Since I had time, I uploaded the next part. The story is pretty long I have to admit, but hey - it is called 'memoirs' isn't it? I guess I can't complain about my story...I'll just leave that up to you guys.
Senbonzakura
Why was this happening?
Byakuya could hardly believe his misfortune. Here was a real threat in Soul Society and he could do nothing to protect someone he cared for.
He cursed inwardly. He had to act, but how? A feeling – panic? – held fast in his stomach. Something needed to be done; he pushed the limits of his flash step just a little more and arrived at the front of the tea house before any other student chasing the hollow.
It bounded toward him like a dog lavishing for affection, it four legs pounding into the ground as it continued it course for the sakura.
He could hardly hear Hisana call his name in the thundering footsteps of the hollow as he raised his katana up to meet it. He still could not see how a plain shabby looking sword would stop the mass of creature closing in fast.
Suddenly the beast reared up to confront Byakuya – it realized that he was between it and its food source. A strange red glow started to expand from its mouth.
Byakuya did not anticipate a cero blow from the hollow – then again with the abundant spirit particles in the area, it was an excellent maneuver.
Byakuya calculated the final moves of the game. This battle would result in his loss, but the hollow would receive no gain. Bracing for the cannon fire, he heard Hisana scream something about getting away.
In his mind he knew he was ready. To protect someone he cared about, to know the consequences of those actions. Never in his life as a noble had he experienced the opportunity to ignore the rules and act from his instinct. It felt good, but a bit overpowering as he felt his inner sanctity crumble; his life was built on regulations, and the destructive force of choice ran rampant tearing at the morality of his being.
He knew he would not be here in this spot if he followed the rules.
Here between Hisana and her demise.
Logically he would have fallen back and retrieved support from other captains in the Seireitei. That logic would have seen this destruction happen to Hisana from very far away.
Right now, he liked being between her and this hollow.
Do you want power?
A voice? Was it Hisana?
Do you want glory?
No, this voice sounded different…yet somehow familiar.
Or do you want control? Strength?
What in hell?
Many people desire many things, though only few can truly understand what they need.
What is it that you desire? What is your need? Maybe I can help you attain your goal – but first you need to know what that goal is.
A light flared from his katana, bathed in a reflection of the sakura tree of white and pink.
What was happening? Byakuya's eyes widened. Suddenly he realized he couldn't control his body. The scene before him moved in slow motion as the cero cannon smashed into the edge of the blade, condensing it in a flare of fire and heat. He thought he should feel the fire consume him, but there was nothing – a static numb nothing as he stared blankly at the blast.
Well? You called me here, but you can't expect me to wait forever for an answer.
Thoughts filled his mind, images of people of Soul Society, then of Hisana. Inside Byakuya always knew what he wanted, no matter how confused his heart may be. In a moment he had the answer.
"To protect those whom I care about, to stop injustices to the innocent. To insure that justice prevails so that a peaceful world may bloom."
Do you believe in that?
Yes.
Then trust in me, and your blade will never fail.
A column of light spread to the heavens of soul society, bathing the nighttime sky it is brightness. Somehow the cero cannon was staved off by a single zanpakuto.
Byakuya gazed at the katana in his hand. Surely this was not the weapon he held moments ago. The handle was white instead of black, and the tsuba contained small pearlescent petals of sakura blossoms lined in silver enameling. A weapon he could only admire for a moment before the hollow came crashing down again.
Speak my name, noble from the Kuchiki house, and I will hear you.
The name was there all along, like a forgotten memory suddenly triggered by some ordinary event, suddenly examined in the forefront of his mind. The voice did not speak it, yet here it was – it rolled off of his tongue like an old quaint phrase that he treasured over years.
Senbonzakura.
The image it incurred was the sakura tree bright and vibrant in its springtime state, forever flowering in the prime of its youth. The petals dazzled the eye as they gently floated free of the branches from which they clung, free to scatter to the wind in all their blossoming beauty. The sakura tree behind him enhanced the vision as its own illustrious petals spreading over the area. Byakuya's dark eyes followed the petals gently flitting in the breeze, as fleeting as life itself as they vanished.
Life and death. The sakura tree was a symbol of this cycle of our world: Life as fleeting as the petals of the sakura, death as quickly as the end of its bloom. Scattering the remains, the flowers fall to the ground.
"Scatter. Senbonzakura." Send to the earth this wretched being; as quickly as the blooming sakura tree, my blade cut down the enemy.
With that, the blade dispersed, transforming into dozens of small petals. Harmless at first, only Byakuya had a true knowledge of what the petals truly were; the glint of metal transfixed as glittering light in each pink bud.
Byakuya complacently turned his attention to the towering hollow. It was upon him now, though it hardly mattered. The petals drifted around the hollow and eviscerated its body, the flowers permeating every part of its essence until there was nothing left. Then the particles converged, and the blade reappeared in his sheath.
Senbonzakura. She was an amazing katana.
Reality grounding him, his attention went back to Hisana. She lay several meters away, crumpled on the ground like a rag doll.
In a flash step he was next to her, checking her pulse. Faint, but steady. Without thinking he pulled her into his arms to check for any other injuries. Just some minor scrapes and burns it seemed; she was going to be okay, he finally admitted to himself.
Her eyes fluttered open as his hand lightly contoured her cheek, pushing her hair away from her face. Deep blue eyes settled on Byakuya's returning gaze. His expression softened as soon as they met, the brief look of angst dissipated in her glance.
"Are you alright?" Byakuya's voice managed, barely above a whisper. It was cracked, dry and bit choked up by the sound of it.
Hisana's smile. She was okay.
"You're bleeding." The color drained from her cheeks at the sight.
"I'm fine, as long as you are alright." A single statement could never reveal how he truly felt, but that would have to do.
"Thank you, Byakuya." He shivered at the sound of his name. She made everything sound wonderful.
Standing with Hisana in his arms, he looked at the rest of the students from class. Everyone seemed to be gawking at the sight they just beheld; no one moved in the slightest.
"Check the area for any injured and see that they are treated." It was a simple informal command, but everyone obeyed as though a Taicho had issued it. Feeling that the situation was under control, he used shunpo to get to Fourth squad.
Unohana generally stayed at the front desk. Eleventh squad always had sparring practice at all times during the day, so it was good to be at the ready in case of an emergency. Today had been a boring day, maybe a couple of broken bones and a sprain; but it was nothing the trainees couldn't handle. So the front desk it was, working on a couple of books that the shop owner called 'crossword puzzles'. Generally it was an easy chore, though kept her eyes and mind occupied until something more eventful happened.
It was then Byakuya Kuchiki burst through the door looking like some war hero; Drenched in blood, his face and chest sported rivulets of red, and his noble white kimono dyed a crimson color. The stride did not break until he was no more than a few feet from Unohana, presenting her with the small form of a girl in his arms.
"Please take a look at her." His voice remained the unwavering solidity of Kuchiki Byakuya, but when she looked into his eyes she seen the plea of a desperate man.
What else could she say? "Bring her to this first room here." The task was accomplished amazingly fast.
The healing treatment gloves were applied; long, thick, sickly color especially treated and sterilized for operational use. Unohana's hands worked meticulously as the incantations were ticked off at rapid fire pace.
"She's lost a lot of blood." Unohana's brow furrowed.
Along the way to fourth, Hisana's reiatsu dropped quickly and never recovered, leaving her a colorless pallor. Breaths came ragged and labored; Byakuya pushed himself faster to get there. Hopefully he made it in time.
"I appreciate the first real challenge of the day, but this going to be tough. I would like for you to get treated by our on staff squad members while I work."
Is there anything I can do? He almost said it: That redundant statement that everyone asks when loved ones were in peril. The simple answer of no was the last response anyone wanted, but the first given. If he were of any assistance he would be in squad four.
That didn't stop him from looking agitated at the expense. Wishing to be of some help just wasn't the same thing.
"I can't concentrate with you and your reiatsu blocking the room." Unohana politely stated. In a flourish, Byakuya was gone.
"P-pleased to see you again, Kuchiki-san" Hanatarou's cheery face lit up at the sight of Byakuya. His glow was leveled slightly at the sight of blood, but nonetheless he was happy anyway. Seeing blood was in the job description; after a while, you kind of get used to it.
The forth squad member placed a healing barrier around the student while talking to him all the while. Byakuya wasn't much of a conversationalist so he resorted to yes or no questions. After a minute it felt like a game.
"Was that explosion earlier you? The white one?"
Yes.
"Did a hollow blast you with a cero cannon?"
Yes.
"Did you run?"
No.
"Is the girl you brought in a friend of yours?"
A hesitation. Yes.
"She's very beautiful."
Yes.
Hanatarou was sure that the antiseptic had a bite to it, but if it did Byakuya showed no indication of it. Somehow he was sure that the Kuchiki was suffering a sting worse than any sterilizing agent could. Though he would not admit it, several emotions were bubbling just below the surface of that calm, collective mask Byakuya hid behind.
The double doors slammed open as Ukitake barged through the entryway of Fourth squad treatment center. With the fervor of his walk and the veracity of his reiatsu, no one could tell that the Thirteenth Captain ever had a trace of a consumption illness. The long white coat billowed around him, making him seem twice as large, more than his gaunt frame would ever permit. Burning eyes met the first nurse in his path.
"Where is my student?" he demanded; even the resonation of his voice overpowering the naturally passive personality of the captain. The sound was ragged and raspy, but that made it all the more intimidating.
"Jushiro-kun!" a voice from behind sent his attention to the oncoming man. A pink kimono strayed behind this person denoting him just by its appearance. This man was larger than the counterpart; but the expression that this man projected was more concern than anger.
The forceful reiatsu scared the fourth squad healer to trembling. When Ukitake turned to face her again, the look dissipated, but did not disappear altogether. "Where is Kuchiki Byakuya?" he stated levelly, keeping the aggravation out of his voice.
"Dear, we are looking for a misfortunate student who was caught in a battle with a hollow." The other man's sweet demeanor eased the shinigami nurse back into a communicative state. The man tipped his straw hat and took up the woman's hand. "This is my good friend Ukitake, and I am Kyoraku; we are very pleased to meet you."
"I believe he is in room six." she pointed down the hall.
"Thank you." Kyoraku smiled at the woman before turning a disapproving eye to Ukitake.
The captain however had already taken several steps toward the room and did not notice the scowl. The pale man stumbled forward and braced himself on the wall, breathing heavily.
"My friend, you need to rest. Running around all of Soul Society isn't going to help the situation." His voice was soothing and non-reprimanding though the situation should have indeed called for it.
The eighth division captain was startled when he seen a weak plea in Jushiro's eyes as he looked up at him. "I should have been there." He replied in between gasps.
Kyoraku smiled as he shouldered his comrade. "These kids are big enough to take care of themselves." he lightly chided. "You can't take all matters into your own hands."
"I just need to make sure he's…okay." Ukitake explained. He hoped that his body would hold out for a little while longer; then he would have no qualms about bed rest.
Once they entered the room, Ukitake stood straight on his own and walked to the edge of the bed. Byakuya stared back at him, far from dosing or even resting for that matter. Dull, sunken eyes indicated that Byakuya had seen his fair share of blood loss as well, but there was a lifelessness that pooled in them no one in the room could fathom.
"Are you alright, Kuchiki-san?" It was the first and only words in the forefront of his mind.
"Hai, Taicho." Byakuya's voice was a little scratchy, but healthy sounding.
Ukitake's body unclenched a little inside, getting closer to relieved.
"We heard rumors about the battlefield; is what they say true? A live hollow running rampant through Rukongai district?" Kyoraku asked for Jushiro, knowing his breath would not carry the full sentence.
"Hai."
"You detained this hollow at District 50?"
A nod.
"You released your zanpakuto?"
Silence.
"Normally while in peacetime zanpakuto are supposed to be kept sealed, but the timing of your release couldn't have been better." Kyoraku tipped his hat back a scratched his head.
Ukitake shot a glance at his friend. Kyoraku emitted a shrug.
Ukitake covered his friend's tactless banter. "Defeating a hollow is no easy task. I commend your valiancy for protecting the people in Rukongai. Where there any casualties?"
A pause. "No."
"A woman was injured, but she's being treated by Unohana Taicho." A voice piped up from behind them. Hanatarou stood, a bowl of hot water his hands. He smiled at the two captains. "How are you today?"
Byakuya's gaze shifted uneasily at the casual mention of Hisana.
"Were the wounds serious?"
"Yes, but she is stable now. It looks like she suffered burns and shrapnel injuries, but those have been already healed by the captain."
"Thank you, Hanatarou, you have been most helpful." A hand clapped onto his back, tipping him forward a bit from the weight. A thin smile spread on his face.
Ukitake's gaze settled on the belongings Hanatarou placed at the bed side. At the sight of the katana his eyes widened.
"This is your zanpakuto." If it were supposed to be a question, the intonation did not indicate it.
Blankly Byakuya reached for the hilt and raised the blade lengthwise for Ukitake to see.
Certainly the katana was attractive, but never has there been a zanpakuto that could manipulate is sealed state. The bright silver sparkled in the ultraviolet lighting of the room. On the sheath, a single sakura blossom rested against the tie. A glinting caught his eye, he reached for the petal, and drew his hand back in surprise with the realization that it cut him.
"Senbonzakura. Each petal is a tiny blade that disperses at my command."
Ukitake gaped. An omnidirectional zanpakuto was unheard of. A great gain came from great misfortune today. However fit Aizen seemed as a captain, he still lacked in teaching method. His mind still fumed from Aizen's irresponsibility.
However a battle simulation would have triggered the need to survive and technically increased the chance of zanpakuto awareness. Ukitake thought to try such a technique, but not until they were much more experienced.
"This blade is a part of your soul, Kuchiki-san. With your battles, hardships and victories, this blade will see you through. Bear in mind that when you are troubled, your sword will suffer also. You need utmost control and concentration with your shikai, especially since you control the method of attack. Otherwise you may injure yourself and others around you." It seemed late to say, but some guidance was better than none at all.
Byakuya nodded, understanding the concern. "Arigato, Taicho."
Ukitake turned to leave and Kyoraku exited the room. A hand clasped around the ill captain at his departure; apparently his last bit of strength was used up in that moment.
Byakuya appreciated the captain's concern for his well being. He sensed a certain resiliency in his soul, regardless of his weak body.
Hanatarou prepared to dress his wounds, though the cuts were healing remarkably fast. The bandages fell from his bare chest, only to reveal a few scratches raked across his body. Even those appeared thin and superficial compared to his wounds upon entry to the clinic.
"Wow, your zanpakuto must have some regenerative capabilities. Your injuries are healing so quickly!"
It was possible that the katana had that ability; however it seemed more likely that the healer had more to do with his instantaneous recovery.
"You are a talented healer." Byakuya stated as he turned his head to he side. His hair, unfettered by the confinement of his kenseikan fell into his eyes and on his shoulders; the noble piece had to be removed to treat his injuries during admission. Hanatarou noticed how dark his hair looked up close; as though the raven strands were absent of color, devoid of any differentiation in tone. Using a wet compress to blot at dried blood and salve, we wiped the skin clean and reapplied bandages to needy areas.
"All done!" the cheery tone lifted the room. Gathering his medical supplies, he retreated from the room. "Get some rest, Kuchiki-san, you still need to recover." He called from the hall.
Byakuya's back pressed against the mattress as he refastened the white kimono. Covers rose to chest level as he stared blankly at the ceiling. Every part of his being was dedicated to hoping Hisana was well.
Man, that was a huge chunk! Hope you enjoyed it! Review, Please?