement and confusion swirled among the group, a collective unease settling over them like an unwelcome guest. Kai held up his hands in a placating gesture, forestalling the flood of questions he knew was coming.

"This situation is different," he began, looking each of them in the eyes. "The leader of the enemy is the real problem. If he goes down, the rest will follow. If not, I'm not sure what could happen. I'd rather not put any of you at risk."

There was a pause, the air thick with thought and concern. Then Yoruichi broke the silence. "And what about you? Don't tell me you're planning to fight alone."

"Nah, we will see,," Kai answered simply, his voice tinged with a gravitas that left no room for argument.

Unohana, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "The burden of war should never fall on one person's shoulders. You have people who want to stand beside you."

Kai sighed,"I appreciate that, Unohana-san."

For a moment, the room was filled with a heavy silence, each woman contemplating Kai's words, the risk, and the love they held for the man standing before them. The babies, as if sensing the tension, gurgled softly in their mothers' arms.

Finally, Hikari floated over to Kai and nuzzled his neck. "You better come back, you know. Or I'll drag you back myself."

Kai chuckled, the sound breaking the heavy air like a ray of sunshine piercing through a cloud. "I plan on it."

The tension ebbed, replaced by a muted but palpable resolve. Each woman understood the gravity of Kai's words, respecting his decision even if they didn't like it. After all, love was about more than just standing beside someone; sometimes, it was about standing behind them when they needed to forge ahead alone.

As they dispersed, Kai felt the weight of their unspoken promises—the promise to wait, to hope, and most importantly, to love, no matter what the future held.

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