This was wrong...
Muten Natsu had finally managed to make both Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki happy. If she rashly inserted herself into their relationship now, it would only introduce more uncertainty. It might even cause that hard-won happiness to vanish like a bubble.
She had meant to resist.
As long as she suppressed her impulses and slowly grew accustomed to things, she and Muten Natsu could eventually return to the relationship they once had.
Retsu Unohana had planned it all out.
[If you can't make them happy]
[then don't come looking for me]
That wouldn't be easy.
For Muten Natsu to make both Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki happy would surely take some time.
During that time, both Muten Natsu and Retsu Unohana could gradually calm down.
They could slowly emerge from that intoxicating haze they had fallen into before.
[I also need some time to deal with a few things]
While they were apart, Retsu Unohana would gradually settle her emotions, sort through her thoughts, and try to get used to life without Muten Natsu.
[Do your best to make everyone happy]
[Then come stand proudly before me]
[Just like the day you graduated]
And when that happened, Retsu Unohana would interact with Muten Natsu as his Captain, just as she had on the day he graduated.
Then everything would return to normal.
That was how it was supposed to go.
But Muten Natsu came back too soon.
The materialization of Sode no Shirayuki had prompted Rukia Kuchiki to confess everything to Muten Natsu.
Muten Natsu fulfilled their promise far faster than Retsu Unohana had expected.
Then he appeared before her without the slightest hesitation.
Retsu Unohana's warm calf hooked around the back of Muten Natsu's leg, and her kiss stole his breath away.
If... if only he had come a little later, she should have been able to resist.
Congratulations. I wish you both happiness. Take good care of each other from now on...
She would have been able to say those words.
She could have forgotten the intimacy disguised as lessons, returned to being his Captain, and pretended that nothing had ever happened...
But Muten came back too soon.
So soon that merely seeing him brought those scenes flooding back before her eyes.
So soon that hearing his voice made the sound of his breathing echo in her ears.
So soon that the moment she touched his body, her own body would...
Memories she hadn't had time to seal away surged through her. Recollections she still couldn't bear to forget churned in her mind. Feelings she had yet to let go of welled endlessly from within.
There was no stopping them.
Maybe... perhaps... surely... it still wasn't too late.
Retsu Unohana placed both hands against Muten Natsu's shoulders and tried to put some distance between them.
As long as she could endure it for a little longer...
"Again." Muten Natsu tightened his arms around Retsu Unohana's slender waist and stared into her hazy eyes. "That feeling again..."
"Hmm?" Retsu Unohana smiled softly. "What's wrong?"
Muten Natsu's voice trembled. "Do you really want to leave me that badly?"
Retsu Unohana's expression stiffened slightly. "Why would you suddenly say that?"
"Intimate contact doesn't just bring two bodies closer. It brings two hearts closer too. You taught me that." Muten Natsu's gaze trembled. "That day... I felt what was in your heart, but I didn't understand what it meant. It wasn't until I read your letter that I realized it was the feeling of you wanting to leave. Just now, I felt it again..."
Retsu Unohana lightly pressed her moist lips together. Muten Natsu's warmth still lingered on them.
"I just..."
Muten Natsu's arms tightened slightly. "Just what?"
Retsu Unohana instinctively pressed against Muten Natsu's shoulders. "I..."
The instant she pushed, Retsu Unohana clearly felt Muten Natsu's entire body go rigid.
Like a piece of glass hitting the ground and bouncing upward.
Frozen in that single instant just before it shattered.
"I kept my promise..." Muten Natsu lowered his eyes, all strength draining from his arms. "I kept my promise... We agreed..."
"Muten!" Retsu Unohana grabbed Muten Natsu's arm. "I..."
Muten Natsu's eyes widened. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.
"I... I'm a little tired." Retsu Unohana gently embraced Muten Natsu and gave him a faint smile. "Let's get some rest."
"...Okay."
Something went out in Muten Natsu's eyes.
He gently pulled Retsu Unohana's arms away and rose from the bed.
"Then I won't bother you anymore, Unohana... Captain."
Muten Natsu turned and walked toward the door.
Watching his heavy steps carry him away, Retsu Unohana bit her lower lip and reached out.
Hazy white mist seeped from Muten Natsu's body and drifted toward Retsu Unohana.
Just as the mist was about to touch her fingertips, Retsu Unohana abruptly pulled her hand back.
The mist dispersed as though it had never appeared.
Muten Natsu's steps paused.
Then he continued forward.
He opened the door.
Walked out.
And carefully closed it behind him.
Good.
This was exactly what she had wanted.
Retsu Unohana clutched the blanket tightly around herself.
Everything had gone exactly the way she wanted.
She should be satisfied now.
Strands of her disheveled hair fell loosely around her.
Retsu Unohana hugged the blanket even tighter, trying to use the lingering warmth Muten Natsu had left behind to fill the growing emptiness in her chest.
Ah...
Retsu Unohana suddenly realized that this must have been what Muten Natsu felt that morning when she left.
No.
Back then, Muten still had hope.
As long as Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki were both happy, Retsu Unohana wouldn't leave.
It was because he had clung to that hope that Muten Natsu had been able to act as though Retsu Unohana's departure had never happened.
But just now...
Retsu Unohana remembered the hope in Muten Natsu's eyes.
She had extinguished it.
Even after Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki had both found happiness, Retsu Unohana still wanted to leave.
Then...
He might as well leave sooner.
As though he had never come at all.
Retsu Unohana had still instinctively treated Muten Natsu like a child, believing she could simply comfort him and everything would be fine.
Perhaps that had once been true.
But things were different now.
Because Retsu Unohana had left without a word the last time, Muten Natsu had already grown with her help, just as she had wanted him to.
"What am I doing...?" Retsu Unohana stared at the tightly closed door. "I should have understood this long ago..."
Because he feared changes that might make things worse, Muten Natsu rarely took the initiative to move forward.
But for that same reason, Muten Natsu would never choose to retreat on his own.
Not until...
Retsu Unohana tried to push him away.
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