Months of coverup and quiet planning continued. When Penny could no longer hide her condition, she feigned illness and was sent to the onsen house to "recover" by the generous Kuchiki clan. She spent the remainder of the pregnancy there. She spent much of her time in the wild where she was most comfortable. She was looked after, she was cared for, well fed, and one day, late in the pregnancy, she insisted she go for a walk alone in the morning.
Her maids did not feel comfortable with this, but Penny was their temporary mistress and demanded she be allowed to go. They could not refuse. She was also a powerful accomplished Shinigami and smarter than the average Kuchiki security guard.
She had felt the pangs of birth that morning and kept them to herself. Instinct drew her out to nature. As the day progressed, they became more and more and more intense. It was late spring, and she found herself in a grove of Sakura trees, which were her favorite. The contractions were close together now. She continued to walk back and forth, leaning on the trees occasionally when the pain made her bend. She perspired more than she ever had and her hair was slick with sweat. She peeled off her outer layers of clothing and kept moving back and forth. She breathed deeply as she had through all the physical pain she had felt in life.
She was vulnerable, but very confident. When her body told her it was time she fell to one knee, cradling her large belly, and crawled to the foot of the most ancient tree in the grove and looked up. She was in a colonnade of sakura trees. The wind picked up again and again. She realized the wind was stronger than she had ever felt it. It was a windstorm and the gusts almost encouraging her to see this through. She sat down and leaned back on the wide trunk. The roots cradled her between contractions like the arms of Mother Nature. The sun had set.
She felt connected to nature, and to the unborn child and the connection contorted her face into a smile. The blossoms began to fall creating a storm of pink petals. She winced and groaned but did not wail. She was happy, and excited to meet the baby, even though she knew it would be the only time she would have with her baby before it was taken away. She didn't even know if it was a boy or girl.
The most intense contraction she had yet told her it was time. The wind blew fiercely again. She reached down and felt the source of her searing pain. She could feel the top of the baby's head. Surprised, she drew her hand away and steadied herself against the trunk of the tree. She dug deep, found inner strength, and pushed. The petals swirled in the air and she thought she would pass out but held on. She pushed again, this time screeching as the baby's shoulders made their way through. She fell back on the trunk of the tree, her head whirling, blossoms clouding her vision. How much time has passed?
She snapped back to reality and pushed the child one more time. Exhausted, she reached down, and pulled the child the rest of the way out, birthing the baby in a storm of a countless cherry blossoms.
She wept as she never had before and held the baby to her chest. She saw it was a boy. It was a bitter sweet moment. His hands were moving about and she stroked his tiny head, and tried to wipe away the blood that was smeared about his face. She did the unglamorous job of removing the mucuos from his airways as mother nature had taught her. There were some pink petals that were stuck to his black hair that she plucked away, amused. He sneezed and gurgled and while he did not cry his breathing was very good. He was very active and pink and seemed eager to use his limbs. The wind blew and howled. At the sound the baby let out a big sudden cry and she quickly comforted him, confident his lungs were strong.
He turned her head towards her chest and she realized he was already hungry and fed him. "I'm glad you know what to do" she said, her voice scratchy. "I certainly don't." He instinctively reached out for her nipple and she helped getting it to his mouth. She cried "How will I ever let you go…?" she heard herself say. She looked up at the sky and saw the moon had risen. "Byakuya" she whispered. "Maybe if I pass the name along to Soujun he will consider it. Their child had not been named yet."
She looked around and saw the night had fallen. The moon was full and wide and reflected pure white light all across the land. Hungry little one, aren't you? She thought fighting off sleep. When you are finished we will return. I'm sorry, little one. I love you so much, but you will have a wonderful life with the Kuchikis. The baby finished eating and drifted off to sleep.
His tiny ribcage expanded and dipped while his little developing mind dreamed his first dreams. She pulled a small knife from her pocket and cut the cord. She took the last swig of water she had from her gourd and pulled her clothing back together. She used the remnants of her underclothing to try and create a makeshift sling to help carry the baby. She found a thick branch and used it to help her walk. She looked at the grove, the after birth left at the foot of the old tree, and then down at her child snuggled in the crook of her arm. "Let's go little one."
She walked, slowly at first, back through the woods, her eyes and ears more alert for predators than ever before in her life. She pulled together her spirit power and felt her body healing already. Movement became easier and she then took a few shunpu steps until she saw the border of the gardens near the onsen house. She stopped and heard her son gurgle with newborn joy. She looked down at him, secure in her arm, and knew it was one of the last moments she would have with him. She collected herself and refused to cry. If he had any memory of her she wanted it to be of her calm. "I hope I gave you the best of myself. I hope that pain never comes to you and I wish you nothing but joy. You taught me love tonight and I am forever better for it". She took her time in the white moonlight gazing at him and then the meticulous gardens indicative of the beautiful world her son would grow up in.
Finally, she knew she had to get the baby checked, inside, and safe. Covered in blood, and other fluids, with a healthy vibrant baby boy in her arms she emerged from the gardens towards the main house where she was staying. The maids spotted her quickly and rushed forward, terrified that the baby would become ill from the evening air.
An older maid came and gently brought her inside. The baby was taken away, cleaned, coddled, and fed by a noble wet nurse. She thought she would never hold him again.
In a room away from Penny an overjoyed Soujun and a relieved Ginrei looked on.
After a few days Penny returned to her squad. Before she left she had a moment with Soujun to request the child's name be Byakuya with kanji for white night. "It is a very appropriate and fine name and I will make sure it is considered" said Soujun.
Penny nodded, knowing that many factors went into naming a noble child. The date, time, signs, numbers, etc. "If it is not the best option, I won't be offended" she replied. He will always be Byakuya to me.
Her spirit power once again allowed her body to heal rapidly and return to working order in exceptional time.
As the years passed, Soujun would occasionally pull her into the file room and give her updates on Byakuya's progress as an infant and child. In excited whispers he would say how healthy and vibrant the child was, how coordinated despite his age he was, and how bright his future looked. Eventually, the tutors praised Byakuya's keen intellect and his fiery temperament when training with his bokken.
It was bittersweet to hear about Byakuya. She was proud and happy but hurt deeply she could not be a part of his experiences. She also did not have the strength to tell Soujun to stop telling her. The updates eased her distraction and filled her heart.
Soujun and Penny were never again physically intimate, but they were bonded. They shared the pride of their son's accomplishments in secret, but their working relationship was very strong, and others noted the two were a great pair to have together on the battlefield. They had each other's back and held the squad together.
One day, Penny was not assigned to Soujun's detail. He died in battle that day. The news was a genuine shock. She heard a 4th squad member tell her, and her vision went white. She blinked away the shock, took a deep breath, and pushed the pain down into the depths of her soul. She fed it to the feral child inside her. He wasn't strong enough.
Losing her closest friend was not the worst of it. Penny lost her partner and all connection to her son. She figured perhaps it was better that way. She would never know Byakuya and had to let go of the hope of ever having that connection again. The ordeal had been fascinating, but temporary. She knew she could not provide the boy with what he needed to reach his full potential.
She became less social finding no pleasure in interacting with people. She relied on the feral child within her to wake up each morning and continue going forward. Shunsui and Ukitake had both become so busy with their responsibilities, there was no one to chase after her and prod her back to normal life.
She sat alone in a small restaurant one day pushing noodles around in her bowl, her green tea steaming on the table next to her grey hand. She felt the heat rising up from her food onto her face but did not enjoy the feeling despite the cold snowy weather outside. Her thoughts were centered on her loss. She was losing the battle against grief. Her unconventional secret family was gone. She battled not falling into the deep void in her heart.
A familiar voice snapped her out of her depression but did not make her hungry. "Penny-chan!" said Kyoraku, settling in across from her along with Ukitake. Both wore their now familiar captain's cloaks. "I was looking for you" said Shunsui, flashing a more mature smile at her. He was now sporting stubble that had not been present when they first met.
"Oh?" she said, trying to find a layer of spirit power to fold over her aching heart. I wouldn't mind some comfort, but not the type he is likely thinking of.
"Ah, c'mon Penny-chan. We've been captains for a long time now" he chided, only joking.
She nodded and quite seriously said "Apologies, captains." She stood bowed and seated herself again.
Ukitake shot Kyoraku an irritated side glance, but he did not have to say anything to his old friend. "Penny-san" said Ukitake, "He wasn't serious. We are just here to check in with our friend" he smiled.
His warm comforting voice seared her tender heart. She thought it would give out. She hoped it would give out. I didn't love Soujun, but we shared something intimate and beautiful. Penny's face fell even Soujun taught me so much about how to feel things. Good things. further than it normally hung. Why am I not allowed to grieve? An embarrassing thought crossed her mind. Does he know what Shunsui and I did? The thought quickly passed and she realized how insignificant all of it was in comparison to all that had happened in her life.
Shunsui and Jyushiro shared a very concerned glance. Shunsui spoke. "Sorry, Penny-chan. I know you're not a cheerful person, but we see you are hurting" he said very quietly so others would not overhear their conversation.
She nodded. "Thank you, captains."
Ukitake said "Perhaps we can go to Ugendo! It's finally finished and I would love to show it off to you both." He smiled, and Penny set her chopsticks down. "We could be more comfortable there. No need for titles. We can just be classmates again."
"She nodded and said "Yes, sir."
You have to promise though to not use titles when we are there" said Ukitake as they departed.
"Captain, it is still on the grounds. It is your barracks" she said finding some relief in their company. They are familiar to me, grounding. These two always show up when I need help. Is this what friends really are?
The men laughed, familiar with how Penny always sliced through to the truth, and they did not expect her to laugh and this made her comfortable.
They settled in at Ugendo with tea in a small room overlooking a large lake through moon shaped windows.
"So Penny-san, when you moved to a new division, why didn't you come to mine?" asked Kyoraku pouring himself a nip of his favorite sake then put his large hat aside
"Muguruma is fine" she replied not wanting to talk about the situation. "He had an appropriate opening. I went there. Let it go" she said.
Kyoraku pushed a bit more "But why move at all?"
She held his gaze a bit longer than necessary and realized, again Damn it Kyoraku. You know something again. How? How are you this discerning!? "Soujun" she said with a nod, holding his gaze.
His eyes flicked away he pursed his lips and nodded.
Penny was surprised at this this reaction. He was confirming who the father was. What I said hurt him...and I feel guilty.
"Yare yare" said Shunsui. He nodded reacting to more than Ukitake knew. "Penny, I'm sorry. I know how close you two were."
Penny caught herself before she blurted out a protest. He does know.
Ukitake sipped his tea then said "Penny-san, we know grief is difficult and that it is hard to overcome the loss of an officer, but we can't run away every time a soldier goes down."
Penny looked at her tea, listening to the man whom she thought really had loved more deeply than any other. She could not say what was wrong, she could not explain the situation to these men who deserved the truth. She opened her mouth yet decided against saying anything and only sipped her tea. I'll let them say their piece and pretend it helped.
As Ukitake continued, she began to think her own thoughts and tuned out the two men sharing their thoughts on grief. She thought At some point Byakuya will join the squad. It's best if I left well before then. I hope I do not run into him. I hope above all that we do not cross paths. My heart will burst. I don't even know his face.
"Penny-chan." Kyoraku coaxed Penny out of her own thoughts. She looked up at him then over to Ukitake and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I got lost in my thoughts."
Kyoraku grimaced and chuckled softly. "Don't get so lost we can't find you again, Penny-chan."
"This will just take time" her scratchy voice quacked. "That's all." She looked at her old comrades. The two men had grown more handsome with age. "Thank you, as always."
They finished their tea and decided not to interrogate her further. They knew she would never reveal anything she did not want to, and they were satisfied that she knew she could if she wanted to. They ended up having a good afternoon with a few laughs, a few drinks, and peace.
The Vice Captaincy of Squad 6 lay vacant for years. Eventually Ginrei brought on Byakuya as his vice captain, and Byakuya's reputation blossomed. No one had fear that he would not be able to shoulder the responsibilities of a captaincy. Everyone said he was made for it. When the old man finally passed away, Byakuya received the heirloom scarf and captain's cloak of the sixth squad.
Penny's heart did not ache over the old man's death, but acknowledged his life as well lived. She did find he had been fair with her, recognized her contributions to the squad, and always kept his word. Most importantly, he took care of Byakuya as though he were his own. Not out of obligation, but love.
One day Penny was standing outside her squad area on a line for an administrative license she was required to renew. She was triple checking her form while on the line when she heard others on the line start whispering. "That's him! That's the new captain Kuchiki!"
Her mind whirled. She wanted to look at him, she wanted so much to see the man her baby had grown into.
"He's so young. I wonder if he's ready" said someone else.
She couldn't resist and turned to look. At first she was jarred by his similarity to Soujun. It was like seeing a ghost. He saw her baby at a distance across a wide plaza in the Seireitei being congratulated on his recent promotion. Her heart stopped for a full three seconds. He looks so much like Soujun. A teenage Soujun. She thought and stopped herself before she was seen staring. So handsome! My son, the captain, is so handsome! Her face twisted in a strange smile and then she began to panic.
The new captain began to walk towards her. She bowed deeply until he passed by, memorizing every nook and cranny of his mammoth spiritual signature. She was overwhelmed by emotions that had been in check every day since he had been born. Suddenly he was in front of her again and it was crushing to her to see the time she had missed manifest in his physical growth.
And boy had he grown. His power is amazing. Young, not mature yet, but all the potential is staggering. He is staggering! She thought. Her pain was replaced with pride. Thank you, Soujun. Thank you Ginrei. Thank you for helping him. For molding him into this young man!
Then a young man said "Hey, Penny-san, you knew the previous Kuchiki officers, didn't you?" She was still bowing deeply. Her stomach turned, but she did not flinch. She saw the white socked feet of the new young captain turn her way. He took a few steps towards her.
"What seat did you hold? He asked. He also said "At ease" so she could stand straight.
A very reasonable question. She slowly stood straight keeping her chin pinned to her chest. She didn't want him to see her face. For the first time in her life she felt true shame about her appearance. If it ever got out I was his mother. He would most certainly be ashamed that I have this ugly face. "8th seat, sir."
She glanced up and braved a look at his face. He was already taller than her. She was further stunned to see his eyes. Her own eyes in color looking back at her. He blinked, but otherwise seemed unphased by her grotesque face. She cast her eyes down a mix of exhilaration and sorrow mixing in her belly. "It was a pleasure to serve under your father and grandfather."
"I see" he kept his eyes on her and said "If you worked with both my father and grandfather you are most welcome back to the sixth squad should the occasion ever arise."
She bowed in genuine thanks. "Thank you very much, sir, and congratulations."
He nodded in acceptance, said "Eighth seat, Penny-san" and with that he turned and continued on his way with his retinue. She watched the as the group walked away. A mix of Shinigami, and Kuchiki officials. One of the women, a elderly servant of some kind, looked back at Penny before moving on.
Penny glared at the young boy who mentioned her connection to the squad but caught herself. She closed her eyes, softened her face, and nodded at him in thanks. At first afraid, the boy relaxed.
My baby knows I'm alive. He knows my name and that I'm alive! He may not know who I am, but he knows I am alive. She finished her paperwork, flashed back to her private room and danced. She had never before felt such happiness at a thought.
Years later, Old Yamamoto hammered his knarled cane on the floor and called his captain's meeting to attention. He was old and wizened. His long white beard was freshly wrapped in violet ribbons by the barber that morning. "There has been a string of strange and dangerous disturbances taking place on the outskirts of Rukongai. We suspect they are remnants of Aizen's experiments and as such are not something that can be handled by just any Shinigami troupe. I need to send some of you on reconnaissance. Select two of your most suited Shinigami officers and head out to the coordinates provided.
"I will send messengers to each of your offices with the necessary information. You will be paired into groups of two squads each. Remember that the highest level of spirit power is not always the best measure of suitability for every mission. The individuals you need to select have to be adaptable, intelligent, and skilled. I leave it to you."
Each captain selected their soldiers and headed to the rendezvous points they were assigned to. Penny was selected by Vice Captain Shuuhei Hisagi who was acting head, but not captain. He recognized her skill and intellect and valued her long history and experience with the Gotei 13. Hisagi, along with another young man who was a seated officer in the 9th squad arrived on time. They promptly met up with the 6th squad, Kuchiki-taicho and two of his subordinates. He had decided to leave Renji back at the offices to ensure smooth running while he was away.
Penny was not expecting this turn of events and felt a bit tense seeing her son now older, wiser, and having learned a few hard life lessons since their last encounter. He was maturing beautifully and she was in awe that this man was the same as that helpless gurgling infant she held in her arms centuries earlier. The group split up to cover more ground, and after some back and forth about how best to divide up the group Hisagi and Kuchiki decided Penny would go with Kuchiki., Hisgai would take one of Kuchiki's two and the other two, lower ranking Shinigami would head in a different direction.
As Penny and Kuchiki walked onward, Byakuya sent her a sidelong glance. "It has been a long time, Penny-san." He eyed her then focused again on his path and the forest around them.
This kid is quite serious. Even Ginrei had a softer side and more humor. She thought of Soujun at a similar age. How many years have passed us by?... She was flattered he remembered her, but at the same time she knew her face was hard to forget. "Yes, sir. It has."
Penny was snapped out if her thoughts. She felt people nearby and looked over her shoulder.
"There are no Hollows out this direction" he said.
"I know…" she said distracted, her eyes not leaving the tree line. "There are people here…" I know that presence. I know who that is…I am so powerful now, why am I so afraid? You are a grown woman, you can dust this son of a bitch now. You couldn't back then…
Byakuya watched this weird woman. His thoughts a mystery to any on lookers. He took a step closer to her and looked where she was looking. "People in the trees?" he said quietly. Sensing they were hostile he called out to them. "We know you are there. Show yourselves." His voice carried a great deal of natural authority. It was second nature to him after years of growing up in his noble household.
The bushes rustled and four men emerged. Byakuya felt Penny tense at the sight of one of the men. He noted she went perfectly still, like a prey animal that sensed its stalker.
All four of them were normal human souls. They were rough around the edges and wore simple clothing of peasants of the area. Byakuya's mind had a myriad of paths to go down, but he decided to simply wait and see what she saw in them that he did not.
"Well I'll be…" said the man in front. He was several centimeters taller than the three others. They all had short scruffy black brown hair cut blunt by dull blades. They were a bit dirty and their scent told Byakuya they had not bathed in some time. The man in front eyed Penny with amusement as though she were not a powerful Shinigami, but some monkey dressed as one. "Is that who I think it is?" The men all laugh heartily, as if they were old friends with the seated officer. Her stone cold demeanor was a sign that they were in fact not old friends.
Byakuya realized Penny did not have the look of a scared animal, but that of a predator with prey in its sight.
Penny calmly, and with dignity said "Move along. There is something out here we are tracking. It is quite dangerous and part of this mission is to secure the area." Stay calm she told herself. If you kill them it would be murder and you would be sent away. Far away from your baby.
The leader of the pack strolled up, with too much swagger to be polite. Byakuya felt tension and an actual physical heat coming from Penny's reiatsu. Byakuya's grey eyes slid back and forth between them. He knew there was more to this woman than met the eye. He could sense her cool controlled anger.
The leader said "You that little thing I bought off Pinto." He put his hands on his hips and said "I recognize my own handiwork. I thought you died! Guess you crawled out of that garbage heap, eh?" he laughed.
Byakuya saw that this was part of Penny's personal history, and did not want to interfere, however, the insult to the Gotei 13 was not to be tolerated. He none too subtlety rested his hand on the hilt of his zanpaktuou. The clank got the man's attention, and he chuckled. "Don't worry there, young sir, my Lord, I ain't here to take your slave. I just hope you did not pay too much for her." Byakuya was not amused, and the other men laughed. Lucky for them he saw they were too weak to waste their energy on.
"Welp, I guess we'll be on our way" said the filthy peasant. He winked at Penny as the men took the advice of the Shinigami and walked away, leaving the area.
Byakuya watched the men wander back off into the trees and he glanced at Penny who was back to the role of random subordinate assigned to him that day. She looked to him for orders. They continued on their way, both quiet, both exuding natural power, dignity, and grace.
Byakuya did not question anything any further and Penny continued to note all the little details about her son that she could. She was so proud of everything he was and did. He would be further shamed to know his mother was a slave. I'm so glad he doesn't know who I am. The shame in his circle would be intolerable. She knew he would develop a certain arrogance by the nature of his role in life, but she could hardly hold it against him.
Quite suddenly snow began to fall in large gentle flakes. Penny looked up at the grey sky and knew it would be a bad storm. It occurred to her that it happened so fast it did not appear to be of natural origin. "This is unnatural. There's something very very wrong here." Penny knew nature and the natural rhythm of weather even in the distorted and unusual circumstances of Soul Society.
The captain and 8th seat both wordlessly agreed to head back and began to walk back towards the rendezvous point. The sky began to cloud over very rapidly and Penny was suspicious. Byakuya too turned and looked at the clouds.
Penny could smell the cold air rushing in from nowhere and said "This is not from an ice zanpaktuou. Those are real snow clouds. This is weird. It's not time for this weather."
The reticent captain only nodded in agreement.
A Jigokuchō flitted down from the sky and Byakuya gracefully extended a hand and the insect messenger landed gently on his extended finger then transmitted a message just for the captain. Penny waited patiently and her sullen eyes watched it fly off.
Byakuya released the messenger insect and looked at Penny. He said "You were correct. Those clouds are an unnatural storm. A result of one of the creatures we are searching for. We have all been ordered to find shelter immediately and await further orders until the Department of Technology can gather more information."
Penny looked around and saw a cliff face off in the distance. She pointed "How about there? If there are no caves there will still be overhangs. That should provide some shelter from wind and maybe snow."
The two accomplished flash steppers arrived at the base of the cliff and looked up. If Byakuya was impressed with her speed and how effortlessly she kept up with him, he said nothing. He spied a clothed skeleton off to their right but said nothing. He shifted his gaze over to Penny who was looking dispassionately at the same pile of bones and cloth. "He must have died trying to climb" she said. She looked up and pointed to a broken rope. "Sad for him, but maybe good for us-"
A thunderclap loud and forceful enough to make both seasoned Shinigami flinch cracked overhead. The two looked at each other and began to flash step upwards towards the top of the cliff face to investigate.
Another clap of thunder rocked the sky but the two did not flinch this time. However, a wayward bolt of lightning hit nearby and in an instant Kuchiki was falling. The scent of burning fabric wafted up to Penny and she could hardly believe what had happened. Penny looked back at the captain whose stunned body was frozen from being hit with lightning. His eyes were wide and his pupils were small.
He appeared to be falling backwards in slow motion, frozen in pain or fear, she couldn't tell. There was a deafening ringing in her ears and could hear nothing of any use. Despite this, she immediately reacted. She grabbed Kuchiki's obi just in time. He slunk loose in her grip as his body shook with pure shock.
She unfurled a layer of her power, momentarily tapping into her vast pool of reiatsu. Without much effort she leapt upward bounding only once on the sheer cliff face then to the top of the cliff.
Byakuya felt himself moving through the air but could not orient himself. He sensed someone or thing had grabbed him and gently rested him onto a solid surface. He could not hear the world around him, only the same ringing that affected Penny. He clung to consciousness, but just barely. He could sense Penny's reiatsu but was surprised that it was so much more vibrant and richer like a deftly woven tapestry rather than the grey and flat version he had previously noticed.
Penny gently set down the captain on a cloud of reiatsu and saw a wide entrance to an abandoned home. She felt the wind pick up and snow and ice stung her face. She picked up the captain from under his arms and dragged him into the cave. She rested him down away from the wide opening of the cave. She turned around and realized she was right about the bones.
The cave was shallow but was well enough appointed with day to day living needs. Facing the back there was a hearth carved in the right-hand wall, shelves with baskets beyond that, and the sound of trickling water coming from a dark corner in the back.
Penny looked at Byakuya and saw his eyes wide open, staring off into space. He must be in shock she surmised as she watched him shake and shiver.
I have to take care of him first. While she wanted nothing more than to grip him to her chest and cry, she knew she had to care for him. She took a deep breath and rushed to work. She knelt next to him and found where he had been hit. Right on the hip. His swords were steaming from the zap of lightning.
She knelt at his injured side and gingerly peeled his zanpaktuou from his hip, literally. The fabric from his hilt had melted onto his skin. The pain must have been too much and Byakuya passed out without a sound.
She could tell he was still alive, and was relieved he wouldn't be feeling the unbelievable pain he had been suffering. The scent of the burns was alarming to her, but her face could not express her anxieties and she was grateful. She gingerly peeled the sword away and used her knowledge of the healing arts to numb the area completely. It was a technique Unohana had taught her many moons ago. It was an advanced technique and took a great deal of personal reishi sacrifice, but it would heal the worst of wounds. Penny poured everything she had into healing him.
I can't let the head of a noble house hobble around like an invalid. My son deserves the best quality of life I can provide. She gave more of herself to him.
She saw his ears were bleeding. Her hearing was starting to return to normal thanks to her deep wells of spirit power. She heeled like the Kenpachi. The original Kenpachi. She kept one hand on his hip, and shuffled up his side on her knees and extended a hand upward toward his forehead where she could send the healing energies to both ears. She visualized the fibers of his reishi mending, seamlessly as if there was no trauma, as if there was never a hint of disfunction.
She thought back to when she woke up after the boys at the academy had attacked her. Unohana was healing her leg, to a degree. She did an amazing job and Penny watched her hand as it hovered over the wound. She could still remember the itching as the fibers of her spirit were mended back together. Unohana sensed, with that eerie sixth sense, that she was being watched. "You would be very good at the healing arts, Penny-san."
Penny did not flinch and just asked "Why do you say that, Yachiru-dono?"
"Unohana, please Penny-san."
Penny nodded "I'm sorry, Unohana-dono."
"You know pain, Penny. You need to know pain in order to recognize the wounds within reishi."
Penny nodded again. She observed pain in Unohana. Her eyes flicked to the braid she now wore in front of her chest. And back to her own leg. "I see."
Penny could indeed sense pain hidden in people. Usually she saw it in their eyes but in the case of physical ailments she could visualize the injury, old or new, in her mind. The afternoon Unohana did her best to heal Penny, it all clicked in her mind. Penny could see how someone hurt, where they were weak, and now what their injuries were. She had always had the ability, but now she realized what kind of power it was. "It really is extraordinary, Unohana-dono, that you have chosen this path." Unohana, surprised by this statement looked up at Penny's face. Penny said "We would all be helpless against you, otherwise."
The eerie sly smile of Yachiru bled through for a moment and she said "Yes, Penny-chan, but someone needs to be around to stop the likes of you once you're done with this growing phase."
The two souls saw each other for what they were immediately and while they were cordial and helpful to each other they knew what they were. They recognized what they both were. Their recognition of what the other was turned into a fascination. This fascination appeared like a comradery to the others, but in reality they both understood what they were: feral creatures maneuvering through an ever more civilized environment. Penny knew Unohana only learned to heal so she could fight longer. The increasing orderliness hedged in their simple desires and they understood the need to adjust to survive.
Back in the present Byakuya stopped shuddering, focused his eyes and looked at the 8th seat Shinigami, glowing with effort. He was warmed and healed in ways he never thought possible and saw quite suddenly that Penny was not who she was pretending to be.
Penny felt his eyes on her and she ceased. She knew she was done. She had healed more than just his hip and ears. There was a lot of darkness inside she had not anticipated, a gloom she had to fight off while healing his reishi.. She had quashed what she could and released it. His heart was tender still, but there was now more light where there had been only darkness.
His eyes fluttered open, as if from a deep sleep. She sat back on her heels, exhaled from her efforts, then looked over towards the hearth. She wordlessly stood and decided to try and find something edible. She stood and walked over to check out the food stored there.
Byakuya was going to address her hidden talent as he sat up, but found that while he was clearly healthier, he was exhausted. She had her back to him, obscuring his view of what she was doing. She said to him. "You may have been healed, but you still need rest." Suddenly a hearty fire came to life in the hearth. "Your body also needs energy, it needs fuel for the fire. I'll make something" she said, her voice gravelly.
He accepted this and managed to lay himself down again. He found his eye lids were heavy as he gazed upward at the ceiling. He quickly fell asleep.
When Penny heard Byakuya's breathing as he fell deeper into sleep. She looked over her shoulder at him and could not resist going to his side. She let her eyes gaze down at her grown son and resisted the urge to stroke his hair silky black hair. She felt such frustration and sadness at not being able to comfort him. That time had passed for them. She could only gaze at him from afar. They had never developed nightly routines where she put him to bed. She never nursed him while he was sick. She could not sing him anything, nor tell him his favorite stories. She never learned songs nor stories as a child.
No reason to waste the little precious time I have with him on being sad. She focused on him and on his features. I wonder what of me is in him. He's well known for being the fastest. Many say you're very smart as well. She saw a small pillow nearby and decided she could do him that simple favor. I wish I could shout from the mountain tops how proud of you I am. I know I could not have given you this life. Her mouth turned into the strange half smile that her face could manage. She went back to finding food and cleaning the abandoned home. I know it was right to give you to the Kuchiki's, but I do wish I could have done more for you as a mother. Though, to be fair, I don't know how to do that at all.
Byakuya's eyes fluttered open as she touched his head. He heard her scratchy voice "Captain, please forgive me for disturbing you." She slipped a soft pillow under his head and he tried to look around again and reacquaint himself with his surroundings, but he was too tired. He fell asleep again.
Later he opened his eyes and looked over at the entrance and was surprised to see her shaping the rock to form a wall. She swayed her hands overhead to draw it down and molded it with graceful motions with her arms and legs. It was a surreal scene. A blizzard was obviously swirling like mad in the moonlight outside, but when the snow hit the heat emanating from her it dispelled into steam creating a surreal otherworldly fantastical scene. The cool moonlight contrasting with the molten fire from her body made it quite a spectacle. It was as if she was dancing, swirling her hands around in a netherworld. The light and the steam and the sheer fantastical nature of what had to be her shikai was beautiful. This withered broken creature who accompanied him on this mission was beautiful.
And practical. He found himself laying on a humble straw mat, but felt warmth coming from underneath. The ground underneath had been heated and kept him warm while he rested. She finished shaping a wall to keep the worst of the wind out and shook her hands, then dusted them off each other as if she had just finished some gardening.
His eyes followed her as she walked over to the hearth where he saw a steaming pot. She pulled a bowl off one of the shelves and she checked it in the fire light for dust. She rinsed it out with some melted snow and spooned some stew she had made into the bowl. "Hungry?" she asked in that strange gurgling voice.
"Yes" he managed.
"Sorry, Taicho" she said as she brought the bowl and a spoon to his side. "I didn't mean to wake you, before, but when I found the pillow…" You changed me. I've never wanted to care for another person so much.
He wanted to say something but found his throat so dry he could not speak. She saw and nodded observing the micro-expressions on his face that her own could not make. She rushed over to the pot, and from the kettle next to it poured water into a cup. She returned "I'm sorry, there seems to be no tea. Also, the water is just warm, not quite hot yet."
He felt stronger, and enough so to sit up, resting on the cold hard rock behind him. He looked down and saw the blanket he was under was actually his captain's cloak. He eyed the large hole with scorched edges. The warm cup appeared, and he nodded in acceptance. He took the cup from her two hands and as he brought it to his lips, he noted how gracefully she sat at his side. It was another juxtaposition he was surprised by and it was fascinating to him.
"Thank you" he said after he finished the water. Penny took the cup from his hands with both of hers, and placed it gently on a tray next to her. She picked up a bowl of the stew she made and handed it to him. She did so with specific gestures of gentle grace he recalled as an ancient form of aristocratic etiquette he had seen in his aunties.
Some of his earliest childhood memories were of peering through worn holes in the rice paper screens at these middle-aged women as they sat around in layered kimono appearing like piles of silks as their laughter twittered through the spring air. Their faces were powdered a stark white and their eyebrows were little fluffy clouds. They held their fans over their faces covering up their little cherry lips, and lounged around, practicing their poetry and sophisticated koto playing.
His aunties, his grandfather's sisters, often secluded themselves away from the troubles of the world and he would try to see their secrets through the cuts and rips in the rice paper. But more often than not they would catch him and bring him into their apartments to teach him about the ancient arts: music, calligraphy, food, and a variety of other aristocratic pleasures. He was proud of this knowledge and it helped him effortlessly move about in noble circles. He also found much comfort in those memories. He loved how they moved so as to make everything beautiful and graceful.
Penny dutifully took the empty bowl and before she moved back to the hearth, she put her palm on the dirt floor. Byakuya felt a pleasing warmth come from under him and was again reminded of her abilities.
She settled back at the hearth and cleaned out the dishes. "The person who lived here had a lot of dried goods. They were prepared for the winter" she said.
"Your zanpaktuou is one of fire?" he asked.
She shrugged and said "Somewhat" she said evading the true answer. "Please, Taicho, rest up and we can head back tomorrow morning." She was glad he simply nodded and listened to her advice. As much as I would love to talk all night and learn about you and tell you all the good things in my life, I should not allow myself this. It is too dangerous for you to know who I am. I don't want to jeopardize anything you currently have.
The pair packed up the next morning and left the cave, through a snowy winterland, for the Seireitei. They both flashed back to the Seiretei and Penny headed back to her most recent squad to report their experiences.
Byakuya returned and attended an emergency captain's meeting. The 10 captains folded into the room and it was revealed the source of the off season she storm was indeed a strange breed of hollow that was left behind by Aizen and his crew of betrayers. They had tried to create a hollow Shinigami hybrid to create the perfect powerful warrior. The department of technology had purified the creature, but it was still alarming as it only hinted at the strange things still lurking in the Soul Society.
These creatures were a twisted combination of demons somehow extracted from hell and combined with hollows. Aizen had recently been contained and sentenced to isolation, but Soul Society continued to find loose ends left over from Aizen's Rebellion that they needed to clean up.
Penny learned from Hisagi about the fuller picture of what they had experienced the day before, and Byakuya silently absorbed the report from the Captains meeting.
Neither of them focused squarely on the information provided, but about the experiences they just had.
