Kurotsuki Renya trained with Soi Fon the entire afternoon. Time and again he was knocked to the ground, his body covered in bruises, every limb aching from the punishment.
Still, in the midst of this harsh sparring, Renya's combat instincts and Hakuda techniques sharpened noticeably. More than the pain, he valued the opportunity—training with the Commander of the Onmitsukidō was both privilege and challenge, and he secretly cherished every second.
"Enough for today."
Soi Fon halted, her gaze lingering on Renya's battered face. Though she maintained her usual stern expression, a flicker of concern surfaced in her eyes. To her, Renya was no longer just a promising subordinate—he had become something like a younger brother. From the time she took notice of his potential, to his help in refining her Shunkō, and now sparring despite being left battered, her attachment to him had deepened.
A softness entered her tone. "Does it hurt?"
Renya forced a smile. "It doesn't hurt."
Immediately, Soi Fon reached out and pinched his arm lightly. He hissed in pain before he could stop himself.
"You call that not hurting?" she said flatly, though the corner of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
She turned, picked up her haori from the ground, and slipped it on. Then, beckoning him, she led him to the edge of the training ground where a large stone sat. "Sit."
Renya obeyed. From within her uniform, Soi Fon drew a small round case. When she opened it, the faint scent of medicine drifted out.
"A salve?" Renya asked.
In Soul Society, Kaidō was not the only means of healing. Various ointments and medicines were often carried—Madarame Ikkaku, for instance, kept hemostatic medicine in his sword hilt for emergencies.
Soi Fon dipped her finger into the box, scooping a pale ointment, and dabbed it on Renya's swollen cheek.
The medicine was cool against his skin, soothing at first, until she pressed too firmly on a bruised spot. "Hiss…"
He flinched, but Soi Fon's eyes narrowed. "Don't move."
"Sorry," he muttered, leaning in again. This time her touch was gentler.
"This salve eases swelling and bruising," she explained. "It takes a day to fully reduce pain. Slower than Kaidō, but still useful."
Renya sat still, watching her profile. Her skin was smooth, fair, and softer than he expected. For a fleeting thought, he compared it to her anime depiction—there, her skin tone was darker, an outlier among the other female characters. But in Kubo's manga art and cover illustrations, Soi Fon's complexion was pale, even more so than others.
Strange… in person, it's flawless.
His gaze lingered too long. Soi Fon stiffened under his puppy-like stare, but said nothing. When she turned his head to apply ointment to the opposite cheek, their eyes suddenly met.
For a moment, time froze. Renya saw his own reflection in her dark pupils.
Then—slap.
The sound rang sharp and crisp, though the blow wasn't hard.
"Captain… why did you hit me?" Renya asked pitifully.
Soi Fon couldn't say that his gaze unsettled her, so she masked it with sternness. "Do I need a reason to discipline you?"
Renya turned his face away in mock sulking.
"What? Angry?" she pressed.
He shook his head. "No… but if you slapped one side, you should be fair and slap the other too."
Despite herself, Soi Fon almost laughed. She suppressed it, hiding it behind a straight face. "Idiot. Turn back—I'm not finished."
He obeyed, letting her continue. Soon she pointed to his arms and chest. "Stand."
Renya rose, his height barely shorter than her own. To reach his chest, she crouched slightly, her face close. Her delicate features were inches away, making his heart race.
For a fleeting moment, he wanted to lean forward and steal a kiss. But he held back. Not now… someday, when I'm older, when the time is right.
The thought made him grin unconsciously.
"Laughing again?" Soi Fon snapped. He quickly smothered the smile.
She finished treating his chest wounds and stood straight. "Where else?"
Renya hesitated, then pointed toward his backside.
Her eyebrow twitched. In a flash, she flicked his forehead with a sharp strike. "Do you think I don't see through you? You expect me to treat that? Brat."
Despite her irritation, she was not blind to his feelings. Renya's admiration for her was plain. She did not wholly reject it, yet in her heart she still carried Yoruichi's shadow. Even if betrayed, that bond left no room for another. And besides… Renya was still too young.
She pressed the ointment into his hands. "Here. Apply it yourself if you're sore later."
Renya nodded, then glanced at her arm where a shallow cut bled from gravel. "Captain, may I tend to that for you?"
"It's nothing," she said. "That salve doesn't stop bleeding."
"I'll use Kaidō then," Renya insisted.
Her eyes widened faintly. "You've learned Kaidō?"
"Only minor healing," he admitted. "But it's enough for scratches."
She paused, then extended her arm. "Do it."
Placing a hand lightly over the wound, Renya summoned reishi, guiding it with careful control. Pale light shimmered as the skin mended. He remembered how, years ago, he could only use both hands for such a spell. Now, with one hand, the energy flowed steadily, healing faster than before.
Watching him, Soi Fon felt a vague unease, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
"It's done, Captain," Renya said brightly.
Her thoughts scattered. Almost on reflex, she smacked the top of his head again.
"Captain! Again?" Renya rubbed his hair, wincing.
"Don't question me." She glared. "If you can use Kaidō, why did you let me waste medicine on you?"
Renya smiled sheepishly. "I forgot."
Her hand struck his head once more. "How can you forget something like that?"
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, though the grin remained.
She studied him. His eyes were bright, filled with something more than admiration—an intensity she knew well, because she had seen it once in her own reflection. That kind of longing only led to complications.
Suppressing her emotions, she turned away. "It's late. We're leaving."
With that, she strode off, leaving Renya standing alone, clutching the ointment and replaying every moment of closeness in his mind.
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