If anyone could have understood the significance, it would be Renji; he imagined it would be the same as if they somehow removed his tattoos, the outward sign of every step he'd taken over the years to reach where he was. At least such a thing would be difficult to do to him, not the work of a moment by an overly cheerful nurse.

"I'm sorry," he said. There was no mistaking the sympathy in his eyes.