A/N I don't own Bleach nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter 14 - Abandonment and Heartbreak

Sara's POV

The next morning was the most heartbreaking of my entire life. Byakuya's arms were tight around me, pressing me to his naked body. We had made love all night and it was a relief to have able to enjoy intimacy in it's most loving and purest form. Byakuya had been gentle yet passionate.

I disentangled myself from his arms and I stood up, pulling on my light sleeping yukata and walking into my ensuite bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I filled the sink with cold water. I splashed my face and I shivered violently.

"I am no longer Lady Kuchiki," I whispered, "Sara Riley...again..."

As I washed thoroughly, I had time to reflect on my time as Lady Kuchiki. I had given birth to three beautiful children...married to the most beautiful man in the entire soul society and captured his heart...

I closed my eyes as I exited the bathroom. Thankfully, Byakuya was still asleep. I didn't to have to face him and his questions. I tip toed to my wardrobe and pulled out a hold all. I took off my yukata and stuffed it inside. Pulling out my shihakusho, I pulled it on and tied the hakama belt around my waist. I picked up my lieutenants' armband and stared at it before stuffing it in my bag. I placed the possessions I had bought myself with my own money in my bag and left the items that were bought for me by Byakuya. After all, I had no right to them anymore. However, I took a hair ornament which had been bought for me for our anniversary by Byakuya. It was my favourite one because the cherry blossom charm which dangled from it on a silk cord reminded me of my husband.

As I picked Kori-hime up off her stand, I turned to my husband. He was sleeping soundly as I walked over to the futon. I took a moment to simply gaze at my husband...or...ex-husband's delicate sleeping features. I sighed and smiled bitterly. Kneeling beside him, pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, placed the farewell letter on the bed and then quickly stood up. I pulled my hold all onto my shoulder as I stood up.

"Goodbye, Captain Kuchiki," I whispered, "It's been wonderful."

I walked towards the door and silently slid it open. With one last glance, I walked away. As I did so, my faithful maid, Tsukasa, walked towards me. She frowned and cocked her head to the side.

"Lady Sara, where are you going at such an early hour," she asked. I smiled at her and nodded.

"I am going to Squad 13," I lied, "I am going on a mission."

"Oh, I see...the work of a lieutenant is never done," Tsukasa replied jovially. I nodded with a small smile.

"Well, I don't know when I will be back so please don't prepare any meals for me," I said as I walked past.

"As you wish, my lady," Tsukasa said with a low bow, "Where are you really going, my lady?"

I stopped for a moment and looked around, "What are you talking about?"

"With all due respect, my lady, but I have known you a long time and I know when something is wrong. You have been acting nervously for the past month or so. Please, as your maidservant, I beg you to tell me where you are going."

I stared at my clever maidservant for a moment before shaking my head, "I do not wish for you to get involved in a matter which does not concern you. Stay innocent...my dearest Tsukasa."

Smiling, I waved goodbye and walked towards the front entrance. I turned around one last time, hoping Byakuya might have read my letter and come running. I did not visit my children. I did not want to wake them or explain to them that I was never coming back. I didn't think my already heavy heart could take the extra strain.

"Goodbye, my love," I whispered before opening the door and disappearing into the morning mist.

Byakuya's POV

As I woke up, I reached for the warm and supple body of my beautiful wife. I was content to not have been refused for the umpteenth time. I had taken us both to heaven and back, loving her as only a husband could love his wife.

However, I opened my eyes to see an empty space beside me. I frowned and blinked. Where was she? I thought to myself. As my vision cleared, I sat up and suddenly saw an envelope on Sara's pillow. Curious as to what my sweet wife bad to say, I opened it thinking it was some kind of love letter.

How wrong I was...

Her letter went as follows:

"Dear Captain Kuchiki,

I am unsure how to say this but I must be blunt and straightforward. I have no love for you anymore. I have left and never coming back. It has become burdensome to be your wife and I can take it no longer.

I thank you for all your love and affection you have so freely bestowed upon me but I do not deserve it. You have been a most kind and gentle lord but I cannot repay your love.

It has been wonderful and please take care of our beautiful children.

Yours faithfully

Lieutenant Sara Riley, Squad 13"

I stared at the letter and almost laughed at how ridiculous this was. Sara loved me...she had told me over and over again the night before as we passionately made love. Flashes of memories flashed before my eyes.

I reached for the envelope but as I did so, I felt another thing inside. I looked inside and felt my heart stop.

Her wedding ring glistened inside the envelope. I blinked and let it fall into my hand. Looking back at the letter, I noticed how formally she addressed me, using our soul reaper rank titles. She had also referred to herself as 'Riley' which was her maiden name. In addition, some of the words had been smudged with tear stains...as if she had been crying whilst writing this awful letter.

Before I knew it, tears were falling down my cheeks, anguished and heartbroken and further smudging the words which were so elegantly penned. Standing up, I pulled on my shihakusho from our wardrobe, which I noticed was horribly and eerily bear. I didn't bother to put my kenseikan into my hair and didn't bother to pull on my haori either. I strapped Senbonzakura to my waist and flashstepped out of my room. I checked our children's rooms to see if she had taken them and, to my relief, she had not. Reina was painfully identical to her mother when she was both asleep and awake.

"Daddy," Reina said as she awoke from her slumber. I walked inside her room and knelt by her bedside, "Have you been crying, Daddy?"

I stroked her forehead and her caressed hair. She stared at me expectantly. Reina sat up and reached up to wrap her arms around my neck. I returned her gentle embrace.

"Daddy, what is wrong?"

Choosing not to alarm my little daughter, I smiled and shook my head, "Nothing, Reina, don't worry."

"Daddy, I felt mummy's spiritual pressure leave the mansion...she promised me that she would play with me today."

"Your mother has gone to work today," I answered, effectively covering up my own despair. Reina nodded in acceptance, "Go back to sleep, Reina."

"Yes, daddy," she said as she laid back down and closed her eyes. I stood up and turned on my heel, walking out of her room. Deciding against visited my sons, I walked towards the servant's quarters. I had to know if Tsukasa knew anything. As I walked, I struck lucky when the young maid walked across my path.

"Miss Tsukasa," I called and the young maid jumped slightly as and turned around. With a squeaky salutation, she bowed deeply.

"What is it, Lord Kuchiki," Tsukasa asked nervously.

"At ease," I said as I raised a hand to stop her panic, "I just wanted to know if you have seen my wife."

"Yes, my lord, I did see her," Tsukasa answered.

"When did she leave?"

"It was about an hour ago, my lord," she replied, calmly this time, "She told me not to prepare her anything to eat as she said that she was going on a mission."

Tsukasa's gaze move to my hand which had Sara's letter scrunched up inside, "What is that...if you don't mind me asking..."

I looked down and raised my hand, "It's Sara's letter," I replied. She gave me a puzzled expression and I handed it to her and she opened it up. After what seemed to be an age, she looked up at me with tears in her own large brown eyes.

"It can't be true...she loves you, my lord, there's no way that she could have written this! No! I refuse to believe it!"

"She left her wedding ring inside the envelope," I said as I turned my head away, hiding my eyes with my bangs. Tsukasa gasped and clasped a hand to her mouth.

"Now that I think about it...she wasn't wearing her ring...something that is rather unusual," She glanced back at the letter and blinked, "She's also calling herself Riley...her maiden name."

"I know," I replied, "I am going out to search for Lady Kuchiki and bring her home. This is where she belongs."

That said, I turned on my heel and walked away, hoping that my search would be successful.

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