A/N: We are halfway done ladies and gentleman! Thank you everyone who has been and are still keeping up with the story. Y'all rock :D

Chapter Eleven

60 years ago . . .

"Why did you invite me to this den of heathens?" Byakuya unenthusiastically asked as he walked up the pathway to the huge, elaborate and very noisy estate that sat on the hill just before the mountains. Cho nodded her head in agreement.

"Yeah, Sayo. I don't know if this is quite my scene . . ."

"Which is exactly why I invited you two," Sayori replied with a huge smile. "You two have been such bores lately that being around you sucks the damn life out of me."

"Not everyone can be as careless as you. Some of us have other things to worry about that have more value than partying all the time." Sayori rolled her eyes at her best friend.

"I value things other than partying. I'm more mature than you think, Byakuya. It's just that a Zi Shihoin party is a party that you just can't miss!" It was common public opinion that Zi Shihoin was one of the best party hosts around. His parties were legendary for the unexpected and wild things that would occur during them. Brawls, orgies, fires and broken bones were not strange things to see at one of his parties. Many people wondered why the Shihoin clan's leader did not disown Zi for his reckless behavior. Byakuya had often told Sayori that if he had been a Kuchiki and not from that "deviant family", he would have gotten exiled long ago. He never understood Sayori's affinity for him. Her father would never give his blessing for their marriage and Maikeru would certainly give him a very hard time once he took over the clan. Maybe it was his attraction to risk or his hedonistic spirit that intrigued her. Whatever it was, he wanted no part of it.

"I've missed several of his parties and I'm not saddened in the least," he assertively said.

"Sayo, aren't his parties dangerous? Why do you like them so much?" Cho asked feeling a little concerned about what she was about to face. Sayori groaned and threw her head back.

"Can you guys just give it a chance, please? See for yourself before you decide to judge. It may be better than you expect. You two obviously had some curiosity if you came." Both Cho and Byakuya began regret coming when the trio walked through the large purple door into the estate's main foyer. Scantily clad women were dancing seductively to the music, the smell of cigar and narcotic smoke was in the air, men were drunk off sake and carrying on in uncouth fashion. But the host of the party still managed to draw the most attention in the midst of the chaos. Sprawled across a chair, surrounded by beautiful women and a bottle of sake, there was Zi Shihoin. His golden eyes glittering and long purple hair framing his face, his smile bright and charming. A slender but athletically built man, Zi was a true charmer. So much so that Sayori felt a little nervous when his eyes met hers minutes after entering the party. He gave her his trademark cocky, half-smile and wink. He stared at her as he whispered something into one of his female companion's ears. The woman nodded and walked over to where she and the others were standing. She gave Sayori a seductive look before relaying the message.

"Lord Zi would like to speak with you. You can bring your friends along if you'd like." Sayori turned from the girl and looked over at Zi again. She felt intimidated by the hungry look in his eyes. During the times they used to study together at the Shino Academy, the sexual attraction between them was intense but she never acted upon it. She was still very shy when it came to her sexuality. But it was something about Zi that brought the fire out in her. A pure, savage type of lust that was hard to hide at times.

Sayori obliged her host. She, Byakuya and Cho made their way through the gathering of people over to the Casanova. The messenger girl attempted to wrap herself on Byakuya's arm, but one cold glance made her second guess that decision.

"I'm happy to see you here, Sayori," Zi said, his voice velvety and strong. Sayori grinned and blushed.

"Well, I'm happy to be here." He nodded his head and looked over her shoulder at Byakuya and Cho. His smile turned more devilish as his hedonistic mind began to churn. I can easily get off with these three tonight.

"And who are your friends?"

"This is my cousin Cho and my best friend, Byakuya."

"Mhm, yes I have heard of them before. My, my, Sayo Baby, you have got excellent genes and excellent taste." Had he been in his former days, Byakuya may have punched the bisexual man in the face for even thinking about hitting on him. If Zi was going to behave this way all night, then Byakuya felt that he should take his leave early.

"I'm going," he firmly said as he turned around and began to leave. Zi let out a hearty laugh.

"I'm sorry if I offended you Kuchiki-sama. I didn't know that my attraction to men made you uncomfortable."

"It is not that which offends me. It is your whorish behavior that I find appalling. You lack class." Zi laughed again before taking a hit of the opium he was smoking.

"Bahhh! What's the use of class if it interferes with the finer things in life. You only have one life so you should enjoy it!" Byakuya turned around and looked Zi squarely in his eyes. Sayori felt apprehensive that a fight was about to go down.

"Your enjoyment cannot coexist with mine."

"I think it can, Kuchiki-sama. Just give it a try. Play one round of Knockout with me. I'll show you that even a low-life like me can teach you something. You too." He motioned his head over towards Cho, who had been hoping that she had faded away into the background.

"Why me?" she asked, pointing to herself. Zi chuckled.

"Because both of you are prudes. I can smell it on you as if you both were covered in garlic." He rose from his 'throne'. He stood in front of Cho and smiled more as he noticed her nervousness. "I want to show you both that I know how to have a good time. That is, if you two aren't too scared to journey down my road."

"Taunting and baiting me with so-called shame is not going to work," Byakuya said, becoming annoyed. "I will agree to play one round if only to prove how much of a fool you are. Sayori's jaw slacked a little when Byakuya accepted Zi's challenge. Never in a million years did she think Byakuya would play Knockout. She couldn't even get him to play it alone with her. Cho looked just as surprised. There was no way that she wanted to play this game with them. However, she did not want to look like a coward either.

"Okay . . . I'm going to play as well." Zi smirked triumphantly.

"Excellent. Ladies, set us up." Zi's groupies sprang into action. One shuffled a deck of Western playing cards while the other poured shots of super potent sake. The three went over to a low, round table and sat. A few of the spectators gathered around to watch. It would become legendary if either noble embarrassed his or herself that night. "Do you guys know the rules?" Cho nodded.

"Yes, your heathen friend taught me long ago." Sayori rolled her eyes as she sat down beside Zi. Although she was not in the game, she wanted the closest view. She had waited forever to see Byakuya play Knockout ever since she tried to teach him years past. If he drew a black card, he would have to answer any question Zi asked. If he refused to answer them, he would have to take a shot of sake for each question not answered. If he drew a red card, he would have to drink the number of shots indicated on the card. If it was a certain face card, he had to drink a shot of sake. If Byakuya drew an Ace, he would have to do anything Zi told him to do. A round ended after each player had drawn ten cards. Zi smirked, loving every moment.

"Good. Then you will have no excuse when you lose. You drink on Jacks, Cho on Queens, and of course I will drink on Kings." Once each player had five shots, they began. Byakuya drew first. It was a black two. "Aww only a two? Two questions it is then. I'll start easy. Kuchiki-sama, are you a virgin?"

"No."

"Have you ever slept with Sayori?"

"Zi! What the fuck?!"

"No." Sayori stared at Zi, annoyed that he had asked that question. She knew that he would be ruthless, but she didn't think he would start this early. It was Cho's turn and she pulled a queen. After taking her shot, Zi drew a red four. The next couple of turns were all red until Zi pulled a black three. It was Byakuya's turn to ask questions.

"Why are you such an embarrassment to your clan?"

"I'm not. I am who I am and if you don't like it that is your problem, Kuchiki-sama."

"Are you a drug addict?"

"I like them, but addict? No."

"Do you give Sayori drugs?"

"No."

The game went on for a while, all three becoming more and more inebriated by the minute. The drunker they became, the more intense the questions became. By the time it was Cho's ninth turn, she could barely grab the card. It was a black seven and it was Zi's turn to ask the questions.

"Are you shaved or natural?"

"What?! …..shaved…"

"Do you think I'm hot?"

"Yes."

"If I asked you to fuck me tonight, would you?"

"Yes." Sayori's eyes widened and jaw dropped. Her conservative cousin was really open when she was drunk.

"Would you fuck me and Byakuya?"

"Yes."

"Would you fuck Byakuya if it was only him?" She took a shot of sake. "Do you like Byakuya?" She took another shot of sake. "Are you jealous of Sayori's relationship with him?"

"Uhhh nooo?" Even though she was a mess, Cho knew she was lying. She did have an attraction to Byakuya and was becoming jealous of Sayori's relationship with him, but she would never admit it. Sayori noticed the weirdness of Cho's denial and the questions she didn't answer. Interesting . . .

Zi also noticed her actions and when it was Byakuya's turn again, he drew the first Ace of the round. An evil smile spread across his face. He was the least effected by the alcohol as the other two did not drink often. Cho was a mess and Byakuya was doing his best to stay in control but still wobbled. The round was one turn away from being over and there was no guarantee that the Kuchiki lord would draw another ace. Now was the time.

"Uh oh you drew an Ace, Kuchiki-sama. You know what that means, right?"

"I am aware of the rules."

"That's good, because I want you to give Cho the sexiest kiss on the lips; with tongue." Byakuya narrowed his eyes dangerously. Cho's lit up. Zi laughed, feeling like the superior noble. "Mind you that if you don't do what I say, you lose to me proving that I was right about you all along." Everyone knew that Byakuya's greatest weakness was his pride and his ego. You aimed for those and you could get him to react every time. This time was no different. He shifted to his knees. He grabbed Cho's arms and pulled her in close for a deep and sensuous kiss. The spectators erupted into catcalls and chatter. Zi clapped his hands together triumphantly as he watched the two nobles intensely make out. Byakuya actually seemed to be enjoying it and Cho definitely was. She had somehow found her way into his lap and was grinding on him as she kissed. The only person in the room that was not enjoying the display was Sayori. In fact, she was mad at Zi for letting things go this far. He took advantage of them in their inebriated state. Those two would never, ever carry on in such a way in public. I can't believe they are doing this. Really, guys? Really, Byakuya? How are you gonna just make out with my cousin in front of me? You know how I felt when . . . . . . forget it. I'm not jealous. I'm not, fuck it.

"Okay, okay this game is over," Sayori demanded as she stood up from the table. Zi tried to grab her arm, but she jerked it away.

"We haven't even finished the first round yet."

"I don't care. We are finished. We're going home." Zi chuckled.

"From the looks of it, they are in no hurry. They just might rent a room for the night." Sayori ignored him and tapped the temporary lovers on the backs.

"Let's go," was all she said as she started to walk through the cluster of people toward the door. As soon as they stopped kissing, Byakuya and Cho immediately began to feel awkward. Cho hurried and got off his lap and hung her head as she quickly followed her younger cousin. Byakuya stood as well and turned to Zi. Zi smiled mischievously.

"Looks like I won, Kuchiki-sama." Byakuya stared at him non-chalant.

"By the looks of it, I think you lost." Zi's smile faded quickly as the noble man turned and walked away. He hated to admit it, but he was right. Sayori was pissed at him right now and he had definitely fallen out of her good graces for the time being. He really liked her and wanted to be with her. She was the only woman that he had met in a while that wasn't willing to put up with his bullshit but as it looked as if now he would never be able to call her his.

Last night had been the absolute worse sleep Sayori had gotten in a long time. She was very restless and tossed and turned all throughout the night, never once getting completely comfortable. It wasn't the bed for sure, for she was currently in the lap of luxury. No, it was the fact that the luxury belonged to Byakuya Kuchiki that bothered her. There was a time when having a sleep over with him was the most normal thing in the world for her. Now it felt like a prison. Maybe it was because it really was a prison for her. She sighed deeply and ran her hands over her face as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight that beamed down above her head. She looked at herself in the large mirror in front of her bed. She looked drained and worn out. Scabs were beginning to form over the battle wounds that Squad Four did not bandage. Her hair was still an absolute mess and her rich brown skin lacked the brightness that it normally had. Her eyes were dull and lifeless. This cannot be happening. I had become used to being an outcast and living in Jakura. Why did I have to come back here of all places. It's not the same. I hate this.

"Shihoin-san?" A servant girl drug Sayori out of her thoughts. The young woman looked shy and timid, possibly unsure of her state of mind at the moment. "I – I uh, just wanted to let you know that Kuchiki-sama requests your presence for breakfast." Sayori chuckled.

"Kid, I think you have the wrong person. There is no way he wants to see me right now and I certainly don't want to see him. Tell him that I'm not hungry." She was definitely lying. Her stomach had been growling since the night before. But to eat in that man's presence would make her appetite die.

The young girl nodded her head and closed the door. Sayori listened to the fading sounds of her footsteps before flopping back down on the bed. She attempted to drift back into sleep when another visitor interrupted her peace.

"How dare you defy my orders in my house?" Sayori sat up and stared coldly at him.

"What, does the Kuchiki lord not have any common decency left to know that it's rude for a man to barge in on a woman uninvited?"

"I do not have to be invited inside of my own house. Why did you disobey my command?"

"I don't serve you anymore so I do not have to obey your orders. I was banished, remember? Anyways I didn't think you cared so much that you would want to have breakfast with me."

"I do not. However, the Head Captain has ordered that you begin to train Setsuna today while I supervise. If you are going to do this successfully, you need to eat so you will not fatigue. I refuse to be blamed for your ineptitude." He did have a point, she hated to admit. Other than her recent fight with Byakuya, it had been several years since she had seen combat. She was already somewhat rusty and the last thing she needed was to collapse from fatigue. That would only give Byakuya more fuel. Not to mention that she did not want to fail her sister since she was the reason that Setsuna could not remember anything.

"Alright," she reluctantly agreed. "I'll be down as soon as I get dressed." Satisfied that he had gotten his way, Byakuya turned and left the room without a word. Sayori threw her head back and groaned loudly after his footsteps had faded.

The warm aroma of the food almost made Sayori foam at the mouth as she walked the long hall leading to the dining area of the Kuchiki estate. She could smell the fragrance of the freshly brewed green tea and the sweet scent of tea cakes. It had been so long since she had a delicious meal at the Kuchiki residence. That was one thing she missed that she did not mind showing. She used to love going to parties here. Sojun and his wife always treated her like she was the daughter that they had never had. Ginrei also treated her will a great amount of love and care. Sometimes, it even made Byakuya a little jealous. She smiled to herself as the good memories that they shared came to her mind. All the laughs, fights, tears, and love that went on in this house. All were very special to her.

That is all they were at this point: memories. The cold atmosphere between the two returned as Sayori walked through the doors of the dining area and walked over to the table. However, Byakuya had not informed her that there would be another guest eating with them. She widened her eyes.

"Cho?" Cho smiled widely as she rose from her seat beside Byakuya and extended her arms, inviting Sayori in for an embrace.

"Sayo. It's been so long. I've really missed you." Sayori stuck out her hand and shook her head, declining Cho's welcome. Cho nodded, feeling slightly rejected but not very surprised. After all, she had been the one to uphold the ruling of Sayori's banishment that the elders had laid down before her. Sayori smirked as she sat down beside Cho and across from Byakuya.

"So you invited your girlfriend to eat with us?" Byakuya narrowed his stoic, slate gray eyes.

"Preposterous. Cho dropped by after I left you earlier."

"Yea, Sayo. You know Byakuya and I haven't dated since that one time and even then it was only for a week or two." Byakuya and Cho had tried their hand at a relationship a little while after the incident at Zi's party. However, Cho's attraction to him was only physical. She was in love with someone else and Byakuya had recently (and secretly) met Hisana and had fallen for her.

"No I don't know that either. I haven't been able to talk to either of you for almost thirty years, remember?"

"You expect us to have sympathy for you."

"Ugh, spare me the lecture please, Byakuya." Sayori rolled her eyes as she began to eat some of the food that was set before her. She turned to her cousin. "So what are you doing here? Are you even allowed to dine with a criminal like me?"

"Sayo, please. You know that I had no choice in the matter. Once the elders make a decision, you know that it is hard to change their closed-minds. Had I the choice, I would not have upheld the exile." Sayori had to admit that she had a point. She knew from experience how hard it was to persuade the elders to bend or ignore the rules of the clan that the clan leader had no control over. The rule regarding the removal of a member from the family was one of them. She took a sip of tea.

"How is the family doing?"

"Everyone is quite well. Bai-Lin is getting married soon to Hibune Kuchiki." Sayori laughed and rolled her eyes.

"She's marrying a Kuchiki? Poor girl."

"Watch your tongue. Do not disrespect my clan." Sayori rolled her eyes again as Byakuya's eyes intensely focused on her. Cho danced her eyes between both of them. She cleared her throat.

"Yes . . . well, the wedding is in a few months and she's very excited. They really love each other."

"Well, send her and my cousins the best. Tell them I love them. Tell Sayuchi-obachan and Fai-ojisan the same."

"I will."

"How are Miu-onee-chan and Tomoe?" Cho set down her tea and stared at the cup.

"I'm not sure. No one has heard from them since the incident with you and Setsuna." A feeling of anger shot through Sayori's being.

"What do you mean you are not sure? You mean to tell me that my sister-in-law and niece are gone and no one knows where they are? Are you kidding me? So who kicked them out? Was it you or the old fools?"

"Neither. They left of their own accord. Miu said that she was afraid that whoever came after you, Maikeru and Setsuna would try and target Tomoe next. She feared for their safety so she asked if she could leave and I granted her permission. She didn't want anyone to find her, so I left them alone." Sayori sighed deeply, knowing that Cho was telling the truth. The night she took Setsuna to the world of the living, Miu mentioned to her that she was afraid of what would happen to Tomoe and that she wished that she was not a noble anymore. She silently continued to eat her food as Cho asked a servant girl for the time. She did not pay attention as her cousin chatted with Byakuya for a moment. She wasn't paying attention to anything until Cho called her name, jerking back into reality.

"Yea, uh, what?"

"I said that I will see you and Setsuna soon. I have to leave now for clan duties. But I love you okay?"

"Sure. And same, love you too." Cho grinned softly and patted the girls hand before a servant girl escorted her out.

"You should hurry and finish eating. Setsuna will be over soon. I told Renji to send her."

"Alright." They sat in silence, neither eager to speak. But the hostility between them had leveled off. It seemed that the news about Miu and Tomoe had bothered her.

"They are fine." Sayori looked up at him.

"What?"

"I said they are fine. Miu and Tomoe. They are fine."

"How do you know this?"

"I never say anything that I am unsure of. It would be foolish of me to do so. I say they are fine, because I know this for a fact. They are living in a small cottage in a village just outside of district three." Her eyes widened.

"How do you know this?"

"Because I am the one who put them there." Sayori almost choked.

"What?! You really expect me to believe that? Yeah right."

"You don't have to believe it for it to be true. I ran into Miu one day and she told me that she was afraid for her daughter. So I bought her a cottage and offered her some money to get her started." Sayori was surprised. Never in a million years did she think Byakuya would do something like that. Not for her family, at least.

"Why did you do that?"

"I did it out of respect for your parents and Maikeru-sama. Also, I know how the elders would have treated her and Tomoe since you were not around anymore. They would have given her hell since she was of commoner blood. I know this because if I had died instead of Hisana, my elders would have treated her the same way. Cho is not as dominant as you, so the elders would have easily gotten their way. To this day, I have never told her where they are." She was amazed by this information. He had become so cold to her that she thought he would be the same to everyone and everything she held dear. She was happy to see that she was wrong. She actually felt like hugging the man right then.

"T – thank you Byakuya. I know that you didn't do it on my behalf but . . . thank you so much." He didn't say a word but slightly nodded his head.

"Excuse me, Kuchiki-sama, but Hidaka-san has arrived." A handsome and muscular servant interrupted the reconciliatory atmosphere that had suddenly come about.

"Thank you," Byakuya said as he waved the young man away. He turned to Sayori and offered her a hand. She declined it as she sprang to her feet. "I hope you can teach her how to fight better than you fought me the other day. Looks like you could use the training too." Sayori said nothing, but rolled her eyes as she followed the tall man outside.

Neither sister knew where to begin as they sat in silence on the large patio that overlooked Byakuya's large koi pond. They both sat quietly, sipping tea. Tons and tons of thoughts raced through their heads, but neither one knew quite what to say. Eventually, Setsuna found her words.

"I just want to ask . . . why did you do it?" Sayori sighed deeply and stared into the space in front of her. She set down her tea cup and turned to her sister and smiled.

"I did it because I love you."

"You ruined my life. How can you say that you love me?"

"What I did may have not been the best thing or the smartest thing that I could have done, but I felt that if I did not hide you away in the real world, you would have died. I had already lost our grandparents, our parents, our uncle, and our brother. I couldn't lose you too." Setsuna widened her eyes.

"What happened to our family? Who is my family?" Sayori felt a little sad seeing the effects of her kido. She had intended for Setsuna to lead a normal, human life in the world of the living. Instead she had a sister that was not complete. Maybe this wasn't the best decision after all. I really messed things up.

"Well," she began, "our grandparents and mother died natural deaths. Kameko-obāsan and Kenji-ojīsan both lived to a ripe old age before passing on. Our mother, Yume died from and illness a few years after you joined the Gotei 13. Our father, Yoshimitsu , and our uncle, Aoki died in battle and Maikeru-onii-chan was murdered." The girl's eyes widened even more. Her past was becoming sketchier and sketchier by the moment.

"Murdered?! Why? Wha – Who?"

"Nobody knows. I have my suspicions, but I cannot say for sure. There has never been anything that linked anyone to his death."

"Are you the only family that I have left?"

"Well you do have a niece and a sister-in-law that are still alive and as far as I know, you have cousins, aunts and uncles that are still living."

"What was our family like? What were you and I like?" Sayori smiled to herself as she thought about her family. So many fond memories flooded her brain. She had numerous stories she could tell the girl.

"We were all very close that's for sure. Our father was a kind but strict man. He was very strong and very friendly. He'd do whatever he could to protect you and to keep a smile on your face. Our mother was gentle and docile. She was a mother in its truest form because she was very nurturing. Nii-chan was overprotective, more so than dad. I guess it was because he also had a daughter of his own. He was very driven and somewhat naïve when it came to his sisters, haha. As for us, our relationship was tight; even more so than with Maikeru because we could talk about things that we could never share with him. We had the kind of relationship that if one of us fell, the other would catch her before she even hit the ground." Setsuna smiled softly as she listened to her roots. Sayori did make it appear that she came from a lot of love. However, she also felt that she still wasn't getting the complete story of everything.

"I have so many questions. I wish I could remember so I will finally have some sense of belonging. This is crazy."

"Stressing over your amnesia is not going to help at all, so please do not continue to worry about it. I'm here to answer any question that you have. You will get your memory back." Sayori leaned over and wrapped her arm around the slim girl's shoulders. Setsuna couldn't help but smile as she accepted the woman's embrace. It felt warm, genuine and very familiar, just like her interactions with everyone else in the Soul Society. Maybe this is where I belong. Maybe I will discover who I am.

"You two are wasting valuable time with this reunion. Catch up on your own time; you both have a job to do." The women turned to see that the Squad Six captain had come out to join them. Sayori groaned loudly as she sprang to her feet. She put her hands on her hips and glared.

"Why do you always do that shit?! I have not seen this girl in years. Did you really expect me not to spend some time with her?"

"You can spend time as you train. I am supposed to supervise you remember? Not to mention that I am sure that I will have to correct your mistakes. I don't have all day, so start." She pulled her hair and threw her head back.

"You are so aggravating. Like really, ugh!" Byakuya held back a smirk as he saw how irritated he had made the woman. He honestly hated to admit that he missed seeing her but he did. Yes, I still know how to push those buttons, Sayori. He took a big sip of tea and made himself comfortable on the patio as he began to watch his past duke it out in the present.

A/N: I'm totally gonna play Knockout for real one day. It's worse than Circle of Death lol. Chapter Twelve will be out soon.