บท 199: Rejection

"What? Tōshirō leaving? That's impossible! Absolutely not!"

Upon hearing Ailin's words, Tōshirō's grandmother panicked. She pulled him into her embrace and glared at Ailin warily.

"Madam, please calm down and let me explain," Ailin said with a soothing smile, seeing her agitation. "I am not a bad person. Since I suggested that Tōshirō leaves, I will naturally convince both of you."

"Impossible. No matter what you say, I won't let Tōshirō leave," the woman shook her head resolutely. "Kind sir, please leave. You are not welcome here."

"Granny, please let the gentleman speak."

This time, before Ailin could respond, Tōshirō looked up from his grandmother's embrace and addressed him directly. "Kind sir, please explain why you said Granny would recover if I left."

"Of course," Ailin nodded. "The reason your granny feels cold is because you possess reiatsu, and not just ordinary reiatsu."

"Reiatsu? What's that?"

"Reiatsu is the fundamental power of a Shinigami. In other words, Tōshirō, you have the potential to become a Shinigami.

Moreover, although you are still young, your reiatsu has the attribute of ice, and its intensity is far greater than many official Shinigami. You haven't undergone formal Shinigami training, so you unconsciously release the vast reiatsu within you.

Your granny has been affected by the cold emanating from your reiatsu. If you separate from her, your reiatsu will no longer harm her, and she will naturally recover."

Hearing Ailin's explanation, Tōshirō's eyes dimmed.

"So, I'm the one who caused Granny to become like this… I'm sorry, Granny. I can't stay with you anymore."

He hugged his grandmother tightly, then let go, ready to leave.

However, to his surprise, his grandmother didn't release him. Instead, she held him even tighter.

"Tōshirō is still so young. How can he survive without me? Don't worry, Tōshirō. Granny is still healthy. I can at least hold on until you grow up."

"Granny…"

"Waaah, waaaah…"

Tōshirō was only a few years old. No matter how understanding he might be, he knew that life without his grandmother would be terrifying.

Hearing her words, he felt even more guilty. He couldn't be so selfish.

However, no matter how much he tried to persuade her, his grandmother refused to let go.

"Madam, although I'm touched by your actions, Tōshirō's talent is remarkable. Based on his current rate of reiatsu growth, in five to ten years, his leaking reiatsu will freeze you solid.

Furthermore, as Tōshirō's reiatsu grows stronger, it will put immense pressure on your soul. In severe cases, it will directly lead to soul deterioration and death, preventing you from reincarnating."

Tōshirō's face turned pale. He already felt immense guilt for causing his grandmother to suffer from the cold for so many years. If she were to be further harmed because of him, Tōshirō wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

"Granny…"

"Tōshirō, don't listen to his nonsense. Granny is perfectly healthy. Don't worry, Granny won't leave you alone."

For Tōshirō's grandmother, her own well-being didn't matter. But she wouldn't rest until she had raised Tōshirō to the point where he could survive on his own.

Both Ailin and Tōshirō understood this. Therefore, Ailin didn't beat around the bush.

"Madam, as you can see, I am a Shinigami. Tōshirō possesses the talent to become a Shinigami, so I want to take him in as my son. This way, he can receive formal Shinigami training and become a powerful Shinigami in the future."

"This…"

The woman hesitated. Even she knew that Shinigami were powerful individuals of high status.

Tōshirō had the potential to become a Shinigami, and this kind sir had taken a liking to him. He could even become a Shinigami himself in the future.

He would be able to live in the beautiful and prosperous Seireitei.

It was a life a thousand times better than struggling to survive in poverty in Rukongai.

"Then, kind sir, I entrust Tōshirō to you."

After a final, tight embrace, she tried to push Tōshirō towards Ailin.

However, Tōshirō resisted.

"No! Granny, I'm Tōshirō Hitsugaya, your grandson! I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you."

Hearing that his grandmother wanted to give him away to the Shinigami, Tōshirō panicked and blurted out his refusal.

"Be good, Tōshirō. Go with this kind sir. A better life awaits you."

His grandmother stroked his head, her eyes filled with love and concern.

"I don't want to! I'm Granny's grandson. My name is Tōshirō Hitsugaya!"

"This…"

Faced with Tōshirō's stubborn refusal, even his grandmother was helpless.

"Sigh…"

Seeing Tōshirō's reaction, Ailin finally shook his head. His attempt to adopt a son had failed.

Since Tōshirō was unwilling, Ailin wouldn't force him. After all, in Soul Society, "family" represented far more than just a title.

"Alright, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, I'll address you as such for now. Is that alright?"

"Yes."

Tōshirō nodded. From the way Ailin addressed him, he understood that the Shinigami had abandoned the idea of adopting him.

"Sigh…"

"You silly child…"

If even Tōshirō could understand, how could his grandmother not?

She felt both relief and regret.

Relief because she hadn't been wrong to take Tōshirō in. He was a truly filial child, far better than the ungrateful brats she had fostered in the past.

Regret because Tōshirō had missed an easy opportunity to rise above his station.

Judging from this kind sir's attire and manner of speech, he might even be a noble.

"Tōshirō, since you're unwilling to become my son, have you considered becoming my disciple and training with me in Seireitei?"

Seeing Tōshirō about to refuse, Ailin waved his hand, cutting him off. "Tōshirō, don't rush to refuse. Listen to me first before you make a decision. Because you haven't learned to control your reiatsu, your entire body emanates a powerful chill, harming your granny.

If you train with me in Seireitei, you'll be able to perfectly control your reiatsu within three months. At that time, your reiatsu will no longer harm your granny. You can visit her whenever you miss her."

Ailin's last few words filled Tōshirō with joy.

He had thought he would never be able to see his grandmother again if he went to train with him.

"Alright, kind sir, I agree."

"Hahaha, Tōshirō, from now on, you should address me as 'Teacher'! My name is Ailin. You can call me Teacher or Teacher Ailin."

"Yes, Teacher Ailin!"

Although he hadn't successfully adopted Tōshirō as his son, Ailin was satisfied with gaining a new disciple.

However, remembering that he had just entrusted Byakuya with training Rukia, it wasn't suitable to send Tōshirō to him as well.

Ailin wasn't sure if Byakuya would be annoyed, but if Tōshirō's arrival caused the Byakuya-Rukia ship to sink, that would be disastrous.

He decided to personally train Tōshirō in the basics for now.

In a few years, when Tōshirō was a bit older, he would send him to the Shin'ō Academy!

...

In the front courtyard of the Kuchiki Manor, Byakuya Kuchiki frowned slightly. He had just felt a faint wave of malice directed towards him, but it quickly dissipated. He didn't need to think too hard to identify the culprit.

From the day he was born, only two people could evoke such a feeling in him. One was Yoruichi Shihōin, and the other was his Uncle Ailin.

Yoruichi Shihōin had fled to the Human World and wouldn't be in Seireitei to play tricks on him. The only possibility was that his Uncle Ailin was up to something again.

"I apologize, Captain Byakuya. I've disappointed you again."

Across from him, Rukia Kuchiki, who was undergoing swordsmanship training with him, saw his frown and assumed her performance had fallen short of his expectations. She bowed deeply in apology.

"No…"

Looking at the timid Rukia, Byakuya sighed softly.

To be honest, compared to ordinary people, Rukia's swordsmanship was decent.

However, Byakuya had endured Ailin's hellish training for three months, transforming his swordsmanship into pure instinct. He had become incredibly skilled. Rukia's swordsmanship, in his eyes, was like a child's play.

But sometimes, during their training sessions, Byakuya would imagine Rukia as Hisana, wondering how he would train his late wife if she had possessed reiatsu.

Unconsciously, his expectations for Rukia became a bit too high.

Of course, Byakuya knew that Rukia wasn't Hisana.

So after a brief moment of distraction, he would refocus, diligently instructing Rukia in swordsmanship.

"Indeed, your swordsmanship makes me doubt if you have been training diligently these past few days."

In the end, Byakuya still couldn't bring himself to offer any praise.