Beneath the bright, pristine moon,
A brilliant point of light was continuously climbing higher into the night sky.
The higher it climbed, the brighter it became.
Before it even reached halfway, it was already the size of the moon, recklessly blooming with light and heat in the pitch-black midnight, creating an unprecedented spectacle of "two moons sharing the sky"!
"Anata, what is this?"
The night was pierced, revealing a corner of the blue sky. Inside the house, Aoi, who had been secretly grieving over Roy's departure, couldn't sleep. She had simply lit a lamp and used a few pieces of cloth Roy had brought from the market to make a set of clothes for each of the children. Suddenly seeing this scene, her hand trembled, and the needle pricked her finger. Frowning slightly from the pain, she draped a coat over her shoulders and walked over to Tanjuro in shock.
The man's long, fiery red hair cascaded down his back, the ends swaying gently in the wind. He just looked up at Roy, who had transformed into a moon and was flying higher and higher. As the light shifted in his bright eyes, he vaguely seemed to see... the same long, fiery red hair, almost identical to his own...
He opened his mouth, reached out to wrap an arm around Aoi's shoulders, and smiled...
"Aoi, the boy has grown up, let him go... He,"
"Is far stronger than we thought, and far more... dazzling!"
Just as Tanjuro finished speaking, Roy's surging Nen aura directly dispelled the darkness across half the sky. With a terrifying, brilliant, and scorching display that surpassed the moon, he shot up with a *whoosh*, directly outshining it and transforming into a massive sun suspended overhead!
Finally, the night in the other half of the sky was completely driven away by the Nen light Roy recklessly poured out.
At this moment, waking from midnight dreams, the hazy eyes of the people were met with blue skies and white clouds. Those getting up to use the restroom... those selling early breakfast, and the men, women, elderly, and children who habitually stayed up late to work, originally intended to do their prep work before dawn as usual. They never expected... with one glance up at the sky, they froze on the spot, almost thinking they had slept straight through to morning.
But... the clocks hanging on the walls, the water clocks and sundials responsible for keeping time, all reminded them that this was not morning, but... midnight!
So... "The... the sun came out?"
"Old woman / Sweetie / Nii-san / Otou-san... wake up, wake up quickly... A miracle... The great Sun God has descended upon the world once again!"
Confusion, excitement, uproar, and shouts swept across the entire Demon Slayer world like a hurricane, blowing from north to south...
Some worshipped, some bowed, some burned incense with their hands clasped together, muttering words of prayer. Some fiddled with a newly produced rarity called a "camera," snapping wildly, recording this rare spectacle of the "sun and moon shining together" from all angles...
The Demon Slayer Corps.
With Muzan dead,
The Demon Slayer Corps had no more demons to kill.
As the former leader, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had proactively suggested they disperse and wait for "Lord Eiichiro's" next summons.
At that time, in the place hidden by the wisteria forest, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was sleeping soundly with Amane in his arms.
At that time, Giyu Tomioka had returned to Mt. Sagiri and was drinking the night away with Sabito, Makomo, and his other senior disciples.
At that time, Obanai Iguro was tossing and turning, unable to sleep, secretly hyping himself up to confess to Mitsuri Kanroji.
At that time, Gyomei Himejima had quietly returned to the temple where he once lived, reflecting on the past.
At that time, Tengen Uzui was enjoying the happiness of sharing a large bed with his wives.
Yet—
The moment Roy flew into the high heavens and pierced the clouds, as if rehearsed beforehand, they all opened their eyes in unison, threw on their clothes, and stepped out of their rooms. Looking up at the sky, they narrowed their eyes in excitement.
Using [Gyo] to look deep into the [Sun], they saw a signature head of fiery red hair flying upside down...
Led by Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Kyojuro Rengoku, the Hashira all dropped to one knee in unison, placing their right hands over their chests and praying devoutly, "Praise the Sun."
Consequently, streams of [Faith Power] suddenly drilled out from the crowns of their heads, converging towards Roy in the high heavens, turning into a continuous stream of panel notification sounds ringing in Roy's ears...
It seemed,
From then on,
The billions of living beings represented by the people of the Demon Slayer world had... faith!
"Buzz—" The wind of Nen, along with the rays of Nen light, blew away the white clouds... High in the sky, above the moon, Roy stood at the pinnacle of the world. He faintly sensed something, his eyes trembling as he gained a deeper understanding of "Nen," "Faith," and the core pointing straight to the depths of his soul—the Sun.
Hazily, the [Gate of Cognition] flickered.
As a surging wave appeared in Roy's "Sea of Cognition," it slapped open a towering gate branded with a [Ferocious Demon Face].
The Bleach world.
Seireitei.
The world was still that world, and beneath his feet was still the familiar Seireitei...
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni sat cross-legged on the corridor of the small courtyard, basking in the sun.
Ever since parting ways with Roy last time and seeing the boy's "grateful" strike, this greatest Soul Reaper in a thousand years would frequently space out. Sometimes, right in the middle of a meeting, he would suddenly freeze... Sometimes, while listening to a report, he would suddenly zone out. Even... during his usually favorite tea parties, the "Captain-Commander" lacked interest, often stroking his long beard without saying a word... For a time, it made Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake privately discuss whether the old man was getting senile, secretly trying to get information through Sasakibe Chōjirō, who was most familiar with Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni...
As a result, they were directly ignored by the other party's secretive gaze, who only said, "The Captain-Commander is fine, don't worry."
They were sent away, looking at each other in dismay...
Today was another mild and sunny afternoon.
In the small courtyard adjacent to the rear of the First Division barracks...
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, as usual, sat cross-legged in the wooden corridor of the courtyard. Close at hand was his simple walking stick that concealed Ryūjin Jakka... He closed his eyes, basking in the sun.
In front of him,
Sasakibe Chōjirō, wearing a high-collared shirt under his Shihakusho, with white hair and golden eyes, dressed in his usual Western style, was tending to two potted plants in front of him, chatting casually with the old man...
Mentioning the concern of the Soul Reapers, including Kyoraku and Ukitake, he gently advised the old man, "Eijisai, you've been a bit out of line lately... If this continues, Kyoraku and Ukitake might just bring Unohana over..."
Captain of the Fourth Division, Retsu Unohana, in charge of medical duties... skilled at treating illnesses, however...
"I am not sick."
"I'm not saying you're sick." Sasakibe Chōjirō helplessly looked back at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. "Everyone is worried about you. Even someone as reckless as Zaraki can tell something is wrong with you. You've rejected him every time he asked to spar, and he's about to go crazy."
"Crazy? It's good to be crazy..." Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni slowly opened his old eyes and looked up at the sky. The bright sun was shining perfectly, just like the day he first met the boy. Looking back on it now, it felt like a dream, yet also like madness...
'Was it fake?'
Obviously not...
'But if it was real,'
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, presiding over the Seireitei with immense power and influence, hadn't found a single trace of the boy in the World of the Living, let alone that garden, and that dazzling sword burning with flames almost identical to his own!
Faintly... the old man spaced out again. Seeing this, Sasakibe Chōjirō finally couldn't stand it anymore. He rarely overstepped his bounds, but acting in his capacity as a lieutenant and an old friend, he asked the old man, "That day, what did you see inside the gate that made you so distracted!"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's sharp, authoritative brows twitched, but he remained silent and did not answer.
He reached out a withered hand and touched his chest, feeling the heart that still beat steadily despite being eroded by over two thousand years of time, expecting it to experience another unusual flutter... Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Suddenly... a portal overflowing with light slowly emerged from the sunlight once again.
The old man froze, his tall body trembling violently. Then... he abruptly stood up and grabbed Ryūjin Jakka beside him!
"What's wrong, Eijisai?" Sasakibe Chōjirō frowned, and with a telepathic connection, blurted out, "The gate... is it that gate?"
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni remained silent. His gaze swept straight past Sasakibe Chōjirō's shoulder and nailed itself behind him.
Sasakibe Chōjirō involuntarily narrowed his golden eyes and fiercely followed the old man's gaze... There was nothing behind him but sunlight, leaving him looking at nothing...
"You cannot see it," Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni said faintly. "It opens exclusively for me, and... only for me..."
Sasakibe Chōjirō: "..."
Helpless,
Holding the watering can alone, he stepped aside...
"Then don't keep them waiting."
The portal was right in front of him, yet he couldn't see or touch it... In all these years, Sasakibe Chōjirō had never encountered such a situation. He understood Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, so he decisively turned his body sideways, allowing the old man to brush past his shoulder and walk straight towards the portal he couldn't see.
Just as the old man, stroking his long beard and firmly gripping the walking stick concealing Ryūjin Jakka in one hand, had half his body submerged into the portal and was about to disappear...
He suddenly called out, "Eijisai, when you return, I hope you can give me an answer."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni paused. He neither agreed nor refused. Stepping forward again, bathed in the overflowing light, he entered the portal and disappeared...
"Whoosh—" A gentle breeze blew, carrying spiritual pressure that danced in the air...
Watching him leave, Sasakibe Chōjirō bowed slightly. When he turned back and looked closely at the wooden corridor, unsurprisingly... the old man's soul had left, but his empty shell was still sitting cross-legged in the corridor, looking indescribably eerie!
It should be known that Soul Reapers are single lifeforms composed of purely high-concentration Reishi; their essence is the soul!
Yet that "invisible gate" could make Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's "soul leave his body"!
Once again, it overturned Sasakibe Chōjirō's common sense and understanding as a Soul Reaper!
He reached out a hand, pinched a wisp of spiritual pressure, and murmured, 'If a Soul Reaper can truly die, then is [Konso] still necessary?'
(Note: [Konso]: Because the concentration of spiritual pressure is too high to naturally decompose or return to the Soul Society, their souls must be sent to Hell through the Konso Ritual. In Hell, they will turn into "Togabito", enduring endless torment and battles until their sins are purified.)
He opened his hand again, letting the wisp of spiritual pressure slip away...
He finished watering the flowers, and just like last time, secretly raised his guard. He sat down cross-legged next to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, maintaining vigilance at all times until his return.
Flying, flying... "Creak—" The "Bleach Gate" standing in Roy's Sea of Cognition cracked open, letting a stream of consciousness slip out...
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni stepped into the portal with his front foot, and his back foot followed in a daze. He began to fall, and when he regained his senses, much like last time, he opened his eyes and saw... a familiar figure!
Only, this time,
The boy wasn't holding a sword. Instead, compared to their last meeting in the garden, he was even more... radiant!
Even more scorching,
Even more unlookable,
Even more unimaginable,
Just like the sun, making him involuntarily narrow his eyes and grip the Ryūjin Jakka in his hand!
"You do not wield a blade, yet you use your body as a blade... You are not the sun, yet you transform into a blazing sun..." The old man's long beard swayed in the wind. He took a step forward, standing alongside the boy high in the sky, directly facing his light and heat... As his thoughts fluttered, it felt as if he had returned to that lush, green garden...
Only, this time, the boy's black hair had turned red, as if ignited. He was no longer turning his back to him, drawing his sword to the sky to absorb the sun's essence.
Instead, he used his body as the sun, burning himself... After a long separation, the change was so drastic that he seemed like a completely different person!
"Buzz..." The wind of Nen and the light of Nen blew... As the bit of [Sun Essence] and [World Power] brought by the Spider Lily was absorbed bit by bit by Roy, the boy listened to the panel notification sounds...
Roy's eyes twitched, and he slowly opened them... Feeling something, he looked over through the overflowing light... "Poof—" Two massive suns leaped out from the depths of his pupils, much more dazzling, blinding, blazing... and domineering than before!
He smiled brightly at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, revealing two rows of white teeth. "Good evening, we meet again."
Evening? Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's sharp old eyes, covered in the marks of time and weather, faced the great sun directly without hiding or dodging. He chuckled... The laughter spread, heavy and deep, as if it could smash a crater if it fell to the ground. He casually glanced at the darkness that had been completely driven away without a trace, turned his back to the blue sky and white clouds, and said, "Boy, this doesn't look like evening."
"Just call me Roy."
"Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
"I know."
"I didn't know you knew." Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni leaned on Ryūjin Jakka, looking deeply at him and said, "Roy, can you tell me where this is?"
The World of the Living? A dream? Or the cognitive world?
With a thought, Roy retracted his recklessly scattered Nen aura. Consequently,
The sun disappeared, the divine light dimmed, and the night returned. The boy then turned his back to the bright moon, reached out his right hand, and ran it through his hair, slicking all his fiery red hair back. He winked playfully at Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and said, "When the false becomes true, the true also becomes false; when nothingness is taken as being, being becomes nothingness."
"Why obsess over where we are?"
"Captain-Commander, you can treat this place as the truth within falsehood, or as the falsehood within truth."
"..."
"Kyoka Suigetsu!"
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