Chapter 52 In the Cemetery
They refer to the elders who died in the war and who once showed me kindness.
"Do you really want to see it?"
"Hmm." I took a sip of the now-cold tea and curled my lips. "You can't even lose their monuments, right?"
Captain Kyoraku looked into my eyes for a long time, sighed softly, and nodded, agreeing with what I said.
When I came out of the captain's office, only Miss Ise was still standing at the door.
The intellectual beauty watched me look around and explained, "Captain Hitsugaya said that Squad 10 just had an urgent announcement."
Oh, I see. You're going back to work, right?
"If you go to the 10th Division now, he should be in the office."
"I'm so sorry, Nanao-chan. Homura is going with me to meet some old friends." Captain Kyoraku flirted with his vice-captain. "Hitsugaya-kun will have to wait a little longer."
Even through my glasses, I could see Miss Ise rolling her eyes at her captain. "In that case, Captain, please leave as soon as possible. You're not going to escape your duties by using this as an excuse."
"Wow—so strict, Homura-chan. Do you think Nanao-chan has become rigid?"
"Really?" Even if I've become rigid, it's mainly because of you, Captain Kyoraku. "I think it's fine this way, Miss Ise."
“Eh—”
Captain Ukitake's monument is built on a small hill.
From what I recall, his health wasn't great, but he was a very gentle person. Sometimes, Captain Kyoraku and I would get scolded together, and afterward, we'd find him sitting quietly by the door, waiting for us.
He is also the captain of Longyue, and someone she admires very much.
"Captain Ukitake once told me privately that his illness was incurable." Standing before the stone tablet, I gently stroked the immaculately clean surface, the inscriptions left traces on the rock. "He said this life was a gift from God."
At the time I didn't understand and thought he was joking. Now it seems that it was not a joke.
In order to protect the world, he eventually handed over the power of God that could prolong his life.
"Captain Kyoraku."
"Um?"
I didn't look at him, but walked to the edge of the pavilion and looked at the tombstones in the cemetery.
"Kagutsuchi, what exactly is it?"
Everyone has a Zanpakuto, "Ryujin Jakka, Hanaten Kyōkotsu, Pseudokoi, Hyorinmaru... Everyone's Zanpakuto has a different name." Because they are built based on the soul of the god of death himself.
"Then why is my sword called Kagutsuchi?"
The name of a god that existed only in legends, who killed his mother and was killed by his father.
"I, what on earth am I——"
"You're a smart kid." A hat, the kind Captain Kyoraku usually wears, was gently placed on his head. "You've always been like this. Sensitive, understanding of the ways of the world, and a little world-weary. You mature more precociously than most children I've met."
His voice was soft, like a sigh, yet a little heavy.
"To me, you are just Homura, a little girl from Rukongai who was chosen by the old man on the mountain and has little talent for swordsmanship."
"I suppose it's the same for everyone else, isn't it?"
Oops, I feel like crying again.
"Huh? Who's there?"
I was startled by a strange male voice. I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and took off my hat.
"It's Kyoraku, how come you have time to come here today?"
The person who came was a black-haired man wearing a captain's haori. He looked very young, and was accompanied by a black-haired girl wearing an adjutant's armband.
When the people came closer, I realized that I had seen the two people in front of me before.
"Hey, are you guys here today too? What a coincidence, Captain Shiba and Vice Captain Kuchiki."
The young man with spiky black hair and a rebellious look was called Shiba Kaien, formerly the vice-captain of the 13th Division. Captain Ukitake held him in high regard, his chosen successor. His lieutenant was Rukia Kuchiki, Captain Kuchiki's adopted sister, a man I had once met and who had a close relationship with Oborozuki in the 13th Division.
Both of them were reinforcements who witnessed the tragedy that year.
The two men walked to the pavilion and finally saw me, who was blocked by Captain Kyoraku behind them. They looked at me curiously. "Is this a new member?" Captain Shiba's brows suddenly furrowed. "No, that's not right. I think I've seen you somewhere before."
Handing the bamboo hat back to Captain Kyoraku, he looked down at me and smiled faintly, "As expected of Shiba-kun, she's definitely not a newbie. Right, Homura?"
"Homura...?" The young man's eyes widened. "Wait, wait, Kyoraku, could it be that Hitsugaya really—"
Miss Kuchiki behind him also had a look of disbelief on her face: "Yes, Yamamoto, Yamamoto Homura? A friend of Mizusawa."
I lowered my eyes, said nothing, and just bowed to them both.
"Shh, Shiba-kun, this is still a secret. Please keep it a secret for now." He patted my shoulder. "By the way, her last name is Jiu Jing now."
"Are you really Yamamoto Homura? The Chief Officer of the 10th Division?"
I took a deep breath and looked up: "Yes."
To my surprise, he didn't show any surprise or worry. Instead, Captain Shiba frowned, his expression somewhat sad, yet also somewhat relieved.
"I see. It's strange to say this, but...that's great."
A gentle breeze blew, and for a moment, I missed Captain Ukitake very, very much.
"Alright, I won't bother you guys reminiscing about the past." Captain Kyoraku shrugged. "I still have to take the little girl to see the old man and the others, so I'll be leaving now."
After thinking for a few seconds, I made up my mind the moment I stepped out of the pavilion and looked at Miss Kuchiki: "Well, thank you for remembering Longyue."
After saying that, without waiting for their response, I followed Captain Kyoraku's footsteps and walked down the hill. Finally, when I turned back, I could see two people standing by the pavilion in the distance, still looking back in our direction.
"Back then, the lead scout was supposedly Miss Miyabi, Captain Shiba's wife, and the third officer of Division 13." In the empty cemetery, Captain Kyoraku calmly recounted some of the events of that time, which I hadn't known. "I heard Miss Miyabi had an old injury and needed to go to Division 4 for regular checkups, so your friend volunteered to take on the reconnaissance mission."
At that time, Longyue had just been promoted to the eighth seat.
"If you hadn't violated team orders and rushed to the scene to provide support, and eliminated the possessed Mizusawa in the shortest possible time, Squad 13 might have suffered even greater losses."
"I think Shiba-kun has been regretting this all along, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't be on such a good terms with Hitsugaya-kun now. Of course, all this is just my speculation."
It's just a guess, but this person wouldn't be talking nonsense to me if he wasn't sure.
But, it turns out that Captain Shiba and Toshiro have a good relationship?
"arrive."
The voice reminded me that I had followed him all the way to the other side of the cemetery. The solemn black stone tablet before me bore the name of Captain Yamamoto.
Like Captain Ukitake's tombstone, this place was also cleaned very cleanly.
"The captain's body was not found at the time. I'm afraid it was destroyed by the enemy. We only found the remains of his Zanpakutō."
In other words, it's just a cenotaph.
Although I knew the old man himself might not mind, but when I heard the words "no body was found", my heart still ached.
"In fact, I didn't respect the captain very much before."
"I know. You're the only one who can call him a dead old man in front of us. You're the only one I've seen in such a long time."
His words made me laugh, and my fearless and reckless self suddenly flashed back to me. Even I felt my ears getting a little hot.
At the beginning, I was actually very dissatisfied with the old man.
He was very strong, rigid and ruthless. He was ruthless when training people and even more merciless when scolding people. He even forbade me to meet with my former family and friends.
But it was he who taught me how to control my Zanpakutō, it was he who told me not to lose my true self, and it was he who allowed Captain Kyoraku, Captain Ukitake and even Captain Unohana to get in touch with me.
...Damn it.
"You don't seem to be curious about what happened when Master Shan first learned of your death?"
"What could possibly happen to him?" His voice sounded a little hoarse. "He must have said 'I know' calmly and then just went about his business the next day."
Captain Kyoraku laughed and said, "You really understand Master Shan."
Of course. After all, he's the captain.
"While sorting through his belongings for the cenotaph, I stumbled upon something in the old man's room." The man stood beside me, his eyes fixed on the black stone tablet. "I remember when you joined the 10th Squad and received your position as a lieutenant, didn't you discuss with us and use your salary to buy a gift for Mr. San?"
Is it about that time when I accidentally saw the old man using a cane with Ryujin Jakka to massage his back, secretly told Captain Ukitake about it, and then spent money to buy him an old man's cane for massaging his back and tickling him?
I was afraid of getting beaten, so I went to the front of the squadron's dormitory and secretly stuffed the things into a box and put it in his study. I also asked them to cover for me.
"I thought he had thrown it away, because after you died, I didn't see the old man using it to rub his back anymore."
As he spoke, Captain Kyoraku even started laughing.
"But no, he kept it in a box in a drawer in his study."
“…He’s so weird.”
"Why do you say that?"
"I bought this thing to use. If I just leave it there, it's useless, right?" I gritted my teeth and uttered my words word by word. "It's not a valuable item. If it breaks or doesn't work well, I can just throw it away and get a new one."
However, the man just replied lightly: "Yeah, who knows?"
I sniffed and closed my eyes, avoiding looking at the stone tablet. "Also, since I came back this time, I've noticed that everyone's outfits are much more fancy. You can even use chat apps and watch TV. I heard from Miss Rangiku that you can now drive motorcycles in Seireitei, right? That's great."
If the captain doesn't change, the old man with the Japanese style clothing will definitely be the first to disagree. Not to mention driving a motorcycle in Seireitei and all those modern gadgets.
"Hahaha, thanks for the compliment. This job is really hard." The man who took over the position of captain smiled helplessly and placed his big hand on my head. "But, it's not okay to cry so hard when you say 'this is a good thing,' Homura."
I know, but I just can't help it.
Just let me cry like this for a while, it will be fine after a while.
Just think of it as saying goodbye to him.
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The author has something to say: Captain-General, what impressed me most was actually the scene where he was cut in half by Yhwach at the end, and his last words.
"I might not be able to come back."
No matter how many times I watch it, I still feel sad for some reason.
The sword demon who once formed a corps of assassins in the name of the Gotei finally sacrificed himself on the battlefield for his soldiers and subordinates.
The leader who was once revered as the son of God and liberated his subordinates from suffering, now marches forward on the corpses of his companions in pursuit of revenge.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-04-08 18:31:42 and 2022-04-09 23:43:49~
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 15 bottles in late summer;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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