Crows x Souls

Chapter 266 – Conversing With The Clan Head

Tsunayashiro Akifusa was a genial looking man; cleanly groomed hair, dressed in in clean pressed, not gaudy, robes, a lack of a smile on his face that did not make his look stoic of harsh but instead make him look functionally social, and a healthy hint of mirth in his eyes. 

He was the image of a man that took his responsibility and status seriously, not because he wanted to, but because he had to. He looked like the type of man you would get along with in a social gathering instead of an official one. 

It might be biased but it was a look, Itachi found, better suited a Shiba than a Tsunayashiro… if only they cared to try. 

They were sat in a gazebo while a servant brought in fruit wine and poured it out for the three of them. 

Basic noble courtesy was observed as the three of them took a sip from their glasses in silence before Yoruichi broke it. 

“Not too bad, but I prefer my wine more alcoholic and less fruity.”

Tsunayashiro Akifusa nodded unperturbed as he set his glass down. “Ever as willful I see, Lady Yoruichi. You should have said so before the boy poured.”

Yoruichi snorted but said nothing after that as she stared impassively at the man who was salivating the taste of his wine with closed eyes. She couldn’t even call him a pretentious prick because this was genuinely him. 

The man finally opened his eyes and looked at Itachi with a hum before nodding with his eyes. 

“Captain Uchiha, this is the first time we’re meeting, is it not?” He leaned back into his chair. “To be honest, I never thought there would ever come a time that would warrant such a meeting. Alas, here we are.”

Itachi just nodded. He has dealt with the Tsunayashiro less than three times in his tenure and each of those times he only dealt with a representative instead of the Clan Head, which was fair. It was also the reason why the invitation surprised him and Yoruichi. It was expected, and even natural, if they had to deal with a Tsunayashiro representative during this mess but the unexpected involvement of the Clan Head complicated everything. 

“Your call was unexpected. I would think that this was an issue that wouldn’t warrant your involvement.”

The old Head leaned his head to rest his hands against his jaws. There was no amused inflection in his gesture or posture. He was completely and seriously focused as his official station warranted. 

“It wouldn’t, but then I heard that they managed to hurt one of our esteemed Captains. Remaining uninvolved after that will be negatively received on our part.” Public perception, the number one currency nobles dealt in. 

“The sentiment is appreciated but ultimately unneeded. We’re Captains, we’re not infallible. We get hurt every now and then, and besides, as you can see, it’s hardly a flesh wound.”

“Hmm. So you say. I have to say, the impression my people have of you is quite spot on.” His eyes drifted to Yoruichi who was leisurely reclined in her chair with one leg crossed over the other, and then went back to Itachi. “If I understand you as I think I do, I will say you’re not entirely pleased with my presence in this incident.”

“It would make it more complicated because then it will no longer be something as simple as a group of detractors.”

Tsunayashiro Akifusa nodded in understanding and stopped leaning on his hand and clasped them on his leg. “Quite fortunate then that your sentiments mean absolutely nothing to me.”

“Quite so.”

A shadow of a smile almost peeked through Yoruichi’s calm and unbothered façade. Both of them were being so blunt that she could almost see them completing the other’s sentences. 

“Lord Akifusa, why did you call us here?” She asked, putting a temporary pause to both men’s covert social subterfuge. 

“My subordinates will be directly involved in every level of this investigation. I will have a completely transparent report on every finding you make.” Less of a request and more of a demand. 

“No.” Itachi replied before Yoruichi had the chance to. “Defectors or not, the Tsunayashiro, without gross oversight, is being interrogated because of their involvement in the current case.”

“I have never heard of Lady Yoruichi being interrogated for her involvement with the Shihōin rebels.” He said with a casual fair as he poured another glass of wine for himself and then for them. “That’s ‘gross oversight’ by the very definition.”

Itachi did not miss a beat with his reply. “And that decision was mine to make. I decided that she was trustworthy enough to be part of the investigation. I decided that her loyalty was uncompromised because I’ve known her long enough to be certain.” He picked up his glass and took another sip. 

The Tsunayashiro Clan Head looked at him and asked impassively, falsely casual. “You doubt my clan’s loyalty, Captain Itachi Uchiha? You believe us untrustworthy? That is sinfully arrogant of you.”

The air was charged and even though they all looked friendly and casual, there was a warning edge that lined the edges of their seats. 

Itachi’s accusations were outright treasonous in nature that even Yoruichi raised one of her brows at him. That was an excuse that Tsunayashiro Akifusa could use to twist his hands. 

“Isshin Shiba, Yūshirō Shihōin, Byakuya Kuchiki – while I don’t doubt their integrity as the patriarchs of their Houses, that does not mean I’ll agree with the request you made if they were the ones to make it. It would be a gross oversight on my part.”

He never apologized for his words or made an excuse for how it was perceived. That was no fault of his. ‘Protocols would be observed’ was what he was trying to say. 

Despite all that, strongly rebuffing the Tsunayashiro Clan Head was not a wise choice. It would have been safer and generally preferable to offer a moderate level of transparency as it would make future cooperation easier going forward but Itachi was not like that, which Akifusa would expect since he admitted to being aware of Itachi’s character. 

The gazebo fell into a short silent nap as they all digested the words thrown around, the implications and the subtle workaround with which they were said. Akifusa hummed and nodded as if he was having his own private conversation with someone else. Yoruichi was silent and looked content, besides idly wondering when would be the best time to whip out the knives she hid on herself. Itachi for once looked visibly upset at his time that was intentionally being wasted.

“Don’t be in such a rush, Captain Uchiha.” The old man’s smile on his face didn’t placate Itachi nor did it fool Yoruichi. “We have a lot to discuss.” 

. 

…….. 

[Outskirts of Seireitei] 

Kenpachi Zaraki, a slothful or violent monster when he wanted to be, was once again fighting an opponent he had never been able to defeat, not for long anyway. 

Boredom. 

He had painted a macabre picturesque bloodbath through the Zaraki District and yonder back in his days as a wandering animal, killing off his boredom in the bloody dance that never seemed to last. 

He traveled from the depths of the Rukongai to the Seireitei because he heard that the strongest warriors were here, and while that was true, he found out all too late that it wasn’t like he thought it would be. 

With Yachiru prodding him, he had joined the Shinigami and quickly became a Captain after killing the last Kenpachi who, in his (nonexistent)humble opinion, was not all that impressive. But that was okay, he came here for the bloodshed. 

Except he couldn’t have his bloodshed. Captains were forbidden from fighting each other to the death. If he had known, he would have lazed around the edges of Seireitei and attacked any Captain that came outside, but it was too late to do that when the idea finally came to him, as well as Yachiru incessant pestering. 

In all honesty, it was not all so bad. But that sentiment was strictly for when Itachi joined. Oh, the quiet prick kept on pretending for the longest time, but he couldn’t hide that titillating bloodlust from Zaraki. 

His arrival almost made the Seireitei more interesting. He fought some impressive Hollows, he fought some weird Blunt guy, he fought some okay-ish Shinigami, and he also got to fight Itachi from time to time. He was yet to have a true death battle with someone but still, it wasn’t all that bad… Except it actually was because of how strong he’d gotten so fights he used to enjoy no longer felt enjoyable. 

And the boredom always came back. 

Unlike the deeper part of the Rukongai where he could expect some bloodshed every week, maybe even a massacre or two if he was lucky, there was hardly anything to do as a Shinigami Captain between long stretches of time. And it wasn’t as if Itachi was always free to alleviate his boredom. 

And so he just learned to laze through the boredom – which was 98% of his time – or he would mindlessly follow Yachiru around – like he was currently doing – and hope he walked into something to cut. 

He stopped because of a faint ruffling in the wind, which he had almost written off as him being half asleep, but that turned out not to be as someone came to a hard stop centimeters from crashing into him mid-Shunpo. 

“Hmm? Kenny, he looks like he’s in a hurry.” Yachiru, like he always expects her to do, pointed out the obvious. 

The guy's eyes were wide open and he looked as if he was hyperventilating. 

“Oi, why are you running? Is there a Hollow chasing you?” Zaraki asked but his frown quickly grew because of how unresponsive the Shinigami in front of was being. 

“Kenny, I think you are scaring him.” Yachiru poked at the frozen Shinigami who flinched harshly when he saw her in front of him. 

“Huh? The hell did I do to him?” 

Yachiru chuckled and tilted her head and tapped her chin repeatedly in childish contemplation. 

“Hmm. You don’t feel like a good guy Mr. Scared Guy. Who are you running from?”

Zaraki only raised a brow at the question, having otherwise lost any interest in the Shinigami. 

“Di–” 

“Hmm? What was he about to say just now?” Zaraki asked as he flicked his bloody sword and stared disinterestedly at the bifurcated torso. 

Yachiru shrugged helplessly. “How would I know? You killed him before he finished drawing his sword.”

Zaraki shrugged. The guy suddenly felt like he wanted a death battle and before he could tell himself to take it easy the poor schmuck was dead. Eh, it happens. 

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