"Lord Shuuichi… are you sure this is okay?"
Inside the 12th Division barracks of the Gotei 13, Yushima Ōshu looked anxiously at what was left of the former captain's quarters—now Kurotsuchi Mayuri's lab—essentially reduced to rubble.
He had thought that when Higashi Shuuichi said he'd "have a talk" with Mayuri, it would be just that—a conversation.
He hadn't expected "talk" to involve this much property damage.
"If your captain says it's fine, what the hell are you stressing over?" Shuuichi replied nonchalantly, glancing toward the 12th Division members scrambling to salvage the remains of their lab.
He couldn't leave Seireitei just yet—leaving immediately would be too suspicious. He had to at least wait until Ōshu's normal "end of shift" window.
In truth, Shuuichi could wander around freely, thanks to the Gigai he wore—a perfect physical disguise. It functioned nearly the same as the one Urahara Kisuke had made for him in the World of the Living.
Except it was uncomfortable as hell.
Still, he decided not to push his luck. If he ran into someone eccentric or unorthodox, things could spiral.
"Then… Lord Shuuichi, do you think Captain Mayuri will really let me work on the project?"
Ōshu scratched his head sheepishly, both desperate for validation and afraid of overstepping.
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Shuuichi gave a sidelong glance. "But I'll be honest—Mayuri told me if you don't meet his standards, he'll kick you out without hesitation. Even if it means ignoring my recommendation."
Then Shuuichi froze.
Because he spotted someone he least wanted to see.
"Captain Unohana? Why are you here in person? Where's Yamada Kiyonosuke?"
Mayuri stood at the ruined lab's entrance, surprised. Unohana Retsu rarely handled these incidents herself. Usually it was left to her Lieutenant—once Shuuichi himself, now Yamada.
"Just happened to be nearby picking up supplies," Unohana smiled sweetly. "Heard there was a little accident at your place, so I figured I'd drop by."
She had seen a stranger among the crowd—a man whose face she had never laid eyes on, but who somehow felt disturbingly familiar.
"I apologize for the inconvenience, Captain Unohana," Mayuri said with his usual flat tone. "This was just a failed experiment. No casualties."
Unohana didn't respond. She stepped closer to the rubble, reaching out to brush her fingers over a fractured stone edge—one that had been sliced by the lingering wave of Shuuichi's Fuzan.
She retracted her hand and gazed into the hollow depths below.
"Captain Mayuri," she said softly, "Are you particularly skilled with zanjutsu?"
"I specialize in research."
Unohana smiled faintly. Her eyes drifted back toward the space where she had seen the unfamiliar figure. It was now empty.
Outside Rukongai, word of the incident hadn't yet spread, and Mayuri hadn't reported it to Central 46. So, Bijūnyūdō, still guarding the South Gate, didn't suspect a thing. Seeing both Ōshu and Shuuichi again, he let them pass with little fuss.
"Lord Shuuichi, why are we leaving in such a rush? If word gets out about the lab, Bijūnyūdō's going to notice something's off. He might report us!"
Ōshu followed breathlessly. He couldn't understand why Shuuichi had suddenly insisted on getting out immediately.
"No time for questions. You'll be fine—just stick to the cover story I gave you. Your captain will back you up."
Shuuichi was sweating now, and not from the exertion. While walking, he activated a signal device—something Urahara had made using Hell Butterfly tech—to alert Kisuke to prep a Senkaimon for his return to the World of the Living.
The real reason for the emergency exit? Simple.
Unohana Retsu.
When she walked straight to the remnant slab in the lab—the one carved by Fuzan—and touched it, Shuuichi knew she recognized the technique.
If anyone in Soul Society knew Fuzan intimately, it was her.
She had been defeated by it.
Even more than Yamamoto, Unohana understood it.
And right now, outside of Shuuichi himself, only three people in existence could use it: Yamamoto Genryūsai, Unohana Retsu… and Higashi Shuuichi.
The moment she gave him that meaningful glance upon entering the 12th Division, Shuuichi knew: he had to run.
"You're… leaving, Lord Shuuichi?"
Ōshu noticed they weren't heading to his home, and his expression dimmed with realization. There was something in his tone—wistful. Even regretful.
He'd only known Shuuichi for half a year, but in that time, he'd felt more seen, more valued, than ever before.
"I've recovered," Shuuichi said with a nod. "Had my talk with Mayuri. It's time to return to the Living World."
And so they walked in silence.
Shuuichi had told him he didn't need to follow—but Ōshu trailed behind anyway, all the way to the rendezvous point.
Breath ragged, he suddenly blurted:
"Lord Shuuichi… can I… go with you? To the Living World?"
Shuuichi blinked.
Wasn't this the same guy obsessed with proving himself to Soul Society? With crushing the ones who mocked him?
He had everything lined up now: the foundation, the tools, the plan. And now he wanted to run?
Absolutely not.
That was not how this script went.
Yushima Ōshu was supposed to stay here, refine modified soul tech, master the Dangai… hell, maybe even create a second haven in the future.
He was not supposed to be one more liability hanging off Shuuichi's hip.
Shuuichi knelt slightly, voice gentle but firm.
"Ōshu. I've always admired your talent. I asked Mayuri to take you under his wing for two reasons—so you'd gain experience, and so you'd grow."
"No storm, no rainbow."
"One day, I will return to Soul Society. And when I do, I want to see you not as a child behind me… but as a captain standing beside me."
Ōshu looked up—Shuuichi was backlit by the sun, like a god made flesh.
He thinks that highly of me? He believes I'm worthy of that future?
He bit back a sob.
"I'm sorry, Lord Shuuichi… I was wrong."
He looked down in shame.
And then—
A warm hand ruffled his hair.
"No, Ōshu. You weren't wrong. Just… misdirected."
"But how can I follow you if I'm not by your side?"
"Silly kid. By staying here. Study with Mayuri. Dig into modified soul research. Learn everything you can about the Dangai. And Fullbring. And everything else…"
"I'm not perfect, Ōshu. That's why I took this risk to return and meet with Mayuri."
"I need allies. So… will you be one?"
Shuuichi's voice was soft, almost like a breeze.
It didn't just open the boy's heart—it welded it shut around his loyalty.
"I will!"
Just then, the Senkaimon opened behind Shuuichi.
Ōshu knew this was goodbye.
"Lord Shuuichi, I swear—I'll work hard!"
He wiped his tears and saluted with both pride and devotion.
"I believe in you, Ōshu."
Shuuichi turned and approached the gate.
And then—he stopped.
Because the gate split in half.
Literally—cleaved clean through.
"You came all this way… and weren't going to drop by for a visit?"
A woman in white robes, holding her Zanpakutō, smiled warmly from the other side.
As if she hadn't just cut a gateway open like it was paper.
"Captain Unohana, really—was that necessary?" Shuuichi laughed nervously.
He knew better than to pretend ignorance now. That'd only insult her intelligence.
Besides, the disguise Gigai he wore blocked spiritual perception completely—even he couldn't sense her until she'd attacked.
"Run, Lord Shuuichi!"
But what surprised him was Ōshu—who charged right at Unohana, blade drawn.
"Spin, Getsurin!"
"Bakudō 26: Kyokkō."
A blur. Shuuichi stepped in, pressed a hand to Ōshu's chest, and knocked him unconscious.
"…Lord Shuuichi?"
Ōshu looked up one last time, confused, as the darkness closed in.
"Leave it to me," Shuuichi whispered.
Unohana just smiled.
"Remember what I told you when you were my lieutenant?" she asked. "I can let you disappear… but only if you return with a surprise."
"This time," her voice dropped, "you disappointed me."
Shuuichi sighed, setting Ōshu gently down and peeling off his Gigai skin to reveal his true form.
"Strictly speaking, Captain… this wasn't me disappearing. I had to flee to fix my Hollowfication problem. Not exactly time to train."
"Oh?" she tilted her head. "And the Hollow?"
"Under control."
"Then let's begin."
She raised her sword. The pressure of her Reiatsu began to rise.
"Wait! WAIT—!"
Shuuichi's head throbbed.
Suddenly, Zaraki didn't seem so bad anymore.
"At least let's change venues?!"
In desperation, he Hollowfied and tore open a Garganta.
Anywhere but here. The Reiatsu suppression field from Urahara couldn't take a brawl between him and Unohana.
If a single Captain—maybe even Yamamoto—showed up, it'd be over.
Muken was a nice option, but Unohana clearly wasn't in the mood to request clearance.
And since Urahara's only Senkaimon was wrecked… there was only one real option left.
Hueco Mundo.
Seeing the dark rift open, Unohana simply smiled.
"As expected."
And without hesitation, she followed him into the Garganta.