Dead at night, after the end of their shift, the desolate hospital felt quiet and a bit eerie. Like an aura of darkness was lingering around the corridors. Isane felt it, the energy was foreign, unlike anything she's felt... however, she noticed that this creeping energy at night had been starting to become usual as of late.
"Where are we going? The old building is–" She was going to say the old building where they sparred before was in the opposite direction, but Ryōma took her hand and led her onwards without saying a word.
Curiously, as they travelled the corridors, he seemed to be perfectly in sync with the path this harrowing energy was following. That's until they reached the door that was the source of this energy, the place where it was the strongest...
'Captain Unohana's office...?'
She recalled what he had said prior to their duel. He said this was what he and Unohana did in the old building. Slowly, Isane put the pieces together in her mind just in time for Ryoma to open the door and the titanic condensed energy to come rushing outside like a sea of corpses.
Her hair stood on end. Unohana Retsu was in the office, checking some documents, looking all too natural... she raised her gaze to look at Ryōma with expectation... like she had been waiting all day and couldn't bear to wait even a second more.
Her eyes darted towards Isane for a moment, and even more so, her eyes locked onto their joined hands. Isane felt like a thousand blades stabbed her, but for a nanosecond before the world went back to normal and Unohana Retsu was smiling yet again.
From that moment on, it was almost as if she didn't exist.
"Captain, good night".
No answer. Ryoma noticed this but didn't berate anyone. For him, this was an experiment too. An experiment of letting Isane into their lives, hoping she'd learn something and get stronger out of all this.
But so far, Unohana didn't seem to agree. However, she wasn't outright rejecting either.
The Captain stood up, put her documents in place all neat, picked up her Zampakutō from the sword rack and approached with slow steps. When she was in front of Ryoma, she extended her left hand. Which would have to be held by Ryoma's right hand, the one holding Isane.
He noticed this and couldn't help but smirk. Mark territories... that's the first thing she did.
Ryoma let go of Isane's hand to grasp Unohana's; it didn't even take a thought. Isane was shocked... as for Unohana, her piercing glare remained on Ryoma's back all the time; nevertheless, her lips curled up.
"Let's go, Isane", Ryōma said. He blew off the candles in the office, and they were on their way.
On the way, Isane felt endlessly awkward. She was not a little kid and could tell, whatever was going to happen, Captain Unohana didn't want her there... but she also didn't look like she could outright reject Ryoma's desire.
She thought the best she could do was to step out of it herself, excuse herself and go to her room, leaving both of them alone. But... she couldn't.
Isane looked at Ryoma and Unohana's hands joined, fingers entwined... and an odd feeling welled up in her chest. An evil and annoying feeling resembling an endless itch, something so uncomfortable that was telling her not to leave the two of them alone.
'I-I can't... let him take advantage of the captain. Yes, I can't...'
Unohana looked at the girl with the side of her eye, her Lieutenant that couldn't be any more obvious. Her hand clenched harder, and her nails pierced into Ryoma's hands.
The man's expression didn't change in the slightest... but sweat was dropping down. He couldn't help himself, glanced at Unohana's beloved countenance, only to almost find the words 'I will kill you a lot tonight~' written on her forehead.
Once they reached the old building, Unohana let go.
A small barrier appeared behind them at first. But it expanded little by little until it covered the whole entrance of the basement.
"A-Amazing..." Isane gasped.
"What's amazing?" Ryoma asked. He had seen her use this kido several times, "Its purpose is to isolate reiatsu and sound, right?"
"No, it's the complete opposite! Danku is a defensive barrier against spiritually based attacks. Reiatsu and noise isolation... those are not its characteristics at all. Captain Unohana must have tampered with the original formula. It is also supposed to be just a small barrier, not an enclosed dome! As expected, Taisho is a master in Kidō"
Isane praised Retsu, but the woman in question had already started to go down the stairs.
"Hmph, but she doesn't want to teach me", Ryoma commented with a hiss.
"You do not need Kido, Ryōma", Unohana said without even explaining, like her words were absolute.
"... even you use Kido, Retsu"
"For particular occasions such as this. As you know, I rarely use Kidō in combat. Once the level of your opponents reaches a certain degree, the strategic use of Kidō loses its meaning. Aside from Shunpo and a handful of other small techniques, there is no radical purpose in Kido for people like you or me".
She then turned around and commented with a broad, sarcastic smile, "If you wanted to learn kidō so desperately, you should have gone to the academy~".
*SNORT!*
Ryoma frowned but didn't comment since she was right. He had no desire to attend the academy to be taught swordsmanship, but Kidō was a different matter. Although it was true that Isane's Kido had failed to injure him, it still had given her an edge over him during their duel.
It was at least worth trying. He'd decide whether it was useful or not.
While going down the stairs, Unohana came to a stop.
"Are you sure, Ryōma...?" She asked lightly, "Are you sure you want to show her...?"
Isane's ears perked up, and she decided to take a step forward, "Captain, if this is a spar between you two, I–"
"I wasn't asking you".
Isane paled. The All-mother was gone.
"Be quiet, Isane".
Unohana turned around, her hair braids dismantled as she did so, and her maniacal grin stared at Ryōma, whose expression wasn't much different. Once they entered this basement, they were in THEIR element.
"Are you sure you want to show her how we are? She has been my lieutenant for over twenty years; she's not ready for this. Ryōma, over a fleeting romance that may not last long... You want to open up our secrets?"
"It is not a 'fleeting romance that won't last long', Retsu. I have held her Zampakutō... Isane has potential".
"Is that so...?" She turned around and sighed, then kept her way down towards the basement, "You are still young, Ryōma... potential does not mean anything in this world".
"You don't need to be jealous~" He teased, thinking that she was going a bit overboard just for some hand-holding.
"I am not jealous," The Captain answered nonchalantly, but she was holding Minazuki's scabbard really hard.
As for Isane, she was rooted in her spot, still unable to believe this person walking in front of them was the captain she had known for decades. That kind mother who had even cleaned the inside of her ears, whom she respected, almost worshipped.
Ryōma led Isane into the basement.
"I want you to take your distance and watch. I didn't lie... when I held Itegumo, I realised the potential of the sword, which is perfect for you, who specialises in Kido rather than swordsmanship".
Isane nodded, but not quite looking forward to what she was going to see.
"I just want you to watch and learn. Just see what passion for the sword really looks like. And if this is not for you, I will let you go".
At the prospect of being abandoned, Isane Kotetsu stilled. She knew what she was feeling... and she wasn't about to give up on her feelings, regardless of what she saw in that basement.
"I won't disappoint you, Ryōma".
Then she looked at her captain, who seemed to underestimate her... seemed to belittle her will.
"I also won't disappoint you, Captain... I am ready for this!".
But nothing could prepare her for what she was going to witness this evening. A warping vision of reality that shattered everything she knew about Shinigamis, Zampakutō... about her Captain and about Ryōma.
*CLAANGG!!*
Each time their swords impacted, it felt like their swords were meant to shatter one another. Releasing waves of powerful reiatsu that cracked her mind alongside the walls and floor of this basement. Every counter-attack began with a flash step so quick her eyes couldn't follow... to the point at several points during the fight she saw nothing but blurring shadows that clashed relentlessly, shattering the world around them.
Just as Unohana had said, no Kido was being used... she couldn't possibly think of a moment in which she'd be able to use Kido while fighting either of them.
'Was the difference... this abysmal...'
And then it all started with a strike from Ryoma. He shunpoed almost at lightspeed, landed in front of Unohana, who had just recovered from a vicious kick to her rib-cage. And then he sliced down.
Isane saw blood pour in torrents, staining the ground as Unohana faltered. As if that wasn't enough, Ryoma kicked her chest with so much strength that the pitiful captain's body shot like a rocket to the other edge of the room.
*BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!*
Destruction everywhere and a marginal trail of blood. It wasn't enough for him... he gave chase for more.
"STOP, RYŌMA!" She screamed and even planned to join to save her captain's life, which she believed was in danger because Ryōma wasn't pulling his punches.
But then... with gale of wind, the dust scattered.
!!!
And she saw with her very eyes the cold visage of Ryoma, impaled with his heart sticking out of his body, palpitating gruesomely while Unohana stared up at him with this thrilling grin of victory. The green energy of Kaido scattering from her body, leaving her like she had suffered no injury at all. It was all a dream.
But Ryoma's exposed, palpitating heart wasn't a dream. He held onto Minazuki and groaned with a smile as the light faded from his eyes.
"Since you are so adamant on showing her your true self, go ahead and show her, Ryoma... SHOW HER WHO YOU ARE!"
"R-Ryo...ma...?"
*RUMBLE!!!*
Not willing to expose himself yet, an explosion of Reiatsu took over, forcing Unohana to groan and back down a bit. Two shikais are activated at the same time, and from that moment on, the battle was not the same; it became something that Isane wasn't even able to track with her eyes.
It became a blood festival of livers and flesh; it became something terrifying that shouldn't exist. Both maniacs laughed as if they were in a childhood meeting party, all while their blood poured and stained the ground until there was literally no soil left, just filthy mud of blood mixed with the dirty soil, creating a huge metallic odour that took over the basement.
'What is... this...?' Isane fell on her butt, shivering. She had never seen anything remotely close to this. The sword was supposed to protect life... these two... they were just having fun.
Unohana would use Kaido to heal her wounds, as for Ryoma, she didn't even know how... but his wounds were closing so fast her eyes couldn't even see what was happening.
And so... a perpetual motion machine.
This wasn't an honourable duel between them, Shinigamis. These were two bloodthirsty fiends having an evening date.
And she was the third wheel.
At some point, she only saw two blurry images slicing one another, blood raining everywhere, and maniacal laughter. Zampakuto stabbing organs and limbs flying everywhere.
The image was so blurry that she failed to see a dark mask begin to appear on Ryōma's face.
Unable to take the urge to vomit, Isane ran away.
Both Ryoma and Unohana were so enthralled with one another that they didn't even notice Isane had run, but they'd be present in her nightmares that night and in all subsequent nightmares thereafter.
"You are getting stronger one step at a time. Do you remember...? When you came here at first, you weren't even able to hit me" Unohana healed her shoulder that had been just about to be sliced out with how deep the cut was.
"It's because you keep killing me over and over... did you expect me to stay weak?" Ryoma panted, his voice starting to turn inhuman. Shitsutora was a pair of silver gauntlets and boots. She'd usually be talkative during their fights, but this time... she was oddly silent, following her master's desires... giving it her all.
He also held Hebimaru, the Zampakuto was so thirsty with blood that it shook within his grasp, as if it wanted to be set free and slice Unohana open in one gutting slash.
This was the strongest opponent they had faced; the sync between the two swords and their master was at the top. The dark Reiatsu engulfed them... but they didn't reject it, they embraced it.
Unohana, who by now was just covered in lines upon lines of venomous pain, caught how they changed little by little. Shitsotura's silver hue began to turn dark as for Hebimaru... the sword was literally salivating poison.
She felt her entire body start to go numb, and soon her legs would give up, and there was no way to stop it.
Watching the man, no, the creature in front of her... Unohana felt at a crossroads. Jealousy? Yes, perhaps she had felt it... she didn't think Isane was worthy of his 'secret' and had proceeded to show him the reality.
"Only I can accept your true nature without fear, Ryōma~" Even amidst her coldness and her lunacy, her voice still sounded infatuated.
Because at the end, this creature in front of her was also the only person whom she could show her true self... and in his eyes, there was no fear. Their eyes mirrored one another... and there was no fear, only acceptance.
"I have killed you because I hoped you'd become stronger to entertain me more. You delivered, Ryōma... you have become so strong now. I guess I can use it... if you were to kill me..."
She sliced open her own hand with Minazuki, the blood splurted everywhere and coated her sword, she drew an arc of blood as she spoke lightly, "It will be the same... like being defeated by the Kenpachi... the current you has already reached the boy from back then whom I lost to".
Ryōma, whose face was now half-horned mask and half-humanoid, prepared Hebimaru. He didn't bother to look back; he didn't bother to check up on Isane. She was gone... but Unohana Retsu was still here.
"I am not going to kill you, Retsu".
"We will see~".
There was no shock of Reiatsu. The blood spread throughout the world, giving it a red tonality. Ryōma felt danger instinctively. Not for a second was he going to underestimate her... so he used 'shunpo' and nearly teleported a few dozen metres away from her as far as he could to at least have the time to react to whatever it was that she was going to do.
However, the sea of blood was still coating his toes, even at this distance. Its smell made him feel this toxic and itchy feeling in his throat.
"I will accept all of you. So you also accept all of me, Ryoma".
Minazuki pointed at Ryoma, and somehow... he felt like there was no distance at all between them.
"In this world, we only have one another. Let's enjoy this moment until it lasts~"
She swung her sword, and one single strike was enough to devastate the world. A wave of blood traversed those dozens of metres in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, due to that small distance, he had time to react.
Sadly, for him, Retsu didn't stop there.
Her dance had just started, a dance in which she struck tens, dozens, hundreds of times. The blood circled around the world, sharper than the sharpest blade.
She sent so many barrages of strikes from so far away, all of them sliced him clean, tearing his flesh open until nothing was left.
By the end of it, silence took over the world.
She approached the stunned Ryoma, whose mask had shattered and was in the process of recovering, this time taking over not only his face, but his body as well.
The Reiatsu was starting to peak up, Unohana frowned and realised this fight was not over... it was just starting.
"Just wait... until I recover," He said inhumanely, eager to continue... but unable to even move because his body had been completely torn. Her bankai was just like he expected... an utter monstrosity.
"Sorry, Ryōma... I can't wait~"
She used kaido to make him recover, and in the midst of doing so, before the mask took over his lips, she stole them for herself. They shared a deep kiss before Ryoma's body fell back on the pool of toxic blood that tried to devour his flesh.
Unohana licked her lips and retreated, then teased him and beckoned him to come for her.
"Come–".
*ZOOMM!*
Unohana's hair fluttered a little; she couldn't see anything... her trained eyes were unable to follow.
Ryoma, no... this monster literally teleported behind her, and with one clean swoop, Hebimaru was heading towards her neck.
*CLAANG!!*
*BOOOMMMMMM!!!*
Her speed alone was not able to react. The blood around her condensed and blocked, only diverting the sword just in time. But still, the shock of reiatsu shattered the world around him, tearing open the soil for dozens of metres beneath the surface.
'T-This is at least... a vasto lorde...'
*ZOOM!*
*WHOOSH!*
She used Shunpo, but the difference in speed was so devastating that it almost felt they were in different worlds.
'If I hadn't used Bankai against this form of his...'
*CLAANG!*
*CLAANG!*
*CLAANG!*
Their swords met one another relentlessly, but she felt the disadvantage, the overwhelming physical strength. The increase in speed, the reaction speed that turned the tables and made her feel like he was predicting the future. All while he remained with that roguish style that enhanced and put her at a loss.
Unohana felt troubled.
'This much Reiatsu... the barrier outside won't be able to contain him!'
She had bitten more than she could chew.
As Ryoma's mask manifested by little, taking over his whole body, the world shook. Unohana still had the devastating advantage in the battle because her blood, which she could tamper with, was everywhere. But she realised his skin was getting harder, his strikes a lot heavier, his freakiness to the point where he was actively aiming for her vital spots.
'He wants to kill me...'
The thought was euphoric, she felt complete... but at the same time, at a loss.
'If he kills me here... then... he...'
Unohana gasped at her own thoughts. She tapped his sword enough for him to lose balance, tried to slice his toes, and what she got was the gruesome feeling of metal ringing.
!!!
'I can no longer... pierce him!?'
That's when the tables turned... when she heard Ryoma's relentless laughter, when her sword could no longer injure him. His skin was so impregnated by powerful reiatsu that even Minazuki couldn't pierce it.
Unohana saw his approaching silhouette, aware that her death was coming.
'I can't die... if I die, Ryōma...'
She realised too late that rather than her desire to die in battle beneath a powerful sword, something else had taken over her mind... the desire to live alongside him.
'I am... such a fool'.
She recalled Shitsotura's words and felt pity for herself, a newfound feeling. Nevertheless, Unohana stood up and got ready to die. This was the fate she had chosen, and there was no going back.
"Hahahaha, what's wrong?!" Ryoma's inhumane laughter took over. He could also see his victory, and he could also see her relentless form. There could only be one possible end to this fight... even though he had said prior that he wouldn't kill her.
What other way was there to end this battle other than death? Any other outcome would be a disatisfactory ending.
"Let's end this, Retsu– uhgg!!!"
Ryoma felt something palpitate inside him, like a strong punch to his heart.
'Do you know what the good part of you not being my original owner is?~' He heard Shitsutora's voice for the first time since the fight started.
"S-Shitsutora!" He cursed out loud in wrath, a disobedient sword... There was nothing worse than it. A hideous screeching noise also erupted in the basement; it was Hebimaru's wrath, mirrored by Ryōma.
'How dare that snake betray us!?'
His body got covered in light, the mask that had taken over his arms and legs shattered, and Shitsotura went back to her Zampakutō form, flying away.
A shadow loomed into the basement and took the sword in front of Ryoma and Unohana's disbelieving eyes. Two shadows, in fact. Two dark-skinned women, of whom one of them he knew.
"That's why I have to be around, Ryōma. Otherwise, you just go around doing crazy shit, getting yourself killed!"
Kurayami Shihōin released her Shikai; she got the gauntlets and boots still marred by a dark aura. The other silhouette stood in front of her and Ryōma, then discarded her robes.
The beauty looked at Unohana and whistled.
"Never thought I'd see you on your knees, Yachiru. Let's work together... if you don't want the whole Seireitei to know you concealed this monster, you'd better work with us~".
Ryōma released an inhuman scream, and the mask began taking over his body once more, covering his arms and legs. However, Shitsutora was not there this time.
'Kurayami, Yoruichi... please... stop him!'
"Whatever you want, you selfish tiger. Let's go, Onee-sama! (sister)" The woman sighed and stepped on the bloody soil.
*BOOOMMMM!!*
Both sisters screamed, ready to attack.