121 Shunsui Kyoraku  

"Ah, what kind of words is Captain Ailin saying, my gaze has always been gentle."

Tokinada Tsunayashiro narrowed his eyes and stepped back, distancing himself from Ailin.

Tokinada had just returned to the Seireitei from the living world not too long ago, so he didn't want to confront Ailin now.

Of course, everything Ailin did to him today had been noted down by Tokinada.

Shinigami have very long lifespans after all, so he would have a chance to settle the score eventually.

As long as that being created by Fullbringer Aura Michibane using their powers to combine the bodies of, Shinigami, Quincies, and Hollows...

This newly created being is currently in an incomplete state, missing everything above the neck, only kept alive by the circulating reishi between its Locking and Salivation.

It was precisely because of this that Tokinada chose to return to the Seireitei and establish the Tsunayashiro Family's medical institute, having its staff constantly use Kaidō to maintain this being's state.

At the same time, he also knew that his sneak attack on the former Kuchiki Clan head had likely been exposed.

However, due to the ability of the "Strongest Zanpakutō - Enrakyōten (Law of the Bewitching Lucid Mirror) " inherited by the Tsunayashiro Clan, the Zanpakutō he used to attack Ginrei Kuchiki was not his own.

As long as the Kuchiki Clan had no evidence, and he didn't provoke them, he would still be safe in the Seireitei.

"Hopefully so."

After speaking, Ailin pulled Nanao Ise along, passing by Tokinada and approaching Byakuya Kuchiki.

"Byakuya, I'll take this little girl back first. You can handle things here."

"Un."

Although Byakuya knew from his grandfather that it was Tokinada who had severely injured and killed him, without evidence, as a noble exemplar of the Seireitei, Byakuya could not violate its rules by killing Tokinada for revenge.

Ailin's uncle-in-law threatening Tokinada did alleviate some of Byakuya's hatred, and he even hoped Tokinada would attack his uncle so he could justifiably kill him.

Unfortunately, this guy shrank back...

After Nanao Ise was taken away by Ailin, these nobles had nothing left to argue about.

Since the Divine Eight Mirror Sword wasn't obtained, who would dare accept the Ise girl under the "husband-killing" curse? So in the end, after digging three feet into the Ise estate without finding it, they left with gloomy faces.

However, though they didn't find the sword, they did spread word that Ailin had taken it.

After all, Ailin had said earlier that whatever sacred artifact they couldn't find could be considered taken by him. So it shouldn't be wrong for them to spread such rumors, right? Who told that guy to be so rude that day? Did he really think becoming the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law made him a great noble?

Although that was indeed the case, when everyone tacitly looked down on someone, their former commoner status became capital for mocking Ailin.

Regarding these rumors, Ailin just sneered. A pack of yapping dogs, nothing more. For now, let them be smug. A few decades later, if Yoruichi Shihōin invited him during Sosuke Aizen's actions, he would clean them up before leaving the Seireitei.

If not invited, then he would leave when Aizen defected.

In any case, after seeing Tokinada today and copying his Enrakyōten Zanpakutō, he might even be able to pin the blame for killing these nobles on him.

After all, slaughtering nobles wasn't something Tokinada hadn't done before. In fact, the first people he killed were the rest of the Tsunayashiro Clan.

It was precisely because Tokinada massacred every single member of his clan that he became its head.

To be honest, Ailin felt Tokinada's actions were influenced by the Soul King's will to some degree.

Over a million years ago, the progenitors of the Five Noble Clans betrayed the Soul King, using his "omnipotent power" to separate and create the three realms, dividing life and death into the current world's state.

But after the Royal Guard's Ichibē Hyōsube "stabilized" the Soul King into the lynchpin holding the three realms together, the Five Noble Clan progenitors carried out their original goals according to their own wills.

Leaving the other four noble clans aside for now, the Tsunayashiro Clan has always feared the Soul King, afraid he might one day abandon his current form, break free and take revenge on those who betrayed him.

Thus, over a million years, the Tsunayashiro Clan devoted itself to weakening the Soul King's power.

They severed the Soul King's arms, dug out his legs, gouged out his eyes, carved out his internal organs, stripping the Soul King's power down to the living world...

Ailin didn't believe the Soul King wouldn't hate the Tsunayashiro Clan for this. It's just that the Soul King's eyes saw an even farther future that he was willing to sacrifice for.

However, in pursuing the path of death, taking revenge was hardly incomprehensible. So in this generation, the Tsunayashiro Clan met its end.

Tokinada was not a direct descendant, but rather an "adopted son" taken in by the clan. Every noble clan had many such "branches" who were given the "clan" name but served the main family their entire lives, no different from servants or slaves.

Perhaps this was the Soul King's revenge. The Tsunayashiro Clan that tormented him had been terminated.

Although Tokinada inherited the Tsunayashiro name, it was more like compensation from the Soul King. He became the blade for the Soul King's vengeance, and also received the Soul King's boon.

Otherwise, Ailin could hardly imagine how Hikone Ubuginu could have survived until the Thousand-Year Blood War and obtained Gremmy's brain to complete his final birth without the Soul King's influence.

***

The sole daughter of the Ise Clan was brought into the Kuchiki Manor by Ailin. This news quickly spread among the nobles.

Haruko Kuchiki had been married to Ailin for decades, but due to Ailin's overwhelmingly powerful reishi, her body had been anchored by "Avalon" at a certain point to prevent being overwhelmed into decline.

Under these circumstances, Haruko could never bear children with Ailin.

Nanao's arrival allowed Haruko's maternal instincts to flourish as she doted on the girl, temporarily filling the void in Nanao's heart.

To keep Nanao company, Haruko hadn't even spoken much to Ailin for several consecutive days.

"Lord Ailin, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of the 8th Division is here to visit."

"Oh? Quickly let him in. No, I should go welcome him myself."

When Ailin brought Nanao to the Kuchiki Manor, he knew Shunsui would eventually come calling. Now that he was here, Ailin naturally wouldn't avoid him.

"Also, go find Haruko and have her and Nanao come greet Captain Kyoraku as well."

"Yes."

After the servant left, Ailin swiftly went to the Kuchiki Manor's entrance, immediately spotting the weathered man in a straw hat and red patterned robe - Shunsui Kyoraku.

Back when Ailin learned he could leave the 2nd Division, the first captain he wanted to replicate was Shunsui.

That's why Ailin frequently visited taverns in those days. But fate played a trick, and in the end Ailin never encountered Shunsui at a tavern, instead meeting Haruko Kuchiki.

Among the Shinigami, Shunsui could be considered the captain with the most human touch.

Even Jūshirō Ukitake, who seemed to care most for his subordinates, abandoned his lieutenant to die in battle once.

Yoruichi of the 2nd Division abandoned Soi Fon and ran off with Kisuke Urahara.

Kisuke just had to say "for the Seireitei" and Yoruichi's group rushed to the Soul King Palace first.

"Captain Kyoraku, I was just wondering when you'd show up. Didn't expect you to be so impatient and come so quickly." At the Kuchiki Manor's gate, Ailin didn't bother with pleasantries towards Shunsui.

Before reaching a century old, Ailin had treated Yoruichi and others as his seniors. But after, Ailin felt he had risen a generation, putting himself on equal footing with Yoruichi, Shunsui and the like.

This could be seen from how Yoruichi's attitude towards Ailin changed.

Before his first century, even when Ailin was the 6th Division Captain, Yoruichi would address him dismissively as just "Captain Ailin."

Now, Yoruichi still called Byakuya "Little Byakuya," but for Ailin it was "that lazy guy."

The difference in address showed Yoruichi's respective attitudes towards Byakuya and the now equal Ailin.

"Come on in, Captain Kyoraku. Little Nanao is probably waiting for us in the parlor."

"Ah?" Shunsui stroked his chin, puzzled by Ailin's casual familiarity.

Were they really that close? Well— Judging from Ailin's attitude, the coming conversation would be quite relaxed at least.

"Hah, Captain Ailin, you're being so warm and friendly. Don't tell me you have some favor to ask of me?"

Entering the manor with Ailin, Shunsui joked, "I heard you've been quite enthusiastic with Captain Yoruichi, having her do many things for you."

"Captain Kyoraku, you wrong me." Hearing this, Ailin quickly shook his head.

"Everything I've asked Captain Yoruichi for, I've exchanged proper favors. Up until now, I already owe her two major favors and one minor one. I don't know what price I'll have to pay when the great lady comes to call in those favors. Just thinking about it gives me a headache..."

"Hahaha, I see. But for you to be willing to pay two major favors, those must have been exceptionally difficult matters, no?"

"Yes, indeed."

Ailin nodded. "Though for me now, if I encountered those situations again, they wouldn't pose the slightest difficulty to resolve."