Chapter 11: Execution Day

Byakuya's POV

It is officially the day of Rukia's execution, and I'm not too pleased about it.

As I walk to Hisana's shrine, I reflect on all the things I've done in the past to see why the universe has decided to punish me so.

By the time I reached the shrine room, I simply figured that the universe just doesn't like me right now.

The room was empty and quiet, a perfect space to say my prayers to my beloved. The one who was taken away from me after only five years of marriage.

The one I loved, but who never reciprocated it the way I hoped she did, saying she didn't love me the way she wanted to. The one Rukia would call sister if she knew about her.

I sit on my knees and say my usual prayers in front of Hisana's photo, hoping that a good and peaceful day was in my future.

However, I knew that my prayer was futile.

I opened my eyes to see Hisana's still figure staring right at me from her photo, her violet gaze innocent, but yet it pierces my soul. It's been fifty years since her passing and I have already completed the mourning period customary for nobles. The clan elders will be getting on my back about remarrying soon, but I don't have the slightest interest in women right now.

Well, except for two.

My late wife is one, and my best friend, to my surprise, is the other. And speaking of my best friend . . .

"Yes Minata?" I ask as I turn to the doorway to see her dressed in her Soul Reaper attire with Senbonzakura and Mizukiri standing on either side of her.

"It's time Byakuya. Rukia's execution is starting soon." her voice was solemn, and I couldn't blame her for it. Ever since I had adopted Rukia into the clan, Minata has been there for her helping to adjust, acting as the big sibling that neither I nor Hisana have been unable to fully be.

"So it is." I tell her as I rise from my spot on the floor.

"Goodbye my sweet Hisana." I whisper to the photo as I walk towards the entrance, stopping myself when I was right next to Mina.

"It's okay if you want to pay your respects to Hisana. You're welcome to visit the shrine." I tell her in a sincere voice.

"That's okay Byakuya. I think I'll pay my respects later." says Minata as she looks at the shrine with sad eyes.

Just like with Rukia, when Hisana first came to the Manor, Minata was the first person to welcome her with open arms, a gesture I still appreciate to this day. She helped Hisana get situated into the noble lifestyle when I was unavailable, and eventually became her first friend here. They grew close over time and when Hisana died, Minata took the news as well as a noble lady should, but it hit her hard in the end.

"As you wish. Let's go."

The streets are solemnly empty as we made our way to Sokyoku Hill, and we all know why. The execution of a fellow shinigami is something that effects all the Divisions regardless of the relationship. It wasn't something to be taken lightly, especially since these kinds of executions was a rare occurrence.

We walk in silence for the majority of the trip, but when I sensed Minata's spiritual pressure starting to fall behind me, I turned around to see her 20 feet away from the rest of us, staring out ahead of us.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Renji."

It didn't take me long to sense his presence, and I turned around to see my lieutenant standing 30 feet away from the rest of us, his face as stoic as my own.

"Hello Captain Kuchiki." he greets me in a plain tone, but with a sense of malice in his voice that was unmistakable.

"How did you get out of your holding cell?" I say as I feel my eyes narrow at my defiant lieutenant.

"I fought my way out. I didn't want to hurt my fellow Sixth Division members, but they were in my way of saving Rukia." says Renji as he and his zanpakuto's spiritual pressure begin to flare up.

"You do know that I will not allow you to do that now that I know what your true intentions are, right?" I ask him in a cold tone as Senbonzakura returns to sword form.

"So be it." says Renji in a cold tone as Zabimaru returns to its sword form as well.

At this point, I knew reasoning or threatening him would be useless. So, I simply raise my blade in front of my face. "Scatter, Senbon-"

Zabimaru's blade parrying my own is the only thing that prevents Senbonzakura before he can fully transform. The more surprising thing about it was that Zabimaru was in its shikai form, but Renji never said its command.

"Master?" asks Senbonzakura in complete surprise, and it was understandable. He was never stopped like this before, until Yoruichi used that fabric on him the other day.

I really hope this doesn't become a trend.

"How in the world did your blade transform into its shikai form without you saying its command?" I ask him in a frozen tone.

"I think I'll let you figure that out on your own Captain . . . For years, there was only one man that I wanted to surpass in all of Soul Society and that man is you Captain Kuchiki." explains Renji as he stares me down. "Today, I'm going to put my notion to the test."

"Do you really think you can beat me?"

"At first, I never thought I could, but I wanted to. I wanted to beat you. So I trained for years and now I'm going to show you the results of my training." says Renji as he retracts Zabimaru.

"The results?"

"Let me show you . . . BANKAI!" he yells, disappearing in a torrent of his red spiritual energy.

First I find out that my best friend has a bankai, and now I get to witness my lieutenant's.

The universe just loves to mess with me sometimes.

Minata's POV

My eyes slowly widen as the smoke clears to reveal Renji's bankai.

"That's one large snake!" exclaims Mizukiri as she looks at the giant bone-like figure being held by the tail.

"You can say that again Mizukiri." I tell her as I looked at the beast. The skull itself was quite intimidating, hissing and screeching as its fur collar billowed in the wind.

"What is the name of your bankai?" Byakuya asks in a stoic tone, not taking his eyes off his unruly subordinate even once.

"It's Hihio Zabimaru." answers Renji. The snake lets out another roar at the sound of its name, one that could be heard from miles away.

"When did you acquire it?"

"You will never know, since you never bothered to care for your subordinates in the first place." says Renji with malice now evident in his voice.

I notice Byakuya's back stiffen at the comment. In my honest opinion, I don't think Renji believed that himself, but it did get the desired effect.

"Minata, go on ahead. Tell the other captains that I will be running a little late."

"NO!" yells Renji. "I want at least one witness to your defeat."

"Captain Kuchiki?" I question, slightly unsure of what to do next.

"So be it Abarai, but Minata will only be witnessing your defeat, not your victory."

I'll take that as my permission to stay.

"Trust me when I say this Captain Kuchiki. You will fall to me during this battle. Who knows? I may even get you down on your knees before this battle is over." says Abarai with a smirk, but all I'm witnessing is him making his death wish.

"If I end up doing that, then I truly would have to kill you. Your defiance will be your downfall." says Byakuya as he gets into a battle stance.

"We'll see about that." says Renji as he gets into his own stance.

"Shit is seriously going to hit the fan now, isn't it?" says Mizukiri as she walks over to my side.

"You got that right Mizukiri." I say to her in a tired tone. "You got that right."

A/N: Please review