Chapter 2: Going Home
(Thanks so much to everyone reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it. Thanks to ctofi1 (Je suis si contente que vous aimez l'histoire! J'apprécie Byakuya mpreg aussi! Je vais mettre à jour rapidement.), XxYoukai-KaitouxX (Oh, I think you will be really happy then! And I think that Orihime just gets annoying when she gets all emotional and acts a bit cliché. Rukia is more likable to me, but does tread on the annoying side at times...), TomyAllen (I think the quieter ones live more in their heads and suffer silently a lot!), phAnt0mgh0st7018 (I won't hesitate too much, jumping into the meat of the story. Although, at first, Ichigo will not realize why Byakuya is acting as he is.), Kimi (You've got it! A new update. :) Enjoy!), Clio1111 (Wish granted!), Kyuumihaira (Oh, and bloom they will!), NamineLily (Oh, anytime Byakuya starts crushing, it's a fun ride!), Shenigmatic (Yes, warm fuzzies for EVERYONE!), and Cody Zik (I love Ichigo a little clueless and kind of confused, and Byakuya watchful and protective.) Enjoy the chapter!)
"Ichigo!" Orihime cried, amidst the mingled sounds of reaction that issued from his other gathered friends as the shinigami substitute's eyes opened and tried to focus on them.
"Wh-where am I?" Ichigo asked weakly, his eyes blinking as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
"We brought you to Kuchiki Manor," Rukia informed him, "My brother's healers have been caring for you here."
Ichigo blinked several more times, then looked carefully at his friends and frowned in confusion.
"Eh, what happened to your injuries?" he asked.
"Hmmm," mused Chad.
"We all healed a long time ago," Uryuu explained.
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Ichigo asked, his youthful face still evincing intense confusion.
"You've been unconscious for ten days, Ichigo," Rukia answered.
"You've gotta be kidding..." Ichigo mused.
His frown deepened and he made another sound of discomfort and concern.
"My powers!" he exclaimed, "Are they gone?"
"Don't worry," Rukia said quickly, "They haven't faded away yet."
Ichigo's eyes lowered for a moment, then sought his friends' again.
"So, you already know," he said softly.
"Yes," Rukia went on, "Kisuke told us everything."
"I see," Ichigo said in an even softer tone, lowering his eyes again.
"Are you all right, Ichigo?" Orihime asked worriedly.
"It was very strange," Rukia said, "At the moment we all reunited, you collapsed, and we had no idea what happened. According to what Kisuke said, there are several stages you can expect to go through in the process of losing your reiatsu."
"What did he tell you?" Ichigo asked, his eyes widening.
"Everything," Rukia confirmed, "First, you lose consciousness, and the time that you spent in the precipice world immediately begins to flow in reverse. Did you notice your hair is shorter? Your height has returned to what it used to be. And your reiatsu is stable for now. And, of course, you still retain your shinigami powers. Eventually, however, it will move to the next stage. He said that the next time, you will black out for longer, and it will be accompanied by intense pain. When you regain consciousness, you will have lost all of your shinigami powers. It could happen next week, next month or a year from now. Even Kisuke does not know how long your current state of instability will last."
Ichigo remained silent and facing away from the others for several long moments. Then, his body relaxed visibly and he gave his gathered friends an enigmatic smile.
"Oh well," he said in a surprisingly nonchalant tone, "When that time comes, it comes."
"Ichigo," Orihime said, leaning towards him, "Are you...?"
"Don't worry, Orihime," he assured her, "I'm gonna be okay. More importantly, I'm glad all of you are okay."
"Wait a minute!" Orihime exclaimed in a dismayed voice.
"What the hell are you talking about?" yelled Uryuu, "How can you act like it's nothing? You're about to lose your reiatsu, you know!"
"Calm down, Uryuu," Chad said bracingly.
"I got into this, knowing all of the consequences," Ichigo said firmly, "I have no regrets about what I did."
His friends froze for a breathless moment, staring in surprise at him. Then, Rukia let out a soft sigh.
"Okay, then," she said softly.
"Hey," said Ichigo, starting to climb out of the bed, "Now that we're all healed up, there isn't any reason to hang around here, right?"
He walked to the door and opened it, then gazed quietly out into the tranquil gardens.
"We should head back to Karakura Town. Everyone there is probably waiting for us."
Byakuya watched silently from behind a partially opened door in the next room, his dark eyes clouded and troubled as they regarded the shinigami substitute. His heart aching oddly in his chest, he left the mansion, slipping out into the gardens and disappearing out the back gate. He tried to empty himself of harsh emotion as he walked in slow, measured steps to the splashing waterfall. He sat down under a sakura tree and gazed out over the blue lake and open meadow. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, feeling pain when he breathed as Rukia's words about what Urahara had told them repeated in his mind.
"Hey," said Ichigo's voice, startling him out of his reverie.
"Ichigo," Byakuya said softly, not daring to look at the young man.
"Your cousin, Tetsuya said that I might find you here."
"Why were you looking for me?" the noble said, still looking out ahead of them.
"Well, I wanted to thank you."
"Thanks are not necessary."
"Heh, and now I can go home, right?" Ichigo chuckled, "Man, some things never change, do they?"
Byakuya turned his eyes on the youth for a moment, but remained silent.
"But that's a good thing, you know?" Ichigo went on.
Byakuya gave him a surprised look.
"What?" Ichigo said, looking amused, "You think I'd want everyone feeling sorry for me?"
Byakuya closed his eyes, considering the words, then shaking his head gently.
"Not you."
"That's right," Ichigo assured him, "There's nothing to feel bad about. Aizen is in Muken. Everyone is safe and the things that were knocked down are being rebuilt. Everything's going back to the way it was, so it's okay, right?"
"No," Byakuya said, surprising himself with the objection.
He felt Ichigo's eyes gazing at him questioningly and he struggled to think of something to say.
"You are wrong. Not everything will be as it was."
"But I told you," said Ichigo, "That's okay. I knew what I was giving up...and I was willing to go ahead with it anyway. Taking care of the people I love meant more than keeping my powers. But you know, don't you? Because, from what I know of you, you would have done the same, Byakuya."
"Ichigo..."
"Let's just leave it at this, okay? I'm gonna go and meet my friends now, and we're gonna go home. But before I go, I just want to say...thank you for giving me a place to stay, and healers to watch over me. I really appreciate it."
"It was the least I could do, considering," Byakuya said quietly, "You have my gratitude, and that of the entire Kuchiki family. What you did for all of us was profound."
"What I did is what anybody would have done in the same situation," Ichigo said dismissively, "I can live with the consequences, and hey, you won't have to worry about me showing up and disturbing the peace here anymore, ne?"
"Ichigo..."
"It's okay, really," the younger man said, stopping him, "Look, I have to get going. I'll uh...well, I guess I won't see you around, but...goodbye, Byakuya."
Byakuya's heart ached painfully in his chest, but he forced out the words that he knew Ichigo wanted to hear.
"Goodbye, Kurosaki Ichigo."
Byakuya's eyes closed, and he listened silently as Ichigo's footsteps slowly faded into the distance. He opened his eyes and for a long time after, continued to hear the words the younger man had said to him, while recovering in the hot spring.
"What a beautiful dream. It'll be a shame to wake up. You're really...s-something...Kuchiki Byakuya!"
"Ichigo," he whispered, feeling a heavy weight settle on his heart as he sensed the opening of the family senkaimon, and the disappearance of Ichigo's reiatsu from the Seireitei.
He took slow breaths, trying to let the misery out silently, but only sinking deeper into that dark emotion. He felt a sense of relief at hearing Tetsuya's delicate step as his cousin approached, just in time to provide a much needed distraction.
"Byakuya-sama," Tetsuya said solemnly, "Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends have just left with Rukia-chan for the living world."
"Yes, I sensed it."
Tetsuya moved closer and sat down beside him, following his gaze out across the lake and meadow. He waited in silence for several minutes, then broke the awkward silence.
"May I ask you a question?" Tetsuya asked.
Byakuya turned one gray eye on his cousin, nodding for him to proceed.
"Byakuya-sama, I noticed that nearly every night Ichigo-san was here, you brought him to the hot spring and soothed him as he slept. I am sorry for seeming to intrude, but I am..."
"In charge of house security," Byakuya finished, "I am not displeased, Tetsuya, but what has that to do with...?"
"I wondered if something happened that had to do with your melancholy."
"There is plenty to be reflecting on," Byakuya answered cryptically, "We have just emerged from a time of war...a conflict in which our own military was neutralized and we were forced to rely on that human boy to be rescued from Aizen Sousuke's wicked plans. It does make one realize how we need to continue to grow as fighters. For, if one of our own could turn on us and cause so much damage..."
"But that is not all there is to it, ne?" Tetsuya asked, meeting his eyes quietly, "Your reiatsu has been highly reactive to him while he was here. I know that before you were rather adamant that he annoyed you. But this that I sensed was not annoyance. And I do not think you were in a hurry to say goodbye."
"The boy saved all of us and our king, Tetsuya. And there is nothing that we can do to repay him for that. In addition to this, we must watch as his power fades and he loses the ability to even see us anymore."
"Yes," Tetsuya said softly, "That is enough to leave one with a heavy heart. But...when you consider that we, as shinigamis have in our design the designation as guardians of all souls from that world, whether they can see us or not, it becomes clear what a divine duty that is...and how precious our task...guiding souls and keeping them from becoming lost. Even if he does lose his powers, he will come to Soul Society someday."
"Yes."
"And while he is a part of that world...we are certainly free...even obligated to look after this soul that saved us all."
Byakuya turned his head and met Tetsuya's sapphire eyes directly.
"What are you trying to tell me?" he asked solemnly, "That I should go there? And do what?"
Tetsuya smiled.
"Watch over him."
"Kurosaki Ichigo has numerous people watching over him."
"Yes, but none of those eyes look at him the way you do, Byakuya-sama."
"Tetsuya..."
"I beg your pardon, Cousin, that I should speak so boldly to you," Tetsuya said, bowing his head, "But...you once told me that love is a precious gift...and it should never be wasted."
"I am not in love with Kurosaki Ichigo."
But he felt the lie in the words, even as he said them, and his mind flashed back to the nights spent holding the shinigami substitute in his arms and infusing his recovering body with healing reiatsu. And each time Ichigo would stir and open his feverish eyes, he would look down into those deep, brown orbs and feel something that he had only felt in the presence of one other person.
"Of course," Tetsuya said, standing, "I apologize for being out of line, Byakuya-sama. I only meant to comfort you."
"I am fine," Byakuya assured him, "And I am not displeased with you. It was kind of you to attempt to lift my spirits."
"I shall simply have to try something else, ne?"
"Perhaps."
"Would you like to go for a ride? Arashi has been restless, being on home duty during the fighting. He could use a good run."
"That sounds like a fine idea," Byakuya replied, standing, "It would be a good distraction."
He waited as Tetsuya loosed a soft whistle, then Arashi hoofbeats sounded on the dirt trail behind them. The stallion trotted up to the two, then came to a stop and stood, stamping impatiently as the two men mounted.
"Where would you like to go?" Tetsuya asked, looking back at his cousin, over his shoulder.
"Open a senkaimon," Byakuya directed him, "Let us go to the living world."
Tetsuya smiled knowingly.
"Hai, Byakuya-sama."
XXXXXXXXXX
Ichigo waved goodbye to his friends, then watched them disappear down the road, before slipping out of his clothes and settling into his bed for the night. He laid on his back, looking out his window, up at the lovely, full moon and breathing in deeply.
There's great peace in knowing that Aizen is locked up and won't be able to hurt anyone anymore.
Yeah...
It was worth the sacrifice.
I'm scared about what it will be like to be powerless, but I'm not gonna get depressed about it. It's just what had to be done.
His mind drifted back to the serious faces of his friends as Rukia explained what Urahara had told them...Orihime's question...
"Are you all right, Ichigo?"
He wanted to believe that he really was. And certainly, he had no regrets about his sacrifice.
But still...
He sighed softly, breathing in the night air, and catching the light, sweet scent of sakura. It was a smell that he now associated with Byakuya, and he was pretty sure that he would continue to do so, even after he lost the ability to see the Kuchiki clan leader.
A sudden, dreamy vision passed across his eyes...Byakuya's blurred face...sad gray eyes that looked down into his...a feeling of deep warmth.
"Huh," he mused, "That's weird."
His own odd, echoing voice sounded in his mind.
"What a beautiful dream. It'll be a shame to wake up. You're really...s-something...Kuchiki Byakuya!"
"Hmmm," he mused, yawning sleepily, "Wonder what that's all about."
He started to drift off, his eyes closing and his mind relaxing, distancing itself from thoughts of the future...only struggling to hold on to the feeling of his reiatsu swirling softly in his veins, and his senses registering the presence of shinigamis and other people with powerful reiatsu in the area. He thought he felt a familiar presence and opened his eyes again. Outside the window, the full moon shone brightly on the horizon. And he couldn't be sure, as tired as his eyes and mind were, if he really saw the shape of a tall stallion, carrying on its back, two male riders.
"Tetsuya?" he whispered, recognizing his friend's silhouette.
Then, he looked more closely at the person behind him and was immediately reminded of the waking dream he'd just had.
"Byakuya?" he breathed, "What are you doing here?"
He thought about going out to speak to the Kuchiki leader, but then frowned and reconsidered.
What would we say? It's obvious why he's here. He feels obligated, even though it's not necessary.
That's not what I want...people pitying me.
People sad because of what I am losing.
People feeling obligated because I saved them.
No, that's not what I want at all.
But it was hard as sleep fell over him again, to deny what was in Byakuya's eyes in his dreams. They were in warm water again, and Byakuya's arms held him comfortingly, and the noble's eyes looked sadly down into his. And he wanted so much to take the sadness away, that he moved suddenly and surprised those solemn lips with a warm, hungry kiss.
What the hell? Ichigo thought, sitting up and blinking, Was I really thinking about kissing Byakuya? Huh...
He shook his head and forced the thought away, looking out at the moon again and this time not seeing the stallion or the two men.
But all night long, the dreams of kissing Byakuya continued to fill his mind and the sweet scent of sakura played lovingly over his senses.