"Although they are said to be the five great nobles, there are only four great nobles left now."
"The person who killed Kakyo was a member of the Tsunayashiro family-one of the four great nobles."
"Moreover, her husband was only from a branch family of the Tsunayashiro. If he had been part of the main family, the Forty-Six Chambers would've charged Kakyo with rebellion just to protect him."
Tōsen's face twisted with disbelief as he raised his head. "How… how could this happen?"
He had known that Kakyo was married to someone from the Gotei 13, but he hadn't realized she was connected to one of the noble houses. In Tōsen Kaname's view, the Gotei 13 upheld balance-and the Forty-Six Chambers represented justice. To discover their corruption shook him completely.
He stood frozen for what felt like forever, his face etched with despair.
Another man's calm but firm tone reached him again. "I understand how you feel... but this is Soul Society."
"This is the Forty-Six Chambers-under the thumb of the four noble clans."
"Whether it's the Kuchiki, the head of them; or the Shihōin family who oversees spiritual tools… and especially the Tsunayashiro-who manage the Great Spirit Library-power is nothing but child's play to them."
"But Tōsen..."
There was weight behind his next words-low and dangerous. "Someday-if you or I gain enough power to strike back at those nobles and the Forty-Six... Should we do it? Would revenge be right? What would Kakyo want?"
Tōsen clenched his fists. Anger boiled in his chest-but so did grief. Kakyo had hated violence and vengeance.
"No," he said at last. "I will not take revenge."
He heard the man exhale as though smiling. "And if you-her dearest friend-won't seek revenge, then I won't either."
Despite having only just met, Tōsen suddenly felt deeply connected to this man by Kakyo's memory. Even if their bond had formed only in this moment, it somehow brought him comfort-knowing someone else understood her values as deeply as he did.
"Your name?" he asked softly.
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada," came the calm reply.
Tōsen went stiff-like lightning had surged down his spine. "...Wait... you-"
"Yes," Tokinada continued with sarcasm now edging into his tone. "I am Kakyo's husband-and I'm also the one who killed her."
Tōsen's rage reignited instantly. He trembled-his breath caught in guilt and fury both.
Kill him!
Run!
Both thoughts fought for space inside him.
Tokinada chuckled as if entertained. "Didn't you say 'I won't take revenge' just now? You sounded so noble-I thought I could trust you."
His tone darkened further. "People like you frighten me far worse than those clinging to name and honor."
"If you'd said 'I will take revenge'... I'd have killed you already. Funny, isn't it? You and Kakyo-you're so gentle… so peaceful."
Tōsen couldn't take another word. He lunged blindly toward Tokinada with everything he had-rage distorting sound and judgment alike.
Pain exploded through his torso before he even reached him-like spikes through his organs.
Thud-
He collapsed to the floor and coughed blood onto stone as Tokinada stood over him.
"What happened to your promise not to take revenge?" Tokinada scoffed. "Didn't you understand my late wife's wishes?"
Tokinada stared down at him coldly. "I hate this world too-the one that lets scum like me live free and treated someone like Kakyo so cruelly."
"Besides-you're not even really Shinigami. Can't wield Zanpakuto, no spiritual arts... What use is your revenge against me?"
He turned to two guards stationed nearby and gave his order without looking back: "Kill him."
Tokinada walked out with slow footsteps while Tōsen lay bleeding on the ground.
Tōsen realized dimly that no one would stop them-not this time. The guards would obey, and he would die here.
He wasn't afraid of dying or even of pain-all that gripped him was despair for this world that couldn't deliver justice for Kakyo.
And then-
Clack-clack-
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Are you… also Shinigami?" Tōsen asked through clenched teeth, trying to suppress his fury.
"Yes."
There was strength in the man's tone-a composure that carried weight even before Tōsen knew what he looked like. He could tell from the sound alone: this wasn't someone ordinary.
"I am Shinigami-a piece broken from this rotten world."
"I have one suggestion… Would you consider giving me your hatred? Just for now?"
Tōsen hesitated for several heartbeats because there was certainty in that stranger's words-a ruler-like presence masked beneath humility.
"My name is Aizen Sōsuke," the man said gently as he extended his hand toward Tōsen. "Right now, I'm just another insignificant Shinigami."
…
Sōsuke Aizen knew living even one day longer in this world would be agony for Kaname Tōsen.
To choose vengeance would betray Kakyo's peaceful wishes-to choose peace would be abandoning justice for her murder. Both paths led to betrayal… both paths wounded the soul she left behind.
Tōsen understood this too:
To avenge her would stain everything she believed in-and dying would become inevitable once that road was taken.
To forgive… to accept this world… would be worse than death itself.
He could not afford to falter once vengeance began-or else everything he did would become meaningless betrayal.
Please-
Kill me before I forget what I'm fighting for.
Consider supporting me on patreon! Every one of you guys that join it really supports me and gimme big big motivation to continue translating! Oh yeah, only 6 chaoters today.. sorry... 2 chapter and hour!
💕💕
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON! FOR ONLY 10$
at [email protected] /Zaneninjacat
💕💕
💀💀 gimme powerstones!💀💀