Chapter 4
The Ceremony
The ceremony took some time to prepare. By the time they are all ready, it had been one week later. There is so many things to prepare, and so many offerings to be offered to the Phoenix. The Phoenix is most vital to the survivals of all the Shinigami. It provides long life to everyone without counting who or who should have more life and a longer life span. It is just and kind, and does so quietly while it is in its host.
But the Phoenix bird does not simply choose a host. If it is forced into a host it doesn't choose for itself, then it will destroy the host within one year. If the host, however, took care of the Phoenix bird well and be kind to it, then the Phoenix bird shall form a bond with the host and forever be embedded deep within the host's soul. Then, when the host passed on to another life in the Real World, the phoenix bird shall be relinquished and it will then be passed on to the host's nearest kin.
The ceremony is to be held in the large lake in the Miyagusuku compound. For once, the compound is open to all, and everyone came in with bewildered expression at the vast wealth that the Miyagusuku owns. It is so much bigger than the Kuchiki compound. Of course, none can beat the classic and beauty of the Kuchiki compound, but the Miyagusuku and the land they owns is practically monstrously huge and rich. Everyone praises the beauty of the Miyagusuku compound, and everyone is happy that they could see such beautiful place for the very first time.
The ceremony then begins in a quiet, musical tone played by the music players by the side of the lake. Kaguya was fetched by a few ladies in a wooden platform, and she sits there on top of the platform in all her glory of the most beautiful dancing garbs. She stood there in front of the lake, a forlorn look on her face, luxuriously dressed in white and gold, and in her hair is a simple golden chrysanthemum with trailing gold on it.
Quietly and slowly, Kaguya whispered, "Kyouya Nii-sama…"
It was meant to be a whisper that only the barrier surrounding the Phoenix could hear, but those around her and the captains standing nearby heard it and all of them came to a shock, excluding Byakuya and Captain Yamamoto.
"Im-Impossible!" said Soifon in disbelief.
"Considering that we're from Soul Society, anything can be possible," said Kyouraku in a humorous tone.
There is a barrier surrounding the Phoenix, and none could see who and what surrounds the phoenix other than Kaguya herself. She had said that it is her brother, Kyouya. Kaguya had two brothers. One of them had been sacrificed to be the barrier surrounding the Phoenix. And once the barrier is dissolved and the phoenix is safely embedded inside the host's soul, the barrier would dissolve and becomes a person again, whole and complete.
"I shall salvage your soul…" Kaguya said to him, and bows to the barrier. The barrier dissolves, and disappears, allowing Kaguya entrance to the phoenix statue.
The fire bird, upon hearing what Kaguya had said, turned its large white head towards her. Then, the porcelain bird dissolves, becoming a fiery bird and it flapped its wide golden wings in front of her. For a while, the fire bird's eyes changed from deep brown to dark cherry-red, and, recognizing who Kaguya is, flew to her. Landing in front of her, it bends its large head to her and stoked her face with its beak.
Smiling sadly, Kaguya stroked the fire bird's head, "Kyouya Nii-sama is with us again…"
Sing for me, my dear sister… Kyouya whispers, and she recognize it as her twin brother's voice, in which his voice echoed in her ears. Her brother had become one with the Phoenix after so long, but she knew, she could save him, and let him be a whole person and soul again once more. Others merely heard a gentle squawk sounded before Kaguya replied to it, "Gladly."
"Lacrimosa dies illa..."
"A lullaby?" said Isane in a curious tone.
"Qua resurget ex favilla…"
Byakuya knew this song by heart. It was the very first song that Kaguya made when she was young. Back in the old days, when Byakuya was still young, he always heard this song in the forest near both his and her mansion, where she often sneaks there to play with the animals with her brothers. Her brothers love her dearly, and had promised to each other to watch and protect their only sister from harm. They would do anything, as in anything, to ensure her safety again and again.
"Judicandus homo reus…"
"-This song!-" Ukitake eyes widened upon hearing the soft lullaby notes, recalling how he often heard this song near the forest back in the Shinigami Academy.
"Huic ergo parce, Deus,"
"Beautiful…" said Kyouraku.
"Pie Jesu Domine.."
Right after she finishes singing, Ukitake arrived along with Kiyone and Sentarou.
"I've finally seen you after 95 years of waiting, and now you will no longer stay with me…"
Walking on the surface of water, Kaguya slowly reaches towards the center of the vast lake, eyes closed and face angled towards the sky.
One hand stretched out as if to reach the sky, she started the dance slowly, following the music as her long sleeves flows softly in the wind and in every single motion of her hands.
Beginning to glow in bright red light, Kaguya turned back towards the crowd, both of her arms are outstretched beside her, looking up at the sky with her eyes closed, not a single expression on her face.
With a loud squawk, the phoenix flies towards Kaguya in a speed and rammed itself into her open body. When the phoenix rammed itself into her body, blood poured out of Kaguya and rained the surrounding area with her blood. Kaguya receives the negative and raging riatsu of the Phoenix, gravely injured from the result. She sank into the waters, and slowly, she disappears beneath the water.
It was like waking up from a waking nightmare. All of the shinigami who is there at the time appeared deeply shocked by what had happened to them. Flashes of memories returned to them and everyone stumbled slightly with the returning suppressed memories. Every memory was of Kaguya, and every one of them featured a different kind of Kaguya.
The Kaguya they have forgotten; The Kaguya that everyone loved dearly; The Kaguya that everyone knows as the beloved bride of Kuchiki Byakuya. Everyone remembered her, and everyone watches as she falls right out of the sky and into the water, phoenix and blood and all followed her through the mirrored surface.
Byakuya, who had watched the ceremony, is shocked beyond belief that she would be injured till this state. There is so much blood, and the water slowly turns to red by her blood. For all he knew, she might be dying, and he needed to save her.
She is his fiancée, for God's sake!
Byakuya leaped from where he stood along with the other Captains and landed where Kaguya had sunk down. He tried to get into the water to save her and pull her out of the dark waters, but the water surface seemed to have hardened into a glass like texture, preventing him from reaching into her and save her.
Furious, Byakuya lashes out Senbonzakura and unleashes his power upon the surface. He appears deeply affected when the surface retained their glossy features, not a scratch inflicted upon it. He prepares to strike a second time when he saw Kaguya had floated back up to the surface, the glass-like water separating her from touching him.
He knelt down and watches in agony as her blood colors the waters red. Its color suddenly sickens him. Here he was, captain class and all, watching the one he loves drowning slowly in icy waters, and he couldn't do anything to prevent it or save her. Her beautiful face has turned sickly bleach white from all the blood loss, and as her fingers touches the glass-like surface, she gazed at him and mouthed her words slowly.
"Sorry Byakuya…" she mouthed, pausing a while and looking at him through half-lidded eyes. Both hands placed upon the surface, she smiled slightly when Byakuya placed his hand right where her hand is, mouthing the last word she wanted so much for him to hear her say it properly.
"I love you."
Her eyes close slowly while Byakuya watches onward. Not able to keep herself floating any longer, Kaguya lets herself sinks into the waters, one hand reaching out to Byakuya and the light behind him.
That broke the dam to all of his control. Standing up, he prepares to unleash all of his powers when he noticed all of the Gotei 13's captains had stood all around him and prepares to destroy the Ceremonial Lake.
The glass surface of the water breaks, and it cracks. Slowly, the whole water surface that has hardened collapses in a loud booming sound, and Byakuya pulls her out of the water. He has destroyed the Ceremonial Lake with all his powers.
Upon shattering the glass-like surface, Byakuya immediately dived into the icy cold water and pulled her to him, guiding her face to his and kissing her deeply, passing her the essential riatsu and oxygen needed for her to survive longer. He tasted her blood on his tongue and realizes that her blood is actually flowing into him through her mouth.
She's bleeding out…he thought to himself, breaking the kiss and pushing himself up to the surface and pulling her in tow, dragging both of them out of the water.
Damn all the rules, he would have died 100 times for her alone and her alone.
"Help!" Byakuya calls, and Unohana came to him in time.
Unohana is there when he broke the surface. Medical instinct kicking in, Unohana grabbed a sterile towel and pressed it on Kaguya's gaping abdomen,
"Oh dear, bring her to the 4th Division!" Unohana barked orders, and Byakuya Shunpoed to the 4th Division. She could barely hang onto her life, her blood dripping off her like water pipe on the loose. Byakuya was going to enter the 4th Division when suddenly, the famed Royal Beast Guard, Yokaze, appears with a vial of a transparently molten liquid in his long tail, wrapped and safely guarded.
"Greetings, Kuchiki-sama," Yokaze said. He along with the Royal Beast Guards are all intelligent creatures, and could speak and converse with humans well beyond their capabilities.
"We are the Royal Beast Guards of the noble clan of Miyagusuku, second in line only to the noble clan of Kuchiki, and we guard the noble Miyagusuku clan Manor Compound from all outsiders. We serve the Ichi no Hime, and holds direct order from her. We are told to guide the Shinigamis and bring you to the inner compounds of the Miyagusuku clan compound as scheduled earlier. I have come to save our princess from death. This is the vial of life saving liquid. Give it to her, and she shall live again."
"Ichi no Hime? Who's that?"
"That is not of your concern, low-ranking Shinigami."
"Why you-"
"And you are?"
"He's the head of the Royal Beast Guards, Yokaze."
"I'd prefer it if you would introduce me fully as Yokaze of the Tailed Wolves, Kuchiki-sama. Please, Shinigamis, my lady is waiting."
"Lead it, wolfie!"
"I'd prefer it much better if you would address me by my name with respect, low-ranking Shinigami."
"Such rude Shinigamis, I wonder what they learn in the Spiritual Arts Academy for kids…"
Yokaze told Byakuya to save her with all his might or he might just slaughter the whole Kuchiki clan out of rage for not saving his princess. Unohana came shunpoing behind Byakuya and saw the molten liquid.
"Kuchiki-sama, give it to her," Unohana said to him. "I have not time to see what it is, but since it is the Royal Beast Guard, I think it is safe to say that it is something that shall save her in time…"
Byakuya gave Kaguya the liquid, feeding her to it slowly and saw to it that she slowly swallows the liquid. She coughs, and he knew, she is swallowing the liquid. Slowly, her color returns, and she is alive once more.
She stabilizes immediately after consuming the vial of strange liquid, and the Royal Beast Guard accompanies its master by sleeping beside the bed and guarding her as she sleeps.