Chapter 257: Recovery
(Ryoto's pov)
It has already been a week since I became captain of the 2nd division. During that time, there weren't as many assassination attempts as I had hoped, but there were few challengers. Most tried to sneak up on me, which didn't end well... for them, I mean. There were few that attempted to poison my food, but I could see through their efforts.
Overall, it was fun, but I had one issue. I still haven't found my new helper. Paperwork isn't going to solve itself. Maybe I just dump it on someone random for a while until I find the right person.
*Kncok* *Knock*
I heard someone knocking on the door of my office. Although I don't do most of the paperwork, I still need to look through more important documents, and it doesn't help that Yoruichi hated paperwork just as much as I did, so she left a lot of work.
"Come in."
As the door opened, I got to see a guest I didn't expect to visit to me.
Soi Fon walked up to my desk and didn't say a word for a long time, seemingly having trouble asking me something. She was very expressive, which meant that she is very easy to get a read on. It was also clear to me that she cried a lot in the last few days.
Also, surprisingly, she didn't try to kill me even once in the last week. I find it pretty strange since even before I declared my challenge to the whole 2nd division, she was attacking me as soon as I breathed the wrong way.
"Can I ask you something?" She finally asked.
I put the pen that I was using to sign some documents and focused entirely on the girl in front of me.
"I don't see why not. Although I don't know how helpful I'll be, but I'll try my best to answer whatever question you are going to ask."
I tried to sound as mature and wise as possible in hopes that it would soften the mood, but it didn't work because Soi Fon started talking without acknowledging what I said.
"Are you angry at Yoruichi-sama for leaving you?"
...Well, that is a heavy topic, but I didn't even need to think about my answer for even a moment.
"I'm not angry. Sad? Yes, but not angry."
Soi Fon didn't accept my answer.
"How can you not be!? Without saying anything to anyone, she vanished!!! She left everyone! Me, you, her child! How can you be okay with that!?" In the corners of Soi Fon's eyes, tears started to build up. She couldn't hold her emotions inside of her anymore.
She obviously felt betrayed. With just one word from Yoruichi, Soi Fon would've followed her even if it meant becoming an enemy of the entire Soul Society.
"Do you know why she didn't want to drag anyone with her problem?" I asked patiently, trying to sound as gently as possible, at which she shook her head while wiping away her tears.
"It doesn't matter. No matter what, I would've have followed her."
"I'm sure of that, and so is Yoruichi, but I can tell you one reason why she left you behind and one why you are not with her."
"Aren't these two the same thing?" She questioned.
"Not exactly. Yoruichi left without telling you because she cared about you. She didn't want to get you in trouble. Whatever she was doing was dangerous, and she went on a solo mission. On the other hand, you aren't at her side because you are simply too weak."
Soi Fon winced at my comment, knowing that I was right but didn't want to fully accept it.
"So why not prove her otherwise and train like crazy so she would regret not taking you with her?" I smirked. Having some kind of goal will help her focus on something else, and with that, Soi Fon won't be filled with anger and sadness for the next 100 years.
Soi Fon went deep in her thoughts.
"Are you asking me to try to kill you?"
"That's how my teacher trained me, and you can't question his results. You can't forget the reward too. You will be getting stronger, and when you are finally able to reach me, you'll get whatever you want. Two birds with one stone."
"If I'll make you bleed, will you tell me who the killer of my mother is?"
Her question made me pause for a moment, but it was unnoticeable for the girl in front of me.
"If you manage to do it, I'll tell you." Was what I ended up saying.
Lord, help me...
(E/D: Ryoto my homie... you f**ked up.)
---
20 years have passed again. I'm starting to get used to the time passing that fast. I was currently doing a check-up on Ukitake.
"As always, thanks for doing these check-ups, Ryoto-kun." Ukitake thanked me just like he always did, at which I needed to actively stop myself from rolling my eyes.
"And as I tell you every time, stop thanking me for something I want to do. I have the biggest chance to cure you and decided that I want to help my senpai. You thank me one more time, and I'm leaving you with Yukima for a whole day. Try keeping up with her without my lollipops to help you with your health."
I didn't stop examining him as I was talking. Every day, I could feel getting closer and closer to healing him. I learned a lot about medicine in these years. Mikado would be proud, but I'm still far from her in terms of medical abilities, but my knowledge of medicine was mostly mixed with an understanding of the soul.
Now that I think about it, Mikado somehow managed to create gigai on her own. Are ghosts' properties in my home world different than here or is she just that much of a genius. Maybe there are aliens that are very similar to ghosts, and Mikado encountered them in her past.
Thought for another time.
As I was thinking about Mikado, Ukitake laughed nervously. "I think you are the only doctor, except for Captain Unohana, that threatens his patients."
"I'm not a doctor, so I don't count." I opened my eyes and started using them to see even more details. Ukitake, as usual, turned away from me so he couldn't see my eyes, and I even scanned my surroundings for any spies or anything similar. You can never be too careful.
I feel like I'm missing something vital, but what?
I was thinking that practically every time I'm doing the check-up. It's not Mimihagi that is stopping me from healing Jushiro-senpai because he was feeling better thanks to my lollipops, so that is something different.
...
...
...
Wait! I'm looking at it completely in the wrong way. Something is wrong with Ukitake's lungs. I'm aware of that. It must be an unknown illness.
Or is it?
What if it's an illness I am aware of but couldn't recognize under the 'telescope' because everything in Soul Society, including people, is made of Reiryoku, and it's entirely possible that because of that, it works slightly differently while having the same symptoms.
I quickly put my theory into action and started examining it while looking at everything from different angles.
---
Time passed in silence. As I was working hard to unveil the secrets of Ukitake's sickness, Jushiro-senpai was patiently waiting for me to finish.
I was almost there. I could almost see whatever I was looking for. I just needed to focus more, which wasn't easy as my eyes were overheating too fast to do any work, and I needed to take short breaks every few seconds, but I was getting impatient, so I decided to push myself even further and was using my eyes until it hurt.
I decided that today was the day I was going to heal Ukitake!
---
"YEEESSS!!!" I screamed in joy, startling Jushiro-senpai.
"What is it, Ryoto-kun?"
"Wait a minute. I'm almost done."
I took out one of the lollipops hidden in one of my many hidden pockets and focused my power on it. Analyzing and understanding the sickness was mandatory for my ability. The more I know, the more effective it is, and after a few decades of researching this illness, recent revelation, and the last 2 hours of examination, I would like to believe that I have a pretty good idea of what's going on inside my senpai's body.
After a short while of trying to perfect the supposed cure, I finally gave the candy to the sick captain.
"Jushiro-senpai, please try this lollipop." I asked him a bit nervously. I believe that it would work, but I could very well be mistaken, which would take me back to the start.
And so, I was anticipating Jushiro-senpai to try the lollipop.
He started licking it, and at first, nothing happened. It was normal. These bad boys aren't omnipotent. It will take some time until they show their effects.
---
Another half hour passed, and I couldn't see any difference in Ukitake. I wasn't using my eyes and just observed him traditionally, so I couldn't be sure.
As I was waiting for any signs, the white-haired senpai of mine suddenly stood up and used his Shunpo to go around the room a few times. After he stopped, he checked his body and turned his head toward me in disbelief.
"I-I don't feel any discomfort..."
With his words, I could feel the weight dropping from my shoulders, and I fell down on my back, finally able to relax.
I did it... I cured Ukitake. I finally fulfilled my promise to myself.
---
END
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