Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World/Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World III

Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World III is the third edition of a three volume series of Bleach novels by Ryohgo Narita that centers on Shūhei Hisagi.

Opening
Hikone Ubuginu recalls the first moment they came into existence, waking up and having no memories at all, not of a childhood nor of a past life. Yet despite that, Hikone was created by fusing thousands of soul pieces together. Fragments of Hollows, Humans, and Shinigami; even Quincy that lived thousands of years ago and fragments of the Soul King. However, due to this unnatural and paradoxical existence, Hikone's body could not keep itself together, not until Tokinada Tsunayashiro collected a "piece" of the Soul King strong enough to force the others together. It was this specific piece that gave Hikone their first memory, in the form of a dream; a dream of being imprisoned.

While Hikone was an individual with their own feelings and desires, the countless and varying Souls that composed Hikone did as well causing an unmatched chaos within Hikone's psyche. Some pieces were misanthropes, while yet others were philanthropes, and one specific one yearned for bloodshed and detested all the others. However, thanks to Tokinada's guidance, Hikone was able to maintain dominance of their own existence due to a desire to become a beloved King for Tokinada. Likewise, Tokinada taught Hikone the necessity of bloodshed, which could satisfy their more violent components.

Chapter 1
Hundreds of years before the Wandenreich war, Tokinada's wife, Kakyou, recently discovered his true nature. Yet despite this knowledge, she remains kind and compassionate and tries to empathize with him. Frustrated, Tokinada recalls how he was forced into marriage by his family. Extremely darwinistic, the Tsunayashiro family was adamant on remaining the leader and strongest of the Noble Houses and dedicated itself to culling the weak from their lineage.

Driven by his own urges, Tokinada settled on marriage with a lowly Shinigami originating from the Rukongai, planning on giving her great happiness only to brutally tear it away later on. Yet as Tokinada revealed his true intentions on the evening of their wedding ceremony, Kakyou did not fall into despair, but remained happy for herself and her best friend, Kaname Tōsen. Unable to comprehend her kindness and empathy, Tokinada only grew more frustrated with her.

As Kakyou was a very promising and talented graduate from the Shin'ō Academy, even catching the attention of Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, Tokinada grew to resent her even more, yet was unable to get rid of her as his family was happy at such a successful "experiment". Yet one night a random Shinigami who befriended Kakyou confronted Tokinada about his treatment of his wife. As Tokinada unveiled the full truth to the Shinigami, the latter became enraged and attacked the noble.

As the two fought, with Tokinada having the advantage, Kakyou discovered them and attempted to stop the fight. Taking advantage of the distraction, Tokinada slaughtered the Shinigami before turning his attention to Kakyou. As Kakyou releases her Zanpakutō, Suzumushi, Tokinada relishes the fact that he was finally able to break her happiness and proceeds to kill her as well.

With her final words, Kakyou apologizes for not being able to "sweep away the clouds" of Tokinada's unhappiness. Upon hearing her empathic words full of pity, Tokinada trembled with fury, utterly unable to comprehend her kindness. Eventually calming down, Tokanada says that he had hoped to show her the true ugliness of the world, and in the way he opened up to her, he did love her to some degree.

Afterwards, Tokinada returned to the heads of his family, where he lied about the circumstances of Kakyou's death. As Tokinada told them, he could not stand being married to a commoner and when caught Kakyou commiting adultry with another Shinigami, he had killed them in self-defense. While the Tsunayashiro elders branded Tokinada as incompetent, they tried to cover up the event as they also had their secrets. Indeed, were it not for the interference of another noble, Shunsui Kyōraku, who brought the events to light, Tokinada's life might have been very different.

In the present, Shunsui and his allies arrive at the fake Soul King Palace in the Valley of Screams. As Shunsui admires Tokinada's ability to construct the replica in secret, Yoruichi Shihōin wonders how he managed to achieve such a feat, especially since the mechanism that keeps the real Palace afloat is highly confidential. As Shunsui senses Tokinada's Reiatsu inside, he prepares to enter, though he orders Kenpachi Zaraki to stay behind for now. While Kenpachi is reluctant, he understands Shunsui's reasoning and begrudgingly accepts his duties as a Captain.

Interrupting them, Yoruichi brings up her and Byakuya Kuchiki's meeting with Tokinada earlier. As Yoruichi mentions, she would have killed Tokinada then and there for insulting Hisana Kuchiki if Byakuya hadn't held her back. Yoruichi does realize, however, that while Byakuya appeared calm, he barely managed to restrain himself and prevent a civil war from happening. Hearing this, Shunsui is grateful he had send Byakuya and Tōshirō Hitsugaya away to investigate the Human World earlier.

Entering the Palace, Shunsui is quickly confronted by Tokinada. As the two banter about their mutual history, Shunsui draws Katen Kyōkotsu and asks Tokinada about his plans, specifically the purpose of the replica palace. In response, Tokinada mocks Shunsui about the latter's rebellious actions, and that the Captain-Commander is turning against the very history of Soul Society itself. As Tokinada explains, the Tsunayashiro Family is the cornerstone of Soul Society's history, and turning against him is the equivalent of treason.

Shunsui tries to refute him, saying that Tokinda is claiming sovereignty over not just Soul Society, but also the Human World and Hueco Mundo. In response, Tokinada claims that such a ruler would deserve respect, for allowing the inhabitants of Hueco Mundo to experience daylight for the first time. Tokinada then mentions Wandenreich war, as hardly anyone is even aware of Ichigo Kurosaki's efforts to stop the three worlds from collapsing, and proceeds to ask if the Substitute Shinigami does not deserve his recognition.

Upon hearing this, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck interrupts them and says that Ichigo does not care about such fame anyway. Tokinada refutes her, denying it is fair nonetheless, just as how Hollows and Arrancar like her are living a cursed existence. However, Nelliel ignores him, and states that Tokinada should not use Ichigo to justify his own selfishness. Hearing this, a curious Liltotto Lamperd asks Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez if Nelliel is Ichigo's partner. Surprised, Grimmjow denies this and states that Ichigo already has a human partner, Orihime Inoue, someone far more compatible with him than an Arrancar.

Ignoring them, Tokinada continues his argument, saying that he greatly admires Ichigo's efforts of saving Soul Society from Yhwach. Shunsui interrupts him and says that he knows what Tokinada truly wants: a world where all order and common sense is destroyed. Tokinada replies that in the Human World, both religion and science will be uprooted if the truth of their world is revealed, and that the humans need to see the world for what it is; evil. Shunsui silently acknowledges the untold chaos that will erupt in the Human world if the truth of their existence and afterlives would come out, and tells Tokinada to stop with his pretense. Tokinada does not want justice, nor does he want to reform the world; he just wants to watch everything break down into chaos, destruction, and anarchy which he believes to be the true nature of everything.

Hearing this, everyone present sans Nanao and Yoruichi are in disbelief that Tokinada ambitions stretch so far for such a meaningless goal. As Tokinada congratulates Shunsui for understanding him better than his own family, Tier Harribel interrupts him and asks him if he really wants to break down all of existence just for his own pleasure. Amused, Tokinada addresses the "Queen of Hueco Mundo" and confronts her with the existence all Hollows have, an unyielding drive to quench their desires, whether it is destruction, companionship, or beauty, in an attempt to fill the void in their hearts. Harribel refutes this, saying that as much as this world requires sacrifices, there is no need to enjoy them. But Tokinada counters by saying that to him, necessities and pleasure are one and the same.

As everyone present is stunned with the realization just how insane Tokinada is, Kensei Muguruma and breaks the silence by declaring his intention to fight. As if in response, Grimmjow, Kenpachi, and Candice Catnipp prepare to attack as well. Tokinada, however, is disappointed that nobody seems to understand his reasoning, and abandons all pretenses of trying to explain himself. Shunsui gives Tokinada a chance to turn himself in to be tried, but Tokinada asks him what exactly he will be accused of. In response, Shunsui reveals his knowledge of Hikone's illegal creation, among which is the grave crime of granting Shinigami powers to a being of human essence.

While Tokinada counters that the Gotei 13 did the same thing to Ichigo after Sōsuke Aizen's defeat, Shunsui says that it was a special circumstance that Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto gave express permission for. However, shortly afterwards the passage of time causes Tokinada's shadow to move beneath Shunsui, who immediately uses Kageoni to attack him.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Valley of Screams, Shinji Hirako stands atop the Nadeshiko flower platform generated by his Bankai. As Shinji thanks Sakanade for its hard work, he does complain about how his Zanpakutō forced him to surround himself by his enemies. Looking at the mountains of Hollow corpses around him, all killed by each other, Shinji notes that Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari does not recognize the difference between friends and foes. In fact, the Bankai extends that illusion towards everyone, causing enemies to become allies and allies to become enemies. However, this does make the Bankai nigh-useless in one-on-one fights.

While Shinji is disappointed that Tokinada and Hikone were not present, as he could have made them attack each other, he prepares to leave. He does, however, chastise Sakanade for being a very uncooperative Zanpakutō, as the Shikai is useful against stronger opponents while the Bankai is only useful against weaker ones.

Somewhere else in the Valley of Screams, Aura Michibane is fighting Kūgo Ginjō, Shūkurō Tsukishima, and Giriko Kutsuzawa, when she notices the army of Hollows created by Ikomikidomoe have all been killed. As Aura effortlessly turns intangible to avoid the others' attacks, Ginjō tries to probe her for information. While Yukio Hans Vorarlberna confirms that he helped Aura isolate Karakura Town, Ginjō wants to know Aura's end goal. In response, Aura asks Ginjō if he still desires to get revenge on the Shinigami. While Ginjō assumes Yukio told her about his past, Yukio reveals that it was the opposite, Aura came to him with information. It is then that Aura reveals to Ginjō that her father was the Fullbringer Tenshiyo Agata. As Ginjō recognizes the name, he realizes that Aura is a second generation Fullbringer, and Aura sincerely thanks Ginjō for giving her father hope.

While Ginjō disagrees, as he blames himself for the deaths of the Fullbringers, he asks Aura why she works alongside a Shinigami like Tokinada. Aura replies that Tokinada wants the Fullbringers on his side to create a new world, a world where they can be "predators" again. Before they can continue, however, Tsukishima has taken advantage of the situation to use Book of the End on Yukio, and Tsukishima declares that it can allow him to discover and undo any brainwashing done on his former comrade. However, as Aura continues to smile, Tsukishima suddenly turns on Ginjō and Giriko, apologizing as he "bookmarks" them as well.

Characters
Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World III features a number of existing characters, as well as original characters created for this series of novels. They include: