River of the Night Sky

I'm going back to Bleach fandom! Episode 197 is just full of Byakuya's charisma, that I couldn't help but start to re-fangirl him again.

In my quest to find out everything about Byakuya, I found Yozora no Kawa or River of The Night Sky, a Byakuya character song from Bleach Beat Collection Season 4 - Byakuya and Rukia. I find the tune haunting and sad, yet calm and stoic, resigned to fate much like the Captain of the Sixth himself. Byakuya's seiyuu sang the song, and although he wouldn't win any singing awards any time soon, his deep melancholic voice fits it perfectly. The translation is also poignant, but is rather ambiguous on whether he is singing to Rukia or Hisana. Here, have a listen.

Here are the lyrics and translation:

Kanashimi no iro o oshiete iru you na
Shizuka na yozora ni
As though teaching me the colour of sadness
In the peaceful night sky

Kizukanu to shitara
Kizukasete hoshii
Shirubeki subete o
If you don't understand
I want to make you understand
Everything that you ought to know

Tooku ni mieru nuguenu namida
Mamorikirenai kotoba ga hibiku
From far away I can see your unwiped tears
The words that I can't hold on to are ringing out

Sekai ga owaru nara
Sono toki ni wa wakaru darou ka
Kotae o shiranu mama hitotsu mune o tojita
If the world should end
Surely in that moment you'd understand
That without knowing the answer, my solitary heart closed

Kanashimi no oto ga kikoenai you na
Sewashii sekai ga
The hectic world goes on
as though the sound of sadness can't be heard

Mukiau koto o toozakeru nara
Sukoshi kobameru odayaka na hibi
If meeting face to face is still a distant thought
Then I'll reject just a little this peaceful daily life

Subete o tsuranuite
Tsuyoku arou kokoro midasazu
Saigo no negai sae kanaerarenu yoru ni
Penetrating through everything
A heart with strong resolve won't be swayed
Even on a night when a last wish can't be granted

Yozora ni azukete wa
Tojita mama no kokoro no kawa wa
Dare ni mo shirarezuni shizuka ni kagayaite
Relying on the night sky
The river of my closed heart
Silently shimmered without anyone knowing

Sekai ga owaru nara
Sono toki ni wa ieru darou ka
Afureru omoide o nazoru you ni tsugeyou
Hitomi ga kasanatte hitotsu mune ni saita
If the world should end
In that moment, surely, I'd be able to say it
Like tracing the overflowing memories, I'll tell you that
Reflected in your eyes was the bloom of a solitary heart

I guess I just have a soft spot for all these stoic, powerful characters. LOLZ.