Byakuya Kuchiki's Marriage

Time slipped by in Seireitei like flowing water, and several years passed in the blink of an eye. On the surface, Seireitei was calm during these years, but undercurrents were surging beneath the surface. Sōsuke Aizen's surveillance gradually withdrew from around the Fourth Division, and Liu Ziyun's life returned to the peace he had longed for—at least on the surface.

He remained the same taciturn, work-focused Fifth Seat Fourth Division, shuttling between the Medical Room and his dormitory every day. The only "change" was that he began to frequently approach the newly appointed Third Seat Isane Kotetsu, under the pretext of "discussing the Kaidō." This made Retsu Unohana grit her teeth in hatred, yet she was helpless to do anything about it.

However, beneath the calm surface of the lake, ripples of fate are quietly spreading.

On this day, a piece of news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a huge uproar in the entire noble circle—the current head of the Kuchiki Clan, Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the Sixth Division, was going to marry a girl from Rukongai.

The girl's name was Hisana.

In Soul Society, marriage between nobles and commoners is already rare, let alone for the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the head of the Four Great Noble Clans. The moment the news spread, the entire Seireitei was in an uproar. The nobles discussed it among themselves, some shocked, some disdainful, some gloating, and some watching coldly.

The atmosphere in the Kuchiki Clan's council chamber was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Dozens of family elders gathered together, their faces filled with opposition and dissatisfaction. Their voices rose and fell like a surging tide, trying to drown out the young family head who stood in the center of the hall with a cold expression.

"Byakuya, you're being foolish! The Kuchiki Clan is the head of the Four Great Noble Clans, how can they marry a woman from Rukongai?"

"If word gets out, what will become of the Kuchiki Clan's reputation?"

"How dare a lowly commoner without even a surname enter the gates of my Kuchiki Clan?"

"Byakuya, as the head of the family, you should prioritize the family's interests. How can you act so willfully and recklessly?"

Byakuya Kuchiki stood quietly in the center of the hall, his handsome face expressionless. His eyes were calm as still water, yet contained an unwavering determination. Faced with the overwhelming opposition, he remained silent, not uttering a single word.

Just then, a voice rang out from behind the crowd, calm yet powerful, like a sharp knife cutting through the noisy discussion. "Enough."

Everyone turned to see Kuchiki Kōga slowly approaching. This former Soul Reaper, once sharp and assertive but now low-key and reserved, wore an indescribable air of certainty. His gaze swept over everyone present, and his voice was calm yet undeniable. "I support Byakuya."

The council chamber fell silent instantly. Everyone stared in disbelief at Kuchiki Kōga —the man who had nearly caused a disaster by being too outspoken—who was now standing up to support this "disgraceful" marriage.

Kuchiki Kōga walked to Byakuya Kuchiki's side and stood beside him. His voice was calm yet firm. "I also come from Rukongai."

These words struck everyone like a heavy hammer blow. The elders, who had just been speaking passionately, were instantly rendered speechless.

"Therefore, I will not look down on people from Rukongai," Kuchiki Kōga continued, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Byakuya has always shouldered heavy responsibilities for his clan without ever complaining. He has given so much, can't he even marry the person he loves?"

His voice became deep and powerful. "If that's the case, the family will lose its humanity, no longer feel like a 'home,' but just a cold cage."

A deathly silence fell over the council chamber.

Those elders who had been so aggressive just moments before now all lowered their heads, not daring to meet Kuchiki Kōga's gaze.

After a long silence, an aged voice rang out. "Kōga is right... we were narrow-minded."

Another voice chimed in, "So be it, since it's Byakuya's decision, let him be."

The dissenting voices gradually subsided.

After everyone left, only Kuchiki Ginrei, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Kuchiki Kōga Kyouga remained in the council hall.

Kuchiki Ginrei looked at Kuchiki Kōga, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. He walked up to Kuchiki Kōga and gently patted him on the shoulder. "Kōga, it's really good that you think this way."

He sighed, a hint of guilt in his voice. "Back then, we followed Liu Ziyun's advice Fifth Seat, letting you hide your talents and assist Byakuya within the clan... and you suffered injustice as a result."

Kuchiki Kōga shook his head slightly, a relieved smile playing on his lips, "Father-in-law, actually, I've gained a lot from staying with the family all these years."

His gaze deepened. "At first, I was indeed somewhat dissatisfied. I was used to the exhilaration of the battlefield, the exhilarating thrill of facing the enemy head-on. Suddenly being asked to retreat into the background, to conceal my brilliance... it felt like a wild beast being caged."

He paused, then continued, "Later, I learned what Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat master, meant by 'cultivating the mind.' I began to calm my mind, read, think, and cultivate myself... Gradually, my personality became less impatient."

His tone carried a hint of relief. "Besides, when the Captain-Commander was purging the First Division, didn't he also discover some things they were doing to our family? Among them was their scheme to exploit my impulsive and easily angered nature."

Kuchiki Ginrei's expression turned serious. Of course he knew about those things—someone in the Central 46 was secretly colluding with noble forces, trying to exploit Kuchiki Kōga's weaknesses and drag the Kuchiki Clan into the abyss.

Kuchiki Kōga's voice grew calmer. "From then on, I became increasingly grateful that we had heeded the advice of Fifth Seat Liu Ziyun. Because if I had still had that sharp and outspoken personality back then, it's really possible... I might have ended up on the path he predicted."

He looked at Kuchiki Ginrei and Byakuya Kuchiki, and said solemnly, "To me, calling Liu Ziyun, the Fifth Seat holder, a benefactor wouldn't be an exaggeration."

Byakuya Kuchiki listened quietly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. He looked at Kuchiki Kōga and asked, "Uncle, the Fifth Seat you mentioned, Liu Ziyun... is that the Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division?"

He paused, a hint of confusion in his voice. "I'd almost never heard of him before. It was only recently, when Captain Tōsen wanted to transfer him to the Ninth Division as Lieutenant, that he came to people's attention. Why has he been so low-key all this time?"