A/N I don't own Bleach, nor do I make any profit from it
Well, here's the sequel to 'Just a Governess'. It's set about seven years after the end of the last story. So enjoy!
Chapter 1 – My New Life
You could say my life has scrubbed up pretty well in the past seven years. I now have three children. Our eldest is seven years old and her name is Reina. Our middle child is six years old and his name is Takuma; our youngest child is two years old and his name is Hari. We also have another one on the way and I am about three months pregnant. We're hoping that it will be a girl so that Reina has a little sister.
Our three children were three separate characters. Reina was like her father, even at the tender age of seven but she did have fun when coerced into it. She had set herself goals. She wanted to be like her father and wanted to be a soul reaper captain, just like him. She was also Byakuya's heiress, something we'd agreed on. Looks wise, she was like me. She had long white hair and metallic blue eyes, a mixture of grey and blue. Her skin was like porcelain and had doll like features.
Takuma was the total opposite. He had his father's black hair but my sapphire eyes. He was handsome, just like his father. He was always playing and frolicking with his friends in the garden. These friends had to be vetted and they had to be nobles of course, but he did enjoy their company. Hari was just like his brother in personality and in looks. He was only two years and he was a cheeky little soul, quite the handful as I'm sure that you can imagine…just like his father.
I loved playing with my children. They were the light in my life, the one think I was allowed. Reina was a daddy's girl though. It was foreseeable that she was going to be a powerful soul reaper like her father. Meanwhile the two boys were mummy's boys. They followed me about everywhere. I knew that would change once they were older though. All children stick to their mothers at that age…well all except Reina.
However, Reina did come to me for advice and she was fashion conscious even at the age of seven. She would also come to me when she cried and when she wanted motherly comfort.
One fine morning in April, I sat in the garden with Hari on my knee. We were sitting at the garden table with a cherry blossom tree for shade. Byakuya was sitting across from me. I had yet again gone on pregnancy leave because of this new pregnancy. This was our fourth child. I was now a favourite with a few of the Kuchiki elders because I was so fertile.
"Byakuya, do you have a long shift today," I asked him. He looked up at me, "I'm lonely here without you."
"You have the children to keep you company," He said.
"Oh, sure I do," I said sarcastically, "Reina's out training all day. She's turning into a little version of you, I swear it…Takuma cannot sit still for one second and Hari has a vocabulary that is very limited in both our tongues because of his age. I mean it when I say that I am lonely without you."
"I cannot just drop my duties, Sara, you know that. Why don't you train with Reina? You're a lieutenant aren't you? Just some light training will do you good and it will keep you on your toes," Byakuya replied. He held out his hand and mine in his, "I'll be back by 5 o'clock this evening," he said.
"Can we just have it so that it's just you and me? I'll have the children fed and watered and to bed before you come in…then the night is ours…" I bit my lip in a mock innocent kind of way. Byakuya could read me like a book.
"All right," he said, leaning back in his chair, "I'm in need of some…wifely attention…" I smiled at him and gave him a seductive glance before turning to my son.
"Eh, Hari, are you cute," I asked in English. He nodded his head as he ate a biscuit.
"Yeah," he said cutely, "I know so."
"He knows it already," I said triumphantly. Byakuya smiled softly.
"Anyway, I had better get going," Byakuya said, standing up. He walked over to be me and kissed me on the lips tenderly before kissing Hari on the top of the head, "I love you, Sara, and I'll see you tonight."
I nodded, "See you tonight."
"Bye, daddy," Hari waved. Byakuya waved back and as he was about to walk back inside the mansion, Reina and Takuma apprehended him.
"Father," Reina cried, "Are you going to Squad 6 today?"
"I am, Reina," he said, bending down to kiss her forehead, "I'll see you later," he kissed Takuma's forehead as well.
"Do you have any horrible hollows to kill today," Reina asked with a glint in her eyes.
"Probably not," Byakuya replied, "I have a lot of paper work to do."
"Paperwork must be boring…" Takuma said softly. Reina gave him a haughty look and it made me giggle.
"You wouldn't understand, Takuma, you're not serious enough," Reina replied. Takuma looked like he was about to cry.
"Now, now, Reina," I said, standing up with Hari in my arms, "Don't be mean to your brother."
Reina nodded, "Sorry, Mother," she said repentantly. I smiled.
"Reina, how would you like to train with me today? It would be beneficial to the both of us if we did," I said. Reina smiled one of her beautiful smiles.
"I'd love that, Mother, I will be glad of the experience. You're a soul reaper lieutenant after all," Reina said proudly. I gently ran a hand through my daughter's hair as I patted her head.
"Anyway, I will have to go now," Byakuya kissed me again before walking away. I smiled down at my children.
"Have you both done the work I set you from your lessons," I asked my two eldest children. They both nodded.
"Yes, Mother," they both said in perfect unison.
"All right, go on and play," I turned to Reina, "I'll just get changed and put Hari in his nursery before training. Reina nodded and skipped away with her brother in tow. I turned to Hari, "Come on, Hari, let's go to your nursery for a little nap, you didn't sleep much did you? You kept mummy and daddy up all night."
He nodded, rubbed his eyes with a yawn and buried his head in the crook of my neck, "I'm tired, mummy."
"I know, little one, let's get you to bed for a nap," I said softly before walking through to his nursery. I laid him in his bed and pulled the covers over him. Hari snuggled down into the covers and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately. I kissed his forehead before walking to the bedroom Byakuya and I share. I made my way over to the wardrobe and pulled out my shihakusho.
Pulling it on, I grabbed a wooden sword and my real zanpakuto from the cupboard and made my way outside. It was quite warm out and it was idea for training. Tying my sleeves back so that my arms were bare, I made my way outside.
Reina was already training. I was proud of my daughter, but I wished that she didn't push herself too hard. She was only eight and yet she was swinging her wooden sword about with ease and finesse. I think that she had been watching her father while he trained.
"Reina," I said to attract her attention, "You're doing well."
She turned and ran over to me, hugging me around the waist, "Hello, Mother," she said. I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist, giving me a bear hug. I kissed her forehead.
"It's been a long time since you've given me such a hug," I said, "I love you, Reina, you're my special little girl."
"Why did you call me Reina," She asked. I smiled at her.
"It's Spanish for 'Queen' and you are my little queen," I said lovingly, "And you certainly act like one too."
"Well, I am the heiress of the Kuchiki family," she replied in a haughty way, flicking her ringleted white hair away from her shoulder. I knew my child was growing up way before her time. It just felt like I was losing my daughter to the adult she was hoping to become.
"That you are, honey, that you are," I said quietly. I gently stroked her cheek, "I love you, Reina, you'll make a man very happy one day."
Suddenly, a servant came running towards me, "Lady Kuchiki, you must come quickly," she cried.
"What's the matter," I asked. She panted before giving me an answer.
"A man is at the door, claiming to be Lord Kuchiki's older brother," she said in a panicky voice, "What should I do?"
I frowned. Byakuya had never mentioned having any siblings, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Lady Kuchiki, he even looks like Lord Kuchiki," She said. I thought for a moment before nodding.
"Reina, stay here and continue your training. I will be back later," I said untying my sleeves and letting them fall back to their original positions. I placed my zanpakuto in my obi sash and my lieutenant's arm band on my arm, "Take me to him."
"Yes, Ma'am," she said as she turned around and led me back into the house. She led me to the main reception room and I saw him through a crack in the door, "There he is," she whispered. I nodded and slowly slid the door open. He turned his head and I was shocked. He did look like him…a lot…they could be mistaken for twins.
"Er, hello…I am Lady Sara Kuchiki, wife of Lord Byakuya Kuchiki," I introduced, "I am the Lieutenant of Squad 13 and matriarch of this household. May I ask you who you are, Sir?"
He looked me up and down, drinking in my appearance with the same colour eyes as my husband, "I am Soichiro Kuchiki, elder brother of Byakuya Kuchiki."
"You're a Kuchiki…may I ask…why you're here, Sir? Lord Kuchiki has never mentioned you…do you know why," I asked shakily. He chuckled sardonically.
"He doesn't know I exist that's why…I was sent away as a newborn child because I was ill and weak. I was brought up without knowing my true heritage," he said coldly, "To answer you first question, I am here to…let him know of my presence. Where is my darling brother by the way?"
"Lord Kuchiki is currently at his barracks…he's the Captain of Squad 6," I said proudly but then I folded my arms, "I'm not sure I believe you when you say that you're his brother. What proof do you have?"
"Ah, you're a clever one, Lady Kuchiki," he said, "You're not one to take things as face value…very shrewd of you."
"I've always been one to analyse, Sir," I replied, "Do you have any proof?"
I wasn't sure my false confidence was working as I was actually quivering under hakama. His eyes were the same, but were different at the same time. They seemed to hold an unspoken emotion in them and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. All I knew that it sent shivers down my spine.
He wasn't a soul reaper, but he had a katana in his obi sash. He wore a blue hakama with a white kimono shirt. His hair was cut in the style that Sojun Kuchiki, Byakuya's father, had it. It was shorter and his bangs were shorter too. His spiritual pressure wasn't bad but not as great as Byakuya's.
Soichiro reached into his pocket and pulled out a seal, a Kuchiki seal, "Where did you get that seal?"
"It was given to me when I was old enough to understand. I've just been waiting for the right time to…come out of hiding," he said. He held out the seal for me to take. I tentatively took it.
"If I may, Sir, I would like to test this for its legality," I said, "This still isn't proof of who you are. My husband will be very interested to hear what you have to say. I'll also have to check with the family genealogist. Are you planning on staying long?"
He scoffed slightly, "Well, no, I won't be staying, Lady Kuchiki, I just dropped by. You never know, I might…drip by again when my darling brother is here. Happy analyzing."
Suddenly, Reina appeared in the doorway, "Mother, who is that man? He looks like father!"
I scowled at her, "I thought that I had told you to stay outside," I said, "Well, since you're here, this man claims to be your uncle, Reina."
"I have an uncle," Reina asked in a surprised tone, "I didn't know that?"
"No, neither did I," I said in a suspicious tone. Soichiro smirked.
"Well, I had better get going," he said nonchalantly, "See you…" he walked straight past Reina, ignoring her curious stares. I looked down at the seal he'd given me. I frown and wondered how Byakuya would take this. It probably wouldn't be a good reaction.
A/N Hey, I'm back with my sequel! I hope you enjoyed it.
