Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Kubo Tite does. However, Original Characters belong to me.
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Dawn broke in a fury of pink and orange across the horizon. Byakuya had moved to the roof to watch the sunrise, a futile attempt to escape his haunting thoughts. Would she be glad to see him? Would she be angry instead? A hundred different possibilities crossed his mind.
"It's beautiful, isn't it, Byakuya-boo?"
Byakuya turned to see Yoruichi sitting on the roof with him. Even after a hundred years, the Flash Goddess lived up to her name. He hadn't detected her movement in the slightest. She lifted her mocha face up to him, the warm sunlight making her skin shine bronze. Her dark purple hair flowed lightly in the crisp morning's breeze. Golden cat eyes smiled at him, but they were softer than usual.
"It is nice," Byakuya agreed, facing back to the pink clouds. "And I believe I ordered you to refrain from calling me that."
"Heh," Yoruichi chuckled, "Some things never change." Her words had a double meaning, something she had picked up from years of being with Urahara.
"Some things do," the noble replied. If she hadn't known any better, Yoruichi was sure she heard sadness in his tone. She returned her attention to the rising sun.
A throat clearing made the two Shinigami aware of another presence. Byakuya looked down the roof to see Tessai with a serious face. "Captain Kuchiki-sama," his deep bass voice called out, "Yoshitsune-san wishes to speak to you now."
Yoruichi gulped as Byakuya could not. At this point, no one could predict what the woman who was once Hisana had to say. Byakuya jumped off the roof, floating to the ground as light as a feather. He motioned for Tessai to lead the way.
The Shihouin princess sent a silent prayer his way. Good luck, little Byakuya.
The shop was as quiet as death when Tessai walked in with Byakuya. The large, mustached man also motioned to Rukia, who was still being held by Ichigo. "She wants to talk to you too, Rukia-san." The petite girl darted her eyes between Byakuya and Ichigo. Her expression was a mixture of hope and fear. Ichigo silently conversed with her, passing some of his strength on to his love. With that, Rukia stood more confident and rose to meet her brother.
Tessai led the way to a room towards the back of the shop. It was much quieter in this area and sealed with kidou. Tessai chanted a Demon Arts incantation that the two Shinigami were not familiar with. The barrier dropped and they were allowed inside.
Mariko sat quietly, dressed in a modest blue kimono robe Yoruichi had given her. Her white hair was lit yellow by a lantern in the room. Her glacier blue eyes remained as hard and cold as ice. She wore no smile, only a look of resolve. "Please sit," she said, gesturing to an area in front of her.
"I know that you have a ton of questions for me, but I'm asking that you don't say anything for now."
Rukia looked at Byakuya with worried eyes. He nodded to comply.
"First, Rukia, my baby sister," Mariko's hard eyes softened as she spoke her name, "I am so very sorry for leaving you in Rukongai. Nothing I can say can make up for that pain that I have caused you.
"Byakuya-sama," he slightly winced when his title was used. He had grown to like being called simply 'Byakuya' by her.
"Thank you for making me your wife," she continued. "It was truly the happiest time in my life. You fulfilled your promise by finding Rukia after I had passed. She is alive and well, and for that I can't find the words to tell you how grateful I am."
Mariko adjusted her posture to keep herself straight. She would need to be strong now. "If you two have ever loved me, I have a favor to ask."
Byakuya and Rukia glanced at each other before nodding.
"I never want to see either of you again."
The words came out of Mariko's mouth as if she had said them so many times before.
Rukia felt a sob catch in her throat. "What do you mean?" Her amethyst orbs were welling up with tears. Byakuya couldn't find a response and kept his eyes locked on the floor. An ice storm of fury was brewing underneath the grey tones.
"I mean what I say," Mariko deadpanned. She picked herself off the floor and moved past them to open the door. "I don't want to see you ever again." She didn't look back as she left, her head held upright.
She walked past the silent Shinigami and others in the shop. The quiet of the room fell heavy onto her shoulders. She stayed on her course and made her way out the front door. A crash came from behind her, followed by swiftly pounding feet.
"Onee-san!" Rukia cried out, hand clutched to her heart. Salty tears had streamed down her china-doll face, glinting in the morning's rays.
"Onee-san!" she cried again, "Why? Why are you doing this? Don't you care about me? About Nii-sama?" She ran up to Mariko, spinning her around to face her. The white-haired woman's face remained emotionless and her eyes hard as glass.
"No," Mariko answered. She swatted Rukia's hands off of her. "I feel nothing." She turned away, continuing on her walk home.
Rukia crumbled to the ground, falling on her knees. Her sobs echoed in Mariko's ears.
Keep going, she had to tell herself. It's for the best.
Ichigo came out from the shop, quick to Rukia's side. She grabbed for him, her eyes blinded by tears and dirt from the ground. He held her close and rocked her, stroking her back. She sobbed into his chest, barely muffling the sounds of her broken heart. Byakuya had stepped out onto the porch, watching his former wife walk away from her family. He kept his posture stiff and expressionless. Yoruichi came up next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He shoved her hand off of him with a solid motion.
"Urahara," he spoke coldly, "Open a gate to Soul Society. I'm going back."
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Mariko got to her apartment after the longest walk home she had ever had. She opened the door, the click of brass echoing in the empty room. For a moment she stood in the doorway, just surveying the remains of the last time she had felt happy. It was in here, with him—her former husband. She had been so daft to not see it before. Of course that's why he was spending time with her, why there had been an attraction between them.
She closed the door behind her with a solid clunk. She had to push all of that out. Silently, she washed and dried the dishes from her dinner date with Byakuya. Her small herb garden in the kitchen window had been plucked of lavender from the night before. She hadn't really like lavender in her past life, but now she did. It was soothing instead of a harsh reminder her of the potions Unohana would make her drink.
When she was the Lady Kuchiki.
When she was Hisana.
Funny how she kept her name through two lifetimes. She hadn't really liked the name Mariko—it was too generic. She had been given that name when she was left at an orphanage less than a year old. At age 3 she decided that she wanted to be called 'Hisana.' She had always thought that was a beautiful name. It reminded her of a garden filled with cherry blossoms and Chinese bellflowers. That was her sacred place, the dream she had since she was just a child. Ironic how the name that once soothed her turned into poison after she had been adopted.
Mariko finished cleaning the dishes, retreating to the bathroom to take a shower. She carefully stripped of her clothing: the kimono Yoruichi had lent her and the pajamas she had worn the night before. She paused with her back turned to the mirror, glancing over her shoulder at her back tattoo. She took in a breath, the memory of the one and only time she had seen Byakuya's Shuukei Hakuteiken fresh on her mind.
She had the tattoo for years, back when she was diagnosed with the disease. Her husband then was no help for strength, and this formation came to her in a dream. She spent time with an artist to render her vision perfectly. The finished piece was beautiful and gave her renewed hope and strength. It took months for the tattoo artist to paint it on her skin, but every prick of the needle helped her feel more like herself than she had in a long time.
It all made sense now: her name, her dreams, and her vision of the Shuukei Hakuteiken—even her immediate attraction to Byakuya. And now she would have to let it go.
Turning on the shower to full hot, Mariko stepped into the steam. The scaling water hit her skin in solid drops, making the pale color turn pink from the heat. She couldn't feel any of it. Instead something bubbled up inside and she braced herself against the cold tile.
A harsh sob escaped her lips. All the tears she had been holding back flowed freely. She leaned her head against a ceramic wall, her wet matted hair sticking to the tile. She slowly dropped to the floor and held herself. Her tears mixed with the pounding water. She didn't think she would ever stop crying.
She had hurt the ones she loved, but there was no other choice.
During her memory relapse, a spirit came to her and explained why she was brought back. She cursed at the woman, who looked at her with compassionate silver eyes and flowing dark plum hair. It was cruel to do this to her and the ones she cared about. To be brought back, only to be torn away again. She asked the spirit why—why had she done something so spiteful. The Goddess smiled and said in a voice as calm as the sea, 'Because everyone deserves a second chance at love.'
Mariko wept. Gods help her, she did love him this time around…the way he deserved to be loved by her with a full heart. But she couldn't put him through that again, so she pushed him away. She wanted them to believe that she didn't care so they would leave without having to deal with the trouble she caused. She wanted so badly to hug and laugh with the woman her sister had become, but it was not possible.
More than anything she wanted to feel Byakuya with her the way things used to be. She wanted to be his. But she couldn't.
Not anymore.
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Byakuya hadn't said a word since Mariko had left. He didn't offer the comfort he had so willingly given to Rukia earlier. He stayed in his cold shell, locking everyone out. His eyes weren't focused on anything, just keeping straight ahead.
Ichigo watched Byakuya descend into the lower room with Urahara. He snarled at the noble. How could anyone be such an idiot? With Rukia by the hand, he followed the two men downstairs.
"Byakuya," he shouted. "Oi, Byakuya, I'm talking to you!" He reached out and spun the captain towards him. Concrete grey eyes met amber flames.
Ichigo tightened his grip on Byakuya's haori, rumpling the silk scarf. Rukia retreated back, watching the two with wide eyes. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Unhand me, boy," Byakuya hissed. He shoved Ichigo off and continued towards the gate.
"I don't think so," Ichigo glared, flash-stepping into Byakuya's path. "Why are you leaving?"
"Because it was ordered."
"That's fucking stupid," the carrot-top spat.
"Do you expect me to disrespect my wife's wishes?"
"Didn't stop you before."
Suddenly a cut appeared on Ichigo's cheek and his eyes went wide.
"That was out of line," Byakuya sneered, a sealed Senbonzakura unsheathed and its tip pressed again Ichigo's throat. Instead of retreating, Ichigo began to chuckle.
"That's what I'm looking for, Byakuya."
The noble narrowed his eyes, a harsh storm replacing the still cold. The Vizard grinned widely at his rival.
"I'm not letting you go back, Captain." The last word dripped with sarcasm. Ichigo pulled Zangetsu off his back, its wrappings immediately loosening and falling to the ground. He pushed himself back a few yards, bringing his cleaver-shaped zanpaktou up to point at the man in front of him.
"If you want to leave, you're gonna to have to go through me first." Ichigo kept a cocky smile plastered on his face. His brown eyes sparkled with the anticipation of battle.
"That can be arranged." Byakuya brought his zanpaktou parallel to his body.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
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Please READ & REVIEW!
I hope I didn't make many people cry. Remember, this is a tragedy, people!
Look forward to Byakuya and Ichigo's fight next chapter ^_^