Chapter Forty-Two
Jūshirō's POV
The week had been long, I still could not believe that Byakuya's five year marriage would end. True,
Hisana did push herself to this particular point, but no one deserves to die like that. It made me think of my marriage, my wife still seems very troubled and has become illusive. I knew Heather had been lying to me three years ago, and still has been. I was hoping that she would come clean with me but there seemed to be no chance of that happening. I would notice her wander off and not return for hours. I would sometimes go as far as look for her on her duties. Most days she was there, but there would be days where she was nowhere to be found.
I humored the theory that it was just coincidence but as the lies kept piling up, I could not help but to feel lonesome. Our marriage started out as just two friends taking care of her lovechild. It finally occurred to me; after all these years, I always felt it, but we never felt the reason to exchange the phrase, "I love you". Our actions always seemed to speak for themselves, apparently not to her. I sighed sadly as I looked over to my daughter. Midori was curled up in a ball with her head on my lap holding the stuffed rabbit she had since she was a baby. She still never had the heart to get rid of the ratty, old thing. Heather walked into the room and smiled at the sight. It was about time she showed up! She was out late for the third time this month. I plastered a smile on my face and greeted in a soft tone, "Good morning." My wife looked startled at the greeting then looked at the wall clock and made a face. "Ew! I'm sorry I got in so late." She leaned in to kiss me, but I shifted to the side. Heather gave me a confused expression, enough was enough.
I shifted Midori so I could maneuver out from under and rest her head on a pillow firmly took hold of Heather's arm and half dragged her out of the room. "Where have you been?" I questioned. She looked at me somewhat sadly. "I was out." she told me simply. "Where?" I repeated impatiently. "Does it matter?" Heather replied hastily and I snapped back, "Yes! It does matter." She looked startled and took a step back. "Shirō, what's wrong?" she asked. "What's wrong?! My wife is traipsing around the Soul Society all hours of the night without a real reason." I growled, "What am I supposed to think?" Heather's expression turned into complete shock, "Shirō, why would you think like that? I love you too much to do what you're assuming of me. Baby, you and Midori are my world." I was dumbstruck from a moment. She loved me? She loved me?! "Well, then if you love me and you're happy with me…and I love you then… what are you doing?" I questioned almost dizzy with happiness and anger buzzing as I tried to make sense of this proclamation. She looked sad once again. "I want to tell you so bad it hurts. I swore to everyone my silence." my wife told me. I touched foreheads with hers and asked coaxingly, "Can you at least give me something?" She had to tell me something…anything would do just to at least make those three words not feel like a sham. Heather sighed and I knew she gave up. "He threatened our family, Shirō. I don't want to keep looking over my shoulder to see if you or Midori or even Byakuya and His—Rukia…I just want you safe." Rukia? Hisana never found her. Never mind, I had to calm Heather down. She must surely know that I could protect our family from anything. "Who threatened us?" I questioned. Heather shook her head, "I can't."
"How can I protect us? I want to protect us." I told her, she finally broke down and started crying. Damn! That was not the reaction I thought I would get. She pulled me into a tight embrace and sobbed into my chest. "Heather, honey." I tried to coax her but she was not going to listen. I held her until she had calmed down. "Who threatened you? At least give me the most basic information." I requested patiently. "The same man that did the things fifty years ago." she told me softly. Kisuke? No! He's long gone, might even be dead. Then that would mean that he did not do the crime and whoever did was still running around the Seireitei! He's been playing his part so well no one suspected him. The only thing I could really thank that scoundrel for was that I got my family, a lousy way to receive it. Now hearing that the woman I loved was being threatened I wanted to tear him apart. Despite the fact that I had not been feeling so well, I pulled away and picked her up. She buried her nose in my neck and breathed in deeply. "You saw Captain Unohana today, didn't you? Those inhalant meds again?" she questioned me as I carried her to the bedroom. It was true and a very obvious medication: smells bad and makes me feel worse the day I take it and the day after. I had coughed up a lot of blood this visit, Retsu got worried and is changing it next month. I'm not going to tell my wife that right now. She has too much on her plate to worry about a medication switch.
Somehow I have to find out who is blackmailing her. I laid Heather down then climbed in after her and kissed her cheek. She wrapped her arm around me and nuzzled my neck again, sighing in contentment. At least she did not mind the smell of my medication too much. I wrapped my arm around her and felt her breathing settle as she fell asleep. This was not going to be easy, she was stuck on keeping Midori and me safe, but I wanted to help her. Defending the home was supposed to be my burden to bear. Does she think I cannot handle this man? I have to make myself strong enough for her…somehow. I felt a wetness pool around my neck, three years of nonsense and strain of doing this monster's dirty work had finally caught up to her, at least I knew she was still awake. Hopefully, she will let me be a better support now that I know something is going on. I vocalized my thoughts to her and she kissed my throat lightly, tears still coming telling me how wonderful and understanding I was being. I did not feel understanding; I felt murderous if anything. That man had been hounding after her this whole time, targeting my wife for what feels to me like no reason. "Why don't we announce that you had forgotten your past?" I questioned. "No one would believe us but Byakuya and Shunsui, Hon. It doesn't help that I seem to only remember things after they happen, recognizing people that I should know is terrible. It's so iffy that I can't say I forgot everything. " she replied hopelessly and questioned, "Can you do something for me?" "Anything, my love." I said letting it slip and Heather chuckled tiredly, "How cliché." I laughed softly and prodded, "You know you like it. What do you need from me?"
"I don't think I'm going to be around all the time. As long as I do what I'm told your safe; just act normal and don't tell anyone about this. I also would like to have a shoulder to lean on, times are going to get really rough on all of us." my wife requested tilting her head to face me. I frowned, even though she could not see it I felt as if she knew my reaction almost as well as physically seeing it. I could not say no to her though, I wanted to take the entire burden but knew that she would not let me. "As long as I have you to lean on as well." I promised. A sigh of relief came from her as she snuggled closer, kissing me once again. I guess letting her take care of this herself is just one thing I have to live with, at least just this once. "Is this why you tell me you're not ready for another baby when I ask?" I interrogated, I just had to know that this was the reason she had been denying me for two years. "A baby sounds nice, far too much is on the line right now but nice."