Chapter 75: 1,000 Yr. BWArc: Speculation

Minata's POV

My grandmother and Lord Ginrei's words ended up sticking with me, not just for the rest of the night, but for the next couple of days afterward.

When I'm not focused on paperwork or helping train squad members for the next Quincy onslaught, I find myself thinking and rethinking their words, trying to figure out what they meant. My thoughts were amusing to Mizukiri, who offered no help to my cause, saying that this was something that I had to figure out on my own.

Sometimes zanpakutos really were no help.

"What exactly do Byakuya and I have to talk about when he returns?" I find myself mumbling as I wrote down my signature on the umpteenth report today. "It has to be something connected to our relationship, but I can't seem to figure out what it could be . . . I'm probably overthinking this."

"You technically are. . ."

"Oh thank you Mizukiri!" I grumble, narrowing my eyes at the blonde who sat at my windowsill. "That's the most helpful thing you've said about my predicament in the last few days. Care to tell me why you've decided to speak up now?"

"When you start overthinking things, your Inner World starts getting out of whack."

"So you're speaking up for your own benefit then?"

"Pretty much. . ."

"Why am I not surprised. . ?" I say, chuckling as Mizukiri looks at me with a grin that was almost cat-like. "You know what? I'm just not gonna think about it anymore. I have bigger things to focus on after all. . . If Byakuya has to discuss something with me when he returns, then so be it."

"It's good to hear that you're getting your priorities in order. . ." I would have said something witty, but a knock at my door stopped me short. ". . . Come in Nanao!"

"I would ask how you knew it was me, but your knack for sensing spiritual pressure has always been better than others," My fellow lieutenant mumbles as she enters with a large book tucked under her left arm. "That Fukudome blood really has its advantages. . ."

"So I've been told," I say as I look at the book tucked under her arm. "So, have you managed to find some use out of that old book?"

"Plenty, actually . . . I really need to thank your grandmother for letting me borrow this book on kido theory. If all goes well, some of the kido spells I have planned can really be helpful for the fights to come."

"I hope so, and you can probably keep that book anyway. . . I'm positive that there are two other copies of that same book somewhere in my family's library alone," I muse as I quickly write my signature on another report. "Anyway, you went to go check on the Eighth Division right? How are they doing over there?"

"They're doing fine under Third Seat Enjōji's leadership, for now."

"For now?" I ask, my eyebrows going up slightly. "Is Enjōji someone that shouldn't be leading a division for the long term?"

"I don't want to sound mean, but yeah . . . Granted, he has considerable power that warrants his position as the Eighth's Third Seat. He just doesn't have the right demeanor for it," She explains as I start reading my last report. "To make things simple: he has an undeniable ego; one that makes him think quite highly of himself . . . Too much if you ask me."

"And this ego of his was with him before or after he was appointed to his current position?" I couldn't help but ask, too curious for my own good.

"After . . . Captain Kyoraku thought that he would mature as he grew into the role, but so far, it's been a very slow progress," She admits, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe things will be different once you take on the captain's haori Mina."

"Hey! I don't think we should be thinking that ahead just yet . . . Such a decision has not been set in stone," I was quick to say as I signed off on the last report.

"But it will, eventually. . ." Nanao said in return. "The Captain Commander has made it quite obvious that he plans to make you the next Captain of the Eighth Division once our war with the Quincies is over."

"Yes, he pretty much said it outright during our conversation three days ago," I say as I got out of my seat. "But right now, I think it's best that we focus on the war effort before we start thinking about any future promotions."

"That's fair, but you got to admit, you are a no-brainer for the role," Nanao admits as we step out of the room. "Sure, there are other candidates, like Abarai and Ikkaku, but neither of them are willing to leave their current positions. Madarame doesn't like to announce that he has a bankai in general, even though it's one of the Seireitei's worst kept secrets at this point, and Abarai . . . I feel like he wants to make sure that he has surpassed Captain Kuchiki first before he moves on to any thought of being a captain. Am I wrong?"

"Not really," I concede as Mizukiri and I share a knowing look. At this point, even Byakuya knew that Abarai had no plans on accepting a captaincy position until he felt that he could truly beat him . . . That may take a while. "Ikkaku will avoid the captain's position like it's the plague, and Renji won't budge until he feels he's truly ready for it."

"And when you say he won't budge till he's truly ready for it, he's not going to leave the Sixth until he can beat Captain Kuchiki in a fight is he?"

"Most likely. . ." I say, shaking my head. "Men can be so stubborn."

"Tell me about it . . . Wait, would Captain Kuchiki push Renji to become a captain if an opening was available?"

"In the past, Byakuya wouldn't suggest Abarai for a captain's vacancy because he found him too immature for the role . . . Hmm, now? He would talk to him about it, but actually push him into it? Highly unlikely." I say as we turned the corner. "That's not the kind of person he is."

"What about you? How do you think Byakuya would react once he finds out about your possible future promotion?"

"You know; I haven't given it much thought. . . I've actually had something else on my mind these past few days."

"Oh really? What is it?"

"Apparently her grandmother and Lord Ginrei have implied that she and Captain Kuchiki will have something big to discuss once he returns from the Royal Dimension," Mizukiri answers for me, her face looking smug. "She's been stressing over it ever since."

"I haven't been stressing over it, Mizukiri. It just made me curious, that's all. . . We're in a good place in our relationship right now, so I highly doubt that whatever Byakuya has to say to me when he returns is something bad." I muse as I bring a hand to my chin.

"Then maybe he wants to talk to you about taking the next step," Nanao suggests as we pass by a couple of unseated shinigami. "Ooh, maybe he wants to talk to you about marriage. . . Do you think he plans to propose?"

Her words stop me in my tracks, and suddenly, my grandmother and Lord Ginrei's words start to make a lot more sense.

"You know . . . That makes a lot of sense," I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief. "I can't believe I didn't connect the dots sooner. . . Please do not mention this to Yachiru or Rangiku."

"Consider it done! Your secret is safe with me," Nanao is quick to say. "Both of them have big mouths, but Rangiku would definitely be the one to spread the word throughout the Seireitei, and she would do it with absolute glee."

"Now isn't that the truth . . . Well, her training with Captain Hitsugaya is keeping her busy, so we won't have to worry about her for now."

"And speaking of training. . ." Nanao muses, giving me a hopeful look. "Mind helping me out with a little training? I want to see how well my spells work against live opponents."

"It would be my pleasure. . ."


T ~ P ~ O ~ S ~ L

Byakuya's POV

"So, how many times has she managed to get the upper hand during your spars again?"

"It's not like I make it a habit," I grumble, turning to the side to avoid my father's bemused expression. "I will admit; Mina has always been more gifted at Hakuda than me, but I have managed to hold my own in our battles."

"That didn't answer my question though."

"Do you really expect me to give an honest answer to that question?"

"It was worth a shot," He says, his tone wistful as I finally turned my head back around. "And you can't blame me for asking. I know I wasn't entirely there during your childhood, but I saw enough to make me think that, at the very least, you two would be good friends for a long time . . . I was on the fence that a possible romantic relationship could happen."

"You were on the fence about us being linked romantically?"

"Your personalities were quite different from each other when you two were young. Of course, time and maturity would lead to changes in both of you as you got older, but I was still a little unsure . . . But after listening to your story, it sounds like Mina has become the best thing that's happened to you in a long time."

"You could say that again. . ." I admit, my words only prompting my father to grin even further. "As my mourning period came to an end, I started to realize how much I really cared about Minata, and then I realized that a lot of those feelings were, well, more than friendly."

"Hisana will always have a special place in your heart, but sometimes our feelings will not be denied . . . So, have the elders been interfering with your relationship in any way. I wouldn't be surprised if they have."

"Surprisingly, they haven't been interfering as much as you would expect," I say, admittedly a little impressed with the amount of restraint they showed so far. "They've only taken more of an interest in recent weeks because they feel the relationship has gone on a little too long without a proposal coming to fruition."

"And can you blame them? Long courtships such as yours are very rare in our society . . . After waiting for you to come out of your mourning period after so long, I'm sure they were eager for you to remarry and finally have children."

"And then I decided to dash such hopes by engaging in a long term relationship with my best friend where I have yet to marry or have children with her," I add. "I haven't even proposed."

"But do you plan to?" He asks. looking bemused. "To propose of course."

"I do. . . Actually proposing to her has proven to be quite the challenge though."

"You haven't figured out how you want to pose the question to her, is that it?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"You have a superb stoic expression, but sometimes your feelings make you an open book," My father was quick to say, smirking at his own words. "I wouldn't fret too much about proposing to Mina, Byakuya. I'm sure that however you decide to ask the question, she will accept your hand in marriage . . . Have faith! After all, if she has stuck with you this long, then I highly doubt that she will deny you at this point."

"Your vote of confidence is reassuring Father," I slowly admit, just as I notice something happening from the corner of my eye. Turning my head, I see the outer parts of the room slowly disappearing as if it was being eaten away by Mizukiri's power. . . It was not a reassuring sight. "What, what is happening?"

"The room . . . It could only mean one thing, my son. You're waking up."

"Already?!" I ask, bewildered at the admission. "This quickly?"

"It does appear a little odd, but I guess this shows the kind of high quality care that you have been receiving up to this point," My father theorizes as he gestures to the quickly disappearing room around us. "It was so good to talk to you again Byakuya."

"Likewise Father," I say, just as his right hand started to disappear. "Father, do you have any advice for me before you go?"

"You are about to reawaken to a situation that is less than ideal, and I know you still carry some regrets over what happened that led you here in the first place . . . Don't let those regrets define who you are, or consume you for that matter. It has been your downfall before. Don't let it be your downfall again."

I would have said more, but my father quickly vanished as soon as he finished his last word, and everything became stark white.


T ~ P ~ O ~ S ~ L

I feel it before I can even see it. The familiar feeling of warm water enveloping my entire body welcomes me to the real world before the sight of it ever does, and my eyes open to see that I was floating under the water of some kind of pool.

My lungs were starting to burn from the lack of air, so I launched myself upward, breaching the surface to see that I was in some kind of hot spring.

"Well, well, well . . . The pretty boy has finally awakened!"

His words immediately reminded me of Zaraki, but the tone indicated that he wasn't the barbaric 11th Division Captain. Turning my head, I find the source of the voice sitting on the other side of the pool. He was tall and lean, and wore his hair in a style that was likely popular in the Human World.

Despite that, I could feel the spiritual energy that was hiding under the surface. He was strong, and could likely end me before I could take a step at this point.

"What?! No answer?" He grumbles around the stick that he held in his mouth. "Eh, I'll let it slide. Not everyone has their wits together after spending some time in my healing pools . . . Anyway, the name is Tenjirō Kirinji, the Hot Spring Demon, First Officer of the Zero Division, and Holy Guardian of the East."

"The Zero Division. I'm in the Royal Dimension . . ." I realize, taking a moment to take in the surroundings around me. "And he's one of the Royal Guard members."

"You should be honored . . . You were practically on death's door before I got my hands on you. You took a long time getting to this point, so much so that you have the dubious honor of holding the record of having spent the longest time soaking in my healing hot springs," He explains to me, somehow sounding both serious and sarcastic with his delivery. "So, do you feel dizzy?"

"Dizzy?" I ask, looking forward. Hearing that I was so close to death and had taken so long to heal was not a surprise, not after having been put through Hell by that fear-inducing Quincy. The injuries I received would have killed most men, and it should have killed me, but it didn't . . . I live to fight another day.

. . . I wasn't going to waste this second chance.

"Dizzy? I'm far too weak to be headstrong. That implies having a level of pride that could be justified . . . I don't have that right now. At this point, I will use the time I have in this dimension to work myself to a level where I can justify such pride again."

"Hmm, at least you understand your situation," I hear him say, and I turn my head back around to see him smirking as he throws something in my direction. I caught it, soon realizing that it was a wrapped shihakusho. "Alright, get out of the pool, dry off, and change into those clothes. Your time with me is done. . . Oh, and I hope you're hungry."

"And why do you say that?"

"Cause where you're going next, it's best to arrive with an empty stomach than a full one."

A/N: Please review!