Bab 246: CHAPTER 279: Pushing Boundaries
Half an hour later.
Kazuya landed silently in Unohana's backyard, which proved to be a waste of effort. The back door was open, and Unohana was moongazing with a cup of sake in her hand, reflecting on the events that had spiraled out of her control. The matter weighed heavily on her heart, despite his best attempt to ease her guilt.
Her lips curled into a soft smile at the sight of him. "One stab didn't satisfy you enough? Alas, I'm not in the mood to indulge your… fetishes."
Her voice was filled with a feeling of deep sorrow as if she truly regretted disappointing him tonight.
She raised the sake cup. "You're welcome to join me on this sleepless night, however."
He settled down by her side, immediately noticing the subtle notes of fruity sake mixing with her scent. She had been drinking for a while, the proof of which was evident from the three empty bottles on the low table behind them. All the alcohol only made her cheeks a bit flushed.
"Since when did Retsu become an alcoholic?"
"I'm celebrating your survival," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she pushed the cup toward him. "Will you accept a treat from a woman who tried to assassinate you in your sleep—"
Before she could finish, he took the cup and downed the sake in one motion. He tossed the cup on her lap and wiped lips with his thumb.
"Actually, not bad. You have a good taste in sake."
Unohana slowly shook her head as if she had expected him to react in this fashion. "I'm still unhappy about earlier."
"In that case, what can I do to make you happy?"
"Ending me..." she whispered, more to herself than conveying her emotions. "Are you here to nag at me?"
"I do have that right, as your future husband."
She slammed the sake cup on the tatami floor, shattering it into bits. "Enough. I have seen enough. I—have heard enough. It is time you stop calling yourself my future husband, or I will…"
As much as she adored him, there was no world in which she would marry anyone, much less the desired man of Isane. Because there was no happiness for the man she would choose. Only misery of becoming her target — someone she would fight to death while laughing like a maniac.
"Hic—"
An unintentional hiccup destroyed her serious demeanor.
She pressed her thumb against her throat, which got rid of her hiccups for good. "I was saying—"
"On one condition," he said, looking at her in earnest. "Become my present wife."
"No."
Kazuya clicked his tongue. "It was worth a try."
Silence settled between them. Kazuya refrained from mentioning his original purpose for coming here. He had to address Unohana's situation before leaving Soul Society. Leaving her in her current state could lead to some disastrous consequences.
As he contemplated how to help her, she pushed her sheathed katana towards him. "I'll consider marriage if you hold me accountable for my mistake."
He drew the katana, letting the curved blade soak in the moonlight. "This weapon has been through a lot of battles. Still looks so pristine. It kind of reminds me of you. A woman older than the current human calendar, yet still so beautiful."
She barely reacted to his flowery words, which he had completely expected.
"I pried its Asauchi from a noble's cold fingers," she whispered, gazing up at the moon as if recalling nearly faded memories. "A young noble and his entourage leaving the safety of their estate to kill criminals. To earn recognition from his family. His misfortune was to encounter me of all criminals."
Before the Gotei 13's formation, nobles used to regulate the criminals' activity in Rukongai, or so they tried. The number of outlaws in Rukongai vastly outnumbered the nobles. The nobles only killed the criminals close to their territories and let the innocent suffer in Rukongai.
The old Rukongai was far more violent than today.
"Back when my future wife used to be a delinquent," Kazuya mused, inspecting her katana. "What was life like back then?"
"Delinquent? I was a criminal. The strongest of them all until—" Unohana cut herself off, shaking her head. "I might return to my former life without this favor. Kazuya... I can only rely on you. Use the sword on me."
She would stab herself if it yielded the same result. But it had to be him.
He slid her katana back into its sheath. "My answer is still no."
"Did you not say you have feelings for me? Are you happy seeing the woman you adore devolve into a lowly criminal?"
Left with no choice, she resorted to using his feelings to manipulate him — the one area where he could write a thesis and be her master.
He placed a hand on her thigh and turned to face her with a solemn look. "Listen, punishing yourself won't address the root cause of your concern. It'll just be a band-aid solution."
Her hunger for violence had been relatively tame until he arrived and gave her a taste of what she had forgotten. Her former addiction had returned in full force. Now, she struggled to control her urges and couldn't be satisfied with mere mock battles.
She craved more. She craved blood. She craved slaughter.
Worst of all, there was no cure for her condition. Even his charm ability could only temporarily help her regain control; it couldn't permanently erase her desire for violence.
'Maybe my complete Resurrección can.'
He, however, couldn't experiment until he returned from Hueco Mundo.
Her brows furrowed at his words. "Do you know of a permanent solution?"
"Other than letting you indulge in violence, nope."
She stared at him for a long moment, as though expecting more. When he remained silent, she continued, "Then help me with the temporary solution." She slightly shifted the tail of her braid, exposing the scar hiding beneath. "Don't drag it out unnecessarily."
He let out a heavy sigh. "Retsu, you're stronger than that."
"I am not. You saw it with your own eyes. I may be able to slay a Vasto Lorde with my sword… but I can't control myself when it matters. Please, I do not wish to let Isane see me in that state."
Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he drew her closer. "You held it off for centuries and became a better person. That alone deserves some credit. And you're still trying to overcome it."
She forcefully shut her eyes, her jaw clenched. "Even now my heart is throbbing… my fingers are twitching to hold my Zanpakutō and cut you. Just do me this favor, you stubborn kid."
He barely flinched at her confession. "My future wife has some issues. Oh well, nothing I can't fix."
"You cannot fix what's not broken," she growled. "That is why, after this is over, I want—"
He pulled her even closer and pressed his hand against her mouth, silencing her from uttering any ominous foreshadowing. "Retsu, stop thinking about it. You'll forget everything about the incident for two days."
Using the full effect of his ability, which he had only used once on Apacci, he attempted to make her forget the incident for two days. He had no idea how much of a success this would be, or if it would even last for an hour.
Unohana's wide eyes grew distant before gently closing. When she opened her eyes again, they were clouded by confusion. "I… must've blanked out."
Kazuya pumped his fist behind his back. Smiling, he said, "You drank too much sake, probably."
"Uhmm." She put her hands between them and retreated from him. "You didn't tell me why you came here."
"Take me to the Living World. I'm going to need Harribel in Hueco Mundo."
***
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
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-- Power
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