Chapter 36: Opening Blossom
(SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the latest Bleach chapter, there is something in here that you won't have seen. It excited me so much when I read it that I had to update this story and put the new 'thing' to good use. I am so proud of Bya! He, Toshiro and Kenny did a great job today fighting quincy bad boy, Gerard. I have to run off to work, but I will be back and writing soon. Love to all, Spunky)
Byakuya stood quietly in front of a full length mirror, watching silently as his attendant dressed him. Flickers of relief touched his insides at feeling a sense of familiarity with the situation. Torio smiled at Byakuya as he worked, his practiced hands setting each piece in place, tying and adjusting, then smoothing the soft folds of fine fabric. But beneath the smile, Byakuya noted an edge of sadness.
He misses the person I was.
I understand.
I do also.
But that person is about to return.
"Thank you, Torio," he said as the attendant finished his work and stood back for a final look.
"You look wonderful, Byakuya-sama," Torio said warmly, that hint of sadness invading his voice.
Byakuya gave him a curious look.
"What is it, Torio?" he asked, "What is wrong? Are you afraid of what could happen?"
Torio took a slow, heavy breath.
"Byakuya-sama, I know you are strong," he answered softly, "I know you will defeat them. But…I wish that…"
He paused, swallowing hard and blinking back hot tears. Byakuya's expression softened, and he rested a hand on his attendant's shoulder as Torio gathered himself and continued.
"I wish that I could go with you!" he confessed, "I don't mean to complain! I know that protecting your babies is an important thing. I will do that. I will protect them. But even though I am here and you will be out there…Koji, Toshi and I will be with you. I hope you know that."
Byakuya gave him a rare, fleeting smile and touched Torio's cheek with gentle fingertips.
"I do," he said quietly, "Torio, I may not remember everything, but I do feel our connection. When I am with you, it feels like being home. It reminds me that home is not just a place, it is all of the people who give it that warmth and life that stays with you. I promise you, I will give everything to this fight, and I will come back to you. You have my word."
Torio's jaw tightened and he gave no answer, but he managed a short nod and stepped back, examining Byakuya one last time. Byakuya offered him a look of genuine gratitude, then turned and left the room. Torio stood frozen, gazing in the direction he had gone and a large tear escaping each green eye.
"Kami walk with you, Byakuya-sama," he whispered hopefully, "We all want you to come home!"
He felt a hand touch his shoulder and turned to find Toshi smiling kindly at him and offering warm arms that wrapped around him. Torio hugged him tightly, sobbing silently into his shoulder as Toshi rubbed his back and kissed the tears away.
"I have s-served Byakuya-sama for many, many years," Torio whispered, when he could speak again, "and I never once cried because I thought he wouldn't come back."
"Don't worry," Toshi said soothingly, "Byakuya-sama is strong again. He will break free and he will come back to you…to all of us. We just have to believe in him."
"I do," Torio sniffed, rubbing his eyes, "I just wish I could be there. I want to help him."
"You help Byakuya-sama every day," Toshi answered, running his fingers through the black strands of Torio's hair, "and believe me, when he fights today, you will be with him…in his heart, helping him every step of the way."
"I want to believe that," Torio sighed, "It's just going to be hard while I'm locked in here and he's out there fighting."
"It always is hard for us, the ones who serve the great lords, like Byakuya-sama and Ichigo-sama. But this is who we are, Torio-san. We protect what matters most to them, so that they can fight for all of us!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Ichigo looked up as Byakuya exited the cabin alongside Kisuke, and proceeded to where the Shiba heir stood with Tama, Renji, Hinata, Satoshi and Yoruichi. A smile lit his face at seeing the Kuchiki leader dressed in his Gotei uniform and looking as regal and intimidating as he had the first time Ichigo had seen him. He flash stepped to Byakuya and embraced him, kissing him eagerly.
"You look…amazing!" he said happily, "You're going to bust out of that thing, no problem, once we're in the precipice world."
"I will," Byakuya promised.
"It's going to be a nasty fight," Kisuke warned the group, "We need to give Byakuya time to shatter the gigai and loose his power. Then, it's going to be a slugging match."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, his golden brown eyes glinting with mayhem, "It's going to be a royal ass-kicking, and anyone who tries to hurt Byakuya is going to pay for it!"
"That's the spirit," Kisuke said approvingly, "Just remember that although the main enemies here are Isas and Orochi, they will have others fighting for them, well trained noble warriors who can give us a lot of trouble. Yoruichi, Renji and Satoshi, you'll be the shock troops. You'll make the first attacks while Ichigo, Tama and I protect Byakuya. As soon as he breaks the gigai, we let'em have it with everything! No holds barred. You all ready?"
The others loosed shouts of agreement, watching and tensing in readiness as Kisuke drew his sword and opened a senkaimon in front of them. They stepped out into the precipice world together, setting up a protective ring around Byakuya as he set a safe distance between himself and the doorway into the pocket dimension they had just left. Ichigo wrapped his arms around his husband, kissing him passionately and looking deeply into his eyes.
"You're going to do this," he said with perfect faith, "You're going to come back to us now. Give it everything, Byakuya. You have all of us with you. There's no way we're gonna lose!"
Byakuya nodded and stepped back, gathering his power and letting it flow through his recovering spirit centers. The reiatsu around the group began to rise and a heavy breeze roared through the corridor they stood in. White light filled Byakuya inside and made his body glow brightly. He thought briefly of each of his family and friend as he prepared to unleash the power he had built up.
Ichigo…Tama…Suki…Torao…Tetsuya…
He was torn out of his reverie as a sound of dismay went through his gathered friends and family. Looking out ahead of them, he saw three figures approaching together. Kuchiki Isas and Kuchiki Orochi stood on either side of Tetsuya, left unbound, but with eyes that looked frighteningly empty and icy. Byakuya stepped forward, glaring at the three as more enemies gathered behind them. Ichigo moved to Byakuya's side, his eyes flashing with fury.
"What did you do to Tetsuya you freaks!" he yelled, "Let him go!"
"We have every intention of letting him go," Isas said in a chillingly calm voice.
"What did you do to our cousin?" Byakuya demanded, "He is very obviously not himself."
"Well then," Isas sneered, "he ought to make a good opponent for you."
"I am not going to fight Tetsuya," Byakuya said in a low, angry voice, "He is not my enemy!"
"He is now," Isas said coldly, stepping back and raising a heavy shield to protect all of the gathered fighters, "Orochi has used the poison of his snakes to control the half-blood's mind and body. And before you engage any of us…you will have to kill him! So…show us your power Byakuya. Show us why you deserve to lead our family!"
Tetsuya disappeared suddenly in a blazing flash step, drawing his sword and slashing at Byakuya. His blade crashed down on Ichigo's as the Shiba heir blocked the incoming strike.
"Stop, Ichigo!" Byakuya called out, making his husband freeze with his blade locked tightly against Tetsuya's.
"Byakuya…" Ichigo said worriedly.
Byakuya's dark eyes met Ichigo's warmly.
"I know you want to help me," Byakuya said calmly, "but the truth is, I do need to prove myself…not to them, but to me. You have to stand down and let me fight this battle on my own."
"But…you don't have any powers yet!" Ichigo objected, "I'm sure Tetsuya has all of his. How are going to fight him without any powers?"
Byakuya gazed into Tetsuya's empty blue eyes.
"I will fight him in the only way that you fight with someone you love. I will fight him with my heart. Trust me, Ichigo. Stay back and let me deal with Tetsuya on my own!"
A shudder went through Ichigo's tensed body, but then he nodded and stepped back, leaving Tetsuya standing in front of Byakuya, gazing at his cousin senselessly. Byakuya drew his sword and took a steadying breath.
"Tetsuya," he said solemnly, "Watashi no itoko, you are asleep and you need to wake up now."
Tetsuya gave no answer, but shot forward, slashing at Byakuya again. Byakuya's sword crossed his cousin's, making a shower of glowing sparks as their reiatsu collided. The two exchanged a barrage of swift strikes and slashes, moving about the corridor as the others watched with wary, determined eyes.
"Tetsuya," Orochi said in a deep, commanding voice, "you are going too easy on him. Use your powers. Kill him!"
Reiatsu glowed around Tetsuya's body in response, lighting his and Byakuya's faces as the two crossed swords again. Byakuya made a sound of distress as the area was suddenly flooded with copies of Tetsuya, all moving in to attack him.
"Kill him!" Orochi shouted angrily, "It won't take but your shikai to do it! Kill him now!"
Byakuya evaded several attacks, his dark eyes watching the waterforms carefully.
There is still only one enemy, he reminded himself, I can see if I look very carefully. There is only one of him, but he is moving from waterform to waterform to deliver attacks at an incredible speed.
Byakuya's breath caught as the tip of Tetsuya's sword passed through his defenses, opening up a wound on his sword arm.
"Byakuya!" Ichigo cried.
I'm not going to be able to avoid him, Byakuya mused, evading several more attacks before a second wound opened up, this on his side, He is too fast. And his reiatsu is increasing. He is not just fast, his reiatsu is pressing down on me, slowing me down!
Byakuya gasped as Tetsuya's sword crashed into his, bearing down as his cousin pressed forward aggressively.
He doesn't know me at all. It's like he's not even there. But he must be. Orochi used the poison of his snakes to suppress Tetsuya's mind. I have to find a way to wake him…but…
"Byakuya!" Ichigo howled, "Byakuya, look out!"
Byakuya's slender hand captured Tetsuya's sword as it stabbed at him, sinking into his shoulder and forcing him back against the wall of the corridor.
"Stay back, Ichigo!" Byakuya panted, holding on tightly to Tetsuya's sword and staring into his cousin's eyes.
I have to connect with him.
Byakuya's eyes widened in sudden realization.
Urahara Kisuke said that what I remembered before was not stored in my body, but in Ichigo's. Tetsuya and I have known each other for most of our lives. There have to be memories inside him too, even if they are suppressed. And with his sword penetrating my body, I should be able to connect with his memories!
Byakuya's eyes narrowed in deep concentration and he sent his reiatsu flowing through the steel that had impaled his shoulder.
"What are you doing, you fool?" Orochi called out from behind the barrier, "Use your powers! Kill him!"
Tetsuya moved suddenly, trying to twist the sword free. A scream of agony escaped Byakuya, but he held on tightly to the blade and sent more of his reiatsu flowing through it. He felt the malevolent flow of Orochi's power, and beneath it, the familiar reiatsu of his imprisoned cousin. He sent his reiatsu in the direction of Tetsuya's, screaming again as Tetsuya's hand tried again to free his weapon from Byakuya's body. Byakuya felt a touch of deep familiarity, a blossoming of memory that gripped and held both Tetsuya frozen as it overtook them.
Byakuya ran through the cell block, ignoring the heavy fighting going on all around him as he hurried towards the place he was sure his imprisoned cousin would be. His heart pounded madly in his chest and he threw everything into making the space around him go by in a blur. All that mattered was reaching Tetsuya before…
He heard screams of terror and a terrifying rumble went through the area. Byakuya rounded a corner and sent a killing blast of kido through a guard that stood in front of Tetsuya's cell. He blew the door off its hinges and flash stepped into the cell, his heart aching with worry as he found a young, dark haired teen lying protectively on top of an older teen's collapsed form.
"Tetsuya!" he gasped, staring as the dark haired boy's eyes lifted and met his for the first time.
"B-byakuya-sama!" Tetsuya managed, reaching a shaking hand in his direction.
The memory seemed to have a power of its own, one that sank down deep inside Byakuya and warmed his awakening spirit core. He felt a sensation like falling and found himself suddenly in his own inner world, with a circle of friends and family standing all around him. They moved in close, all laying their hands on him, all calling his name loudly and sending a feeling like fire through his slender body.
Come back to us!
Come back to us, Byakuya!
He saw a masked figure approaching, a brilliant samurai who looked deeply into his eyes and extended a gloved hand to touch his face.
"Master," the samurai said solemnly, "I have missed you. Please…use me!"
The glow around Byakuya flashed a bright pink and lovely petals began to swell around him. Byakuya focused deeply and let the feeling swell inside him, throwing the power against the gigai that had entrapped him. A furious howl escaped him, ringing through the corridor, where he still stood, his bloodied hand still gripping Tetsuya's sword tip. He returned to his body as glowing power exploded through him, breaking the restrictive gigai apart and setting him suddenly free.
The force of the released energy forced Tetsuya back, throwing his slighter body through the air and sending him crashing against the other wall of the corridor. Tetsuya loosed a sound of pain and collapsed onto the ground, gasping and panting harshly as cognizance returned to his eyes.
"B-byakuya-sama!" he gasped, staring up at his leader as Byakuya moved forward, Senbonzakura in his hand and glowing pink.
"You are free now," Byakuya said, smiling down at his cousin, "and so am I."
"You bastard!" Orochi howled, "How did you free him! How did you escape that gigai!"
Byakuya helped Tetsuya to his feet and the two approached the gathered enemies with the rest of the group taking up protective positions around them.
"It is simple, really," Byakuya explained, glaring at Isas and Orochi, "You made a mistake in sending Tetsuya to do your dirty work for you. You should have attacked me yourselves and you would have stood a chance of defeating me. As it is, you are the ones who have handed my powers back to me. I give one chance to back down. Leave now, and all you will lose is your place in the clan. Stay and fight me, and you will lose everything…the very fate that you had planned for me!"
Isas stepped forward aggressively, bringing his sword to the ready.
"You may have escaped the gigai," he said coldly, "and you may have regained your shikai, but I know full well the damage you took before. There is no way that you and that pathetic little group can defeat all of us! You are just posturing, trying to intimidate us. But we will show you now the difference between your poorer blood and our pure blood!"
Isas's hand rose, and he send a shock through the barrier, making it drop and opening the way for their gathered enemies to attack.
"Kill them!" he ordered the others, flash stepping forward with Orochi at his side.
They seemed to Byakuya to move in slow motion as he gathered his power inside him and felt Senbonzakura tense in preparedness.
It isn't going to be enough until I prove myself beyond their doubts. I have to give everything…risk it all. Whatever happens, I have this moment…with Ichigo and all of these people, these family and friends who have fought to bring me back. I can give no less than they are giving.
Are you with me, Senbonzakura?
You know what we have to do?
He felt the samurai was smiling beneath his mask.
I understand, master. I am with you. Release me!
Byakuya gazed into the maddened eyes of his attackers, his power going white around him as he breathed Senbonzakura's release command.
"Bankai, Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi…Ougi…Ikka Senjinka!"
"Byakuya, what are you doing?" Ichigo screamed, flash stepping forward, "Byakuya!"
The pink blades of Byakuya's senkei glowed bright white and turned towards Isas and Orochi, firing at them and sending blinding light outward as the thousand released blades closed in one them. The eyes of the two targeted men rounded in surprise, then filled with terror as the white swords impaled them.
Byakuya dropped onto his knees, panting heavily as he quickly sealed his sword. He watched intently as blood exploded from Isas and Orochi's impaled forms, and the two slowly faded into nothing.
"You see now," Byakuya warned the remaining enemies, "the fate of anyone who tries to cross me!"
He surged to his feet, holding his sword ready.
"I am Kuchiki Byakuya, 28th head of the Kuchiki clan, and I will not let you defeat me!"
The gathered enemies stared in confusion at the place where Isas and Orochi had been, then at the Kuchiki leader, who stared them down with killing intent. A haze of flash steps sounded, and within moments, Byakuya and his allies stood alone in the abandoned corridor.