Wounded Heart

(Genryujin's POV)

"W-What?" Masaki said

I looked at her, there was a look of shock and disgust in her voice. 

I turned around and looked up at the sky, "It was a long time ago." I said, "Back when Quincies and Shinigami were locked in war." 

"I-I'm so sorry....." She said softly

I shrugged, "That is one reason I resent Quincies." I said, "At least the ones from back then. I'm well aware that I shouldn't lump the whole race with the ones who committed atrocities. But the truth is still there, Quincies are a threat to the Balance of the world." 

I turned to look at her, there were tears in her eyes. 

"I....I wasn't aware..." She sniffed

I raised an eyebrow, "What's with you?" I said, "I'm telling you, it was a long time ago. It had nothing to do with you specifically, there's no reason-" 

I was caught off-guard by what she did next; She hugged me. 

Her arms wrapped around me as she dug her face into my chest as I felt her body tremble a bit. 

"W-What....." I said as I looked at her

"I'm so sorry....." She said, "It was because of that horrible thing....that wound in your heart is there....." 

"What are you saying....?" I said, "Why're you hugging me?" 

"I...I feel bad...." She looked up at me, "It's so horrible....I....I'm sorry...I don't know what came over me...." 

I gently pushed her away, "I don't need your sympathy." I said, "This happened centuries ago, long before your grandparents and their grandparents' time." 

She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I-It's still a terrible thing..." 

"You're not wrong." I said, "Every time I think of that time, my blood boils. Even now, I am filled with nothing but rage..." 

She looked at me with surprise, "Y-You're angry now?" She asked

I nodded, "The mere thought of a Quincy reminds me of that....." I said, "It angers me....all I want is to kill any Quincy I can get my hands on....." 

I raised my hand and clenched my fist. 

"O-Oh...." She said

I then opened my hand and relaxed it, "But I've long since controlled my emotions." I said, "I am the Grandson of the Great Yamamoto Genryusai, I should not let my emotions get the better of me. My dear Sister would never want that for me...." 

"I see...." She said looking down, "I-It makes sense." 

"Make no mistake." I said while looking at her seriously, "The ones who did that to her, the ones that killed her, I slaughtered them with my own hand. But still, it left an empty hole in me. One that is very hard to fill. She was my world, she was everything to me. She was all I had....and they took her from me....Ah.....I don't know why I'm saying all this to a Quincy of all people....not even Soi Fon knows this...." 

I turned around and rubbed my neck, looking down at the ground and reminiscing of the time that my sister would tend to my wounds after training in the art of the sword with Grandfather. 

Her warm smile always calmed me down. Grandfather was always rough on me even when I was a pipsqueak but she balanced everything out. 

"Please...." Masaki said 

I glanced at her, "Hm?" I said

"Please don't take it out on us." She said as she fidgeted with her hands

I chuckled, "Don't worry about it." I said, "If it was the old me from back then, I would've killed you lot the moment I met you. But I'm not. I'm not a monster. I do mean it though, the moment I find out you guys pose a threat to the balance, I will not hesitate to make the decision." 

"I understand." She said, "I would like to apologize on behal-" 

"Don't." I cut her off, "Do not apologize on their behalf. They're dead, slaughtered, brutalized. They don't need redemption. The only one that needs to get his proper death, the one that I need to kill, without hesitation, is Him."

"Him, huh?" She said, "I see.....You know of him...." 

"I met him personally....." I said as my hand began to tremble in pure anger, "You don't know anything...He....." 

I then exhaled as I rubbed my hand, trying to calm myself down. 

"He's not Human. And more than a Quincy." I said, 

"He's something above beings like you and I." 

*******************************************

"Walking a thin line....." Kisuke said as he poured tea on a cup, "I don't know why you're speaking with that Quincy girl, Gen-chan." 

"I'm not seeking her out, if you're thinking that." I said as ate one of the rice crackers he gave me, "She's seeking me out....she says it's curiosity." 

I was in Kisuke's shop, the day later. Yesterday, I quickly went back home and checked in with Katori, who told me she was going to come to the Human World sometime either today or tomorrow. She's been envious of my constant trips to Karakura and she wants to go sight-see.

"Oh no." Kisuke said as he covered his mouth with his fan, "That's not good. A Quincy being curious with you of all Shinigami? What's that Western Story called? Romeo and Juliet? Rome and Juliet much, Gen-chan?" 

"Shut the hell up." I said as I took a sip of the tea he poured me, "Why am I here?" 

"Oh, that." He said, "There have been mysterious disappearances lately; Shinigami and Human souls....." 

I raised an eyebrow, "What's that gotta do with me?" I asked

"Well, the thing is, from my intel in Soul Society...." He said, "There's been an unusual amount of soul disappearance as well..... '

"Meaning?" I asked

"Someone is trying to replicate my Hogyoku..." He said

"That fucking thing?" I said, "Who do you think is it? A Shinigami?" 

"So it seems...." Kisuke said, "You're not dumb, I think you could figure it out if you put your mind to it." 

"I figured something like this would happen." I said as I put the cup down, "I have my suspicions..." 

"Have you confirmed that the one who did Hirako and others is Him?" He asked me, "That was a strange and very convenient resolution. I'm surprised you were the one who delivered us here...." 

"Not really..." I said, "I don't wanna interact with him much. If I'm exposed to his Zanpakuto's ability, it'll be some bullshit to deal with later."

"Play it safe." He said, "It appears that-.....Oh, what do we have here?" 

He was looking outside the door of his shop; we were sitting in a table that was in sight from the outside. 

I followed his gaze and looked at Masaki who was holding a bag, she was smiling at me. 

I narrowed my eyes, "You." I said, "Why're you here?" 

"May I come in?" She asked

Kisuke covered his mouth with his fan, "Come on in...." She said, "Young Lady, are you sure you're supposed to be here?" 

Masaki walked in with a look of surprise, "Hm?" She said, "This is a candy shop, right? There's nothing wrong with a Candy shop...I'm 18, I can buy some candy without permission." 

"Ara..." Kisuke said as Masaki sat down next to me, "Well isn't this something...." 

I looked at her, "You didn't answer my question." I said

"I'm here to ask you out~!" She said with a smile

I blinked, "Eh?" 

"Oh my..." Kisuke said, "Curiosity....indeed...." 

Masaki chuckled, "Here." She said, "A token of my kindness.." 

She pulled out something from the bag, it was a little plush dragon. It was a weird human cartoon thing, I think. I don't know, it looked fucking ridiculous. 

She handed it to me. 

"W-What?" I said, "Girl, what the-" 

"I want to change your views on us~!" She said with a smile, "It may be a futile attempt, but it's worth a try." 

"Ara, Gen-chan, may I leave you alone?" Kisuke asked as he got up

"Uhm...." I said as I held the plush, "M-Masaki, you don't know this...but I'm ma-" 

"Married?" She tilted her head, "I know. You're Genryujin, right? Master Ishida has told me about you. You see, I went and asked him and he told me all about Shikei." 

"Ara ara, young lady." Kisuke said as he fanned his face, "You ought to not say that name here. Not in front of Gen-chan." 

"Eh?" She said, "Is that bad?" 

"Forget it." I said, "Kisuke, give us a minute." 

"You got it." He said as he walked away

"Anyways, I know that you're married." She said

"How the hell does he even kno-" I said before frowning and looking back at the bastard, "You son of a bitch, Kisuke!!!" 

"Teehee~!!!" Kisuke laughed as he ran towards the back room

I then looked at Masaki, "Well, you know that and you still have the audacity to ask me out?" I said as I stood up, "Masaki, I don't know if you're naive or just plain dumb." 

She frowned, "That's rude...." She said, "Accept my offer." 

I sighed, "Well, whatever." I said, "If you know I'm married and are still asking, I suppose I can't use that as an excuse." 

"Well, what? You're gonna use the Quincy card on me?" She said, "That won't work. I'm still a woman, you know?" 

I sighed, "Well, you're not wrong." I said, "I may resent Quincies as a whole but as contradictory and hypocritical as this may sound...and while it was just a quick one-night fling..." 

"I did bed a Quincy woman once..."