[Ukitake holds him, not urging him to speak or stop crying or anything. But after a few moments, Ukitake spoke up, looking out over the city.]
I had a lieutenant, once, up until a few years ago, a friend, Shiba Kaien. I also have a subordinate who looked up to him, who looked up to his wife. But one day a monster invaded Soul Society and Kaien's wife was killed. He asked me for permission to go after the monster and I granted it, letting him go out alone because of my beliefs on fighting for pride.
...His body was taken over by the monster and he landed on my subordinate's sword. She was horrified.
[He shakes his head, trying to keep the memory of that night from overwhelming him too much.]
Even now, after three, four years, I think of that and how I could have saved him, though it would have shamed him. But I watched a friend die and I didn't do a single thing. It haunts me, even if he would have said I was justified. His blood is not only on my subordinate's hands, but on my own, and that is a fact I must accept and live with.
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I had a lieutenant, once, up until a few years ago, a friend, Shiba Kaien. I also have a subordinate who looked up to him, who looked up to his wife. But one day a monster invaded Soul Society and Kaien's wife was killed. He asked me for permission to go after the monster and I granted it, letting him go out alone because of my beliefs on fighting for pride.
...His body was taken over by the monster and he landed on my subordinate's sword. She was horrified.
[He shakes his head, trying to keep the memory of that night from overwhelming him too much.]
Even now, after three, four years, I think of that and how I could have saved him, though it would have shamed him. But I watched a friend die and I didn't do a single thing. It haunts me, even if he would have said I was justified. His blood is not only on my subordinate's hands, but on my own, and that is a fact I must accept and live with.