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

Chapter 21 – Rescue Mission

Sara's POV

Not long after Yachiru had gone off to find Tsukasa, she was back with our uniforms, "That Tsukasa's really nice and pretty," she commented as handed us our uniforms.

"I know," I said as I took my uniform, "Thank you, Yachiru, would you wait there for us?"

Suddenly, Yachiru thrusted a hand at us and gazed at us expectantly, "My payment?"

"Payment," I asked, "No payment until you lead us through to the Kuchiki mansion."

Yachiru grumbled in response but nodded and went off to change, "Sara, do you think this is going to work?"

"I don't know if this plan will work but it has to or my children and my husband will be free," I said as we hid behind a wall to change. The uniforms were made of course grey material and it made us itch.

"How do the servants survive in these uniforms," I asked.

"I have no idea," Rukia said as she tied my obi at the back.

"Where do we put our zanpakutos," I asked, "We cannot just leave them and we need them."

"Well, Yachiru can keep our shihakushos and we will just have to keep our zanpakutos in the kitchen. Perhaps Tsukasa has told the kitchen staff about what we're about to do," Rukia suggested and I nodded.

"All right…ready," I asked and Rukia nodded as we appeared from behind the wall. Yachiru was waiting for us whilst we walked towards her, "Yachiru, would you mind our uniforms?"

"All right," she said as she stuffed them into a big bag, "So, let's go."

We both nodded and jumped down into the trap door, hoping our plan would work.

Byakuya's POV

"INCY WINCY SPIDER CLIMBED UP THE WATER SPOUT," Hari and Takuma were singing at the top of their voices, "DOWN CAME THE RAIN AND WASHED THE SPIDER OUT-"

"Shut up, Hari! Shut up, Takuma," Reina shouted at them, "You're giving me a headache," she stood up from the corner she had "claimed" and walked to the bars, gripping them slightly, "Papa, are we ever going to get out of here?"

"I hope so," I answered. I ran a hand through my hair and rested my head against the wall.

"Do you think mummy will save us," Reina asked.

"I don't know about that," I said as I gripped the fabric of my shihakusho, "Let's just wait and see."

Suddenly the door to the holding cells opened and light streamed in and it caused us all to shield our eyes, "Food for the prisoners."

"Go on," the guard who was on duty said. The girl walked in with a tray of food but I didn't look up nor did I make any attempt to.

"Tsukasa," Reina cried, "Do you know when we're getting out of here?"

"I'm not sure…" Tsukasa turned to me, "My lord…there is something that I need you to know."

"What is it," I asked. I could hear her gulp before she answered me. She opened my cell and closed it behind her, setting my food on the floor. Looking behind her, Tsukasa reached into her yukata and pulled out and dropped a little piece of folded up paper onto the tray. Curiously, I picked it up and unfolded it.

Byakuya

I am coming to save you and the children

If we are successful with this mission, I will explain everything.

I also want you to know that I still love you very much. I am sorry that I lied.

Forever yours

Sara

I shook slightly from shock as I read the little note. I swallowed and looked back at Tsukasa, "She wrote this?"

Tsukasa looked behind her again to see if the guard was listening, "It was with a note my lady gave to me…Yachiru delivered the message. She's been using the tunnels underneath the Kuchiki mansion.

"I see…thank you," I said, "You may go."

"Very good, my lord," Tsukasa said a slight bow before opening the cell and walking out, locking the cell behind her. I looked back down at my letter and kept rereading it. My wife's handwriting was as beautiful as ever and just reading it was like hearing her voice again. At first, Sara's handwriting in Japanese had been a little messy as it was not her native language but as time progressed, her handwriting improved when we started writing little notes for each other and I encouraged her to write in Japanese all the time.

"Sara…" I whispered. I longed to touch her again and kiss her over and over again. I remember our first kiss as clearly as it was yesterday. Sara had been nervous and shy and didn't know how to kiss me. After that, I had been whole addicted to the young woman and I couldn't get her off my mind. That one kiss had made me fall in love with her even more. Technically speaking, the kiss in the cherry blossom grove wasn't our first kiss. Sara's first kiss had been taken in anger, a way to shut her up after she had angered me.

"I love you," I whispered as I fell into a light sleep.

Sara's POV

As we followed Yachiru down the tunnels, we found that it was very small and a tight fit. Rukia and I were glad at we were slim and petite to get through them.

"Are we nearly there yet, Yachiru," I asked. Yachiru glared at me slightly.

"We will get there when we get there," Yachiru said as she carried on. I looked back at Rukia and she shrugged. We carried on for a few more minutes before Yachiru stopped and pushed up on the ceiling of the tunnel. It turned out that she was opening a trap door and light poured into the tunnel. However, the smell of food and the sound of pots and pans being moved around overwhelmed our senses.

"So, what's the plan," Rukia asked before we moved out.

"If we can just get our family out, that will be enough for me for now," I said, "If I am going to face Soichiro, I will face him with Byakuya."

"But where will we take him and the children if this is just a rescue mission?"

"I'll take him to my town house in Hokutan," I replied, "It's the only place the Soichiro doesn't know about…we will also bring Tsukasa with us. I'm not leaving her here too."

We climbed out and looked around as the room went silent. Tsukasa was standing next to the trapdoor and I smiled at her brightly, "Hello, my lady," she said. The kitchen staff stared at us for a moment before cheering and they all approached us.

"Lady Kuchiki, you're back," they cried, "Lord Kuchiki and the young masters need your help!"

"I know…I will save Lord Kuchiki and my children; If my mission is successful, you will have to bear with us while Lord Byakuya get's his strength back. I am not going to pretend that I can face him on my own. I respect my husband's strength and abilities."

I turned to Tsukasa, "Would you accompany us whilst we try to infiltrate this place? You will need to carry our zanpakutos."

"But…there are Kuchiki guards everywhere! What will they say when I am carrying your zanpakutos?"

I thought for a moment before turning and seeing a large laundry basket, "We could put them in there!"

I picked it up and saw that it had a few sheets inside. I placed Kori-Hime into it and took Sode no Shirayuki from Rukia, placing it inside the basket too. I covered them with them with the few sheets in there and handed the basket to Tsukasa, "It's not too heavy is it?"

"No, it isn't, madam," she said with an uneasy smile.

"Any good at hand to hand combat, Rukia," I asked. Rukia gave me a sad look and shook her head.

"No, it's not one of my strong points," she replied regretfully, "I am more apt at kido…"

"Fine…we can use that against the guards if need be…I will use hand to hand combat," I said and then Tsukasa handed us some bandanas, "What's this?"

"It's to hide your hair and make you look like proper servants," She replied. We nodded and tied them around our head just underneath our hair at the nape of our necks, "You actually look like servants…it's a bit unnerving."

"Well, let's go, Rukia, Tsukasa," I said as I walked towards the door, "Let's try not to act suspiciously."

One of the servants handed me a tray with some cups on, "This will make you look less suspicious, my lady."

"Thank you," I said as I walked through the door, "Oh and thank you for bringing Rukia and I here, Yachiru! Your payment will come soon,"I said as Rukia and Tsukasa followed me out and Tsukasa moved to take the lead. I kept my face to the floor when a Kuchiki guard past us.

"Infiltrating might be the easy thing but getting out with a weakened man and three children will not," Rukia said in a hushed whisper.

"I know and I am prepared for that," I whispered back, "Let's just lie low for now."

As we walked, Rukia and I felt extremely uneasy; trying to pass ourselves off as servants wasn't as easy as I had first thought. My mind wandered as I thought about kido spells to use in emergency such as a sleeping spell i.e. Inemuri or an attack spell such as Byakurai.

When approached the Kuchiki holding cells, there were a few Kuchiki guards that stood in front of the door way. Two of them I didn't recognise but the one on the left was the one who had pressed his sword to my neck when I signed the divorce papers, "Hey, cuties, what are you doing this end of the mansion," one of the guards asked.

"Oh, nothing…we're just here to do the prisoners' laundry," I said as I sauntered up to the guard that I recognised.

"Oh, and why should we let you through? Lord Soichiro hasn't authorised a change of laundry."

I pressed myself against him and let my hand travel up his chest, "Oh, really? You can't stop us…"

"Hey, aren't you-"

I pressed my hand to his face, "Inemuri," I whispered and his eyes closed, collapsing to the ground. The other two guards blinked at me.

"You're no washer woman," the two guards said at the same time.

"No, you're right…I'm Sara Kuchiki…I am your worst nightmare," I said as placed my hands on their faces before they could react, "Inemuri," they too fell to the ground, asleep, "Well that was easy…a bit too easy…"

Rukia smiled at me, "There isn't much they can do against a lieutenant," she said. I grabbed the keys of the guard's belt and unlocked the door. I ran inside and beckoned my friends inside.

"Quickly," I hissed, "There isn't much time."

As I raced inside, I heard the excited shouts of my children, "Mummy! You've come back for us," Reina cried. I smiled and unlocked the cell. My children ran out and Reina launched herself at me, wrapping her legs around my hips and her arms around my waist. Takuma and Hari had attached themselves to my legs.

"I'm very happy that you are happy to see me, but we need to get out of here as fast as possible," I said as my children unlatched themselves from me. I turned to see Byakuya still sitting in his cell. I opened his cell and walked inside, "Byakuya, we need to go," I said as I tugged on the sleeves of his shihakusho. He looked up at me slowly.

"You came back…" he whispered. I nodded and I struggled to hold back my tears. Takuma bounded into his cell.

"Daddy, come on, we're getting out of here," he said happily and I shushed him, trying to keep the noise down.

"Please, my lord, you have to come with us," I said, "I love you…please come with me."

I pulled on his arm and he compliantly let me pull him to his feet. He seemed so pale and thin, as if he hadn't been fed much food. I turned to Rukia, "Rukia, take the children and flash step to the trap door in my room."

"You have a trap door in your room," Rukia asked.

"Yes, the room I used when I was your governess…if you remember? Just search the tatami mats. I will take Byakuya and flashstep to the kitchen trapdoor. Tsukasa, make your way to the kitchen. Are you willing to come with us?"

"I am," she replied.

"Good," I said, "Remember, we're going to my town house in Hokutan, Rukia. Yachiru had once said that all tunnels lead to the one exit so we will meet you out there."

"Okay," Rukia said as Reina attached herself to Rukia's waist in the same way she had attached herself to me. Tsukasa handed Sode no Shirayuki to Rukia as Takuma and Hari clung onto their aunt, "Let's go."

Within a blink of an eye, Rukia was gone and I hoped that she wouldn't get into any trouble. Tsukasa handed Kori-Hime back to me before running out. I turned to Byakuya. He was a shell of his former self due to months of imprisonment, "Byakuya, shall we go? I'm here now…there's no need to be sad anymore."

Byakuya merely gave me an icy glare and I shivered, "I understand that you are angry with me…but this is no time to discuss this…or dwell on this. Be angry with me when we escape."

I grabbed his arm and I flash stepped out of the holding cells. However, as we left, someone blocked our path: Soichiro.

"Where do you two think you're going," he asked, casually, leaning on the wall. Without thinking, I pointed my finger at him, "Bakudo #1, Sai!"

His eyes wide, he fell to his knees and his arms were forced behind his back, "What have you done to me? Guards!"

I didn't answer as I flash stepped away with my weakened husband. As I reached the kitchen, we raced to the trap door where Tsukasa was. We climbed in and shut the door quickly.

"It's only now that we're grateful for Yachiru's tunnels," I grumbled under my breath, "Let's go."

When we all met back up, we travelled out of the Seireitei and into Hokutan. My little town house seemed a little crowded now that I had everyone staying in it. I had two bedrooms luckily. Rukia and Tsukasa decided to stay in my guest room and they took the children with them so that I could sort things out with Byakuya…something I knew wasn't going to be easy. Everyone knew that before anything further could happen, I had to sort things out with my husband.

Byakuya sat with his back against my wall. He looked so tired and weary. I sat opposite him and took a deep breath, "Byakuya…we need to talk."

"Do we," he asked bitterly.

"I know you're angry with me, my lord, and I do not expect your forgiveness," I said, "I just…want you to know that I didn't sign those papers willingly."

"You always have a choice," he hissed.

"No, I didn't," I retorted, "I had a knife pressed against my neck and they were going to threaten our children."

He didn't answer so I carried on, "He also raped me on many occasions….did you hear about that too, hmm? Did you know how much I suffered? That was the cause of my night terrors, the reason why I didn't let you have intercourse with me and the reason I miscarried. I was out of my mind and I thought I was going mad…I was that tormented; I was at breaking point," His silence was killing me and tears streamed down my cheeks and I bowed down deeply, my face to the floor in a formal bow, "I love you, Byakuya, I beg for your forgiveness as I know I have wronged you."

Silence was my only answer.

Raising my head, I wiped away my tears, "Well, you can have my bed and I will sleep with the others. However, before I leave, there is something you must know; I am pregnant with our fourth child," I said as I caressed the small bump which my lithe body couldn't hope to conceal, "I hope that this will be an incentive to forgive me. I know that I always hurt you…and you have every right to divorce me for real. Whatever you decide, I will always love you."

Then, we heard a small voice interrupt us, "Mummy, Daddy, don't be angry with each other," Reina said, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She took my hand and led me over to Byakuya and tugged on my sleeve, indicating that I kneel down, "Kiss and make up…and then give each other the special hug."

Byakuya and I made eye contact each other. Tension filled the room, "Go on," she said as she gave me a shove, pushing me in between my husband's legs and my head rested on his chest. I looked up at him sheepishly but I felt him tense up. I sat up and placed my hands on his shoulders. Before he could react, I placed my lips on his and he stiffened even more. Still, I would not let go and refused to remove my lips until he kissed me back.

Eventually, I felt him relax and he kissed me back hungrily. Tears of happiness streamed down my cheeks. I heard Reina sigh and she giggled, "I'm gonna go now," she said as she walked out of the room. I heard the door close and I pulled away to gaze at him before we kissed each other again desperately. Byakuya arms encircled my waist, bringing me close to him. I buried my small hands in his hair, tugging on it and making him moan deeply.

"Let's go to bed," I said, "Let's just hold each other and…get some sleep."

We stood up and walked to the futon. We both laid ourselves down and Byakuya pulled me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my hair, "Good night," he whispered and snuggled into him, hoping that tomorrow would never come.

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