Author's Note: Okay, Sorry... I'm just gonna give you all an excuse in this little box right here... so it's up to you whether or not you want to read it... I'm giving you a choice this time without an ounce of guilt... I promise... 3 So there is a perfectly good reason as to why I haven't been writing as much as I've been wanting to... In the month of March 2011, my father passed away from lung cancer. So I've been basically greiving his loss since then... On top of that starting September 2011, I moved into college. So if you don't get what I'm saying, I've been under a lot of stress and Aneko and Byakuya's drama just adds to that stress... I take my characters VERY seriously... So seriously that I get affected by them, but anyway... I don't want to keep talking like this. I hope you like this chapter and please if you can... REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! XD
Can I Go On? (A Byakuya Kuchiki Love Story)
Book Two, Chapter Nine
Audacity to Face Hidden Reality
"Good morning, Captain! Did you sleep well last night?"
Byakuya looked up and saw his lieutenant, Ginjiro Shirogane, beaming at him. He sighed, a bit annoyed, since he was up all night doing some unfinished paperwork.
"Oh… sorry, captain… I didn't know my day off would throw you off your schedule." Shirogane chuckled a little bit, scratching the back of his head, "But don't worry! I'll do twice as much work today!"
Byakuya watched his lieutenant jump around the office, full of energy, which gave Byakuya even more of a headache.
"Please just get me my tea…" Byakuya mumbled, massaging the temples of his head with his forefingers.
Shirogane looked at Byakuya with a frazzled look, completely forgetting his captain's cup of tea and bowed.
"S-Sorry, captain! I sent one of the other shinigami to do it, but I'll get on it immediately!" He said, quickly placing the papers on his desk and heading out of the office.
Byakuya looked around and sighed in relief.
"At least I'll get a little peace and quiet for a few minutes." He whispered, turning his chair around so he was able to look out the window. "Maybe I should open the window today. A little fresh air will do wonders for me."
Aneko opened the sliding doors of her room and looked outside. The crisp air blew against her face as she smiled, stepping out on the walkway that led into the small garden. She stretched her arms out and let out a small yawn. Another beautiful day… Aneko thought, happily.
Aneko walked back inside her room and turned to her futon, where she saw Etsu quietly sleeping in a little ball under the sheets. Aneko smiled before disappearing behind her changing screen and changed into her school uniform.
It took a few moments, but Aneko stepped out and dusted off her red and white student shinigami uniform. Around her waist, she had already tied up her zanpakuto to her belt.
Aneko went over to her vanity table, got a small comb, and began to comb her long black hair. As she did, she made her way back out into the walkway and sat down on the wooden boards. She began to hum quietly.
"When do you intend on returning back to the World of the Living?"
Aneko stopped her humming and ceased the combing of her hair. She placed down her comb and turned her head to look at a beautiful ageless woman in a black kimono stare at her. She had long shiny white hair that cascaded down her thin body and encircled the walkway where she stood. Her eyes shone brightly against her pale skin an unnatural light green glow. Aneko smirked.
"Monshirochou, it's rude to suddenly appear next to a person who is deep in thought."
Monshirochou looked down at her master and sat down in a graceful manner as Aneko turned her attention back to the garden.
"You are as deep in thought as those birds are aware of what they are actually singing."
"Monshirochou…" Aneko said, playfully, glancing at her zanpakuto.
"Aneko… don't play coy with me. We've been here in the Seireitei for the past 2 months already. I fear for the safety of both that girl and—"
"You changed your kimono…"
Monshirochou looked at Aneko with wide eyes, but they softened. She turned her head down at her black kimono that was now decorated with grey butterflies and sighed.
"You know I have no control over what I wear."
Aneko looked at Monshirochou's pitch black attire with emotionless eyes. A zanpakuto is the personified representation of its bearer's fighting spirit and soul. Everything about a zanpakuto, from its ability to its looks, represents a piece of that. Aneko's mind flashed back to the image of the woman beside the white evergreen tree. She wore a beautiful white kimono that was further decorated with blue butterflies. That was the first time Aneko met Monshirochou in that snowy wasteland that her zanpakuto called home.
Monshirochou eyed Aneko with a serious expression and said, quietly, "I'm worried about you, Aneko."
Aneko looked at Monshirochou and smiled, as she turned back into the garden, "There's nothing to be worried about, Monshirochou… I'm just playing it by year."
"Year after year, we get the same amount of paperwork and year after year, the results are the same: more paperwork. I don't understand what the possible need for this amount of paperwork is." Shirogane whined, as he balanced both a large stack of papers in one hand and a tray of green tea in his other.
Shirogane made his way to the main office slowly, his eyes quickly shifted back and forth from the stack of papers to the tray. A sweat drop beaded down his face. It took him awhile, but as he looked up, Shirogane saw the door to the office just a few steps away. He sighed in relief, but as he reached the door, he stopped. He heard voices come from within the office.
"Oh, you didn't know, Captain Six?" A voice said from within the room.
Shirogane's eyes widened. The voice was easily recognizable as it had a thick distinguishable Kyoto accent. Shirogane leaned against the wall right outside the door and closed his eyes. He knew the man in there was none other than the captain of Squad 3, Gin Ichimaru.
"I don't accustom myself to be knowledgeable in idle gossip, Gin…" Shirogane heard Byakuya's voice say in his usual deep and emotionless tone.
There was a pause and a chuckle came from what seemed to be from Ichimaru.
"Of course, Of course, Captain Six… forgive me for my forgetfulness…" Ichimaru chuckled, lightly, "Well, Aneko herself told me that she's been dating Kanji for the past 2 months… quite happily as well."
There was a small pause, before Ichimaru spoke again. "I just thought you wanted to know. Oh and will you look at the time? My lieutenant gets a bit panicked whenever I am not at my desk in the morning. Have a good day, Captain Six. I hope we'll be able to talk very soon."
Shirogane listened as Ichimaru's steps grew louder and then he saw the captain step out of the room. They made eye contact, Ichimaru's lips curling into a wide smirk. He chuckled and briskly walked down the hall, disappearing around the corner. Shirogane watched until he was gone, but noticed a piece of paper fly away from Captain Ichimaru's person. Shirogane walked over to the paper and read what was written on its white surface:
Do what you do best.
"Aneko? Aneko? Are you in here?" A soft voice called out, as Aneko's door slid open.
Lady Horoko stepped in silently and looked around the room. Her eyes stopped on the futon cover that rose and fell slowly. She sighed and walked over with an annoyed expression.
"Even after all these years, you still don't know when to wake up, Ane—" Lady Horoko began to say, but before she ripped the covers off whoever was sleeping, she noticed thin threads of brown hair lay gently on the white pillow.
Lady Horoko looked confused at the threads and slowly pulled the cover down from its edge to see who was actually underneath. As Lady Horoko pulled the cover down, two big brown eyes met her confused gaze, startling Lady Horoko.
"Oh my!" Lady Horoko gasped, but then she smiled, "Etsu, you shouldn't pretend that you're sleeping… you gave me quite a shock.
She watched as Etsu sat up in the futon, her hair messed up in knots and disheveled, and rub her eyes. She yawned widely, looking at Lady Horoko with a sleepy expression. Lady Horoko smiled and looked around.
"Did Aneko leave already? Without breakfast?" Lady Horoko inquired, as she got up and looked behind the changing screen.
Etsu yawned one more time and said, quietly, "Yes ma'am…"
Lady Horoko turned to her and smiled, absolutely adoring Etsu's small cute voice. She walked over, picked up the small girl in her arms, and kissed her on the cheek.
"Well, if Aneko didn't have breakfast, that surely doesn't mean we should miss out too. Come along. I'll have the maids whip up something for this little sleepy princess. Then we can do some gardening and some games until Aneko returns. Maybe we'll get to play with some butterflies while we're out there…How does that sound, Etsu-chan?"
Etsu smiled widely and wrapped her arms around Lady Horoko's neck, yawning as she did. Lady Horoko smiled and made her way into the hallway outside Aneko's room, but as she did, she stopped halfway through the door.
She turned back to the room and sniffed the air. Her eyes narrowed. Her eyes scanned quickly around the room, but it was the same as she left it, so Lady Horoko slowly turned and walked out of the room. Waiting outside was the head maid, Kanna, and in her hands were clean sheets and a new kimono for Etsu.
"Good morning, my lady. Breakfast is waiting for you in the dining room." Kanna said, respectfully with a bow.
"Good… have Etsu eat before changing her." Lady Horoko said, handing the small girl over to Kanna.
Etsu wrapped her arms around Kanna's neck and yawned. She was still in a daze. Kanna giggled and took Etsu willingly, but then she looked at Lady Horoko, who was turned back to the room.
"Is anything wrong, my lady?"
Lady Horoko looked at Kanna and asked, in a serious voice, "Do you smell that?"
Kanna looked at Lady Horoko confused and then sniffed the air. A faint smell of tobacco entered her nose, masked by the overkill of flowers. Kanna looked at Lady Horoko with a confused expression.
"My lady? Do you suppose..."
"Kanji smokes…"
Both Lady Horoko and Kanna looked at Etsu with wide eyes, but her face was hidden from them since she was over Kanna's shoulder.
"Excuse me?"
"Kanji was here last night… He smokes…"
Etsu yawned. Lady Horoko sighed and looked back into the room.
"I hate tobacco. It kills people. Make sure the smell is gone before Aneko arrives home. I'll have a talk with Kanji next time I see him. God, that boy…" Lady Horoko sighed, turning on her heel and walking down the hall.
Kanna followed closely behind Lady Horoko, holding the Etsu as she walked. Etsu's small fingers grabbed the edges of Kanna's kimono as she looked darkly through the doorway of Aneko's room. Her eyes stared at the white stuffed animal that was in the form of a cat. It lay limply on top of the futon. A skinny black box peeked out from under the cat.
"Great job! Reika, straighten your back. Try to predict what your opponent will do next!"
Aneko yawned loudly as she listened to her teacher bark out orders at the two sparing shinigami students. She was in the middle of combat training class and she was bored.
Aneko fell backwards, her hands behind her head, and laid down on the wooden floor with another big yawn. The girl shinigami next to her turned and giggled.
"Bored again, Aneko?" She asked, in a sweet voice.
Aneko looked at her and grinned. A boy's head popped out from behind the girl and looked at Aneko.
"Yo, Neko! You game for the tournament after school?" He said, brightly.
Aneko waved her hand to shoo him away and she said with a teasing expression, "Hell no! All you punks are going to have your asses handed to you if I competed."
"Whatever, Neko!"
"Silence! What part do you not understand when I say don't talk and watch? Maybe you idiots will learn a thing or two!" The teacher snapped at the whispering class. "Miss Mayako, sit up. This isn't nap time!"
Aneko chuckled and sat back up, looking at the two sparing students. The girl named Reika was the best of the best… that is before Aneko showed up. She was annihilating the boy she was sparring with, overpowering each of his weak parries. Aneko sighed and began to toy with her sleeve.
After awhile, the instructor clapped her hands together, making both Reika and the other boy stop sparring. They both looked at the teacher and bowed lowly. Reika wiped the sweat off her brow, but as she did, her eyes met with Aneko's shining purple eyes. Reika glared at her, but Aneko merely smirked.
Annoyed by Aneko's nonchalance, Reika threw her kendo sword in the pile and stomped off to her seat to drink her bottle of water. Aneko watched as she did with the same smirk plastered on her face.
"Someone needs to pull the sword out of her ass…" Aneko said.
Everyone who was in earshot of Aneko began to chuckle and laugh.
Reika snapped her head to Aneko and shouted, "You have something to say to me, you spoiled brat?"
Aneko let out an annoyed sigh, "Oh come on. Stop with the stupid name calling. You were the one who started it… tight-ass…"
"Oh! That's it!" Reika shouted, in a threatening voice.
Aneko watched as Reika picked up her real sword and begin to unsheathe it, but before the whole sword came out of its scabbard, the instructor stepped in between the two girls.
"That's enough…" She said, in a stern voice, "Reika, put that thing away. You know better. Aneko, apologize to Reika now!"
Aneko smirked, got up, and bowed lowly, before saying, "Forgive me. I just don't take people glaring at me for no particular reason very well…"
Reika scoffed and threw her sword down. She bowed back reluctantly and sat in her place. Aneko shook her head, but as she was about to sit back down, the instructor stopped her.
"Well, while you're up, Aneko, it's your turn."
Aneko sighed and turned to the teacher, whining, "Are we really going to do this again? Come on, teach."
"Don't call me that, Miss Mayako, and yes, we will go through this again. You'll be sparring with one of your classmates… Oh and put up your hair, young lady!" The instructor said, before looking around the class, "Any volunteers?"
Suddenly Reika shot her hand up.
"No, Reika. Not what happened last time… I can't afford you to be sent to the infirmary because of your vengeful antics."
A series of snickers and muffled laughter ensued afterwards as Reika put her hand down, embarrassed, but after awhile, no other hand raised in the air. Aneko leaned on one of the kendo sticks and yawned.
"Let's face it, teach. No one's going to volunteer, because of the stories that hover over my head every single minute I'm on the school grounds. It would be fine if they were just rumors, but you know more than anyone here that they're true. So let's just not do this and say we did." Aneko yawned.
The instructor turned to her and shook her head, "No. You were put in this class for a reason, Miss Mayako. To hone your skills as a shinigami and I won't have your skills rust while under my supervision. I'll spar you if no one will."
"Fine by m—"
But before Aneko could finish her sentence, a deep silky voice interrupted her and said, "I find it very inappropriate for a teacher to spar with one of her student after having her energy drained from instructing all her other students. Please… allow me to spar with Miss Mayako."
Everyone turned to the door that led outside into the courtyard to find the person who volunteered to spar against Aneko was. Aneko's eyes widened and the whisperings among the students rose. Standing at the doorway was none other than Captain Byakuya Kuchiki himself.
"C-Captain Kuchiki!" The instructor stuttered.
Byakuya walked over and picked up one of the kendo swords, examining its wooden structure. He turned his gaze to a nonchalant Aneko.
"Captain Kuchiki, please although you find me sparring with Aneko to be inappropriate, wouldn't you sparring with her be even more inappropriate? You are a captain, after all."
Byakuya didn't so much as turn to the instructor as he said, in a calm voice, "Yes, that is true. But is it not one of a captain's duties to begin evaluating the skills of academy students who might as well be entering the Gotei 13 in the near future…?"
Aneko's instructor was at a loss for words, but as she frantically tried to find a reason for them not to spar, Byakuya turned to the instructor with his intense grey eyes, leaving her stiff as a board.
"Or maybe you believe that I am wrong? That I, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, do not even know the simplest duties of a Gotei 13 captain… Is that it?" He said, coldly.
"NO! No! Not at all! T-That's not what I meant at all! It's just that…" The instructor spat out, now in a panic.
"Oh stop it already… Stop torturing the poor woman. You're the almighty captain and you can do whatever you want. We get it. So shut up and spar with me."
Everyone turned to Aneko, who was still leaning against a kendo sword. She sighed and shook her head. Byakuya's intense eyes narrowed as he watched Aneko walk to the center of the sparring ground with her kendo sword on her shoulder.
"Aneko…" The instructor began to say, but Aneko held up a hand to stop her.
"Sorry, teach. I'm going to spar with Byakuya no matter what you say. There's nothing you can do about it. Just sit there and watch. Besides, I'm convinced… this is be very… educational, to say the least." Aneko said, smirking as she stood in her combat stance.
Byakuya stepped out briskly to the opposite side of Aneko on the sparring ground and faced her, the wooden kendo sword at his side.
"Aw… this brings back memories, doesn't it, Byakuya?" Aneko giggled. "Last time we sparred like this was when we were still students together. Wow. How time flies…"
"According to the rules and regulations at Shinō Academy for each spar, there will be 5 rounds. Each round will be concluded once a student makes contact with their sparring partner with their kendo sword or if said partner is unable to attack. First one to win 3 rounds will be victorious." The instructor recited as Byakuya and Aneko stared each other down.
They both ignored the instructor as she continued with the rules and regulations.
"You know, just because you're a captain, I won't go easy on you…" Aneko teased, sticking out her tongue at Byakuya, unafraid of his imposing presence.
"Understood? On my signal, you will begin. Three… Two… One…"
"And just because I am a captain… I swear I won't go easy on you…" Byakuya said, seriously.
Aneko's eyes widened as she finally realized the intensity and the pure seriousness in his eyes over that statement.
Something's wrong… Aneko thought. What the hell is wrong with hi-?
But before Aneko got a chance to think about it, she head the instructor shout the word 'begin' and almost immediately Aneko found herself parrying a strong blow from Byakuya's sword.
Aneko gasped at his unexpected strength and slid backwards on the hard wood floors, finding her footing. Once again, Byakuya lunged forward, the tip of his wooden sword aiming at the space in between Aneko's eyes. She quickly dodged it and performed an acrobatic side flip. However, the second before Aneko landed completely flat on both her feet, she saw that Byakuya quickly changed his step and was now in front of her, his wooden sword coming down fast.
There was a loud cracking noise that caused everyone to flinch and then the sound of a wood hitting the floor echoed in the silent battling hall. The instructor and all the other students turned to see what happened.
There they saw Byakuya with both his hands on the hilt of the wooden kendo sword. They continued to trace the sword's body and saw that blocking the sword's initial target was Aneko's arm and what used to be her sword. She was kneeling on the floor in a defensive position, but what caught everyone's eye was the fact that Byakuya's sword rested on Aneko's head. A trail of blood ran down her forehead and down her flushed cheeks.
"That's enough. This has gone far enough. Captain Kuchiki! Please control yourself!" The instructor shouted, afraid that this spar would get out of hand.
No answer.
Byakuya and Aneko just continued to stare at each other down. Neither one of them neither moved nor blinked.
"Stand up, Aneko…" Byakuya finally said, his sword securely in place.
Aneko glared at him with her bright purple eyes and said just as calmly as Byakuya had done, "And if I say no?"
"Don't embarrass yourself, Aneko. After all the hype with the Purple Butterfly, are you really going to give up with just one hit from my sword? In front of everyone, too?"
Aneko grabbed Byakuya's sword and forcibly took it off her head. She stood up and turned to grab another kendo sword, not allowing this man to have the satisfaction of having this victory. She grabbed the nearest and sturdiest sword there was and went back in her original spar position.
Byakuya followed her lead and grabbed a better sword that didn't seem to be cracked. He returned to his original position and looked at her. She was serious now and that's the way he wanted it.
Aneko didn't turn to the instructor but said, "Start the match."
"No. Aneko, I will not allow this to continue…"
"If you aren't going to, I will." Aneko hissed. "I don't know what's gotten into you Byakuya, but I won't let this go lightly. I'm pissed now."
"Does it look like I care?" Byakuya said, coolly.
Infuriated at this point, Aneko charged forward and began to strike Byakuya, who blocked and parried each of her blows.
With each sound of wood colliding, all the students flinched and tried with all their might to follow the fight, but they were only students. While Byakuya was known for being a master at Shunpo, Aneko wasn't too far behind from his skill level. Not even the instructor could keep up.
Suddenly all the students and the instructor heard a loud thud and finally saw Aneko. She had landed on her back and Byakuya was sending the sword straight down on her. She rolled over and missed the tip of his blade by a hair. As the tip contacted with the floor, the sword broke in an instant by the sheer force of Byakuya's power.
Aneko heard Byakuya curse under his breath and using that moment of frustration to her advantage, she placed her hand on the hard floor and used the momentum to kick up, impacting Byakuya's chest. He slid backwards as she spun to a stop on the floor. She stood silently, facing him.
"Of course the only way you can fight well is if you fight dirty." Byakuya said in an annoyed tone.
Aneko smirked and turned away from him to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. This was the same blood that was caused by Byakuya elbowing her in the face.
"You pretentious bastard…" Aneko chuckled. "Let's see if you're still lying like that when I'm finished with you!"
In seconds, they were at it again. They both mirrored each other's movements as they grabbed a random sword off the ground and ran towards each other, but it was apparent that one of them was going slower than the other one. Now everyone could see Aneko's movements.
It was the 10 years of hiding that slowed her down. Against anybody else, her dulled skills would've been fine, but against a captain, no less a determined-to-kill-you captain, she literally had the skills of a newborn baby. She was losing energy fast, but it was her stubborn nature that kept her from giving up.
Aneko yelped in pain as Byakuya's sword came down hard on her hand that held the kendo sword, sending it flying against the wall away from her. Aneko cursed out loud and continued to dodge each of Byakuya's lightning fast sword thrusts and attacks. She needed a sword badly or else.
Aneko, as she dodged, glanced swiftly to the side where the other kendo swords lay. Byakuya quickly noticed her eyes avert from the battle and took this opportunity to aim in between her eyes once more unbeknownst to his fast opponent.
As soon as Aneko turned, she realized the change in his trajectory and the incoming attack, but it was too late and she knew it. She couldn't react and soon found herself being struck in the face, flying to the far side of the room, and sliding down to the floor. Her body fell limp against the wall as she felt excruciating pain. Blood trickled down her porcelain skin.
It was silent. No one breathing. All eyes were just on Aneko. Was she dead? Was she alive? The entire class, including the teacher, didn't know what to do. It was then Byakuya threw his sword to the side and bowed to the instructor lowly.
"Forgive me if I caused your class any disturbance. It won't happen again." He said, in his usual emotionless voice.
The instructor looked at Byakuya and shook her head, before saying, "Captain Kuchiki, with all due respect, I don't believe you can simply maul one of my students without any proper reason. I'm sorry sir, but I have no choice but to report you to the headmaster."
Byakuya stood back up and said, "I would be surprised and concerned if you did not. I will accept any punishment that will be given to me. I simply wanted to confirm something."
Everyone turned to Byakuya with a puzzled look, but their stares did not last long since a loud cough came from the far end of the room. It was Aneko.
"Confirm… what?" She spat, as she barely had a grip on what little strength she had left.
Byakuya turned to Aneko with an emotionless look, his slate grey eyes meeting squarely with hers. He was silent.
"ANSWER ME, YOU DAMN FOOL!" Aneko shouted, ignoring the searing pain in her head.
Byakuya made a turn to leave, but as he did, he said in a quiet tone, "To confirm how low you sank and to see whether or not deserve him…"
"What? What did you say?"
"I guess they are right… Garbage belongs with garbage… You and Kanji fit that role right perfectly, too. I guess the two people who give the Soul Society a bad name can find love in each other if not anywhere else. You 'sorry excuses for shinigami' deserve each other."
Aneko's eyes widened as she watched Byakuya walk away to the entrance of the training hall. She looked around and then something unexpected happened. Aneko began to laugh… loudly.
Everyone in the entire room turned to face her as she held her hand to her head and began to laugh uncontrollably. Byakuya stopped at the doorway and turned to her confused. He turned around and looked at the laughing Aneko.
"What are you laughing about now?"
"I can't believe I was so blind… You think you knew someone then you go away for a few years and he totally goes 180 on your ass… Oh, how the years can change someone." Aneko chuckled, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Now, I realize… you really are like your father."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he looked at her, her gaze on the high ceiling, before retaliating, "Maybe that's a good thing."
Aneko lifted up her arms in a mocking defense position and said, looking at him, "Oh… Don't get me wrong. Of course, it's a good thing. It's an absolutely good thing that you're exactly like your father."
Byakuya then watch Aneko's playful expression transition into a serious, cold-hearted look, before hearing her say, "Because I know now… That if we really were to fight… with real zanpakuto… I'd be able to kill you in an instant… Just like how I killed your father."
The whole room gasped and quickly turned to Byakuya who stood their dumbfounded. Even the stoic Byakuya couldn't hide the surprise in his face from what Aneko just said. Was Aneko stupid or something? What was she trying to achieve by pissing off the man who had her pinned against the wall and with no weapon?
Aneko slowly took out something from inside her uniform as Byakuya clenched his fist.
"Take that back… You of all people have no right to say such a lie…" Byakuya hissed.
Aneko revealed that it was a small fan that she had taken out and before she spoke, she began to fan herself, looking away from Byakuya in a mocking manner.
"Make me… Bya-kun…"
Aneko watched as Byakuya unsheathe his sword and place it in front of him, its long blade parallel to his body. She continued to watch as it began to glow and his lips began to move
"Scatter… Senbonzakura."
Kyoraku yawned widely and rubbed his eyes. He looked groggily outside the window and played with the rim of his teacup. He scratched under his straw hat and yawned again.
"Didn't get enough sleep last night, Shunsui?"
Kyoraku glanced over across the table and smiled. Sitting there with a cup of his own was Captain of Squadron 13, Juushiro Ukitake.
"You know more than anyone that I don't get enough sleep at night. That's my drinking time!" Kyoraku laughed.
Ukitake laughed and waved his hand, "Shunsui, don't say that out loud or else your lieutenant will get mad at you."
Kyoraku laughed along with Ukitake and then took a sip of his tea. He looked back outside.
"That's strange… it's getting cloudy. It's not supposed to rain today."
Ukitake looked outside as well and sighed, "Aw. This morning was so beautiful. It's such a shame that the weather changes so quickly."
Suddenly Kyoraku and Ukitake sensed a strong release of spiritual energy. Their eyes widened and they looked at each other.
"That spiritual energy… that's Byakuya's, isn't it?" Ukitake said in a worried tone.
"Yeah… you don't think?"
Kyoraku and Ukitake looked at each other, both with a concerned expression painted across their face. Without waiting another moment, they stood up.
"Why do I have that bad feeling Aneko is involved in all this?" Kyoraku sighed, tying his zanpakuto to his belt.
Ukitake chuckled, "How can it not be? She's the only person in the Seireitei who can make Byakuya step out of line like that. It was bound to happen."
Kyoraku looked at Ukitake with a smirk, "That's true, but we should get there before any innocents get hurt."
A loud crash and smoke erupted from within the classroom, destroying the door that led into the classroom and out into the courtyard outside. Several students ran out of the door portal, coughing and waving away the smoke. Suddenly there was another loud crash and a body broke through the wall and landed into the courtyard.
"Binding Spell, the Eighth! SEKI!" Aneko shouted, sending several small blue orbs of energy around her, blocking the waves of pink petals that followed her persistently.
Aneko slid across the grass and continued to dodge the petals.
Dammit… I can't release Monshirochou yet without getting hurt. He's not giving me any room to release her. Those damn petals are just too fast for me. Aneko thought.
She flinched as she felt one of the pink petals brush across her cheek, leaving a deep cut. She felt a large drop of blood build up and trickle down her cheek.
As Aneko continued to dodge the waves of pink petal-like blades, Byakuya calmly walked out from the classroom onto the walkway through the large gaping hole that dominated the wall. Although his face was composed, his mind was in turmoil. He knew more than anyone what the rules stated and he was breaking all of them. On top of that, he began to fear the emotion that boiled up inside of him. He didn't know exactly what it was that he felt for Aneko, but at the moment, he just wanted to kill her.
"Is anything the matter, Aneko? You said you wished for a serious battle and I gave you one. Yet you don't even release Monshirochou…" Byakuya said, watching Aneko helplessly jump off the ground. "Or is it that you can't even release her with your level of spiritual energy?"
At that moment, Byakuya directed the petal blades with his hand, making them move faster through the air. They soared swiftly cutting not only the air in half, but everything in their paths.
Aneko cursed under her breath. She knew that he was aware of her helplessness and she knew he was savoring each time she mistimed her step and got cut. Already her body was bloodied, her uniform stained and tattered from the blades.
I guess I don't have a choice… Aneko thought. Let's hope for the best…
Aneko… be careful… He's stronger from before…
Aneko listened to Monshirochou's calm voice and nodded. I'm sorry… this might hurt just for a bit…
Byakuya watched with wide eyes as Aneko landed on the cut grass and made no attempt to dodge the oncoming blades, but he didn't hesitate or stop the wave of blades that collided with Aneko directly. However just a second before she was supposed to feel the millions of tiny blades cut into her skin, Aneko snapped out a small fan from her sleeve, opened it, and shielded her face. Excluding her shielded face, Aneko felt the blades cut deep into her body over and over and over again, making every inch of her body sting with pain. Byakuya watched her with wide eyes.
"You think a small fan like that will shield you? Do not mock m-!" Byakuya shouted, but he stopped.
For but a moment, Byakuya's grey eyes met Aneko's purple intense gaze through the waves of blades that cycled in large circles around her. He stood still as they stared at each other. Then he saw her lips move.
"Shine your light of death upon these grounds… Monshirochou."
There was a bright flash of light and almost immediately, Byakuya found himself, flash stepping away from his spot to avoid his own wave of small blades. He cursed in disbelief at the thought of someone changing the trajectory of his blades. He turned and his eyes narrowed.
Aneko stood there, unmoving and glaring at him. In her hands were two large red wooden fans that were simply decorated with a large grayish white butterfly across its silk fabric. They were fully opened, revealing the elegant butterflies. These fans were about twice as big as Aneko herself.
Byakuya kept his eyes on Aneko and took a slight step forward.
"I won't go easy on you." Byakuya said, quietly.
"I don't want you to…"
Byakuya stared at Aneko and vice versa, but only for a moment, because as the moment passed, Aneko sprung up and swiped one of her fans through the air, sending deadly knives towards Byakuya's body.
They were coming in so fast that Byakuya reflexively raised his hand and made his blades quickly shield his body from the knives. He heard the clang from the collision and watched Aneko withdraw her knives and flash step behind him. He sent his deadly pink blades after her, barely nicking the heels of her feet.
Damn… she's faster now than before… Byakuya thought. But not fast enough…
Byakuya gestured his hands so that half of his petals attacked Aneko from the front and the other half from the back, surrounding her with a storm of blades. She stopped in her tracks on the grass and allowed the blades to engulf her. His eyes widened immediately, because before any of the blades hit her skin, he saw Aneko cross her arms over her chest, fully open both her fans, and begin to spin rapidly.
Byakuya took a step back as the spinning Aneko became a tornado of pure wind, sweeping all of Byakuya's blades in its gusts. At this point, he realized that no matter what he tried he couldn't pull his blades away. They simply moved counterclockwise to Aneko's spinning body and fans. The tornado that was once only wind was a tornado of blades now and it was heading for him.
Byakuya cursed under his breath and dodged the swiftly moving tornado around the courtyard. He wasn't even able to see Aneko's body in order to cast his kido spells. As he struggled to dodge his own weapon, he was unbeknownst to the fact that Aneko continued to struggle from inside the tornado. He didn't know, but Aneko felt each sting of the stray blades cut into her as they brushed against her body at more of a velocity than what he ever hit her with.
It didn't take long before Aneko couldn't deal with the pain, so with one last push, Aneko spun harder and stopped midway in a cycle to 'throw' the pink blades right at Byakuya's body. Unable to realize her intentions, Byakuya felt the blades of his own zanpakuto cut into his pale skin before changing their trajectory away from his body with a wave of his hand.
After changing the direction of their flight, it was long after Aneko sprung forward and attempted to slam his face with two closed fans. He shielded himself once again with the blades and met her strength equally. They were at a stalemate now. Struggling against each other, they met each other's gaze once again, their faces close to each other.
Aneko forced her fan a little forward with more of her strength and said, "I can't believe you would start something like this dangerous just because of my relationship with Kanji."
Byakuya pushed Aneko back, forcing her to jump a few feet away from him, before saying, "I would never start such a trifle thing with you over your love life. You're not worth my time."
"Then why the hell are you here?" Aneko shouted, swiping her fans across the air, revealing the knives once more.
Byakuya easily blocked the shining knives away from his body and retorted back, "The only problem I have with you is the fact that you would have the audacity to send Ichimaru to my office just to inform me of your relationship."
Byakuya sent another wave of blades towards Aneko who swatted the blades to her side with the spiritually-strengthened fabric that kept her fans intact, but as she did, she looked at Byakuya with confused eyes, "What the hell are you talking about?"
Byakuya stood there angrily and said, his calm voice breaking, "This morning Ichimaru came into my office and tells me about your intimate relationship with Kanji. That's it. He leaves the next moment and my lieutenant comes in with a note saying, 'Do what you do best.'"
Aneko rolled her eyes and shouted, "And you immediately think I would do something that stupid, right? And why the hell would you care? Why would you care who I was dating, huh?"
Byakuya shook his head and scowled, "I don't care, but after our agreement to be strictly friends and not have the past overcome what we feel or do now, I can't even fathom why you would be with such a man."
Aneko looked in disbelief as she continued to dodge all of Byakuya's blades across the rooftops of the school, "Friends? FRIENDS? You can't possible believe friends actually fight like this just to prove a point. You could have just come over to the Mayako manor and tell me, but NO! You don't have the audacity to waste your damn time with someone like me! Oh and another thing, do you really believe friends lie to each other?"
Byakuya side-stepped as Aneko closed her fans and struck the spot where Byakuya originally was with all her might, leaving a crater in the ground. She cursed under her breath once again and tried to kick Byakuya in the stomach supporting herself only with her grip on the fan handles as they dug further into the ground. Byakuya blocked her kick and gestured his hands to engulf her once more.
"Lie? I have never lied to you ever since our agreement."
Aneko flash stepped outside of the engulfment and swatted away more of the blades towards Byakuya's body. To Aneko's satisfaction, most of the blades successfully cut through his shinigami uniform, leaving blood stains in their path. Byakuya flinched at the pain and looked at her with serious eyes.
"Are you serious? Oh yes, because promising me that maybe one day I'd meet your wife wasn't a lie. Oh excuse me… I mean your dead wife!" Aneko shouted,
"Don't you dare pull her into this, Aneko!" Byakuya shouted, sending a wave of blades to her right side.
Aneko swiftly swatted the blades to the ground with ease and looked back at him, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Don't blame me for the truth. How can you possibly keep that from me? You think I wouldn't find out? I thought we were going to be on the same level with each other."
Byakuya's eyes widened and he cursed her with pure hatred and anger, "Same level? Same level? Do not mock me, Aneko Mayako. You will never be on the same level as I am ever!"
Byakuya sent a small swift wave to strike Aneko's legs without her realizing it, making her fall to her knees. She gasped in surprise.
"You call me a liar? A backstabber?" Byakuya continued to shout, directing the many blades with just his hands.
A second wave cut her right wrists, making her drop her fan. His speed was increasing drastically and she had no time to react.
"You even have the audacity to think that I have not kept my part of the agreement to be merely friends?"
Aneko felt the third wave cut deep into her left wrist and arms, making her drop her other fan. She panted helplessly, feeling all her strength leave her body. Her body shook in pain, but she slowly stood and met Byakuya's intense glare. Byakuya shook his head at her.
"You have done nothing but ruin my life! I am an outcast in my family because of you! My father isn't alive to see me as Captain of Squadron Six because of you! My mother grieved every single day after my father's death because of you! And after all that… you leave me!"
A fourth wave swept over Aneko, cutting deep into her body. She tried to block them with her bare arms, but failed miserably. Fed up with taking this abuse, Aneko quickly gathered up her fans and swiped the air once more, sending the deadly knives as Byakuya. However, with one sweep of his hand, all her knives were deflected.
"I loved you more than anything in the world, Aneko! It's just so hard to believe… Did you even truly love me?" Byakuya said, raising his arm as Aneko tried to attempt another attack before all the blades flew into their final wave.
"Byakuya! Don't!" Two voices shouted from behind Byakuya.
Aneko looked from behind her fan and saw Kyoraku and Ukitake just arriving. However, this one distraction became Byakuya's opening.
"You know what…" Byakuya said, quietly.
Aneko turned to him with wide eyes.
"My father was right…" He slowly looked into Aneko's eyes without any emotion that Aneko knew Byakuya for, before saying, "You'll always be a back-stabbing peasant who is capable of anything."
Aneko gasped as the face of Raidon Kuchiki appeared in her sight in the place of Byakuya. She froze stiff in place and she became vulnerable to everything. In an instant, Byakuya dropped his hand down and all the pink blades hit their target without resistance.
Spurts of blood exploded from Aneko's small body and her fans broke apart. She looked up at the darkened sky and felt salty tears well up in her eyes. She slowly closed her eyes and dropped to the floor in a pool of her own blood. The world went black for Aneko, but one face stayed forever engraved in her mind.