"Although I can only maintain it for a while, I have definitely mastered it," Muten Natsu answered honestly. "The consumption is huge, but so is the improvement. Compared to the Hollowfication I figured out on my own before, I can use my abilities much more smoothly now, and it's more stable too."
"How is the Primordial Form?"
"About that. At first, I thought the Primordial Form was the Hollow inside me, but it turns out it isn't." Muten Natsu briefly described how he had mastered Hollowfication. "Now I can use Hollowfication in my inner world, but I still can't beat the Primordial Form."
Muten Natsu was genuinely frustrated.
He had not expected the boost from Hollowfication to be enough only to help him withstand two more slashes.
"You don't need to feel discouraged. The Primordial Form is using your power, which means that during the battle, there's not only your own consumption, but the Primordial Form's consumption as well." Retsu Unohana chuckled softly. "Besides, in the end, the Primordial Form is only simulating battle. It isn't a real fight. The improvement you can gain from that is limited."
"A real fight, huh..." Muten Natsu had noticed that too, but in a real fight, enemies' abilities varied wildly. It was rare to have a simple clash of Zanjutsu.
"There's no need to rush. Take your time. You'll have your chance." Retsu Unohana stroked Muten Natsu's head. "What is the Visored Corps' stance?"
"They naturally hate Aizen, but their attitude toward Shinigami isn't very good either." After spending time with them recently, Muten Natsu had come to understand the Visored Corps' stance more clearly. After all, their experiences were somewhat similar. "They aren't allies, but they're even less like enemies."
"That's enough." Retsu Unohana reminded him, "Hueco Mundo's environment is different from the World of the Living and Soul Society. It's filled everywhere with Hollow power, and it may have unknown effects on your body, so you must be careful in everything you do."
"Mm. I'll keep that in mind."
Retsu Unohana looked at Muten Natsu. "Actually, you don't need to go along for the invasion of Hueco Mundo."
"Aren't you going?"
"Me going doesn't mean you have to go too."
"Mm, that makes sense." Muten Natsu smiled. "I'll use that same argument on Rukia and Orihime later."
"You really are..." Retsu Unohana poked Muten Natsu's forehead with her fair fingertip. "Still so willful. By the way, how have things been with them lately?"
"Pretty good. We haven't argued."
"That's it?" Retsu Unohana glanced toward the kitchen.
"What else?"
"It's about time you..." Retsu Unohana had only gotten halfway through her sentence when Orihime Inoue pushed the door open.
"I'm back~" Orihime Inoue waved happily.
"Did something good happen?" Retsu Unohana noticed the smile on Orihime Inoue's face.
"I was just with Tatsuki-chan..." Orihime Inoue blinked. "Did I interrupt you?"
"No." Retsu Unohana shook her head. "We were just finishing."
Muten Natsu: "?" Were we?
It's about time I what?
The fragrant curry was brought to the table. Isane Kotetsu tried a bite. "Mm... It's spicy!"
"Ah..." Rukia Kuchiki looked a little apologetic. "I'll go make something else."
"No, no!" Isane Kotetsu quickly waved her hands. "It just caught me off guard..." She took another couple of bites. "Mm~ Once I get used to it, I can taste the sweetness and the aroma right away. It makes my whole body feel warm."
Rukia Kuchiki sighed in relief. "That's good..."
"No wonder Rukia wanted to make this for me last time." Retsu Unohana calmly ate several bites. "It really is delicious."
Orihime Inoue looked at Retsu Unohana curiously, her big eyes blinking.
Retsu Unohana noticed her gaze. "What is it?"
"How should I put it..." Orihime Inoue tilted her small head and thought for a moment. "It feels a little different from your image. It was the same last time. I thought Captain Unohana would prefer lighter foods, like dew on flower petals."
"No matter what, meals should be properly enjoyed." Retsu Unohana's eyes curved with her smile. "Besides, I prefer stronger flavors. I don't like bland food."
"Is that so?" Orihime Inoue felt the image of Retsu Unohana in her mind crumble a little, yet somehow become more real. "I was just assuming. I thought Captain would have light tastes, and apart from work, all your hobbies would be especially elegant, like calligraphy, painting, or flower arranging."
"That isn't entirely wrong." Retsu Unohana took another two bites, clearly fond of the curry's flavor. "I hold a flower-arranging gathering every month. It isn't mandatory, but you can come join us when you have time. Even if you don't like flower arranging, you can be like a certain someone and just eat the cookies and candy."
Muten Natsu silently lowered his head and ate.
The candy during the break at the flower-arranging gatherings really was good.
Orihime Inoue asked curiously, "Are there similar gatherings for calligraphy and painting?"
Retsu Unohana smiled as she answered, "I'm not very good at calligraphy or painting."
Orihime Inoue was a little surprised. "Rukia's drawings are so cute, so I thought she learned from Captain."
"I learned to draw from my sister." Rukia Kuchiki wore a proud little expression. Noticing Muten Natsu snickering, she immediately glared at him. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"No. None at all." Muten Natsu raised his spoon. "The curry is so delicious. I'm eating very happily."
Seeing him say one thing while clearly meaning another, Rukia Kuchiki was so annoyed she raised her foot to kick him.
Orihime Inoue reached out and patted her leg. "He'll take it as a reward."
Rukia Kuchiki: "..." Then she glared at him again.
Biubiubiubiu!
Listening to their conversation, Isane Kotetsu ate the curry spoonful by spoonful, thinking how nice it would be if days like this could go on forever.
When Muten Natsu first came to the 4th Division, it was Isane Kotetsu who made porridge for him.
In the blink of an eye, so much time had passed, and so much had happened.
After Muten Natsu left Soul Society, whenever Isane Kotetsu thought of him, the image that always appeared before her eyes was how he had looked when they first met.
Ragged clothes, a small, thin body, and messy black hair.
He had clearly still been a child, but his dark eyes looked as if they had been weathered by wind and rain until they were completely dead.
Isane Kotetsu had watched him grow up bit by bit. Under Captain Unohana's care, the dead light in his eyes had gradually brightened again.
Then he died.
Now, being able to see him again and watch Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki bicker just like they had in the past was truly wonderful.
But when she thought about setting out for Hueco Mundo tomorrow, a shadow inevitably rose in Isane Kotetsu's heart.
Good times were always followed by trouble.
By the time she came back to herself, the entire plate of rice and curry had already been eaten clean.
The shadow in Isane Kotetsu's heart grew even heavier.
Oh no... I'm going to grow taller again.
..
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