"Actually, I'm the luckier one." Orihime Inoue leaned against Muten Natsu's chest. "Neither you nor Rukia has noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"Whether it's you or Rukia, when it comes to the feelings between us, the person you think about most is me." Orihime Inoue gave a smug little hum. "And if we include Unohana-san, that means all three of you are looking out for me."
Muten Natsu couldn't help laughing. "Are you really that set on Captain Unohana?"
"Unohana-san is wonderful. She's gentle, thoughtful, knows so much, and dotes on you." Orihime Inoue looked up from his arms. "But only Unohana-san, okay? If there's anyone else after that, I really will get angry."
"There won't be anyone else..." Muten Natsu lowered his head. "Though I'm actually kind of looking forward to seeing what you're like when you're angry."
"Hmph! I'm angry now!" Orihime Inoue puffed out her rosy cheeks. "Only a kiss can make me feel better... Pfft!"
She couldn't even finish before bursting into laughter herself.
In the chilly winter air, the girl in his arms wore the same warm smile as always.
Muten Natsu kissed her lips and breathed in the same breath as her, losing himself completely in her tenderness and the happiness that came with her.
...
"So... that's... that's what Orihime thinks..." Retsu Unohana wrapped her arms around Muten Natsu's neck. "You have to... you absolutely have to treat her well... You can't... mm... you can't ever make her sad..."
"I know..." Muten Natsu held Retsu Unohana's gently shifting body in his arms. "I'll definitely treat her well."
"You can't..." Retsu Unohana tightened her arms around him. "You can't say things like that... while doing this... mm... naughty baby... I don't remember teaching you to be like this..."
"Orihime really wants you to join us. She said you're..." Muten Natsu whispered into Retsu Unohana's ear, speaking each word distinctly. "Gentle... thoughtful... knowledgeable... and you dote on me..."
"Don't... don't say any more..." Retsu Unohana kissed Muten Natsu, stopping him from continuing.
Rukia and Orihime both liked Muten Natsu so much.
Yet right now, Muten Natsu was with her...
It shouldn't have been like this. It should have been them.
And yet she had done this.
They trusted her so much and depended on her so deeply, yet she had done something that could never be taken back.
Again and again, greedily refusing to stop...
Rukia Kuchiki had only just found the direction of her heart and thanked her for helping.
Orihime Inoue had only just opened her heart to Muten Natsu and even said she wanted Retsu Unohana to join them.
Yet here she was, occupying their place, holding tightly onto Muten Natsu and refusing to let him go.
If this continued...
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
...She couldn't let this happen.
"Orihime told me to try a little harder..." Muten Natsu whispered beside Retsu Unohana's ear. "I want to try a little harder too."
"Naughty baby..." Retsu Unohana lightly bit her lower lip.
If she had raised such a naughty baby, then perhaps she was a bad woman herself.
She should have realized it long ago.
From the moment she began teaching Muten Natsu these things, she should have realized that her own feelings were gradually changing.
No...
It was precisely because she had realized her feelings were changing that, after receiving that promotional message, she had subscribed to a large number of books from YDM Books and begun teaching Muten Natsu these things.
She had known all along that it would end like this.
This was the outcome she had wanted.
Was she really going to pretend to be innocent now?
Retsu Unohana leaned against Muten Natsu's chest, her hands resting over the arms wrapped around her body.
When she first met Muten Natsu, she had held him from behind in just the same way.
Back then, Muten Natsu had been so small that she could easily gather him into her arms.
Now Muten Natsu had grown up, and she was the one being held.
Whether it was her back then or him now, the embrace had been meant to help the person being held.
Whether it was him back then or her now, the one inside that embrace had felt the same comforting warmth.
As though... perhaps it would be all right to remain like this forever.
Retsu Unohana turned slightly.
"Muten..."
That single call was enough for Muten Natsu to understand what she wanted. He kissed her slightly parted lips.
This couldn't continue...
She had to... she had to do something.
While she could still think clearly, she had to make a decision.
She had to help Rukia Kuchiki.
She had to help Orihime Inoue.
She had to help Muten Natsu.
And she had to help herself, before she completely lost the ability to think.
...
Strands of black hair spilled down like a waterfall, forming a cage around Muten Natsu.
Retsu Unohana pinned his arms above his head and gently brushed the sweat from his face with the tip of her nose. "You can't rest yet."
This was... the last time.
As she forcefully stole away his breath, Retsu Unohana made her decision.
The Retsu Unohana whom Rukia Kuchiki had thanked, whom Orihime Inoue trusted, and whom Muten Natsu depended on had to do what she was supposed to do.
Something only she could do.
Retsu Unohana had already taught Muten Natsu everything she needed to teach him.
Only one final lesson remained.
...
Retsu Unohana glanced toward the window. "The night is still young."
...
"Are you crying?" Retsu Unohana kissed away the tear at the corner of Muten Natsu's eye. "There, there~ Don't be afraid~"
...
"You're awake?" Retsu Unohana helped smooth Muten Natsu's sweat-dampened hair. "You only passed out for a little while, but you should have rested enough by now, right?"
...
"It's not dawn yet."
...
"Mwah~"
...
"Goodbye, Muten."
...
Muten Natsu's eyes flew open, and he frantically looked around.
He was alone in the tidy bedroom.
"Was that... Hakufuku?" Muten Natsu recalled the final flash of white light and realized that Retsu Unohana had knocked him unconscious.
He had woken after losing consciousness without any obvious discomfort, so Retsu Unohana had clearly treated him afterward.
But why...
Muten Natsu's gaze sharpened when he noticed an envelope beside his pillow.
Suppressing the unease rising inside him, Muten Natsu carefully opened it.
The familiar handwriting carried an equally familiar Reiatsu.
It was... a letter from Retsu Unohana.