Byakuya's POV. Kind of ByakuyaxSakurai in this chapter. You get to "meet" Sakurai's foster mother.

It had been three days since Sakurai had returned from the world of the living. I hadn't seen her since the taicho meeting she burst into. I'd had information delivered by her third and fourth seats. Today Akohoshi-fukutaicho was in my office, she had returned yesterday. She had just dropped off some paperwork.
"Akahoshi-fukutaicho." I called to her as she was about to leave my office. She looked over her shoulder at me, her red ponytail flicked over her shoulder.
"Hai, Kuchiki-taicho?"
"Where is Sakurai? Is she training the Kurosaki girl?"
"Not right now taicho, no. Karin-chan is with Soifon-taicho. Sakurai has not trained her much at all really. She hasn't been well. So Soifon volunteered to train her until my taicho was recovered." The red-head explained.
"I see." I nodded in understanding. "Where is she now?"
"Her family manor, taicho." She told me. I nodded to her and she left my office. I looked at the small pile of paperwork on my desk. It could wait. I needed to know what was wrong with her.
I stood up from my desk and in a second I was gone and the office was empty.

It took only moments to reach the gates to the large ground of the manor the Mitsugayani family owned.
"Kuchiki-san." A young man greeted him from the other side of the gates, opening them for him. "Here to see Sakurai-sama I presume." I nodded. "She is around her quarters I believe. Last I heard from the other staff: She was by the pool."
"Thank you." I nodded once before making my way to Sakurai's quarters. The grounds were vast. And it just so happened that Sakurai's quarters was on the opposite side of the grounds. She had a swimming pool outside her quarters, surrounded my Sakura trees.
I reached her quarters and walked round to the place the pool was located, round the back. It was a large pool. She spent a lot of time in it when she was home. No wonder she was such a good swimmer.
I was shocked by the first thing my eyes registered. There was a towel on a glass table beside a lounger which had her clothes on. The towel had blood on it. I inspected the other items on the glass table to see a glass of water along with some pills.
Why didn't she mention this?
"Byakuya?" He was awoken from his thoughts by his best friend's voice. He turned to see her at the other end of the pool. Her hair was soaking wet, her fringe stuck to her face, her long light brown hair was clinging to her exposed skin.
"Hi." I nodded to her.
"What are you doing here?" I just looked at her. I heard her sigh before she began to swim over. Wow. She really can swim fast.
She was in front of me in a minute or two.
"Morning." I squatted down at the side of the pool. She smiled, leaning her bare arms on the side of the pool.
"Morning." I took in that smile, it was one of the few she meant, and those were getting less frequent again. "So? Why are you here?"
"I hadn't seen you since burst into the taicho meeting three days ago. I asked your fukutaicho and she told me you were ill. I was concerned."
"Don't be Byakuya, I'm fine."
"Obviously, that is why there are pills and a towel covered with blood over there." I motioned toward the lounger and she scowled.
"Alright." She pulled herself out of the pool, spinning around so she sat on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. As much as I tried, as many times as I repeated that she was my best friend: I couldn't take my eyes off her.
She had water running down her back from her hair. She was wearing a blue bikini, looking a little like something only Matsumoto would wear. But they are best friends, so who knows. I literally had to turn away from her.
"I lied. But you know I'm ill. There is honestly nothing to worry about." She looked over at me and smiled. "Don't you have paperwork to do anyway?" She asked.
"I have some left." I admitted.
"Then stop worrying about me and get your work done." She stood up and nudged me playfully. I didn't move. So she took it upon herself to pull me to my feet. "I'm fine. Now go."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" I asked her, meeting her eyes as I daren't look anywhere else.
"No actually." She walked away from me, pulling on a dressing gown of sorts and lying on the lounger, staring at the sky.
"Are you-"
"You know, I used to hate soul reapers." That startled me. Was that some kind of joke? It didn't appear to be. Her face was totally blank, like she was in the past.
"What are you talking about?" I asked cautiously.
"When I was really young, before my real mother died, I thought shinigami were amazing, I looked up to them, but that was because my father was a shinigami." I froze, she'd never, in all the time we'd known each other, brought up the subject of her father, let alone told me he was a shinigami. "But my father stopped visiting us one day, I remember. I sat in front of the house for three days straight, not eating or sleeping, just waiting for my dad to appear out of nowhere, pick me up and spin me around like he usually did. But he never came. I ended up fainting from hunger and tiredness, I didn't wake up for a week. My father still never came." I watched her carefully as I knelt beside the lounger, she still didn't take her eyes off the sky. "About two or three months after he stopped visiting, soul reapers showed up at the house. I was outside playing with my little brother. They just walked past at first. I watched them, I didn't realise I was scowling at them at first. But after they noticed me there, staring at them, they walked over and asked me my name. I got a little scared, but I told them. Then they smiled and walked in the door behind me. I ran inside after them, with my brother crawling in after me. I heard my mother shout to me to go and play with my little brother. I did as she said and lifted him into my arms again. The soul reapers smiled at me again as mother told me to go outside. I did as she said again, but I remained in the doorway, out of sight. But then I watched them. They had smiled at me, treated me like everything was fine. Then they killed her. That's all I saw. My eyes never shone like they used to again..." I could see the fear, the pain and sadness of the memory taking the form of tears that threatened to fall from her blue eyes. She suddenly looked terrified, and I hated it.
"Saka-chan…"
"Until I met you." She said abruptly. I froze. She faked a smile as she finally looked at me. "Thank you." She took my hand and I wrapped my fingers around hers tightly. "You have no idea how much it meant to have you there." She sat up and spun to face me. "You've always been there." With that she hugged me, she hadn't done that in a long time. She was afraid. She was upset. What was going on?
"Sakurai." I whispered her name, holding her close to me.
"I don't want to lose you Byakuya." She whimpered. I froze. My mind drifted back to what Kurosaki's sister said yesterday.
"They told me to give you a message: He said, you'll lose Hitsugaya. One by one, you'll lose everything. The next time, it will be the one who matters most."
I pulled her off the lounger and onto my lap, her body was covered by the dressing gown, so it wasn't like her was getting and water on him. Even if her hair was still soaking wet as she rested her head on his chest.
"Saka-chan, I'm not going anywhere. I'm always here." I soothed. "I'll always be here. When you need me. I'm right here."
"My-My dad, he…he told me why he left." I froze. She pulled back and breathed deeply. She sat back and the lounger and her face turned serious. Or as close she could get. "I need to tell you something."
"About your father? You found him?"
"In a sense. He'd kind of been there all along, looking out for me as best he could, considering the circumstances, apparently."
"Circumstances?"
"Yeah, he's kind of, well he was exiled." She explained looking away. She knew how highly I held the law. But how could she not know I'd disregard it when it came to her or my sister. "It wasn't his fault though, it was Aizen's. He framed him for experi-"
"Urahara." I cut her off. She was fully serious, I could see it in her eyes. "Urahara Kisuke is your father."She nodded.
I had always wondered how a parent could leave behind their child by choice. But now he knew who her father was, he understood. His grandfather had told him the story. Urahara Kisuke had had a daughter and son in Rukongai, but their mother was to be killed due to her loss of sanity and large reitsu. He children were supposed to be killed also. But Urahara had begged and begged. They were allowed to live but their mother was not. Urahara was forbidden to see them, to find them. His two children, now just orphans wandering Rukongai. Urahara had had no choice.
"I see."
"You're not angry?" She sounded surprised.
"Why would I be?" I shrugged. "You are still Sakurai, still my best friend. Despite your lineage."
"Thank you." She flung her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
"I-"
"Mitsugayani Taicho." A young shinigami appeared some way behind us. A boy with platinum blonde hair with a few strands over his green eyes. He was considerably tall and his muscles were very well developed.
"Shivo." Sakurai stood up, looking over to him.
"Forgive the intrustion, Kuchiki-sama." He nodded to me, I returned the nod. "Mitsugayani-taicho, sotaicho Yamamoto wishes to speak to you."
"I see, I'll be there shortly. You can wait around here if you want Byakuya, I'm sure I'll be back soon." I nodded to her as she spoke. She flash-stepped away. I never reminded her about her clothes, knowing her she would have turned up in worse.
"See you later, Kuchiki-taicho." The boy nodded to me before running after his taicho. He was a good kid. He wasn't very old. About forty at the most. But he looked the same age as Sakurai. Which was about sixteen.
He was very strict about formalities, hence why he called Sakurai 'Mitsugayani taicho' rather than by her name like she told everyone to do. He was fiercely loyal to his taicho. He was her third seat, and incredibly strong. Nearly as much of a prodigy as Hitsugaya. Shivo graduated the academy in a year also, but he only just passed.
I decided to wait inside for her. I walked into a sort of living room as I entered her quarters, there were pictures everywhere, photographs and paintings. I could help but smile at the piano at the side of the room. She used to play that all the time. She could sing as well, she had an amazing voice. It made me smile to know it was only myself and Matsumoto that had ever heard her sing.
She loved music. It calmed her down when she was angry. But the piano was dusty, she hadn't been on it in a long time by the looks of things.
I'd been in this room many times. But as I looked away from the piano, I noticed it's appearance fully. There were books and papers scattered about everywhere, on the floor, on the tables. It was odd how messy everything was. The bookshelves were bare, unlike her room in the juuyonbantai barracks. Those books, plus plenty more were resting on chairs and tables, others on the ground, some open, some closed.
I walked over to the sofa, to look at the book on the large table, it was only small, it looked like a journal. There was a lot of things poking out of it. I opened it to a random page as I sat down. A photograph fell out onto my lap. I recognised the scene instantly, but I was unaware the picture had been taken. It was me dancing with Sakurai, a very long time ago. It was a ball my grandfather organised for my birthday. He invited many teenagers from noble families, but I hadn't held out much hope for it being any good. Sakurai was away on a mission, I thought she would not have had an invite due to her only having been able to receive it at the last minute or not at all. I smiled at the thought of her showing up, but I managed to ignore and suppress the memory that during that time I liked Sakurai, well, as more than a friend.

I was sat at the side of the dancefloor, it was outdoor and everyone was laughing and smiling with their friends. Except me. I was sat at the side on a concrete bench, with my usual bored expression, thinking about my best friend.
"You know you shouldn't look so bored." A familiar voice that I could never fail to recognise, from behind me made me jump out of my skin. "Your grandfather went to a lot of trouble organising this. The least you could do was make an effort."
"Well, I-" I stood up and turned to face my best friend, but was struck dumb by what I saw. Sakurai was stood there with her hands on her hips, her long brown hair was in loose curls resting on her shoulders, with the left side pinned back with a sakura flower. Her dress was light blue with and embroided pattern down one side that was shaped like a dragon. She looked amazing.
"Well? You what?" She asked me, raising her eyebrow.
"I, uh..I didn't know you were coming."
"Neither did I. But I got this dress off of your grandfather and he told me I could repay him for it by wearing it tonight, here."
"So you were blackmailed by my grandfather?"
"At least he invited me." She scoffed walking round and sitting on the bench beside me as I too sat down.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. You weren't around, I didn't know if you'd get the invite."
"Of course." She smirked at me. I rolled my eyes.
"You're not seriously thinking I didn't want you here?" I asked her, she jumped, looking at me properly. "You're my best friend, you're pretty much the only person that could keep me sane at one of these things." She fell silent and looked away, I was sure I saw her blush.
"Why aren't you dancing? I'm sure you've been asked." She said after a while. I just shrugged.
"I have been asked. But none of the offers were appealing. Besides, I don't like dancing."
"Ah, right." She nodded. She watched the people dancing but I knew she was listening to the music. Then a piano began to play another song and her eyes lit up at the sound. She looked completely mesmerised.
I stood up and her eyes moved to me. I offered her my hand and she looked at me blankly.
"What?"
"Do you want to dance?" I asked her, looking away.
"I thought you didn't like dancing?"
"I don't. But I'm sure I can survive if it's you I'm dancing with." I still wouldn't look at her. I tensed when I felt her hand take mine and she stood up.
"Well then, with that answer how can I say no?" She smiled. I looked at her finally and smiled back. Before we joined everyone else on the dancefloor. The music was slow, calm and I could feel my cheeks heating up as Sakurai rested her head on my shoulder. I quickly surpressed the blush.
That was the time the picture was taken.
"Thank you." She whispered. "Nice to know I'm worth the effort of you dancing." She smiled slightly.
"Not a problem." I told her softly, causing her to laugh.
"And I hope never to be." She lifted her head up just as the song ended. I was going to ask her if she wanted to keep dancing but my grandfather walked over to the two of us.
"Grandfather." I bowed to him, smiling, one hand still held Sakurai's as we moved apart. She bowed her head to him.
"Kuchiki-san."
"Sakurai, I'm afraid there is grave news of your mother child. She is on her deathbed." Sakurai froze, I could see pain flash in her eyes as I looked at her and I squeezed her hand lightly. "She wishes to see you." My grandfather's eyes turned to me. "Both of you." That startled me.
"Of course." Sakurai nodded. "Byakuya?" She looked at me.
"Right, let's go." I tugged on her hand and we both ran off to the yonbantai barracks.

"Mum?" Sakurai and I walked into the room her foster mother was in. Hanorishi was in there already.
"Sakurai, Byakuya." The juuyonbantai taicho stood up and nodded to us. "I'll leave you to it." With that he walked past us and left the room.
"Saka-chan." Tori Mitsugayani lay in the bed, she lifted her hand and motioned for us to go over. "You looked beautiful." I watched Sakurai take the woman's hand. "The occasion may I ask? You wouldn't wear a dress for nothing." The woman's short red hair was spread out on the pillow she was leant against as she smiled at her foster daughter.
"It was for a ball." Sakurai concluded bluntly.
"Something to do with Byakuya I assume." Tori smiled slightly before looking over to me. "Thank you for keeping my daughter in order, young man."
"My pleasure, Tori-sama." I nodded, still having a grip on Sakurai's hand.
"You don't look too bad yourself Byakuya." She smiled at me, her voice was weak, empty. "You were definitely worth Sakurai going to this much effort." I looked at Sakurai and she was facing the other way, refusing to look at me. "Sakurai, you're a good girl. You just need to be a little braver."
"Braver? She's always putting her life on the line as it is." I objected.
"I mean with her feelings, not her actions." She coughed. Her voice getting weaker. "Promise me Sakurai, promise me you'll be strong. Promise you'll be you, the strong, kind, loyal girl I know you are."
"Mum…I promise." Sakurai whispered. I could tell she was trying not to cry.
"Good girl." She smiled, coughing again. "Byakuya, do me a favour."
"What is it, Tori-sama?"
"Take care of her. My little girl. Keep her out of trouble. You've done an amazing job so far."
"I don't need babysitting, mum."
"I'm not asking him to babysit you. I'm asking him to be there for you. To take care of you. I'm asking you Byakuya, to be her friend. She doesn't have many." The woman joked. I always liked Tori, she was always so happy and cheerful.
"Of course. I plan to." I assured her.
"Good." Her head rested against the pillow as her eyes began to close. "Look after yourself, Sakurai." Her hand fell limp in Sakurai's and I felt my best friend freeze.
"Mum? Mum?" Sakurai was trying so hard not to cry but after a moment or two of silence she turned around and hugged me. Tears were streaming down her face,I held her close to me. I hated this. I hated to see her cry.

I haven't seen her cry since that day.

"It's odd how an atmosphere can change." I whispered.
"Having fun nosing around?" I spun around to see Sakurai leant in the doorway.
"Saka-chan. The photograph…"
"My Hanorishi's. My foster father's. I found it in his room after he died." She told me simply, walking over and picking up the journal.
"I see." I nodded, not pressing the subject. "What did Sotaicho want?"
"We're going on a mission." She smiled at me, dropping down beside me on the sofa, resting her head on my shoulder.
"We? Where?"
"Me and you, we're going to the world of the living." She answered.
"When?"
"When we are ready to leave." She sat up. "You want to get going right?"
"I'm okay." I told her, pulling her back to rest on my shoulder again. "I'm okay here for a little while. I remembered an old promise."
"Promise?"
"Yes. That I made to Tori-sama." She stiffened, looking up at me. "I promised I'd take care of you. So now, it's not just Kisuke. Talk. It's about time you told me the truth."
"About what?" She sat up, looking at me sadly.
"Everything, Sakurai."

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