Ok, ok... I know it has taken me forever to update, but I have a pretty good reason! I had exams, and I have passed my last one today *smiles* oh how I love this freedom...

This chapter is the longest one I have done, and it is still shorter than I have planned.

Summary: After the end of the Winter War everything seems to return to its places. But it is really like that, or it just seems to be so? And what is the meaning of this strange dream?

Disclaimer: Bleach is created and owned by Tite Kubo.

During previous chapter Byakuya found out about his feeling for princess and friendship with prince. He also did find out that Yuudai knew that something was going to happen but didn't tell anyone.

Chapter 13

A lot of time has passed since Byakuya has awaken from his dream, but he just couldn't make himself to go back to sleep. How could he go back to sleep after learning that about his past? How could he sleep after knowing that he had been with Yuudai Michio the day before their lives turned upside down? How could he sleep after learning that Yuudai knew everything that was going to happen from the start and didn't say a thing to anyone?

"Why?" He kept asking himself the same question over and over again but no matter what, he just couldn't understand what was making Yuudai act like he did and why didn't he tell anybody. Suddenly Princess's words rang in his head.

"Byakuya, you know that Nii-san can read minds, don't you? He told me that you know. Only we and Jūshirō-oji-san know that."

"Maybe he didn't want anyone to know that he can read minds… If he told anyone whatever he had found out they would have surely asked how he did it, and then he would have been forced to tell about his ability, which he didn't want to do…" Byakuya sighed and moved a hand through his hair. "But I still doubt that only that could have been enough reason to put so many people to death. I don't want to believe that Yuudai would have done it… He isn't that kind of person. There must have been another reason. And also…" Byakuya's eyes got confused. "The third person… Jūshirō-oji-san? Could it be that she was talking about Ukitake-san." Byakuya shook his head. "That's impossible. Ukitake-san is from a lower noble family. I doubt that there is a way he would be acquainted with the Prince of Soul Society, yet alone be one of three people that know his secret. It must be another Jūshirō, maybe from the Fifth Great Noble clan."

Byakuya kept replaying the dream in his mind trying to remember other details he might have missed, any possible answers to Yuudai's actions, but no matter what, he couldn't find the right hint. A light blush appeared on his cheeks and hand unconsciously went to his lips that curved upwards when he remembered the kiss. Strange as it can be, he still felt the warm touch of her lips, her light smell in his room as if the kiss was not just a dream. He remembered the dream so clearly. The kiss was unexpected; they both were a little scared, neither one prepared. First kiss… When their lips were connected he felt like he was the most powerful person in the world. His smile grew wider. And then he promised that he will marry her when he got older. Byakuya knew for sure: he loved her, even if he couldn't remember her name. Black haired captain shook his head.

"She has a fiancé. She is going to get married to him when everything is finished, and I must protect her betrothed, as a Captain of Gotei Thirteen."

Not wanting to think anymore Byakuya decided to do some paperwork to keep his mind off the dream, Yuudai and Princess, and if he was lucky enough, to tire his mind enough to sleep without any dreams. He lit up a candle and started looking through the last two day's paperwork. While doing so, he noticed that most of it was done. Looking more closely he recognized Hideaki's handwriting. A smile appeared on his lips. The boy wouldn't stop surprising him. Byakuya decided to check the already done paperwork just in case, though he really doubted that there will be any mistakes. Hideaki always did a great work… That is IF he did it at all. Hideaki hated paperwork more than anybody in Gotei 13 for sure! Even lieutenants Abarai and Matsumoto couldn't be compared to him. Sometimes Byakuya even thought that paperwork must have been one of the main reasons why Hideaki didn't want any promotion.

Byakuya chuckled lightly. He just couldn't help it. Anytime he was thinking of the youth he felt somewhat… happier? He didn't know how, but Hideaki always managed to make him smile. And he had also found out that he liked Hideaki's singing. Who knew that the boy had such good voice? It was kind of feminine too. The young officer was one of the rare people who always managed to keep him a good company. He knew how to hold a conversation, knew when he must talk and when he must just listen or sit in silence with him … Hideaki understood him so well. But there were still many things about Hideaki Byakuya still didn't understand. First of all how did he manage to be so serious one moment and childish another? He could never solve that mystery, as well as the others. Byakuya put aside another perfectly completed paperwork.

Hideaki Ukitake - one of the biggest mysteries in Seireitei. Now that he was thinking about it, no one really knew anything about the boy, not even his uncle. But there was one thing that Byakuya knew for sure. The boy was smarter, stronger and far more experienced than people gave him credit for. The conversation in the morning had proved it in more than one way. Byakuya stopped writing for a moment remembering something from the conversation.

"I wonder… Who is the person Hideaki is in love with? She must be someone really special that he is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for her… But how come that everyone thinks that he is dead when he is alive?" Byakuya sighed and put down the brash thinking about Hideaki's words. He didn't notice that the brush rolled off the table until it had fallen on the floor with a thud. Byakuya stood to pick up the still rolling brush when it suddenly stopped. When he picked it up he noticed that it had stopped rolling because there was small crack in the wooden floor. At first he thought that it is the entrance to one of the secret tunnels that Shinigami Women Association had built in his manor, but after paying closer attention to it, it was clear that the piece of board that can be moved is too small for a person to get in and on the top of that it was stuck. It seemed like the board hasn't been moved for a very long time.

Byakuya put the brush on the table and took the small silver knife crouching down on the floor. After some moments he managed to move the board from its place. When he took it out, he discovered a small hole with some objects in it cover in a thick layer of dust. The black haired man started looking through the objects. The first thing that he pulled out was a ring that he recognized as his mother's. It was an elegant gold ring with decorated with diamonds. A big diamond was in the middle with a smaller one at each side. The next object he took out was a broken bokken. A smile appeared on his lips. It was the first one he trained with. Then came a picture of three people. A boy with slate grey eyes and black hair tied in a ponytail with a red ribbon who he recognized a himself had a rather irritated expression on his face as a taller guy with loose black–purple hair and azure blue eyes who looked exactly like Yuudai Michio in his dreams had a death lock around Byakuya's neck and was messing his hair. To the right there was a girl with shiny amethyst eyes and long silver hair laughing at the pair.

"So they were not dreams after all but memories." He looked at the picture once more before putting aside. The last object left was a small box, jewellery box to be more certain. Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he picked it up the shook off the dust finding that box was amethyst coloured. His eyes widened when he remembered where he had seen it. That was the box he tried to hide from the Princess. The twenty eighth head of Kuchiki clan sat there frozen for several minutes thinking whether he should open it or not. Considering his behavior in dream… no, memory. Considering his behavior back then the box he is now holding is a present for the Princess. That seemed the only reasonable reason to act like that. Byakuya took a deep breath and opened the jewelry box. In it there was an elegant silver necklace with butterfly pendant with its wings were decorated with amethysts and framed by small diamonds. The pendant was hanging on a thin silver chain. It was rather elegant, but he could tell that the weave was strong. Both the chain and the pendant were really beautiful. Byakuya smiled.

"It's just like her: elegant and beautiful, but at the same time strong. No wonder I wanted to give it to you." He raised his hand to touch it. When he took the necklace in his hand a sudden wave of shock passed through his body. He started slowly losing his consciousness and soon fell on the floor with the necklace tightly held in his hand.

Byakuya waved at Yuudai and Yuzuki as they disappeared in the portal. He turned and bowed to his grandfather bowing to him and hurrying to his room.

"Where are you going Byakuya?" Asked Ginrei.

"I must hide Yuzuki's present in a more secure place. I don't want her finding out about it before I give it to her." He shouted on the run. When he reached his bedroom he snatched the amethyst colored box from the drawer and kneeled on the floor taking out one of the board and putting the box there smiling contented.

"Byakuya." The boy put the board into his place in a hurry and stood opening the door for his grandfather.

"Yes grandfather?"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course!"

Ginrei entered the room. Byakuya closed the door behind him and turned to his grandfather.

"Byakuya, you know that tomorrow is Prince Yuudai Michio's eighteenth birthday, don't you?"

"Hai." Byakuya nodded. "I was not sure whether I will be let into the Royal Realm and gave him my present today."

"It was a right decision. Because I wanted to tell you that I have talked about it to him, and he said that there is no way they can let you in."

Byakuya nodded remembering Yuzuki's words. "I bet that the personal request that he mentioned to your grandfather is going to be not bringing you to the ball in honour of his birthday."

"So something is really going to happen tomorrow…" He said to himself.

"What is it Byakuya?" Ginrei asked. Byakuya looked at him.

"Nothing grandfather! It's just that I am still a little sad about it. I hoped to see him tomorrow."

Ginrei sighed.

"I know that you consider him your best friend, and care about him. I also know that he cares about you, but Byakuya, remember that he is from Royal family, and you are just a noble."

"I know that, grandfather." The boy replied.

"And also. Don't get too attached to Princess Yuzuki Kiyomi."

"Why?"

"She is already engaged. It will be announced tomorrow." Byakuya's eyes went wide with shock. Yuzuki Kiyomi was engaged. Byakuya hang his head and bit his lip.

"I understand, grandfather."

"That's good. Good night Byakuya." With that Ginrei left.

As soon as the door closed behind him young Byakuya fell on his knees tears that he refused to let out flowing freely from his eyes. Why does he have to lose her as soon as their friendship was about to become something more? And it was clear that Kiyo felt something for him too. The world was not fair.

The scene changed suddenly in front of Byakuya's eyes and now he saw his young version sitting on one of the trees in Kuchiki manor's garden looking to the sky. His attendant came up to him with a tray of food in his hands.

"Byakuya-sama, you haven't eaten whole day!"

"I am not hungry." He replied still looking at the sky.

"You must eat, Byakuya-sama."

"I said I am not hungry!" Byakuya said looking at the man angrily.

The servant stood there in silence looking back at his master for some moments before speaking with a sigh.

"You are angry that you couldn't go to the Royal Palace?"

Byakuya looked away.

"No, I am not. I just don't want to eat."

"But it is way past noon, Byakuya-sama, and you still haven't taken a bite."

"I know, Nomura, it's just that I can't shake off the feeling that something bad is going to happen today."

Nomura looked at young Kuchiki carefully.

"That's not the only reason, is it? There must be something bigger. You know that you can tell me anything, Byakuya-sama."

The black haired teen was silent for a long time. But when Nomura was ready to give up he spoke in a low voice.

"Kiyo is engaged." Servant's eyes went wide.

"Engaged? How? Why?"

"Just like that." He sighed. "Grandfather has told me that yesterday."

"And who is her betrothed?" He asked cautiously.

"I don't know. It must be announced today." He spoke. "I don't think I even want to know."

"I am sorry Byakuya-sama, I know that you are in love with her." The young boy's handsballed into fists. "But don't be so sad! Always hope for the best, and besides, your father is going to return from a mission today, isn't he? I doubt that he would like to see his son in such a condition."

"To see his son in what condition, Nomura-kun?"

They turned around fast and exclaimed in unison when they saw the man who had just entered the garden.

"Kuchiki Sōjun-sama!" "Otōsan!"

There near the garden entrance was standing Kuchiki Sōjun in his lieutenant uniform. He had long black hair and wore a kenseikan on the left side of his head to symbolize his nobility, his eyes were blue and gentle, though at the same time they held sadness and pain. He smiled to his son.

"Long time to see…" He spoke smiling. Byakuya jumped off the tree and ran to his father and hugged him tight.

"I missed you, otōsan." Said man's smile only grew wider as he hugged the boy close put a hand on his head.

"I missed you too, my son. So tell me, how you been, and about what condition was Nomura-kun talking about?"

"Well otōsan… You see…" Byakuya began but was interrupted by Nomura.

"Byakuya-sama was so anxious about your return that he refused to eat anything at all. He had really missed you, Kuchiki Sōjun-sama. After all you have been away for more than two months."

"Is it true, Byakuya." Boy slowly nodded as a response causing Sōjun to chuckle amused. "Then I guess we just have go and eat something, don't you think"

"Hai, otōsan." Byakuya replied with a smile.

"In that case, Nomura-kun, please tell the cook to get the dinner ready."

"Hai, Kuchiki-sama." With that the servant bowed and disappeared into the house.

"Shall we take a walk, Byakuya. It's been a while since we were able to walk together."

"Hai, otōsan…"

The scene changed again all of a sudden showing Byakuya walking around the gardens aimlessly when out of nowhere appeared Yuzuki with her zanpakuto in her hand ready to fight. He was watching her as she looked around with lost eyes, as if she was not understanding what was happening, maybe she wasn't. When she spotted him her eyes went impossible wide for a second, then filled with realization and she ran to him. When she reached him she took his hand with her free one and pulled on it.

"Byakuya, hurry, we must run!"

"Yuzuki? Wha… what's going on?" He spoke coming out of his shocked state. "What are you doing here? You must be in the Royal palace, with your brother and your new fia…"

"There's no time to explain, Byakuya." She cut him screaming. He had never seen her so anxious and… afraid? "Let's just run to the General's headquarters… please…" When she tried to run Byakuya didn't move an inch.

"Why do we must run? Tell me, Kiyo."

"Bya… please…" She looked at him with pleading eyes clearly on the verge of crying. "Please… It's hard to explain. We must run, you must just trus…" An explosion was heard somewhere in the manor followed by screaming voices. "It's already late… they are here…"

Yuzuki dropped to the ground like all of her life force was sucked out of her and tears were now freely flowing from her eyes down her cheeks. Byakuya dropped to his knees near her and hugged her to his chest.

"Yuzuki! What is going on? Where's Yuudai!"

"He is in the palace… and…"

"I have found you Kuchiki Byakuya and now you must die!" A deep male voice was heard. When Byakuya looked up with wide eyes he saw a man raise his zanpakuto above his head preparing for a strike and fear took over his body.

"NOOO!" He barely registered Yuzuki's voice, as she cried for him, he didn't notice how she pushed him aside, nor he felt how he hit the ground. All the while he was watching the sword coming down as in a slow motion. He came out of his trance only when the sword hit Yuzuki cutting across her chest starting at the left shoulder and ending near right hip, giving her a wound that will surely leave a scar if she were to survive.

"Kiyomi!" He yelled and run to her dropping to his knees and hugging her close. "Kiyomi…"

She reached a hand, put it on his chest and pushed him with the little strength she had left.

"Run, Byakuya… Please run… Don't think about me… Run…"

"What are you talking about? I am not leaving you alone!" He cut her out.

"Run you fool!" Byakuya looked at her. This was already the second time she yelled at him today. He had never heard her raise her voice at all before. "Please, Bya… If I mean something to you, run…"

Suddenly a hand caught her shoulder and roughly threw her away.

"Che… The stupid girl got on the way. She is a headache just like the failure of a brother. He is such a pain in the ass. Wish he was never born. But at least now I got him caught and can have my way with him anytime I want. I will make sure he will never forget is eighteenth birthday. But before that I must take care of you whelp. And this time I will not miss." He turned to Byakuya. "You should have taken her advice when you still had the chance Kuchiki, though to tell the truth, you never had it."

Byakuya looked up at the man while he was talking. He really hated that man, whoever he was for causing HIS Kiyomi so much pain and insulting his older brother. The man before him had auburn hair and brown eyes that were looking down at him like at some really low creature with pure hate and disgust clearly written there, though Byakuya didn't know what he did to earn that look.He was wearing black hakama pants with red belt, black tight fitting sleeveless top, black gloves which were reaching his biceps and metal protectors on his forearms. He was now holding his zanpakuto in front of him as he was preparing for a strike.

"You are going to die Kuchiki Byakuya, don't even try blocking it, you can't! Uchitoru! Hitogoroshi!"

The man yelled and black energy started collecting around his sword and shot out like a black lightning moving in Byakuya's direction with an unimaginable speed. He knew that there is nothing he can do to save himself. He was only sorry that he was so weak, that he couldn't even protect the girl he loved, that he had let. If he was given a chance to live, he swore he would become the most powerful Shinigami in Soul Society so that he can save her and protect her from everything and everybody. Alas, in a split of a second he was going to die… But the fate has decided otherwise. A man with long white hair and double zanpakuto appeared in front of him deflecting the blow. It took only a moment to recognize the person. The Thirteenth Division Captain, ShōgaikieJūshirō.

"Saburo!" He yelled. "How dare you betray the Queen, how dare your family!"

"Oh, Lil Jūshirō. It turns out that they hadn't killed you yet. What a pity. I didn't want to wet my hands in my siblings' blood. But I guess I have no choice." With that he through another blow that was deflected with ease.

"Don't underestimate me, Saburo Riko."

"Oh." He raised an amused eyebrow. "Now you are calling me that too? I thought that the only one who called me that was your so loved nephew! He never called me with my family name!"

"And now I see why he never did it. You don't have the right nor do you deserve to bear that name!"

"I have it! I am stronger and more powerful then all of you fool! And I must be the one to tell not to underestimate me."

With that he prepared for another blow and Jūshirō prepared to reflect it, but the blow was throw in Yuzuki's direction who was lying in a pool of blood some meters away. It took Jūshirō everything to be able to block the shot of black lightning. Out of corner of his eye he saw that Saburo was getting ready for another one, when someone attacked him from the side.

"Shōgaikie-dono, take Princess and Byakuya and go!" He man yelled.

"Otōsan!"

"Are you sure?" Jūshirō asked while gently picking up Yuzuki to notice that the wound was nearly closed, but even with her fast healing abilities there will be a scar left for sure.

"I am!" Sōjun looked at him and didn't notice that the enemy was attacking.

"Chire. Senbonzakura." Pink petals appeared and blocked the blow that was aimed for his head. Everyone looked to the side wide eyed to see raven haired boy standing there panting heavily with only a hilt of the sword in his hands.

"Byakuya…" Was the only word Sōjun said before launching himself at the enemy again. At the same time Jūshirō appeared near Byakuya and lifted him with one hand and started running away from the fighting Shinigami. Sōjun blocked another blow and looked at his son for one last time and smiled before he was pierced by enemy's weapon. His sword dropped to the ground, blood came out of his mouth and he started falling back.

"Otōsan!" Byakuya yelled in panic. Hearing his son's cry Sōjun straightened himself. He caught Saburo's hand that was holding the sword preventing him from taking it out of his body and pushing it in more. With the last of his strength he tried to hold the enemy.

"RUN!" He yelled before enemy's hand had found its way to his throat squeezing it and strangling him. Gradually he lost his grip on enemy's sword because of lack of oxygen and Saburo took advantage of it. He took out the sword and this time sent it right through Sōjun's heart.

"Otōsan, no!" Byakuya yelled. All he could see was his father's body falling to the ground, blood coming out from the wounds and creating a lake of blood near him. "Otōsan!" He didn't notice how they got away from the manor; neither did he take a notice of Yuzuki's hand that reached for his sword while they were being shunpoed away by Jūshirō. He didn't even feel how his powers reduced suddenly when a jolt of energy passed through Senbonzakura and into him. He looked around with wide open eyes, but didn't see anything. His eyes saw only one picture. His father held by his throat in the air and a sword piercing through his heart killing him in an instant…

"Otōsan!" Byakuya yelled sitting up straight from his lying position on the floor covered in cold sweat and reached his hand in front of him. His other hand was still holding the silver necklace pressing it onto his chest.

"Nii-sama!"

The door to his bedroom slid open revealing terrified Rukia standing there in her night clothes. She had felt Byakuya's reiatsu rise uncontrollably from her room and then she heard him scream. She came to check on him and help in case it was needed, but what she saw now was far worse than she could have ever imagined. Byakuya Kuchiki, the twenty eighth head of Kuchiki clan, the Sixth Division Captain was sitting there in the middle of the room, his hand reaching for something and tears freely running from his eyes. It seemed that he didn't even understand that he was crying, crying like a baby who has lost his parents. Little did she know how right that comparison was. When the initial shock subsided, Rukia ran to him, dropped to her knees and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What has happened Nii-sama?" She asked.

He turned his face in the direction of the voice and accidentally looked her in the eye. The emotions she saw in his eyes were different – realization, relief, pain, confusion and one thing she never thought she would see in slate grey eyes: fear. Byakuya just hugged her and buried his face in her chest.

"Nii-sama…"

She didn't know what to do and just hugged him close letting him cry. There were no words she could say to calm him down. What word can you say to make things ok when the most emotionless person in whole Soul Society was crying freely in your arms? She didn't even want to imagine what could have caused him to break down like this. And the worst part was the fact that she couldn't help him. After her execution and Aizen's betrayal they have gotten pretty close and she really thought of him as an older brother. She swore to help him with everything she could. And now, when he was in pain and needed help, she couldn't do a thing. She hated feeling so helpless. Her heart broke as she just set there holding his trembling body in her arms, stroking his hair in soothing motion until he calmed a little and started falling asleep exhausted from crying.

She carefully laid Byakuya down on his bed. That is when she noticed that the whole time he was holding something silver to his chest. She tried to take whatever it was, but he wouldn't let go, holding it as if his life depended on it, so she let it be. Rukia set down near him afraid to leave him alone after what she saw.

"I will never forgive whoever caused you to feel so much pain, Byakuya Nii-sama…" She whispered clenching her fist. "I swear, he will pay for it."

She gently moved midnight black hair from his face.

"Kiyo…" Was the last thing he said before completely falling asleep…

Well... mmm here you go ^_^ hope you liked it. And I beg your pardon for any mistakes that may be there. Gomen!

And I wanted to thank everyone who is still reading my story. That really means a lot for me. I hope I will not let you down. *smiles* Thank you again.