DISCLAIMER: I do not own BLEACH or any of its characters
A story rated M for LEMON Explicit LEMON
Byakuya goes to the world of the living to get his first love back- sequel to Vast and Absolute
Hell and happiness
Chapter 3 - Shonichi
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He kissed her lips. In her arms he was safe and warm. He could smell her, her fresh sweet citrusy smell. His eyes scanning the room while she kissed him caressed him. Whispering how much she loved him in his ear.
His skin crawled when she said it. He sat up upon the futon looking angrily at her.
"What is it little prince?"
He stared at her, looking around. He was dreaming again. He hadn't even realized it this time. He stood, picking up a robe and covering himself.
"Byakuya?" Yoruichi asked. "What is it?" he turned to leave.
"It's not going to stop just because you walk away."
Byakuya turned back to see Hisana. He wasn't as shocked as the day before but he was twice as happy.
"Hisana." Byakuya took his wife in his arms hugging her tight and then kissing her deeply. Her lips felt as soft and sweet as ever.
Hisana pulled away from him and held up a small yellow envelope.
"Read it." She smiled as she handed it to him.
He was twelve years old again. Defiant, arrogant.
"No." He turned his back to her his arms folded.
She didn't reply.
He turned back around. She was gone.
His heart sank as his eyes opened to reveal his dark and empty bedroom.
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The Obon festival had begun. It was a festival to commemorate one's ancestors. It was a time to remember and celebrate the past. For three days ancestors and deceased loved ones are said to come back.
People all over Karakura were heading to different shrines to visit their loved ones. Ichigo sat in the backseat of the car while Isshin chatted incessantly on their way to visit Misaki. Ichigo had thought to tell him to shut up, but realized that was his father's way for dealing with the situation.
Karin had fallen asleep on Ichigo's arm and Yuzu was in the front seat asking her father to tell her more stories of his and Misaki's lives together.
Rukia had returned to the soul society the day before, so that she and Byakuya could visit Hisana.
Festivities had been set to commence when they returned from the soul society.
Across town, lanterns had been put up at Urahara Shoten.
In the back of the store, Yoruichi opened the Senkaimon gate. She was dressed in her old onimitsukido uniform, her hair pulled back in a full bun. She looked back at Kisuke and Tessai; they each smiled reassuringly.
Jinta and Ururu were dressed formally to go visit the Soul Society as well. Jinta looked rather nervous and couldn't stand still so he continued shuffling in place, while Ururu had a visible smile of excitement on her face.
They followed the hell butterfly through the gate.
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"If she did it, she did it for a reason," Nobutaka Shihouin said angrily.
"Master Shihouin!" Hideaki said as Nobutaka Shihouin struggled from his room. He was huffing while leaning against the doorway . The angry voices of Genrei Kuchiki and Byakuya contemplating Yoruichi's reason had roused him from his bed, literally bringing him to his feet.
"My daughter is not a traitor. Kisuke and Tessai are like sons to me. Kisuke-" Nobutaka paused to cough, but gathered himself quickly, pushing off Hideaki's attempts to help him. "Kisuke wouldn't do the things he has been accused of!"
"How do you explain the accusations against Aizen, Sousuke when Kyouraku saw him in the Seireitei?"
Nobutaka Shihouin didn't know the answer to that. And his face showed the uncertainty. His chest heaved because in his heart he knew and trusted his daughter, above all else. As the head of the Shihouin and of the stealth squad he knew things were not always as they seemed. And this was just another case of that.
"I don't know what's going on, but I know my child, my children; especially Yoruichi! If she risked everything," he glared at Byakuya knowing what was fueling his accusations. "It's because she believes in what she's doing."
The room of men just stared at him incredulously.
Miyuki was standing in the next room, her ear focused to the living-room, her heart swelled hearing her master talk so passionately again. She too knew Yoruichi would have a good reason for going against everything. She pulled her clasped hands to her chest, proud and honored to work in a house of such good and honorable people.
"I trust her implicitly! Shame on you, Byakuya! You should trust her, too."
"Humph." Byakuya scowled. "She's made her decision."
"Shihouin –dono, please calm yourself, lay back down." Hideaki was trying to calm his master.
"How dare you! How dare any of you doubt her! She has no reason to lie, neither do Kisuke or Tessai. How dare any of you doubt them...!" Nobutaka Shihouin's eyes bulged with anger, he was as fierce and proud as he had ever been. Hideaki pried the coughing angry elder's hands from the doorway, helping back to his room.Byakuya shuddered. A twinge of regret and shame mingled in his memories.
Shihouin-dono was right all along, if it wasn't for her helping Urahara escape, helping train and protect Isshin and Ichigo….
"Are you ready, Nii-sama?" Rukia asked at Byakuya's doorway. He shook off the past that was surrounding him like a cloak.
"Yes." his voice silky, smooth and emotionless. He picked up the picture of Hisana and clasped it to his chest. He looked with a start, seeing the yellow envelope was sitting behind it. I thought I left that in my office. He reached for the vellum impediment, clinching his fist right as he reached for it then heading out with Rukia.
Rukia walked a few paces behind Byakuya as they headed to Hisana's grave. She looked over her shoulder at their procession. Third seat Shizuko and fourth seat Subaru who had known her brother long before she became a shinigami or a Kuchiki. Renji not wanting to be left out was also following the group up to the grave site.
Amai scanned the crowded cemetery. She's here. Her heart fluttered, a coy smile spread on her lips, just an hour before when she felt Yoruichi's reiatsu enter the Seireitei. She had hurried the group along as fast as she could.
She knew if she felt it then Byakuya definitely did as well, though he stayed as stoned faced and emotionless as usual. He hadn't even flinched, though she and Koutaishi gave each other perceptive looks.
Now they were at the cemetery. A slow deliberate walk to see Hisana Kuchiki.
Yoruichi's reiatsu was more powerful the further they walked now. Amai was just trying to catch sight of her.
Amai had been happy when she heard, then subsequently met Hisana decades ago. She was good, very good for Byakuya. His old light had come back, his softness and joy. However those things seemed to retreat even further to parts unknown when she passed away.
Unlike Hisana, Byakuya still had a chance at happiness. And Amai would do anything to make sure he took it.
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"Otou-san," Yoruichi eyes watered, her hair falling in her face helping hide her tears. Her hands were clasped and raised in prayer, incense in the stone of her father's grave wafted floating strings of scent in the air. Tessai and Kisuke had paid their respects and left her with time alone with her father.
When she got word that he had passed away, she disappeared for several weeks trying to get back into the Seireitei to make it to his service. Miyuki had sent word to her that they would leave the Shihouin's Senkaimon unguarded in case she wanted to use it. As much as she wanted to, she didn't. She just didn't want to jeopardize whatever safety Miyuki and the remaining Shihouin house had. She realized her actions had saved Kisuke and Tessai but put them in harms way and under a microscope.
"He never lost faith in you." A familiar melodic voice brought Yoruichi back to the present. Yoruichi looked up to see the smiling face of Miyuki and Manhau. Miyuki's blue eyes sparkled as always, her jet black hair pulled up in a bun.
Manhau smiled, his reserved nature broken as tears rolled down his cheeks while he gave Yoruichi a fierce hug.
"Ahh... Manhau….. My, have you gotten stronger?" She said gasping for air at his impassioned greeting. She let his steel grip hold her a few minutes longer as he sobbed on her shoulder.
He finally let her go, covering his eyes and stepping back to collect him self. She clinched her teeth, while stifling her own tears of joy, as she stared at the big silver-haired teddy bear.
"How are you?" Miyuki asked stroking Yoruichi's hair. Yoruichi leaned back into Miyuki's touch, before she answered.
"I'm well. And you?"
"Keeping up the household until you stop your adventures and come home."
Yoruichi never thought of actually coming back.
"He stuck up for you until the very end," Miyuki repeated looking back at the grave. "He would have been happy to know you were proven right." She stopped herself as her voice began to quiver. "I wish you could have been here for the funeral."
"I do, too. Thank you for trying to get me a way in but I didn't want to put you all in any more danger or scrutiny than I already had at the time."
"I understand. I know he would have as well." Yoruichi knew Miyuki was right but it didn't make her feel any better.
"Where's Hideaki?" Yoruichi looked around looking for her father's retainer.
"He came very early this morning, before the sun was up. He was deeply hurt when Shihouin-dono passed, and he is still distressed as if it just happened, especially this time of year."
Miyuki and Manhau joined Yoruichi in offering prayers.
X
Amai had offered her prayers to Hisana and had excused herself from Byakuya and Rukia.
She made her way through the many graves and praying visitors, following the reiatsu of her princess. Her eyes widened in joy seeing her. She was a few away.
She was just as beautiful as ever. Her hair was long and pulled back. She was wearing her onimitsukido uniform. Suddenly she felt shy and nervous, like she was that little girl in the streets of Rukongai when they first met.
"Forget it." She turned to leave. Amai knew she couldn't turn back now.
"Scared?" Koutaishi said looking over her shoulder at Yoruichi. He was trying to contain his glee. He had gotten into quite a few fights when he joined the Spiritual Academy during history lessons or Noble houses were brought up. He defended Yoruichi vehemently, that's how he was first spotted by Yachiru and asked to join Squad Eleven when he graduated.
"Do you think she'll remember us?"
"How could she not." Koutaishi said puffing out his chest.
"Yeah," Amai said looking at him incredulously, rolling her eyes, "If she doesn't, we'll have to remind her." Amai grabbed Koutaishi's sleeve as they made their way to Yoruichi.
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To be continued...