Semina woke up in a state of confusion and bewilderment ,the last thing she could remember was Byakuya's shinigami form that had made her blood freeze ! Such was the power of those merciless eyes…
Slowly her eyes adjusted to the room . Then she felt the pain rushing to her body and let out a faint moan.
"Oh so you're finally awake Semina-chan!"
Semina started to sit up a little shaken…
"Urahara? What happened to me?"
"You mean you remember nothing?"
"Only that shinigami who was fighting the assassins…nothing else"
"Semina …last night you found your zanpakuto!"
Semina's eyes widened…
(Semina's thoughts)
Yes… that's right I did! I remember now ! I fought the Menos Grande and killed them! But my zanpakuto ! She mentioned a name…she said I am a…
Semina grabbed her head and screamed !
"Aaaaaaaaaahhh!"
Urahara looked at her ! She remained still..her head hug down ! She only breathed . After two minutes of chilling scilence she spoke! And her voice was filled with pain and anger!
"Urahara. What is my relationship to that man?"
Urahara grinned :
"He asked me the very same question!" He said patting Semina's head. "Alas, I wish I knew sugar!"
Semina began to get up and tidy herself up as much as she could.
"Does someone know then?"
Urahara looked at her seriously:
"All I will say is this: Your reiatsu is surprisingly similar , a trait only specific shinigami possess !"
Semina nodded solemnly :
"I see ,thank you for taking care of my wounds Urahara!"
"Don't thank me ! Thank Kuchiki taichou !"
Semina spun round quickly:
"Were is he? I need to see him !"
"He left for the Soul Society ! He has many questions too !"
Semina run out of the room ! She knew what she had to do now!
(At the Kuchiki estate)
Byakuya strode into the formal assembly room in which the elders were already seated . Byakuya sat in the traditional formal way and waited:
"Ah Lord Kuchiki . I believe you wished to discuss something of importance with us"
Byakuya nodded:
"I wish to know certain things that date back to my past gentlemen…"
"And those would be?"
Byakuya's expression became solemn and cold:
"What is my relationship to a young teen aged girl know as Tsukishiro Semina…"
The elders looked surprised, then the head elder spoke:
"I see…so you met her at last!" He said nodding his head. "I have no choice than to tell you then…Do you remember your parents at all Lord Kuchiki?"
"Vaguely…"
"It is time for your past to be told to you as it happened !"
(At Semina's house)
"Aunt Ohatsu !"
" Thank God ! Semina were, were you my sweetheart? You scared me to death ! Never do that again please!"
"Aunty…I found my zanpakuto!"
Ohatsu let out a gasp of astonishment !
"And" Semina continued "I met Kuchiki Byakuya"
Ohatsu collapsed on a chair ! When she looked up there were tears in her eyes:
"My Semina! My little princess ! I knew I could not keep it from you anymore! You were bound to find out sooner or later!"
"Aunty ? What are you talking about?"
(Ohatsu's thoughts)
Oh Yuki! Forgive me! I have failed to keep my promise to you ! My darling sister…Semina can't escape her fate ! Forgive me !
(The past told by Ohatsu)
You were born in Soul Society with noble blood flowing in your veins! Your mother nearly died but she managed to give birth to you ! Your brother was quite young at the time …so was I ! Your father and mother loved you both very much ! But they knew that if you remained in Soul Society …you would be vulnerable! Many would try to harm you ! And then …they learned of the fate that the family had in store for you both!
You would both be betrothed to each other so that the bloodline of the family would continue to be noble! Your mother and father were siblings who had endured this not knowing of how painful a deed it is…
(Flashback from the past)
"Ohatsu my sister! I can't live knowing my children will have no way to build their own lives and find their own love ! I and my husband endured this but I…I have many regrets . So I shall take my children to the real world and raise them there!"
"Yuki ! No! Let them be ! Maybe it's best to let them be ! Consider the honor of our family…"
"And destroy my children's future! How could you say such things ? Me and my husband have taken our decision ! I want them never to learn of their past !"
"But father ! Ηe will never forgive you for this!"
"I know only too well ! I will accept my punishment wholeheartedly my deer sister!"
"Then I shall go with you…"
That very night your father ,mother and me ,brought you to the human one had found out about this in contrast to what we had suddenly Yuki fell to the ground caughing father too . I didn't know what was happening,but Yuki had just eough strength to cast a spell on you sinking new memories and beliefs into your little head. Shortly afterwards your parents both perished as if from a strange desease. I never found out what had caused their death but I did notice discoloration on Yuki's lips as we fled from Soul Society.
Shortly afterwards your grandfather came and took Byakuya back to the world of the nobles. He searched for you too but we had already left. You had been saved!
I met your uncle here and adopted you ! I wanted all the memories of your short time as a Kuchiki to vanish . Until you started remembering your big brother and finally your shinigami powers began to thrive again! You could perform kido spells and could see spirits, your reiatsu grew day by day. Then you met those shinigami friends of yours! And finaly your brother himself...
Semina your brother is indeed Kuchiki Byakuya ! Taichou of the 6th Squad and current head of the family! From now on the choice is yours ! You can remain here or take your rightful place in the family! You ought not to worry about your betrothal ! It has been broken already .
(At the Kuchiki estate after the same story has been told)
"But since you broke the betrothal by marrying an outsider …you will not marry the girl…The choice is now yours Lord Kuchiki! You can welcome your lost sister or leave things be"
(At Semina's house)
Semina slowly sat up from the floor where she had been sitting and walked towards her room without another word leaving her aunt alone. She had finally remembered her past …
(At the Kuchiki estate)
Byakuya slowly got up and parted without another word …he finally knew why he had been send to earth by Yamamto Sou Taichou…
(Semina's Thoughts)
All this time ! I was a shinigami ! A noble one at that ! All my life my memories were …fake …just fake and now ! Do I follow my "DESTINY" or do I break free from it? Oh Onii-chan! How you've chainged! Are you the Byakuya I knew and loved or are you just a cold noble who has lost all feelings?
Just then Semina remembered …
"Rukia!"
(Byakuya's thoughts)
All these years grandfather lied to me about my parents and never did he tell me that I had a sister ! He hid the truth so well.
That girl…she looks just like mother …Yes I remember everything now . But , now there is no point …The past is a mire nothing! Yet…
(Semina and Byakuya's thoughts)
I accept my destiny!
Semina lay on her bed…it was late in the evening and no sleep would come to her eyes. She knew that sooner or later she'd have to face Byakuya! And then what? Would she have the courage to go with him? Or would she just run away from the past like her aunt? NO! She would stand strong !
"I don't care about the past anymore! My future is for me to decide! And I choose to be with my true family! As much as I will miss my life here! Sometimes a girl's got to do what a girls got to do! I have Katsueki Koukigyoku fighting by my side ! And Ichigo and Rukia and the others! I am not afraid to face you Kuchiki Byakuya!" Semina screamed into the night …
Suddenly a red mist flew in front of Semina's eyes and she fell down unconscious.
She woke up almost instantly ! But the scene had changed altogether :
She was standing in the middle of a valley with a red misty river flowing around it .There were human skulls everywhere and rosebushes studded with black thorns twisted around ruby red jagged rocks. In front of Semina was a shrine made from red granite on which sat a young girl the same age as her. She wore a deep gray kimono with a dark ruby colored obi belt as well as a sash which glowed silvery white in an uncanny way. Around her neck was a black circular medallion with a single large ruby studded in it . Her hair was long shiny and black with ornaments in it such as pins and two strands of red and white flowers . Her slit eyes were a deep malevolent black while her left eyes was covered by a dark red eye patch…Katsueki Koukigyoku ! (Blood Ruby)
"I congratulate you Semina! You have at last found your so called zanpakuto! But don't make the mistake that you have all the power you need to overcome the pain the past's caused you !"
"I do ! You'll see! I will!"
The girl laughed! Her laughter had a mocking tone which betrayed no signs of kindness and friendship towards her mistress.
"You pitiful little insect! I suffered the same as you did! I am your soul girl! I know your weaknesses better than you do!"
Semina looked with bewilderment as her zanpakuto began to cry.
"Katsueki Koukigyokou…we will be strong together ! I need you so don't turn away and try to make me look inferior ! Together we can be one!"
Katsueki Koukigyoku walked over to Semina :
"You may have my power Kuchiki Semina…but I warn you ! I am not your common zanpakuto! I have different powers that are in no way similar to the common one…" Hissed the girl showing Semina her hands : To Semina's horror they had black claws that were covered in blood!
"What are you Katsueki Koukigyokou?"
"I am the vampire princess of the Ruby tribe ! And I chose your soul to reside in! I am here to help you ! Concider yourself lucky !" Hissed the vampire showing Semina her fangs, yet she meant no harm.
Slowly she took of her necklace and handed it to Semina who was astonished and somewhat horrified !
"This is the ancient ruby of time! It allows you to travel between the past and the present ! Take it and use it well ! And now leave my dominion before the moon rises…If you wish to live that is."
"Thank you Katsueki Koukigyokou" Said Semina faintly
The girl smiled with a sudden happiness ! She kissed Semina's neck and moved back into the shadows.
Semina awoke in her bed startled . Was this all a dream? Had she really met her zanpakuto ? Suddenly she felt something around her neck.
"The ruby of time! It wasn't a dream!"
"You bet!" Said a voice
Semina turned …in the dark she saw a red night bat who immediately disappeared back into the ruby.
"Goodnight Katsueki!"