27 Apprentice of the Shihoin

The surrounding is dark, only an occasional wandering firefly would feebly light up the place. He stumbled his way through the cave, grasping whatever support he could find as he feels himself getting weak.

"Damn that Arrancar, he almost got me this time" muttered Byakuya as he saw a slightly lighted area and slowly walked towards it, sat on a nearby rock and leaned. He thought of using the power of the Sōkyoku to fast track his healing but decided against it and masked his reiatsu instead as he begin to heal himself by using his own reiatsu. As he began to rest he thought of the battle between him and Arturo and noted that the Arrancar is getting desperate to take the remaining Sōkyoku.

'If he consumes all of the Sōkyoku, the chance of defeating him would be impossible.' He thought, 'I have to find a way on how to defeat him, he is getting incredibly strong. But I need to heal myself first completely and fast.' He mused as he rested himself as he heals.

'Otou-sama… ' the Gin' iro Chō softly called out to her father.

'Yes Aka-chan, what is it? You're alright… right?' Byakuya asked; worried now on his child's essence that resides in him.

'Hai, I am… Otou-sama, I can heal you. Please don't worry. I am not harmed, I can help so we can help Hahaue and…'

'and?' he asked, curious of what his child would say.

'Aniue.' his child replied.

Byakuya smiled as he remembered the conversation of the twins earlier. 'So you mean… I have my… Musume with me?' he asked

'Hai, Otou-sama' the Gin' iro Chō chuckled as she replied.

Byakuya smiled and let his daughter do what she said and marveled at how fast he healed. Moments later, he stood up and walked out of the cave and looked around. With his reiatsu completely masked, he knew that no one would trace him, not even his wife.

He thought about how to deal with Arturo without his wife joining the battle. Now that he knew that they are having twins, he worries more about her condition tenfold. His decision of not giving the other 'half' of the Sōkyoku to Michiko was one of the best decisions he made. He made her and the others believe that Micihiko carries the other remaining half, but in reality he what he gave her was the smallest remaining part, had he gave her half she would be leaking reiatsu just like that Kurosaki kid, Michiko being pregnant and all, he mused. He knew deep in his heart that his wife would still insist on helping him and the others, being a Shinigami herself and a seated officer at that. He knew that he was acting more like a husband than a Taichou that was required and expected of him but he felt that things are pretty much different this time.

'I don't want to lose her, or our children. This battle, this foolish battle that Aizen started with his minions must be stopped before things get worse. As it is, it's already getting out of hand. I wonder how the rest are faring' he mused as he thought of his comrades who are in Hueco Mundo as well as his sister Rukia and the Substitute Shinigami, Ichigo Kurosaki. He also thought of the ones who were battling in the Fake Karakura Town.

'He really planned on having the Goteijūsantai scattered, knowing that the true strength of the Gotei lies on its Taichous' he thought as he walked silently, the forest giving him a moment's peace.

'Aka-chan, we are going back to the manor tonight, but we both have to mask our reiatsu completely, there is something I need to do, to help Hahaue' Byakuya stated to his child.

'Hai, Otou-sama, but Aniue might feel my reiatsu since we are twins' the Gin' iro Chō replied.

'Let's take our chance then, shall we?' he said to his child.

Later that night, Byakuya was at the back entrance of the manor. He used shunpo to get past thru the Kuchiki guards who were manning the rear gates and smiled at himself as he easily got pass without being noticed. 'It's still child's play' he thought as he remembered the times he would trick the guards when he would practice his shunpo on them, leaving and returning back to the manor without them knowing it.

"Still as stealthy as ever… Byakuya-bo" a soft voice whispered then chuckled.

Byakuya turned and narrowed his eyes as he saw Yoruichi grinning at him, with his grandfather beside her.

"After all, you are my best apprentice" she added as she smiled mischievously at him.

"How did you find out?" Byakuya asked.

"You made me find out, with this" Yoruichi replied as she held out his hand guard and the small fragment of the Sōkyoku.

"If you wanted to really hide you would have not given us this clue, right? And besides, you can't outsmart the former Commander of the Omnikitsudou, Byakuya-bo" she chuckled.

Byakuya silently took the hand guard and looked at his grandfather. "Oji-sama, is Michiko alright?" he asked.

Ginrei nodded to his grandson and replied, "Hai, she is. Though she is very worried. I think its best that you go to her before you-"

"Hai, I will Oji-sama. I won't leave without telling her, it would not be fair" he replied, realizing that Michiko has the right to know of his plans.

"So tell me Bya-bo, what are you planning to do with this Arrancar?" Yoruichi asked, wondering what is brewing in the young Kuchiki's head.

Byakuya looked at Yoruichi and in a calm expression, replied "the Arrancar would be looking for my remains, or shall I say the remaining Sōkyoku since I convinced him that I perished. What he doesn't know is that I am still alive and still have the remaining Sōkyoku intact. This time he will be the hunted since I would be masking my reiatsu and track him down."

"So the predator will be the prey" replied Yoruichi

"What about the small fragment of the Sōkyoku? Kisuke and I found your hand guard with a small fragment in it… but when we searched the whole area, we also found that you scattered a number of small fragments of it. We didn't bother to retrieve them though, for we were thinking that you might have left it there on purpose." Yoruichi said as she looked at her former apprentice.

"Hai, I left it on purpose. For him to believe that I perished and the remains were the last part of the Sōkyoku that he needed. I also left a big chunk of it somewhere there but it is not the real Sōkyoku but a decoy." Byakuya replied.

"A decoy?!" Yoruichi gasped in surprise.

"Decoy… What do you mean?" Ginrei asked.

"Hai hai… a decoy alright, Kuchiki-sama asked me to make one" chuckled Urahara as he joined the group.

"You knew… and you didn't even bother to tell me. Don't be surprised if I smack you later on Kisuke." Yoruichi chided Urahara.

"Gomen, gomen kudesai Yoruichi. I was pressed for time and Kuchiki-sama was also in a hurry to have it done." Explained Urahara.

Byakuya looked at the small group and sighed. Those two really love to bicker especially during times like this he mused.

This time it was Ginrei who spoke. "I think it would be wise if Yoruichi-dono and Urahara-san would join the others in the fake Karakura Town. Honestly I'm having a bad feeling about how things are going there as we speak."

Urahara nodded then asked; "Hai. But who would help Kuchi—"

"I will do this on my own. They need you more than I do and this battle is between me and that Arrancar. I don't forgive easily, especially what he did to my wife and son." [referring to Shiro]

"Alright then it's settled." Yoruichi replied as she looked at both Byakuya and Ginrei. "Kisuke and I would be taking our leave now." She turned and grinned at Byakuya "seems you are putting into practice what I taught you, Bya-bo"

"Hmnn… " Byakuya replied and turned as he was about to walk towards the manor to speak to his wife.

"Byakuya, before you leave I would like a word with you" Ginrei spoke softly.

"Hai, Oju-sama… what is it you wish to tell me?" he asked.

"I know you are a Taichou now, and a good one at that. I just want you to know that all these years, from the time you started your training to be part of the Goteijūsantai and when you took the clan leadership, you have made me very proud. Now that you will become a father, I want you to know that even though this is not the best of time, I am very happy for you and Michiko." Ginrei stated as he looked at his grandson.

Byakuya bowed in respect to his grandfather "Oji-sama, I am happy that you are here to see your great grandchildren. I pledge not only as a member of the Goteijūsantai, or the head of our clan, but as your grandson that this war will end, and that once again there will be peace on both the Human World as well as here in Seireitei."

"I am very proud of you Byakuya. Always have and always will be. I am most sure that your Otou-sama and Okaa-sama feel the same way too." Ginrei replied as he places his hand on Byakuya's shoulder. The gesture is more of giving a blessing as well as wishing him well to the great battle that his grandson would face.

Meanwhile…

Michiko is in the room when she felt a strange sensation inside her womb. She placed her hand on her still flat stomach and slowly walked towards the shoji door leading to the gardens and opened it. As she stepped outside, she looked at the clear midnight sky and saw the cherry blossom tree nearby. She walked towards the tree and felt a familiar essence; she smiles as she felt her husband embracing her from behind. She leaned on him, savoring his wonderful scent and slowly turned around and gasped as she saw the arrancar Arturo instead of her husband.

"Tricked you, didn't I?" Arturo Plateado smirked.

oOo oOo oOo

translation:

Aniue - elder brother; the term is more formal and archaic

Musume - daughter

author's note:

i know its been a very long while since my last update. my deepest apologies. a lot has happened to me from the time i last updated this chapter and now that i am back, i promise to update more and this is the beginning. also, my sincerest thanks and gratitude to those who read and reviewed on this story and the other fanfict stories i've written. :)

ja ne