Chapter 26: Goodbyes & Thank You
Sometime while he slept, Baldo ended up in his submissive spooning position with his father's arm draped over him. He grasped the giant hand and kissed it. Sajin returned the gesture on the back of Baldo's neck.
"I don't know how I'm ever going to fall asleep again without you by my side," Baldo said feeling sick to his stomach.
"I know what you mean," Sajin squeezed, "I don't want you to leave."
"This is my favorite position. I spent so many nights alone and scared growing up," Baldo stared at the wall, "But this last week in your arms. I've felt so safe and sound. I don't want to feel alone anymore."
"You won't. We are one now and forever. I'll be there always to cradle you in my arms," Sajin responded.
"Thank you, Sajin Komamura, for allowing me into your noble house," Baldo felt his father press his body against him.
"No, thank you, Baldo Komamura, for making it a house worthy of nobility," Sajin whispered in his son's ear, "It's official now. Captain Kuchiki petitioned the nobles."
Baldo rolled over looking at his father, "Really?"
"Yes, he's worked at it ever since your outburst when you became captain and every noble family signed it," Sajin smiled, "We are officially the noble house of the Komamuras."
"I'll have to thank Captain Kuchiki before I leave," Baldo smiled, "Does that mean I have to start projecting an air of superiority and snobbery?"
Sajin laughed rumbling the bed, "I love you." The wolf pulled Baldo in tight and kissed.
"I love you, too," Baldo kissed back. A tear fell as he pulled away, "I better get ready. I have to report in soon."
"Don't," Sajin held Baldo's hand reluctant to let his son go. His eyes were full of sorrow.
Baldo broke into a steady stream of tears, "I have to dad," Baldo cried, "I can't bring dishonor to your noble name."
Baldo went into a shower and waited for a while before getting out. He dressed in his basic Shihakusho. Sighing he grabbed Draco when an odor of food wafted into the bedroom.
Rotondo had prepared a breakfast worthy of the Soul King himself that spread the length of three tables. Baldo saw Garland and his father already showered but dressed only in his black Shihakusho too.
"A perk to owning a mansion, we have like four thousand bathrooms," Sajin said seeing Baldo's questioning look, "What?"
"I thought maybe you would have joined me," Baldo mumbled.
Sajin rumbled with laughter, "We didn't have time. You have to report in soon."
"Rotondo, where's Ishida?"
"He went to catch up with his friends," Rotondo brought eggs to the table. "He thought we needed family time."
"He isn't family," Baldo asked causing Sajin and Garland to choke.
"Thanks, Baldo," Rotondo said dumping Garland's and Sajin's eggs on Baldo's plate.
Baldo divided up the eggs when Rotondo returned to the kitchen, "Given our situation, I thought you'd be a little less judgmental," Baldo said coolly to his father.
"But a Quinc-," the wolf cut himself off, "You're right. I'm sorry, Rotondo. I shouldn't have laughed."
"It's okay," Rotondo mouthed "Thank you" to Baldo when he sat down at the table. "Besides, Ishida had his fill of sausage last night," the bear winked behind a dirty smile making the table laugh.
After they finished eating, Sajin pulled a wrapped package and handed it to Baldo, "Garland made our family crest. I hope you like it."
Baldo opened the package and found a shield shaped emblem with an "X" separating it into four quadrants. The top section had Squad 7's patent wolf's insignia, a bear claw to the right, a wolf's paw in the bottom, and a dragon's claw occupied the left quadrant.
"It's beautiful," Baldo smiled tying it to his arm like a lieutenant's badge.
"Now we'll always be with you," Garland said.
"I love it," Baldo wiped his face, "Thank you Garland. It's perfect."
"We had better get going," his father said standing. Baldo gave Rotondo and Garland the longest and deepest hug he could. "I'll walk you to the Senkaimon," Sajin offered without putting on his haori.
Baldo kept looking at his crest as they walked the street, "I miss you all already."
"Listen, Baldo," Sajin said, "I'm very proud of you."
"Well becoming a member of the Royal Guard is a huge honor," Baldo sighed heavily, "Even if it's against my will."
"Not that. I'm saddened that you are leaving the Seireitei," his father answered, "I'm very proud that you can accept my love."
"That's because you and I really are kindred spirits," Baldo smiled remembering the first conversation they had when Baldo said he learned Tenken's name. "I mean why else could you love a monster like me."
They stopped at the tailor and Sajin was given a package. "It's not the same as the quilt but I didn't have much time."
Baldo opened the parcel pulling a white captain style haori with the Squad 7 wolf insignia embroidered on the back. Baldo's eye squinted at the wolf's head and gasped, "This is your Captain's haori!" Baldo traced the 7 logo, "Won't you be in trouble with Head Captain Yamamoto?"
"You've noticed quicker than I expected," Sajin smiled, "I'll tell Yamamoto that I tore mine."
Baldo put it on. There were top half of sleeves sown at the shoulders that covered Baldo's arms. The end hooked around his fingers like little interlocking fingers.
"It's like your holding me in your embrace all the time." Baldo hugged his father, "Thank you, dad. I love you."
"I love you too, son," the wolf hugged back before they continued to the Senkaimon.
Head Captain Yamamoto greeted them at the Senkaimon standing beside a man with a pompadour chewing a stick. Yamamoto looked at Captain Komamura without his haori but didn't say anything.
Baldo recognized him from the day he first arrived in the Soul Society. It was Tenjiro Kirinji. Baldo wasn't particularly fond of this man because he spoke condescendingly to the little girl Rurichiyo Kasumioji and member of Central 46.
"Geez kid, don't look so happy," Kirinji said seeing Baldo's depressed face. "You should be thanking me for taking you away from this place."
Baldo ignored the man's comment and went directly to Head Captain Yamamoto and bowed, "Thank you for everything Head Captain Yamamoto."
"My boy, you bow to no one here," Yamamoto slammed his cane.
Suddenly all 13 Captains appeared and touched their zanpakuto's creating an archway to the Senkaimon even his father took his place in line.
"Thank you, everyone. It's been my honor serving with each and every one of you," Baldo turned his back to Yamamoto who took a long look at the wolf's head on Baldo's haori.
Baldo bowed to each captain before the Senkaimon opened. Sighing tears flowed down Baldo's face when he took one last look back at his father before entering followed by Kirinji.
Sitting in his father's embrace in their garden, Baldo watched the sky change colors as the sunset. He wore his white wolf head haori and family crest. Sajin wore his Squad 7 haori and a red and white collar.
"How was your day," Sajin asked.
"The same as all the others," Baldo answered back sighing, "Torture."
"Two years and its still torture," the wolf chuckled, "Is there no silver lining?"
"Only when I come here to our inner world," Baldo snuggled closer, "I miss you, dad, and I miss my brothers."
Sajin thought a moment, "We all miss you too."
"Where are they," Baldo asked.
"Captain Soi Fon has them on assignment," his father explained that Rotondo joined Squad 2 and already became a third seat while Garland turned down a position in the Kido Corps to became captain of the stealth force.
The wolf convinced Central 46 that since the stealth force aren't technically Soul Reapers then the rule barring immediate family members from serving together didn't apply. His father ended with, "Rotondo's been thinking of challenging Omaeda for the Lieutenant's position."
"Good I hope he does," Baldo said, "He's a great Lieutenant and he loves doing paperwork."
"Do you have any friends there," Sajin asked.
"Just the queen," Baldo answered.
"Oh the queen," Sajin said, "That's impressive."
"Not really. I think the king thinks I'm having an affair with her," Baldo smiled feeling his father chuckle. "I told him my heart belonged to another in the Seireitei but he doesn't believe me."
"No," his father gasped.
"He saw us hugging once after I confided in her the reason why I always look unhappy." Baldo sighed, "But I think the Soul King thinks I'm trying to usurp his throne."
Sajin chuckled.
"I've got to go dad," Baldo's ear twitched, "Duty calls." Baldo stood with his hand still interlocked with his father's. "Dad, if I make it to the Soul Society, will you look for me?"
Sajin pulls Baldo into his arms, "Everyday with every breath I take until I find you." Baldo and his father kiss as the sunset, the garden, and Sajin fade.
Baldo awakens to a couple squad members shaking him.
"Baldo, the king wants to see you," a member said.
"Very well," Baldo rose.
"Hey Baldo, how come you look so peaceful when you sleep," the other member asked.
"It's the only time I get to hold my love," Baldo answered passing them.
"You left someone in the Seireitei? Who?"
Baldo thought a moment, "My love that's all you need to know."
"How romantic?"
"Why would he choose to leave her to join the Royal Guards," the other member whispered when Baldo was down the hall.
"I didn't," Baldo yelled over his shoulder. He pointed to his left ear, "Sorry, I've got good hearing." He waved heading for the throne room.
The End
Who would of thought this story would end as tragically as it began... I have ideas circulating for a possible third arc but I don't think I have enough steam to write one through. I'll, also, need to review more information of the Royal Guards so a third Arc would take a while to start/write anyway.
Thank you to everyone who invested their time reading "The Self Insertion Arc" and "Beast Squad Arc" from the beginning to end. We had over a thousand views for both arcs so far. I'm very excited about that because I know I wasn't the only person going on everyday. I know there weren't very good descriptions and problems such as misspelling and other things that interfered with both Arcs. I plan on working on both arcs and possibly revising them. Maybe rework the Soul Link ability and describe more of the techniques used during the combat scenes in this story arc. Did these two arcs seem like they could fit into the world of Bleach?
Special Thanks to Roy Komamura without his reviewing these stories and encouragement I may have hit a wall and I probably would have been to shy completing them.
Thanks for Reading sincerely...
maybeillbebaldo