… A Good Deed…

/Warning/: This chapter contains, cussing, sadness, a little bit of violence, a little bit of fluff, Ichigo being a little shit, and Byakuya is done! And who knows what! I appreciate all the reviews.

"Talking"

"Thinking"

… Flashbacks or dreams…

"Zanpakuto or Hollows talking"

Chapter 6

Byakuya's lips twitched down when he saw Ichigo walk away, followed by Starrk; both of them had this uneasy dark smiles on their faces, making Byakuya tense like a bow, his instinct of fight or flight going all over the place. One thing was for sure, whoever was an idiot to cross into Hueco Mundo had a death wish; Ichigo had made it known, whoever dared to enter his land without his permission will be met with death, and knowing Ichigo, the man never back from his words.

"Idiot…" Byakuya could only mutter to himself as he leaned back on the wooden rail, hiding the frown painting his face with his white scarf taking in the white sand and blue sky and the huge buildings that were strewed under the doom. Idiot. Byakuya wanted to repeat the word, this time in Ichigo's face, and maybe stump him a little; Ichigo was really an idiot. Byakuya wasn't blind, he really wasn't as cold as everyone else liked to think; he was just good at hiding. He was so good at hiding that he forget that Ichigo was the only person who could find him wherever he hides, even if it was behind his cold collected mask.

Byakuya noticed, he wasn't blind; he noticed how human Ichigo had become, not even his mask, the unnatural golden eyes, or the hole in his chest will change that. It really made him angry; angry that Ichigo probably did anything in his power to become as human as he can, just because he took the answer of a five years old child and made it a universal fact.

"Marry… me… come with me… marry me…"

Byakuya's eyes became distant, he still remembers that day, the day he somehow managed to open the Senkaimon gates, the day he and Ichigo stood a few feet apart, gazing at each other for what will probably be the last time. He still remembers the breeze that ruffled his hair, scattering a few loose leaves around the place, he still remembers the shouting of the Shinigami as they got closer and closer to where Byakuya and Ichigo were.

"I can't…"

Byakuya still remember the tears that clouded his eyes at the sudden question, the shock of being asked such a question by his friend was too much that he didn't know what to answer him. All Byakuya knew back then that they couldn't be together, because then, it meant that his friend will be killed because his friend wasn't like him, but he was a Hollow. He remembers the sadness clouding his friend, he remembers the sad whine he let, the pain and confusion that painted their souls that day.

"…Ifff… I became a… Shinigami… willl yooo marry meee?"

He remembered those words, he remembered how broken-hearted Ichigo was; Byakuya was able to feel how broken-hearted Ichigo was because the lion didn't have it in him to speak perfectly like he did when he first asked him the question. Byakuya remember how he wanted Ichigo to just stop, just stop and run away as fast as he can, because he was sure he heard his grandfather's voice, and if his grandfather showed up, then it meant his friend was going to die; Ichigo was going to die, going to die, going to die!

"I was an idiot when I told him, Yes…" Byakuya let out a pained sigh; he could only gaze at his hands. Byakuya wondered deep down if he had said no that day, would Ichigo still be the same as he is now, or will he still be a Hollow wondering Hueco Mundo, still in his lion form. Maybe, maybe Aizen would still have found him, and the event of the war against Aizen would have been different; maybe Ichigo will be on Aizen's side…

Or maybe Byakuya was overthinking things because he refused to face the truth, that's the most likely answer there was; after all, wasn't Byakuya the one who danced away from anything that had the mention of Ichigo in it? He was sure that Hisana noticed everything when the two of them were married; it was probably why she urged him a few times to search for the one that always occupied his mind since he was nothing but a slip of a child. It was probably why she died with a relaxed conscious; she was thinking that after her death, Byakuya will finally go and search for what she thought as his 'First Love', it was funny how her last request before her death was Byakuya to go and search for them, not knowing that Ichigo will be the one who searches for him.

"You shouldn't be here." A cold voice stated, making Byakuya frown at the thought of being interrupted by an Espada every time he was left to his thoughts. Turning around, Byakuya was greeted by the palest Espada there was. Ulquiorra Cifer, his name was according to Kisuke and Yoruichi who were one of the firsts who fought him, before the Captain of the eleventh hopped in and start fighting him, leaving both Kisuke and Yoruichi to go after Aizen.

"And why is that?" Byakuya asked with the same cold tone the Espada used on him. Byakuya couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the Espada who spoke; the way he said his words, weren't like: 'You shouldn't be here, because this area is off-limits.' No the way he said his words clearly stated that the thought of Byakuya being in Hueco Mundo was taboo by itself.

The cold fury in those green eyes would have scared lesser men to wet themselves silly; not Byakuya though. Byakuya was never a lesser man to be intimidated by anyone else, not even those who were stronger than him by thousands of years. "I will say it only this once so you better listen to me carefully; Ichigo-Sama doesn't need a weakling to drag him down. As a king, Ichigo-Sama needs someone strong by his side, not a weak Shinigami who will stab him in the back." The poisonous glare sends his way made a shiver run down Byakuya's spine without his consent and a scowl made itself known on his face. "So I will repeat it again, you shouldn't be here; return from where you have come Shinigami." Byakuya tilted his head at the way these words were spoken to him, making the realization paint itself in his eyes.

"Interesting…" A mocking smile made its way toward Byakuya's lips, the Shinigami couldn't help but feel amusement at the Espada's words when he realizes they were a product of jealousy. "It's funny that you think Ichigo will choose you; if he did, you will already be married to him, or whatever your kind equal as marriage." Byakuya stated as he starts walking away, ignoring the growl he heard coming from the Espada behind him. "It was pleasant talking with you, Cifer-San, hopefully, the next time we talk; you would have success in catching Ichigo's attention." Byakuya stated with a polite tone, hiding his amusement when he heard the Espada behind him let out an angry hiss…

Part of Byakuya was wondering about his answer to the Espada, wondering from where all that protectiveness of Ichigo came, another part of him was angry at the Hollow for attacking him like this without knowing the true story of his and Ichigo's past. Byakuya though, was annoying at the slight jealousy he felt, because for once, Ichigo and him were nothing but friends, and secondly, they could be nothing but friends, even if Ichigo stated otherwise…

It seemed that Byakuya had a lot of things to think through…

Byakuya could only follow the trail of Reiatsu Ichigo left behind, it was an obvious trail; Ichigo probably left it to him so that he will be able to follow him. Byakuya as much as he didn't want to follow Ichigo's twisted plan, it seems that want it or not he will follow it in the end; because no matter what kind of Shinigami who followed him to Hueco Mundo and drag him back to Soul Society while being branded as a traitor, Byakuya can't leave them alone to face their fate by Ichigo's hand, even if it meant death, because once upon a time he fought with them, even if it was for a short while.

"Where is my Nii-Sama, you brute?" The shriek coming from the room made Byakuya froze, and horror made his blood run cold inside his body. That voice, that screaming voice was his sister's! His foolish sister who seemed to have followed him where she was not welcomed, his foolish sister who was a Shinigami, his foolish sister who will get herself and whoever she brought with her killed because she entered Hueco Mundo without Ichigo's consent.

Taking a shaky breath, Byakuya forced the gates opened; raising his eyebrow when he noticed that he was in what looked like a throne room, but the moment of awe went as quick as it came when he noticed Rukia, Renji, and Kurosaki Karin's human friends were forced to kneel in front of the throne Ichigo was sitting on. "Rukia, why are you here?" Byakuya walked toward his sister, sending Nel, who was holding her down a deadly glare, making the woman with the green hair, blink, and let go of his sister, though not before sending Ichigo a knowing look.

"What do you mean why am I here? To bring you back home of course! You just up and disappeared without a word leaving your Captain Haori and Kenseikan behind. If anyone other than me saw them they would have branded you as a traitor!" Rukia snapped, glaring at Byakuya darkly, but Byakuya was able to detect the tears in his sister's eyes, making him feel bad for scaring her like that, he knows out of everyone, she was the last person to judge him considering that she was a friend with Kurosaki Karin, a Visored who was half a Shinigami half a Hollow.

"They already branded me as a traitor Rukia, the only reason they didn't make a move because of me being a Kuchiki." Byakuya stated coldly, causing both Renji and Rukia to let out choked noises of disbelieve as they gazed at him with denial in their eyes. "Me being here, won't change it, not even by being in Soul Society, but what you have done was stupid and reckless, not only have you endangered your friends in a futile search, but now we may also risk a war going on because you entered Hueco Mundo without permission of its king." Byakuya hissed in a low voice so that only his sister and Fuku-Taichou will hear him, and they heard him alright, for both of their eyes to widen, and both were speechless, not knowing what to make of Byakuya's confession, which informed Byakuya that the Captains and the Sou-Taichou still didn't tell anyone about the bane of going to Hueco Mundo which may present a problem. "I apologize for my sister and my Fuku-Taichou's actions; I will accept whatever kind of punishment meant for them and their friends." Byakuya turned to Ichigo as he said those words, causing the orange hair Espada to purse his lips in annoyance.

"Can't do Byakuya-Chan…" Ichigo let out an annoying sigh, shrugging at the harsh glare Byakuya send his way. "You see, even if they had good intentions coming here, they still broke the agreement of no Shinigami coming into Hueco Mundo without my approval." Ichigo said with boredom shining in his voice and action causing Byakuya to bit the inside of his cheek, least he snapped at the Espada.

"That may be true, but the two of them are here with me as my guests, you can possibly punish them for being late, can you? Also not to forget that the humans with them are Karin's friends, do you really want to explain to your sister why you killed her friends who helped in her fight against Aizen?" Byakuya asked with curiosity coloring his voice, causing Ichigo to scowl darkly; Byakuya relaxed, for he knows that he was able to drop one on Ichigo and that his sister and her idiot friends were out of danger, for now.

"Dammit, Bya-Chan, you always had a good head on your shoulders I admit defeat this time." Ichigo stood up from his throne walking toward Byakuya until he was standing in front of him; all of the elation feeling that Byakuya felt not a few seconds ago, vanished at the feral grin that crossed Ichigo's face. "Though you forget to mention the Captains that entered Hueco Mundo just now, tell me Byakuya, are they your guests too?" Ichigo asked darkly, the smile still painting his face, making it more sinister than it is.

Byakuya's voice was stuck in his through, and as much as Byakuya wanted to open his mouth and speak, he couldn't, for he know that the only sound that will leave his mouth when he opens it will be confused noises, and under no circumstances, will Byakuya appear weak in front of Ichigo. "I think they came to drag your murderous doll back to Seireitei, boss." Nel Tu stated as she stretched behind Byakuya, letting out a bored yawn as she nodded to her fellow Espada to let the humans go. "As Byakuya said, they already branded him as a traitor, doesn't that mean they cross our land to retrieve and execute him, I heard they done the same to his sister before Karin-Chan saved her." Nel smiled when Byakuya turned his head toward her to send her a glare ordering her to shut up.

"Well then, it's stilled, don't you think Byakuya?" Ichigo asked with an amused smile, and Byakuya tried hard not to snap at the Espada who was looking like he already won the war before it even begin, and maybe he did, because out of everyone Ichigo was always smarter than he looked. "Espada, you can go and play with the Captains as much as you want, I want them alive though because I am sure as hell will be having a long conversation with the Sou-Taichou about his minions entering my land." Ichigo nodded to his Espada, getting a nod back as they scattered out of the throne room, leaving Byakuya, Nel, and Rukia and her friends behind. "Now, if you will follow Nel, I'm sure you will like to rest and possibly see Karin. Byakuya and I on the other hand have a lot to discuss." Ichigo gave Rukia a gentle smile, taking Byakuya's hand in his before Ichigo Sonido out of the room, leaving no room for protest from everyone…

Byakuya really has a bad feeling about this…

Byakuya didn't know where Ichigo was taking him, but he got his answer later when they stopped in what looked like a vast bedroom not a few seconds later. Byakuya pulled his hand away from Ichigo's, he ended up crossing his arms over his chest, looking the other side, wondering what Ichigo will do, considering that the man already knows that Byakuya was lying in his face.

"That's mean Byakuya… lying when you were the one who said not to." Ichigo stated dryly, turning to Byakuya with a blank face, causing the Captain to shift in his place at the way the Espada was looking at him. "I already know that she was your sister, I wouldn't have hurt her; you didn't have to lie." Ichigo huffed, getting an eye roll from Byakuya, any other person would have gazed at Byakuya with shock for displaying such emotion, not Ichigo though; Ichigo takes everything thrown at him with a smile.

"You wouldn't have hurt her, but you will use her as a pawn for a war to come, I wouldn't have that." Byakuya shifted uncomfortably as he said those words, which made Ichigo sigh and grumble something under his breath, which Byakuya tried hard not to feel insulted at but failed not to.

"First of all, Byakuya-Kun, I would never think of endangering you or any of your family; secondly everyone knew about Soul Society attacking. You were the only one who wasn't informed about it, because guess what? They already label you as a traitor who will run to us when the smallest thing will happen, just as they label the Kurosaki family and Karin, just as they label your sister, your Fuku-Taichou, and their human friends. You see Byakuya, I am not going to start a war like you think I will, but I will finish it if it meant protecting my people." Ichigo stated a dark look taking over his face, and Byakuya desperately tried to stop the suffocating feeling that nearly took over him.

Byakuya can already hear the sound of fighting in the distance, the battle already started, and by the sound of it, it was going to be deadly, and for a split second he was confused and afraid, but he pushed those feelings down, he had too. "I see…" Byakuya murmured to himself, already feeling like the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. "What are you going to do after this is over?" Byakuya could only ask that question, feeling too tired to react or do anything other than taking a seat on the closest available surface which turned out to be the huge bed.

"I'm going to invade Soul Society, but before that, I'm still waiting for your answer." Ichigo grin, his gaze darkened as he took in Byakuya who was sitting on his bed, Byakuya, on the other hand, didn't give that much thought to the dark gaze he was subjected to, Ichigo wasn't the first person who send Byakuya these kinds of looks.

Byakuya could only sigh and raise his head to look at the ceiling with a thoughtful look before turning toward Ichigo. "Tell me the truth Ichigo. was my answer all those decades ago the reason you changed yourself so much to resemble a Shinigami?" Byakuya asked, using Ichigo's name to inform him how serious the conversation was.

Ichigo paused, blinking his eyes a few times before a chuckle left him. "No…" Ichigo answered, coming near Byakuya and taking a seat beside him, causing Byakuya to turn his head toward his friend, trying desperately to ignore the sound of fighting that was winding down. "After you answered me centuries ago and me coming here… I admit I forget all about that wistful wish… I knew a Hollow and a Shinigami can't be together, not with how I look, and who you were." Byakuya nodded his head accepting the answer but urging Ichigo to continue, which the orange-haired Espada did. "Even after Aizen, I knew it will probably be impossible, maybe because I thought you probably got married and forget about me or something, so many possibilities… but when I saw you for the first time after all these years, I admit I became selfish; can't help it really, that's how cats are when they see something they liked, it automatically became ours." Ichigo stated, lying on his bed, gazing at Byakuya who had an irritated look mixed with amusement.

"You can't blame anything on your feline side, not anymore, you are not a lion… at least not with that horn on your head; I admit I haven't seen a lion with a horn before, I'm sure it would have been an amusing sight." Byakuya rolled his eyes at the image these words presented him, and Ichigo seemed to imagine the same thing because he let out something that could be a mix of a laugh and a snort.

"Thank you very much, but when I turned into a Vasto Lorde I looked like a human wearing a horned helmet, not whatever poor creature you imagined." Ichigo pushed Byakuya playfully, getting the first real smile from Byakuya since they meet, it was nothing but a twitch of Byakuya's lips, but for Ichigo, it was enough. "What do you think will happen now? The battle is over." Ichigo tilted his head, curious at the answer he will get; Byakuya though let a dark smile take over his face.

Never let it be said that Kuchiki Byakuya wasn't a bitter person when he wanted to be…

"What do you mean we lost contact with our Captains?" The Sou-Taichou snapped as he gazed at the Captain of the twelfth, already feeling more irritating than he was when Ginrei came and report to him that the Taichou and the Fuku-Taichou of the sixth alone with Kuchiki Rukia and the Kurosaki family and their human friends have disappeared, it was causing the Sou-Taichou to feel ready to snap and head to Hueco Mundo himself and destroy the place.

"It happens sometimes when you go deep into Hueco Mundo…" A dark voice stated causing everyone to tense and turn their sight toward where they heard the voice coming from, only to see Espada Cero leaning on the wall with a dark smile on his face, surrounded by the bodies of the five Captains who went to Hueco Mundo not an hour ago. "I decided to return the trash you throw in my home; don't worry, they are alive if a little banged out." Espada Cero said with a dark smile causing shivers to run down everyone's spines, especially when the Espada let his Reiatsu loose.

Everyone, even the Sou-Taichou felt the strain of such a monstrous Reiatsu, and not one of them could move least of all draw their Zanpakuto and fight. "How did you…" The Sou-Taichou's words trailed off, and no sound could leave his lips after Ichigo turned his face toward him with a feral look that mixed with hate, a look that nothing short of a monster can have it on their face.

"That doesn't matter, does it?" Espada Cero stated as he straightens himself and starts walking until he was in the middle of the meeting hall an amused smile on his lips. "I should kill you all, it will be so easy, just letting my Reiatsu leak until it suffocates you and you die." Espada Cero stated these words with a happy smile, like they were a fact, causing everyone's breath to hitch as fear start clouding everyone's vision. "But fortunately for you, I won't." The Espada shrugged as he lessens the Reiatsu burden, causing everyone to catch their breath, still gazing at the Espada with fear.

"And why is that?" Ginrei asked, finally gathering himself to ask the question that ran through everyone's mind, it made everyone shift in their place, for they know what Espada Cero warned them he will do if they broke their agreement weeks ago, and they know that their fellow Captains survival was nothing short of a miracle.

"You should thank Kuchiki-Taichou for coming into an agreement that will save your pretty little necks from being sliced with my sword." Espada Cero started with a dark look in his eyes, causing everyone to take a step back. "I was about to kill those pests you send into my domain and come to destroy you when Kuchiki-Taichou came with an interesting offer that saved the lives of those sleeping mice." Espada Cero stated, humming happily to himself as he said those words, making everyone become restless.

"What kind of agreement?" The Sou-Taichou asked, already feeling dread taking over his heart, this was bad, too bad. Kuchiki Byakuya already showed that he has a strong grip over Espada Cero the first time the two of them met, Kuchiki Byakuya already has a strong grip in Soul Society, not only because he was the head of the Kuchiki clan, the favorite clan of the Soul King himself, but because everyone in every distracts in Soul Society loves him for his kindness and his resemblance for his late father; if souls got the word of Byakuya going rogue, they will join him.

"A marriage contract!" Espada Cero chirped sounding way too pleased with himself, and his grin widens, even more, when Ginrei choked on his breath. "He offered his hand in marriage, for me spearing the lives of those pathetic worms that are standing in this room with me; what an admirable Captain, tried desperately to come up with solutions to save what he thinks of as his home, it will be a shock if he knew that the Captains' mission was to kill him, I wonder if I can persuade him into forsaking you?" The Espada asked with a curious voice, making everyone shift uncomfortably.

"I won't allow it!" Ginrei snapped as he took a step forward, glaring at the Espada with the darkest look someone can have on their face, which made the Espada roll his eyes. "I refuse for my grandson to marry a monster!" The older man shouted taking a threatening step toward Ichigo.

"Then prepare for an invasion that will wipe all of Soul Society." Those words made everyone's blood run cold and their eyes widen in fear. "Unlike you, Kuchiki Byakuya is smart, and he thought ten steps farther than you, so is Hitsugaya Toshiro, why do you think that I didn't return the little shrimp with me broken and bloody like the rest of his friends?" Silence greeted the Espada, a silence that was louder than any word someone would have spoken. "The deal was for Byakuya to give me his hand in marriage for the price of saving Soul Society from the invasion that will wipe it away; as for Hitsugaya Toshiro, he offered his service as a servant for the price of me not killing those worms who came with him to Hueco Mundo. I don't care what you think or if you agreed with Byakuya or not, it's my win either way." Espada Cero shrugged and start whistling as he walked away leaving the room in deadly silence.

The door slamming shut made everyone realize what a deadly mistake they made…

"So how did it go?" Byakuya asked curiously when he noticed Ichigo humming happily behind him; but Byakuya didn't turn away, he was busy entertaining himself as he gazed at how Toshiro was being harassed by Karin, who was chatting his poor ears off. Ichigo not liking this took it as his job to keep glaring at Toshiro, making the smaller Captain shift uncomfortably and try to hide behind Karin subtly but it wasn't working for everyone was feeling as uncomfortable as the small Captain was, everyone that wasn't one of the Espada, the Kurosaki family, and Byakuya. It was only thanks to Isshin that the smaller Captain was all fine and conscious; it seemed that both Karin and Isshin had a soft spot for short Captains with white hair and snappish attitude.

"Fine, your grandpa wasn't that happy though but he will get over it." Ichigo 'meh'-ed causing Byakuya to roll his eyes, but his lips twitched at the amused look on Ichigo's face. "I liked the face the Sou-Taichou made, he looked like he was about to burse a vein… good times." Ichigo gave a smug smile, causing Byakuya to snort and shake his head.

"Ichi-Nii! Did you hear? Karin-Chan wanted to marry Toshiro!" Yuzu squeal happily as she said those words, causing everyone in the room other than Byakuya to gulp in fear at the dark mood the room suddenly took, turning to Ichigo, everyone shifted away when they saw the golden eyes glowing with a threatening glow promising pain and death to whoever was idiot enough to cross him.

"Ah, I see, a congratulation is in order then." Byakuya stated, elbowing Ichigo in his side harshly sending him a warning look ordering him to behave or else, which made Ichigo hiss under his breath and glared at Byakuya, but the Kuchiki was having none of it. "If you won't stop it, consider the agreement off." Ichigo gritted his teeth at this answer and he crosses his arms after that, doing nothing but glaring at everyone who looked his way, his action causing a smile to twitch on Byakuya's lips…

Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing, saying yes…

…

The End

So what do you think?

I know, I know, everyone is probably wondering what kind of ending is this.

But it was the only ending that was good enough!

Don't worry though; the story does have a sequel!

With married Ichigo and Byakuya and smut!

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And tell me what you think…

Nazaki-Sama