Many years later, when Hisagi Shūhei, chief editor of the Seireitei Communications, interviewed war hero Saitō Arata and asked him about his first experience using the Tenshintai, Arata told the story of his first encounter with Meigetsu.
"That sword was only 0.01 millimeters from my throat, but within a quarter of a breath, the owner of that sword would completely fall in love with me because of the move I decided to make."
"Even though I've received countless kisses in my life, I think that one was the closest to perfection…"
Back to the present, Meigetsu suddenly flicked her wrist and the purple flame along the blade flared and exploded, less than half a finger from Arata's fragile throat.
"Speak! What do you think my power is? Capital to seduce those ugly females?!" Meigetsu's voice suddenly rose, sharp and piercing.
Arata's heart filled with alarm. He hadn't expected that, at the first meeting with his Zanpakutō, such a familiar yet hellish scene would occur.
Instead of a greeting and introduction to the sword's owner, she immediately pointed to the remaining feminine scent on him.
That "woman who waves a knife" was that Unohana Retsu?
And the "little black cat"? Arata thought and could only think of Kotetsu Isane with the silvery-gray hair.
And also: it's been two weeks, and you can still smell it on me.
Of course, these were only Arata's inner complaints. Faced with the threat of a blade at his neck, he would never dare say it out loud.
As for solving the current predicament, Arata already had a perfect move.
Faced with such a morbidly proud girl, he had learned everything from a young age.
He moved toward Meigetsu like lightning, wrapped his left arm around her slender, soft waist, and with his right hand slid behind her neck and through her pure white hair.
Then, under Meigetsu's stunned gaze and delayed reaction, he kissed those other red lips.
"Mmm—"
Meigetsu's pupils suddenly contracted under the unexpected assault, and the purple flame on the blade hissed and extinguished.
Her long lashes trembled violently; even the wrist holding the sword unconsciously slackened, and the long sword clattered to the ground.
Arata felt the woman's body in his arms suddenly stiffen, and the two cold lips gradually melted under his warmth, like thin ice in early spring when touched by the warm sun.
At that moment, he even had time to wonder whether the Zanpakutō was truly a part of a Shinigami's own soul.
So then, would "kissing your own sword spirit" count as kissing yourself?
"Uu–! You!" Meigetsu came to her senses, pushed Arata away, and an unnatural blush appeared on her pale face.
She staggered back two steps; her long white hair was scattered in a mess, and the anger in her ruby eyes still smoldered, but was no longer as icy as before.
Arata instinctively licked his lips and said more softly: "Can we talk normally now? My Lady Zanpakutō."
"Underhanded, underhanded!" Meigetsu's voice had lost its previous sharpness and even carried a trace of hurt. "To use such a devious method…"
"Compared to you, who wordlessly put a blade to your Master's throat at our first meeting, I think I'm still a gentleman." Arata bent down to pick up the black long sword from the floor, and, touching the blade with his fingertips, felt a stream of cold.
"Besides, the two of us should be the closest, shouldn't we?"
The storm of spiritual pressure in the underground space gradually calmed. Meigetsu turned her face to the side; her white hair fell forward and hid her expression. "Don't flatter yourself. If it weren't for this forced summoning through the Tenshintai, I wouldn't want to see you at all."
Arata suddenly stepped forward and cupped her cheeks, under her astonished gaze.
The warmth from his palm made Meigetsu's whole body tremble. Her body temperature rose, and her heartbeat grew quicker in her chest.
"During this time I tried every day to contact you, and you never responded. Do you know how uneasy I was inside?"
Arata wasn't lying. Any normal Shinigami would be unsettled when faced with the inability to communicate with their Zanpakutō.
Ichigo had long been intimidated by the real Zangetsu, the Hollow, so he trusted "Uncle Zangetsu" too much and thus didn't learn many techniques.
Abarai Renji was never acknowledged by Zabimaru, and even his Bankai was fake, understood only after learning half the name.
Only later, when the two of them went to the Soul King's Palace and, with the help of the Monk and others, got the chance to communicate with their Zanpakutō, did they truly release their own power.
The Zanpakutō is essentially a part of the Shinigami's soul. To master that power, a harmonious married life, ahem!, harmonious two-way communication is extremely important.
If normal communication is lost, it would be like the rebellion of the sword spirits in the story of Zanpakutō Ibunroku: not only would you be unable to use the Zanpakutō's power, but your Zanpakutō could also become your enemy.
As just happened between Arata and Meigetsu, if he hadn't learned in his previous life how to tame yandere beauties, they would've already killed each other.
The powerful storm of spiritual pressure that Meigetsu stirred up could easily crush Arata, who was currently only at the lieutenant level.
Meigetsu opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end just snorted coldly: "Worried? You clearly enjoy it!"
"You enjoy those intimate kendō lessons with that woman who swings a sword, don't you? And the Kaidō discussions with the White-haired one… Ah, and that blonde with the big curves who's always showing off!"
"So, Meigetsu, you're jealous?" Arata couldn't help but laugh.
"Nonsense!" Meigetsu flared up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "I just hate that you're sullying my power. Those lowborn creatures aren't worthy—"
Alright, Arata could now be completely sure that his Zanpakutō was a yandere beauty.
Before she could finish the sentence, Arata once again gently pulled her into an embrace; this time his movement was much softer. He whispered: "No one can replace you. After all, you are a part of my soul, aren't you?"
"To me, you're unique, Meigetsu."
The body in his arms gradually relaxed. Meigetsu rested her forehead on Arata's shoulder and murmured: "Liar…"
Arata sensed her mood slowly returning to balance. Her words still carried an edge, but far less than before.
"I admit, the training sessions with Sensei used to be quite close." The body in his embrace slightly tensed again, so he quickly added: "But that was only to get stronger faster, to release the Zanpakutō sooner and meet you, right?"
"As for Miss Isane, that was just an academic discussion, and Miss Rangiku is only a friend I occasionally chat with."
Meigetsu lifted her head; a cunning light flashed in her red eyes. "Oh? And that night at the Kinzenyu Hotel? How do you explain being in the same room with that woman?"
Arata briefly held his breath. "You… know what happened that night?"
"Of course." A dangerous smile appeared on Meigetsu's face; she traced a finger along Arata's neck.
"After all, that night I enjoyed myself quite nicely in your place."