Starting Over
Chapter 5: Moving Forward: Part II
Squad 6
Kenpachi had forgotten to ask Byakuya about the attire for the wedding; and he quickly returned to squad 6's office. While entering the office he noticed blood on the floor; and at that time Rukia entered the office as well.
"Captain Zaraki, why are you here?" Rukia asked curiously, not noticing the blood on the floor.
"I came to Kuchiki, but I noticed blood on the floor and it doesn't seem as if anyone is here." He replied looking bewildered.
"Oh my! I'll go get Renji to help me look for him." Rukia said as she quickly ran from the office.
"Tsh, whatever. That noble captain sure can't seem to keep himself out of trouble-such a nuisance." Kenpachi said as he turned and left squad 6.
Somewhere in Soul Society
"Are you sure this is wise? He looks as though he's dead?" The servant asked.
"Are you questioning me, idiot? He'll be fine; the symptoms will only last temporarily. You need to get back before someone sees you." The masked man said.
Squad 6
Kenpachi hadn't gotten very far when he noticed a figure sneaking back into squad 6's barracks. Kenpachi walked towards the figure.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Kenpachi asked smirking.
"What do you mean, I work here." The servant nervously replied, not realizing he had been seen.
"I could swear that no one was here before. Now, I don't like repeating myself, but I'll ask you again; what are you doing here?"
"As I said before, I work here now you should leave before I call the guards."
Kenpachi grabbed the man's neck and raised him off the ground. "Where is Byakuya Kuchiki at?"
"I don't know!" the servant said grasping for air.
Kenpachi tighten his grip around the man's neck. "If you don't tell me what I want to know, you will find yourself being non-existence."
"I have no idea where he is at. I was only supposed to drug him." The servant said as he coughed trying to breath.
"Who is behind this? Before you think about not answering my question, my threat still holds."
"Someone who is seeking revenge on a family member; that is all I know."
"Evidently, you didn't understand what I said before, so let me make myself perfectly clear." Kenpachi said as he slashed the servant in his chest. "Now tell me who it is bastard!"
The man spat up blood and cough, "It's the Lemura clan." He said as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Dam fool, should have said so in the first place, Kenpachi said to himself as he started to leave. Rukia and Renji arrived back at squad 6. Rukia glanced at the slain servant on the ground and looked over at Kenpachi, as she called for squad 4 to attend to the man. She knew not to question Kenpachi's method but only asked him if the man said anything. Kenpachi told her what he said as he was starting to walk off.
Rukia and Renji contemplated on the next move and where they should look for Byakuya. It wasn't like they could go to the Lemura clan and accused them of trying to kill Byakuya. It was getting late and sunset was almost upon them.
"What should we do Renji?" Rukia asked as she starting to become anxious.
"I don't know, it's getting dark soon, but he could be anywhere." Renji replied looking off into the distance and feeling a familiar reiatsu approaching.
"Ichigo." Rukia said as she ran towards him and hugged him.
"What's wrong? Why is everyone standing out here?" Ichigo asked curiously hugging Rukia back.
"Byakuya is missing and we have no idea where he could be." Renji interjected as he observed how upset Rukia has become.
"He's not with Yoruichi?" Ichigo asked.
"No, someone or should I say, the Lemura clan has taken him because of revenge." Renji replied.
Ichigo routinely scratched his head as he tried to discern where Byakuya could be at. "Well it's getting dark and I don't think it would be wise to search at night. However, it's the only time that I can do since I am in training."
"How's that going for you?" Renji sarcastically asked.
"Just fine, why? You think I can't do it?" Ichigo snapped at Renji.
"Oh, I don't know…someone as dumb as you probably don't know what you're doing." Renji taunted.
"Oh yeah! I heard you weren't so good at Kido yourself."
"Will you two stop it! My brother is missing and here you two just want to stroke your ego!" yelled Rukia.
"Sorry," said both Ichigo and Renji.
"What's up with all this noise? Hey Ichigo, I'm still waiting for rematch." Kenpachi said as he swung his zanpakutou over his shoulder.
"Sure Kenpachi." Ichigo replied looking away.
"Well, so what are you all going to do, just stand there and look like a bunch of idiots or what?" Kenpachi impatiently asked.
"It's dark now; perhaps we should wait until the morning." Rukia somberly stated.
"Tsh, whatever, I'm going." Kenpachi said as he left the area heading in the opposite direction.0
World of the Living
Yoruichi paced around the room in Urahara's shop as it had gotten dark and late-yet no word from Byakuya.
"Why don't you just sit down and relax, Yoruichi." Kisuke said while he sat and sipped his cup of tea.
"Hush Kisuke, I'm just worried about Byakuya." Yoruichi said. "He said he would be here around 6pm and it well past that time." About this time Kisuke's phone ranged; it was Rukia asking him if Byakuya was with Yoruichi. After he responded no; Rukia told Kisuke what happened to Byakuya and that Byakuya was missing and they were going to resume searching for him in the morning. Kisuke offered his assistance and that he would tell the person that had continued pacing in the room.
"Yoruichi, why don't you come and take a seat." Kisuke commanded rather than a statement and gestured for her to have a seat.
"Why? What's up? Who was that on the phone? Is something wrong? Was it Byakuya?" Yoruichi asked in one breath.
Oh boy, how someone can speak all those words in one breath-was beyond his comprehension, he thought. "That was Rukia on the phone. Yes, something is wrong; and Byakuya is missing." Kisuke said as he lowered his lips back on his cup as he sipped his tea that had gotten warm.
"Yoruichi quickly rose from her seat, "I'm going."
"Going where?"
"Where do you think?"
"What are you going to find in the dark?" Kisuke asked, knowing it would be impossible to stop her at this point-but he had to try. "It could be a trap for you, like the last time-I suggest that you remain here."
"Like I said, I'm going." Yoruichi responded as she shunpoed away from the shop. Kisuke continued to sit there sipping his tea, as he thought; when will they ever learn.
Soul Society
Kenpachi had headed in the opposite direction of squad 11. However, he knew he couldn't travel too far since he had no sense of direction and Yachiro wasn't with him. He managed to arrive near the tower where Rukia was held prisoner before being brought to SG Hill. In fact, he stood in the same spot where he had ended Lt. Lemura's life. Uhm, if I were a criminal where would I take a noble captain? Oh yeah, I was one; however, criminals are dumb and they would be stupid enough to use the same hiding spot, I bet- Kenpachi said to himself smirking. Kenpachi decided to enter the underground sewage as he drugged his zanpakutou on the ground as he walked down the long narrow halls. He wasn't worried about anyone hearing him; in fact, he welcomed it. Kenpachi found the area where they had found Yoruichi at and he studied the door and tried to kick it down. Why this couldn't be easy instead of a nuisance, Kenpachi asked himself as he used his spiritual pressure to blast away the door. The room was dark and cold; and after his eye adjusted to the dark he saw Byakuya taped and gagged in the corner. "Well, well, well; you sure got yourself in a fine mess captain of the 6th squad. I'm getting tired of rescuing your ass all the time." Kenpachi said as he removed the tape and gag from Byakuya.
Byakuya slowly begin to raise himself up from the cold ground, "Thank you for assisting me and don't worry, I won't rely on a commoner like yourself to save me again."
"Tsh, whatever-let's go."
"Kenpachi, we have company." Byakuya didn't have Senbonzakura with him and he would totally have to rely on his Kido spells for the impending fight.
The masked man appeared before Byakuya and Kenpachi and quickly tried to slash Kenpachi in the back, but was only able to scratch the surface of Kenpachi's skin.
"What is this? Are you going to cut me or what?" Kenpachi taunted. Byakuya had stepped back from the two men as he prepared to do a kido spell. "Noble captain, if you don't want to get killed, I suggest that you do not interfere." Kenpachi stated. Byakuya did not respond as he stood there and thought-what the hell.
"I'm going to kill you and that captain of the 6th division!" The masked man yelled as he stepped closer to Kenpachi. "It doesn't matter which one of you goes first!"
"The only one you are going to be dealing with is me, so give it your best shot!" Kenpachi said as he readied his zanpakutou.
The masked man yelled to his other men and they quickly joined in the fight. "What's wrong, you can't fight your own battles?" Kenpachi asked. "Truly, you must be a weakling and why is your face covered? You truly are a coward; only cowards have help with fights and cover their faces so as not to be seen." Kenpachi taunted as he raised his spiritual pressure, "That's okay; I'll take you all on!"
Kenpachi was about to strike the three men that entered the fight when he heard an incantation. "Hadou number 33 Sokatsui" Byakuya's incantation to the three men that had appeared. "I thought I told you not to interfere in the fight." Kenpachi said angrily to Byakuya.
"I gave you no such promise." Byakuya coldly replied.
"If you two don't mind, I came here to kill you both!" The masked man screamed.
"I like to see you try." Kenpachi said as he stepped towards the masked man delivering a slash to his chest. The masked man returned another blow and this time he managed to slash Kenpachi in his chest also.
"Oh I see you got a little spunk about yourself; just the way I like it! Now, bring it on!" Kenpachi said.
"You're crazy." The masked man replied as he dodged an attack from Kenpachi.
"I'm getting tired of all this dancing around, let's just go ahead and end this; I'm getting bored." Kenpachi said as he raised his spiritual pressure while approaching the masked man.
About this time, Yoruichi had arrived in the SS and could faintly sense the fight between Kenpachi and the masked man; but she also faintly sensed another spiritual pressure as she took off in said direction. When she arrived, she didn't see anyone fighting; however, as she moved closer to the tower she noticed a stone was slightly ajar and she decided to investigate. She had finally found them.
"Byakuya! Are you alright? I heard you were missing?" Yoruichi asked excitedly.
"As you can see, I am fine." Byakuya replied, "But, why did you come here, you could get hurt?"
"I was worried about you, and why wouldn't I come?" Yoruichi responded with a twinge of anger in her voice.
"Well, isn't this nice? The former bitch captain of the 2nd squad and your Senpai is here to protect her former student-how lovely." The masked man taunted.
"I suggest you watch how you tread on my pride and my finance, you piece of low life trash." Byakuya said as he looked at the man as if his eyes were piercing the man's soul.
"Aww, did I hurt its feelings?" the masked man asked.
"Let me get this straight, you are fighting me, and now you will not get another chance to spew out such foolishness. I suggest you get ready, here I come!" Kenpachi said as he rushed to the masked man who was not able to hold Kenpachi off. Their zanpakuto's parried one another for several clashes of rounds. The masked man lost his footing as Kenpachi delivered the final blow across the man's chest. "Sheesh that was a boring fight; next time I expect a formidable foe. Well I see you two love birds are back together; until next time noble captain."
Kuchiki Manor
Byakuya and Yoruichi returned back to the manor as the trip there proved to be quite disheartening. Yoruichi seemed depressed at the fact that Byakuya seemed cold and detached again; this was becoming troublesome for her as it felt that perhaps it would be better that they went their separate ways and things would just go on the way they were now. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be. Yoruichi wasn't the one to become emotional over things; however, she did manage to release one salted tear down her cheeks. Byakuya, on the other hand, contemplated how he could have been more supported of Yoruichi and that he could have expressed his appreciation of her coming to see about him. But the feeling of being constantly attacked over a situation that happened years ago was unnerving to him. Byakuya reasoned that it wasn't really her fault that this was happening, it was the stupid idiots that couldn't get over that he was a highly-respected prestige noble; and sometimes people became jealous over such. He felt ashamed of his earlier behavior and new that if he didn't fix the situation now, Yoruichi would be out of his life for good.
"Byakuya, I think we need to have a conversation." Yoruichi sadly spoke as she walked to the garden.
"I agree, let's have a cup of sake before talking." He suggested as he went to get the sake and cups.
Byakuya returned with the sake and cups as he stepped out into the garden. It was dark, but from where they stood it was still something to be admired.
"Byakuya, I…" Yoruichi started to speak before he cut her off.
"No, let me speak first, please." Byakuya stated calmly. "I want to apologize for the insensitive way I spoke to you when you came to see about me. I should have been more considerate of your feelings. It's just that I am so tired of being attacked for something that is not my fault and yours either. It's just the way things are and some can't fathom that for the life of them." He said as he got closer to her. "I haven't had anyone that showed concern for me in a very long time and I am use to handling things myself. But, that doesn't excuse my behavior either. I love you Yoruichi Shihoun and never doubt my love for you; all I can do is to ask for your forgiveness on this matter."
Yoruichi took a sip of sake from her cup and thought about the words that Byakuya had spoken. She had always loved this cocky self-important man; and she knew he was always like this; so to speak. But she didn't want him to be an ice cycle with her; she loved him and he said he loved her as well. "Byakuya, I know that you love me and I love you dearly, but is it always going to be like this? Are you going to shut me out when things go wrong? We supposed to be a team. I really don't know if I can go through with this, if this is how it's going to be." She said as she turned away from him.
Byakuya walked up behind her and whispered in her ear, "What can I do to prove to you that this will never happen again? I can't afford to lose you." He turned her around to face him and held her chin in his hand. It almost felt as though he was beginning to lose her because of his foolish pride. He kissed her lips and again asked her, "What can I do to make things right?" Yoruichi sensed his desperation and she felt bad about this. But if he was being cold and insensitive about this, what would he be like if bigger problems occurred. She needed time to think this over; she knew he had apologized and he was sorry; however, she wasn't sure that he could make on his promise. "I don't know Byakuya, I know you are sorry-but I just don't know right now." She responded. Byakuya understood, but he had to try one last time. "I promised that I will never take your feelings for granted anymore; and I also promised that I would take you out for dinner. I know the dinner will not excuse my behavior, but I want to make it up to you. Will you at least let me try?" Byakuya said as he planted another kiss on her lips. "You are making this too hard for me, okay Byakuya; but if you do this again, no amount of making up will be able to fix it." She said as she took another sip of sake. "Perhaps not, but I know something that will right now." Byakuya said as he picked up her and took her to his bed.
Morning came and the sounds of bird chirping outside were an added welcome to the new day. Yoruichi awoke to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that was placed near the bed.
"Good morning my love." Byakuya said as he leaned over a kissed her forehead.
"Good morning dear." Yoruichi said as she arose from her slumber. If last night was what was called make-up sex, perhaps Byakuya and her needed to fight more. Her mind was still reeling from last night pleasure feast. She reached over and kissed him on the forehead and took a sip of coffee. She noticed a bouquet of roses with a card with her name written on it. Yoruichi carefully opened up the card with a poem enclosed in it:
…with all the peace I find
…here with your hand pressing close to mine
…so peacefully and calm inside
…like the sea at the ebb of tide
…without saying one single word
…the very depths of your soul can be heard
…..p: is for the privilege of loving and the privilege of being loved
…..e: is for the ease it gives the soul and mind
…..a: is for the answers in your search to find yourself
…..c: is for the calm you feel, if you liked what you find
…..e: is for everlasting
..let this love never cease…but have forever peace…like still waters running deep.
Yoruichi jumped out of bed and placed her arms around his neck, "Oh Byakuya! The flowers are gorgeous and the poem it was beyond beautiful! Thank you baby! I love you so much and I don't ever want to lose you." Yoruichi said as she passionately kissed him.
"You won't ever have to worry about that, I promised that to you." Byakuya whispered returning her kiss.
"So what are your plans for today?" she calmly asked.
"I took some time off to spend with you; and I am taking you to dinner as promised." He said as he took a sip of coffee from his own cup.
"Really, then I say we should get some breakfast to replenish our strength, because you are going to need it." She laughed as they both arose to eat breakfast with a quick shower.
"Byakuya! Ni-sama!" Rukia yelled as she entered the manor. Just then a house servant appeared to investigate all the yelling.
"Good morning Lt. Kuchiki, how may I help you this beautiful morning?" the servant asked as she bowed before the Lt.
"Has my brother returned? Is he okay?" Rukia asked anxiously.
"Yes, your brother has returned and he is fine."
"Can I see him?"
"I am sorry, but Master Byakuya has asked that he be not disturbed today." She said but she whispered that he was spending time with Lady Yoruichi.
"Oh, I see; very well then as long as he is okay" Laughed Rukia as she returned to bow and exited the manor. Rukia thought upon leaving that he was spending a lot of time with Yoruichi and was beginning to wonder what was going on between the two of them. She would have to find out.