authors notes=bold
its only on chapter four and im already thinking about how to end it. i dont like making long stories because i have a short attention span and then may not finish it. so i will tell you all now that this shouldnt be any longer than eight, ten at the most. but anyways thats it enjoy the story
Byakuya blew a strand of hair out of his then went back to focusing on sensing souls. He was practicing with Maka who thought it was time for him to go out and start collecting evil souls. He was getting much better at, at least Maka thought so but Byakuya thought he could do better so he had kept going though his friend had ended the lesson thirty minutes ago. Maka admired his drive. She glanced over to see Senbonzakura, or Z as everyone called her, sitting with her group of girls. She was fairly popular though she didn't talk much. It had been a few days since that day in which she revealed herself during Dr. Stein's lesson. Byakuya yawned then stood up. Z did the same. "Thanks Maka, I think I'm going to pick out my first assignment"
"Well its about time, just remember don't get anything over what you think you can handle" She lectured. Byakuya frowned.
"So you think I need something easy?"
"NO! That's not what I meant" She could tell he was getting annoyed "Its just that…I don't…nevermind"
"Black Star gets these awesome assignments and comes back bragging about it. I want to see what its like"
"Just be careful ok?"
"I will" He and Z headed for the board to pick something out while Maka sighed in relief at averting a 'Byakuya Storm' as his tempers were called. Byakuya had no idea of what he should be searching for. All the assignments seemed crazy such as the one where a serial killer was on the loose or another where a group of murderers had broken out of prison. "They send children to do jobs like this?" He whispered, an eyebrow going up at the same time. Z seemed to be in awe too, she had a similar expression. Her fan club was right behind them.
"Pick that one Z!"
"That's way too easy for them, they should get the serial killer"
"No way, serial killers are always the craziest" The group continued arguing about which was best when Byakuya made his choice. He pulled down one. Z looked over. It described a hitman from the mafia who had already killed more than twenty people. "Interesting" Z commented.
"Yeah it is "
"I was just going to suggest that one" The girls chirped in. Byakuya rolled his eyes and folded the paper.
~Later That Night~
"East Asia?" Byakuya asked as he tinkered with his watch.
"Yeah, we leave tomorrow" Black Star answered with a mouthful of spaghetti "You're going to Vegas right? That's cool! I wish we had gotten that instead. Just don't get killed or anything"
"I can take care of myself" Byakuya mumbled. Black Star was always trying to watch out for him which wasn't a bad thing but Byakuya felt he needed to prove himself to his peers, especially with Z since Dr. Stein didn't really believe she was his partner and had only stepped in to keep him from embarrassment. A knock on the door interrupted them. "Can one of you guys get that?" Tsubaki called from the kitchen. Black Star grumbled the entire way there but when he came back he had a smirk on his face.
"Look who wanted to wish you good luck" He gestured behind him. Kid walked in with his hands in his pockets. He was taking the room in but when he saw Byakuya sitting in the middle of the floor a blush tinged his cheeks ever so slightly. Byakuya had heard from Soul how Black Star and Kid went to the sword Excaliber. They had become better friends since then. Black Star plopped back down on the couch and resumed stuffing his face with breadsticks.
"Hey Kid" Byakuya said "Whats going on?"
"Oh nothing" He shifted uneasily and looked away "Just came to say good luck. Its kinda small here"
"Well excuse us if we can't live in a mansion like you" Black Star said.
"That's not what I meant" Kid answered "What are you doing Byakuya?" His friend had a screwdriver and was taking apart the black watch he always wore.
"Just messing with the pieces" He mumbled "Where are the girls?"
"Went to get some groceries, I managed to sneak away" He paused before asking his next question "How's it going with Z?" At her name Byakuya's face lit up. Kid couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
"Its great! We're the perfect partners"
"Understatement of the year" Black Star put in "You should see them practice against me and Tsubaki. They move and work so well together that its like they've known each other for years".
"She's like my sister" Byakuya stated simply. Kid felt a little better at the comment. Tsubaki poked her head in.
"Liz and Patty are looking for you Kid! You better get home" She went back to cleaning.
"They're going to make me put up whatever they bought" He groaned "See you guys"
"See you when we get back" Black Star "When I return victorious we should go out to celebrate my awesomeness!" Kid and Byakuya rolled their eyes as the latter walked him to the door.
"Seriously if you can't handle it don't be afraid to come back" Kid said as he stepped out.
"Why does everyone treat me like I'm so fragile?" Byakuya huffed in annoyance.
"It's not that, it's just…" He sighed.
"Thanks for the concern but I'll do fine" He said. Kid nodded.
"See you then"
"Yeah, wait Kid" Byakuya called to him. He stopped and what Byakuya did next almost made his heart stop. He hugged him.
"What's taking so long?" Black Star walked out and saw the scene. He watched as Kid blushed and Byakuya pulled away then it all connected.
"Why didn't I see it before?" He whispered to himself. As Kid walked away Byakuya came back to the door "What was that about?" Black Star was on him before he even stepped inside. Tsubaki stood behind him smiling.
"Tsubaki said I should hug Kid more because he's been down lately" Byakuya answered indifferently and walked inside.
"You figured it out?" She giggled.
"That's crazy Tsubaki and a little mean but I like it. To tell Byakuya to do that when he seems super oblivious to Kid. I can't believe it took this long to see" He slapped a hand to his forehead.
"It's not mean. By doing this Maka and I hope it'll get Byakuya to realize it"
"Whatever, I wonder if Soul knows" He ran inside to call his friend. Tsubaki sighed before finally shutting the door.
It was a warm evening. Byakuya yawned while Senbonzakura crossed her arms. They were sitting on a bench outside a small Italian restaurant. Their target was inside. They had arrived in Las Vegas a couple of days ago and had spent much of that time gathering up information on their hitman. Byakuya usually didn't like to rush into things. So the pair had taken their time. His name was John Parker. He wasn't Italian but was usually hired by the mafia because of how well he did his job. His work was never messy, never left fingerprints and disposed of the body very well if it was required. He also had no problems with taking out witnesses, women and children included. They had followed him enough now it was time to make their move. Two older men walked out, huddled together and talking together "That John is acting stranger and stranger" One said while puffing on a cigarette. "I'd say he'd been drinking but he hasn't touched the stuff all night". His friend nodded in agreement.
"He creeps me out now. You couldn't pay me to hang out with him. Somethin's changed bout him"
"Hey shut up, there're kids here"
"Awww they aint gonna tell nobody. Lets get outta here. I don't wanna be around when John leaves" With that the two men walked away still talking. Byakuya frowned. Something wasn't right. From what he had heard this John was a calm and even nice guy. You wouldn't suspect him of being a hitman.
"You're thinking the same as me" Z stated "Lets get at least Kid or Maka to come up here"
"No" He snapped "We can do this, if we go back now they'll all think we cant complete any assignments. I don't want that hanging over my head. I was captain for crying out loud" His cheeks reddened slightly in anger "I should be able to handle this"
"Whatever" Z sighed. Before he could give a snarky response John walked out. He seemed normal enough. He wore a suit despite the warm weather. He was also slightly short and didn't look at all menacing. He either didn't see them or didn't think they were anything to worry about because he darted across the street. Byakuya stood, waited a few seconds then followed with Z right behind him. Byakuya thought about how lucky they were that the man wasn't going to the main part of Vegas. He had no issues with taking him out there but he didn't want to deal with all the people who would see. He held his hand out knowing Z would get what he meant. She did. In an instant she had transformed into his sword. The man stopped. Byakuya did too.
"I know you're following me little boy" He turned and gave a disturbing grin. There was something wrong with him, Byakuya felt annoyed with himself that he couldn't put his finger on what it was. "I've heard of you meisters and weapon partners. I can't believe they've been training kids to do this but doesn't matter to me. A soul is a soul". Byakuya's eyes widened. There was no way…
"You're a hollow!" He said. It was John's turn to be surprised.
"How did you know that? I heard from others that they don't teach you brats about us so you have no idea how to defend against us and therefore make tasty treats"
"I am Byakuya Kuchiki. Captain of the Sixth Division" There was a pause then the hollow started laughing.
"He doesn't believe you" Z whispered which Byakuya even angrier. He ran straight for the man/hollow and cut him. He hollered in pain. Then in anger it tried to grab him but Byakuya ducked and kicked him. As he stumbled backwards he shot a dark substance at Byakuya. He managed to dodge the first one but a second one latched itself onto his arm. He immediately collapsed onto the ground. His vision was becoming hazy.
"I'll change back" Z said but was stopped by her friend.
"No" He answered weakly "He'll hurt you". She started to argue with him just as the hollow started making his way back to them. His arm turned into a tentacle as he used it to try and pull Byakuya to him but was instantly hit with a powerful blast that sent him reeling back once more. Kid stood with Liz and Patty in each hand. He quickly set them down and tried getting the black goo off of Byakuya who wasn't responding at all. Seeing the man getting back onto his feet he grabbed his guns and aimed at the stuff. The shots were enough to cause the substance to harden then break off. "Byakuya!" He shook him. Black Star had told him to check on their friend before he and Tsubaki had left. Kid was glad he had listened though at first he wasn't going to because he didn't want to deal with Byakuya's anger if he found out. The hollow was beyond angry now and came charging at Kid who managed to lead him away from where Byakuya was.
"Get up!" Z said sharply "Up!" He tried to do as he was told. His legs were wobbly but his vision was getting better. In fact he was able to see that Kid was losing. Liz and Patty had been knocked away out of his hands. They had changed back into humans and lept onto the hollow but he threw them off easily. "The hollow was right. They will lose because they haven't been taught what he is and therefore can't defeat him. Say it" Z told him
"I've already tried, you know that" He answered referring to the command that used to unleash thousands of cherry blossom like blades. He had tried several times when they had practiced together but it always amounted to nothing. He watched as Kid dodged another attack, he could hear Maka and Soul running up. They'd be hurt too. He also watched as Soul turned into a scythe so Maka could wield him. They cared about him. The realization finally hit him. He had been so focused on trying to leave and not wanting to build any relationships that he hadn't even noticed that he actually had friends. It had been a long time since he had any. Even when he was in the Soul Society people usually just left him alone because of how cold he was. "Yes Byakuya you have friends" Z said gently "Now protect them like they're doing for you". He gave a simple nod.
"Kid, Maka stand still" He ordered. The two looked at him as if he were crazy. They had managed to get the hollow down or at least they thought. Byakuya could see him slowly transforming into his original form. "Don't move" Then to the hollow he said "I don't usually repeat myself but I will tell you this last time before you die. I am Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Division". He held his sword up and said "Scatter Senbonzakura".
"What's he doing?" Maka asked keeping an eye on the strange man she had been fighting.
"He told Z to scatter"
"What does that mean?"
"I have no clue…"
"Kid" She got no answer " Kid! What is it?"
"Maka look". She listened to him and turned her attention to Byakuya. Pink petals floated around him.
"Stunning" was all Kid said. She wasn't sure if he was talking about Byakuya, the petals or both.
"His wavelength, I can see it! It's huge" She gasped.
"See it?" Soul changed back and immediately put his hands on his knees. He was panting "I can FEEL it Maka!" Liz was also gasping for breath while her sister had to sit down. Even the hollow was trying to walk away "You are a Reaper!" It howled. Suddenly the petals came straight at the hollow as he tried escaping. There wasn't even time for him to scream. When it was done the petals disappeared and he was lying on the ground dead. Z changed back in time to catch Byakuya who was still weak from the black substance draining him. She looked at the children as they stood there in shock. She could see a few people who had been milling about gasp and point.
"We need to get out of here" She said sharply. Kid was the first one to come out of his shock. He raced over and summoned his skateboard like board.
"My father bought me a house here in case I ever needed it" He mumbled. Z nodded and helped Kid get Byakuya on his back. A police siren sounded in the background.
"You need to go now! We'll all catch up, just get him to the house. Ok?" Kid got on his board
"See you guys there, Liz and Patty know where it is" Z gave a nod then motioned for him to leave. He was gone just as the police car pulled up.
As raced down the street he felt Byakuya's breathing on his neck and blushed.
"Sorry…" He was mumbling
"About what?" Kid asked
"I shouldve…protected y-you guys more" Kid's eyes widened as he listened to him talk. That black stuff had done something to him.
"I h-hadnt realized all of you c-cared about me"
"Of course we do, you're our friend"
"But y-you care about me m-more than that" Kid said nothing "Everyone t-thinks I'm oblivious b-but I'm not. I chose to ignore it b-because I was so focused on going home"
"So what are you saying Byakuya?" he asked quietly "You'll go on a date with me?"
"N-no, Kid. Y-you don't understand …"
"I don't understand what? That you're the most beautiful and symmetrical person I've ever met? Maybe you like girls right? I'm such an idiot" He wailed.
"My idiot then" Byakuya whispered causing Kid to blush even more "M-maybe if I wasn't so old…" His voice trailed off.
"What do you mean? Byakuya?" His breathing was deeper. Kid could tell he had fallen asleep.
Sunlight coming in through the windows woke Byakuya up but he didn't open his eyes yet. He could hear low talking in the room. Everyone was barraging Z with questions.
"We waited til this morning now explain like you said you would" Maka said.
"What did he mean by 'captain' and how did you turn into all those petals?" Liz asked.
"Yeah and what was that thing last night?" Patty added "None of the few witnesses that were there saw the man as he transformed. We had to make up a story that he was attacking us!"
"Well he was" Soul mumbled but they kept talking. Byakuya slowly opened his eyes. They were all in a fairly large bedroom with everyone near the door except for Kid. Byakuya didn't see him there. He sat up, looking around.
"I'm right here" Kid said from off to the side. Byakuya smiled and was about to say something when he stopped. The look on Kid's face told him that he was pissed.
"Kid what's wrong?" He asked, his voice still scratchy from sleep. His friend said nothing but instead went back to the book he had been reading. Did I do something…" His voice trailed off as he remembered what happened when Kid took him away from the scene last night. "Oh" He ran a hand through his hair.
"You remember" Kid closed his book "Byakuya you knew I cared about you, you should've told me that you didn't feel the same instead of making me look like a fool to everyone"
"That wasn't my intention" He said quietly "Its really complicated"
"I'm sure it is" Before Byakuya could respond Kid turned away "He's awake" He announced to the rest of their friends. Immediately they were all near the bed. Byakuya wanted to talk to Kid but he had moved further away. Z watched this and decided they all should know so standing on the bed she cleared her throat. Everyone stopped talking to look at her. She then went on a brief talk about what hollows were, Soul Reapers and the Soul Society and finally how they had ended up where they were. When she finished the room was deathly silent until Patty spoke up
"You expect us to believe that?"
"No, Black Star didn't from Byakuya has told me which is why he kept it to himself" Z pushed her glasses back up.
"It makes sense" Maka said "I mean we were always warned if we saw something that other people couldn't see then we should leave it alone. None of us ever understood what our teachers meant by that until now. Hollows and Soul Reapers cant be seen by most people"
"And you were a captain?" Soul asked Byakuya who nodded "That's so cool"
"I cant believe you're stuck here like this because you got drunk basically" Liz snorted.
"Yeah, the one time I decide to go out with my lieutenant" He grumbled though he couldn't blame Renji. Before he left Byakuya had actually been trying to be nicer to others. He had become better friends with Renji who offered to give him lessons. He had scoffed at the idea at first, Byakuya Kuchiki needing lessons on how to be nice? But when Rukia came to him with a new outfit from the human world and asked if it looked alright he had answered it seemed a little tight around the middle. That had sent his sister into a depression for at least a day, so maybe he had needed lessons on how to be a tad nicer. He smiled at the memory. He was starting to get homesick.
"How will you get home?" Maka was asking. He shrugged
"I don't know yet"
"Can you please do the petal thing again?" Patty whined "That was amazing!". Byakuya looked at Z who smiled and gave a nod.
"Scatter Senbonzakura" There was a bright light before she transformed into the cherry blossom like blades. As everyone 'ohhhhh' and 'awwwww' he watched Kid who had remained silent the entire time. Kid was watching the petals too but when he sensed eyes on him he looked at Byakuya. He was still angry but seemed a little calmer. Byakuya had no idea of what to say to him not that he'd get a chance to talk anyway. A black cat jumped onto the open windowsill. At first Maka thought it was Blair but it wasn't wearing her usual hat. It leapt onto the bed, walked over to Byakuya's lap and sat. As if that wasn't strange enough then it began to transform. Z turned back into her human form in time to catch the cat turn into a familiar person. Byakuya's eyes widened as he tried to move away.
"Little Byakuya!" Came the annoying greeting from Yoruichi Shihoin