Note: Hi all! Just wanted to say sorry I haven't updated as often as I normally do. I work as a proofreader for two very busy court reporters and I have been swamped with work! I'm telling you, I'm beginning to think that there is sign posted everywhere that reads "Litigation Season is now OPEN!" I can't tell you how much I have missed writing my story! Once I finally got the chance to sit down and write this chapter, I heaved a huge sigh of contentment. So, now I am whisking you all away to Dragon Realm for an extended stay. Imagine medieval Europe (castles, knights, and dragons) with modern amenities (bathrooms, electricity, all the stuff that makes us comfortable). My hope is to deliver to you: adventure, romance, and a few chuckles while you visit the land of dragons. Oh, and smutty goodness...there is some very meow-licious hotness happening before a return to the Soul Society. Anyhow, I hope you will all enjoy your visit to Dragon Realm! Love and hugs to all! 3 (P.S. If anyone has any questions at all, about me, about how I write, about this story or my other series of one-shots, don't be shy! Drop me a message or review and I will be happy to answer!)

Chapter 16

-Dragon Realm-

Exiting the gate into Dragon Realm, Byakuya was instantly struck by the beauty of the world below them. He was reminded of pictures he had seen of medieval Europe in the world of the living. The royal palace was a large stone structure that blended with nature. It sat in a vast mountain range surrounded by lush forests. The palace looked as if some gifted sculptor had carved a mountain into the majestic castle nestled among the surrounding landscape. It seemed to be a living thing in its own right.

The dragons set down in the courtyard. No one noticed or batted an eye at the strangers in their midst. Everyone was busy seeing to their own duties. A squad of knights were getting in some morning sword practice outside their barracks.

Inside the palace, rich woods, marbles, and stone were a backdrop for precious metals, expensive fabrics, and a smattering of jewels. All spoke of unfathomable wealth. The opulence soon gave way to the private section which while still elegant, was more about comfort than artistry.

Rygar led Byakuya, Rukia, and Renji to a private study where Xanthan was waiting outside on a large balcony. His gaze was scanning the landscape beyond, seemingly lost in thought. At Rygar's announcement of their presence, Xanthan turned a welcoming smile on Byakuya and greeted him with a firm grip on his forearm. Byakuya introduced Rukia and Renji. Xanthan welcomed them warmly before asking Rygar to see to their comfort while he spoke with Byakuya alone.

Xanthan waited until they were alone before speaking to Byakuya, "Tamor tells me that you are determined to rescue Aleris."

"That is correct."

"Why would you do this?"

The question surprised Byakuya. "I care very much for Myssa."

Xanthan quirked a brow. "You have come all the way to another realm just because you care for my daughter?" He paused slightly. "That is unfortunate. I had hoped you would come here demanding the rights of a che'haptha." He sighed, sat down in a chair and indicated that Byakuya should also sit. "As an unclaimed female, Aleris's protection falls to me, then to her brothers if I am unable. Unless you are her che'haptha I cannot allow you to stand in my stead on this matter."

"What does che'—hap—tha mean?" Byakuya asked.

"In your language, the closest meaning would be 'intended mate'. It means you have chosen her as a life-mate but have not yet performed a bonding ceremony. I believe in your realm it is called asking a woman for marriage." Xanthan sighed softly. "If you were her che'haptha, your claim to Aleris would supersede my authority as her father."

"I had planned to court her first." His eyes held Xanthan's. "In my world, it is customary to ask the father's permission before asking a woman for marriage for those of common birth. Noble houses often arrange marriages. The customs for that tend to vary from clan to clan. Not knowing the customs of this realm, my plan was to come here to ask for your blessing before I asked Myssa to be my wife."

Xanthan's eyes were hard. "Tamor has told me that you are to wed someone else, a noblewoman staying in your home."

"That was a misunderstanding." Byakuya launched into a clear explanation of the events that led to Myssa's misunderstanding which she passed on to Tamor.

"I see." Xanthan rumbled. "Then I will ask you directly – do you love my daughter?"

Byakuya's voice was soft with more than a hint of emotion. "Yes. I have been falling in love with her since I first met her."

"Then we must have a very serious talk." Xanthan's face took on a look of kingly authority. "You cannot bond with Aleris without a birthright. It is the law. If you are committed to this path then you will be given one. If you decide to do that then you will become her che'haptha and I will step aside in all decisions regarding Aleris." Slight pause. "Combined with your powers as a soul reaper, a birthright will give you a massive advantage against Xander. Rukia and Renji will require special training to battle dragons if they are to go with you. You will also need training to control your birthright and use it in combat." His green eyes, so much like Myssa's, held Byakuya's gray. "I won't lie to you, Byakuya, the process to give you a birthright is very painful. The soul fusion is permanent and will forever change you. Your cells will be constantly regenerating allowing you to heal rapidly and causing all aging to cease." He paused. "Take some time to consider if you want to make this commitment."

Byakuya didn't hesitate for even a moment, "I do not require time to consider. I love Myssa. I will do anything I must to have her as my wife."

Xanthan smiled. "Then you have my blessing to take my daughter as your life-mate, Byakuya Kuchiki."

"Thank you. How long will the birthright process take?"

"The process will not take long. However, it will be at least three months before you will be able to attempt to rescue Aleris."

"Three months?! I do not want to wait three more minutes!"

"I understand. Take comfort in the knowledge that she is in no danger. Xander will not harm her. And, she has her brother Auron to watch over her. Auron infiltrated Xander's court about a year ago. When he put his plan to abduct Aleris in motion, we knew about it before he returned from the Soul Society." He tried to look reassuring. "Once you are given a birthright, it will take you a few days to recover. After that, it will take about three months for you to learn to control it."

Byakuya's anger was beginning to bubble up. "Why have you not rescued her?" The fact that all the Starjaxes seemed unconcerned with Myssa's abduction was starting to affect Byakuya's normal calm. His mind was rushing through all the possible scenarios that Myssa could be facing that very moment. He wanted to rush to where she was being held. He would tear down the place, stone by stone if he had to; kill anyone that dared to harm her or try to keep her from him.

Xanthan scowled. "Right now, the four kingdoms are at war. I cannot call on their armies to mount an attack on Xander's fortress. He knew this, that is why he chose now to act on this plan of his. He wants me to face him alone. If I do that he will kill Aleris and Auron." He sighed, "Right now, you are my only chance to keep them alive and returned safely." His eyes were sad. "All I want right now is to shift, fly to his fortress, and tear Xander to pieces with claws and teeth. But, I cannot – I cannot risk the lives of two of my children. And that helplessness and anger is slowly eating me from within. To you, my sons and I may seem calm, almost casual about this whole situation. Let me assure you, Byakuya, we are far from it. We are barely keeping our dragonrage in check."

That's when Byakuya saw the turmoil in Xanthan. He was a king caught between his duty to the entire realm and a family feud that could only end in bloodshed and death. Byakuya understood all too well. Memories of Koga Kuchiki rose up. Whenever family was involved, things always got ugly and often tended to spill over onto the innocent. The Starjax family strife, at its core, was no different. Power, ego, impatience – a volatile mix to be sure.

Xanthan stood and gave Byakuya's shoulder an affectionate pat, "It will take a little time for the healers to prepare for your birthright. I will send for you when they are ready." He left the room.

Byakuya spent almost two hours with Rukia, Renji, and Rygar. Upon hearing that he was to receive a birthright, Rygar's face beamed with a bright smile. He had embraced a stiff Byakuya, thumped his back so hard he nearly knocked the breath out of him, and then laughed, "I always wanted another brother!"

Rukia and Renji were concerned about the birthright process and had questions that Rygar was happy to answer. When Rygar explained that Byakuya would need it to legally take Myssa as his life-mate, two sets of very round eyes stared at Byakuya in utter shock. Rukia finally managed to speak, "You're going to – to marry Myssa?"

Byakuya, ever stoic, stood with his eyes closed. "If she will have me, then, yes, I will wed Myssa." The first chance I have to get her in front of a priest.

Renji snorted, "I seriously doubt she's gonna say 'no'."

When Byakuya was taken to the healers he saw Xanthan waiting for him. He was guided to a narrow bed and all his limbs were strapped down. Xanthan sat next to him and laid a hand on Byakuya's bare chest. One of the healers told him he had to leave. Xanthan had growled at her over his shoulder, "I will not leave his side." The healer bowed and backed away. He looked back to Byakuya, "I will do what I can to siphon off as much of the pain as I can. No matter what, I will be here, son."

Hearing Xanthan call him "son" tugged at something in Byakuya. It had been so long since he had lost his father and Ginrei was nothing like his father. Sojun had been an affectionate man, had been a loving husband and father. Loosing both his parents so young had turned Byakuya into the hot-headed brat that made quite the name for himself around the Seireitei as a troublemaker before Ginrei had reigned him in.

Byakuya was suddenly struck with the realization that marrying Myssa was going to give him a lot of new family. Bold, fierce, crazy dragons who he was about to be permanently linked to for the rest of his life. This was the moment of real commitment for him. Without her even knowing, Byakuya was declaring the depth of his love for Myssa. He hadn't hesitated, hadn't even blinked.

The birthright process began. Xanthan had been right, it was painful – excruciatingly painful. Byakuya felt like he was being torn apart and burned all at once. He screamed. His consciousness tried to retreat into a void to escape, but the process wouldn't allow it. Power was flowing into him, fusing with his soul. The world became white-hot, pulsating with agony that seemed never-ending. Just when he thought he couldn't take anymore, it ended.

It felt like forever before Byakuya could open his eyes. When he did, his right arm and hand were glowing with a spiral of white runes just like Myssa's. Xanthan was smiling at him, "Rest, my son, new wonders await you."

Darkness crept over him. Byakuya gave in.

-Five Days Later-

Byakuya slept for three days straight. He dreamed of Myssa. She walked the gardens with him, so real that he could feel her touch, smell the alluring scent that was unique to her. They made love in the rain, the slick slide of skin against skin, his lips and tongue drinking in the taste of her mingled with the raindrops. His head spun from the heady mix, more intoxicating than the richest sake. Then, they were in the estate's private onsen. The water buoyed them, adding a weightlessness that made her feather-light in his arms. She was wrapped around him, her face over his, mouth slanting over his again and again as if to devour him. The dream shifted – they were in his private study. Books were scattered across the desk. He held her effortlessly against the wall, their clothes pulled askew enough to get to all the right places. Her head was thrown back, his mouth on her neck as he slammed into her. His control had shattered; he was amazed she could withstand the force of his thrusts. His reiatsu mixed with his birthright were unleashed, the rush of them making him so wild there was no way to hold anything back. Her hands clawing at his back and her cries of pleasure drove him higher. Suddenly, a soft bed was beneath them. His bedroom, so familiar, so comforting. She was laying across white silk sheets, hair fanning across the pillows, that stunning smile on her face. Her voice was so clear as her hands touched him, drawing him into her, "I love you, Byakuya." He sank into her, soft and welcoming. Feeling her sink with him into the softness of the bed was heavenly. Finally, they were together, complete, no longer two souls longing for each other. This was where they both belonged. He was choked with emotion, unable to speak. So, he would let his body speak for him. He would spend forever touching, kissing, loving every inch of her.

His dreams of passion were interspersed with dreams of comfort. Dreams where Myssa's voice spoke soothingly. She would stroke his face, his hair, his body. Her touch loving and comforting. He would sigh and loose himself in the peace he found being near her.

During those same days, Rukia and Renji had begun training with Tamor, Myssa's brothers, and the royal knights. Their powers and fighting styles as soul reapers impressed the dragons. Rukia's kido fascinated them. Renji's kido had the dragons rolling with laughter. He hadn't wanted to demonstrate his temperamental kido, but Rygar finally convinced him to let them see. He quickly regretted that when Renji's kido backfired and caught him in the blast. Both men had stood, soot-covered and smoldering in the courtyard. In the end, though, Renji's fighting strength and bankai earned some very high praise. It also earned him a fight fan in the form of Rygar, who was always first to want to go up against Renji. Renji had flashbacks of his time in Squad 11 with Kenpatchi.

Once Byakuya finally woke up, he felt so weak he could barely get out of bed. A healer had been assigned to him. Her name was Kendra and she was never more than a step away from him at any given time. It drove him to more than one petulant outburst. He hated to admit that he needed her help and it made him frustrated. Kendra, while understanding and kind, was calmly stern. An iron fist in a silk glove. The first day she put him in a cushioned wheelchair and pushed him out to watch the training. That had made a vein throb in his temple, but he couldn't stand for more than a minute so he had had to give in and get in the damn chair.

The second day, Byakuya awoke feeling much more normal. The weakness of the previous day was gone. Kendra didn't need to help him with anything, although she still stayed near just in case. He was able to visit the training in the courtyard for a while before Xanthan took him for an extensive walk through the palace grounds and the palace itself. The more he walked, the stronger he felt. He got to know Xanthan really well on that walk. Xanthan told him about his life and family, about the politics of the realm. Byakuya found him to be a man of integrity, honor, and deep love for his family.

By the time dinner was served not only did Byakuya feel recovered, he was becoming acutely aware of new powers that felt incredible. Those feelings were having the same effect on him that Myssa did – aroused. Painfully aroused. He spent the evening constantly seated so he could hide an erection that wouldn't go away. When Xanthan's wife, Queen Abigail, asked Byakuya to dance he had nearly used shunpo to escape. He politely declined, saying he was still feeling weak. The last thing he needed to do was make the wrong impression on his future mother-in-law. Once he got the chance, he excused himself, made a discreet exit from the main hall and then broke into shunpo to get to his room.

Two days later, Byakuya's first day of training had come. Xanthan arrived at Byakuya's room with six women, all in various types of revealing clothing. One of the women was Kendra. The women all began to eye Byakuya with interest, circling him, inspecting him. He was confused and very nearly backed himself into a corner before Xanthan shooed the women away to gather by the bed. "Why are they here?" Byakuya asked, still in the corner.

Xanthan grinned. "They are here for you. The awakening of a birthright comes with physical…needs." When Byakuya's cheeks took on a hint pink, he continued. "These ladies are here to help you spend that sexual energy so you can focus on your training."

Byakuya tried to stay calm. "You expect me to have sex with one these women?"

Xanthan's tone was casual, "I expect you'll need all of them. If you require more, I will have them sent to you." He chuckled, "Rygar is already crowing about his record. He needed 14 to quell his awakening. He's wagered heavily against your needing more than three. He seems to think soul reapers lack the stamina of a dragon."

What the hell have I gotten myself into? Crazy, they are all crazy. Byakuya's face was bordering on horrified. He mustered as much of his Kuchiki pride as he could, mixing in some Captainly authority for good measure. "No. I only desire Myssa. I will not engage in anything intimate with anyone but her." It's taken me this long to desire another woman so much, there is no way I am going to touch a stranger!

"It's not about desire or intimacy, Byakuya. It's about a bodily function, a necessity of the moment."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed as a thought occurred to him. "Tell me, how many men serviced Myssa when her birthrights awakened?" The thought of multiple men enjoying her nearly made his vision white out with rage.

Xanthan looked stricken, like Byakuya had just spoken blasphemy. "None! My daughter remains untouched! The royal purity law demands she go to her husband a virgin. For her awakening, she – handled her needs herself." He laughed softly, "The dual birthrights kept her quite busy for a whole week, poor thing."

The world spun for Byakuya. He never expected or even imagined that Myssa was pure. The knowledge sent a soaring happiness through him that coalesced in an aching erection. He sat down in the nearest chair to hide it. It must have been the effects of the awakening because he couldn't stop imagining Myssa naked beneath him…how she would feel, how she would smell, how she would taste, how she would react to his touch…

He dragged his focus back to the Xanthan and the waiting women. "I will do as Myssa did and 'handle' my needs myself."

"Are you sure? It will take longer than using the ladies."

"I am quite sure."

"As you wish." He sent the women away. "I will speak with my wife. She was once the most famous courtesan of this realm. She has vast knowledge of topical potions that can help you."

-Three Days Later-

Three days, it had taken three days for Byakuya to ride out the effects of his birthright's awakening. Queen Abigail had payed him a visit with a bottle of special warming oil for him to use. He had pink cheeks the whole time she had explained the mixture and how it would help him. She had tried to ease his embarrassment. Byakuya quickly learned exactly what made Abigail the most famous courtesan. It wasn't just her beauty, or her knowledge of sex – it was her ability to talk to someone and make them feel relaxed. She reassured him that this delicate situation would stay a secret.

Finally, Byakuya's training could begin. He met Xanthan in a large, open field that was five minutes' walk outside the palace gates.

Xanthan gave Byakuya a crash course in birthright understanding and application. He learned how to summon his new powers and use them. It took most of the morning for him to master that. After lunch, combat training began. Rukia, Renji, Rygar, Maycen, Jaycen, Tamor, and most of the royal knights all spent the afternoon watching them. Nothing was more spectacular than watching a birthright in combat. Unused to the new powers, Byakuya struggled a bit, but began to improve as the day went on.

In the weeks that followed, Byakuya got better and better every day. Once he got comfortable with the new sensations from his birthright, Byakuya's incredible strength and power as a soul reaper captain made it easy to combine it with his kido. He learned quickly, impressing not only Xanthan, but all the other royal dragons. After over a month of training, it was time to combine his new powers with his zanpakto. The first time he tried to bridge his powers with Senbonzakura, he failed miserably. The disappointment on his face was hard to hide. Xanthan had told him not to worry, no one ever got it right the first time.

The complete disconnect he had felt with Senbonzakura had been confusing and a bit frightening. He now knew why it was going to take three months of training. He made a vow to himself that he would do it in two. He had to free Myssa. He couldn't rest easy until she was safe.