20 A Friendship Most Unlikely

Upon arriving Hueco Mundo, Byakuya proceeded in entering Las Noches. He knew that the captains of the 4th, 11th and 12th Divisions as well as his sister Rukia and her friends were on their way to rescue Orihime. As he entered one of the endless halls of Las Noches, he could not help smirk and said,

"No need to conceal yourself senpai… I know that you would come, whether I allow it or not."

"Araa… your skills are getting better ne, Bya-boo! I commend you for that!" Yoruichi said as she materialized beside her former student.

"You know very well that I can handle this by myself senpai." He stated as they walked along the corridor, sensing if there were any arrancars or hollows approaching their path.

"What… and be left behind while you get all the action?! Absolutely not!" Yoruichi answered as walked beside Byakuya. She was supposed to speak when they both felt a group of arrancar approaching; a mischievous grin appeared on her face…

"Let's see who eliminates most arrancars Byakuya-boo!" and she shunpoed off

"You never change, demon-cat of a senpai" Byakuya muttered as he shunpoed to where she was and using Senka, his favorite technique he slain a number of arrancars.

In a matter of seconds, both Byakuya and Yoruichi eliminated the arrancars. Afterwards both proceeded in searching for Michiko.

"Ne, Bya-boo, it's been ages since we fought side by side, don't you think so? Yoruichi said as they walked the seemingly endless corridor of Aizen's stronghold.

"Hnn… was only the comment she received from her former protégé. Yoruichi smiled and looked at her former student. She chuckled as she remembered the times when she was still part of the Gotei 13 and would endlessly torment and pester the young Kuchiki noble then.

Unbeknownst to her, Byakuya too was remembering the times when the Shihouin noble used to teach him Kido as well as Shunpo by teasing him mercilessly in which during those times he was still known to have a fiery temper. I just hope that the twins would not inherit my once fiery temper… he thought.

"Ne Bya-boo, this corridor seems to be pretty confusing, have you noticed? Yoruichi said, studying his features.

"Yes I noticed… and the reiatsus are very unstable. Let's just take this straight path. " he added. Michiko, hanata… hang in there I'm coming for you… he thought as he sensed her faint reiatsu. At the end of the corridor was a hall in which there were three huge doors at each side of the hall. Byakuya paused and focused in tracking his wife's reiatsu. Yoruichi silently regarded him and after a few moments she asked,

"Bya-boo, can you still feel her reiatsu?"

"I can, but it's very weak… "He said, he hid his despair with his usual icy demeanor and focused himself in locating her. I've got to find her soon, the more time wasted the more she is in danger.

"Bya-boo… I think it's wise if I go first rather than we both strike" Yoruichi said as they both approached the door in the middle.

"I'd rather not waste time senpai" Byakuya replied as he walked towards the second door. He pushed the door and as he stepped in, a hole suddenly opened beneath him and he fell.

"Byakuya!!" Yoruichi cried as she saw the hole closing up as it trapped him. As she was about to inspect the trap she felt an approaching reiatsu and easily blocked the arrancar's attack. She defeated the arrancar easily using hand combat and kido. Then she checked the flooring where Byakuya last stood and studied it.

A high level of Kido was used and I'm sure Aizen is not that advance yet in this level…, Yoruichi thought as she placed her palm on the floor. Let's see if I still have it, she told herself as she focused her reiatsu and a silver flash emitted from her hand, as she concentrated on directing her reiatsu on the floor. Little by little the hole wherein Byakuya fell appeared and Yoruichi jumped in.

Somewhere in Las Noches…

Michiko woke up and found herself in a small room with no door or windows. That charlatan arrancar must have sealed me here; I haven't sensed Aizen's reiatsu or the other traitors either… I hope Byakuya is well… Michiko thought as she inspected the walls for a secret opening. She felt getting weaker as she suspected to be sealed in a prison cell built with lethality stone.

"Ojousama, I think that arrancar excels in high level Kido" Ryū Hoshi said as she inspected another side of the wall.

"I agree with you Ryū, but we need to get out of here fast" Michiko replied as she continue to search the wall, trying to sense something. " I'm getting weak and I'm worried - the children…" she said as she tried to find an opening.

On the third wall that she was scrutinizing, she felt a strong reiatsu and she stepped back in time since the wall slowly dissolved into an opening and the charlatan arrancar who abducted her stepped in, along with another arrancar who was holding a tray of food.

"Konbanwa Shinigami-san. Please accept our humble fare." Arturo said as the other arrancar laid the food on the table. The other arrancar looked at Michiko then back at Arturo and snickered as he left the two. Arturo looked at Michiko and said,

"That husband of yours sure has good taste, shinigami… not only your reiatsu is extraordinarily strong but you are very beautiful as well… Tell me, are you of noble blood? Or are you related to the king whom our Aizen-sama desires so much to kill?"

Michiko chose not to answer him as she was thinking of a way how to defeat him without injuring herself or her unborn children. Arturo thought that her silence was her way of admitting defeat walked towards her, lifted her chin and forced her to look at him in the eye.

"Your husband have something that I want… and you have something that I want… and more…" he snickered, his face moved closer to hers as Michiko turned her face to avoid him.

"Hmmmm… very fiery… that's what I like in a woman… for sure you're a hellfire in bed too…" as his hands slipped menacingly down from her chin to trace her collarbone, Michiko's hand was inches of his nape, her palm glowing.

"Get. Your. Filthy. Hands. Off. Me. Though I'm getting weak from the lethality stone, from this close range I can easily blast you into eternity with my spell…" she said calmly, concentrating her reiatsu.

Arturo realized that Michiko was not teasing and reluctantly took his hands off her. Michiko withdrew as well and distanced herself from the arrancar as she went to the other side of the room.

"You may be beautiful but I could sense that you loath me from the bottom of your heart. Though you did not fire your destructive spell you still left a searing pain on my nape, you bitch…" Arturo snarled as he blasted a cero on her.

"Danku" Michiko heard a familiar voice and she was swiftly and gently swept off her feet.

"Byakuya…"

oOo oOo oOo

author's note: hi! its been a month since my last chapter and i really am deeply sorry for the long wait... gomen ne...

been busy preparing my little shiro to school, buying books, schoolstuff and and enrollment, plus he also attended his first cosplay ;) he cosplayed hitsugaya toshiro and seeing him doing his poses and stage really was an amazing experience for me as well as my son. again thank you so much for taking time to read and reviews are most welcome. ja ne' :)

japanese translation:

ojousama - means 'milady' or my lady, a respectful term in addressing someone especially in nobility.