Ch. 7- The Pendulum Begins to Sway

Things were becoming busier now. No longer could we continue to pass the days idly without purpose.

"Yoruichi…" Her scent. Her laugh. Her eyes danced in my mind again. I sighed and stared at my brush in hand and the empty canvas sitting on my desk. Grandfather had asked me to practice calligraphy again. It was strange. If this was the past, he would have never needed to ask me. Even calligraphy seemed to bore me now when she was not around. My thoughts continued to wander as I sank back into my chair and stared longingly at the ceiling…

A few days had passed since her birthday. We continued to train and I had finally mastered one of her famed flash step techniques, utsusemi. My shikai had also grown stronger now. I was finally able to call Senbonzakura's name with ease. This brought Yoruichi great delight. I had found a new strength from somewhere inside of me. A strength I could utilize to protect that Goddess. I had changed ever since that day...

"Daydreaming again, Byakuya-bo?"

That familiar voice brought me back from the windmills of my mind. There was the demon cat sitting on my desk with her legs crossed, back turned away, and peering over her shoulder curiously. I had almost leaped at the sight of her wearing the orange sweater I had bought for her birthday over her captain's attire. I was elated to see her wearing it. She looked radiant and the thought of her wearing my gift filled me with pride. Yet I admit I felt a tad dismayed not being able to see her tight muscles shifting under her supple skin.

"How do I look?" She leaned over to whisper in my ear exposing the right amount of cleavage. Her breath tickled and her voice was husky and low. "Were you thinking about me, Byakuya?" I reached over to wrap my arm around her waist to pull her in, and my hand caught air. Strips of cloth fell to the ground and I sighed. Her utsusemi. I dropped my head and clenched my fists in frustration. Why did she continue to evade me? We had just made love a few days ago. I thought I had finally had her...she said I had finally caught…

"Byakuya."

My eyes widened and a chill ran up my spine. Her voice had suddenly become cold. I had never heard her sound so stern before. I had never heard her utter my name with such an icy quality. I slowly tilted my head upward, swallowing the lump in my throat afraid to see the sight before me. I was truly afraid. For the first time, I did not know how to handle this new fear. A fear I did not understand. She stood away from me on the other side of the room near the door.

I felt a gap between us that seemed too far to bridge. I was motionless and unable to take a step toward her.

"Things haven't changed...Wait a little longer. I want things to remain the same, don't you?" She turned to face me now with her intense gaze meeting mine. That gaze was steadfast and strong. I knew it was completely unbreakable and it had forced me to nod in agreement. I was mistaken. Gravely mistaken. There was no way I had caught her yet.

The sound of her flash step broke me from thought once more. She was gone.

I dropped to my knees and pounded my fists against the hardwood floors. Why?! Why was she so damn secretive?! What was going on?! Was she hiding something?! Why wait?! We had already come this far!

"Byakuya." An ethereal voice in my head alerted me. This voice was different. A voice that I had not gotten accustomed to yet. I closed my eyes and walked amongst a garden inside of the world of my zanpakutou.

I approached a large cherry blossom tree in the middle of the garden that seemed to watch over the fields around it adorned with bellflowers. They were my favorite. I stared at the tree in full bloom as it emitted a vibrant white aura that could easily blind anyone other than myself. "Why have you called me here? I am busy."

A woman materialized in a multi-colored yukata with long white hair that draped down her robes. Her eyes were a soft pink hue and she held a warm smile. This was my sword. My partner. Yes, this was the world of Senbonzakura.

"Byakuya...I sensed that you were in distress." My eyes widened. "That is none of your business. Stop reading my thoughts…" I looked away to the grass in embarrassment.

"But you called me here, Byakuya." My eyes widened and my eyes left the ground to meet hers. Senbonzakura reminded me of my mother somehow. The warm feelings I had shared with her of comforting embrace and warmth in her arms. The feeling of understanding and safety…

"I would not have materialized if you had not needed me. There is no reason to be ashamed for wanting comfort or advice." She turned and walked over to the tree behind her. I watched as she gently placed her delicate hand against the bark. "Do you know why I am a sword that manifests itself as cherry blossoms, Byakuya? It is because a tree does nothing but endure. Without its soil and water, it is weak. Its petals scatter as the seasons change, but it is always able to bloom once more. Do you understand why I am telling you this?" She turned to face me now as her hair shook in a gust of wind that passed through. "I tell you this, because you must endure. Shihoin Yoruichi is your greatest strength, and she is also what makes you most vulnerable. It is the deep love you feel for her that has the power to make you strong, but also make you walk a dark path. Just as you see me now, I am warm and inviting but able to cut down my enemies if that is your wish. Byakuya, you must endure."

My eyes filled with anger and the sky began to gray. "What are you trying to say about her?! You know nothing of the way I feel and the bond we share! Don't pretend to understand and push your logic onto me. I swore I would protect her. She is the reason why I was able to learn your name! She is the reason why I am strong! She is the reason I am a man! Don't you dare try to tell me she is dangerous! Mind your own business!" I screamed and her gaze remained unchanged. I panted in anger and confusion. What was this I was feeling?! Why did I have such little control over my emotions?! I was a fool.

I left Senbonzakura and opened my eyes. Night had fallen and I was not sure what to do with myself. I was not sure whether Yoruichi had even wanted to see me. I didn't understand anything. Why did I feel so in the dark? The thoughts of her body against mine and the feeling of being inside of her now felt too painful to think of when they once filled me with such glorious rapture. I could feel the pain cutting through me like a blade.

With that, I decided to take a bath and attempt to relieve my mind of this stress. I must retain my composure at all costs.

As I made my way through the Kuchiki house, I overheard voices. These voices were that of my grandfather and other unfamiliar people. I couldn't help the curiosity as I stood within earshot and concealed my presence to not be found. Then, I heard my grandfather speak.

Looking back on it, I still don't know if I regret eavesdropping.

"It seems like Yoruichi and Byakuya have taken a great liking to each other. I believe the arranged marriage will work perfectly and this will act as a liason between the two noble houses. Making her his sensei was a great idea I must admit thank god she agreed to the idea! They have learned to love each other devotedly and grow stronger by the day. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the soul society i'm positive."

...What?

Arranged... Marriage?

This...is a joke right?

I flash stepped away as swiftly as I could without a second thought. Within a moment, I was in front of the waterfall where her and I had first met. The tears clouded my eyes immediately and fell with no restraint.

"No...this couldn't have been planned. This couldn't have all been a plan to unite the two houses...no...that's why she's been so secretive...I...trusted her...this...can't be!"

I cried. I had never felt so betrayed. Every memory flashed in my mind as a burning reminder of how much of a fool I was. Senbonzakura was right. She was warning me. Was everything we had shared truly a lie?!

Yes.

They were.

Don't kid yourself.

She is not the perfect goddess you thought she was.

This was a plan. For the sake of lineage and social status.

The world was a dark place after all. You saw it in rukongai.

She doesn't love you. Otherwise she would have just told you.

Those words were screaming in my mind clawing at my emotions. I had stayed there sitting by the waterfall lost in thought for what seemed like forever. I had stayed there until my mind was silent enough to only hear the sounds of the rushing water.

"I am sorry Yoruichi. You did not want things to change between us...but they already have."

AN: Finally updated! Tell me what you think please review! Before you complain, please don't shoot me for making Senbonzakura female. For the purpose of the story, I couldn't envision her as a man so I thought it was better this way. Thanks again and hope you enjoy! :)