(T/N: Second chapter for today!)
Thanks to the combined persuasion of Nanatsuki and Kyōraku Shunsui, Komamura Sajin finally agreed to travel with them, because Nanatsuki offered free food along the way!
Komamura was currently going through a period of Reiatsu growth, which meant he needed to eat regularly. Skipping meals had left him starving.
Nanatsuki and Kyōraku had expected Komamura's trouble to catch up with them quickly, but even after they left Suzuka District, none of those Wolfman Clan pursuers ever showed up.
After leaving Suzuka, the five of them headed east and soon entered the domain of the Withered Bloom District.
"This place is really barren. Even the Reishi density's dropped a lot," Nanatsuki observed, scanning the area.
"Yeah. Just mountains and rocks—barely any grass," Kyōraku nodded.
"There was a rebellion here twenty years ago," Ukitake Jūshirō recalled from reading the archives. "The residents relocated en masse, which drastically reduced the number of souls and left the region deserted."
"The number of souls definitely affects Reishi density. We'd need to migrate several soul batches in just to bring life back to this land," said Yamamoto, who had already made up his mind to take action after returning—he'd arrange to bring in souls from other districts.
Souls and environment influence each other—just like plants and soil.
When a soul dies and their Reishi Shell disperses, the spiritual particles return to the environment, gradually enriching the land's Reishi over time. A denser environment, in turn, nurtures stronger souls born there.
The discussion piqued Komamura's curiosity. These "companions" of his clearly had insights far beyond any ordinary Rukongai citizen. Their identities were likely far from simple.
But Komamura didn't pry. He simply listened in silence.
"Plenty of shrines out here, at least," someone noted as they passed another old temple. Still early in the day, they had no plans to stop.
Suddenly, they heard rapid hoofbeats from behind.
Nanatsuki turned and saw a horse-drawn carriage racing down the road.
He recognized it, it was the same carriage from the abandoned shrine they'd left that morning.
The bodyguards from earlier were nowhere to be seen. A maid now sat at the reins.
Even from a distance, Nanatsuki could see the panic on her face.
She clearly had no control over the horses.
"Move!" she cried, her voice breaking.
The maid tugged hard on the reins, which spooked the horses even more. One reared up violently, but the carriage kept barreling forward. The sudden movement threw it off balance.
The entire carriage flipped violently.
It crashed and rolled across the road before slamming into the roadside and finally coming to a halt.
"There was a pregnant woman in that group, wasn't there…? Not good," Kyōraku muttered, scratching his cheek.
"Let's check it out. Maybe we can help," Ukitake suggested, always the kind one.
Komamura's nose twitched. He smelled blood.
By the time they reached the wreckage, the maid had just managed to crawl out of the dirt.
"Madam!" she cried, clawing at the shattered remains of the carriage.
Komamura stepped forward and pulled aside a collapsed wooden plank, revealing the bloodied figure of a pregnant woman.
Ukitake pressed two fingers to her wrist, then shook his head.
"No pulse."
"She was already dead," Nanatsuki said after inspecting her. A piercing wound ran through the woman's chest—it had been made by a sharp blade.
She'd been killed before the carriage overturned.
"Such a shame… She seemed fine when we left this morning. And now—two lives, gone just like that." Kyōraku sighed.
"There's still faint Reiatsu coming from her womb," Yamamoto suddenly said.
The group went silent.
The presence was so faint, only Yamamoto had sensed it.
"Is she still alive? Please, sirs, save my lady!" the maid begged.
As Shinigami, they could use Reiatsu to sense the condition of unborn souls. Gender, too, could be discerned early.
Nanatsuki placed a hand on the rounded belly and focused.
He could clearly sense the unborn child's presence, it was still alive.
"If we extract the baby now, we might be able to save it."
Without hesitation, Nanatsuki got to work.
He'd crafted many Reishi Shells recently, and had become quite familiar with the structure of the spiritual body. Extracting the fetus was well within his capability.
He gathered Reiatsu at his fingertips and formed a sharp Reiatsu Blade, slicing open the abdomen with precision.
Organs were exposed to the air, but Nanatsuki avoided harming the child.
With one clean motion, the Reiatsu Blade severed the umbilical cord—and the fetus was freed from the body.
The newborn rested in Nanatsuki's hands, no larger than a pair of palms.
Eyes shut. No crying. As if still asleep.
"Not crying, huh…? I heard babies are supposed to cry when they're healthy," Kyōraku remarked as he watched.
"She's underdeveloped," Nanatsuki said after checking. "If not for the faint Reiatsu sustaining her, she'd have passed with the mother."
"Keeping her alive won't be easy either…" Nanatsuki frowned. They were still on a training journey. Carrying a baby around would be a serious burden. But if they left her behind, she likely wouldn't survive.
"What happened to you? Does this child have any relatives left?" Yamamoto asked the maid.
"We…" the maid hesitated. If their identities were exposed, pursuers might come after them again.
"Speak. If you want your little lady to have any chance at life, speak clearly," Kyōraku said casually, but firmly.
The maid bit her lip, then decided to explain.
"We belong to the main family of the Miyamoto Clan…"
"The branch family revolted. They drove out the main line and sent assassins after us."
"This morning, as we left the shrine, we were ambushed by one of their hitmen…"
"In that desperate moment, the clan head ordered me to escort the madam to safety…"
"But… the rest you already know."
"Miyamoto Clan, huh…" Yamamoto frowned slightly. The name rang a bell, but he didn't remember them well. Probably just a minor noble family.
"Sending the baby back to them isn't an option," Yamamoto muttered. He had no interest in noble infighting, but the child was now a dilemma.
"Please don't send Miss Hiyori back to the Miyamoto Clan! Those traitors will kill her!" the maid pleaded.
"Your lady's name was Miyamoto Hiyori?" Nanatsuki raised an eyebrow. The name sounded familiar, though the surname didn't match his memory.