Chapter 11 - Execution Day
Byakuya's POV
Today is the day of Rukia's execution, but I am not pleased with what will soon happen in the coming hours.
Correction: I will never be pleased with what will soon happen.
Though I disagree with Rukia's actions, I dislike the Central 46's handling of her case just as much, if not more, mainly because of how frequently they have moved up her execution date.
It was an unceremonious stab in the gut whenever they moved up the date, and they ordered it more times than what some would consider as normal.
Then again, Rukia's entire case isn't normal. The crime she has committed is a rare one, but one that carries a severe punishment that ensures no recovery for the accused.
Which brings me to my current situation . . .
As I walk toward the family shrine, I start to reflect on all the things I have done in the past to see why the universe has decided to put me through such internal and external struggles.
Minata was not wrong in how all my major vows and oaths were fighting for dominance within my subconscious. Granted, by swearing to uphold so many oaths in the first place, I have put myself in a bind that I am unable to free myself from.
As a Kuchiki, I have a duty to uphold the reputation of my clan. As a captain, I have a duty to uphold the laws that have made the Soul Society what it is for centuries. Those are oaths that I knew that I would abide by from the moment I was able to understand my position in the family.
But then, Hisana came along and threw my structured world right off kilter.
The years we spent with each other . . . I will admit, they were not perfect. My elders and her health were obstacles that impeded us as we grew as a couple. I supported her as she searched for her dear sister, even when others decried it as a lost cause, and she supported me in her role as the Lady of the Clan, a role she flourished in despite her detractors.
The task of finding her sister eventually fell to me once she died, and though I managed to do just that, I have done a poor job in protecting her. I thought I did enough, giving her a home to stay in, keeping her out of harms' way as best I could . . . But all my efforts are all for naught as her punishment nears.
I still mourn for her, but at least she does not have to witness what will happen today.
She won't have to witness her sister's death, or my inaction.
At least Minata understands my predicament, though I am sure she wished I did more. She was stubborn in that way, a sentiment that she shared with Hisana herself.
Even now, I can still remember the day I decided that Mina and Hisana should finally meet perfectly . . . Much to my chagrin.
Many years prior. . .
"Byakuya, why have you decided that you needed me to come along with you on your weekly walk in the Rukongai?"
She spoke in a whisper, but I knew well enough from her tone that Mina was more annoyed than curious at our current predicament, and I could not blame her for it. I never voiced why I wanted her to come along with me to Sazan'endo (meaning 'Southern End'), the third district here in South Rukongai, and I knew she wanted an answer.
She honestly deserved one, but I wanted to wait until we arrived at our destination before I said anything first.
"I do have a good reason as to why I wanted you to come with me today, but I would rather hold off on saying it until we reached our destination. . . We will be there rather soon, but please Mina. Just be patient for a little longer."
"I can do that, but still, this place you are leading me to must be both important, and rather secretive, if you had to insist that we wear these cloaks before we left the manor." I turn to see the serious expression that matched mine, and I am glad for it. What we were doing was important, to me at least, and even though I was still keeping her in the dark, it appeared that she was willing to take this as seriously as I was.
"It looked like it was going to rain when we were leaving, so I figured it was best that we walked with some cover. . ." I explain, gesturing to the rain clouds above us. It was only drizzling now but judging by how dark the clouds have gotten since we first left the manor, we were due for a torrential downpour by the time the day was up.
"Hm, convenient . . ." I heard her muse as we weaved our way through the crowd. The avenue we were currently walking through usually had a greater number of people perusing its shops and markets, but the incoming storm has forced many of the proprietors to close their shops early to avoid the coming deluge. ". . . And here I thought you insisted on these cloaks because you didn't want our faces to be seen."
"Read into it what you will . . ." I say, though what she said was not wrong either.
It takes us another twenty minutes to get to our destination. Mina had remained silent throughout the rest of the journey, preferring to keep her face hidden underneath her cloak, though her eyes remained curious as to what exactly I had planned. After arriving in one of the quieter parts of the district, we stop at a small home that was separated from the others along the street by a small thatch of willow trees.
"Hmm, this is a nice place you've led me to," I hear her say as I step onto the small porch. "It definitely looks comfortable."
"Comfort was a high priority of mine when I first bought this place. . ." I admit, turning around to see the startled look on her face.
"You bought this place?" She asks. "Why? Have your elders grated on your nerves long enough that you felt you needed to buy yourself a place to get away from it all? At the very least, I'm guessing you didn't use official Clan funds, right? Too much of a paper trail if you did that after all . . ."
"Well, I did not want to trouble the Clan treasury with such a purchase," I say as I rapped my knuckles along the doorframe. "So, I figured it was best to use my personal funds instead. . . You're right. Less paperwork at least."
"But why do I have the sudden feeling that purchasing this house wasn't just for your particular benefit?" She asks as the sudden sound of footsteps approached from inside.
"Because it wasn't. . ." I concede, just as the shoji doors slid open to reveal the very reason we were here today.
At first, her purple eyes widened at the sight of us, only to relax when she turned specifically to me. She was dressed in a light blue yukata dotted with white lilies along the edges of its sleeves, a simple outfit that fit her delicate frame sublimely.
"You bought this place for her. . ."
Turning my head, I could see the wheels turning in Minata's eyes as her gaze switched between me and the house's lone occupant. The rest of her expression was unreadable, which was a hint all in itself. Mina was willing to hold back her judgement until she had all the facts, but she was very curious to know how our current situation came about in the first place.
"Hmm, now I really want to know the entire story. . ." She mumbles, taking a step forward. "Byakuya, you have a lot of explaining to do."
"I figured as much, but I would prefer if we continued this discussion inside rather than out here." I suggest as the rain started to pour a little harder.
"Of course. Please, come inside!" Her voice shows no hint of worry or insecurity as she gestures for us to come into her abode. Mina casts one more glance at me before stepping into the building, just missing the glance the occupant levels my way once she passes her.
"You didn't tell her anything before bringing her here. . ."
She said her words in a statement, one laced with curiosity rather than the irritation or annoyance I previously predicted. I step in to see that Mina had already discarded her shoes for a pair of indoor slippers. She was already looking around the main room, far enough away to allow me the chance to explain myself without any interruption.
"No, I did not Hisana." I finally admit as I start to switch out my footwear.
"And why haven't you?" She asks as she starts to strip me of my cloak. "You said it yourself in prior conversations that Mina is your closest friend. . . I figured that if anyone in your life should know about me by now, then it should have been your closest friend."
"Don't give him too much strife about it," I couldn't help the glare I leveled Mina's way as she slowly approached us, but she ignored it in favor of looking at Hisana. "Byakuya has a strong tendency of not being forthcoming with details . . . I've managed to get by, but it wouldn't hurt if he opened up a little more every once in a while."
"Hmm, now that I think about it, he is quite closed off, even for a nobleman. . ." Hisana admits, a playful smirk dotting her porcelain face as the two shared a knowing look.
"Oh, that's not entirely his fault. Blame the elder members of his family."
"I'm sure they only wanted what was best for him." Hisana says in my defense.
"What's best for him is what's best for his clan, as one of his aunts so lovingly puts it . . ." Mina says in rebuttal, her smirk matching Hisana's own. Though I should be irritated with her for being so free about divulging my upbringing so openly, I found myself being unable to do so. When I decided to bring Mina here, it was in the hope that she would get along well with Hisana.
Judging from how the conversation was going, so far, so good.
"Being part of the nobility is not the easiest life that the rest of us like to imagine, isn't it?"
"Not really . . . Truthfully, it depends on what part of the family you're born into," Minata admits. "Hm, I'd love to discuss more about the pitfalls of being a noble, but unfortunately, I still have no idea what your name is."
"Byakuya didn't even offer you that detail?" Hisana asks, almost abashed as she turns my way.
"No; I had no idea you existed until he led me here," Mina freely admits, turning to me. "I would really love your explanation for this one Byakuya."
"I would like to hear this as well. . ." Hisana adds on, her smirk becoming a playful smile.
"You two have only just met, and you are already ganging up on me. . ." I realize, shaking my head.
"Hmm, that may be so, but considering how she carries herself around you, I like her already," Mina admits with a grin as she turns to Hinata. "Most people that meet Byakuya tend to be a bit tense around him because of how stoic and uncompromising he appears. You seem to have no such qualms, so you must have known him for some time now Ms. . ."
"Hisana," She says as she bows her head, finally introducing herself instead of waiting for me to do it for her. "You can simply call me Hisana, and you are right. I have known Byakuya for some time now. . . Almost a year in fact."
"A YEAR?!" Mina's face when she says this is quite comical, but it's soon replaced with one of irritation as she sharply glares at me. ". . . Now I really want answers."
"And you will get them, after we have a serving of tea," Hisana advises as the sound of tea kettle's whistle echoes from somewhere else within the home. "Come, I managed to buy a new batch of ginseng tea leaves while I was out in the market today. . . Byakuya tells me it's one of your favorites."
"It is. . ." Mina mumbles as she lets Hisana lead her to the tearoom, her eyes narrowing even more my way before she turns around to give Hisana her undivided attention. I was left to quietly follow behind them, thinking up ways to explain myself in a way that would not tick my friend off even further.
Hisana served the tea, and we watched as she served it with a deft hand and a light touch. We remained silent as we watched her conduct herself with such a task, my eyes trained on her, while Mina's eyes were trained on me. When we all had a cup in front of us, Mina took a sip from her china before speaking, and it was not hard to imagine what she would say first.
"So, how exactly did you two first meet? It must be quite a story."
"It's not as interesting as you would think Lady Minata," Hisana starts off after taking a sip from her own cup. "We actually met in the simplest of circumstances . . . on a walk."
"A walk?" She asks. "Do tell. . . Did you bump into him, or did he somehow bump into you?"
"Neither. . . The Third District is not my original home. Inuzuri, the 78th District, holds that distinction," she admits, her face taking on that somber edge it always did whenever she mentioned her home district. "I knew my life would go nowhere if I remained in that district, so I decided to make my way closer to the central regions."
"Traveling from the 78th to the Third District is not an easy journey," Mina is quick to point out. "Did you make it here all by yourself?"
"I tried to . . . I managed to get to the 72nd District before a scout found me."
"A scout?" She asks, realization soon dawning on her face. "You mean . . . for one of the houses?"
". . . Yes," It was not hard to hear the hesitation in her voice as we watched her take another sip of her tea. When she was done, she kept her gaze on Mina, never bothering to glance my way. "The man that found me thought I would be a nice addition for the oiran house that he worked for . . . I was at my limit at the time, and the idea of going to a place that would provide me food and shelter was very enticing at the time."
"You saw it as your only shot at survival," Mina concluded, with Hisana's single nod serving as the only confirmation she would ever get. "What you just said . . . You said that the man that found you thought that you 'would' be a nice addition for his employers . . . I'm guessing that you never made it there."
"Technically, yes and no . . . I traveled with the man until we reached the 34th District. During our travels, he managed to convince a couple other girls to join. The man didn't talk to us much, so we only had each other for company, but that didn't last long . . . While we were in the 34th, another scout found us as we were moving between villages. When he saw me, he wanted me to join the establishment that he worked for, but the first scout wasn't going to make it easy."
"What exactly did he do?"
"It all came down to a game of cards. Best 2 out of 3. If the first man won, I'd stay with him. If the other man won, I'd go with him," Hisana explains, a somber look crossing her face. ". . . Now that I think about it, it was all quite ridiculous in hindsight."
"Having your fate decided through a game of cards . . . That's not a fun thought."
"It's not, but the result ended up working in my favor in the end. . . The other man won, and he brought me to the Blue Azalea House so that I could be trained as a geisha."
"The Blue Azalea House? That's actually one of the more respectable geisha houses in the Seireitei, is it not?"
"It's a favorite among the nobility," I confirm, speaking for the first time in a while. "It's very strict when it comes to its patrons interacting with the geishas, but those rules do work in the geishas' benefit."
"Simply put: no sex with the workers . . . They can drink with us, we read poetry to them, we sing songs, but carnal relationships are absolutely forbidden, unless the geisha verbally consents to it and puts it in writing . . . Not even an exceedingly high payment for a specific girl will convince the owner to break her rules." Hisana adds, and Mina simply nods her head, accepting the response.
Oirans and geishas work within the same field and have a rivalry as old as the Soul Society itself. Though they provide similar services, oirans were considered the 'looser' set, being more likely to sleep with their customers, even trained in the best ways to satisfy them. Geishas were their more mysterious rivals, not only trained to be great company, but also to be muses that seemed unattainable to the common folk and nobility alike.
They were still attainable. They just proved to be the harder challenge.
"Once we reached the Blue Azalea House, I was immediately brought to the proprietress so she could evaluate my value for her business. . ." Hisana continued, her face going blank as she looked down at her. ". . . I remember being so afraid that day. I felt that any simple mistake on my part would only lead me back to a life in the streets in a matter of seconds."
"But that possibility never happened . . ."
"Thankfully, no . . . The proprietress saw promise in me, so much so that she decided to take a personal interest in my training. I rose in the ranks quickly as a result, but my progress did have the drawback of earning me the envy of some of my co-workers," It was not hard to notice the hints of a scowl that threatened to appear on Hisana's face, but she did well to fight it back, settling for a pout that made her current emotions less obvious. "In the end, I graduated to becoming the proprietress' personal assistant. . . Of course, I had to serve the customers, but not as often as most of the regular geishas. The proprietress mainly had me assist her and some of the other higher ranked geishas in preparing for customers, running errands, and other tasks around the building, a role I still continue with today."
"I see . . . So, earlier, you mentioned that you and Byakuya first encountered each other while on a walk," Mina is quick to remind her as she finishes the last of her tea. "I'm guessing this fateful meeting happened while you were out on an errand?"
"Byakuya was right. . . You do have a gift for speculation."
"I always had a knack for it. My time in the Second and Ninth Divisions have only helped to strengthen it. . . But back to you Hisana, and Byakuya for that matter. How exactly did your first meeting go about?"
"It was a cool afternoon when I first encountered Lord Byakuya about a couple years ago. The geishas at the Blue Azalea House are very peculiar when it comes to their tea, so much so that we order it all from one specific vendor on a bi-weekly basis. I'm the one tasked with picking up said orders, and for the most part, the trip was like all the others, until I had to walk back that is."
"As I was walking back to the geisha house, I couldn't help but stop to notice how all the neighborhood children had come out to watch the free puppet show the Orochi Kabuki Theater puts out on a weekly basis. . . They were debuting an entirely brand-new show, and I must admit, I lost track of time and watched the entire show with the children."
"I'm sure your boss and your fellow co-workers were quite happy with you showing up later than usual with their tea leaves. . ." Mina mumbles, the sarcasm obvious in her tone. ". . . I heard geishas are quite finicky when it comes to their tea."
"They are, but thankfully, Lord Byakuya here came to my aid."
"So, this is where you enter the picture. . ." Both of their eyes move to me as Minata now addresses my part in the story. "Care to elaborate on your role in this little story old friend?"
"If you're hoping for some wildly elaborate tale from my end, you are not getting one," I warn her as I put my cup off to the side. "My grandfather simply wanted me to check in on some of the investments my clan has within this district. I was supposed to meet with two of my elders at the Bonsai Tea House before we would make the rounds, and as I was making my way there. . ."
". . . You got sidetracked by Hisana's beauty?"
If I was still drinking my tea, I may have almost choked on it thanks to being taken off guard by Mina's sudden question. Her grin was starting to remind me of that damn were cat's, so I turned away, only to see the flush that has colored Hisana's creamy skin. She was looking at the wall, hiding her expression from the both of us, but the sight of her flushed skin was enough to make my eyes widen.
Even with her geisha training, Hisana was quite reserved when it came to showing her emotions to others. She was always subtle, never willing to show what she felt so overtly for all to see.
Mina managed to break her facade with five simple words, like it was nothing.
"Oh, sorry . . . Was I being too forward?" She teases, looking at us expectantly as Hisana continued to recover from her question.
"You could say that again . . ." I mumble. "Do you honestly believe that I could be easily sidetracked by something Mina?"
"When we were younger, you were easily distractible, especially if something started to annoy you, but you have grown out of it in your quest in being a good clan head and squad captain," She mumbles, thinking it over. "These days, it is awfully hard for you to be sidetracked by something, especially if you consider it trivial . . . That being said, I said that it was hard, not impossible, and I believe that Hisana here has achieved the impossible."
"Well, you are not wrong there," I finally admit, my words earning me a demurer blush out of the woman who has caught my heart. "I spotted her toward the end of the puppet performance. It was starting to rain, I noticed the package of tea leaves in her hands, and I did have an umbrella with me at the time. . ."
"So, you asked Hisana if you could escort her home for the sake of protecting the tea leaves?!"
"When you put it that way, it did start off that way, just in less blunter tones," Hisana answers before I could, her eyes looking faint, as if she were already looking back at the memory. "I thought it was quite odd for such a nobleman of his stature to approach me so publicly when it first happened."
"It's practically unheard of," Mina adds. "It would be the cause for never ending gossip and would have certainly caused a social row throughout the nobility . . . And yet, I only hear about this now."
"It helped that I was not dressed in a way that signaled my station, but as you may have noticed, HIsana figured me out easily enough."
"You can dress as a simple commoner all you like, but if you don't change your behavior accordingly to go with the ruse, then what's the point?" Mina was quick to point out, smirking as she spoke. "Besides, Hisana is a trained geisha after all. Geishas and oirans are both taught to see how the nobleman differs from the common man."
"It's true. . . I could see that he was a nobleman from a mile away," Hisana was placating me with her demure smile, but I still could sense the jab within her words. "But he was charming and endearing, and it would have been rude of me to say no to his simple offer . . . Things simply weren't that simple from that day further."
"I'll say . . . Byakuya is not one for being so secretive, and yet here you are, the best kept secret he has had in years." Mina decrees, her face, shockingly, impressed. "I'm glad you finally thought I was worthy enough to meet her."
"I wanted you two to meet sooner, but how to go about it continued to elude me for the longest while," I admit, willing to admit such a shortcoming. "In the end, I figured I might as well have you meet over a cup of tea."
"Hmm, I'm glad that you finally came to your senses. . . So, Hisana, how exactly did Byakuya here pursue you afterward? I'm sure it is an interesting story."
"Hmm, where should I begin?"
Present day. . .
A simple tea ended up lasting for hours that day as Mina and Hisana became acquainted with each other, and by the time we departed for the night, the two considered each other close acquaintances. When I finally presented Hisana to my family, Mina was one of her staunchest allies, but even the approval of the heiress of a fellow Great Noble House wasn't enough for my relatives to accept her so easily.
We still married and Hisana was both a wonderful wife and an admirable Lady of the Kuchiki Clan, but she still had her many detractors. Coupled with her illness, our short marriage had its highs and lows, but she retained a hidden strength throughout it all.
Would it have faltered if she still lived now to witness the fate her sister was about to face?
By the time I finally reached the room that held the shrine, I realized that was one question I did not want to know the answer to.
Sliding the doors open, I find the room empty and quiet, still tinged with the smell of incense that a previous visitor lighted. Taking my place in front of Hisana's photo, I quickly kneel before launching into the usual prayers in front of Hisana's photo.
I could have prayed for peace, for a smooth day that featured no trouble, but I did not want to lie while in a room filled with the photos of my wife and ancestors.
Once finished, I open my eyes to see Hisana's still figure staring right at me. Her violet gaze was serene, oblivious to what would soon happen, and yet it still pierces my soul.
It's been fifty years since she passed and I have long completed the mourning period customary for the nobility. The clan elders will be getting on my back about remarrying soon, and I cannot blame them for it, but I do not have the slightest interest in seeking out a new partner in my life right now.
Well, that is not entirely true . . . It seems I have been thinking differently in regard to my best friend these days. . .
. . . And speaking of my best friend.
"How long have you been standing there Mina?"
When I turned my head, I found her standing in the doorway to see her already dressed to head out. Senbonzakura and Mizukiri were standing on either side of her.
"Don't worry. We haven't been standing here long . . . Anyway, It's time Byakuya. Rukia's execution . . . will be starting soon."
I knew she was dreading what was to come, even more than I was. Ever since I adopted Rukia into the clan, Minata has been there for her, helping her to adjust into her new role as a noblewoman and shinigami, acting as the big sibling that neither I nor Hisana were able to fully be for her.
Her willingness to step forward to fill such a void made Mina who was she, and I would always be grateful to her for it.
"So it is." I say, rising from the floor. Whispering one more goodbye to her photo, I exit the room, stopping myself short when I find myself standing right next to Mina.
"It is okay if you want to pay your respects to Hisana. . . You're welcome to visit the shrine."
"That's okay . . . I think I'll pay my respects later, once I process everything that will happen today of course."
She whispers the last part, but I heard her all the same. Neither of us was looking forward to what was going to happen soon, but we still have our roles to play.
". . . As you wish."
The streets leading to Sokyoku Hill were solemnly empty, an understandable result when one of our own faces the executioner's block. The execution of a fellow shinigami affects all the divisions, regardless if the shinigami in question is one of their own or not. It was not something to be taken lightly, especially since these kinds of executions were a rare occurrence in of itself.
We are silent for the majority of the walk, but when I sensed Minata's spiritual pressure starting to fall behind me, I knew that something was wrong. I turn around to see her standing 20 feet away, staring out at something ahead of us.
It did not take me long to feel the spiritual pressure of the person who caused such a reaction from her.
"Hello Captain. . ."
My lieutenant's tone is cold, his face matching his expression as he kept one hand on the hilt of his zanpakuto
"I see you broke out of your cell," I say, my eyes narrowing at the man's obvious defiance. "You were not willing to sit still after all."
"How could I when my closest friend is about to receive a fate she doesn't truly deserve?!" he asks as his reiatsu begins to flare up. "Especially when the man that proclaims to be her brother isn't willing to do anything about it?!"
I must admit: Abarai knew where to hit someone where they hurt when he needed to.
"You do know that I will not allow you to continue with your intentions." I coldly state as Senbonzakura returns to his sword form.
"I figured as much," Abarai mumbles as his zanpakuto spirits returned to their sword form as well. ". . . So be it."
At this point, I knew reasoning or threatening him any further would be useless. So, I simply raised my blade in front of my face accepting what will happen next.
"Scatter, Senbon-"
My arm jolts as Zabimaru's blade parries my own, stopping me from finishing the command that would allow Senbonzakura to fully transform. What was more surprising was that Zabimaru was in its shikai form, but Renji never said their command.
"Master? That was unexpected . . ." Senbonzakura's words couldn't be any truer. He has never been stopped like this before, and yet this is the second time in recent days that he's been stopped in his tracks before he could transform into his shikai.
I really hope this does not become a trend.
"How in the world did your blade transform into its shikai without you saying its command?"
"Shocked huh?! Hmm, I think I'll let you figure that out on your own Captain . . . For years, there was only one man that I wanted to surpass in all of the Soul Society, and that man is you." he explains, tightening his grip on his sword. "Today, I'm going to put my notion to the test."
"Quite a notion . . . Do you really think you can beat me?"
"At first, I never thought I could, but I wanted to. I want to beat you. So, I trained for years in order to be at the level necessary for such a battle . . . Now, I'm going to show you the results of my training."
"The results?" I ask as he retracts his blade.
"Let me show you . . . BANKAI!" he yells, disappearing in a torrent of his red spiritual energy that encapsulated the surrounding area.
Hmm, first I find out that my best friend has a bankai, and now I get to witness my lieutenant's?
The universe just loves to mess with me sometimes.
Minata's POV
I couldn't help how wide my eyes got when the smoke cleared to reveal Renji's bankai.
"That's one . . . large snake!" Mizukiri most poignantly exclaims as we both gaze at the giant bone-like figure that Abarai was holding by the tail.
"You can say that again." I add, finding no other words to voice my shake. The size was awe inspiring, but it was the skull itself that was the most intimidating, hissing and screeching as its fur collar billowed in the wind.
"What is the name of your bankai?" Byakuya decides to ask, not fazed at the sight that stood before us.
"Hihio Zabimaru" says Renji, the snake letting out another roar at the sound of its name, one that could be heard from miles away.
"When did you achieve it?"
"Why do you care? You never bothered to show any care for your subordinates in the first place after all."
Okay, that was a definite low blow on Renji's part, and judging from how Byakuya's back visibly stiffened at the comment, it definitely affected him. Honestly, I don't think Renji believed that himself, but it did get the desired effect, though Byakuya was doing a damned good job at not showing how much it profoundly affected him.
"Minata, go on ahead . . . Tell the other captains that I will be running a little late."
"NO!" yells Renji, stopping me from even making a step. "After all, there should at least be one witness to your eventual defeat."
I held my ground, knowing that my next step was dependent on Byakuya's next reaction. . . He didn't make me wait long.
"So be it Abarai," he finally says, his tone brokering no room for argument. "However, Minata will only be witnessing your defeat, not your victory."
"Trust me when I say this Captain Kuchiki. You will fall to me during this battle. . . Who knows? I may even get you down on your knees before this battle is over." says Abarai with a smirk. He was on the verge of being cocky, as if he were confident that he would win the day.
All I was witnessing was him making his death wish.
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!
