TBTP: Arrogance and Closure

''This story is a bonus chapter in a Turn Back the Pendulum arc, the series of stories written by my greatly-respected Wikia colleague, Ten Tails. So, he should be credited with the inspiration for me wanting to write this little bonus chapter. It will consist of both this user's characters, as well as Ten's characters. Comments are welcome and encouraged.''

It was near mid-afternoon in Karakura Town, and the sun's summer rays shone brightly against the various housing and business structures of the town. One place where the sun shone less, however, was a small house on the outskirts of the town. It was moderate in appearance, and not large enough to house a family. It could be inferred that a person living on their own would be in such a dwelling.

A man with short brown hair walked down the dirt road, and neared the small house. He knocked on the front door, seeming rather old via the chipping grey paint. The door opened slightly, and the disheveled eyes of a silver-haired man appeared. The brown-haired man had a soft smile on his face, and lifted a small basket in his hand. "I brought over some sweets. I know how much you love sake-flavored cakes. Want 'em?" he stated, having a light grin on his face.

The silver-haired man drew a soft smile, and let the brown-haired man inside. The brown-haired man, named Raian, looked around to see a room completely filled with scatterings of papers, books, and several research materials. If this was the room of some ten-year-old child, the mother would have been driven crazy if she had to clean up. The silver-haired man, known as Seireitou, put his hands in his pockets, and rose his head with a light smirk. "I never knew studying forbidden material was so much fun..." he stated in a rather dazed and bored tone. Raian stepped over to his friend, and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"I may not know as much as you do about this stuff... but I'm not stupid enough to overlook it when one is studying a taboo!" Raian stated, as Seireitou turned his head away, losing the smile he had before. "I haven't done anything, Raian..." he answered softly. Raian lightened the grip on his shirt, but kept his eyes narrowed.

"No, but you were going to." Raian followed, letting go of Seireitou's collar.

Seireitou looked upwards once more, and sighed lightly. "You know. I could've done something then too. I could've saved Shiori... just as I should've saved Kamui before that war broke out. And I could've saved them too... The Seijin Masters who died..." he spoke.

"It was a war. They were warriors, you have no right to feel sorry for them, when they died honorably to fight for what they believed." Raian stated. "Besides... I thought you were over that. Shiori's death, I mean..."

"I thought so too... but then..." he looked around, at all the notes and textbooks he had scattered around the floor and desks respectfully. "With this information, I thought... I thought back to what I could've done... Done differently..." he continued.

"What did you think?" Raian began. "That with some all-nighters of studying, you could find some way to cheat death? Bring back everybody you loved who died? Create some perfect world?!" Raian stated. Seireitou chuckled a bit with his eyes narrowed. "I dunno... maybe..." he answered, with Raian stepping closer, punching the silver-haired man right in his face. Seireitou slid backwards from the punch, but only answered with his head lifting up.

"Do you think that your some... some know-it-all?!" Raian stated, angerly. But then, his temper lowered immediately. "Or are you just looking for a way to end it all? Because there are a lot of easier methods." he stated.

Seireitou lowered his head. "I could've done it, Raian. My blade was right to my neck... I would've done it, then and there... but I was too cowardly to go through with it. I'm just a pathetic coward, in the end, no matter how strong I am..." he slowly confessed.

Raian merely faced his friend, and then sighed. "Come on... don't be that melodramatic, Sei. I know that isn't who you are." he stated.

Seireitou looked toward Raian, and had his eyes narrowed. "But even so... Even if I am a coward, I'll make sure there's some benefit that comes out of it." he stated. "I have a plan, Raian."

With a curious look on Raian's face, he then stated. "Let's hear it, Sei..."

Aftermath of the War
Raian had then slowly opened his eyes, figuring out that he had fallen asleep on his desk. But, his head was still lowered down on the desk, thinking of the dream he had just had.