Yoruichi stood by the doorway, her head hanging low. Beside the old man, Yūshirō knelt on the floor, his body curled up as tears streamed down his face.
The old man mustered every ounce of his remaining strength, raising a trembling hand toward Kenma, yet he found himself unable to bridge the distance. As the hand began to fall, Kenma reached out and gently grasped the withered, bark-like hand.
"Father, do not worry. Rest well, and your body will recover soon—"
Kenma's voice was soft, but before he could continue, he felt a faint tug on his hand. The old man slowly shook his head, interrupting him.
"My own body... I know it well. I don't have much longer."
"However... to see you one last time before I go... it is enough."
Kenma's expression shifted with emotion. He wanted to say more, but the old man cut him off again. Those clouded eyes turned toward the Captain of Squad 4 standing nearby.
"Captain... Unohana... I'm counting on you..."
Unohana nodded slightly and looked at Kenma. "Grand Commander Kenma, please step back. I need to perform the final treatments."
"The final..."
Doubt flickered in Kenma's heart. He looked at the weak-breathing Shun'gen Shihoin and saw that the old man's face was very calm. Shun'gen gave him a slight nod, clearly having something in mind.
Under Unohana Retsu's direction, Kenma and Yūshirō retreated to the lower end of the room, leaving only Unohana there to make a final effort with her Kaido.
Yoruichi moved over with heavy steps. Her beautiful face was no longer filled with its usual cheer and carefree spirit; at this moment, it was draped in deep sorrow.
"Kenma... Father really isn't going to make it..."
"If it weren't for his desire to see you one last time, he wouldn't have held on until now."
"So I was thinking... if only you had come a little later, that would have been better..."
Kenma gently patted his wife's shoulder. Seeing her so grief-stricken, he pulled her into his embrace. Yoruichi buried her head deep into his chest. Kenma could feel her body trembling, sensing waves of sorrow and hearing the faintest sounds of muffled sobbing.
Compared to Yoruichi's profound grief over her father's passing, Kenma found that although he wanted to immerse himself in the mourning atmosphere of the room and feel the same heartfelt emotion as Yoruichi, he simply couldn't.
In the end, he realized that his feelings for his father-in-law were not as heavy as Yoruichi's. He was deeply grateful for the old man's promotion and trust, and he felt a great sense of obligation for the kindness shown to him. But regarding the man's death, Kenma's emotions weren't filled with the expected reluctance or tragedy; they were merely a bit complex.
"What did Captain Unohana say? What about Urahara Kisuke and the others?"
Yoruichi shook her head slightly in his arms without speaking. Clearly, the results were not ideal.
After a while, Unohana Retsu stood up. She gave a slight nod to Kenma and the others standing below and walked out without a word.
"Yoruichi, Yūshirō, Kenma..."
The old man's voice rang out. Compared to the thread-like whisper from before, it now possessed a bit more strength. Hearing the summons, the three hurried over.
The old man's face was now flushed with color, and his spirit seemed much better than his previous half-dead state. However, Kenma could clearly sense that the old man's body was becoming even weaker; this was merely the terminal lucidity before death.
After calling the three to his side and giving them a few simple instructions, he dismissed the others. Only the old man and Kenma remained in the room.
Knowing his end was near, the old man looked at Kenma with clouded eyes that flashed with a trace of complexity.
"Kenma... entering the Shihoin family... and having to deal with Yoruichi's nonsense... it must have been hard on you..."
Kenma gently held the old man's hand. "Father, don't say that. It is my honor to have earned your regard and trust."
"Kenma, Kenma..."
The old man's hand tightened, gripping Kenma's hand as his tone grew urgent.
"Since you entered the Shihoin family, though I have been recovering from illness, I could feel it... You are not the type to be content with an honest, law-abiding life. You are more like Kōga Kuchiki..."
"Tell me, what do you... what do you actually want? Will you harm Yoruichi and Yūshirō?"
A flash of surprise crossed Kenma's eyes, but he suppressed it instantly. He shook his head and gave the old man a guarantee: "Rest assured, Father. I will never be like Kōga Kuchiki, and I will never harm Yoruichi or Yūshirō."
Seeing Kenma speak so firmly, Shun'gen sighed and stopped questioning him.
"If you don't want to go into detail, then forget it... as long as you can make such a promise, I am satisfied."
"Yoruichi has a lively personality, and Yūshirō is young. The future of the Shihoin family depends on you now..."
The old man gave Kenma a few more instructions. After a bout of coughing, he asked Kenma to call Yoruichi and Yūshirō back in.
Seeing the siblings enter, Kenma knew the man had words for his children, so he tactfully exited the room.
As Kenma closed the door, Shun'gen sighed. His gaze fell upon the pair of children sitting beside him. He opened his mouth, but the words that came out were extremely weak.
"Yoruichi, Yūshirō, listen well..."
"Father, speak, I'm listening."
Yoruichi's eyes were filled with tears, yet she tried to look strong, forcing herself not to cry. Yūshirō, being younger, was already sobbing uncontrollably, his face covered in tears.
The old man spoke slowly: "Yūshirō has a gentle and kind nature. With the power of the Shihoin family behind him, I am not too worried about him..."
"But Yoruichi, you are impulsive. In the future, you must think twice before acting. You must not be reckless..."
Yoruichi nodded repeatedly.
The old man glanced outside and then looked back at Yoruichi, a trace of worry appearing on his face.
"Kenma... I misjudged him."
"I originally thought he was serious and honest, but in recent years, I've seen that he is definitely not as simple as he appears. He is surely hiding something..."
"You must keep an eye out in the future. Do not let him destroy the Shihoin family or harm you."
Seeing Yoruichi's grief-stricken expression, the old man paused and then shook his head.
"No, Yoruichi, you are no match for him..."
"He is a man who values relationships. He has a clear distinction between friend and foe, so he regards his own people very highly. Yoruichi... you must involve yourself in his affairs. Even if you have to be forceful, you must get involved..."
"Let him view you as one of his own. Only then will you not be abandoned... only then will you remain under his protection. Do you understand?"
"I understand, I understand, Father..." Yoruichi could no longer hold back; tears slid down her cheeks.
Shun'gen reached out and gripped his daughter's hand tightly. He knew Yoruichi was also the type to value relationships. In the time since their marriage, she had gradually accepted Kenma's presence as her husband.
That was for the best. Perhaps letting Yoruichi board Kenma's warship—regardless of where it was headed—was the best way to ensure her safety.
"Yoruichi... use my death... use the fact that he didn't come immediately to press him..."
"He feels guilt in his heart. If you take this opportunity to push him... he will surely reveal things to you. Once you are in the know, you will be one of his own, someone he accepts completely. You will become his most cherished confidante..."
"And... children. You must have children to be more secure. Yoruichi... do you understand?"
The old man hissed out the words with great effort, but his body could no longer support such exertion. Though he gritted his teeth to endure, his spoken words were now almost silent.
In his final moments, his last look was at Yoruichi's tearful face.
"What a pity..."
"I won't be able to see your children. It truly is a regret..."
A nearly undetectable sound escaped his lips. The old man let go of all his burdens and worries, and his breath ceased completely.
Outside the room, Kenma heard a piercing cry from within. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
The old man... was finally gone.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]