Broken Peak One-Day Trial Card
Shiraishi used E-stepping Slash to rush back toward the mountainside of Broken Peak.
At level four, the technique's speed had increased, while its spiritual pressure consumption had lessened.
He landed midway.
Beneath the shade of the trees, beside the small figure of Broken Peak, stood a woman with waist-length hair.
"Unohana," he called out, unsurprised by her presence. Even Shiba Kūkaku had been able to sense Nnoitra's crushing reiatsu; there was no way she would have ignored it.
What puzzled him was the absence of Kotetsu Isane. "Isn't Kotetsu with you?"
"I sent her to the base to check if there were other injured," replied Unohana Retsu, her tone calm but curt.
She pulled down Broken Peak's torn Shihakushō, exposing a blood-stained chest.
The flesh, split open to the bone, was ghastly to look at—enough to kill a man's interest in an instant. Then again, Shiraishi knew that men as a species had… flexible interests. Somewhere in the world, there were surely people even drawn to bloody wounds.
He wasn't one of them. So he kept his distance, asking instead, "Is she going to be alright?"
"I'm off duty today. I didn't bring any herbs for stopping blood or tending wounds."
A faint crease formed on Unohana's usually serene face. Who could have thought a simple leave would turn into such a bothersome situation?
Shiraishi felt panic creep in. "Then… what do we do?"
"The only way is to use Kaidō healing."
"..."
Shiraishi was speechless.
Really? If medicine didn't work, then just heal her outright? Only Unohana could make such a Versailles-like statement sound natural.
"Those who never experience the pain of battle," she continued softly, "become drawn to it and begin to despise it. That is dangerous."
He understood her meaning. In the past, Unohana rarely used Kaidō immediately. She deliberately healed patients with herbs first, letting them experience pain, teaching them to respect combat. If she saved them too easily, more soldiers threw themselves into reckless battles, clinging to the belief that as long as Captain Unohana was present, they would always survive.
This time, however, Suì-Fēng's injuries were too grave. Without immediate treatment, she would die.
Unohana placed her hand on the broken flesh. Emerald light of Kaidō spread across the wound.
Before Shiraishi's eyes, torn flesh knit together with terrifying speed—rivaling even Hollow regeneration.
In mere moments, the wounds were gone.
Adjusting the collar of Suì-Fēng's Shihakushō to preserve her modesty, Unohana spoke softly, "When she wakes and asks who treated her, do not mention my name. I have no wish to embarrass her."
She avoided meeting Suì-Fēng's face. After all, shame before a stranger could be endured, but shame before an acquaintance cut too deeply.
"No problem," Shiraishi nodded.
With that, Unohana vanished in a flash step, off to rejoin Kotetsu.
A faint moan escaped Suì-Fēng's lips as she stirred. Her eyelashes trembled before her eyes slowly opened.
The crushing reiatsu of the Arrancar was gone.
That guy… actually won?
She could hardly believe it. That Hollow's instincts and hardened shell had been formidable; breaking through it might have required her Bankai.
But Shiraishi… could he really have defeated it?
"Awake already?"
At his irritating voice, Suì-Fēng raised her head weakly. "Where's the Hollow?"
"I dealt with him. Hah! Pretty strong, right?"
"Nonsense."
True to form, she was stubborn. Rather than acknowledge his strength, she preferred to believe the Hollow had simply retreated on its own. That way, she wouldn't have to feel inferior to Shiraishi.
Her life's goal was to surpass all previous Second Division Captains. Losing to someone who wasn't even a Shinigami was unacceptable.
Still… she couldn't quite silence her heart.
Shiraishi cut to the point. "Alright, then. As thanks for saving your life, cancel your squad's pursuit of me."
That had been part of his motivation for saving her: to cash in a favor and end the stealth corps' constant hounding.
Suì-Fēng's refusal was immediate. "Impossible."
"I saved your life!"
"Then I'll make it even. If you want, kill me right now. Otherwise, I'll just capture you later and die in the process. Either way, the debt is paid."
Her eyes closed as she tilted her neck, exposing it. Her reiatsu hadn't recovered; she was too weak to resist. If he wanted her life, so be it.
Staring at her, Shiraishi sighed. Clearly, persuading her to give up her pursuit was pointless. Still, he softened his tone.
"Suì-Fēng, you don't want to die like this."
Her eyes opened at the unusual gentleness in his voice. Instinctively, she scooted back, clutching the front of her Shihakushō.
"You can keep your life," she muttered, "but I won't give you anything else."
Shiraishi rolled his eyes. "What are you even thinking? I'm not that kind of guy. I just want you to accompany me to the living world for a whole day. A date. You bring the Gigai."
"A… date?" she asked suspiciously.
"Yes. That means spending the whole day together—holding hands, maybe a kiss. But no need to take off any clothes."
He grinned. "That way, you'll have repaid me."
Suì-Fēng fell silent. If it was only through a Gigai… hand-holding, even a cheek kiss, didn't really count, did it?
"…Fine. A kiss on the cheek, at most."
Her pride balked at anything more, even through an artificial body.
"Deal. Let's just treat it like a couple's first date."
Though a little disappointed, Shiraishi didn't push further. He simply wanted to know what dating felt like—something he'd never experienced.
Going to amusement parks, strolling through parks, skating, sightseeing… the very thought made him excited.
"So, when do we go?"
"The Gigai will have to come from the Technology Development Bureau. And I'll need the Captain-Commander's approval for a trip to the living world." She paused, calculating. "Half a month at the earliest."
"Half a month?!"
Shiraishi nearly exploded at the bureaucracy—but then calmed down. For Soul Society, that was probably normal. "Fine. I'll wait here."
"Good." Suì-Fēng's reiatsu was stabilizing. She stood, still weak, and said, "I'll return first."
"Goodbye," Shiraishi waved.
Left alone, he allowed his thoughts to drift. For once, he looked forward to something. Half a month, and a real date…
Then, inevitably, his mind wandered to Aizen.
If he had already drawn Aizen's attention, perhaps another Espada would be dispatched.