The Unforgiven from Shinigami
Phosphorus gas fell from the sky.
Shiraishi was still there handling official business, pondering whether Ichigo could lead the team to capture Aura Michibane and Loly.
Upon seeing the phosphorescence outside the window, he realized something was wrong and looked out the window, landing on the roof.
Has the balance been broken?
He looked up and saw the open Gates of Hell. A sense of doubt flashed through his mind. He had known this day would come, but its arrival was still a surprise.
A person stands in the air.
Even after not seeing each other for a long time, Shiraishi still recognized that face. The long brown hair flowed freely, as if wrapped in white cloth. The terrifying Reiatsu emanating from it silently caused the remaining Shinigami and the people in the team's quarters to fall into a coma.
" Aizen, you're really persistent. What are you doing crawling out of Hell now?"
Shiraishi shouted upwards.
Aizen landed silently, his feet touching the roof ridge, and said, "Long time no see, Shiraishi. Congratulations on your marriage and your lovely daughter."
"You..." Shiraishi tried to speak, but the Reiatsu of Tenteikūra came from the sky and connected with him.
"You current Gotei 13 brats, let us Original Gotei 13, give you juniors a run for your money!"
"Also, it's been a long time, Unohana and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto."
" Old Man Yama."
In the Eighth Division barracks, Shunsui Kyōraku suddenly turned around and leaped out of the window. " Nanao- chan, evacuate the nearby soldiers!"
"Yes," Nanao Ise, then stepped back Shunpo.
Shunsui Kyōraku's face was filled with tension. If we're talking about the Original Gotei 13, then... is that person also here?
"Ah!" With a startled cry, Shunsui Kyōraku immediately realized something was wrong and rushed to Nanao Ise's side in Shunpo. "Hollow?"
The guy who attacked Nanao Ise had an extremely strange appearance; if he was a phantom, then he didn't see the Visored that a phantom should have.
The other person was extremely tall and thin, practically skin and bones, with a head that was shaped like a ring.
The lack of reaction from Reiatsu might be the reason why Nanao was ambushed.
Otherwise, someone of this caliber should be taken out in one strike.
" Katen Kyōkotsu," Shunsui Kyōraku thought, but his mind never slowed down. He drew his Zanpakuto, slashed at his opponent, and then caught the heavily injured Nanao Ise in his arms.
He immediately used Kageoni to hide, showing his cautious nature and daring not to be careless in the slightest.
With a gurgling sound, a black circular hole appeared in the floor, and a soft voice rang out, " Kyōraku, you truly live up to your reputation as Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's prized disciple. I thought I could find a weakness in you."
Someone slowly rose from the black hole, black phosphorus gas floating around, chains transforming into a long skirt covering it, part of which corroded the right arm, turning flesh into a skeleton.
She was still wearing glasses and had a large braid. "You've grown up, Kyōraku."
" Captain Katori..." Shunsui Kyōraku emerged from the shadows, not attacking rashly. He knew Shikatori's strength and personality well; he was known for his efficiency and precision, and his innocent appearance was just a deceptive illusion.
"I never imagined I'd see you again."
"Oh, you're speaking so respectfully; I almost forgot you're the one who caused my death."
Katori Batsu'unsai smiled slightly, "Your Eighth Division, wasn't he taken from me?"
"..." Shunsui Kyōraku pursed his lips, pulling his hat down low. "Why bring up the past? I'm just stopping you from making the same mistakes again."
"What did I do wrong? Those people in the Central 46 Chambers are not worthy of ruling Soul Society. True rule should be exercised by the Shinigami."
Katori Batsu'unsai slowly stated his philosophy, then said with a mocking tone, "Facts have proven that my path is not wrong in the slightest. Isn't the current Captain-Commander using this very policy to rule Soul Society and bring about an unprecedented period of prosperity?"
Shunsui Kyōraku remained silent, though he had long understood that he was in the wrong.
Even when he made a report, he went through a painful struggle to do so, because at the time there were simply no conditions to realize Katori's ideals.
First of all, the Old Man Yama will not agree. The system of the Central 46 Chambers was created by him, and the Kuchiki Clan and the Shihoin Clan will also oppose it.
"It's a sad thing that you've proposed a correct idea at an inopportune time. I'm sorry, Captain Katori."
Shunsui Kyōraku apologized, his face filled with sorrow. "If you want revenge, fine, but please let Nanao- chan leave this place first."
"No, don't you know my style?"
Katori Batsu'unsai's eyes turned icy. "If you're going to do it, then kill them all quickly."
"Ah."
The pitiful cries of the soldiers could be heard from outside.
Shunsui Kyōraku, held onto Nanao Ise tightly, Shunpo to smash through the window, intending to reach a safe place and put Nanao down.
Katori Batsu'unsai raised his right arm, the skeletal hand, and the black chain thrust forward at incredible speed.
Shunsui Kyōraku twisted his waist, swung his sword, and shouted, " Hadō #78: Zanka no Tachi!"
The blade formed from the Kidō shattered the chains.
Katori Batsu'unsai leaped forward in Shunpo, almost touching his face, his eyes behind his glasses filled with a cold glint.
Shunsui Kyōraku hurriedly stomped on the roof, causing him to plummet to the ground. A sharp slash of the blade sliced off his straw hat, and his hairpin fell off.
He couldn't care less about those things. Compared to his deceased friend's clothes, the woman in his arms was the treasure he had to protect. It wasn't just his elder brother's entrustment, nor was it that woman's child.
From a very early time, Nanao Ise had been an indispensable part of his life.
He truly could never escape his forbidden love affair for the rest of his life.
I used to like my sister-in-law, but now I like my niece.
Shunsui Kyōraku sometimes feels like a damn scumbag when it comes to relationships, but now is clearly not the time to die.
He chose to escape using Shunpo. Facing Katori Batsu'unsai, he knew that Shikai alone was absolutely insufficient to defeat him; he had to use Bankai.
However, if he uses Bankai, he must remove Nanao Ise from his arms, otherwise the lake formed by the spread of his Reiatsu will drown her alive.
Katori Batsu'unsai naturally understood these things, which is why he ordered the Hell Oni to stab Nanao Ise from the beginning, instead of directly ambushing and killing her.
Once Nanao Ise is injured, the next step is to keep a close eye on Shunsui Kyōraku and kill him before that person dies.
Katori Batsu'unsai Yhwach as the Eighth Division for many years, but his personality remained unchanged. Just like when he fought against Yhwach, he was willing to do anything to win, targeting a weakness and attacking relentlessly.
Shunsui Kyōraku knew the other person's personality very well, and he also knew what the consequences would be if he held on too tightly, but he still wanted to take a gamble.
The gamble is to get Nanao to a safe place before the opponent kills her.
Katori Batsu'unsai continued his pursuit, Shunsui Kyōraku's injuries worsened little by little. The girl in his arms, Nanao Ise, struggled to lift her head, "Captain, please put me down."
[To be honest, I've been using Wild Fruit Reading to read and follow my favorite books lately. It has easy source switching, a variety of reading voice options, and works on both Android and Apple devices.]
"It's okay, Nanao- chan, I'll protect you."
Shunsui Kyōraku gave a shout and dodged with Shunpo, destroying the house with several chains. At the same time, Nanao Ise saw the same monster appear, her eyes widening suddenly as she tried to warn it.
Shunsui Kyōraku seemed to have gained extra eyes, easily dodging the attacks of the Hell Oni and continuing his escape.
"Haha, as expected of Kyōraku, you recognized the characteristics of the Hell Oni at a glance. That's right, just as you thought, it's not that it lacks Reiatsu Reiatsu, it's just that you're too familiar with it."
Katori Batsu'unsai laughed loudly from behind, directing the Hell Oni to surround this person, " Hell is always by your side. Hell Oni and Hell Butterfly are both products of Hell, and there is no distinction between the two, which is why you couldn't sense the Reiatsu at first."
"You've been talking a lot today, Captain Katori. Why don't we sit down and have a good drink, and reminisce about the past?"
Shunsui Kyōraku didn't forget to tease, but his eyes revealed a heavy expression. In that case, the other squads must be in great danger. Given the way the First Generations acted, they would probably all be slaughtered.
"Captain, please put me down." Nanao Ise pleaded again. She didn't want to be a burden to Shunsui Kyōraku, and she could also feel her life force being stripped away from her body.
The fragility of death is revealed in this moment.
"I won't give up." Shunsui Kyōraku roared. He had been unable to keep Nanao Ise's mother, but he would not let the tragedy happen again.
He Shunpo on a rooftop and shouted, " Hakuhō- chan~"
" Brilliant Heavenly Thunder!"
A dazzling bolt of Lightning Flash rose from the ground, and then, the lightning tore apart all the buildings in its path in a zigzag pattern, annihilating all the demons of Hell in one fell swoop.
Amidst the ruins, a girl with long, straight black hair carried a sword, Lightning Flash Flash on its narrow blade. "Uncle Kyōraku, don't worry, with me here, I guarantee no one can hurt you."
"I see. So that's why you didn't go to the other team leaders; you were looking for this little girl."
Katori Batsu'unsai understood; when she formulated her strategy, she had indeed not included this little girl in the list of targets to be eliminated.
The reason is simple: he's just a kid, it's really hard to imagine him being taken seriously.
Shunsui Kyōraku would never actually let Hakuhō and Katori Batsu'unsai fight; that would be suicide.
He handed Nanao Ise to Hakuhō, "Send it to Captain Unohana. The current Seireitei is under attack by the enemy. Kumane Shishihara, Atau Rindō, and your strength are necessary."
"You are not familiar with the Hell Butterfly, so you can sense the demons of Hell. Go and fight!"
"Hey~ Shishihara has never been one to be afraid, he wasn't even scared during his first battle!"
She made a loud promise.
Atau Rindō nodded silently; he could read lips.
Kazui Kurosaki, still sporting that sunny smile, said, "I'll do my best."
" Kazui, Ichika, you carry her, let's go!"
Hakuhō handed over Nanao Ise to Kazui Kurosaki and Ichika Abarai, needing to find something for the two little ones to do.
With nothing to do, who knows where Kazui might wander off to.
This kid is bolder than the sky.
After seeing them off, Shunsui Kyōraku turned around and said, " Captain Katori, it's so good that you didn't attack."
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not stopping you from Bankai out of fear, it's just to avoid the trouble."
Katori Batsu'unsai replied calmly, twirling the naginata in his hand, "There's no chance to resolve this now, so the only option is to cleave you in two head-on."
"Is that so? I won't just sit here and wait to die. The spirits of the Hell should return to Hell."
Shunsui Kyōraku turned around, no longer holding back. In this empty vacuum, he unleashed his full power, planting his twin swords in the ground. " Bankai: Katen Kyōkotsu: Kusho no Shinju"
In an instant, patterns of pine trees and falling pine needles spread across the ground, and a chilling Reiatsu emanated from Shunsui Kyōraku.
Even Katori Batsu'unsai, a ruthless killer, felt a bone-chilling coldness at that moment, as if his soul were about to freeze.
The surrounding sky changed from bright to dusky. She looked up, a look of satisfaction in her eyes. "What a wonderful world."
Shunsui Kyōraku sighed, "I don't like this world. It's dark, lonely, and somewhat desolate."
Most people dislike confronting their own inner selves because they are not as noble as they think themselves to be.
"Katori Batsu'unsai replied, tentatively unleashing a slash.
For a thousand years, Shunsui Kyōraku has never shown his Bankai to outsiders, the only time being when he was out of Hell Butterfly's sight.
Therefore, Katori Batsu'unsai was unsure of what his Bankai ability was, so it was fine for him to test it first.
Shunsui Kyōraku did not dodge, letting the slash fall on his body. Because he was testing the waters, it left a gash before dissipating.
Katori Batsu'unsai was still puzzled, noticing wounds on his shoulders, thighs, abdomen, and even chest. "Hmm, what is this..."
"This is the first act of my Bankai, Wound Sharing. The wounds inflicted by the enemy will also be reflected back onto me, just like sharing."
A hint of sadness flickered in Shunsui Kyōraku's eyes. "Of course, none of us will die."
" Kyōraku," Katori Batsu'unsai in a low voice.
Shunsui Kyōraku said, "There's no need to rush. The performance will end soon. This is the second act, 'The Pillow of Shame '."
Katori Batsu'unsai discovered that black spots had appeared on her body, as if she had contracted some kind of disease, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
"This is the story of a man who, during the war, regretted causing the enemy to be wounded, and his sorrow transformed from being bedridden to suffering from an incurable disease."
Shunsui Kyōraku said, "Next is Chapter Three, Severing Abyss."
With a gurgling sound, Katori Batsu'unsai's eyes widened as he realized that he had fallen into a sea where no light could be seen.
The voice still carried. "Those who peer into the abyss of despair, those who have awakened, exhaust each other's Reiatsu."
Shunsui Kyōraku watched her as they both plummeted into the bottomless abyss.
Katori Batsu'unsai was unwilling to fall like this, so she struggled to swim upwards with all her might. However, no matter how high she swam, she would drift further and further away from the surface of the water.
" Kyōraku!" Katori Batsu'unsai changed his mind and swooped down, intending to kill Shunsui Kyōraku.
"There's no need to be in such a hurry, Captain Katori."
Shunsui Kyōraku sighed, "The woman's feelings are sorrowful and tragic, but the men who are fighting everywhere turn a deaf ear to them."
The light of love transforms into white silk threads filled with tenderness.
If you want to give it up, you have to cut it off yourself.
These tragically intertwined threads of love finally brought about the final scene, the final chapter. "The cleaver's blood stains the throat."
Shunsui Kyōraku unleashed white threads of Reiatsu from his fingertips, severing Katori Batsu'unsai's head in an instant and triggering a violent explosion.
He too collapsed, overwhelmed by the burden.