I do not own bleach
I'm going to have to reedit this chapter at a later date, I just wanted to get this out, and also announce that there will be a hiatus as I pivot towards school.
She was never supposed to wake up in his arms, not after she left 100 years ago. Yoruichi felt she was being too optimistic when she hoped for them to keep some semblance of the friendship they had in the past. Yet, here they were, lying in the grass a tangle of limbs, her head resting on his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart.
She wondered what could have been. How the world would have changed is Yoruichi decided to stay in the Seireitei and marry Byakuya. Of course, Byakuya was never even aware that was a possibility. Her family wanted her to marry Omaeda initially , but that wasn't the only option given. She would have been allowed to abdicate from her positions as head of the Shihoin family and become the wife of a great lord.
Would we have been happy, Yoruichi wondered. She couldn't help but think, it was known that Byakuya loved his wife with a passion that was rare in Soul Society. Yet with Hisana's death, her former student grew cold and bitter. If she was his wife, would they have been happy. Would Byakuya treat her with the same love and compassion that he showed his late wife? Or, would their relationship be cold like the marriages between most noble men and women in Seireitei.
Even worse, would Byakuya ignore her the way Kisuke did, content to let her spend her days alone unless he needed her. Yoruichi felt a tear come to her eye, a tear she blinked away as Byakuya began to stir under her. She decided that she could dream, that in another life, they might have been happy, but that it didn't matter, she was too old for regrets.
Closing her eyes, she inhales his scent, the smell of cherry blossoms drift into her nostrils. She curls around him, her golden eyes look at his sleeping face.
I wonder what he tastes like.
It's not the first time she wandered, far from it. She was curious when he was still a boy, and when she saw him as a man grown for the first time, the same scandalous thought ripped through her mind. Even as she retreated carrying Ichigo on her back.
Yoruichi straddled his waist, it was not desire that fueled her, merely curiosity. That's what she told herself as she lowered her lips to his own. Byakuya wouldn't mine she told herself, what was an innocent peck on the lips between friends.
He didn't mind when when she teased him in his youth, nor did she mine when she caught him spying on her in the Shihoin Hot Springs. Not that she let him know she knew he was there, she simply bathed like normal, occasionally putting on a show.
She pressed her lips to his, a chaste kiss, little more than a peck on the lips.
Byakuya's arms snake around her, pulling her down to him. Byakuya held her tight, both individuals seemed surprised. Byakuya looked confused, and Yoruichi felt herself blush
It was Byakuya who initiated the kiss this time. Softly With tender lips that left her breathless and sent shivers down her spine.
He rolled her over, and she found herself on her back, her eyes staring uncertainly into the Captain of the 6th division who radiated a warmth that brought a wetness between her thighs.
His lips touched her cheek, and she shivered from the fleeting contact.
"If you want me to stop," he pressed a kiss to her collarbone that made her entire body tremble, "Tell me," trailing up her neck, he kissed the corner of her mouth. " if you have-"
Yoruichi pulled him down to her, their tongues struggled for dominance, but even so, Byakuya was gentle and loving with her. She wanted neither gentle or loving, she wanted to be dominated. She wanted him to leave her breathless and to make her tremble with desire. She knotted her fists in his shihakusho, pulling him closer, causing Byakuya to groan as he fervently returned the kiss.
They rolled in the grass, a tangle of limbs, a different kind of game then the one they were used too as they kissed all the while.
"What are you two doing?"
Yachiru PoV
Byakuya and Yoruichi jumped apart from one another, both looking shocked. They were in each other's arms still, but quickly separated under Yachiru's confused gaze.
"Why are you here?!" Yoruichi spoke first, shooting daggers at the tiny lieutenant of the 11th division. Her dark skin was flushed and her golden eyes were wild.
"Because we're going to be late." Yachiru explained, reaching for and grabbing both their arms and trying in vain to drag them to their feet
"Pray tell Yachiru, what are we late for," Byakuya asked, rolling his eyes, Byakuya stood up. He offered a hand to Yoruichi who gingerly took it..
"Yeah Byakuya always did have abandonment issues." Yoruichi shrugged,, and Byakuya audibly sighed. "But, what exactly are we going to be late for?"
Yachiru smiled brightly, Byakuya shivered.
…
Perhaps it was wrong to be so excited for this, especially as the Captain of Squad 4, Restu should have been the first to speak out against such a deplorable act of violence. Instead she was excited, giddy even, the idea of Zaraki and Byakuya fighting until they could no longer stand was exhilarating for her.
She only wished that she could jump in the middle and take them both on, alas, the head Captain would never let her do that. Instead she would have to content herself to watch. Perhaps it was wrong for her to drag Isane here to watch the fight under the guise of providing medical attention to the injured, but perhaps it was cruel of Isane to wake Retsu up at 4 in the morning with a nightmare revolving around sushi.
She was not being petty, she was being fair.
"So a brutal Fight to the death with two of your most powerful fighters, is that normal for the Gotei 13, or is your brother just the Soul Society's favorite whipping boy," A Green haired girl asked Rukia Kuchiki. The pair sat right in front of Retsu in the stadiums hastily built by the 11th division.
"It won't be a fight to the death the Captain Commander would never let it go that far," Rukia assured, a nervous smile on her face. The Old Man in question stood in front of Retsu, radiating more power while napping then some captains did in their Bankai.
She ignored the twos paddling, caring little for Byakuya's arrancar mistress or Rukia's opinions on the fight. Instead she focused on Byakuya and Kenpachi who were talking to their officers. In one corner of the arena kenpachi chatted leisurely with Ikkaku and Yumichika. In the other, Byakuya spoke with Renji. It occurred to Retsu that she should talk to Byakuya about the arrancar, but decided that was future problem. Today she simply wanted to watch a bloody fight.
Besides, Retsu had no issue with Byakuya having paramours, but she wanted to remain Byakuya of his promise to spar with her.
...
The fierce rivalry between Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki was of whispered throughout Soul Society. Many divisions bet on when the two would finally snap and kill one another. Many theorized on who would win, and many more theorized on what would finally get the two to fight. However, like many rumors in Soul Society, there was a disappoint truth about the fierce rivalry between the two captains.
Namely, that it did not actually exist.
Byakuya and kenpachi had actually gotten along rather well for the most part. Byakuya preferred Zaraki over his predecessor, and was one of the 200 soul reapers that witnessed Zaraki slay the former Kenpachi. Byakuya of course respect Zaraki's decision to watch over Yachiru and kenpachi respect Byakuya's decision to go against tradition and marry a commoner. Kenpachi had always respected strength, so he respected Byakuya who was said to be one of the most powerful Captains to ever find a place in the gotei 13. The two would occasionally hunt hollows together, tell stories, and even just talk. The two actually got along great by the standards of the Gotei 13, yet that is not what anyone would expect.
Which means they would have to put on some kind of show.
"It is time I bring you to heel Zaraki," Byakuya said, and various members of the Gotei cheered Byakuya's proclamation. Squad 6, 2, and 10 happily cheered for Captain Kuchiki.
"Yeah yeah, shut up and fight,," Kenpachi said only half wasn't going to bother putting on a show like Byakuya. " Don't make this boring for me Byakuya, if you're holding back I'll know it.
Byakuya rolled his eyes and flashed forward, he was faster than Kenpachi. However, Kenpachi had speed and endurance.
A thin cut appeared along Kenpachi's bicep, and as Zaraki made to slash the noble, but byakuya simply flashed out of way. This game of cat and match continued for a mere moment's before zaraki tired of the game. He allowed byakuya's sword to cut him across the chest, but he then grabbed Byakuya's blade, holding tight, he bought his sword down on the noble, hoping to injure byakuya like he once injured Tosen.
Twisting out of the way, barely, Byakuya acted quickly, casting a low level destruction spell in the chest of the 11th division captain. Kenpachi grinned as the small blast exploded against his chest. Leaving Zaraki unharmed. Gripping byakuya's sword tighter, Zaraki swung Byakuya to the ground, and brought his own sword atop the lord, who let go of his sword and flashed away.
Kenpachi was evidently surprised, and looked up at Byakuya across the field of battle. He was surprised to see the wave of Blue energy rush towards him. Raising his own zanpakuto, Kenpachi forced his reishi into his blade and shot it forewards, cutting through Byakuya's kido with ease.
The kuchiki lord flashed to kenpachi's side, and gripped the hilt of his Zanpaktou, the blade was still being gripped in Zaraki's hand.
Scatter Senbonzakura
Byakuya said quickly, and flashed back just before Kenpachi's blade decapitated blades circled the 11th division captain, a whirlwind of death that enticed him quickly. Then Zaraki pulled off his eyepatch, releasing his limits, and he blew the petals of Byakuya's shikai away harmlessly. He rushed to Byakuya, with a speed that surprised the captain of Squad 6. Quickly recalling his blade, Byakuya mnet Zaraki blow for blow, and with every exchange he felt his arms strain under the pressure, it was like fighting Unohana all over again.
There was however one notable difference. Whereas unohana had the advantage in speed and strength, as well as kido, and even raw skill. Zaraki only had an advantage in strength. Byakuya flashed around zaraki again. His blade never connecting with kenpachi, but he presented himself as a constant threat, not allowing Zaraki to press the attack.
Byakuya did not wish to use his Bankai, not now. Which meant he would have to be creative with his attacks, which left only one option truly open to him.
"Struggling beneath the Rippling waves"
Kenpachi turned at Byakuya's voice, but Byakuya flashed back in time. Parrying a sword strike with one hand, Byakuya continued to gather energy in his other.
"The mountain's quake, the waters rise, the beasts awakens from his slumber."
Zaraki was fast, and with a lunge he was able to cut Byakuya across the chest, leaving a trail of crimson blood.
"Pesulance reeks, Famine strikes, War breaks, and Death calls"
Byakuya flashed across the field away from Zaraki. He faced his opponent and raised both his hands forward.
"Hado #89 Zennyo Ryūō (goodness woman dragon-king)"
A twirling vortex of blue energy shot forth from Byakuya's hand flash taking the shape of an oceanic wave before taking Shape of a Dragon's maul. The blast consumed zarqawi and continued forth past the captain of the 11th division, and would have done untold damage if it wasn't for the Captain Commander's wordless Bakudo #81
The wave of energy dissipated, and it took a minute after that before the smoke did as well. Their field of battle was tarnished, and the Captain Commander's bakudo was cracked. There in the center of all that carnage and destruction, stook a shirtless Kenpachi Zaraki. He was bleeding from his forehead, and the cuts from earlier had done their damage as well. Zaraki had burns covering his body, his left arm and shoulder were blacked and crisped from where he took the brunt of the attack.
"Not bad Kuchiki, not bad at all," Zaraki was smiling, both his hands were wrapped around the hilt of his Zanpaktou. "You know, impacting the old man's barrier thanks to your blast must have knocked some sense to me, because it all makes sense now."
"Oh," byakuya questioned, debating whether or not he should release his Bankai. It Seemed Zaraki was on his last legs, but one could never be sure with him. " Do elaborate, what is so clear to you now.
"Ha, i guess everything, would you like to see?" Kenpachi was radiating an interesting strength, it felt different then normal somehow, but byakuya couldn't quite place it. Byakuya didn't answer, and the maniac grin on his face spread even wider.
Kenpachi was glowing, more so than usual, and he raised his sword towards byakuya with a smile.
"Drink, Nozarashi," Kenpachi's sword transformed to a war axe larger than the man himself, and he rested it casually on his shoulder. The captain of the 11th radiated death.
"Holy Shit," Captain Hitsugaya said from the stands. Every Captain looked either surprised or horrified, with the exception of the captain Commander who didn't seem to care, and captain Unohana who seemed absolutely giddy.
"Byakuya! Don't Die!" Yoruichi called out.
"What she said!" Nel rang out as well.
Byakuya rolled his eyes, and spotted Rukia's nervous expression. His sister was busy talking to a very serious Captain Ukitake and Kyoraku. The Captain Commander's eyes were wide open, and Byakuya noticed his cane was gone, in it's place the leader of the Soul Reapers leaned on his Zanpaktou.
There was no use holding back at this point.
"Bankai Senbonzakura Kageyoshi," It was kind of Kenpachi to wait for Byakuya to wait byakuya to unleash his full power, but byakuya had a sinking feeling he wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart. As the full might of Byakuya's Bankai was unleashed, Kenpachi rushed forth, his new shikai in his hand.
Byakuya used all his blades to attack Kenpachi, who batted them aside effortlessly with his blade, and the few that made it through bounced harmlessly off his reishi hardened skin. Kenpachi reached him in no time, Byakuya raised a barrier using both Kido and his Bankai.
Kenpachi sliced through the barrier effortlessly, and Byakuya barely had time to move out of the way.
His bankai in it's current form was less than useless against Zaraki. Kido was out as well, nothing he had at his disposal would be powerful enough to put down Kenpachi. He could use level 90 kido, but the incantations were too long, and they were also illegal to use, so those were all out. Which meant he had very limited options.
"Byakuya, your boring me, stop being a bitch and fight," kenpachi called out, the wreck of a man casually wielded power that would make most Captains envious, actually, Captain Komamura looked really angry now that Byakuya thought about it.
Byakuya sighed, Retsu was going to be pissed when she learned Byakuya was holding back during their spare, but there was little he could do about that.
He collected his thoughts, the last time he used this form of his bankai, Ichigo kurosaki had managed to shatter it, but there was no shame in losing to Ichigo. Since that bitter defeat, byakuya had trained, and he believed perfected the majesty that was his Bankai. He calmed himself, and felt his power build. The petals of Senbonzakura gathered around him.\
"Shūkei: Hakuteiken," White energy, pure and potent shot forth from Byakuya. It condensed and formed itself into a single blade comprised of every petal of Byakuya's Bankai. Torrents of energy taking the shape of wings and a halo sprouted forth from him, giving him an angelic appearance. The final form of Byakuya's bankai, and by far the most deadly.
In this form, his reishi was equal to that of Kenpachi Zaraki, and he had far more control than he did.
"Are you ready, Kenpachi Zaraki."
"I am Kuchiki," Kenpachi wrapped both hands around his Zanpaktou and charged.