Here's third chapter, for the few of you that actually read this. I'd like to thank all of you who have reviewed and/or favourited my story. It is greatly appreciated.

I do not own Bleach, Kubo-sensei does.

The next few weeks (or months, Byakuya couldn't tell) passed in a drunken haze. He became a frequent visitor of the rukongai, and only returned to the seiretei as much as was required to retain his status as a shinigami. (Though, in fact, his behaviour and attitude would have gotten him fired were it not for the protecting hand of the General Commander. Had Yamamoto known exactly what he was doing, he might not have been all that eager to help.) In the rukongai, he learned a number of things. He learned he had a surprisingly high alcohol tolerance- not that that was any comfort to him. He also learned just how hated shinigami were outside the seiretei, which was much less than he'd expected. Though he was forced to deal with various thugs and such on a regular basis, he was actually pitied rather than resented by the inhabitants of whatever district it was he liked to spend time in. He also learned that chasing away thugs from the local bars would earn him major discounts on the sake, which was practically the only thing he drank these days.
He was never sober anymore, only varying degrees of drunk. Because it was only when he was thoroughly smashed that he could completely repress the memories of his former life. And even then, he would see faces. The face of a bald and bearded man in a haori, the face of an obnoxious, rude, orange-haired shinigami, and the face of a girl with black hair and a sad look on her face. It was usually about then that he would pass out, or at least do his best to.

He learned not to pass out in alleys or gutters after a while. Once, he had woken with a killer hangover and a score of vicious thugs just waiting for him to come about, just so they could give him a beating. He had gotten away with a few broken ribs that time, but the only reason he got away was the release of his zanpakuto. The fact that he had been forced to use it against such scum had sent him into a spiral disgust and self-pity, which in turn led to more drinking. Yes, the last two months of this story certainly wasn't the best of times for the once-glorious former 6th captain. Meanwhile, the war raged on, mostly in the favour of the soul society, the number of arrancar slowly dwindling. But Byakuya wouldn't know. When Kenpachi beat four powerful arrancar to a bloody pulp, he was trying to deal with a hangover. When Renji and Ichigo took on two thousand adjuchas and emerged victorious, but bloodied, he was getting drunk at a cheap bar. When the soutaicho released his sword and annihilated an uncountable amount of hollows, which swarmed from one horizon to the other, Byakuya was busy beating up a petty crime lord. And no one knew where to find him. Byakuya was hiding, that much was sure.

It had been over a month of endless Ban kai, blood, and the clouds which followed for dramatic effect, but the tides had finally turned enough for Ichigo to get some time off. Though he'd much rather have a picnic with Rukia (who seemed incapable of keeping herself out of harms way- she had been sent back to the 4th division for emergency care only a few days after re-entering the battlefield, and only just now were fit to walk around again), her worries over her idiot brother kept them both from enjoying even such a simple pleasure. And since Ichigo had said he would look into the whole Byakuya matter, they were now walking lazily towards the Kuchiki manor. They had already asked the general commander, who happened to be back for the briefest of times to oversee the progress of the various divisions whose captains and lieutenants were busy with the war, but he had told Ichigo to shut up, mind his own business and remember who was paying him.
As they walked towards the entrance, the guards moved to stop Ichigo, but returned to their posts when they saw who he was with.

"Hey, how high up are you in the family?" Ichigo asked.
"What do you mean?" Rukia replied.
"I'm asking, how important are you? Are there any special archives or something we can access because of your status?"
"I'm not that important" Rukia said, but continued with a little pride: "of course, being nii-samas only sister gives me a certain status. But I hardly think we could access any data of importance. Besides, what good would that do?"
"Got any better ideas?"
"…fine."
Said and done, the two of them started to read a little about Kuchiki history. After reading various scrolls for a while, Ichigo looked up and turned to Rukia.
"This isn't working. I won't understand squat unless I have some structure to understand."
"OK, I'll explain." Rukia said. "The Kuchiki clan, as well as all noble houses have one absolute leader, as well as a second, which stands ready to assume leadership should the leader unexpectedly die. The only ones above the clan leader are the elder council."
"Who are they? How many?"
"We don't know for sure, but it's generally assumed to be the eight wisest Kuchiki. Only they have the power to demote really high-ranking nobles, though it's almost unheard of for them do de-throne a leader."
"So, who are they?"
"Well, it is nii-samas two uncles, and then a number of elderly Kuchiki from the various branches."
"Branches?"
"Naturally, a house as large as ours is composed of many families, most of which have a certain ceremonial duty assigned to them."
"But wouldn't that mean separation?"
"It is the leader's job to keep the house unified. If he is strong, any ambitious noble is cowered into submission. If not, we have us a weak, squabbling family."
"Do you think someone might have wanted Byakuyas position and used this against him?"
Rukia looked a little puzzled at this. "It's possible, but that would mean that several elders would have been conspiring against him. I find that hard to believe."
"Well, it says here"- at this, Ichigo pointed to the scroll he had been reading- "that when the last Kuchiki leader stepped down, there was a choice between Byakuya and his next cousin for clan head, and when your brother won, the father of the loser, one Kuchiki Kazuna, was not happy. Is he an elder?"
"…Yes." Rukia replied.
"That's something at least. Let's go find Byakuya."

That proved to be easier said than done, though. They easily concluded that he was not to be found in the seiretei, and one of the 6th division members told them that he usually could be found in the 68th rukongai district. But when they got there, they realized one thing: it was huge. And the dislike people held for shinigami as well as nobles didn't make searching easier. At long last, however, after five minutes of searching (or five hours, whichever seems more plausible) they got a lead from a sleazy barman at an equally sleazy bar. Apparently there was a shed that Byakuya usually slept at, and after some threats and the parting of a few coins, they were given a description of the way there.

Byakuya was in a sorry state when they found him. He had neglected shaving the last month, leaving him with half an inch of facial hair. His clothes smelled like vomit and cheap alcohol and his eyes had dark rings. In short, he looked more like your everyday drifter than a shinigami. In fact, the only thing reminding them that he was one was his sword, which still hung by his side. Ichigo wasn't sure what to do, but it obviously had to be him. Rukia was far too mortified at the sight of her brother to do anything. So, for the lack of a better thing, he walked over to Byakuya and kicked him. When nothing happened, he kicked a little harder. Finally, Byakuya stirred, getting to his feet.

"Geddof me. Leave me alone." He said.
"Get up, you useless drunk." Ichigo said. While he wasn't exactly mortified, he was still pissed that he would degrade himself so.
"Who're you callin' useless, punk?"
"Look at yourself, Byakuya. You used to be the finest example of a shinigami. Now, you're nothing but trash. Get your act together!"
"Watch your tongue, substitute." Byakuya hissed.
"Why don't you stop being such a selfish bastard, Byakuya? There are people who care about you!"
"Yeah? Like who?"
"Like her for an example." Ichigo pointed at Rukia. "Your sister. Your late wife's sister. Who you gave everything to protect. Are you just gonna make that meaningless by rotting away in the slums as a drunk? "
"Kuchiki Byakuya is dead." He replied in a dull tone.
"Yeah, that's probably right. The Byakuya I knew wouldn't roll over like a coward. You're not fit to call yourself a shinigami, or even a man. You're weak!"

Out of nowhere, Byakuyas fist connected with Ichigos cheek, followed by a knee to his nose. Ichigo was sent flying back.
"You self-righteous punk!" Byakuya was enraged. "What right do you have to preach to me? You have no right to speak of my wife, or my duties. What the hell do you know? I lost everything. EVERYTHING!"
Pulling out his sword, he uttered one word of command: "Chire". A thousand petals scattered and made their way towards Ichigo, where they nested around his neck, like a collar.
"Say it" he taunted "say Ban kai. I dare you."
Ichigo was still seeing stars from that first hit. Byakuya had a surprisingly hard fist. But that wasn't what was on his mind, the thousand blades around his neck were.

"Nii-sama, please stop." Rukia cut in.
"Nee- sama?" Byakuya turned towards her.
"Ichigo was very rude… but he is right. I hate to see you like this."
"He was right, huh?" Byakuya said, his voice trembling with rage.
"Yes."

Byakuya sealed and sheathed his zanpakuto, and turned and began to walk towards the seiretei. "I'll show him!" he said aloud. He'd show them all. He'd make the Kuchiki rue the day he was born, or better yet, the day each and every one of them were born.
That Kurosaki boy might be an obnoxious fool, but he had been right about this.

All right. New chapter when i have a few more reviews, please?