Renew: A Tale of Two Souls

Warning: This story is a continuation of the fiction 'Rebirth: A Tale of Two Souls'. There will be references to the previous story and I recommend reading it before beginning to read this piece of the tale. Many characters that are villains in the main ongoing plot of the bleach manga are deceased in my fiction at this time. To include Aizen.

If you don't read the previous story there is a grand chance you'll believe a lot of the characters ooc but they've spent a lot of time getting to where they are and the changes in character have been justified previously. Thank you.

-Aura

Obligatory statement: I don't own either Inuyasha or Bleach but my original characters are mine and I'd prefer you ask before using any. Okay, thanks.

Chapter One: Picking Up (Mostly) Where We Left Off

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

-Steve Jobs [Commencement Address to Stanford students]

Kagome was grumbling as she walked along the pretty pathways of the Sereitai, the way always seemed longer sense she couldn't just jump her way between buildings like most of the soul reapers that inhabited it. She was in a traditional kimono that wouldn't have given her the ability to move in a way to jump even if she could make the tremendous leaps like the people she shared the soul society with during her summer break.

It was too dangerous for her to live in soul society full time so with the dangerous soul cleanser now gone from the tunnels between worlds she was able to travel more often between the two worlds. With the threat of Aizen vanquished there was a relative peace that had settled over the Sereitai that hadn't been known for some time during the long war. She was able to walk un escorted for the first time only in her most recent of visits. It was definitely nice to have a little more freedom but it was also frustrating when she had a tendency to get lost amidst the maze like paths.

"I really gotta get a map or something." She commented as she eyed the various ways distrustful of her own sense of direction. Rubbing the back of her head she frowned a little. "He'll be mad if I'm late for lessons again."

"Perhaps." The voice was one that she was growing more and more familiar with. She couldn't help but smile a little even as a touch of pink graced her cheeks. "Are you lost again?"

"I found you, so no." Kagome reasoned with a smile toward her still fiance'. The captain Byakuya Kuchiki of squadron six was (as usual) a pillar of noble aloofness even while he offered the priestess a semi-skeptical glance.

He wasn't as warm when they could be in an area where they were being watched, but she understood his need to be proper more than she did before. They'd finally had more time to speak and with the threat of Aizen gone. They had settled a more proper date for a celebration of marriage in the soul society which seemed to please the more traditional nobles. While neither was really certain if they really did wish to actually wed, the Prince of Soul Society had again swept the choice away from them.

Kagome minded less this time, as she did care about the cool mannered man eyeing her, it made her smile a little, until he spoke.

"I'll assign someone to escort you tomorrow." He commented, turning to head back toward his office, moving just a bit slower so she wouldn't have to fight to keep up with him. He had that 'no argument is going to work' tone of voice she absolutely hated.

"But I'm fine." She protested anyway, she didn't like always needing guards around. She was learning to use her bow more and she could finally control a light spell most of the time without destroying the nearby foliage. "I have to learn my way around. What if there was some sort of emergency and I needed to know where to go."

"Better reason to assign someone to show you where to go." He was able to justify his choices much better than Kagome liked. It was frustrating sometimes when she couldn't find a way out of his reasoning.

"I at least still get some time to just walk about by myself when I need it?" She did her best to compromise something that would make her feel a little better about how quick she'd lost her newly found freedom.

Byakuya hadn't really changed much, which was good and bad sometimes as far as Kagome was concerned. He could be very sweet but he was also super rigid when it came to business. It helped her keep her responsibilities well under control but sometimes she wanted him to relax just a little more.

"You are doing well on your historical studies and your archery training. Your melee training needs exceptional improvement. You need to be less aggressive to the lady tutoring you in etiquette. Finally, your spells are still abysmal when it comes to controlling them." He didn't pull punches whenever he decided to review how she'd been doing. It'd been a few months but couldn't he have come up with a better word than 'abysmal'?

"I finally controlled that light spell the other day." She commented. It seemed like a small thing but she was really glad, it was hard work for her.

"I want you to take up lessons as far as magic goes with another teacher." He commented with a shake of his head. "It isn't that you fail to progress but I hope that someone else can help you do so faster than I."

His face became a little softer once they'd entered his office, where they were away from prying eyes. She could tell by his expression that his LT. wasn't there or he'd still be all businessman.

"It's okay." She reassured, reaching out and taking one of his gloved hands. "I'll be okay. No blowing up in a grand show of power for Kagome."

She still was very doubtful that the information that most priests and priestess' explode and die in a show of their own power was very likely in her case. Maybe if she had been Kikiyo and really had power but she had only ever been good at cleansing the shards in the fuedal era and rarely managing to be useful with her arrows. Battle priestess just wasn't something that seemed very likely where she was concerned. The only way she'd win a one on one fight is by luck.

To date the only time she'd won a spar with melee weapons was because she tripped and fell and just happened to leave the practice sword in a place that would have been deadly otherwise. Hardly something that added up to immense implosions cause of too much power.

Still, she wasn't pitying herself over it. For once it seemed like her not being as strong as most priests was going to work to her advantage. She managed okay in a fight when she needed to help the people around her, and she was rather thankful for that. Sure, she would have liked to be more personally able, but she wasn't going to hold her breath waiting for that to happen.

Byakuya didn't seem convinced however, he was watching her like he wanted to take her back home right then and there. Her mundane life was something nice sometimes but she had come to enjoy it in the walls of the Sereitai and didn't want to go home from her summer vacation weeks early.

She remained unaware of her show of power months before when she destroyed the soul cleanser, whenever Byakuya had attempted to tell her she'd simply not held onto the information. Something that had left him more paranoid that usual in regards to the young girl that was his as far as he was concerned.

"It'll be fine." Kagome promised again, leaning up on her tip toes to kiss his cheek gently. "Who is it you want to teach me? Didn't you say you wanted Ukitake to before?"

She was remembering the various names of the many people here more easily than at first. Not that she'd spent a long amount of time with most of them but the captain of the thirteen division had always seemed very kind. The way she'd expect a sane grandfather would be.

"I did but his illness is worse than usual at the moment so he is unable to do much at the moment." Byakuya answered, squeezing her hand before releasing it and walking toward his desk. "I was actually told someone volunteered but I'm not sure who it is. You'll be escorted by Renji to the place of practice three times a week during the remainder of your current stay in soul society and future lessons will be worked out depending on how you progress."

She followed him toward his desk, looking out the windows behind it, it had one of the best views of the central area of the court and the city beyond that she'd seen. She supposed nobles got it good even as military members. "I like working with you. We don't get much time together as it is."

She sighed some as she realized the news meant she would see her betrothed even less than she already did. She'd mistakenly thought after their previous short engagement that they'd have a lot of time together this time. Traditionally though their lives would continue much as they'd been until after they were officially married this time.

"It may not work, but if it will help you then I have to admit that I may not be the best person to teach you in that area." She could tell it was something he hated to say. He never wanted to be anything but the best and it had to be hard for him to pass her training to someone else after he'd been assigned to it.

"I'll try it." Kagome agreed with a smile again, turning around and wrapping her arms around him from behind in a semi-hug. "But only if you'll try to get home a little earlier in the evenings. We've only had dinner together twice in the last week."

"I'll pass some extra work to Renji after tonight. We'll have the day tomorrow before your second lesson then. You may be busy until late tonight as it is. I do not know what they will wish to test and go over with you for a first day." Byakuya said, his lips curved a little at the affection the girl showed him without a hint of hesitation. It was difficult to comprehend just how short a time they'd really known one another for as much as he cared for her.

Duty was the only reason he wasn't dropping everything on the already far more worked than usual Abarai as it was. He wouldn't drop his duties to his family and his station but he would give more leeway than usual when it came to Kagome.

"I suppose I'll accept that." She finally said after she thought about it for a while. "You need to get a second lieutenant or something."

He pulled her around him so he could settle his arms around her easier. The sentiment not one he hadn't considered himself at the times she was visiting soul society. Though he never planned to keep her here long enough for it to be a issue for long. This was the longest visit he'd allowed her sense he learned of the fate of other priests in their history. He hadn't wanted to give her that long but with her school out for the summer months before she'd have her final semester he didn't have enough justification to make her stay at home.

He'd definitely have to make sure she was accepted into a college so that she wouldn't be spending long periods of time in the soul society. He already had people in his mortal mansion researching places to have her be. There were a few local colleges that were expensive but that didn't mean much to the noble when it came to protecting his future wife.

It wasn't until there was a knock at the door that Kagome moved away from the comfy position in front of Byakuya to the side of the desk. She knew he'd be irritated if anyone entered and saw them in such an inappropriate stance.

"Enter." He called once Kagome had quickly returned to the proper 'other' side of his desk.

The red haired Renji opened the door and bowed to Byakuya. "Captain Kuchiki, I'm here as requested to escort the Priestess to her lessons."

Byakuya nodded, his softer expression gone, replaced by indifference as he gestured at Kagome to follow Renji. She resisted the urge to giggle at how quickly he could go into 'business mode' as she'd taken to calling it. Moving instead to walk with Renji, who was also all business until they got a block or so away from Byakuya's office.

He was a little rough around the edges but Kagome had taken a liking to the lieutenant, though the fact that he helped her get more time with Byakuya definitely helped her opinion. They chatted a little, Kagome trying to see how his relationship with Rukia was going. The pair had a odd tension Kagome realized was similar to how Miroku and Sango had felt about each other. Of course though they were still just good friends whenever Rukia asked him about it.

"Well, I hope you have a time of it." Renji offered as they reached the front of a large manor similar to Byakuya's. "I'm suppose to wait here. Go inside. That was the order."

Kagome canted her head curiously. It wasn't too often an escort didn't deliver her in person, like they all expected her to run away if they didn't take her right to Byakuya...so it was a little strange to see herself dropped off at the door. She shrugged after a minute and headed into the building. Only to find herself escorted by another servant into the backyard, which was surprisingly empty for as grand as the mansion's front had been.

When she saw him she took a gasp of breath and balled her fists. Angry and impressed at the same time. Anger won out though, she walked right over the crowned prince Sestran Shizuke of Soul Society and punched him right in the nose.

End Chapter

Kagome makes me cackle. She's so much fun to write. I swear she must be bi-polar or something though the way her emotions jump around like a kangaroo between happy and pissed off. Hope folks enjoy this new installment of my tale, I'm just getting things started but I didn't want people to feel like I wasn't going to write the continuation. See see, I am!

-Aura

P.S. Reviews rock my socks.