The result, however, was dismissed by the other party's enigmatic gaze, only saying: "The captain is fine, no need to worry."
Exchanging glances, they left...
Today is yet another gentle and sunny afternoon,
In the small courtyard behind the first squad quarters…
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, as usual, sat cross-legged on the wooden corridor in the courtyard, with the ancient staff, wrapped in Ryuujin Jakka, by his side... eyes closed, basking in the sun,
Before him,
In a Death God attire with a high-necked shirt beneath, white hair, golden eyes, occasionally dressed in Western style, Chojiro Sasakibe tended to two pots of green plants, casually chatting with the old man...
Speaking of the concerns from numerous Death Gods including Kyoraku and Ukitake, he warmly urged the elderly man: "Genryuusai, you've been a bit out of character lately… If you continue like this, Kyoraku and Ukitake might have to bring out Unohana..."
The Fourth Squad Captain, Unohana Retsu, in charge of medical care… skilled at healing, yet...
"I'm not sick."
"I'm not saying you are," Chojiro Sasakibe turned his head helplessly to look at Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, and said: "Everyone is worried about you, even that reckless Kenpachi can see you're not right, he's almost gone crazy from being refused sword practice by you each time."
"Crazy? Crazy is good…" Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni leisurely opened his old eyes, raised his head to look at the sky, the sun shining brightly, much like that day he first met the boy, now in reminiscence, as if dreaming, or mad...
'Is it false?'
Clearly not...
'But if it's true,'
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, sitting in the Soul Court, with heaven-reaching hands and eyes, could not find a trace of the boy in the Current World, let alone the garden, and the dazzling sword, burning with flames almost identical to his!
Melancholy... The old man drifted off again, seeing this, Chojiro Sasakibe finally could not hold back, he uncharacteristically overstepped his bounds, asking as both vice-captain and old friend: "That day, what did you see inside the door, that left you so absent-minded?"
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's piercing and majestic brows moved silently but did not answer,
He reached out a withered hand, touched his chest, feeling that heart, eroded by over two thousand years, still beating steadily, hoping it would disorder itself once more... Speak of the devil, suddenly... a glowing portal emerged slowly from the sunlight,
The old man was stunned, his tall figure a sudden jolt, then... stood abruptly, grabbing Ryuujin Jakka by his side!
"What's wrong, Genryuusai?" Chojiro Sasakibe frowned, sensing a connection, blurting out: "The door... is it that door?"
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni stayed silent, his gaze swept straight over Chojiro Sasakibe's shoulder, pinned on the space behind him,
The man's golden eyes squinted unconsciously, following the old man's gaze… empty behind, nothing but sunlight, deceived by a false view....
"You can't see it," Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni murmured softly: "It's opened for me alone, also... solely for me..."
Chojiro Sasakibe: "....."
Helpless,
Only holding the watering can, stepped aside...
"Then don't keep it waiting."
The portal was right in front, yet unseen, untouchable... How many years, Chojiro Sasakibe had not encountered such a situation, he understood Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, briskly stepping aside, letting the old man brush past his shoulder, heading straight towards that unseen portal.
When the old man, dragging his long beard, securely held the staff hidden within Ryuujin Jakka and half entered the portal disappearing from sight...
A sudden shout: "Genryuusai, when you return, I hope you can give me an answer."
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni paused, neither agreeing nor refusing, once more stepping forward, bathed in streaming light, straight into the portal, vanishing...
"Whoosh~" A gentle wind arose, enveloping spiritual power, dancing in the sky...
As he watched him go, Chojiro Sasakibe slightly bent over, looked back, fixed his gaze on the wooden corridor, unexpectedly... the old man's soul had departed, yet his physical body remained seated cross-legged there, inexplicably eerie!
One must know, Death Gods are pure single life forms composed of high concentrations of spiritual particles, essentially a soul!
However, that "invisible door" could let Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's soul "leave his body"!
Once again, turning Chojiro Sasakibe's knowledge and understanding as a Death God upside down!
He extended a hand, pinched a thread of spiritual power, murmured: "If Death Gods can truly die, is there still need for [Soul Funeral]?"
(Note: [Soul Funeral]: Due to high concentrations of spiritual pressure, unable to naturally decompose or return to the Soul Society, a soul funeral rite must be conducted to send their souls to the underworld. In hell, they become "Gu Ren," enduring endless torture and battles, until their sins are purified.)
Hand loosened again, letting that thread of spiritual power flow away...
Nonetheless, finished watering the flowers, like last time, inwardly heightened vigilance, sat cross-legged beside Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, maintaining alertness, awaiting his return...
Flying flying... "Creak~" The "Death God's Door" standing in Roy's Sea of Cognition revealed a crack, allowing a flow of consciousness to emerge...
Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni stepped into the portal, his mind hazy, began falling, returning conscious again, much like last time, eyes open, the sight he beheld was a familiar figure!
Yet, this time,
The boy was without a sword, on the contrary, compared to their last encounter in the garden, more... radiant!
Even more intense,
Even more unviewable,
Even more incredible,
Like the sun, causing him to involuntarily squint, gripping Ryuujin Jakka!
"You wield no sword, yet embody a sword… you are not the sun, yet transform into blazing sun...." The old man's long beard fluttered in the wind, stepping out, standing high alongside the boy, facing his light and heat directly... thoughts flying, seeming to return to that lush garden...
However, this time, the boy's once black hair turned red, as if ignited, no longer with his back to draw his sword towards the sky, absorbing sunlight.
But embodying a sun, burning himself… after a long separation, the change was immense, like two different people!
"Buzz..." The Nen wind and Nen light blew… as the [Sun Essence] and [World Power] brought by the Higanbana was gradually absorbed by Roy,
The young man took note of the panel prompt sound, prompting....
[Absorption of Higanbana complete]
[Remaining flowers: 1745]
Roy's eyebrows moved, slowly opening his eyes… sensing with heart, amidst streaming light... turning his head slightly… "Phoo~" Two suns, leaped from his pupils, even more than in the past, dazzling, glaring, radiant... domineering much more!
Smiling at Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, revealing two rows of white teeth: "Good evening, see you again."
Evening? Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni's aged sharp eyes, marked by time and weather, faced the sun directly, neither hiding nor evading, chuckled deeply... spreading heavy laughter, dropping like a weight on the ground, seemingly capable of leaving a crater, glancing offhandedly, dispelled darkness vanishing without a trace, back to the blue sky and white clouds: "Boy, this hardly seems like evening."
"Just call me Roy."
"Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni."
"I know."
"I didn't know you knew," Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni leaned on Ryuujin Jakka, looked deeply and asked: "Roy, can you tell me, where is this?"
Current World? Dreamland? Or Cognitive World?
Roy's mind shifted, retracting Nen aura freely scattered, consequently,
The sun disappeared, divine light dimmed, night returned, the young man followed, back to the bright moonlight, reached out his right hand, inserting through the hair, letting all fiery red long hair fall back, playfully blinked at Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni and said: "When falsehood becomes truth, truth turns false, where there's an illusory place, illusion becomes reality,"
"Why bother tangled in where it is?"
"Captain, you can see this as reality within the illusion, or as illusion within the reality,"
"Just like..."
"Mirror Flower Water Moon!"