Chapter Six: Touches of Memory

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.

-Mark Twain

Kagome stared at the exotic black butterfly that had fluttered through her window and made it's way toward Byakuya. She'd heard a little of the way they exchanged messages before but had yet to see one of the pretty creatures they used.

It almost made her giggle when he lifted a hand to catch the fragile creature on one of his fingers, seeming to be listening to a message beyond her own comprehension. It was more the contrast of him as such a serious individual carefully offering a perch to the thin winged insect.

He murmured something to it and lifted his hand to let it take back into the air, it quickly moving for the window where it had come in and vanishing. Kagome watched it go and looked back to see he was putting down the breakfast they were sharing and putting on the hidori that marked him as captain.

Kagome frowned. "So much for a little time together I guess?"

"I apologize. There is some form of emergency that requires the attendance of all captains." He explained, eyeing himself in the mirror a short second before looking back to her and walking over. "Stay here please. This place is safer than most."

Her displeasure ebbed away into concern at the request. "Do you know what it is?"

"Not at this time." He answered taking her hands a moment. "I'll return when I can."

"Be careful." She insisted, squeezing the offered hands nervously.

"Don't worry." He answered, leaning down to kiss her forehead before turning and heading out of the room they shared. Serious mode safely in place before he even opened the door.

Kagome sighed after the door closed and sunk back down in her chair with a pout firmly in place. She knew it wasn't his fault...but knowing that didn't make it any less frustrating that her time with him was always being stolen.

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"These creatures attacking us are both somewhat similar to hollows and soul reapers in the fact that they are dead. Unlike either type they don't appear to wield a sword, the two that were successfully spotted had bows they used with amazing accuracy. Both had high hoods and scarves that covered their faces so matching them exactly to any file is impossible." Ukitake had taken up the job of explaining what was wrong. With the research squadron still without a captain all of the rest of the captains were starting to feel the pull of so many that were missing. Even the general was exceptionally busy, so much that he'd left the charge of the gathering to Ukitake and Soi Fon.

"Some similarities exist with a single group." Soi Fon was the other captain helping with the twelfth squad and helping to present things to the gathered group. "The mostly dead Quincy. Only one known one remains alive but as they were killed off by soul reapers it stands to reason if they somehow survived in soul society they would want vengeance."

Ukitake nodded a little toward Soi Fon's explanation. "I would suggest the foremost route being contacting the known surviving Quincy and asking him to view what little footage we have required as to the creatures. He has been helpful to some of our causes in the past and may be agreeable to resolving some sort of identity crisis."

"Sounds good to me." Kenpachi shrugged. "Seems silly to gather everyone for something so small. I'll go get the Quincy and bring him back."

"We had planned to ask Rukia of Ukitake's squad." Soi Fon commented, eyeing the eleventh squad captain with distrust. "She is already familiar with him. If he refuses and greater action is needed someone with a little more skill in stealth will be used to aquire him."

"Bah." Kenpachi snorted and shook his head, the bells of his hair ringing sharply for the rest of the sharp senses of the captains. "No fun ever had here. These losers need to just attack so I might be able to wipe the floor with one or two of them. Who knows, maybe one would actually be a real challenge...but I doubt it."

"Whew. Calm down Kenpachi. You'll get more of a fight here than getting the boy from the real world anyway right?" Kyōraku broke in with his laid back tone, scratching at his beard. "Seems reasonable to have Rukia pick him up...but Kenpachi is right, that seems like something that could have just been reported to us."

"We believe we may have a possible location of at least a couple of the attackers staying amongst the souls in Rukon district." Soi Fon brought up the information. "I will be leading a team to one of the two possible locations and it was requested that Byakuya take a team to the second location. We're both suppose to bring our lieutenants and make it quick. There is still the concern of a possible leak on our side. Everyone else is too keep a close eye on the noble houses while this operation is taking place."

"When is it taking place?" Hitsugaya spoke up for the first time.

"Now." Soi Fon answered with a shrug. "If you'll come with me Captain Kuchiki I'll inform you of the details of your investigation point."

Byakuya wordlessly followed the slightly younger captain, it wasn't usually his job to deal with things as this but with the stealth force also busy he wasn't going to argue anything.

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Kagome meanwhile had taken to working on some of the calligraphy she was expected to know in the case she needed to send any official messages. It seemed silly to have to write it so perfectly but considering her hand writing looked like a four year old's next to Byakuya's elegant examples she couldn't really say much to him.

"Not sure I'll ever get this right." She complained as she looked at her practice next to the lovely writing Byakuya had.

"It's not that difficult." The melodic deep voice made her freeze nervously as a hand reached over her shoulder and held her wrist in a different way before making the strokes for her. It did look better than before, but calligraphy practice was now at the back of her mind.

"What are you doing here!?" Kagome blinked in surprise, pulling her hand back and setting the brush down carefully before turning to stare at the gold haired prince standing calmly next to her. "Aren't you suppose to be guarded or something?"

"A few members of the guard are nearby." He waved his hand lightly, brushing off the concern. "With Byakuya busy for the afternoon I thought it would be better to move our lesson to today. I was informed he wanted to take you on a trip so an extra day to travel is logical is it not?"

"I guess." Kagome accented, it was logical. "But...isn't there some sort of emergency? I mean shouldn't you be somewhere safer?"

"Your concern is touching, but you'll find that while I'm here this is one of the safest places in soul society." He replied with a small smile. "Come. There is a place where you can practice correct? I thought Byakuya had something separated after you burned down his library."

"I didn't mean to!" Kagome protested, that was going to haunt her forever! "There is a place behind the grounds but...he asked me to stay here."

"To keep you safe no doubt." Sestran reasoned with the same small smile in place. "I'll keep you safe Kagome. Come on."

She bit her lip, she didn't like this whole thing, but it was so hard to resist him. More so when he was being so friendly...that smile definitely could melt most women she was certain. She got up begrudgingly and he nodded. "Excellent. Lead the way."

It was bizarre. Generally it was other people leading her around, or she had to follow Byakuya to keep a certain level of propriety but he just fell into step next to her as she walked.

"Don't worry Kagome. Byakuya is more than capable." Sestran comforted, stormy eyes considering the pretty grounds of the Kuchiki estate as he walked with her.

"Who said I was worried?" Kagome answered as coldly as she could manage. "I think he'll do whatever he needs to do perfectly and then come back home."

"Glad to hear you are starting to consider the soul society your home."

"I hate him." Kagome grumbled in her head. "He always manages to pick out things even if I'm trying to be neutral. Am I that readable?"

"Are you going to stay angry with me then?" He offered a vocal nudge curiously, looking back at her and seeming to be a bit confused.

"Depends on you." She answered without looking at him, she knew she'd end up smiling if she looked at him. "You still want me to pay for something I didn't get."

"I was thinking about that actually." He replied with his general calm manner. "I suppose that you are right about it. I've never been much of a businessman but I'll have to allow it to pass this time. I'll just have to convince you to kiss me in another way."

"When hell freezes over." Kagome retorted, then smiled despite herself when she looked his way.

"I could possibly arrange that." The thoughtful manner in which he said it made Kagome nervous.

"It's a phrase in the real world that basically means it's never going to happen." She explained. "Like 'when pigs fly'."

"Your world is rather random." He observed and the smile extended just a moment. "It's very unwise to use words like never or always you know."

"If I have a choice it won't." She retorted with a frown. "Why is it so important anyway? Must you have everyone at your beck and call?"

"It is more a matter of needing those that are under you to listen when it is imperative without hesitation or question." He replied with a small shrug. "There are times when a moment of thought can be disastrous."

"You could just trust people." She answered with a shake of her head. "Dominance is just a way to make people resent you."

"I'm not sure it's something you would understand Kagome." He commented with a small shrug. "This world and your own are very different and the soul society has different laws and values than the real world. I hope in time you won't think so poorly of me for what I must do."

She sighed, sensing the bit of sadness in that statement. "Just...stop trying to force me into things Sestran. I don't like it and I'm not sure I want to understand it. I doubt it'll ever not seem wrong to me."

They'd finally reached the long open field where she had miscast a lot of light spells in the last several months. It seemed bittersweet to be here without Byakuya, but she couldn't really refuse the prince after everything she'd spoken with her fiance about lately.

"I'll drop the issue for the moment at least." He consented, leading her toward the center of the field. "First we'll practice with the light spell and then concentrate on your abilities with healing. They seem to be one of the natural outlets of your power so starting there seems the easiest route of reconnecting other magic."

Kagome nodded, she had to admit that he was a good teacher, regardless of his pompous attitude it was easy to relax and learn when she let herself stop being so concerned with being mean to him.

It all seemed to come much easier than before, though her previous lessons and all the reading she'd done had aided the process she was starting to be able to give form to all the theory. The lighting spell continued to go well when she kept her concentration but it was still easy to lose control if she became distracted.

He'd had several items that were broken brought out for her to practice mending and that part of the lesson wasn't going as well. After she'd splintered the staff that had only started in two pieces Sestran was looking at it in surprise.

"That is rather the opposite effect than what I was going for." He commented curiously as he looked it over. "I'm not sure we can fix it without all the pieces."

Kagome blushed some. "Maybe lessons aren't going to go as easily after all. It's just I'm a ditz. It's not that any of my teachers are bad it's that I fail."

"Ouch." Sestran dropped the part of the staff he was holding, waving his hand lightly where a few drops of blood were coming from. He eyed Kagome curiously when she moved forward to take his hand. A golden glow emanating from around her before he felt the sting of the splinter fade. He smiled a little at her. "You seem to do much better when your target is living."

She dropped his hand and frowned at him. "You did that on purpose...I should have let you bleed."

He chuckled lightly at the reply. "I had taken that possibility into account but I needed to see how you react. There wasn't even any sort of incantation. I think we can work this out though. It's a matter of getting you to relax long enough to visualize the desired effect I believe."

Kagome tried to let the small insult pass and relax but it was easier said than done. It was several hours of work before she'd finally managed to fix something instead of dealing extra damage to it. She was fairly exhausted by another hour after that when she'd practiced enough that she wasn't blowing up more than she was repairing.

It was close to evening by then and she was enjoying a break of sitting on the dirt for a while. She never thought magic would be so physically taxing, the mental part she expected more but her body ached all over and her stomach was screaming bloody murder at her. Upon one of the louder grumbles Sestran paused in his teaching to consider her more fully.

"I think we should stop for the day." He commented, eyeing her more wary appearance.

"You said you wanted to get through healing people too." Kagome replied with a shake of her head. "I'm okay. I want to learn."

That was the part she was looking forward to. If she could be of real help and learn to do that then at least maybe she would be able to do more.

"You'll only risk hurting subjects of your magic if you are tired." He answered with a negative shake of his head. "Let's return and get you something to eat. You are hungry right?"

"Yes." She couldn't exactly hide it after the grumbles her stomach kept betraying her with. She swayed a bit upon getting up but paused when Sestran caught her arm. Blushing at the concern in his stormy eyes. "I'm okay. I just have to get used to all this."

His lips twitched a little downward but the majority of his calm manner stayed firmly in place. "I should apologize Kagome. I didn't think about your lower level of energy. Do you think you can walk back?"

"Yes." She affirmed immediately. Too many men in her life just decided to carry her if she hesitated on that question. "I'll be fine. But food sounds great, lets go do that."

"Did he have to put it like that?" She thought with a mental sigh. "I know that everyone probably has less power than him...but come on."

They had started walking toward the exit of the practice area when Sestran stopped in front of her so suddenly she bounced off him and landed right back on her behind. She started to ask what was wrong but paused upon seeing a strange woman near the entrance of the grounds.

She was beautiful that much was for certain. Long raven hair cascading over her shoulders and flowing along her back far enough that the tips could have tickled her thighs. Her eyes were the clearest blue Kagome had ever seen and her face was sad and regal at the same time. Her back was straight, almost rigid, and there was a quiver on her back and a bow in her hand. The most bizarre part was the most familiar one, she wore familiar robes that were similar to the ones that Kikyo had worn in the feudal era.

She was still staring when a single word from Sestran had her glancing back to him with eyebrows raising into her bangs.

"Mother?"

End Chapter

I am exceptionally happy with that cliffy. I originally planned the chapter to be a bit longer but yeah...no way I can't end it there. Now I cackle with maniacal glee.

-Aura

P.S. Feedback makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

To my reviewers:

Kathy - Kenpachi is my third fav char of bleach. After Byakuya and Ishida. It'll be so hard to write that battle...but yeah I figure Kenpachi will be having a good ole time.

Ayjah - The small things are important after all.

invisible - Not sure what word the stars are. The prince is good at staying calm most of the time...but I think I might break him of that soon.

Neo - Yeah I'm all excited for the new episodes too. I'm figuring Byakuya is perfectly fine somewhere planning a counterattack or something. I just don't see him getting ganked that easily at all. I think they're just trying to get some screentime for the other captains - sadly :(

Sugar0o - Well I guess I can live with the mental tricks if it makes me get some work done. I'll think of it positively! Hope this chapter leaves you in suspense!