Bleach: Teaching Makes Me Stronger

Three days later, in Karakura Town's West District—

"The sun in the World of the Living isn't much different from Soul Society's." Shihōin Yoruichi stood atop a building's rooftop, one hand resting on her waist, the other shielding her eyes from the light. The entire West District of Karakura sprawled beneath her gaze.

A baby-faced girl suddenly hopped onto the rooftop and used Shunpo to appear beside her. She was Yoruichi's teammate for the field assessment.

"Boss, did you notice anything unusual over here?" the girl asked.

"Nope..." Yoruichi sighed. "Nothing you can eat, nothing you can touch—this world is so boring!"

After two to three days of patrolling, she was already starting to feel tired of the mission.

It was just too uneventful.

Every day's patrol had come up empty. This part of the district didn't even have a single Hollow.

Just yesterday, another group had encountered a Hollow that had escaped from the East District. But her group? Still nothing. It left her feeling itchy and frustrated, like having a full arsenal with nowhere to use it.

"Looks like our team's going to get through this round of patrols without incident," the baby-faced girl said. "Honestly, I kind of wish something would happen. It'd help us score some extra credit."

A short-haired young man suddenly appeared beside her and reported, "Boss, I've finished checking on my end—nothing unusual."

"Only Rie's left. Once she returns, we'll go report to Katori-sensei and Kawada-san," Yoruichi nodded.

Just then, her brows twitched. She sensed an abnormal wave of Reiatsu from the distance.

"A Hollow?" Yoruichi waved her hand. "Looks like Rie ran into trouble. Let's move!"

Yoruichi and the young man vanished using Shunpo. The baby-faced girl summoned a Hell Butterfly to report:

"Katori-sensei, Kawada-san, we've detected Hollow Reiatsu in the West District. Hoshino Rie is near the disturbance. We're heading over to assist her now."

"Be careful," came Katori Nanatsuki's voice from the butterfly.

...

Hoshino Rie had found a Wholesoul inside a house.

Normally, when humans die in the World of the Living, their souls pass on to Soul Society naturally.

But some souls remain behind due to lingering attachments. These become known as Wholesouls.

If the attachment is too strong, the chain called the "Chain of Fate" that binds the soul begins to corrode. Eventually, the Wholesoul will turn into a corrupted spirit—a Hollow.

Thus, guiding Wholesouls to Soul Society is part of a Shinigami's duty.

The Wholesoul Rie had found was a little girl in a delicate kimono. She had likely lived in this area before her death.

"Big sister, you can see me?" the girl asked in surprise. None of the others here could, and she was overjoyed to meet someone who could.

She had never seen any other Wholesouls.

Due to frequent patrols by Shinigami lately, most of the Wholesouls had already been guided away. She was a newly formed one—one that slipped through the cracks.

"I'm a Shinigami. You don't need to be afraid. I'm here to guide you to Soul Society," Rie said patiently. "Over there, everyone will be able to see you and talk with you."

"But..." The girl fidgeted nervously, rubbing her fingers. "I don't want to leave yet..."

"Why do you still want to stay?" Rie knelt in front of her, voice gentle. "Is it because of your family in there? Staying behind isn't good for you or for them."

"My mom is sick. I want to wait until she gets better before I go..." the girl whispered.

"I see..." Rie scratched her cheek, looking troubled.

Technically, she should use a Soul Burial now. But seeing how small the girl was, and that her only wish was to see her mother recover, Rie couldn't help feeling sympathy.

"Then why are you here instead of by your mother's side?" Rie asked curiously.

If her attachment was to her mom, she should've stayed close to her, but this house was clearly abandoned.

"Daddy said I was sick and couldn't see Mom, or she'd get sick too..." The girl's expression darkened. "I snuck in once, and maybe I made her worse. I don't dare see her now..."

Medical care in this era was limited. A high fever had already claimed the girl's life.

"You're a spirit now. Whatever illness you had before is gone. Your mom getting sick has nothing to do with you." Rie gently patted the girl's head.

Upon hearing that it wasn't her fault, the girl's guilt eased noticeably.

"Miss Shinigami... am I causing you trouble?" she asked, biting her lip. "If so, I'll go with you now... but... could I see Mom one more time before I leave?"

The girl was so considerate it left Rie's chest tight. "Of course. I'll go with you."

"Thank you! My mom is just over there!" The girl pointed the way.

Rie took the girl's hand and walked toward the back courtyard.

"You have a big family," Rie commented, seeing people bustling around, all in a hurry.

"It's been like this since Mom got sick," the girl replied.

They reached a room crowded with people.

"That's my dad," she said, pointing to a worried-looking young man.

He grabbed a servant and asked, "How is she? Has the midwife arrived?"

"Rest assured, young master. The midwife is inside now," the servant answered.

The man nodded and resumed pacing.

Shrill cries echoed from the room.

"Mom sounds like she's in a lot of pain! Miss Shinigami, let's go inside!" the girl tugged Rie's hand.

Then it clicked for Rie. She smiled, "Looks like your mom's not sick. She's about to have a baby—your little sibling is on the way!"

"Really? I'm going to have a baby brother or sister?" Her eyes lit up. "That's great! After I leave, they can stay with Mom instead!"

The girl had been too young to understand what childbirth meant. She'd thought her mom's discomfort was illness.

They waited outside for a long while.

Rie wanted to wait until after the delivery before letting the girl go in, but the labor dragged on. The woman's cries only grew weaker.

Growing concerned, Rie said, "Let's go inside."

In the room, several servants and the midwife were helping with the birth.

The woman clung to the bed frame, her nails scratching deep grooves into the wood.

Her face twisted in agony.

The girl rushed to her side, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Mom!"

The woman opened her eyes. Seeing her daughter, she let go of the bed and reached out weakly. "Mei...? Mei, is that you?"

"Mom, I'm here!"

"Mei... I didn't protect you well enough..."

"It's not your fault. I just wanted to see you healthy again..."

"Mei..."

Both were crying uncontrollably.

"Who's Mei?" the midwife asked a nearby servant. "Call her over—maybe she can help the lady hold on."

"Mei is... the madam's deceased daughter," the servant replied quietly.

"Damn, she's delirious! Get the medicine, quick—keep her awake!" the midwife panicked.

The servant handed over a bowl of medicine, which the woman drank.

Whether it was the medicine or seeing her daughter, her condition slightly stabilized.

Moments later—

"It's coming!" the midwife exclaimed.

Soon, a newborn's cry filled the room. Everyone sighed in relief.

"Mother and child are safe!"

"I want to see my baby brother," the girl said.

The woman noticed no one else could see her daughter. She ignored their odd looks and took the baby, holding him out. "Mei, this is your little brother..."

"He doesn't look like us..."

"He's still tiny... He'll grow to look like you..."

Rie watched the scene unfold, but a sliver of doubt crossed her heart. According to the girl, her mother shouldn't have been able to see her.

And yet, the woman could see her.

Most humans can't perceive spirits—only those with innate spiritual talent can.

Suddenly, she heard a sharp slicing sound to her right.

Boom—

Rie barely had time to draw her Zanpakutō before a powerful strike sent her flying.

She crashed into a solid wooden table. The impact sent both her and the table hurtling back, smashing through a corner wall before coming to a stop.

"Cough, cough—" Rie struggled to get up, reaching for her Zanpakutō nearby—only to realize her hand wouldn't move.

Panic rose. Her hand was broken!

She had seen it right before she was hit—it was a Hollow.

But even now, she still couldn't sense its Reiatsu.

This Hollow was skilled at suppressing its spiritual pressure!

"Mei, run!!"

She heard the woman's urgent cry and looked up—

Her pupils shrank.

A Hollow came into view.

It had a long tail—clearly the one that had struck her.

But more horrifying—

That same tail was now impaled through the woman's abdomen.

Somehow, the woman had found the strength to shove the baby into her daughter's arms and push her away right as the creature appeared.