Yekawa used his tail to pull two objects out of the tree hollow. One was a pure black Soul Reaper uniform. The other was a sheathed katana whose blade was riddled with countless nicks.
This is a Soul Reaper uniform and an Asauchi
Yekawa held the tiny Zanpakuto in his palm and could clearly sense that the strange spiritual pressure he had detected earlier originated from this Asauchi.
Compared to Yekawa's enormous body, the Zanpakuto was no different from a toothpick.
He turned the nicked Asauchi over in his hand, idly playing with it, much like he used to toy with figurines in his previous life.
Then a sudden thought struck him.
Can I use this Zanpakuto
Yekawa cautiously channeled his spiritual pressure into the Asauchi. Threads of dark golden spiritual pressure slowly seeped from his palm and flowed into the blade.
The moment Yekawa's spiritual pressure made contact with the lingering power inside the blade, fragmented memories surged violently into his mind like scenes from a moving picture.
A tall and handsome purple haired man stood proudly in the Great Hollow Forest, gripping a pitch black long spear. He fought relentlessly against waves of Hollows.
The long spear swept horizontally with terrifying force. Every thrust claimed the life of a Gillian.
Ito Kai had once been a vagrant from District Seventy Seven of the West Rukongai. Public order there was abysmal and living conditions were even worse. As a homeless child, Ito Kai wandered the streets day after day, surviving by stealing whatever he could.
Those days stretched on endlessly. The boy grew into a young man.
With his robust physique and arms longer than those of ordinary adults, he became nearly unbeatable in street fights. Because of this, the thugs of District Seventy Seven gave him the nickname Long Armed Ape.
Everything changed one day when a group of Hollows of unknown origin invaded District Seventy Seven. Seireitei quickly dispatched Shinigami to exterminate them.
Kasumioji Yunchuan was the first Shinigami Ito Kai ever saw.
She was like a blazing sun.
With cold efficiency, she slaughtered the invading Hollows and rescued Ito Kai from the jaws of death.
When Ito Kai saw her composed expression and graceful figure, he somehow found the courage to step forward and tease her.
The outcome was predictable.
Kasumioji Yunchuan immediately bound his limbs with Bakudo Number One, freezing him in place.
The accompanying Shinigami were prepared to execute Ito Kai for offending a noble. Only Kasumioji Yunchuan stopped them.
My name is Kasumioji Yunchuan. I am the Thirteenth Seat of the Eleventh Division. I only like strong people. If you truly like me, then grow stronger. If one day you can defeat me then…
Those words were carved deep into Ito Kai's memory.
In his understanding, only a Shinigami could defeat a Shinigami.
The once carefree vagrant enrolled in the Spiritual Arts Academy. Against all expectations, he passed on his first attempt, graduated smoothly several years later, and deliberately chose to join the Eleventh Division where Kasumioji Yunchuan served.
Over the following decades, the nameless commoner rose from obscurity. Ito Kai advanced step by step until he became the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division.
His strength eventually surpassed Kasumioji Yunchuan's.
Fighting side by side, the two gradually fell in love. The Kasumioji Family observed Ito Kai's growth and finally agreed to their marriage on one condition. Ito Kai had to become a Vice Captain.
Everything seemed to be moving toward a perfect future.
Then Kasumioji Yunchuan vanished.
Without farewell or explanation, she joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force tasked with suppressing Menos Grande.
As a member of the Kasumioji Family, even a branch noble, she should never have been assigned to a near suicide mission.
Suspicious and desperate, Ito Kai repeatedly demanded answers from the Kasumioji Family. Each time, he was dismissed with vague responses.
As a common born Shinigami, he had no leverage against a noble family.
In the end, Ito Kai relinquished his seat officer position and joined the next Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force himself, hoping to find his fiancée.
Their unit encountered severe spatial turbulence upon departure. Instead of arriving at the expected location, they were transported directly into the Great Hollow Forest.
Almost immediately, they were surrounded by Hollows.
The rest of the team was annihilated. Only Ito Kai survived, carving a bloody escape with sheer strength.
For years afterward, Ito Kai wandered the Great Hollow Forest, hunting Hollows while searching desperately for Kasumioji Yunchuan.
He never found her.
He did, however, kill countless Hollows.
Eventually, his presence attracted the attention of two Adjuchas. Leading armies of Gillians, they laid siege to him.
Ito Kai proved himself worthy of the Eleventh Division.
His strength had already reached Vice Captain level.
Facing hundreds of Gillians, he fought his way through. In the end, grievously wounded and on the brink of death, he perished together with the two Adjuchas.
The final scene flashed through Yekawa's mind.
Fight to the death Kamikaze Maru
With a quiet chant, the Asauchi in Ito Kai's hand transformed into a jet black long spear. Violent winds coiled around it as it charged into the Hollow horde, unstoppable.
The lingering spiritual pressure within the Asauchi finally dissipated.
Alas Brother Kai was truly a man. It is just a pity his thinking was flawed.
From the fragments of memory alone, Yekawa could tell that Kasumioji Yunchuan's disappearance was closely tied to the Kasumioji Family. Why else would Ito Kai have rushed into Hueco Mundo so recklessly.
Of course, Yekawa also possessed the advantage of hindsight.
In the original history, the Kasumioji Family had been responsible for numerous dark affairs.
As a mere seat officer, Ito Kai could do nothing against them. But what if he had become a Vice Captain. And if that were not enough, what about becoming a Captain.
Ito Kai's life was short even by Shinigami standards.
In other words, he had the potential to become a Captain. That was precisely why the Kasumioji Family had initially tolerated the engagement.
If Ito Kai had mastered Bankai and worn a Captain's haori, would he have been brushed aside so easily.
A Captain level existence would not be dismissed lightly. Even the Four Great Noble Families would tread carefully.
Brother Kai Brother Kai why were you so impatient. If it were me, I would have endured quietly until I stood at the peak. Then all problems would solve themselves.
Though their paths were different, Yekawa could not help but feel regret for Ito Kai.
In the end, he let out a long sigh.