The Epic of Leviathan (A Mutant's Ascension)
Chapter 430 - Two Sides Of The Same Coin...

[13th Division, Seireitei]

"Do you believe him?" Jushiro Ukitake asked in a low tone. After the meeting yesterday, Jushiro Ukitake started to feel unwell so Shunsui Kyoraku brought him to his barracks and decided to spend the night here.

Today Jushiro was feeling quite alright so Shunsui Kyoraku decided to have a chat with his friend regarding the stuff they learned yesterday. For a moment, Jushiro completely froze after hearing the question.

"If I am being honest, I don't want to believe him and I hope that Kisuke Urahara is wrong" Jushiro Ukitake said while staring outside the window.

Shunsui tilted his hat… he agreed with his friend. "But he could be right…" Shunsui said in a low tone and Jushiro reluctantly nodded his head.

"Though he is probably right… he had a knack of being right about these types of things" Jushiro said as his eyes focused on his friend.

"Do we tell the old man?" Shunsui asked and Jushiro shook his head..

"Not right now… we have to do some research on our own" Jushiro said and Shunsui completely agreed with his friend.

"...And what about Sosuke Aizen?" Jushiro asked weakly and Shunsui rapped his fingers on his knuckles.

"I say we keep a close eye on him. At least, for now… according to Kisuke Urahara, Sosuke Aizen is a careful individual…" Shunsui said as he rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look on his face.

"We act like normal and make subtle inquiries here and there… we can't let him know that we are onto him" Shunsui continued and Jushiro nodded his head in agreement.

They needed to be very careful about this…

[4th Division, Seireitei]

'What should I do?' Unohana Retsu asked herself as she stared into her own reflection in the mirror… She placed her hand on her scar as she traced the ugly mark.

'What's there to think about? Isn't it obvious?' Unohana Retsu heard a treacherous voice inside her mind. Though she wasn't bothered by the voice… It has been hundreds of years since she had heard that voice.

'So you finally decided to answer me?' Unohana Retsu questioned and the voice simply snorted.

'You were the one who decided to toss me aside! You are the one who decided to give up her true nature!!' the voice screamed back. Unohana Retsu didn't say anything as the voice was right.

'Hello sister, it has been some time… I think it has been hundreds of years, isn't it?' a second voice was heard inside Unohana Retsu's mind.

'Yes, it has been hundreds of years, sister. At least you weren't tossed aside like me' the first voice answered and the second voice chuckled.

'Now, I understand that I wasn't being true to myself… I have been lying to myself' Unohana Retsu said in a longing tone.

Both voices inside her head were shocked and surprised after hearing Unohana Retsu's words. Neither of them had imagined that Unohana Retsu would ever admit that.

'I envy this woman named Hela… she gets to kill for fun, I enjoyed those times. I miss those times, I have been lying to myself that I have changed but I have been denying the truth' Unohana Retsu said in a neutral tone.

Her whole visage started to change… 'I don't want to keep lying to myself… Reo isn't going to judge me, he will accept me as I am… he said he didn't mind that I am a monster…' Unohana Retsu thought.

Her kind and gentle eyes were gone, her eyes weren't glowing like they usually did… her eyes were barely open but now her eyes were gloomy and menacing… even her kind smile was gone, replaced by a malicious and cruel smile.

'Yachiru Unohana… I have missed using that name, I have missed the fear in everyone's eyes…' Unohana Retsu or Yachiru Unohana mused as she picked up her Zanpakutou.

'Minazuki, I have been rather cruel to you… will you forgive me?' Unohana asked but the voices inside her head didn't answer.

Minutes passed but Unohana didn't hear an answer but she didn't back down. '...Then, vow. Vow that you would never toss me aside… promise me that you will embrace your both sides' the first voice demanded.

'Promise that you will embrace both of your sides, you won't abandon my sister or me like before. You won't lie to yourself for a fake paradise' the second voice demanded.

'I promise… from now on, I will embrace both of my sides. I won't be lying to myself for the sake of others' Unohana Retsu said in a determined tone and her visage started to transform again.

Moments later, Unohana was back into her usual kind and gentle persona. Unohana was a bipolar person… She was a kind and gentle woman and moments later, she could be a vicious, cruel, and sadistic woman.

Her cruel side was dominant but she had been suppressing that side for so long that currently both of her natures were kind of balancing each other.

That didn't mean that her evil side had grown weaker, instead, her kind and gentle side had grown stronger. Now that both of her natures were kind of balancing each other… it was easier for her to switch.

Just like Unohana, her Zanpakutou was also bipolar. She had never shared this information with anyone. Her Zanpakutou had two spirits even though her Zanpakutou had only one blade.

One of the spirits represented her Shikai, this spirit represented her kind and gentle personality. That is why her Shikai had healing abilities.

The other spirit was completely opposite of the first one, this spirit represented her Bankai. Her Bankai was designed to kill and slaughter, its abilities were completely opposite to her Shikiai's.

Since Unohana's evil side was dominant at the beginning, her Bankai represented her evil side. Unohana Retsu closed her eyes as she enjoyed the power coursing through her body.

"Thank you, Minazuki. I won't let either of you down… I promise" Unohana Retsu muttered in a low tone and she stared at her Zanpakutou.

Unohana Retsu quickly braided her hair and decided to leave as it was almost time… she walked out of her quarters and only after a few moments, she sensed her lieutenant, Isane, was approaching her.

"Good morning, Captain" Isane greeted Unohana who gave her a bright smile. Isane noticed something was different with her Captain but she couldn't put a finger on it.

"Good morning, Isane, how are you?" Unohana asked in her usual tone and Isane decided to put the matter aside for now.

"I have been fine Captain… are you leaving?" Isane asked curiously.

"Yes, you should be able to manage the Division, right?" Unohana asked in a gentle tone and Isane immediately straightened.

"Of course, Captain. You can depend on me, I won't disappoint you" Isane proclaimed and Unohana chuckled as she patted her lieutenant's head.

Isane was quite a tall woman, much taller than Unohana Retsu. So Unohana patting Isane's head was quite a comical scene… Isane slightly lowered her posture so that Unohana could reach her. Unohana's smile widened at the small gesture.

Unohana Retsu used Flash Step to arrive at their usual meeting spot and found that Reo was already there… It wasn't surprising.

'Reo seemed to always know when I am going to arrive' Unohana thought as a smile appeared on her face.

She had tried changing the days… sometimes she would come here randomly and Reo was always here waiting for her. 'It isn't surprising with all the power he has' Unohana mused as she approached Reo.

"How are you, Retsu-San?" Reo asked in a gentle tone as Retsu sat down beside him.

"Call me Yachiru… that's my real name" Retsu said while looking away. Reo was slightly surprised to hear that but he was even more surprised when he noticed a small blush marring Unohana's face.

'Ah… she had no experience in matters like these… She must be completely innocent regarding feelings and love' Reo mused but decided not to tease her. There would be more chances at a later date.

"Yachiru… that's a lovely name" Reo called out and once again Unohana blushed.

"Thank you" Unohana replied after a few moments.

"Yachiru… I have brought something for you" Reo said as he pulled out a box from his Space Storage.

Unohana accepted the box and she carefully opened it to replace it filled with some sort of flavored rice. Unohana almost passed out when she smelled the aroma. Her fingers started to twitch… She wanted to dive in so badly but she stopped herself.

She didn't want to be rude to Reo. "You can start eating Yachiru… I made this for you after all" Reo said while chuckling.

"Thank you for the food" Unohana thanked Reo as she picked up the chopsticks. She poured the gravy into the rice from the other compartment and she took the first bite.

Moments later, the flavors smacked her face like a freight train… Unohana quickly devoured the food with a gleeful look on her face. Reo kept watching her as she devoured the food he had prepared for her.

After finishing the food, she noticed that she had displayed something shameful and she had lit up like a Christmas tree… Unohana coughed into her hand to get back her bearings as she put down the box.

"The food was really delicious" Unohana said with a kind smile.

"I noticed" Reo said in a teasing tone as Unohana blushed once again.

"...I have decided to give it a try" Unohana muttered after a small pause. Noticing Reo's questioning look, Unohana decided to elaborate.

"I won't pretend that I am not bothered with the other women but I will give it a try… I don't know anything about love but I have decided to stop lying to myself and I know that I feel some sort of pain in my chest when I think about losing you…" Unohana said in a vulnerable tone.

Reo was quite surprised to see that Unohana had a side like this. Reo slowly grabbed Unohana's hand and she didn't pull back her hand… 'That's a positive sign' Reo mused.

"I understand, Yachiru… no need to hurry, I won't force you into anything… you can explore your feelings on your own leisure" Reo said politely as he kept caressing her hand.

"I would like that… but can I meet the others?" Unohana asked and Reo nodded his head with a smile…