Despite what Yū assumed to be soft aside from his tone, Nibui instead reacts rather strongly, at first flinching in an act of protection before his defense crumbles at the realization of Yū’s presence. As ungraceful as the Captain remembers, he witnesses Nibui fall into the spring and is forced to look away for a brief moment to stifle any potential laughter.
“I was focusing on what you taught me. I apologise, I didn’t know you owned this rock.”
… he mutters amidst the spring water. Yū scoffs, partially in response to his attempt at garnering sympathy with a reference to their past encounters but mostly, to the added sarcasm at the end of his reply. Emerging from underneath the water, Nibui rises to his full height; Though he only stands at an average 5’7, the Shinigami’s physical presence is domineering in comparison to Yū’s measly 5’3 stature. This is further emphasized by his visibly pronounced build, not nearly as lanky nor dressed as modestly as he once was when the two first met. In an attempt of intimidation, a slight grimace projects from Yū’s face but it is short lived, faltering in response to what it finds in return– an unassuming grin from the Shinigami stood before him. Before either one of them can speak whether it be for Nibui to add on to his greeting or for Yu to craft a snide remark in return, a third, unfamiliar voice beats the pair to it.
“Oh! Captain Nakamoto, It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Mizu Sayuri, the most recent Soul Reaper to join your Division!”
Silence lingers for a moment after Mizu’s abrupt entrance, the Captain now turning his back to Nibui to fully face the bowing Shinigami. His expression doesn’t shift in the slightest, meeting the man’s naive bashfulness and his bow with a detached look.
"I'm aware. I filled out the paperwork after all.”
… he replies dismissively. While meeting a member of his division would be approached with some form of niceties, Yū is not particularly enthused with the idea of yet another person weaseling their way into his small window of private time. Sparing uncharacteristically harsh words from being spoken, a familiar voice from the distant past suddenly echoes from within, invading Yū’s mind with urgent news. It was a method of communication the Captain utterly despised as he likened it to “receiving a phone call you had no choice to accept,” but as a result, it often meant the significance of the message was so great that it vastly outweighed the unpleasant intrusiveness of the process.
Quote:“Captain Nakamoto, apologies for the intrusion. Fifth Division's Third Seat, Eizoku Yugameru, who mysteriously disappeared over a century ago, has been retrieved from within the recesses of the Dangai in critical condition. The Head Priestess along with a group of members from the Kidо̄ Corps are currently headed towards your division seeking immediate medical attention. The male is currently contained within and being kept alive by means of Goyōgai. The moment he is released his vitals will drastically drop and all functionality will plummet immediately after due to a bisected body and major blood loss.
This is a touch-and-go basis, and as such your expertise is essential. One wrong move and we could very well lose not only him, but also the information he holds. The Head Priestess asks that you prioritize stabilizing him in attempts to receive interrogation immediately after his regaining of consciousness and soundness of mind. Your division members have already been contacted as well and made known of the severity of this situation. They will more than likely be prepared the moment both you and the injured Third Seat arrives."
There were many questions to be asked, but the Captain did not dare to entertain them, nor allow his imagination to formulate their own guesses. The importance of this Shinigami’s survival seemed to be paramount, mainly implied by how dire the messenger had described the situation. They had stressed his circumstances, wasting trivial terms such as critical condition… bisected body… major blood loss. So long as he drew breath, the Head Doctor held no doubts in his ability on saving the man– and with Eizoku already within the Goyо̄gai constructed by high-ranking members of the Kidо̄ Corps themselves, his survival was as good as
guaranteed. The only hurdle Yū needs to overcome is to arrive by his side in a timely fashion and speed... has never been a shortcoming of his. The Captain begins by making his quick goodbyes, first starting with the newest member of his Division.
“I have to go. Stay or leave, the choice is yours– you won’t be any help for the time being, Mizu Sayuri. We’ll reconnect afterwards if I’m allowed the time.”
… Yū informs, equally blunt as before. Without a shift of tone yet the slightest of smirks, the man’s head peeks over his shoulder to steal a final glimpse of Nibui. While there is much more to say, there is little that is vocalized.
“Enjoy my rock.”
By the time their minds process Yū’s swift flight, the man’s presence is already long gone, succeeded by a soft breeze. The luxury of time that was provided prior is no longer present as Yū disrobes and puts on his uniform at an alarming pace before grabbing ahold of his zanpakuto and once again, melting into the air. There is no audible nor visible sign of the Captain’s departure, apart from the slightest shift of the curtains that hang over the onsen’s exit and the sense of his reiatsu dimming out as he heads to the relief station with effortless haste.
With his incredible speed, Yū’s form approaches the relief station’s main entrance within a few minutes of the message’s initial relay. As predicted the lobby is already packed with the expected Kidо̄ Corps’ arrival; A congregation of medics are already amped high on alert, with the few that were left unaware now being informed as the transfer of care proceeds smoothly. The kidо̄ prism that encases the incapacitated Eizoku Yugameru still remains intact as what’s left of his body is shifted onto a hospital bed and covered mostly by a surgical drape, before he is hastily wheeled down the hall into the distant bays of the relief station.
"I'll ask that you wait out here until we’re finished. When he’s awake, I’ll send for you.”
… Yū requests of the Kidо̄ Corps officials before following the troupe into the darkened hallway.
Deep, deep in the furthest recesses of the relief station lies the Intensive Care Unit, where the most critical of patients are regularly housed. Its’ rumored that the reason for such a detached location is to spare the sight of the deceased in the unfortunate circumstance a patient is lost– Though one would consider why such a precaution would need to be met with Captain Nakamoto present. While he is unable to save every single life, as far as he can remember within the past century, at the very least there has
never been a failure of treatment within the relief station while he or one of his higher seats have been available. With nothing to disturb the process– no external factors oozing to jam the routines carefully prepared to meet the needs of every individual patient, the fact remains there is no reason why the greatest healer should be unsuccessful here of all places and now of all times.
“We’ll start with reiatsu restoration and any acute spiritual stitching before attempting to regenerate his form.”
“Yes, Captain!”
… the group of medics declare in return as Yū slides the operating room door shut behind him. Four other bodies apart from Yū’s fill the operating room with organized chaos, some wheeling machinery to Eizoku’s bedside while others prepare for immediate first aid with IVs and various tools in hand. They bark commands at one another and while in any other setting it would be considered rude and unprofessional, their intensity is instead accepted as passion and the deep desire they all share for succeeding in yet another procedure– a procedure that would save Eizoku Yugameru’s life. Together the quintet surround the bed, waiting with bated breath for the Doctor to announce the commencement of the operation.
“I’ll be dropping the barrier now… Let’s begin.”
Yū draws in a deep breath, his reiatsu building as a blooming teal light emanates from his form. At once, the orange tint that colors the kidо̄ prism recedes to latch itself onto Eizoku’s lower half and on cue with its’ dwindling, a wave of green erupts from the palms of the Captain and the medic across from him before splashing onto Eizoku and enveloping him entirely. Like proposed, the primary pair begin with reiatsu restoration as two other medics begin hooking the Shinigami up for first aid. An IV is inserted into his right cephalic vein as a blue, unnamed liquid is drained into his bloodstream. While for the time being it would help to restore the massive amount of blood that Eizoku has lost, it will later be extremely beneficial towards the regrowth of the man’s lower half. While its general composition is vastly different, its application can be likened to the
Hojiku-Zai, however much more diluted and as a result of the dilution on top of the Shinigami's myriad of injuries, much more of this special liquid in volume will be necessary.
A mask connected to a ventilator is slipped onto his mouth by one doctor as another operates the computer that powers the ventilator itself. From the portable shelf the computer sits on runs another wire with a clasp that this same doctor grabs ahold of, clipping it onto Eizoku’s right index finger. Upon the clip’s application, a faint and slow beeping pierces through the concentrated silence. As expected, the Shinigami was on the brink of death when found; If he had been left anywhere near this condition, there truly was no possible outcome where he would have survived the journey here from the Senkaimon without the application of Goyо̄gai. This type of cleverness is anticipated from the Kidо̄ Corps, but no doubt would be impressive to Yū if he had been aware that Eizoku had cast the very same barrier himself prior to his rescue.
The green light that pulsates over Eizoku does not relent, its soft glow illuminating his bloodstained body. Aside from the life-threatening bisection, the sheer abuse the third seat’s body had gone through was horrifying. Instances of blunt trauma were present, visible by patches of darkened bruising scattered throughout his flesh as well as severe internal bleeding. The brutality that his physical form underwent does not go unnoticed, as even the hard-focused doctor at the head of the bed performing the spiritual stitching tends to occasionally display a pained expression every now and then, particularly when she catches sight of another especially deep wound.
Yet all the same as from its inception, the green light that emanates from Yū Nakamoto still does not falter. Like magic, everything impure it touches begins to remove itself from existence, the discoloration of his skin fading as steam from the contact of his refreshing reiryoku sizzles above. The wounds that have been tended to by spiritual stitching as well begin to dispel from sight, leaving no indication of a wound ever being there. Whatever entity or entities this Shinigami had faced… he truly was lucky to escape with his life and the group of medics did not need to utter a word to know they would all come to the same consensus if asked.
Minutes later…
“His pulse is stabilizing. Will he wake up mid-operation?”
"He won’t, I’m making sure of it. Administer 100 more milligrams. His body is beginning to regenerate on its own– I’m passing off restoration to you and I’ll begin with regrowth."
“Yes, Captain.”
While it is unseen, the Captain is able to feel the activity that is brewing underneath the operation sheet, manipulating his reiryoku to lay the foundation for what would soon become the rest of Eizoku’s body. The healing energy focuses itself at the point of bisection, cradling the hexagonal barrier that hugs his waist. It begins to cradle the barrier, and for a moment mimics its shape before it seeps through; The Captain simultaneously dispels the prism while maintaining the blood from spilling out underneath the surgical drape. The luminescence that flows from his palms now increases in intensity, rays of verdant light piercing through from underneath the sheet. From above, the energy is potent enough to highlight where it concentrates at his waist as well as where it begins to spread, snaking down the length of the bed before splitting into two– what will soon become the general shape for his legs.
“Done.”
... the medic stood by the computer announces, as the blue liquid that flows into Eizoku's veins has now turned darker in color. In response to Yū's reiatsu as well as Eizoku's freshly restored reiatsu, suddenly an agglomeration of blood, bone, flesh, nerves and everything in between begins to bubble from the gaping wound. Slowly, it is molded and formed in accordance with the green energy, the layers reverting back to normalcy with bronzed skin glazed over. As if bending to his reiryoku’s will, the heaping mass of Eizoku’s flesh flows like liquid into the boundaries created by Yū’s reiryoku as slight cracks that would be his bones form and vigorously snap into place. A procedure that would otherwise take hours without the blessed resources and assistance of medicines found in the relief station is cut into just half an hour, rescuing a man who was only minutes away from an untimely death and transforming him into one of peak condition.
Yet despite his physical condition, Eizoku’s consciousness was an unrelated factor with the Captain’s sedating reiatsu withdrawn as the familiar hue that had once painted the operating room is now no longer present. Yū had done all he could to help the man, replenishing both his reiatsu and his structure– leaving the rest in Eizoku’s hands. As long as the young Shinigami hadn't considered his life to be over, eventually he would wake to find himself in the operating room with Yū alone stood ominously at the foot of his bed, observing him with
Kuronosu at the Captain's side.
Beep………… beep………… beep………… beep…………
However, whether Captain Nakamoto was there to welcome the patient he had operated on with open arms or to interrogate the man that had vanished from the Soul Society for over one hundred years was an entirely different ordeal.
