The Echoes of the Heart
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters, nor do I make any money from this fanfiction
Chapter Two: The Echoes of Pain
Byakuya's P.O.V.
By: Lady Moonlight Owl

Author's Note: This takes place after the defeat of Yhwach.

9:30 PM-Sohma Asuka's Office- Sixth Division

I am standing here in the dark watching as my fourth seat Sohma Asuka still working on the rest of my third seat Hinotori Suzuki's paperwork who is still in the Fourth Division due to a mishap during a hallow nest removal. I did order the young lady to do his work as well as her own work. Asuka did not say a word and just did as she was told. I did not believe Abarai Renji fukutaicho when he told me Sohma Asuka would stay all night if she needs to complete the work, and Asuka will continue to work the next day. Renji also informed me, Asuka has not been sleeping for at least four days and three nights, and from the looks of it, this will be the fourth night. Damn, Ukitake taicho is going to kill me if I do not step in soon, and Renji had also told me Tetsuzaemon Iba thinks we are working Asuka too hard, and he would like Asuka to come home.

I walked into the office, followed by Abarai Renji fukutaicho. I believe I stood there for about fifteen minutes, and Sohma Asuka never once looked up at us. I heard Renji sigh, Renji stepped forward, I watched as Renji lifts a heavy book from her desk and drops it on the desk. And to my surprise, it did not faze her. I looked closely at her face, and I finally notice Asuka is asleep, but she was still working.

Renji sighs and murmurs,

"Asuka is as bad as Shuhei if not worst, even he does not do this. I guess I have no choice."

I watched in fascination as Renji takes the remaining paperwork, brushes, and inkpot away from her and leans close to her ear and yells,

"KUCHIKI TAICHO, IS ON HIS WAY HERE AND YOU ARE IN DEEP SHIT FOR NOT PUTTING THE NEW RECRUITS THROUGH THEIR PACES."

Asuka jumps up wide awake and blinks, looking at her desk confused as panic etched across her face. I heard her hum quietly,

"Kuchiki taicho is going to Senbonzakura me if I don't get those papers filled by morning, not to mention "The Red Monkey" is going to kill me for not going to sleep again."

I sighed inwardly and schooled my face into an unreadable mask as I addressed my fourth seat,

"Sohma Asuka, these papers can and will wait until you have taken two days off."

Asuka froze for a split second as she met my eyes and all she did was stand up with a curt nod and left her office with a quiet,

"Goodnight, Kuchiki taicho and Abarai fukutaicho."

I could hear Renji mumble under his breath,

"Damn Asuka does not know how to take a break from work like someone else I know."

I decided to ignore that last jab at me, and we were off to the late-night Taicho and Fukutaicho meeting. It's going to be a very long night indeed.

1:30 AM-Taicho and Fukutaicho Meeting-Meeting Hall

I swear Kyoraku Shunsui is long-winded like Yamamoto, and we have been standing here for four hours now. I wish he gets to the point already. I wonder why no one has ever asked him this before, but I was not about to ask the question, nor would I do it in front of my fellow taichos. I know Renji is just itching to say something.

I sighed inwardly as I look over at my fellow taicho. I notice Matsumoto Rangiku fukutaicho and Iba Tetsuzaemon fukutaicho were absent, and no one knew why not even Hitsugaya taicho or Aikawa taicho I could see Madarame fukutaicho looks like he's ready to either kill someone or something.

Suddenly I could feel Asuka's reiatsu heading this way, and I heard Hasunohana's pack howling as if mirroring the coldness of Askua's cold reiatsu. I could hear Hasunohana barking viciously and growling ferociously at the guards posted at the door. I am guessing Hasunohana must have bit one of the guards because we heard a loud yelp. and the Meeting Hall doors burst open and Asuka came running in with Hasunohana following as Kyoraku soutaicho yells at her,

"What is the meaning of this, Asuka?"

To my surprise, Asuka ran toward us, and I watched as Asuka flew herself into Ukitake's arms and Asuka hiding her face in his right shoulder. The heart-wrenching sobs echoed in the suddenly quiet room as Ukitake held and gently rocked the sobbing girl.

I saw Zaraki taicho and Madarame fukutaicho step forward when Ukitake's reiastu spiked dangerously at whatever she had told him. To my surprise, several fukutaicho also moved forward to try and keep the situation from getting out of hand.

At that moment, Iba Tetsuzaemon fukutaicho and Matsumoto Rangiku fukutaicho came running in. I watched as Ukitake taicho very gently pushed his daughter towards Kyoraku soutaicho and very slowly stalked over to Tetsuzaemon fukutaicho and Matsumoto fukutaicho while drawing his zanpakuto but it was Asuka's voice that stopped him,

"Dad, don't lose your cool because of these two dumbasses. I beg you; please remember your position and where you are?"

Ukitake stealth his zanpakuto, but he did not stop moving toward the two frightened fukutaicho. Once, he stood in front of them with glaring eyes.

"You both should thank Asuka because if it were not for her, neither of you would be alive right now. I'm warning you, Tetsuzaemon, if you so much as try and contact my girl. You are going to wish it was her godparents or me, or her friends ripping you apart instead of Kisuke."

I had not noticed I had moved forward, but there I am standing beside my fourth seat as I rubbed her back in a soothing way as Asuka looked up at me sadly and in a choked voice full of sadness

"Kuchiki taicho, did I do something wrong to deserve this?"

I shook my head and wiped away her freshly shed tears as Renji swept her up in a huge bear hug, and Renji whispered in her ear,

"No, you did not. And this is not your fault either because he decided to be an asshole and fuck around behind your back and with Matsumoto of all people."

I watched as she sobbed into Renji's right shoulder, and my fukutaicho press a kiss to her right temple, and I turned to see Zaraki taicho watching the exchange between his lover and my fourth seat with a wan smile.

Asuka regained her composure, and Renji set her down. Asuka looked around with a horrid look etched on her face as she realized where she is for the first time. I could see the slow pink blush etched on her cheek as she bowed to us all in apologize.

I took my place as did the others as Asuka address us,

" I am so sorry about the rude intrusion, Kyoraku soutaicho. I will take whatever punishment Kuchiki taicho shall bestow upon me."

I saw Asuka's eyes fall upon both Iba Tetsuzaemon and Matsumoto Rangiku. I saw her right-hand clench into a fist as she stalked over to her ex-boyfriend and slugged him so hard that he implanted into the wall behind his taicho. I could see the smug look on her face as she turned with a backhand across Matsumoto Rangiku's face which sent her flying behind the wall where Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō taicho and Kira Izuru fukutaicho stood.

I gave Asuka a "Wait until we are alone." look while Ukitake gives her a reproached look and Renji flash steps beside her and smacks her upside the head and scolded Asuka gruffly,

"Asuka, in front of everyone, you hit them if Kyoraku soutaicho decides to punish you himself. Kuchiki taicho or Ukitake taicho would not be able to stop him either. Little idiot, I know you're upset, but try to be more tactful next time."

I could see several of the taichos with shock looks on their faces while others like Suì-Fēng, Muguruma Kensei, Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, and Hirako Shinji were glaring at Iba. Abarai fukutaicho stood beside Asuka protectively while glaring at Iba. The Soutaicho gives Asuka an "I will deal with you later "look.

Asuka bowed again, and she was about to leave when Kotetsu taicho spoke up for the first time

" Askua, what exactly did you walk into when you came home if you don't mind telling us?"

Asuka gave her an "I rather not talk about it in front of everyone" look but answered her politely, and she recounted what happened in her office, and why she had left. Asuka recounted how she had stopped to pick up some miso pork ramen for her dinner and Iba's favorite snack. How she went home to find Hasunohana at the gate, which was unusual, although she thought nothing of it, and everything was dark.

The young lady gave a shuddering breath as new tears welled up in her eyes as Renji gently wrapped an arm around her waist, and he kissed her right temple making an encouraging noise for her to go on,

"I turned on the lights I went into the kitchen to have my dinner when I heard moaning coming from our room, and I thought Iba was sore from working or sparring with Madarame as I turned on the lights in our room I saw them fucking in our bed. I fled from the house, and I ended up here wanting my dad to comfort me, and I am afraid I kind of have forgotten there was a meeting this morning."

Asuka bowed once again and fled into the early morning with Hasunohana following her close behind.

The meeting adjourned immediately, and we're dismissed to go and rest until the next morning when duty calls once again.

7:45 AM-Sixth Division

I saw some of the subordinates from the Sixth and Thirteenth at Asuka's home packing her things with Ukitake taicho supervising the move. I looked over to find Hasunohana sitting outside of Asuka's office. I walked over to the office, and I found Asuka working with Renji hovering over her while trying without any success to get her to get some rest.

I walked in, and watching them for a moment and pity stirred my heart for the heartbroken young woman. I knew what heartache felt like and how it hurts so damn much. I wanted Asuka to deal with her pain, and I do not want her to run from it. So, I went to speak with Ukitake taicho, and Kyoraku soutaicho about what I wanted to try and help Asuka. Kenpachi isn't going to like the idea, but if my hunch is right. Kenpachi is the only one who can hopefully snap Asuka out of her depression.

Later that afternoon, I gave Sohma Asuka her orders from Soutaicho for a two-month mandatory vacation effective immediately. I saw Zaraki taicho glowering when he had told Asuka to transferred into his Division.

I just hope this will work and bring down the wall I know she will put up to protect herself from the heartache.

To Be Continued!