Snake and Scorpion

The paper door slid silently shut, and the tea room fell quiet again.

Tokinada Tsunayashiro remained seated, his fingertips absently rubbing the smooth, warm teacup.

The Nagano Clan was an obedient pawn. Their methods were not particularly clever, but they were good enough.

He would make Wang Xun feel the pain of losses day after day and completely ruin his business's reputation in Rukongai.

Then he would humiliate Wang Xun mercilessly and show him what happened to those who defied him.

Tokinada picked up his teacup and gently raised it to his lips.

Bang!

The tea room door was slammed open, and a figure staggered inside, crashing heavily onto the tatami.

"Who is it?!"

Tokinada sprang to his feet and looked down. It was Nagano Masayasu.

He looked like a completely different man from before. A clear fist mark stood out on his face, his nose was crooked, and blood poured from his mouth and nostrils, staining his clothes red.

Another figure appeared in the doorway right behind him.

The newcomer was tall and lean, also wearing a kimono embroidered with the Tsunayashiro Clan crest. His face bore some resemblance to Tokinada's, but his features were sharper and more sinister, and his lips curved in something between a smile and a sneer.

Fresh blood stained the knuckles of his right hand, which he was leisurely wiping with a silk handkerchief.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada.

The lowest-ranking member of a branch family, Tokinada Tsunayashiro's older cousin, and a notorious madman of their generation.

Tokinada's voice turned cold.

"Tokinada, what is the meaning of this?"

Tokinada chuckled as he entered the tea room, paying no attention to Nagano Masayasu, who was curled up and groaning on the tatami.

He sat down opposite Tokinada, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup. He took a small sip.

"Just teaching him some manners."

Tokinada glanced at Nagano on the floor.

"Some piece of trash from who knows where saw me and didn't even kneel. Since when did the Tsunayashiro Clan's hierarchy mean so little?"

Nagano Masayasu struggled to raise his upper body, clutching his bleeding nose as he tearfully mumbled a complaint.

"Y-young master Tokinada, I'd just come out from seeing you. I didn't see this young master coming..."

"Didn't see me? I suppose you've just latched onto someone in the main family, so you don't think much of a low-ranking member of a branch family like me."

"Let this lesson remind you. If there's a next time..."

Tokinada gave Nagano a cold look, undisguised killing intent in his eyes.

Nagano shuddered all over in fright and dared not speak again.

Tokinada stared at the blood on Tokinada's hand, then at Nagano's wretched state. His face darkened.

This guy really has no regard for me.

"Tokinada, I summoned him to do something for me. You've gone a little too far."

"Do something?"

Tokinada looked as though he had heard an amusing joke.

"You mean that ramen place run by some lowlife from Rukongai?"

He leaned forward, fixing his gaze on Tokinada like a venomous snake.

"My dear little cousin, are you playing house?"

"Does dealing with an ant really take so much effort?"

Tokinada's fingers tightened slightly.

"You were eavesdropping?"

"Eavesdropping? Don't make it sound so bad. I just saw an outsider come in and paid a little attention, that's all."

Tokinada chuckled and looked at his fist, the blood still not entirely wiped away.

"Rumors, harassment, sending a few stray dogs to bite someone. You've disgraced the Tsunayashiro Clan."

"And what would you suggest, cousin?"

Tokinada's voice remained calm, but a chill had entered his eyes.

"Should I draw my sword and kill him outright? Tokinada, you're too extreme."

"Besides, he's associated with the Shihoin Clan. I can't deal with him personally, or it would be difficult to explain afterward."

Tokinada scoffed.

"Shihoin?"

He tilted his head, his tone mocking.

"So you're afraid? Because of one thing he said, you only dare hide behind the scenes and play these childish games?"

Tokinada did not answer. He simply looked at Tokinada coldly.

"Of course. Weren't you confined to your quarters by order of the clan elders because you casually killed a few Soul Reapers and Shunsui Kyōraku reported you to Central 46?"

"It's been over a hundred years. Haven't you reflected on it at all?"

A trace of mockery flashed in Tokinada's eyes.

"I don't want to be like you, getting myself into trouble over a moment's impulse."

"Besides," Tokinada's gaze darkened a little, "that guy has been spending a lot of time with Shunsui Kyōraku's niece lately."

The tea room fell silent for a moment.

Tokinada stopped wiping his fingers.

"Kyōraku..."

He repeated the name under his breath, vicious killing intent churning in his eyes, so cold it seemed almost tangible.

But the next second, the killing intent faded, replaced by a different, sinister expression. His mouth stretched into an exaggerated grin.

"You say he's been spending a lot of time with Kyōraku's niece? Now that really is... interesting."

He rose and walked to the window, turning his back on Tokinada as he looked out at the garden, a kind of sick excitement in his voice.

"Tokinada, didn't you want to teach him a lesson? Since you don't dare make a move, I'll help you."

Tokinada looked at his cousin's back, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

"Tokinada, don't do anything rash."

"Rash?" Tokinada turned around, his smile eerily bright. "Don't worry. What I do won't implicate you."

He walked back to the center of the tea room and looked down at Nagano, who was kneeling stiffly to one side.

"I'd say you should forget those little tricks of yours."

"After all, how can a dead man beg you for mercy?"

Tokinada looked at his brazen cousin, his pupils trembling.

"You..."

Tokinada smiled, revealing ghastly white teeth.

"Wait for my news, my dear little cousin."

He stood up and cast one last glance at Nagano Masayasu, who was trembling on the floor.

"Harassing a noodle shop in Rukongai. I can't believe you came up with that. You're a disgrace to the nobility."

"They're just a bunch of lowlifes. Kill them and be done with it. If you're so timid, get out of Seireitei. What business do you have being a noble?"

He kicked Nagano to the floor and ground his foot into his face several times.

Tokinada watched him, his face dark and unreadable.

Tokinada appeared to be berating Nagano, but he was clearly using him as a pretext. He was still berating Tokinada himself.

With that, Tokinada turned and left the tea room, disappearing down the corridor.

The tea room fell silent again, leaving only Nagano Masayasu's restrained gasps.

Tokinada was silent for a long time before slowly letting out a breath.

He did not know what complications Tokinada's involvement would bring.

If Tsunayashiro Tokinada really killed Wang Xun, how would Yoruichi Shihōin react?

And would Shunsui Kyōraku notice anything?

More importantly, would all of this eventually come back to burn the Tsunayashiro Clan-and him, Tokinada Tsunayashiro?

Tokinada closed his eyes in frustration, his fingers absently tapping his knee.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and looked at Nagano Masayasu, who was still gasping on the floor.

"Nagano."

"Y-young master..."

Nagano struggled back into a kneeling position.

"You heard what Tokinada said." No emotion could be heard in Tokinada's voice. "There's no rush for you to make a move. Go back and wait for word from me."

Nagano froze.

"But..."

"I said, wait for word from me."

Tokinada cut him off, his gaze cold.

Nagano shuddered all over and hastily bowed low.

"Yes! I'll leave everything to your arrangements, young master Tokinada!"

"Go. Find a physician to look at you."

Nagano shakily left the tea room, leaving Tokinada alone.

Tokinada stared at the withered branches outside, his thoughts in turmoil and his brow tightly furrowed.

He suddenly felt a little regret.