Chapter 3

-Later, Dinner—

Dinner was a very pleasant affair. Myssa was seated across from Byakuya. Ginrei made easy conversation with Myssa while Byakuya was stoic. Ginrei asked her about how she became a relic hunter, hoping to ease her into talking about herself and her past.

She was relaxed when she answered. "My brother, Rygar, lost a relic battling against a gorgon that had entered our realm. I was dispatched by my father to find it."

Byakuya was suddenly interested. "You have a brother?"

She smiled. "I have four. Rygar, the oldest, then Auron, then the twins Maycen and Jaycen. Rygar is married with two sons, ages 40 and 25. Auron is married with a son age 8 and a daughter age 5. Maycen and Jaycen are still unwed and wreaking havoc on the female populace with their charm and good looks."

"That's quite a big family you have," Ginrei said.

"That is my father's family. I have two sisters through my biological mother. Maren is the oldest, then Mariel, then me." This was the most she had spoken of her family. Byakuya quickly surmised that the division in her family may be why she was so reluctant to talk about them.

Ginrei was continuing the conversation. "Are your sisters married?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen them in 57 years. My family history is messy. I have been…estranged from my birth mother and my sisters." She had cast her eyes down.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Ginrei said, "perhaps one day you will be able to reunite with them."

She gave Ginrei a polite smile, but Byakuya could tell that the conversation had strayed into choppy waters. He smoothly changed the subject to the Kuchiki relics. She gave him a look of gratitude and he saw her visibly relax. For the rest of the meal, the three of them discussed clan history.

After the meal, Ginrei offered Myssa some sake. She wrinkled her nose, (an expression Byakuya found very cute) but politely declined, explaining that she didn't drink alcohol because she found the taste nasty.

She thanked Byakuya for dinner and bid him and Ginrei goodnight. Again, he insisted that he escort her to Shunsui's house.

"Are you going to walk me home every day?" She asked as he tucked her hand against his arm.

"Yes."

"The research could take months."

"Then you should stay in my home instead of the head captain's."

The surprise made her stumble. He pretended not to notice. "Y-you want me to stay in your home?"

"Yes. Tamor as well."

"O—OK."

"I will send servants tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock to get your things. They will be brought to the mansion and put away in your room by the time you arrive at 9."

She put her head down a bit to hide her smile. He'd given this some thought, it wasn't just a spur of the moment offer. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze, "I owe you an apology."

He stopped to face her, "For what?"

"I don't mean to be deliberately vague about my past, it's just…I want the chance for you to know me without the taint of it."

"Do you fear what I will think of you if I know the truth?" His gray eyes were calm.

"Yes." Her voice was a bit rough, as if she had had to force the word out.

"Myssa, whatever has happened in your past doesn't have to define who you are." His hand was warm on hers. His thumb brushed the top of her fingers, an unconscious gesture of comfort.

"You of all people can understand that when you are born to a title your life is vastly different from most of the rest of your world. Your life is defined by that title and people will make pre-conceived judgments before you ever utter a single word." Her voice took on a harder edge. "Before I was born my mother had already defined who I was - bastard, pawn, monster, abomination."

His eyes went wide and she realized that she'd gone too far, said too much. She shook her head and turned away, her hand slipping from his grasp. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

His hands on her upper arms were gentle as he turned her back to face him, "Do not apologize. You are right, when you are born to a title you are defined by it. You live two different lives."

"The one you live in public and the one you live in private."

He nodded. "Expectations are heaped on your shoulders from the moment you draw breath. It can be crushing." His eyes held hers with a look that bordered on sympathy. "What you said about how you were defined before you were born. Myssa, no one deserves those titles unless they have earned them."

She wanted to cry. She wanted to run away so he couldn't see her cry. Most of all, she wanted him to hold her. There was something about his quiet strength that made her feel she could trust him.

A tear escaped down her cheek. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, erasing the wet trail. Her skin was so soft, like the finest silk. His mind was tumbling with questions, but she looked so sad. In time he would get answers. He was a patient man, he could wait. "It is all right, Myssa. I will wait until you are ready to tell me about your past."

He didn't wait for a response, just tucked her hand back onto his arm and resumed their walk. As if leading by example, he told her a bit about his past. He lead her on the long route to Shunsui's house so he'd have more time to talk to her. He told her about his parents and growing up, about training to be a soul reaper. He told her about Hisana, everything from his disobedience in marrying her to his despair at her death.

Myssa's voice was soft. "How long has it been since Hisana died?"

"Seventy years."

"And still you refuse to marry to continue your bloodline?"

"I cannot marry for duty. I will only marry a woman I love and for that I will wait a thousand years if I must."

They arrived at the gate to Shunsui's house. Myssa looked up into Byakuya's handsome face. "I hope you find love again, Byakuya. Everyone deserves happiness," she grinned, "even a noble with a reputation for being cold and intimidating."

"Do you find me cold and intimidating?"

Her answer was immediate. "Not at all. Guarded? Yes. Contemplative? Yes. Cold? No. Intimidating? Given a reason you are probably terrifying if the situation dictates it." She looked at him thoughtfully, "To me, you come across as very calm. In fact, you've been much more open with me than I expected. And you are the first person I have ever worked for that genuinely is interested in what I do."

"I find that hard to believe."

"Most people are polite. Some use feigned interest as an excuse to flirt. But mostly, what I do bores most folks to tears. I am a means to an end for the people that engage my services. "

She was about say more when Tamor flew over the gate to hover near them. "Please forgive my intrusion, Lord Kuchiki. Myssa, Jushiro is here and not doing well."

"My apologies, Byakuya," she said. "I would like to have talked more."

"I understand. We will have many opportunities to talk once you move in. Please tell Jushiro I wish him well."

"Thank you, I will. We will see you in the morning."

"I look forward to it. Goodnight, Myssa."

"Goodnight, Byakuya."

He watched her cross the courtyard with Tamor. Tamor's excited voice drifted to him on the breeze, "We're moving in with Lord Kuchiki?!" To which Myssa replied, "Yes, Tam, you'll have to pack our stuff while I tend to Jushiro." That comment puzzled Byakuya. Jushiro had always been under the care of squad four. Perhaps she just meant that she would see to his comfort. He headed home, taking his time and thinking about Myssa.

-Inside Shunsui's House—

Walking into her room, Myssa saw Shunsui sitting on a pillow next to her futon. His face was pinched with concern. Jushiro was laying on her futon, eyes closed and pale. "After all these years, you'd think I'd be used to this by now." Shunsui's voice was gruff.

She put a hand on his shoulder as she sank down next to him, "I know, you love him and hate to see him like this. That will never change no matter how many years go by." She crawled onto the futon to stretch out next to Jushiro.

He opened his eyes and gave her a weak smile before wheezing, "Welcome home, how was…your day…with Byakuya?"

"Hush for now." She cuddled up to him, tucking herself against him. "Let me help you first and then I'll tell you all about my day."

Her hands sought his skin as he wrapped his arms around her and snuggled his face into her neck. One hand slid into his kimono, touching his back as the other hand went to his neck. Her hands began to glow with power, bluish-white runes ignited on her hands then spiraled up her arms. She pressed her lips to his forehead as the glow from her hands and arms engulfed them both. Jushiro started coughing, the force of it wracking his frame. But, it soon stopped and his breathing became strong.

Myssa began wheezing and coughing uncontrollably. Shunsui hurried to give Jushiro a handkerchief. He covered her mouth as she coughed up blood. The glow stopped and he held her as she tried to relax. "I always hate seeing you like this." Jushiro said, fingers pushing her hair out of her face.

She spoke softly. "Fifteen minutes of my life…for six months…of relief for you." She smiled at him, "So worth it." Another coughing fit took over. Jushiro held her. Shunsui climbed onto the futon and cuddled up to her back. Both men surrounded her with comfort and warmth. They loved her dearly as she loved them. Their dynamic wasn't sexual, it was three friends that would do anything for each other.

Shunsui's laughter started as a rumble in his chest that grew until it vibrated through Myssa and into Jushiro. "Can you imagine Byakuya's face if he were to walk in here right now?"

Jushiro laughed hard, so did Myssa which made her cough.

"Sorry, petal," Shunsui dropped a kiss on her shoulder, "I'll save the comedy for after you've healed."

"Why don't…you two tell me…about your day?" She said.

Shunsui began with his normal-day-nothing-special speech. Then Jushiro told them about his day with Tamor. The dragon ate way too much candy then went on a sugar induced wild romp in all the flower beds at Ugendo. He then crashed next to the koi pond in a sugar coma, snoring and farting all afternoon.

Myssa giggled. "You know not to let him eat so much candy."

"He's sneaky." Jushiro said. "I only gave him one piece. I have no idea how he got the rest."

"He is a sneaky bugger when sweets are at stake."

"You sound better." Jushiro said.

"I feel better. A few more minutes and I'll be back to normal."

He touched her cheek. "I can't thank you enough."

"Hush. You and Shunsui are the family I chose. You know I love you both and would do anything for you."

Shunsui whined, "Anything except marry me!"

She gave him a light elbow in the ribs, just a nudge, "You gonna shave that face?"

"Never."

"Then no marriage, furry man."

He chuckled, so did Jushiro. They'd had this exchange many times over the years. Myssa lifted her eyes to Jushiro's face. "How are you feeling?"

"Perfect." His smile was an echo of that word. "Tell us about your day at the Kuchiki estate."

She told them everything about the elders, the tea ceremonies, dinner, and then about her outburst on the way home.

"Why didn't you just tell him about your mother and what she did?" Jushiro asked.

"I suppose it's selfishness. I don't want to see any pity in his eyes. More importantly, I'd like for our friendship to be real. Not some stiff exchange where his etiquette will kick in and he'll insist on calling me "your highness"." She said.

Shunsui spoke near her ear. "Are you sure it's just friendship you're wanting?"

Both of them felt her stiffen. Only Jushiro saw her face and gave Shunsui a look in that silent communication developed over a millennium of closeness.

"I'll admit, I'm attracted to him."

Jushiro's brows rose, "Oh, really? Just "attracted"?"

"All right, I think he's gorgeous. But, I don't believe we'll ever be more than friends."

"You never know." Jushiro said.

"He told me about Hisana. I could tell from his voice that he's still in love with her even though she's been gone so long. I feel sorry for the next woman he marries, she'll only be second best."

Tamor flew in to get a spot on the futon near Myssa. "I finished packing."

"Packing?" Shunsui asked. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Byakuya invited Tamor and me to stay at the Kuchiki estate." She said. "I'll be closer to the research materials I need."

Jushiro grinned, "And closer to Byakuya."

"I've imposed on Shunsui long enough" She retorted.

"You are never an imposition, Myssa." Shunsui said.

"I appreciate your hospitality, Shunsui, it means a lot that I can come here and always be welcome. It's better that I stay at the Kuchiki estate while I'm doing the research for their relics."

They spent the rest of the evening talking and playing cards.