Byakuya's POV
Once we'd returned home I instantly felt like I'd lost something. It's trivial and sounds ridiculous still but losing a friend isn't something even I can overcome that quickly. Instead of greeting my grandfather like I should have done, I went straight home to unpack my things, I'd be scolded for it later but I wasn't quite in the mood to talk to him. While unpacking I found a few things from the world of the living that I hadn't meant to bring back with me, however I think I'll keep them, I found a box in my closet and hid them in there for now. I can guarantee that my grandfather would confiscate them if he found them. I even put the cell phone in there since I can't really use it here, looking back at some of the pictures I'd taken before locking it away. Thankfully I'd hidden the box just as my grandfather entered my room. "You returned then I see. Jushiro tells me you did well, perhaps I shall be more lenient with you from now on. There is one thing though that I must address; that girl, you know what she will become. I can see it in your eyes Byakuya. You deserve to know that under these circumstances we cannot afford to lose her to the hollows therefore… I will be personally dealing with her transition. You will not interfere, do you understand me? Regardless of your feelings towards this girl you cannot stop the inevitable for her sake, so you'll be remaining here under Yoruichi's supervision" So… I was protecting her from the less harmful party in this case. I had to find a way to stop them from doing this but with Yoruichi around it would be nearly impossible.
I remained silent while my grandfather waited for my response. Of course he expected me to comply, but I couldn't just stand idly by while they end her life prematurely. It's not right. "I'm sorry grandfather but I can't just stay here. What you're going to do is plain wrong! You cannot do this!" He didn't look phased in the slightest. But he was well known for being calm in almost every situation. "I thought you might say that. Which is why I'm also going to make sure she doesn't remember you. It's for your own good and it may be beneficial to her as well. I won't be home tonight so don't expect me, I'll return in two days, by then I expect you to behave as you should and not have these trivial emotions" He nodded to Kaiya and turned to leave, I just fell to my knees in disbelief. He was supposed to uphold rules and laws, but this is going against them... To my despair a tear rolled down my cheek, I hadn't cried in years, but knowing what's going to happen to her- to my only friend actually hurts. Unless I can stop it. I don't even have a zanpaktou yet though… All I can do is use a range of spells which may not be the best option.
After a couple of hours I'd devised a plan of sorts. Now it was time to execute it. I grabbed the senkaimon key and snuck into the gardens, using the shadows as cover, I made sure that no-one was around before unlocking it and running through. To throw them off my trail I asked Kisuke to change the location it opened to once I'd arrived, it was easy enough for him to do. I wasn't too far from Akira's house but I wasn't sure if there was an advance team here already, as a precaution I'd taken one of Kisuke's experimental cloaks which should hide my presence entirely. He'd tested it before he have it to me though or else I'd have to throw a fit when I get back. The closer I got to her house the more I began to feel as though I was being watched. Even though I checked every possible alley and rooftop that I could see, no-one was around or at least no-one that could see me. Once I got to her house, I jumped to her window, sliding it open quietly as to not wake her or her family and took off the cloak. "Akira- Wake up" she rolled over and looked at me with squinted eyes. "What're you doing here? And what's with the get up?" I rolled my eyes and rooted through her closet to find a backpack, putting some spare clothes inside. "Get up, I'll explain everything as soon as we get out of here. I promise" She looked less than convinced but gestured for me to turn around.
Within a few minutes we'd cleared a few blocks so I thought it appropriate to explain. "Now I know this is going to sound unbelievable and you'll probably think I'm insane but… I'm actually a spirit. You can see me, no-one else unless they have the same power you do. So try not to talk too loudly. So, I asked you to leave because there is a group of people from where I'm from that- Uh-" How am I supposed to explain that my grandfather is coming to kill her? Without being too forwards about it. "Just tell me. Please Byakuya. I don't care if it's blunt, just tell me" I sighed and took her hand, looking away because I could bare to see the look on her face. "There's a group of people coming to kill you. I can't let that happen. So I need you to trust me. I had a dream or something that you were in the place I come from, but that's impossible unless you're a spirit being, I want you to live your life to the fullest so I'm not going to let someone take that away from you" I glanced at her briefly, but her expression remained blank as she tried to process what I'd just said. "I don't want to believe you. But… I know you're not human now, so I can't just disregard it, if you're a spirit- How old are you really?" To be honest I didn't really know. I know I look about 17 but aging in Soul Society is inconsistent to say the least. "I think, in a literal sense, I'd be about 25. Given that I'm physically 17. Our lifetimes are greatly extended and aging is rather strange compared to yours. We should keep moving, any other questions?" I lead the way further away from her house, keeping alert in case there was anyone nearby. "Why do people want me dead?" Way to get to the point. "The reason I came here was to investigate you. I didn't intend to be friends or have greater feelings but I don't regret it. They obviously read my reports… you have very high spirit energy for a human, so they want to make you a soul reaper before something else happens. However I'm against killing a human before it is their time. It's not been heard of to prematurely kill a human just because they're a rarity among average humans. That is the reason. Also… they want to wipe your memory. So you'll remember nothing, who you are, where you came from, your family, friends… Everything" Akira tightened her grip on my hand so I could tell she didn't like what I just said. But I had to tell her the truth, I can't lie about something like this.
It felt like we'd been running forever, eventually we stopped in a forest on the edge of town, it was safer than being out in the open after all. "There's something you're not telling me. What is it?" I couldn't look her in the eye knowing it was my grandfather who had this idea. "Indeed. Aren't you forgetting something important Byakuya?" I jumped up immediately at the sound of that voice. They found us far too quickly. I stood in front of Akira in a sorry attempt at defending her but I was powerless against soul reapers with zanpaktou, not to mention these weren't low ranking ones either. "You disobeyed my orders. Are you determined to tarnish our name already? Step aside Byakuya" I stood my ground, flinching ever so slightly when a bolt of lightening narrowly missed me. "No. I refuse! This is wrong! Are you seriously going to murder an innocent girl because you your stupid obsession for power?! It goes against everything we stand for as soul reapers! We're supposed to guide souls to the afterlife, not send them there ourselves!" Two stealth force members appeared either side of me, swords at the ready and two more behind us with my grandfather coming up in front of me with two squad members in tow. "Byakuya. You are nothing but a child so I don't expect you to understand. Stand down. You're defenceless and only making matters worse for yourself" I took a deep breath before trying to remember a spell to at least disable two of my opponents. "Disintegrate, black dog of Rondanini, look upon your burning soul and severe your throat! Bakudo 9: Hōrin!" Two orange rope-like tendrils shot out of my hands towards the two soul reapers either side of me, rendering them immobile for the time being. I could attack but that would be very unwise on my part, considering this is probably classed as treason of some kind already. "This is ridiculous, just take him home. I'll deal with things from here" Someone shot a binding spell at me, restricting me so I fell to the floor paralysed. I'd never seen someone look so scared until I saw the look on Akira's face. "Stop it! Let me go! I'll never forgive you if you hurt her!" As much as I tried, I couldn't break the kidou, one last look at her and the next thing I know I'm home.
As soon as I was taken to my room the kidou was released and I'd been locked in. "Get back here! Let me out this instant you bastard!" It then hit me that if I ever see Akira again, she'll have no idea who I am. So I resulted to kicking the door repeatedly until it broke open, taking the opportunity to try and get back to the world of the living.
Akira's POV
Scared didn't describe how I felt right now. Terrified was more the word. Byakuya had just been taken away protesting and screaming, now I was alone with the person that would inevitably cause my death. "I apologise in advance for this. If you hadn't been a rarity we wouldn't need to go to such lengths. No doubt Byakuya had explained everything to you before we found you. He's risking throwing everything away for you, I hope you know that, not that it'll matter anymore" The older man pointed two fingers at me, a thin bolt of light escaped from them and pierced my chest. I felt no pain but I knew it was going to be fatal. Then everything suddenly faded to black.
"Byakuya. I know what you're trying to say. It's only been about 6 months and it may sound strange but I know how you feel. I also know that despite what I want you can't stay if you have to leave. You'll always be my best friend and my first real crush, take comfort in that and don't worry about me. Plus you have my number so you can call me if you want to. We'll meet again sometime, in this life or the next, trust me"
"Just don't forget about me will you? There's nothing worse than being forgotten by someone you care about"
"I won't. I couldn't even if I wanted to"
"Goodbye Akira. Here, I made this for you, so you definitely can't forget me"
Who's Byakuya? Why is that on my mind when I don't know who that is? Or whose memory this is. I don't even know my own name… Or my age. Who am I?I opened my eyes, momentarily blinded by light, then I could see people standing over me. "You're awake at last, we were beginning to think you weren't going to wake up. How do you feel?" I tried to sit up but my hands were tied down and I didn't have much energy. "I- I feel weak. What is this place?" One of the onlookers came over to me, as if analysing me. "Do you know your name? How old you are? Where you came from?" I thought about it, but every time I tried I'd just get immense pain. "No… What's my name?" Everyone seemed to lighten up when I said that which made me weary. "Your name is Mizuki. Mizuki Kuromi. You're 18 years old. You were born in soul society. You're parents unfortunately died several years ago" My parents? My name is… Mizuki. That doesn't feel right but it must be… I'm so confused. "Where am I? Who are you people? And why am I tied down?" Someone came over to me and started making notes on a clipboard, I couldn't see what they were though and the more I didn't know the more panicked I became. "Calm down. We're here to help you, as a precaution you're restrained. This is the medical squad, don't you remember?" Everything hurts. Whenever I try to remember something it's like there's a wall just pushing me back. "I can't remember anything…" Suddenly I could hear shouting coming from the hallway. It sounded like a boy, he also seemed distressed looking for someone called Akira. He must really care for her to be making such a fuss in a medical building. I feel so drowsy and weak.
"Mizuki? Would you like to go for a walk? You've been unconscious for about a year now so it might do you some good. Seinosuke will take you around the barracks for a while" My restraints were undone and I sat up with some difficulty. Being on my feet was tiring in itself and that's only standing, walking around will almost certainly wear me out. Nothing seemed right to me, I had an overwhelming feeling something was wrong but I can't pinpoint what it is. I looked up and a fairly old looking man stood in front of me. "Good to see you're back on your feet, perhaps in time you'll be ready to rejoin your squad. Excuse me" Who was that? He seemed to know me. Have I really forgotten everything?