Chapter 58: Lost Substitute Shinigami Arc: Memories

Byakuya's POV

"So, this may not be a good time to ask this question, but I'll ask it anyway . . . Will you actually tell Minata what you and your Aunt Wakana discussed earlier today?"

"I said I would, didn't I Senbonzakura?"

"You did, but it seemed like you only said it to simply to get out of the conversation, not because you actually wanted to tell her that you were thinking about proposing to her."

"You sometimes read into things a little too much Senbonzakura," I mumble as I looked up at the moon, so similar to the real thing that I had to commend the blonde boy who created it. "Besides, why in the world would I want to tell her I'm thinking about proposing to her? It's likely possible that she could be expecting it already. . ."

"So she could prepare her reaction for when you finally do?"

"I know the nobility can be stiff as hell, but you don't have to go that far with the mocking," I chide as I hear footsteps approaching from behind. "Anyway, I'm nowhere near ready to propose to Mina. If I tried to propose to her now, she'll know it's more so out of the insistence of the elders instead of me doing it out of my own free will . . . When I am ready though, I want to surprise her with it. I want to do it when she least expects it."

"I see . . . Well, considering how hard it is to surprise a Fukudome in the first place, good luck with that. For now, I suggest we focus on our latest opponent."

"I concur."

"Impressive isn't it?" the man's deep voice reaches me as I end the conversation with my blade. Sneaking a look over my shoulder, I see that he was only standing a few feet away, watching me with an amused look on his face. "The moon I mean. Looks so much like the real thing. . . However, don't you think it's unwise to have your back to your opponent? You're either very confident in your abilities, or maybe you've suddenly encountered a lapse in judgment."

"Are you hoping it's the latter?"

"I hope not. Judging from the haori you're wearing, you're a shinigami captain. I'm looking forward to facing someone of your caliber."

The man, a troublesome fellow named Shūkurō Tsukishima who was just as guilty as Ginjo in this whole Fullbring fiasco, didn't look like much, which made him just as dangerous, if not more than his partner. He was dressed as if he was going to an elegant party, but the blade in his hand showed that he was ready for a fight.

"Hm, this should be interesting," I mumble as I place a hand on the hilt of my blade as a sudden thought occurred to me. "Now that I think about it, it's probably for the best that I ended up being your opponent, and not Kurosaki."

"And why is that?"

"Ichigo Kurosaki is a strong fighter. I will admit that. . . However, besides the obvious Hollow, he is still too naive when it comes to killing his enemies. I still find it highly unlikely that the man will ever bring himself to swing his blade just for the sake of killing someone."

"Ah, so Ichigo is just one big softie. Is that it huh?" Tsukishima asks with a smirk as he held his sword aloft. "If that's the case, it's probably for the best that I didn't fight him after all. Kurosaki probably would hold back, and then he would simply be easy pickings . . . Maybe he'll do things differently against Ginjo. He has enough motivation against him to do so."

And that's when I feel him strike, the movement of his blade rustling my hair slightly as it moved to strike my neck. Predicting his move, Senbonzakura moved before I could order him to, sending some of his sharp blades toward the strike zone to protect my skin before it could even get hit.

"I really despise the way you fight," I say as I turn my head. "You fight by taking away the bonds and camaraderie of your opponents and using those links against them. That's quite a cowardly way to do battle."

"What you call cowardly, I call prudent." he tells me as he leaps away, swiping his blade against the ground before landing in a crouch.

"Your 'prudency' will be your downfall." I tell him as I release my shikai, sending the blades toward him in earnest. He manages to dodge each and every strike that comes his way, landing in a crouch nearby. "You will be cut down by my blade."

"We'll see about that," he mumbles as I step forward, my weight suddenly shifting downward when my foot touches a loose tile. "Ah, you found it."

All of a sudden, the floor I'm standing on goes upward, sending me straight up. I jump off before it could travel too far, landing undisturbed. "What is this?"

"Something I prepared." he tells me, his words instantly making no sense to me.

"How so?" It shouldn't have been possible for him to set this, considering we were in a pocket dimension of his ally's making. He is either bluffing, or there's something else going on that I'm not seeing just yet.

"I did it a very long time ago actually," Tsukishima continues. "I'm sure you've figured out how my Fullbring works right. My Book of the End allows me to insert my presence into the past of whatever I cut. When I cut the ground, I made it so that I was here in the past to set my little trap up."

"So, you can affect inanimate objects as well." I mumble, looking disinterested. "That's going to be troublesome."

"Last time I checked, I never said I didn't."

I launch an attack his way, but his blade strikes one of mine before he disappears, reappearing behind me. I move to strike, but he stops my hand with his, a move I didn't expect.

"And with one move, I've inserted myself into your blade's past. I won't be struck by your blade now," he practically gloats. "It's a shame really. I've seen your techniques and tactics so many times, it's almost too boring a sight."

"What?! Then does that mean-" I think to myself as he disappears. My moment of hesitation works to my opponent's benefit, his blade slicing down my torso as I backed away, making sure it wouldn't go as deep as he had wanted it to.

"Moments of hesitation will be your downfall Mr. Captain," The Fullbring taunts as he leaps away from my strike. "I guess when you hesitated, you were probably wondering if I knew about your Hurtless Area right?"

"Great, so he does know . . ."

"You have a spectacular zanpakuto, but it's also a very dangerous one, one you use to great effect, might I add," he suggests as he waves his sword in a harmless arc. "In order to make sure that you yourself don't get hurt by it, you make sure to maintain a circular zone around yourself where your blades aren't allowed to enter. It's a move you utilize in both shikai and bankai . . . It's a sound strategy for keeping yourself out of harm's way. However, a keen observer will know that the best way to beat you is to not attack you from afar. They need to advance, get up close and personal to you, thus making your moves, regardless of Shikai or Bankai, effectively nullified. . ."

"A strong sword, but with such a noteworthy crack in its otherwise impeccable armor. Due to its overwhelming power, it's not something people will realize unless they have the necessary information. That's why you only allow your closest relatives and friends know about it, am I right?"

"I see you've really thought everything out," I mumble as I look down at my sword. "So, since you've figured all this out, then that means none of my moves should have any effect on you. Not Senkei, not Gokei . . . Not even Hakuteiken."

"I see you're catching on quick. . ."

"And how did you find out about this information?"

"Haven't you been paying attention? I found out about it from you of course . . . I did just cut you after all."

"Master? What do we do?" I hear Senbonzakura ask from within my mind. "I'm looking at your memories right now, and I see Tsukishima well, everywhere! It's like he's been with you for every day of your life . . . It's quite unsettling."

"You're telling me . . ." is all I say as I see the evidence for myself. Looking back at a couple of memories, I see exactly what Senbonzakura is talking about. In every brief memory I see, Tsukishima is there, as if he has always been a longtime friend. My annoyance toward him only heightens further when I found the memory of me telling Minata all about the Hurtless Area years ago.

The sight of him just sitting right next to her, so close to her, as I tell her about my blade's one secret is really off-putting.

"Now then, since we got all the explanations out of the way. Shall we continue Byakuya?" he asks, daring to use my first name. "It's time we finally get things settled. Come at me with your best shot."

"What should we do Master?"

"Well Senbonzakura, it looks like practiced tactics won't work on him, so there's only one thing to do," I mumble as I ready my blade. "We're going to have to improvise."

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