For the next few days, Kotetsu Isane kept, deliberately or not, avoiding Nobu.
Even if they happened to meet, it was only with an awkward nod before she hurried away without another word.
Nobu didn't put any more pressure on her. He wasn't surprised by this reaction, so he simply let it run its course.
He took some time to visit the Thirteenth Division and see Shiba Kaien.
"Sparring?"
Kaien's expression showed clear surprise after hearing Nobu's reason for coming.
"Just a friendly exchange through sparring," Nobu explained.
Kaien found it amusing. "What made you suddenly think of arranging sparring? And your Fourth Division… can you even win when it comes to combat?"
"I don't care about losing. You only improve by losing, and I believe one day, we will win."
Kaien thought for a moment. "No problem there. When, and are there any requirements for the participants?"
"Beginning of next month. Bring whoever you like—seated officers or regular members, either is fine."
"Alright!" Kaien agreed without hesitation. "I'll make a note of it and we'll be there."
Because of the different duties of each Gotei 13 squad, examples of divisions holding this kind of friendly exchange were rare.
Not that divisions never compared themselves with each other—but it was usually a quiet rivalry. The laws of Seireitei regarding the Gotei 13 were strict, and many feared doing anything that might cross the line.
Kaien was interested in Nobu's idea. He also realized Nobu intended to change the state of Fourth Division, and he was happy to help.
As they spoke, a figure approached.
"Captain," Kaien called out.
"Captain Ukitake," Nobu also greeted.
It was Jūshirō Ukitake, Captain of the Thirteenth Division. When he saw Nobu, he smiled gently. "So it's Nobu-kun. What brings you to Thirteenth Division?"
Kaien explained the matter of the sparring exchange.
Ukitake listened, then thought for a moment. "No problem. Leave it to Kaien to arrange."
It was, after all, only a friendly sparring match—hardly a major issue. Most of the squad's affairs were handled by Kaien, and Ukitake trusted him completely.
Turning to Kaien, he added, "I won't be attending this afternoon's meeting. Go on your own. I have something to take care of outside."
Kaien nodded. "Understood."
Then he glanced at Nobu, suddenly smiling. "Want to come along?"
Nobu blinked. "Where?"
"It's a meeting of the Shinigami Men's Association. The association's newly founded. The president is Seventh Division Vice-Captain Iba Tetsuzaemon. If you want to join, we'd be happy to have you. Oh, and your division's Iemura is a member too."
Shinigami Men's Association?
Nobu thought about it. He did recall such an organization, but it was probably the lowest-ranking group in all of Seireitei. They didn't even have a proper office and were constantly being "deliberately" suppressed by the Shinigami Women's Association.
"I'll think about it," Nobu replied, a little hesitant.
Kaien, ever eager to recruit talent, added with a smile, "Our captain is also a member of the Men's Association, so think carefully."
Nobu: "…"
Ukitake just chuckled, though the chuckle turned into a cough.
The Men's Association had a very different purpose from the Women's Association. The Women's Association was created to promote women's status in Seireitei and protect the interests of female Shinigami. But… did male Shinigami need their status improved?
For Ukitake, it was simply a group of like-minded people gathering for fun. He joined to give them face. Since its founding, the Men's Association had never actually accomplished anything.
Nobu wasn't remotely interested. Instead, he looked at Ukitake, still coughing, and said, "Captain Ukitake… your health?"
"It's nothing—an old problem," Ukitake replied lightly.
He suffered from a severe lung illness, with frequent coughing fits, and when it worsened, it affected his movement and even consciousness.
That was why people often said he was "frail and sickly."
Nobu remembered—the cause went back to Ukitake's childhood. He had been gravely ill and on the brink of death in the Rukongai's Inuzuri District, when he was saved by a local god, the "One-Eyed Great God" Mimihagi—known as the right arm of the Soul King.
It was said Mimihagi would protect those who offered him an organ, anything but their eyes.
What young Ukitake had offered… was his lungs.
The Soul King's two arms—his left hand governed progress, his right hand governed cessation. Mimihagi had saved Ukitake, but had also "stopped" his lungs in their childhood state of illness. They could never heal, but he would not die from them either.
Almost no one in Soul Society knew this truth.
"Has Captain Ukitake never tried to treat it?" Nobu asked.
"It can't be cured," Ukitake said with a faint laugh. "I even had Captain Unohana examine me, but even she couldn't help."
He knew his body well, and after so many years had grown accustomed to it.
Nobu suddenly said, "Captain Ukitake, maybe I could try."
Ukitake blinked, surprised. Did Nobu not hear what he'd just said? Even Unohana had been helpless.
"My Zanpakutō happens to be Kaidō-type," Nobu continued. "I've learned a few things in healing. I don't think your condition is entirely beyond help."
Kaien couldn't help asking, "You mean it?"
Ukitake hesitated. "I appreciate the thought, but my illness isn't an ordinary lung disease…"
"I know it's been with you a long time, and you may have your reservations," Nobu said calmly. "But if you'd let me try, I'd give it my all."
Seeing Nobu's earnestness, Kaien thought a moment and said to his captain, "Why not let him have a look? If his Zanpakutō's Kaidō-based, it might have some unexpected ability."
Ukitake gave a helpless smile. "Alright. I don't have time now, but if you're free this evening, come by."
"Alright."
After Ukitake left, Kaien asked, "You really confident?"
"I haven't examined him yet," Nobu said.
"You realize even Captain Unohana couldn't do anything?"
"Captain Ukitake just told me."
Kaien looked doubtful.
"I'll be back tonight," Nobu said.
...
Returning to Fourth Division, Nobu went to see Unohana and brought up Ukitake's condition.
"Oh?" She seemed a bit surprised. "Why suddenly ask about that?"
"I went to Thirteenth Division today and saw him."
"Do you have some idea?"
Nobu nodded. "I want to try treating him."
Unohana studied him, her gaze glinting faintly.
"If you want to try, go ahead. But… his lung disease isn't really a disease."
"More like a rule, right?" Nobu said.
Her expression sharpened. "You saw it?"
"More or less."
"And you still want to try?"
"Yes."
She was silent for a long moment, then said, "If you can cure him, it would be a great merit for Soul Society."
Nobu grinned. "I know. That's exactly why I'm doing it."
...
By evening, he went alone to Thirteenth Division.
Kaien was waiting. They hadn't told anyone else—only the two of them and Ukitake knew.
In the captain's office, Ukitake wasn't alone.
Nobu recognized one—Kotetsu Kiyone, Isane's younger sister.
The other was a tall man with short black hair and a goatee—Kotsubaki Sentarō, also a Third Seat of the Thirteenth, sharing the position with Kiyone.
"Captain, Nobu's here," Kaien said.
Ukitake looked up from his work with a gentle smile. "Alright, let him in."
Kaien signaled Kiyone and Sentarō, and the three left the office, closing the door behind them.
"Vice-Captain Kaien, that guy's the Third Seat from Fourth Division, right? What's he doing here?" Kiyone asked. She remembered Nobu from the last vice-captains' meeting—after all, he was often at her sister's side.
"Official business," Kaien said simply.
"Oh."
Inside, Ukitake was still working through documents. Nobu stood quietly aside until he was done.
When Ukitake finally looked up, he smiled. "You came alone? And without bringing anything?"
"For Captain Ukitake's illness, ordinary medical tools and medicine won't help," Nobu said.
Ukitake chuckled. "You've come to that conclusion without even examining me?"
They sat at a low table. Nobu asked him to loosen his robes and bare his chest.
Ukitake complied. His body was lean, not muscular at all; the lines of his ribs were clearly visible.
Nobu placed a hand on his chest, letting the reishi of Kaidō seep slowly in.
After a few moments, he withdrew his hand without a word.
Ukitake, thinking Nobu had found nothing he could do, felt oddly relieved. "It's tricky, isn't it? Don't worry. Even Captain Unohana's seen it, and it won't kill me."
But Nobu suddenly spoke.
"Captain Ukitake."
"Mm?"
"Your illness—do you want it cured, or not?"
Ukitake froze, then his eyes changed slightly.
---
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