"It's nothing..." Feeling Muten Natsu's warmth, Rukia Kuchiki felt as if everything was all right again. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"Preparing a gift." Muten Natsu gently patted Rukia Kuchiki's slender back. "A gift to celebrate you officially becoming Lieutenant."
"A gift?" Only then did Rukia Kuchiki look at the small box in Muten Natsu's hand. She loosened her arms from around him, took the box, and opened it. Her breath caught.
Inside was a snow-white ring. It had no unnecessary decorations, but after looking at it for a while, she noticed faint traces of ink flowing across its surface.
"I originally wanted to take you back to the World of the Living for a day out, but since you said you wanted to stay in Soul Society, I had to change the gift to this." Muten Natsu explained it unhurriedly. "I didn't know what to give you at first, but then I remembered the bracelet your sister wore, so I thought of making an accessory. The Shihōin Clan is the Tenshi Heisōban, in charge of managing the weapons bestowed by the Soul King. After all these years, they still haven't been able to create weapons comparable to the Tenshi Heisō, but they do have some unique expertise in forging."
Rukia Kuchiki remembered what Suì-Fēng had told her about Muten Natsu's movements. "So you went to see Yoruichi-sama?"
"You know what my reputation is like among the nobles. If I showed up out of nowhere, it might have caused misunderstandings. So I went to Yoruichi first to get a token, then went to the Noble District to ask her younger brother for help." Muten Natsu smiled. "You haven't met Yūshirō Shihōin yet, have you? He's the 23rd head of the Shihōin Clan now, and he looks a lot like Yoruichi. The moment I showed him the token, he said he would do everything he could to help. If all nobles were like him, that actually wouldn't be so bad..."
"You came back to Soul Society a while ago?" Rukia Kuchiki caught the main point. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"For one thing, making it was harder than I expected. I only finished it by working nonstop. And for another..." Muten Natsu blinked. "I wanted to surprise you."
Rukia Kuchiki muttered softly, "I would rather you had told me."
"Huh?"
"It is a surprise..." Rukia Kuchiki held the little box in both hands. "But compared to a surprise, I like the anticipation you give me more. A surprise only lasts for an instant. What I want from you is... a longer-lasting happiness."
At that moment, looking at the gift filled Rukia Kuchiki's heart with surprise.
But if Muten Natsu had told her in advance, then throughout that long wait, Rukia Kuchiki could have felt that joy again and again.
"I'll remember that." Muten Natsu rubbed Rukia Kuchiki's head. "You sure have a lot of demands for someone receiving a gift."
"That's because you don't know what I went through these past few days..." Rukia Kuchiki's cheeks puffed slightly, then she suddenly thought of something. "You didn't make this from your own body, did you?"
"If I made it from my own body, you definitely wouldn't accept it. I thought of that a long time ago." Muten Natsu had actually considered it, since it would have been more convenient to make, but he changed methods because he was afraid Rukia Kuchiki would feel distressed. "I made this with a Bokukō Gigai, supported by the Shihōin Clan's techniques. It retains the abilities of Soul Essence Stealing and Bokushu. Normally, it can improve your Reishi absorption efficiency, and in a crisis, it can also help you block one attack."
"Something this good... Captain Unohana and Orihime probably need it more than I do right now." Rukia Kuchiki lightly bit her lower lip and pushed the small box toward Muten Natsu. "You should keep it for them."
"I'll make theirs later. This one belongs to you." Muten Natsu sighed. "Just take it if I'm giving it to you. You make accepting a gift so troublesome."
"Fine, I'm troublesome!" Knowing that Retsu Unohana and Orihime Inoue would have one too, Rukia Kuchiki felt a little more at ease. She pushed the box into Muten Natsu's hands and raised her hand under his puzzled gaze. "Put it on for me."
Since her right hand held her sword, she naturally could not wear it on her right hand.
So Rukia Kuchiki raised her left hand.
Her left middle finger was used to secure her handguard, while the index finger and thumb affected her grip on the sword too much. Her little finger was too thin.
So...
Rukia Kuchiki lifted her ring finger.
Muten Natsu took the ring from the box and slowly slid it onto Rukia Kuchiki's raised ring finger.
The snow-white ring felt warm and smooth, like heated jade.
Rukia Kuchiki raised the finger wearing the ring before her eyes, her eyelids lowering slightly. "Muten, I'm sorry. Earlier, I..."
Earlier, she had wanted to stay in Soul Society because she wanted to shoulder her own responsibilities. In a place where she could work hard on her own, she wanted to grow into a qualified Lieutenant who could truly help Muten Natsu.
But their brief separation made her realize that leaving Muten Natsu did not help her focus. Instead, it felt more like... her heart had left with him.
So perhaps returning to the World of the Living with Muten Natsu would be better.
She wanted herself and her heart to be in the same place.
"You don't need to apologize." Muten Natsu shook his head. "At first, I really was a little unhappy, because there were still so many things I wanted to do with you in the World of the Living. But while making the ring, I gradually understood. Being apart for a while doesn't mean I don't want to be with you. Our bodies being separated doesn't mean our hearts are separated. I just wanted to convey my feelings to you better and faster, the same way you chose to stay in Soul Society."
Muten Natsu held Rukia Kuchiki's hand and looked into her bright eyes. "Even when I'm not by your side, my heart is always here with you."
The warmth passing through their palms brought an understanding that reached deep into her heart.
Rukia Kuchiki's cherry-colored lips parted slightly. The thoughts that had already begun to change were ultimately left unsaid, turning instead into a gentle kiss that fell on Muten Natsu's lips.
Unlike the accident from before, this was a choice born from heartfelt joy and an impulse she could no longer hold back.
The instant that soft warmth touched him, all the tangled emotions turned into pure contentment, and the warmth of their shared breath filled his body.
Their pressed lips parted reluctantly. Rukia Kuchiki cupped Muten Natsu's face. "Wait for me."
It was the same promise as before. Only this time, Rukia Kuchiki would not look away.
Muten Natsu answered softly, "Okay."
Their hands were still linked. Rukia Kuchiki's eyes shifted slightly. "Tonight... are you still going to the Captain's place?"
"Mm."
"Then..." Rukia Kuchiki let go of his hand. "Then go..."
But the next moment, her small hand was held again.
Muten Natsu reminded her, "A Lieutenant is still a captain too."
Rukia Kuchiki pointed at the desk. "Then help me handle these documents."
Muten Natsu: "Huh?"
By the time they finished the documents, it was already late at night.
Muten Natsu was naturally taken to the rest room.
And just as naturally, he ended up lying on the same bed as Rukia Kuchiki.
The last time they had slept together alone like this seemed to have been back in the World of the Living.
Muten Natsu's body had not fully recovered yet, but he was already taller than Rukia Kuchiki now, so it was no trouble to hold her petite body completely in his arms.
Rukia Kuchiki closed her eyes in peace. Before long... she felt Muten Natsu's hand, which had been resting on her waist, quietly move downward.
Her body had only just gone slightly stiff when Muten Natsu's hand brushed past the peach-like curve, landed on her leg, then moved farther down.
"You..." Rukia Kuchiki leaned against Muten Natsu's neck. "Do you really like feet that much?"
"Huh?" Muten Natsu seemed to have only just realized what he was doing. "Ah... habit."
"Don't develop such a weird habit!" Muten Natsu's neck was right by her mouth, giving Rukia Kuchiki the urge to bite him. "Normal people don't have weird habits like that. It's obviously your personal preference."
"Mm..." Muten Natsu thought back. "I think I developed it when you were little."
Rukia Kuchiki lifted her small face and silently condemned him with her eyes.
"It's not what you're thinking." Muten Natsu recalled the past. "Back then, you were still very small, and we didn't have a warm house."
Muten Natsu's gaze deepened as he sank into the memory. "When the weather was cold, I was always worried your feet would get frostbite, so I checked them now and then. Then it became a habit."
"So you only checked my feet?"
"Your hands were always holding on to me, so there was no need to check them."
Rukia Kuchiki pressed her lips together and silently curled up. "Do whatever you want."
As her small body curled inward, the position of her feet changed as well. Without needing to adjust much, Muten Natsu could touch Rukia Kuchiki's little feet.
"One, two, three..." Muten Natsu kneaded her warm, delicate toes. "Ten. They're all here. Safe."
Rukia Kuchiki's face heated up. "Then let go."
"I'm still not at ease." Muten Natsu's fingers moved slightly. "I'll check again."
"You said it was a habit you developed because of me..." Rukia Kuchiki muttered softly. "You clearly just like it."
"Even if I do, it's only because of you."
"...Only today." Rukia Kuchiki lowered her voice. "I'll forgive you just for today."
...
Rukia Kuchiki's appointment ceremony had ended, and it was time to return to the World of the Living.
Retsu Unohana arranged for someone to open the 4th Division's Senkaimon and instructed the Kidō Corps to secure the walls of the Dangai.
"I'll be back later." Muten Natsu looked at the many Shinigami seeing them off. "There's no need to make such a big deal out of this."
"Muten is the hero who saved Soul Society." Orihime Inoue chuckled. "Of course everyone would come to see you off..."
"Inoue-san!" Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who had officially become Captain of the 3rd Division, handed over a large bag of dried persimmons. "Take these back to the World of the Living and eat them. If you run out, have Muten come get more."
"Thank you!" Orihime Inoue reached out to take them. "These are really delicious!"
"I heard you like snacks, so I chose some that keep for a longer time." Suì-Fēng handed a package to Orihime Inoue. "Thank you for your help."
Suì-Fēng had lost her left arm in the battle against Baraggan. Without Orihime Inoue's Sōten Kisshun, she would never have recovered so quickly.
"There's so much. I can smell how good they are!" Orihime Inoue closed her eyes happily. "I only did what I could..."
"Your Shun Shun Rikka ability is similar to Kidō, so I asked Nanao and found some books related to Kidō." Momo Hinamori handed the wrapped books to Orihime Inoue. "They should help a little."
"That's great!" Orihime Inoue tried to reach for them, but her hands were already full.
Muten Natsu took some of the load for her.
"You've worked so hard during this time." Isane Kotetsu gently placed a hand on Orihime Inoue's shoulder. Through the clothing came the feeling of Orihime Inoue's slender, bony frame. Working so hard to heal the wounded had made Orihime Inoue lose quite a bit of weight. "The Captain prepared this for you. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Muten."
She took out a pearl-colored Denreishinki and handed it to Orihime. It was a rectangular phone with rounded corners, and the 4th Division's flower, the gentian, was engraved on the right side.
"Mm-hmm!" Orihime Inoue accepted the Denreishinki. "Isane-san, come to the World of the Living when you have time. Let's go shopping together!"
"And me. I'll go too!" Rangiku Matsumoto leaned in and stuffed a pack of Dori Monaka into Orihime Inoue's hands. "Take these back and eat them with Muten."
Orihime Inoue remembered the last time she got drunk from eating them, and her face turned faintly red.
"This is the latest issue of Seireitei Communication." Shūhei Hisagi handed over the freshly printed magazine. "I made some adjustments. You can flip through it when you have free time. Reader feedback is welcome, and it would be even better if you ever feel like submitting something. A lot of Shinigami are curious about the World of the Living."
"Can I?" Orihime Inoue's eyes lit up. "I'll think about it seriously!"
Even more Shinigami whom Orihime Inoue had treated brought all kinds of gifts. Muten Natsu and Orihime Inoue had originally planned to travel light, but before they knew it, they were surrounded by packages large and small.
"I didn't bring a gift, but I really did come to see you off." Renji Abarai patted Muten Natsu on the shoulder. "No need to get too moved."
"I really do appreciate it." Muten Natsu glanced at him helplessly. "If you hadn't said that, no one would've noticed."
"Everyone knows you can come back anytime, so they didn't make a big show of seeing you off." Rukia Kuchiki spoke up. "But Orihime is different."
"That's true." Muten Natsu said so, though he was thinking more than that.
So many people had come to see Orihime Inoue off partly because, unless something serious happened, Orihime Inoue most likely would not appear in Soul Society again.
The other reason was that, during this time, Orihime Inoue had truly healed many people.
It was not only their physical wounds. Her gentle, cheerful personality and her positive, optimistic attitude had touched many people as well.
Her warm smile was like a flower blooming atop the ruins.
It dispersed the gloom hanging over their hearts and let the Shinigami, exhausted from the great battle, regain hope for a new life.
"Muten," Retsu Unohana called softly. "Come here."
When Muten Natsu walked over, Retsu Unohana held his shoulders and gently kissed his forehead. "In the World of the Living, you need to listen to your teachers, all right? Don't act impulsively when something happens, and get along well with your classmates."
Muten Natsu: "...I'll remember."
He was just experiencing life. He was not really a high school student.