Few Months Later
Shiori cried out loudly as Byakuya came in her. Because of their learning of the other and game playing, they were forced to use the huge, spacious underground battlefield that Urahara built so long ago as it allowed them to be loud as they wanted without the servants rushing in and trying to discover what was wrong – a thing they found out the hard way – only to be turned away. Slowly, Byakuya pulled back until he popped out from her and seconds later saw his cum making its way from her body.
"You know, talking to Matsumoto, one would think having anal sex would be pleasurable." Shiori said as Byakuya picked her up bridal style and walked them over to the hot springs. He was fine getting in, but Shiori hissed as the hot water touched her sensitive ass.
"Do you regret trying it?" Byakuya asked as she settled onto his lap.
"No, I think we just need more practice."
"I think you're right. I believe you really enjoy it as you cummed hard as you did the first night we had sex." He said, causing her to blush bright red and smack his arm.
"You're not suppose to say stuff like that."
"I merely spoke the truth." He closed the conversation as they relaxed in the hot water and when they were drying off, some hours later; Shiori's ass was feeling better. The thought of a peaceful day was soon shattered as the alarm went off and they looked at each other before Shunpoing to their respective squads.
"Abarai, Report." Byakuya said coldly as he entered the squad office just as a hell butterfly flew out.
"Hai, Taicho. A group calling themselves Vandenreich has invaded Soul Society." Renji replied. "They appear to be wearing white and are of Quincy origins. A sub-group called the Stern Ritter have been massacring the Shinigami." He took a breath. "Head Captain Yamamoto has ordered the Vandenreich to be terminated."
"Very well." Was all Byakuya said as he headed out the door with Renji on his heels.
Shiori arrived at her squad to all ready find many of her fellow squad members lying on the ground dead or dying. Where is the fourth squad? She asked herself as she headed straight for Soi-fon's office. Upon opening the door, she found a note from Soi-fon to her. "Head straight for… Muken…? No, she doesn't mean…" Shiori looked around before burning the note and headed for the Maggot Nest, this time not leaving her Zanpakutō behind.
As she arrived, she hid her spirit energy as she moved down the levels and through a long hallway until she came to a dark room with only a single figure bound tightly to a chair. Having heard what he did, Shiori put her hand onto her Zanpakutō's hilt.
"I can't harm you now." The figure spoke from the chair. "My hands are bound."
"That doesn't mean you can't recite the kido incantations Aizen." Shiori said coldly as she could, trying to be like Byakuya.
"But why go through all that trouble?" Aizen asked. "When they can just do it for me."
As Shiori tried to figure out what Aizen meant, she felt a blade run through her. As the blade was removed, her blood seeped through the material as she fell to the hard floor. Byakuya….
"My arrows inflict self doubt." A Stern Ritter wearing a bondage mask with spikes said as he watched Byakuya and was amazed to see how much will power he had to continue fighting despite the number of arrows he had been hit with.
"Your arrows are nothing. I fought an Espada with a claim that he was the fastest. To him, your arrows are a joke."
"BURN!" Renji said before anyone could say anything but a glare silenced him.
"Very well then, perhaps you want to kill me?"
"You should feel honored to be defeated by my Bankai." Byakuya replied as he turned Senbonzakura upside down. "Bankai." Releasing his Zanpakutō, he waited for the blades to appear but suddenly felt the Bankai leave him. "What happened?"
The Stern Ritter laughed as he held up a medallion. "I stole your Bankai."
"Fine, then deal with mine Ban-" Renji began to release his Bankai but Byakuya ordered him to stop as they couldn't lose two Bankais at the moment.
"I will do as I must." Byakuya said as he readied Senbonzakura.
"You have no hope." The Stern Ritter said "I am Äs Nödt. This is my power." Without warning, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi appeared behind the Stern Ritter and for the first time, Byakuya knew the fear of starring down his own Bankai.
Shiori gasped and immediately shot up while clutching her chest as she tried to determine if it was a bad dream that she had gotten stabbed.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu." Aizen said as the illusion shattered to reveal and empty chair and Shiori watched as the blood disappeared.
"What happened to me?" She asked.
"I made the Vandenreich believe they killed you." Aizen replied as he sat in the now empty chair.
"Then why didn't you let me die?"
"Because I have a feeling you will be needed to play a greater part than dying at my hand. Run along now and say I'm still where I was imprisoned."
Shiori didn't need to be told twice as she turned on her heel and walked… or tried to, but it turned into a full sprint to get away from Aizen. She emerged from the Maggot Nest and leaned against a tree to catch her breath and calm her nerves. Aizen never was imprisoned. I need to tell Soi-fon. She thought and was about to do so when she felt Byakuya's spirit energy drop dangerously low, so putting Aizen from her mind, she Shunpoed over to where he and Renji where just in time to see Äs Nödt use his own Bankai against him. "NO!" She shouted, causing the three men to turn her way. Seeing red, she Shunpoed towards Äs Nödt. "BREAK APART, KINARU GISEI!" She screamed as her Zanpakutō changed into the Chakram mode and began to fight with the Stern Ritter with all the power she had. After a minute, Renji joined in on the fight but the two were still having trouble against the one. "Burn and break apart, Kinaru Gisei." Shiori muttered when there was a break in the fight so one blade became a dagger and the other one stayed as the chakram.
"Unimpressive." Äs Nödt yawned before a blast of air cut his hair.
"Looks can be deceiving." Shiori said coldly, enough to mach Byakuya in tone. "Renji, I want to kill him."
"No arguments from me." Renji replied as he jumped into the air, only to be taken down by another Stern Ritter.
"Come at me little girl, and die." Äs Nödt said and released the Bankai again.
Shiori smirked as she charged into the battle. "By the way, my dagger can counter the air flow around the blades." She said while keeping most of the petal blades away from her but a few found their mark.
"Never reveal your hand until the very end." Äs Nödt said and used a large quantity of the petal blades with his doubt arrows to shatter the dagger before Shiori could give the final blow. Then he used Byakuya's Bankai on her, purposely not killing her right away so she could die in agony. "Such a boring fight." Äs Nödt finished as he turned and walked away.
Shiori couldn't stop the tears from welling up in her eyes, she had failed to avenge Byakuya, the one man she loved more than anything and what's more, she was probably going to die. Would she become a Hollow? She really didn't want to think about that at the moment and thankfully Kinaru materialized in spirit form.
"Shiori, Byakuya isn't dead yet." He said which gave her the strength to stand. He would have helped, but he wouldn't been able to due to him being a spirit. "Talk with him."
"Byakuya…" Shiori began as she held his bloodied body in her arms. "…I'm sorry."
Byakuya offered a weak smile. "Don't be. The great Kuchiki house may have fallen, but I'm happy to have see you one last time." As he spoke, his voice began to weaken.
"Shiori, we're losing him." Kinaru warned.
"How can you tell? Byakuya is going to live." Shiori said.
"Senbonzakura." Kinaru pointed to the blade as it was starting to crumble and being blown away by the wind. "Shinigami and Zanpakutō are connected, if one dies, so does the other."
"No, I won't let my lover die… I… I'll find a way." Shiori was openly sobbing despite the pain she was in.
"There is one way." Kinaru said as he sat down besides them. "But I really didn't want to reveal it to you."
"Tell me what it is, I'll do anything."
Kinaru sighed. "I know we've only been together for a month, but have you thought about what my name means?" He asked and Shiori shook her head before glancing at Senbonzakura. "It means final sacrifice…" his tone became sadden at mentioning it. "…the final technique allows the user to give up their life in order to prolong someone elses."
Shiori was stunned as she tried to think of what that could mean. "You mean… I can give my life… and Byakuya will live?"
"It's not a guarantee, but he will last longer than he will right now." He didn't let her know that in the inner world, he could feel the fire burning closer to the clearing and the sounds from the wolves being burned alive was something he hated to hear.
"Does it hurt? You know, dying that way"
"I will make it painlessly as possible for you."
"Then I'm doing it." Shiori said.
"Very well… say… Saigo no Gisei."
Shiori took a breath and looked at Byakuya. "Saigo no Gisei." She spoke clearly as tears continued to run down her cheeks. To Shiori, she could just feel her life force draining from her and going to Byakuya in the form of small, pink and red balls of light/energy.
Meanwhile Shiori's spirit world, Kinaru looked around at the place he called home and cried. He knew what it would mean for him and he could only watch as the fire rushed towards the center, he howled one last time to let the great wolf spirits know he was coming to join them just before his tail caught fire. "Good bye, Shiori. It was nice knowing you."
"Good bye Kinaru." Shiori replied as she felt Kinaru leave.
"Good bye, my love." Was the last thing she said and kissed Byakuya's lips before blackness took over her.