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Chapter 30: If You Gaze Long Into The Abyss
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It was then, as he turned a corner, that he felt it; a presence so dark and suffocating that it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Akashi stopped in his tracks, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his Zanpakutō.
From the shadowed path ahead emerged a small group of Shinigami. At their center was a man who exuded an air of authority so palpable it seemed to warp the space around him.
He was slender, with unkempt, dark green hair that fell around his face, save for a tightly tied braid along the left side of his head.
His green eyes glinted with an unsettling light, and his loose-fitting black Shihakushō swayed as he walked. Over it, he wore a pristine white haori, the mark of nobility.
Akashi recognized him instantly. Tokinada Tsunayashiro; a name tied to the worst of soul society, the most evil of them all.
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. Akashi felt the full weight of Tokinada's gaze, a crushing wave of malice that assaulted his senses.
And yet, the man's expression was calm, almost pleasant, as he approached with measured steps.
Akashi, however, wouldn't be deceived by the man's casual appearance for Kurayami allows him to feel the darkness with people better than all.
It's especially obvious when Tokinada's malicious darkness is clearly directed at him.
"Ah, you must be Akashi," Tokinada said, his voice smooth and honeyed. "I've heard much about you."
Akashi's grip on his Zanpakutō loosened, knowing the futility of guarding against him now, "That... That's surprising. Didn't think I would be nearly special enough for my name to reach your ears."
Tokinada chuckled softly. "Oh, I make it a point to be aware of promising individuals. And you... well, you've made quite the impression lately."
Despite Tokinada's polite tone, Akashi couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped, like prey cornered by a predator.
The air around them seemed to grow colder, and heavier, as Tokinada's dark apathy consciously or unconsciously radiated out.
Tokinada took a step closer, his smile widening. "Tell me, Akashi, have you ever considered the possibilities that lie beyond the life of an ordinary Shinigami?"
Akashi's eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin, finding himself strangely calmer than he thought he would be in such a pressing situation. "I guess I have but I realize that I lack the talent for something greater."
"But you have the drive, and I believe in you, so I'm offering you the opportunity," Tokinada smiled and said, his tone dripping with false sincerity.
"Join the Tsunayashiro family. With your determination, and my support. I'm certain you would rise to great heights." Tokinada almost seemed passionate and sincere.
Hell, he might've seemed sincere to most. Not to Akashi, however, not with Tokinada's shadow forming an abomination of a monster behind him, filled with maliciousness and eyeing him like prey.
There was something deeply unsettling about the way Tokinada spoke; an undercurrent of menace that belied his cordial words.
"Why? Why would you support someone like me?" Akashi asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Tokinada's smile didn't falter. "Why, nothing more than the satisfaction of nurturing talent. I simply hate to see potential go to waste."
Akashi's mind raced. The darkness emanating from Tokinada was stifling, a palpable force that seemed to coil around him like a serpent. And yet, he couldn't show weakness.
He knew that accepting the offer would likely spell a fate worse than death for it was clear by now that Tokinada for some reason wanted him alive.
"I appreciate the offer," Akashi said carefully, "but I'm afraid I must decline. Captain Aizen was much too kind to me to turn my back on him."
"Oh," Tokinada raised a brow, his smile widening, "That's no issue. I'm certain Captain Aizen won't mind you joining me."
"Again, I'm afraid I must decline," Akashi insisted, "I want to follow Captain Aizen."
For a moment, Tokinada's expression remained unchanged. Then, slowly, his smile faded, replaced by a faint look of disappointment.
"That's a shame," He said, his voice as cold as ice. "But I suppose not everyone is ready to seize the opportunities before them."
The two locked eyes, the tension between them so thick it was almost tangible.
Finally, Tokinada stepped back, his smile returning as if nothing had happened.
"Perhaps another time, then," He said smoothly. "Farewell, Akashi. I'll be very closely watching your progress with great interest."
With that, he turned and prepared to walk away, only to stop after just a few steps, "Akashi..."
Tokinada turned his head ever so slightly, gazing at Akashi from the corner of his eyes, "Are you sure you want to reject me?" He said, his void as unfeeling as the coldest of winters.
"..." Akashi had only taken a couple of steps forward, the cold voice making his steps come to a halt as he turned around, staring back at Tokinada in silence.
"No?" Tokinada pressed further, having taken off his mask of politeness.
"..." Akashi stayed silent, his expression becoming more unreadable by the second as the intense staredown continued, "It's been a pleasure, finally meeting you."
"That's a no, then... Truly unfortunate," Tokinada shook his head in disappointment, finally walking away, his entourage following close behind.
Akashi stood frozen for a moment, his heart beating faster than usual as he watched the man walk away.
The encounter had left him dazed, his mind racing with questions and doubts.
Most important of all, he was glad for it was truly a pleasure to finally meet the man behind the scenes.
As early as when he was ambushed, Akashi suspected many, even Aizen, but he had no determined answer til today, Tokinada Tsunayashiro.
As he continued on his way home, he couldn't help but feel that he had just solved a question only to stumble upon many more.
Why had Tokinada targeted him? They had never met before today. Is Aizen somehow involved?
Akashi can not help but suspect Aizen, and to be fair, the latter is very easy to suspect if you know who he is.
It was all too confusing. Why was he targeted? Akashi doesn't feel like learning Shikai quickly is enough of a reason.
Several have done it before him and more will afterwards yet they weren't targeted.
When it comes to personality, Gin exhibits a lot darker traits than him. In fact, Akashi felt like he hadn't shown much of himself to anyone but Aizen and Gin.
Many names emerged in his mind, but in the end, Akashi could do nothing but walk back home, to the fifth division barracks.
'Just why? I only want to improve. I just want some security. My goal now... It's just to have some control, to at least turn off the light in my head and have some silence.'
Akashi took a deep breath as he entered his room, closing the door behind him, 'Aghh, the voices are getting worse and worse, and now... This? Why?'
Indeed, the voices have never left Akashi's mind. By the nature of how Kurayami works, the voices must reach his ears.
In fact, Akashi's stories only made it worse. He could hear the darkness of people and the nightmares they experienced.
Akashi can sense their darkest of thoughts as they read his books. If only a single whisper, he would be able to bear it, but it was an abomination of thousands of whispers, the number only climbing up.
Akashi truly believes Kurayami's potential to be infinite for it is special in more ways than one, the simplest of which is the abnormal lack of a Zanpakuto spirit.
Then there is the obvious drawback, the voices and having to carry on through darkness in every waking moment.
Hell, to even awaken his Shikai, Akashi had to bear through so much darkness and torture that it nearly drove him back to sanity, if that is even possible.
Only someone like him could preserve throughout such darkness, but that's why Kurayami is his Zanpakuto, a reflection of his own self.
It's because Kurayami is so strong that such a heavy drawback had to occur as merely a side effect of its power, the power of, "Let there be darkness, born from the darkest of dreams... Kurayami."
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