Three days later, in West Karakura Town—
"The sunlight in the World of the Living isn't that different from the Soul Society's," Yoruichi Shihōin said, standing on the roof of an attic, one hand on her hip, the other shielding her eyes. The entirety of West Karakura Town was laid out before her.
A girl with a baby face jumped onto the roof, using Shunpo to appear before Yoruichi. She was Yoruichi's teammate for the exam.
"Boss, have you found any anomalies over here?" her teammate asked.
"Nope..." Yoruichi sighed. "You can't eat or touch anything you see. The World of the Living is so boring!"
After two or three days of patrolling, she had grown tired of this mission. It was just too uneventful!
They hadn't found anything unusual, not even a single Hollow.
Yesterday, a different group had run into a Hollow that had wandered over from East Street, but her group had encountered nothing, leaving her itching for a fight, feeling like she had all these skills but no way to use them.
"Looks like our group's patrol is going to pass peacefully," the girl said. "I was kind of hoping something would happen. It would be good for extra credit."
A short-haired young man suddenly appeared beside her. "Boss, I've finished my check over here. Nothing abnormal."
"All that's left is Rii. Once she gets back, we can report to Professor Katori and Miss Kawata," Yoruichi nodded.
Just then, her eyebrows shot up. She sensed an abnormal Spiritual Pressure fluctuation in the distance.
"A Hollow?" Yoruichi waved her hand. "Looks like Rii's in trouble. Let's go back her up!"
Yoruichi and the young man disappeared using Shunpo. Their teammate then summoned a Hell Butterfly and reported, "Professor Katori, Miss Kawata, we've detected the spiritual pressure of a Hollow on West Street. Rii Hoshino is near the fluctuation. We're heading there to help her."
"Be careful," Katori Sora's voice replied through the butterfly.
Rii Hoshino had discovered a "Plus" inside a house.
Normally, the souls of humans who die in the World of the Living go to the Soul Society on their own.
However, some souls have lingering attachments to the World of the Living for certain reasons. They do not go to the Soul Society and instead remain, becoming "Pluses".
If a Plus's attachment is too strong, the chain on their body called the 'Chain of Fate' will be corroded by their own obsession. At that point, the Plus will transform into an evil spirit, also known as a 'Hollow'.
Therefore, sending Pluses to the Soul Society is also a Shinigami's duty.
The Plus Rii discovered was a little girl, dressed in a delicate little kimono, who must have lived on West Street when she was alive.
"Big sister, can you see me?" the little girl asked, surprised. The people here couldn't see her.
"I'm a Shinigami. Don't be afraid. I'm here to send you to the Soul Society," Rii said patiently. "There, everyone will be able to see and talk to you."
"But..." the little girl fidgeted. "I don't want to leave yet..."
"Little one, why do you want to stay here?" Rii asked gently, crouching down. "Are your family members inside? It's not good for you or for them if you stay."
"My mommy is sick. I want to wait until she's better before I leave," the little girl said timidly.
"Is that so..." Rii felt this was a difficult situation. Her duty was to perform Konso on the girl now, but seeing how small she was, and her simple wish, she felt a pang of sympathy.
"Then why are you here, and not by your mother's side?" Rii asked.
"Daddy said I was sick and couldn't visit mommy, or she would get sick too..." the girl said dejectedly. "I secretly went to see her before, and maybe I made her sick, so I don't dare see her now..."
In this era, even a high fever could be fatal.
"You're a spirit now. Whatever illness you had before is gone. Your mother's sickness has nothing to do with you," Rii said, patting the girl's head.
"Did I cause trouble for you, big sister?" the little girl asked, biting her lip. "If so, I'll go with you. But... can I see my mommy one last time before I leave?"
"Of course. I'll go with you," Rii said softly.
"Thank you, big sister! My mommy is right there!" the little girl said, pointing towards the back of the house.
Rii took her hand and they walked toward the backyard, which was bustling with people rushing about.
"That's my daddy," the little girl said, pointing to a worried-looking young man.
"What's the situation? Has the midwife been called?" the young man asked a servant.
"Please rest assured, young master. The midwife has already gone inside," the servant replied. The young man nodded and paced back and forth.
From inside, the high-pitched screams of a woman could be heard.
"Mommy sounds like she's in a lot of pain. Big sister, let's go in," the girl said, full of worry.
Rii suddenly understood and smiled. "It seems your mother isn't sick, she's having a baby. Your little brother or sister is about to be born!"
"Really? I'm going to have a little brother or sister?" the girl's expression changed from worry to joy. "That's wonderful! After I'm gone, they can keep mommy company for me!"
They waited outside for a long time. The screams from inside grew weaker. Worried, Rii said, "Let's go in."
Inside, several servants and a midwife were assisting with the birth. The woman's hands were gripping the edge of the bed so tightly they had left deep scratches.
"Mommy!" the little girl cried, rushing to her mother's side.
The woman's eyes opened. She saw the girl, let go of the bed, and reached for her. "Mei? Is that you, Mei?"
"Mommy, I came to see you!"
"Mei... I didn't take good care of you..."
"It's not your fault, mommy..." Mother and daughter were both in tears.
"Who is Mei?" the midwife asked a servant. "Call her over, it might give the lady some strength!"
"Mei is... the lady's daughter who has already passed away," the servant replied helplessly.
"This is bad, the lady is delirious! Bring the medicine, keep her lucid!" the midwife said in alarm.
After the woman drank the medicine, and perhaps because she saw her daughter, her condition stabilized a little.
A moment later, the midwife exclaimed, "It's coming!" A few minutes later, the cry of a baby was heard, and everyone sighed in relief.
"A healthy mother and son!"
"I want to see my little brother," the girl said.
"Let me hold the child," the woman said, and then, ignoring the strange looks from the others, she held the baby up for her daughter's spirit to see. "Mei, this is your little brother..."
Rii watched this scene, a trace of doubt in her heart. Most humans cannot see souls. Generally speaking, only people with a talent for spiritual power can see and interact with souls.
According to the girl, her mother shouldn't have been able to see her. But now she could.
Suddenly, she heard a sound from her right. BOOM—
Rii only had time to draw her Zanpakutō before she was sent flying by a massive force.
She crashed into a heavy wooden table, sending it flying with her until they smashed through a corner of the wall.
"Cough, cough—" she struggled to get up, but found her hand wouldn't move. Her arm bone was broken!
Before she was hit, she had seen that the enemy was a Hollow, but even now, she couldn't sense its Spiritual Pressure.
It was a Hollow skilled in concealing its energy!
"Mei, run!" Rii heard the woman's urgent cry.
She looked up, and her pupils constricted. A Hollow with a long tail had appeared. Its tail had already pierced through the woman's stomach.
In that last moment, the woman had summoned her strength, handed the newborn baby to her daughter's spirit, and pushed her away.
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