Willful Conditions

After a brief silence, Liu Chuan raised his head. There was neither the flustered panic of being favored nor the excitement of soaring ambition in his eyes, only a settled clarity so calm it was almost absolute.

"I can accept Zero Division's invitation," he said evenly.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slightly raised the corner of his eye, while Ichibē Hyōsube waited for him to continue. Both men heard the turn beneath that level tone.

Sure enough, Liu Chuan's words curved like a stream around a rock, naturally yet firmly shifting in another direction. "However, I have one request."

He paused for an imperceptible moment, his gaze sweeping across the two beings standing at the pinnacle of the Soul Society, before slowly speaking the rest.

"If that isn't possible, then I can only decline Zero Division's invitation this time."

"Oh?" For the first time, a trace of surprise entered Ichibē Hyōsube's grand voice.

Faced with an invitation from Zero Division, he had never seen anyone so calmly propose "conditions."

The hand Captain-Commander Yamamoto held on his cane tightened slightly as well.

"Let's hear it," Ichibē Hyōsube said. The nebulae within his double pupils seemed to turn a fraction faster, revealing that he was listening intently and weighing the matter.

Liu Chuan spoke each word with perfect clarity.

"I need to remain stationed in the Seireitei. Unless necessary, I hope to spend most of my time living here rather than residing in the Soul King Palace."

The reason was direct to the point of frankness.

Ichibē Hyōsube fell silent. His massive body seemed to solidify into an ancient stone statue. Only the dark prayer beads around his neck occasionally clicked softly against one another with the slightest movements.

After the surprise came deep consideration.

Such a request was indeed unprecedented. For Zero Division members to reside in the Soul King Palace was an honor, a mark of status, and an inevitable result of internalizing their duties and rules.

Yet this man regarded that "special honor" as a "confinement." Was it arrogant ignorance, or did he possess an extraordinary clarity and persistence regarding his own path?

He recalled the Soul King's vague will. It had not specified a method or limited a form; it had merely indicated "this person."

Rules... the rules of the Soul King Palace were certainly important, but the Soul King's will was the highest and most fundamental rule.

What the Soul King wanted was "this person." Then perhaps the form in which they "possessed" this person could be adjusted.

Time slowly flowed amid the silence, every breath seeming to stretch longer.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto appeared to be meditating, but the abyssal stillness of his spiritual pressure faintly revealed that his heart was far from as calm as he appeared.

He was waiting as well, waiting for an outcome that might overturn a thousand years of his understanding.

At last, Ichibē Hyōsube slowly nodded once.

"Very well."

Those two words were earth-shattering.

Ichibē Hyōsube continued, his voice returning to its grand tone of laying down rules.

"You may remain stationed in the Seireitei. However, your identity as a Zero Division member, your contact obligations, and the corresponding rights and responsibilities will not be reduced because of this. If the Soul King Palace summons you, or if a major matter involving the Three Realms arises, you must answer at once. Ordinarily, you must maintain contact with the Soul King Palace through designated means."

Liu Chuan nodded in agreement. Accepting with conditions meant he would also bear the corresponding obligations. He had long been prepared for that.

Ichibē Hyōsube gave him one final look.

"The specific arrangements will be made later. The induction ceremony must still take place in the Soul King Palace. In a few days, I'll come take you there."

His figure began to fade, like ink spreading across paper, while his presence rapidly dissipated.

Before his words had even finished, the burly monk's figure had completely merged into the void, as though he had never descended at all.

Only the echo of his agreement, along with that unprecedented special allowance, remained heavily in place.

Only after Ichibē Hyōsube's presence had completely vanished did Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly lift his eyelids. The look he gave Liu Chuan was incomparably complicated.

Shock, scrutiny, and an indescribable hint of emotion all ultimately became an almost inaudible sigh mixed with profound astonishment.

"He actually... agreed," he said in a low voice, as though speaking to himself and Liu Chuan alike.

"Lord Hyōsube actually agreed to such a request... It seems the Soul King values you far more highly than this old man expected."

He paused, then stepped forward with his cane.

"Since that is the case, until you complete the induction ceremony, you will temporarily return to the Kido Corps. Everything will proceed as usual."

Liu Chuan said no more and walked out of the First Division barracks.

"Hey—! Liu Chuan?!"

A slightly hoarse yet powerful shout filled with surprise interrupted Liu Chuan's thoughts.

He looked toward the sound and saw a tall man striding toward him, with distinctive red hair spiking upward and brown markings tattooed beneath his right eye. It was Renji Abarai.

He wore Soul Reaper Robes, and his entire body radiated an untamed, wild vigor.

"Renji?" Liu Chuan stopped, surprise appearing on his face before turning into a sincere smile.

Back at Shin'ō Academy, Renji had been one of the few friends whose temperament matched his own, someone he could talk to.

Although after graduation, one had chosen the Kido Corps, regarded as a "retirement home," while the other had joined the Gotei 13, their paths diverging had not completely worn away their bond as classmates.

"Haha, it really is you!" Renji took several large strides forward and slapped Liu Chuan hard on the shoulder with his fan-sized hand. The force was considerable, carrying the Eleventh Division's characteristic roughness.

"You came out of the First Division? That's rare! Did the Captain-Commander summon you? Don't tell me you got caught slacking off in the Kido Corps, brat?"

He grinned teasingly.

Liu Chuan subtly dispersed the force from his shoulder and smiled. "Just some business. You, on the other hand, Renji—you look like you're thriving in the Eleventh Division."

He looked Renji over. Compared to their days at Shin'ō Academy, his friend's presence had grown more imposing, and his brows now carried a sharpness forged through years of combat. Clearly, he had endured plenty of "tempering" under that battle-crazed Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Of course!" Renji puffed out his chest, his tone filled with the undisguised pride unique to the Eleventh Division.

"Following Captain Zaraki, there's always another fight to be had every day. It's way more exciting than chanting spells at Kido textbooks in the academy!"

Then he changed the subject, looking at Liu Chuan with his usual bluntness.

"But seriously, Liu Chuan, your grades weren't bad back then. Why'd you go to the Kido Corps? Repairing barriers and Senkaimon gates all day long sounds boring as hell."

"Everyone has their own aspirations," Liu Chuan replied calmly, offering no further explanation.

He knew Renji's personality. The man was straightforward and would find it difficult to understand Liu Chuan's interest in quietly studying Kido principles and the nature of spiritual power.

Renji scratched his conspicuous red hair, seemingly realizing his words had been a little too blunt. He chuckled twice and changed the subject.

"Forget it, as long as you're happy. Oh, right, you should know how Izuru and Momo are doing, yeah?"

Liu Chuan nodded. Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori had also been his classmates. Izuru had entered the Third Division and was now a seated officer.

Momo had gone to the Fifth Division and was likewise a seated officer.

"They both seem to be doing well. They've each found their footing in their divisions."

"Tch, just seated officers." Renji curled his lip, but there was no contempt in his eyes. Instead, there was a sense of understanding that they had all struggled to get where they were.

"Izuru's the by-the-book type, so the Third Division suits him. Momo, though..."

He paused, and his tone unconsciously softened.

"She's doing pretty well in the Fifth Division too. Captain Aizen takes good care of her. It just feels like she thinks too much sometimes. She isn't as loud and lively as she was back in Rukongai."

The conversation naturally drifted toward the person they all cared about, someone who now lived in an entirely different world.

"...Rukia." Renji's voice lowered, and a complicated emotion flashed through his eyes—nostalgia, along with an indescribable distance and melancholy.

"A while ago, the Kuchiki Household seemed to be holding some internal ceremony. I saw her from far away once. She was wearing the Kuchiki Household's kimono, following that icy Captain Kuchiki around quietly. She's completely different from before."

He meant Rukia Kuchiki, the companion they had depended on each other with in Rukongai as children, their classmate at Shin'ō Academy.

Now, she had been adopted by the Kuchiki Household, one of the Four Great Noble Houses, and had become the adopted younger sister of Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division. Her status was as different from before as heaven and earth.

"Mm, that was to be expected." Liu Chuan's tone remained calm. He understood the rules and distance of the noble world more deeply than Renji did.

Rukia's choice—or rather, fate's arrangement—had led her down another path.

"The Kuchiki Household's rules are strict. Since she's already there, change is unavoidable. At least she should have no worries about her life."

"No worries..." Renji repeated the words, his expression complicated. In the end, he only let out a heavy breath.

"Yeah. Captain Kuchiki looks cold as ice, but he probably won't mistreat her."

He shook his head as though trying to shake off the inexplicable irritation, then slapped Liu Chuan again.

"Enough of that! Come on, come on, let's get a drink! It's rare to run into you. I know a place in West Rukongai with some seriously strong sake! Don't tell me you've been in the Kido Corps so long that you don't even drink anymore?"

Seeing Renji instantly regain his energy, Liu Chuan smiled as well.

"Alright," he agreed.

"Some special business?" Renji raised a thick eyebrow, his curiosity stirred again.

"You came out of the First Division, and you said it was special business... Hey, Liu Chuan, don't tell me you're getting promoted? The Kido Corps' Chief Kido Officer position has been vacant for a long time. Did the Captain-Commander take a liking to you?"

His imagination ran wild as he guessed.

Liu Chuan laughed helplessly and shook his head. "No. It's not convenient to explain the details, but you should know in a few days."

"So mysterious..." Renji muttered, though he did not think much of it.

The Gotei 13 had plenty of strange missions, and it was normal for the Kido Corps to have some secrets.

"Fine, fine. You Kido people are always so troublesome. Forget it, we're drinking! Today, I'm gonna show you that the Eleventh Division's drinking capacity isn't something the Kido Corps can match!"

As he spoke, he threw an arm around Liu Chuan's shoulders without waiting for an answer and started dragging him forward.

Liu Chuan helplessly let himself be pulled along for several steps, listening to Renji chatter beside him about amusing stories of division members challenging Captain Zaraki and getting beaten so badly they had to crawl around looking for their teeth.

The sense of distance and pressure from standing at the top of the world that he had felt in the First Division seemed to fade considerably.

"Rukia... the Kuchiki Household..." Liu Chuan took a sip of the sake Renji had recommended. It truly was quite strong, its burning heat traveling from his throat all the way down to his stomach.

He thought of the girl who had always tried so hard to appear strong despite her soft heart, now bound by the complicated etiquette of the nobility and Byakuya Kuchiki's icy presence.

"Hey, Liu Chuan, what are you spacing out for? Drink!" Renji's booming voice interrupted his thoughts as a cup filled with strong liquor was heavily set before him.

Add Bookmark

Return to Contents

Report Chapter Error

Share with Friends: