Bleach: From Rugum to Thousand-Year Captain

Kayoko Kuchiki was stunned by his voice, her eyes instantly reddening and tears welling up.

Hibiki gently patted Kayoko on the back, then turned to Byakuya and asked in a low voice, "What exactly happened?"

Byakuya closed his eyes and slowly shook his head: "I was too late. Chairman Tengetsu had already left Seireitei."

Byakuya's mind was uncontrollably filled with memories of how he had delayed treating Tobirama in order to maintain the facade of a nobleman.

All those things he once protected have now turned into the sharpest blades, repeatedly cutting into his heart.

The responsibility lies entirely with himself. He shouldn't blame or hate others, but Kuchiki Byakuya can't help but think about and blame those who are entangled in these things.

I hate myself like this!

If he doesn't vent these emotions, he'll probably explode right now.

If I had been a little more willful, would the outcome have been completely different?

"How could this be!" Kayoko Kuchiki muttered to herself, her body swaying as she almost lost her balance.

"What about Captain Unohana?"

She looked at Hibiki and Byakuya anxiously, as if grasping at a last straw; "The Fourth Division's medical skills are very strong, and Captain Unohana's healing methods are superb! Could it be that even she can't cure Tobirama's illness?"

Kuchiki Hibiki, supporting his wife, sighed softly: "I've said it before, Tobirama's condition isn't strictly speaking an illness."

"Her soul is too fragile; the locks and the soul's core cannot absorb and release spiritual particles. As time goes by, the entire soul will completely disintegrate on its own. Captain Unohana's return can heal wounds and fight diseases, but it cannot reverse the inherent fragility of a soul."

"Would the chairman of the monthly meeting be able to do it that day?"

Kuchiki Kyoga paused for a moment; he hadn't actually considered that question. In Kuchiki Kyoga's eyes, Tengetsu Sussai was a man who created miracles; there was nothing he couldn't do.

"It should be possible. I've heard that Chairman Amatsuki's healing abilities are comparable to those of the Zero Division, and even surpass those of Captain Unohana. This is no secret at the Shinigami Academy. Perhaps Chairman Amatsuki really does have a way to cure Tobirama."

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence once again.

Suddenly, Xianghe's eyes flickered, as if he had remembered something.

"Wait a moment."

"I remember the Shihouin family and our Kuchiki family jointly operated a special shop. It was a restaurant owned by the Tengetsu Council Chairman. Wasn't the food there supposed to be able to increase the spiritual pressure of any soul?"

Kayoko Kuchiki was taken aback by what she heard, but then a glimmer of hope lit up in her eyes.

Kuchiki Kyouga continued, “That’s right! I remember now! Chairman Tengetsu and Captain Hikifune, who later rose to the Zero Division, once founded a gourmet tournament. It is said that the chairman found it too troublesome to make the trip himself every time, so he simply stored enough special ingredients to hold ten tournaments in the warehouses of our Kuchiki family and the Shihouin family, and our two families jointly managed the shops.”

"This ingredient is very magical. Although the effect is slight, it works on any soul! Even ordinary rūgen that cannot increase spiritual pressure will have their total soul volume increased after eating it, thereby indirectly strengthening their spirit body. It is precisely because eating can make you stronger that gourmet restaurants are so popular in Rūgenai."

Kuchiki Kyoga stared intently at Byakuya: "Byakuya, if Tobirama's problem is that his total soul volume is insufficient and his essence is too fragile, then continuously consuming large amounts of these foods that can increase the total soul volume would solve the immediate problem, wouldn't it?"

These words struck Byakuya like a thunderbolt!

Because this agency was usually managed by the family steward, he, as the head of the family and the captain, never paid attention to such trivial business matters.

So I don't know much about the food shop.

"In the name of the head of the Kuchiki family, I have decided to immediately close the warehouse of the gourmet restaurant that the Kuchiki family represents."

"Take out all the ingredients that Chairman Tianyue has stored in the warehouse and supply them all to Feizhen alone, starting today!"

Kayoko Kuchiki was shocked. "Those ingredients belong to the chairman of the Amatsuki Council. We are just holding them in safekeeping and managing them! Offending that person will not benefit the Kuchiki family or you. Byakuya, obtaining those foods legally only requires some maneuvering; there's no need for such a grand display."

"Besides, it wouldn't be easy to explain to Shifengyuan either."

"I can't wait any longer, Aunt! The mere reputation of the Kuchiki family is not worth as much as Tobirama's life! If Shihouin comes to question us, just say I'll take all the blame!"

Byakuya immediately interrupted her: "Don't even mention offending the Chairman, even if he wants to take back everything from the Kuchiki family because of this, I'm willing to do it! As long as Tobirama can live, I'm willing to bear any consequences! Even if Chairman Tengetsu wants my life!"

At this moment, he cast aside all notions of aristocratic virtue and the glory of the Kuchiki family.

He was just an incompetent husband who was willing to fight the whole world to save his wife!

Kuchiki Hibiki looked at him with a complicated expression.

He didn't try to dissuade Byakuya, because he had been there himself and had done things that were even worse than Byakuya's at one point. He understood that young people wouldn't turn back until they hit a wall.

Just then, a gentle voice came from behind them.

"Please don't do that, Byakuya-sama."

The three of them turned around abruptly and saw Toki, dressed in a thin kimono, leaning prettily against the door frame.

Her face was as pale as paper, and the cherry blossoms falling all around seemed ready to crush her at any moment.

"Tohma! What are you doing out here?"

Byakuya rushed to her and carefully supported her cold arms.

Tobirama felt the spiritual pressure that Byakuya unconsciously released. The heavy spiritual particles pressed down on her body from all directions, causing her constant, piercing pain like insects crawling into her heart. However, fearing that Byakuya would worry, she endured it and did not show any signs of pain.

She gently shook her head and said softly, "I heard everything. Lord Byakuya, please rescind your order. I do not wish for you to abandon the dignity of the Kuchiki family for my sake."

Byakuya roared in suppressed pain, "Tobirama, do you know? To me, without you, the Kuchiki family's so-called dignity and honor are utterly worthless!"

Tobirama gently stroked Byakuya's furrowed brows; "You bear the burden of the Kuchiki family, and I married you to take the Kuchiki surname, which should have been to share this burden with you."

"If my existence comes at the cost of the Kuchiki family's reputation, then I am a sinner of the Kuchiki family, and I would rather..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

These words became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Byakuya completely broke down, tears streaming down his face.

Why?!

His shoulders slumped limply, as if all his strength had been drained away; "Why do you have to reject me too? Why do you have to extinguish even my last hope with your own hands!"

Kuchiki Byakuya, the captain of the Gotei 13, was actually begging a woman who had no spiritual pressure.

He can stand up against the entire Soul Society, withstand the accountability of the Tengetsu Council Chairman, and bear all the blame and infamy, but he cannot arbitrarily distort Tobirama's own will.

Because he loves her, he is willing to give up everything for Fei Zhen!

"Byakuya-sama." Tobirama felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and tears silently streamed down her face.

Byakuya slowly raised his head, his face regaining its almost numb calm. He looked deeply at Tobirama, as if trying to etch her image into his soul forever.

“I can’t stay here any longer; staying at home will only hasten your death.”

How ironic.

As the captain of the Gotei 13, he possessed an overwhelming spiritual pressure that dominated the Soul Society. This was the foundation upon which he maintained his honor and power, but now it had become a poison that harmed his beloved.

This power from arduous training and cultivation has actually become a shackle—how utterly ridiculous!

The stronger he became, the deeper the hurt he inflicted on her.

Kuchiki Byakuya turned around and, with all his remaining strength, managed to maintain his composure before stumbling and rushing out of the courtyard.

Toki reached out her hand to stop him, but it fell limply to her side. Tears blurred her vision, and she could only watch as the man who loved her so deeply left.

Once Byakuya's figure had completely disappeared at the end of the cherry blossom grove, the servants carefully helped Kuchiki Tobirama back home.

Kayoko Kuchiki wiped away her tears and looked at Hibiki Kuchiki, who was standing silently beside her.

She took a deep breath, seemingly wanting to talk about something lighthearted.

"I recently heard that the position of captain of the 9th Division of the Gotei 13 has been vacant. Why don't you give it a try?"

Upon hearing this, Kuchiki Hibiki rolled his eyes.

"Silly wife, have you forgotten? I am now only half a guilty man."

"Although the Captain-Commander did not explicitly state what happened back then, everyone knew it. Without the clear instructions of the head of the family and the consent of most of the captains, I did not take the initiative to fight for any position in the Gotei."

"And wouldn't it be better to just stay with the family and keep you company?"

“It is good.” Kayoko Kuchiki’s eyes darted away. “But I’m afraid other nobles will gossip about you behind your back, saying that you do nothing and live off the Kuchiki family.”

"Does the Kuchiki family fear the gossip of mere lower-ranking nobles?"

"Let them talk. I've long since let go of fame and status. Those things are nothing but empty illusions."

He reached out and gently brushed a flower petal from his wife's forehead.

"I don't care what others think anymore. Anyway, I, Kuchiki Kyoga, offended all the nobles of the Seireitei long ago. Even without those old grievances, I would never be able to gain their trust with the power of my Zanpakuto alone."

"Instead of pursuing things that don't belong to me, I'd rather cherish the only reality right in front of me. Only by staying by your side can I feel at peace."

Kayoko Kuchiki stared at him blankly, at this man who had once been so unruly and eager to show off, now uttering such sweet words. She was truly ashamed.

Only at this moment did she suddenly understand that Xianghe had concealed all his sharpness, transforming himself into a sturdy shield that existed solely to protect her.

Her eyes welled up with tears again, and they streamed down her face once more.

On the other hand, Byakuya Kuchiki, who had left the Kuchiki family, did not return to the Sixth Division.

He used Shunpo, his figure transforming into a white lightning bolt once again, heading straight for the Third Division barracks.

Gin Ichimaru had already noticed this reckless attitude and was lazily greeting people inside his own barracks.

"Oh my, isn't this Captain Kuchiki?"

"What brings you here this time?"

Kuchiki Byakuya ignored his teasing and walked up to Ichimaru Gin.

Then, under the slightly surprised gaze of Gin Ichimaru, he suppressed his spiritual pressure and gave Gin Ichimaru a standard 45-degree bow.

Gin Ichimaru's smile froze; he had no idea what Byakuya Kuchiki was up to.

"Captain Kuchiki, what's going on?"

"Captain Ichimaru."

"Please tell me, where exactly did Chairman Tianyue go?"

"I'm sorry, Captain Kuchiki." Gin Ichimaru shrugged. "I really didn't know about this. That person's whereabouts are not something a nobody like me can keep track of. And what you're doing is really making me a little scared."

Kuchiki Byakuya stared at him silently for a long time, seemingly trying to discern the truth from his fox-like face, but in the end he couldn't see anything.

The last glimmer of hope has been extinguished.

"Sorry to bother you."

He turned and left in silence.

Gin Ichimaru stood there, watching him leave.