15 El Embustero (The Deceiver)
As he exited the portal, Arturo Plateado went to his hideout which was within the heart of Inuzuri forest. He then pointed his fore and middle fingers downwards and drew an imaginary square shape on the ground, seconds later a square opening with a stairwell leading to the underground appeared and he stepped in. At the center of his lair, a glowing crystal-like formation floated at the center, the broken remains of the Sōkyoku…
"Its three-fourths done… I just need the remaining pieces… but I want to consume first that strong reiatsu… it will make me more powerful and my dream in destroying Seireitei will be within my reach… and when that happens even that bastard Aizen would be crawling to me… and I will reign supreme" Arturo thought to himself.
The next day, at the 11th Division headquarters, Michiko was busy preparing for the day's training when she sensed a familiar reiatsu. Hastily she left the building and when she was at the main road, she saw his scarf floated gracefully as he turned to a corner.
"It can't be… he's in Hueco Mundo, why is he here all of a sudden?"She thought to herself. As she was about to shunpo towards his direction, Ukitake called her and she had no choice but to speak to the 13th Division captain.
"Ohaiyo gozaimas Ukitake Taichou" she greeted him
"Ohaiyo Kuchiki-sama. I hope that you are feeling better today." Ukitake replied
"Yes, I am. Do you have any news from…"
"We have not received any news from Urahara-sama or from Kuchiki Taichou, Michiko-sama. I promise, you will be informed firsthand as soon as we get news from any of them." Ukitake said
"I guess I was just imagining things… that's why I thought it was Byakuya I saw awhile back…" Michiko thought to herself. Ukitake who was watching her closely gently asked "Are you alright Michiko-sama? You looked worried…"
"I am alright Taichou, I guess I'm just thinking too much…" Michiko replied
"Ne, you don't need to be straining yourself from worrying too much, your husband would not like it. Kuchiki Taichou is one of the best captains, we all know that. I am sure that he will come back as well as our other friends before we know it" Ukitake said, hoping that he could comfort her.
That evening, as Michiko tucked her son to bed, she decided to take a stroll on the gardens, reminding her that it was one of Byakuya's favorite pastimes. She was also getting accustomed to this new ritual of theirs and as she walked along the garden, she missed her husband all the more. Memories came back flooding to her mind, their first mission together, their first kiss, the first time they made love, their wedding and honeymoon, and the promise he made as he held her tenderly in his arms before going to Hueco Mundo…
"Ne milady, it is not good for you or for your little one to be worrying too much on your husband." Her zanpakutou spoke through her thoughts.
"I know Ryū Hoshi, I guess it can't be helped to worry on someone you truly love." Michiko replied, tears glistening on her eyes.
"I understand milady… but you need to rest now. You and your little one need it" Ryū Hoshi said.
Five days have passed and though the whole of Seireitei was peaceful and almost everyone were busy preparing for the Christmas holidays, one would feel the silent tension brewing in preparation in battling Aizen's army.
Most shinigamis were preparing to call it a day from their duties when the alarm was sounded off. Captains, vice captains and seated officers received a message that a remote village at the west of Inuzuri was under attack by hollows and it was then that Michiko, Yumichika and Ikkaku assembled their squad and headed towards the area.
When they arrived, they were astounded on the number of hollows and the casualties of residents which lay before their eyes. Michiko, Ikkaku and Yumichika together with their squads attacked the hollows while the squad from the 4th Division went to check on the injured residents.
Though their captain was in another mission, the three seated officers of the 11th squad along with their fellow shinigamis were able to defeat the Hollows. As Michiko was about to sheath her zanpakutou, once again she felt her husband's reiatsu and true enough she saw him below, limping towards the forest.
Her heart pounding, she hastily went to him and was surprised to see her husband bleeding.
"Byakuya-sama!!!
oOo oOo oOo
author's note: i'm so sorry for the big delay. i had flu right after my birthday and my little shiro-chan got it too... its only now that both of us are getting better and hopefully before his birthday he could celebrate it with his classmates. i hope you enjoy this chapter, though short it may be. it's going to be a long weekend and i promise to post a chapter or 2 since i still need to edit it... if there are some grammatical and spelling errors on this chapter, again my apologies, guess the meds im taking are still spiking up and i get drowsy most of the time... i hate flu : (
till the next chapter. thanks for reading and reviewing : )
ja ne