Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Past and the Future

“I must say… you’ve been awfully idle lately, Anyou,” Chojirou muttered, the soft compress on his cheek a clear testament to recent misfortune. Across from him sat the ever-unruffled steward of the Yasuda residence—Ichigen Anyou, who had once again dropped by unannounced.

“Well, I just heard that a certain peeping Tom got quite the thrashing, so I came to see for myself,” Anyou replied, not the least bit flustered as he raised his teacup and took a leisurely sip.

“Though from the looks of it, nothing too serious happened after all.”

“It’s not as though I died. What’s the worst that could’ve happened?”

Earlier today, Yamamoto Shigekuni had visited Honseichi Yasuda’s estate once more and, upon his return, relayed to Chojirou the tale of how he and two mischievous boys had been caught peeping at the women’s bath and received a thorough punishment from Unohana. Now, Anyou had come to enjoy the spectacle.

“Lately, Captain-Commander Yamamoto seems to be spending quite some time with Lord Yasuda.”

“I don’t think it’s anything unusual.”

Indeed, Yamamoto Shigekuni had frequently visited Yasuda Honseichi of late, and since Chojirou had declined Yasuda’s proposal to marry Unohana to him, Yamamoto had stopped bringing Chojirou along to those meetings. If it was to spare him embarrassment, that would be understandable—but the sheer number of visits was frankly suspicious.

“In any case, the fact you only ended up like this is better than I expected.”

“These injuries will take a week to heal, you know.”

“My initial assumption was permanent paralysis. If it’s only a week, count yourself lucky.”

Hey now, what kind of twisted logic is that—so ready to decide someone’s fate for life?

“Say, Anyou…”

“Yes?”

“You weren’t listening to anything I just said, were you?”

“Your words?”

“I told you, didn’t I? ‘It’s best not to visit Miss Unohana for a while.’”

“Oh? I suppose you did…”

“Did you think I said that just to avoid awkwardness? If only it were that simple, Chojirou.”

Anyou set down his teacup, his expression more solemn than ever before.

“You know nothing of Miss Unohana’s past, do you?”

“…”

With a snap, Yamamoto Shigekuni placed his cup on the table, exhaling a heavy breath.

“I’m sorry about all this, Lord Yasuda.”

“No, while your refusal was certainly unexpected, Yamamoto…”

Yasuda narrowed his eyes.

“Chojirou knows nothing of Yachiru’s past, does he?”

“That’s correct. I believe Unohana’s history predates the time he devoted himself to mastering Bankai, so he likely has no idea.”

“Is that so… Then I truly cannot understand what made him refuse such a perfect match as Unohana…”

Yasuda sighed. If he really was unaware, why in the world would he turn down someone as flawless as Unohana?

“I must say, it was the first time I ever saw Yachiru smile at anyone outside our circle, except for Kirinji.”

Indeed, the once cold and aloof Unohana, who had always kept people at arm’s length, had barely changed even after becoming Yasuda’s disciple. She had personally rejected nearly every marriage proposal from the noble houses—except this one. This time, though Yasuda had suggested it, Unohana had surprisingly agreed.

It could have been an ideal union, but Chojirou’s refusal had turned it all to dust.

“Ah, I suppose I really am getting old…” Yasuda’s attempt at a lighthearted sigh made Yamamoto close his eyes in silent sympathy.

“Old enough to wish for a peaceful retirement, but it seems fate won’t allow it…”

“Lord Yasuda…”

“Say no more, Yamamoto. I was naïve to think everything would go smoothly. Clearly, I was mistaken…”

“Such is life; the heavens rarely oblige our wishes.”

Unohana’s past?

Chojirou fell into silence.

With his unique ability to glimpse into the flow of events, he knew fragments of Unohana’s history.

As one of the original captains of the Gotei Thirteen—once led by Yamamoto Shigekuni—a group renowned for their ruthless efficiency, Unohana’s strength and icy demeanor were beyond question. She bore the title of the first and most formidable “Kenpachi.” Even Chojirou had to concede defeat before her.

“Before she became Lord Yasuda’s disciple, Miss Unohana was a criminal.”

“No, perhaps it’s better to say she was unprecedented—one of a kind.”

Chojirou remained silent, listening intently to Anyou’s words.

“In pursuit of the ultimate swordsmanship, she challenged every dojo in the Soul Society, killing her opponents in the process.”

“In those days, the law of the jungle reigned. If you lacked the skill and were killed, you had no one to blame.”

“But there was a problem—she was simply too strong.”

Anyou paused, taking another sip of tea, eyes closed as if lost in deep reminiscence.

“To every dojo of that era, Miss Unohana was a nightmare.”

“Claiming mastery of every style, every school, she ceaselessly sought out techniques she did not know, and in doing so, left a trail of blood across the land.”

“It’s understandable on a personal level—seeking the unknown is no crime. But for the Soul Society as a whole, it was an unforgivable evil.”

“Until a hundred years ago, when she met Lord Yasuda.”

“What!”

A hundred years ago? That must have been right after Honseichi Yasuda stepped down as Captain-Commander.

“Having resigned his post, Lord Yasuda encountered Miss Unohana by chance, and immediately she issued him a challenge.”

“You can imagine it, can’t you, Chojirou? Unohana’s power was immense, but compared to Lord Yasuda…”

“…”

Of course, Chojirou had witnessed the overwhelming defeat of Mohamed himself—Honseichi Yasuda’s strength had left a profound impression on him.

“It was an utter defeat for Unohana.”

Anyou, who had witnessed that battle with his own eyes, could never forget the gruesome scene.

“Even after achieving Bankai, Captain Unohana lost?”

“No.”

“What?”

“At that time, Miss Unohana hadn’t yet mastered her Bankai… And besides, for a contest of swordsmanship, using Bankai would have been excessive.”

“It was pure defeat by sword alone.”

“And so, Miss Unohana became Lord Yasuda’s disciple.”

“Of course, the nobles were vehemently opposed, but Lord Yasuda shielded her from them all. In the end, Captain-Commander Yamamoto intervened, declaring Unohana an ‘essential asset’ in his official capacity. That silenced the dissenters.”

“I see…”

“The reason I warned you not to see Miss Unohana was for your own safety. If she were to revert to being ‘Yachiru,’ things could get ugly…”

Anyou stood and scratched his ear.

“Well, perhaps I was worrying over nothing. If this is all that happened, you’ll have more chances in the future. Try getting closer to Miss Unohana.”

“Huh? Wouldn’t that be fatal?”

“What are you babbling about? If you were really in danger, you’d be dead already. It seems Miss Unohana thinks rather well of you~~~”

Anyou threw Chojirou a suggestive glance.

“Thinks well of me, my foot!”

Chojirou suddenly sat up in bed.

All around him was stillness; not another soul in sight.

“Good grief…” Realizing what had happened, Chojirou pressed his palm to his forehead in self-mockery.

“To think… I’d dream of the past…”

“Forgive the intrusion, Vice-Captain Shakube.”

A deep voice sounded from beyond the paper door; in the moonlight, Chojirou could just make out the silhouette of someone kneeling outside.

“What is it?”

For anyone to disturb him at this hour, it could only mean summons from that squad.

“My apologies for disturbing you at this late hour, but this comes by order of the Captain-Commander,” the voice continued, utterly devoid of emotion. “Just now, former Twelfth Company Captain Kisuke Urahara and former Grand Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi forcibly broke into the Central Forty-Six Chambers and are now missing.”

“I understand. You may go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Outside, silence returned.

“My, my, before I knew it, a thousand years have gone by…” Chojirou crawled out from under his covers and donned his shihakusho.

“The wheels are back on track, at last.”