Chapter 4: The Path to True Nobility

Byakuya woke to the odd, but warm and wonderful feeling of being held close in someone's arms. He didn't have to open his eyes to know who these arms belonged to, but he was torn about whether to chide the samurai for risking being seen in such a position and without his mask, or just to sink into these arms more deeply and return to sleep. He had to admit, inside his heart, anyway, that being held just felt good…and being held like this while suffering a difficult period of waiting was something precious.

But he wondered if they were making a mistake…

He knew that the power that kept the zanpakutous in material form wasn't going to last. Sooner or later, Senbonzakura would only be able to hold him like this in their inner world…a spiritual, rather than physical place. And as much as he tried to tell himself that he sought to save his zanpakutou needless heartache by not getting too close…and as much as he tried to pretend he didn't need the samurai's attentions, he couldn't help but be touched by the devotion in the arms that were holding him, and the genuine affection in the gesture. He would have brushed such behavior off as frivolous before…but things were different now.

And it was that difference that was making him ache to roll over and give his zanpakutou a deeper expression of his appreciation. This wasn't the place, but it might be the only time…and here in the darkness and loneliness of his deepest fears, he knew it would bring relief and comfort. He took a breath and tried to think rationally, but suddenly, rational thought seemed impossible.

The next thing Byakuya knew, he had turned in Senbonzakura's arms and he began layering the surprised and genuinely affected face in soft, hungry kisses. He rolled the samurai onto his back laid his body over the other's, kissing him harder and opening their yukatas. He wondered at the failure of his zanpakutou to ask any questions at the sudden change in his behavior, but then, the intensity of their kissing and touching really didn't allow for questions. He thrust his hips into the samurai's enjoying the heat and friction as their lengths rubbed together, as their physical contact became more intense, and instead of thinking about how irresponsible or reckless it might be, Byakuya could only think about how amazingly good it felt.

He needed that safe, secure feeling of loving and being loved in return…something he hadn't experienced in a very long time. And perhaps he shouldn't be experiencing it now…but given the manner in which his fate hung in the balance, and the samurai's time in the physical world was limited, the level of emotion was higher…and the controls that might have made him stop and think harder were gone.

He wanted more…

He wanted to sink into these beautiful arms and simply disappear into them…to look up into the dark eyes and melt away, to wrap himself in that sweet, naïve expression and let it surround him and carry him off. He thrust harder into those strong, willing hips and let himself be overcome.

He had always considered Rukia's Sode no Shirayuki to be the most beautiful zanpakutou he had seen, but fully revealed, bared beneath him and caught up in the throes of first love, Senbonzakura was easily the most beautiful being he had ever seen. He ached to join with that beauty, to bury himself in it, to possess it…to make it his own. And, he decided, the time for holding back, for keeping himself carefully controlled, for forgoing all forms of temptation had long passed.

He crawled down the lovely pale body, treasuring every inch of his skin with gentle brushings of his tongue and light strokes of his fingertips, looking up every now and again to witness the lively, happy expression on Senbonzakura's smiling pushed the muscular thighs wide and licked and stroked ferociously, making the white chest heave and the samurai bit his lips to stop his sounds of pleasure from becoming too loud. He moved down further and pleasured, and further down to tease and probe his entrance…and as much as he tried to hold it in, the flushed samurai broke and released a soft, beautiful moan.

"Byakuya…"

Byakuya froze.

He had never heard his name uttered with such reverence…

He wet his fingers in the samurai's mouth to keep it busy, then began a slow preparation, watching the sensation send an eruption of pleasure over that beautiful face…a face that couldn't seem to hide anything. It was almost intoxicating watching the intensity of expression and the motion of that lithe, strong body as it moved in response to his touch. The dark eyes slowly glazed over and the few words he managed were yielded in soft, breathy puffs.

Byakuya continued the sensual invasion, prompting a barely controlled groan of pleasure and an urgency in the motion of his hips. The samurai was completely overtaken, lost and only able to respond to the continuing pleasure of Byakuya's intense touches. The noble teased the samurai's swollen arousal, pausing now and again to attack with strong, sweeping licks that made the strong body beneath him quiver and forced him to fight to exert control over his soft exclamations and pleased moans.

He almost cried out as Byakuya completed the preparations. The look on his face became touched with pain, but remained alive with pleasure. He moved his hips restlessly and pearly fluid bled from the tip of his deeply flushed member. Byakuya soothed him with lighter kisses, treasuring the soft abdomen lightly and teasing the lovely samurai's navel. Senbonzakura panted his name again, more hungrily and Byakuya sensed that he was ready. He withdrew his fingers and moved in between the creamy thighs, letting his hands tease the soft skin, then pushing them open wider. He let his body rest on top of the other, and met the samurai's eyes warmly as he positioned himself at the tight entrance.

He thought he should say something, but for once, his words failed him. And it seemed that he and Senbonzakura were connecting on a new and altogether different level that defied words anyway. To speak would have ruined the moment. Besides, the samurai's emotions were plain on his face. No explanation was really needed.

Byakuya fastened his mouth on the samurai's, devouring the unbidden sounds that rose out of him as the noble began to push into him in slow, gentle thrusts. The body beneath his trembled softly and some of the sounds that came out of him held a bit of pain. But the pain was minimal and temporary…and it eased as the samurai relaxed and Byakuya pushed the rest of the way inside, then rested for a moment, treating his lover's lips to a flurry of light kisses. He pulled away for a moment and graced his lovestruck zanpakutou with a rare, but no less affectionate smile.

Leaning forward, he planted a soft kiss on each eyelid, then moved his hips and felt the samurai's fingers tighten on his shoulders. Sucking at Senbonzakura's warm lips, he thrust in harder, adding speed and depth and power as the body beneath his adjusted and began to move with him. Byakuya was taken by surprise at the wonderful, heady rush this sent through his body, and he thrust in harder, faster watching and kissing the samurai's reactive face as pleasure gathered inside him and he began to strain against Byakuya's body, blindly seeking something he sensed waiting. Byakuya shifted slightly and thrust in hard again, striking the center of pleasure inside the stunned samurai and making him gasp and moan into the noble's mouth.

He was deliciously close now, wild eyed and reaching…beautiful suspended there on the edges of absolute bliss. Byakuya caressed Senbonzakura's length, stroking with heavy pressure, as he struck that pleasure center twice more and the samurai's body shuddered. He devoured what would have been ringing cries of pleasure, and felt the warm wetness that pulsed out onto his hand where it still held the samurai's length. The zanpakutou clung to him tightly now, the dark eyes black with completion. Byakuya thrust in deeply and watched new beauty overwhelm the samurai's features as the noble's body quivered and filled him with hot seed, searing his insides and leaving him shell-shocked and breathless, lying limp and sated in Byakuya's arms and committing all of his energy now to catching his breath.

Byakuya shifted and settled onto Senbonzakura's sweat-slicked chest, listening to the fast cadence of the samurai's beating heart. It struck him suddenly how sad it made him feel that this was not going to last. But he pushed the thought away and let himself remain entrenched in the lovely moment. The samurai's still dazed eyes found his and the soft, flushed lips smiled.

"Master," he said quietly, "didn't you say that we were supposed to commit ourselves to love one another before making love?"

Byakuya sighed.

"Senbonzakura," he replied, kissing him on the nose, "sometimes you will find that words are simply unnecessary."

XXXXXXXXXX

Byakuya felt a shiver inside as the door to his cell was opened and he was led out to bathe and dress for the reading of his verdict. Senbonzakura waited until he was alone in the shower, then appeared and moved in close, happy to be allowed to wrap his arms around the noble and not be pushed away. Because as much as he felt that his master loved him, Byakuya was very reserved with his emotions most of the time…and that meant that when his zanpakutou asked if he was well or if he had been hurt, he was always met with a clipped and stern response. And when he tried to express his affection, he was usually brushed off and told to stop chattering. It was so refreshing having the beautiful shinigami whose soul resonated so strongly with his finally return his emotions.

But Senbonzakura, even as he happily accepted his master's embrace and the warm kisses that went with it, had to wonder what would happen when he returned to his spirit form and this kind of contact was no longer possible. He pushed the thought out of his mind and rubbed his soapy body against his master's, enjoying the sweet play of Byakuya's lips over his face and throat.

"Master," he asked softly, "Please tell me. Are you afraid?"

Byakuya considered the question. Normally, he would reply sternly that fear would be a useless response to his situation, that it wouldn't change anything and so wasn't worth the effort, but here, less than an hour before the giving of his verdict, he found himself wanting to be honest for a change.

"All creatures fear uncertainty," he explained, "But the reason we fear is usually death or pain of some kind. I am at peace with the fact that I will likely face some form of punishment, but I am hopeful that it will not be very painful and that it will not require me to die."

The samurai sighed.

"But are you afraid?"

"What does your heart tell you?" Byakuya asked.

Senbonzakura rested his head on a slick shoulder.

You have held me in your hand many times when battles have been difficult…and there is a way that you hold me when you are confident…another when you are worried…another when you are uncertain…and others when you are angry or sad. But the way you are holding me now makes me feel that you are lonely and afraid…not that I expect you to say so. You are a proud man. You would not admit to weakness."

"You are wise, despite your precocious nature, Senbonzakura," Byakuya replied, bringing their lips together.

They spent several long minutes exchanging wet, hungry kisses before the samurai reluctantly disappeared and reappeared, fully dressed at Byakuya's side as they were led back to the Central 46 chambers. Another soft chill passed through the noble as he was led into the room where the council members awaited him. He stood quietly and waited as the Head Councilor called the council to order and took a readying breath as all eyes turned to focus on him.

"Kuchiki Byakuya, we have accepted your plea of guilty and will now explain the weighting of circumstances. Our council carefully considered your arguments and we have decided thusly. First, your decision to defect, to join Muramasa and to assist him in reaching Kuchiki Kouga is tempered by the fact that beneath your action, you never intended to assist the enemy. You had an agenda that was clear and present in all of your dealings, so this council releases you from culpability for treason. That charge is dismissed. Our council also found that your agenda does not completely excuse you from responsibility. You are responsible for great damage to property and would be expected to restore what was destroyed, but we were told that immediately upon your return, you acted to devote your clan's finances to that restoration. It is already underway, so you are hereby ordered to continue that restoration. You were charged with abandoning your post in a time of war and with attacking your subordinates and other seated officers, as well as releasing your zanpakutou. We find that because your desertion, though well intended, did affect the readiness of your squad to respond to the rebellion, and therefore, you are to be held responsible for that. The subordinates you attacked, while understanding your explanations afterward, were injured directly by you and were vulnerable to you because they trusted you. This too, you must answer for. Because the treason charges have been dismissed, you may, of course be sent back to your clan for sentencing…"

"No," said Byakuya calmly, "I will accept the punishment prescribed by this council."

The councilors looked at each other in surprise. The Head Councilor cleared his throat softly.

"Are you certain?" he asked quietly, "You would likely be given community service or perhaps escape punishment altogether."

"I do not wish to escape punishment for my crimes. I will pay as any other. My noble blood does not place me above the law. If I am an instrument of the law's enforcement, then I must also be subject to its rules and codes. You have found me guilty of several serious crimes…not so serious as treason, but certainly not minor. Do with me as you see fit."

The Head Councilor took a breath and slowly nodded.

"Very well. You are guilty of abandoning your post in a time of war and attacking subordinates resulting in minor injury. It is the decision of this council that you be placed under house arrest for a period of ninety days and that after that time, you will be on probation for five years. If, at any time, you repeat your crimes, you will face arrest and greater penalties. During your time under house arrest, you will wear a monitor…and you will be allowed to only leave your manor for work or approved excursions. Do you understand the conditions of your release?"

"I understand," Byakuya said softly.

He stood quietly as an officer of the court approached him and placed the monitor on his ankle. The doors opened and the Kuchiki elders entered the courtroom, accompanied by several members of the secret mobile corps.

"You are excused from this courtroom," said the Head Councilor, "Mind that you adhere to the council's restrictions."

Byakuya bowed and turned to join the elders. Senbonzakura remained at his side as they left the council chambers and walked back to the Central 46 entry doors. He felt a soft catch in his heart at passing out of the building and breathing in the fresh, cool air outside. He hadn't been outside in days and it had worn on his spirits. Rukia and Renji silently joined them as they passed back into the central Seireitei. They didn't speak to him, but both smiled in relief that he was coming home. As they left the center of town, he realized that people had lined the edges of the streets and were watching as he was led back home. Many made sounds of approval and support, but Byakuya heard too the discord, the dangerous rumblings. They were soft compared to the overwhelming voices of support, but he knew better than to ignore them. He was doing all he could to change minds…by cleaning up the mess he had made and accepting public sentencing where he could have appealed to his clan and been treated more lightly. But some people, he realized, were going to hold grudges no matter what he did. Some people would be loathe to forgive him.

Suddenly house arrest seemed less a punishment and more of a protection…

Byakuya felt a sense of relief when he reached the manor and was led inside and the gates closed. Head Elder Nori issued orders for the guards to be on high alert and he bowed and gestured for Byakuya to move on through the entry. His personal staff was ready and waiting. Tea was made and he settled down at the garden patio with Rukia, Renji and Senbonzakura. They sat quietly in the garden, eating and drinking and waiting for Byakuya to indicate what he wanted from them.

"Rukia, Renji," he said, setting his teacup down, "I thank you for your support during my trial and for calming the spirits of my subordinates."

He paused for a moment.

"I also apologize for putting the two of you in harm's way. Even in that I was doing as I must, I would not wish you injury or disappointment. And even though you have chosen to forgive me easily and support me…know that it will be some time before I forgive myself."

"Nii-sama," said Rukia, "Renji and I knew all along that there had to be a good reason for your behavior. Don't feel bad."

"I told you before," Renji said, "Even when we were fighting…I knew there was a reason. I guess I should have backed off and trusted you more."

Byakuya shook his head softly.

"Renji…I think that perhaps it is I who should have trusted you more. I simply didn't want either of you implicated in my wrongdoing. I knew that I would face trial and did not want that for you."

"I understand, Taichou," Renji said, giving him an encouraging smile.

"Me too," added Rukia.

The Rukongai truly has given me many blessings…