Chapter 23: Thunder
"How far is it going to be before we get there?" asked Akane, squeezing Byakuya's hand and gazing up at him quizzically.
He blinked down at her and returned the gesture lightly, stepping forward.
"It isn't much farther. It's just beyond the waterfall. We will need to go down to the meadow and that is where we will see what I have brought you to see."
"You're not going to give us any hints at all?" complained Renji.
"Nii-sama wants you to be surprised," Rukia said, laughing, "Just be patient…if you can."
"How come she gets to know what it is?" Renji asked, frowning.
"I know because when I came to live at Kuchiki Manor, he showed me."
They reached the top of the waterfall and stepped off of the trail, crossing to the beginning of the steeper trail that led down the side of the hill in a series of switchbacks.
"Now we must choose our way down," Byakuya said, smiling, "We can take this trail…or we can jump from the cliff and use our flash steps to get down."
"I don't flash step yet," Akane said, frowning, "I'll have to take the longer trail."
"Actually, I can take you down with me, if you like," Byakuya offered.
"I'm going down the cliff too," said Rukia.
"Uh…okay," said Renji uncertainly, "Not wanting to be left in the dust, I guess I'll follow you guys down the cliff."
Akane jumped lightly into Byakuya's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck as he moved to the edge of the cliff. Byakuya looked back at the others.
"There are five steps…you just flash step from one to the next. You can start here or begin with a running start."
Byakuya turned back to the cliff and glanced down at Akane, who was staring, wide-eyed out over the cliff.
"Ready now?" he asked softly.
The girl swallowed a bit nervously, but nodded. Byakuya smiled and flash stepped off the edge and into space. Akane's hands tightened on him and she gasped in wonder as they swept down the cliff face, touching each of the landing points briefly, skimming lightly on the surface of the lake, then landing gently in the meadow beyond.
"Daddy Bya!" Akane said excitedly, "That was soooooooooo fun! Can we do it again?"
Byakuya inclined his head slightly.
"Later," he replied, turning back to watch as Rukia bounded down behind them.
Renji leapt down behind her, managing the first four steps just fine, but catching his foot on a protruding rock and tumbling forward out of control.
"Daddy Ren!" cried Akane as the redhead splashed noisily into the lake.
Rukia doubled over, howling with laughter and Byakuya bit his lips, trying to hide a smirk. Renji splashed to the edge of the lake, cursing and brushing the long strands of his now unbound hair out of his eyes.
"Nice landing, idiot!" said Rukia, bursting into laughter again.
"Oh yeah?" Renji yelled, climbing out of the water and flash stepping to Rukia. He wrapped his arms around her and flash stepped back to the edge of the water, hurling her into the water and being clumsily dragged in with her. Byakuya and Akane exchanged amused glances as the two dragged themselves out of the water, laughing hysterically.
"Are they always so funny, Daddy Bya?" Akane asked.
Byakuya nodded.
"They've been friends since they were children. They lived in Inuzuri, one of the poorest and most dangerous areas of the Rukongai," Byakuya explained, "They played together as children, but also had to take care of each other, because they didn't have parents to care for them."
"That's so sad!" Akane said, her young eyes softening as she watched Renji and Rukia tumble back into the water and fish themselves out again.
"It is," Byakuya agreed, setting the girl down, "but the good thing is that they became shinigamis and joined the academy…and now they live here in the Seireitei. And they are still very close friends."
"Daddy Bya," the girl said, frowning, "If Aunt Rukia is your sister, then why did she live in the Rukongai when she was little?"
"Well," Byakuya said softly, "Before you were born, I was married to Rukia's sister, Hisana. Hisana knew she had a sister, but didn't know where she was. My wife became ill and she died…and just before she died, I promised to find her sister and to take her into my family. So, Rukia was adopted into the Kuchiki family."
"Is Renji adopted too?" Akane asked.
Byakuya smiled.
"No…Renji will officially become part of our family when he and I are married. And that will be soon."
"I'm glad," Akane said, hugging Byakuya's leg, "I love Daddy Ren. He is really funny and he makes you smile. You almost never used to smile when…well…before."
"We will both smile more now that we are home, Akane," Byakuya told the girl quietly, "We will put the past…and Aizen Sousuke, behind us and we will be happy again. We'll be a family…and you'll have a little sister or brother…"
Akane giggled.
"I don't know whether to wish for a little boy or a little girl! And I don't know whether I wish they would be funny and clever, like Renji or calm and wise, like you."
"I am sure you will love your little sibling, whatever he or she is like," Byakuya said, smiling.
He turned back, glancing to see that Rukia and Renji had gathered themselves and were now walking (and dripping) on the dusty trail through the meadow. Renji shook out his hair, sending droplets flying everywhere and making Akane squeal and run away from him. Rukia shook her shorter hair at Renji, but with a much lesser result. It took them a moment to realize that Byakuya had stopped on the trail and was looking at them with an oddly sad expression. It was there one moment, then gone as he turned and continued walking. Rukia and Renji exchanged glances and then Rukia took Akane's hand and held her back slightly as Renji moved forward and slipped a somewhat wet hand into his.
"Hey," he said softly, "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Byakuya answered, blinking slowly, "I just…realized for the hundredth time how much I missed in that five years that I spent in Las Noches. I…really enjoy spending time with you…Akane and Rukia also…but I…I can't stop thinking about how much time you and I spent side by side before…how much time we wasted on hatred and regret…how many hours we devoted to duty…and how little time we gave ourselves to embrace our love before…before it was taken away. Seeing you and Rukia…the ease you have with each other. Renji, I don't know that I've ever felt that comfortable being myself with anyone. But…I do remember that before I was taken to Las Noches, I had gained a sense of ease with you…more than I'd felt with anyone. And that is the reason that I couldn't hold myself back that night…why I let go of my controls, my indifference…my restraint. That was the night that something broke inside me and I couldn't be who I had been anymore. I needed so much to be myself with you. And more than that, I needed you to be the one to see through everything, for you to see that I was reaching out for you…and for you to reach back."
Renji said nothing, but tightened his hand on the noble's to let Byakuya know he was listening.
"When I became Sousuke's captive, there was another kind of breaking away that happened. I managed to hold on to some of my walls and boundaries out of sheer determination…for a while…for a time. But when I became pregnant with Akane, Sousuke knew that he had something to hold over me, and he used her shamelessly to tear away all of the protections around me. Everything I would have used to defend myself against him, I used to defend her. And though I hated myself for it, I yielded to his every request. What I'm trying to say…is that all of the training I had in military tactics, in surviving capture…in maintaining my family pride…all of the things that I held so dear and used to separate myself from you…from Rukia, from everyone, really…It all fell away. I hadn't any of it left. I wasn't powerful or noble or even capable of protecting anyone at that point. Sousuke found my weakness and used it to completely destroy the person I was. But there was something underneath all of that…something that survived everything that he did to me. And the source of that strength was not in my powers, my noble name or any of those other things that I thought were so important. All that mattered was keeping Akane alive…and bringing her home to you. That's what Sousuke used to tear me apart, but it's also the reason that I survived, that something inside me wasn't shattered with everything else…and why, when the time came that there was an opening, I took Akane and ran to you. But even though I am here and we have each other, we cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that Sousuke wanted to return here with me…and he said that despite our making of the child I carry now, he will be able to continue with his plans. He will move soon to come here, to acquire me…and to see to those plans."
"We won't let him succeed," Renji promised, squeezing Byakuya's hand again, "We will fight him together."
Byakuya sighed.
"That is a great comfort to me, Renji," he said, dropping his head onto the redhead's shoulder as they continued down the trail.
Renji smiled.
"I'm still dripping wet," he chuckled, "Doesn't that bother you?"
Byakuya smiled and licked away a stray drop of water from the redhead's throat, then laughed as he quivered.
"Not in the least, Renji," Byakuya whispered in his ear.
They came to the far end of the meadow and stopped in front of an odd, mist enshrouded grove of pine trees. Byakuya took Akane's hand and guided her to a small patch of dirt between two pines and motioned for her to sit. The girl sat down and gazed up at Byakuya with a curious expression. She noticed that he was not looking at her, but into the trees ahead of her. She looked into the trees then and waited quietly for something to happen. For several minutes, nothing happened. Renji and Rukia stood quietly somewhere behind her and Byakuya remained standing beside her. Akane kept her eyes on the trees and gasped in awe as a shadowy form appeared among the trees and began to move slowly towards her. She stared, a chill in her stomach, but trusting, because Byakuya had said it was something good.
Her eyes went wide as, not one or even two, but three horses walked out of the misted trees and approached them. The tallest was a lovely jet black with a white blaze on his face and white on the lower part of his legs. His eyes were large and startlingly blue, and he walked to Byakuya and nuzzled him gently, whickering softly.
"This is Ikazuchi," he told them, "Thunder."
Akane stared wordlessly as the tall stallion lowered his head and sniffed at her, then snorted and nudged her with his nose.
"He wants you to stand now," Byakuya instructed her.
The girl stood and faced the stallion, her eyes wide. As she gazed at him, a smaller horse peeked around him. Akane blinked and stared. The small filly was a lovely, bright bay color with a coal black mane and tail. She squealed softly and moved slowly towards Akane, watching the girl with wide, skittish eyes.
"Daddy Bya!" she whispered, "She's so cute!"
Byakuya smiled, watching as a medium sized black, white and brown paint horse, trotted over to meet Rukia.
"These are the Spirit Steeds," Byakuya explained, "They are protected by my family and over the centuries, our connection has grown so strong that each time another Kuchiki comes into the family…a Spirit Steed is born. They are not bound as tightly to us as our zanpakutou, but they live in harmony with us…and they will allow us to ride them. This filly is old enough for you to ride. You must give her a name and then she will allow you onto her back."
Akane looked into her Spirit Steed's eyes and felt as though the creature had smiled at her. She smiled back and thought hard. The filly spooked at the sight of some flower petals drifting by and she jumped and reared, taking several steps on her hind legs before dropping down on all four feet again. Akane giggled.
"She's a good dancer!" she laughed, "So, I will call her Dancer…Odoriko."
"Odoriko," said Byakuya, "a very appropriate name."
The filly tossed her head and whinnied happily, then trotted to Akane and nudged at her impatiently. Byakuya smiled and lifted the girl onto the horse's back.
"Uh…Byakuya," said Renji, "Are you sure that's safe?"
"Yes," he assured the redhead, turning and placing his hands on the horse and focusing for a moment, "She will be held onto her mount's back with kido until she is a more competent rider. Just do not attempt any jumps. You won't fall off, but the kido will shatter if Odoriko falls."
Akane nodded and sat, looking around in wonder at how different everything looked from Odoriko's back. The filly walked forward into the field and reached back to touch Akane's leg with her soft muzzle.
"She will carry you around the meadow…and as she does, you should practice tightening your legs around her to hold yourself on. The kido is there for now, but it will loosen a little as you gain ability," Byakuya told her.
Akane nodded.
"You can tell her to go faster by nudging her with your heels…and to slow down by leaning your weight a little bit back. Watch."
He vaulted from the ground to Ikazuchi's back and barely seemed to move as the horse reared and neighed. He touched the horse's sides with his heels and Ikazuchi shot off across the field at a lope. Rukia, Renji and Akane watched in silence as the tall stallion thundered across the meadow. Byakuya shifted his weight slightly and the horse moved into a long, graceful turn and swept back across the meadow, leaping over a small boulder, then slowing to a trot and returning to the others.
"That was…unbelievable, Byakuya!" breathed Renji, "I never even knew you had horses, let alone rode one."
Byakuya nodded.
"We try not to make a show of it," he explained, "The Spirit Steeds are not eager to gain attention as they are few in number and need to be protected. Our clan was given a royal charge to do that. This is why our births are matched with theirs."
"So," said Renji, "is it like a zanpakutou in being attached to our lives…I mean, if a shinigami or horse dies…does its match die too?"
Byakuya shook his head.
"Only in rare instances. My parents' horses are still living, as is Hisana's. Most mounts can survive the loss of their riders, and there has never been a case of a shinigami who died as a result of losing a Spirit Steed…but their connection is still very strong."
Byakuya's brow suddenly furrowed and he frowned.
"Something…" he said softly, "Something is wrong. Akane…"
He didn't have the chance to finish as Aizen Sousuke appeared in the field behind them.
"Well," he said, gazing at Byakuya, "What a nice family moment."
Instantly, Ikazuchi reared and screamed, then charged across the grass bearing down on the enemy shinigami. Byakuya reached out with his sword hand and Senbonzakura appeared. He loosed his shikai ahead of the horse's attack. As the attack reached him, Aizen disappeared and reappeared closer to the trees.
"Don't think for a moment that I am going to allow this, Byakuya," he said sternly, "Remember, you are married to me. I will not allow you to…"
He stopped speaking as Byakuya began to release his ban kai.
"Ban kai…scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi!"
He charged at Aizen again, only to see him disappear again as he approached.
"You won't stop me," Aizen's voice said, echoing all around them.
"Renji, Rukia!" Byakuya shouted, "Get her back to the house!"
He turned back to Aizen, who was in the midst of drawing his weapon. He paused and blocked the incoming cloud of petal blades.
"Senkei, Sen…"
"Not happening!" shouted Aizen.
All at once a garganta opened and hollows began pouring through.
"They'll kill her, Byakuya," Aizen laughed.
His body shimmered, then disappeared again.
Near the trees, Akane screamed as a group of hollows closed in on Odoriko. The filly reared and spun around, kicking at the hollows, then breaking into a run.
"Take care of the hollows!" Byakuya yelled, putting his heels to Ikazuchi. The stallion shot across the meadow and followed Odoriko down the trail and onto the forest path.
"Byakuya," Renji sent through their link, "Do you need help?"
"Odoriko is heading for the black crags. It is where the horses conceal themselves when danger comes, but Odoriko is too young to jump the chasm with a rider…even one as light as Akane. I have to reach her and take her off before we make the jump."
"Rukia and I have got the hollows here. Some followed you, so we'll get those off your back while you catch up with Akane."
Byakuya nudged Ikazuchi into a full gallop and then watched as the distance between them and the fleeing Odoriko began to shorten. He felt the reiatsu rising around them and ignored the hollows as they appeared, charging through and destroying the ones who strayed into his path and leaving the rest for Rukia and Renji. He focused instead on Akane's huddled form on the back of Odoriko and nudged Ikazuchi again, asking for more speed, although he knew the horse was giving him all it could.
They pounded down the trail, dangerously close to the trees, bursting out the other side of the grove and breaking for the nearby crags.
"Bya, we can see you now." Renji's voice whispered in Byakuya's mind, "You have to focus on Akane. We'll kill anything that tries to touch you!"
"You're not close enough!"
"I'll use Zabimaru to clear the way…"
"Be careful, Renji! If Odoriko falls…"
"She won't. Get to Akane!"
Byakuya lowered himself against the horse's back and shot forward, closing the distance between the two horses. Ahead of him, hollows appeared all around now, trying to slow and corner the running filly. Odoriko slowed, allowing Ikazuchi to finally reach her and begin to pull alongside.
"Akane!" Byakuya called to the girl, "Odoriko cannot jump the chasm with you on her back. I will pull you onto Ikazuchi before the jump."
The girl's face was pale and she looked terrified, but she nodded.
Byakuya's horse ran alongside the bay filly and slowly, Byakuya began to reach for Akane. He pulled away again as his horse jumped a boulder, then started to reach for her again. Two hollows swooped down from somewhere overhead and slashed at him.
"Renji…the hollows…"
"I'm coming, Byakuya. I won't let you down."
He reached for Akane again, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he sensed a hollow attacking. He heard the scream of Renji's skeletal snake and almost cried out in relief. The hollows disappeared in a flash of white fangs and red fire.
"Bya! The chasm!"
Byakuya caught his breath in dismay at how close it was now, but he reached for Akane and caught hold of her just as they reached the edge of the chasm. He pulled the girl down in front of him as the stallion and filly launched themselves into the air. Akane screamed louder than the skeletal snake and Byakuya held on to her tightly as the horses flew over the gap. They came down roughly on the other side and Byakuya was forced to jump from Ikazuchi's back, flash stepping wildly and holding Akane to his chest. The horses reared and came to a stop. Byakuya held Akane close and sank to his knees, resting his chin on her head and staring, white-faced out across the chasm. He was chilled by the sudden sound of Aizen Sousuke's voice in his mind.
"You escaped this time, Byakuya…but when I see you next…we will end this once and for all…"
He shivered softly at the words, but was distracted as Akane pulled free of his arms and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him on the cheek and hugging him tightly.
"Daddy Bya!" she gasped, "You were just like the heroes in the stories Mika used to read to me! You saved me!"
He laughed softly and pulled her close, burying his face in her hair and closing his eyes.
"I promise you that I will always be here to protect you from now on. Akane, I won't ever let anything happen to you!"