Supernova
By Willow Athena
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach…but Rien is definitely mine
Author's Note: This Chapter is dedicated to Soralake for the honour of being on their Favourite Author's list, and because we have the same taste in most things, and I think they will enjoy this one in particular.
Summary:
Setting – Soul Society has been under strict military watch following Aizen's victory, where he distracted everyone and stole the real 'King's Key' while everyone was engaged in meaningless battles to stop him from making one. Aizen has retreated and is attempting to figure out how to use the key. Ichigo is about to turn 21, so everyone has known eachother for about 6 years, I guess.
Story – For the last three weeks, Rien has been imprisoned and 'interrogated' by Kurotsuchi taichou to investigate if she was a threat to Soul Society, and how she got into one of the most restricted parts of Seireitei. Byakuya is the first thing Rien can remember, and she cares for him, but he ignores her presence. None of her new friends have been allowed to see her, but Ukitake taichou has tried to help in that regard.
Chapter 7 – I will NOT think of her!
"We have to do it tonight. They're torturing her! I won't leave her here and go home." Byakuya heard Ishida say in his fukutaichou's office. Since Renji never used his office before, Byakuya had never before had the opportunity to notice how clearly he could hear every whispered word through the air vent.
"Mayuri is a taichou, and his fukutaichou is a machine! It will be hell to get out of there with them around." Renji countered. Byakuya was surprised by Renji's use of logic, he had previously discounted him having any sense at all.
"But it's not impossible. Just leave it to me!" Byakuya could not mistake the arrogant tone of Ichigo's voice. What an imbecile, Baykuya thought.
"Where will you go after you break her out, Ichigo? Mayuri, Nemu, and all the other squads as well, will be compelled to pursue you." Renji threw a cog in Ichigo's turning wheel.
"Renji's right. We need a better plan." His sister's pained and desperate voice surprised him.
"I've been studying Soul Society laws, and I think I have an idea about that." Ishida calmly said.
Baykuya wondered if he should turn them in now…or perhaps help them. He hated going against any of Soul Society's laws. But…he further contemplated, it wouldn't really be him breaking any rules – if all he did was provide them with an opportunity. It would be up to them to make the most of it.
Anyway, it would be far better for him if she just disappeared and Soul Society forgot all about 'Kuchiki taichou's lover' – he cringed at the repeatedly whispered words which made him look so weak, so human.
She looked like a painted masterpiece, which would have been fine if he could collect her, hang her on his wall, and admire her beauty from afar – but, she wanted more. Her eyes demanded something he could not give.
She was simultaneously dangerous and fragile, he could feel it – he could feel her! She had caused a ripple in his still and usually impenetrable countenance.
He had kissed her back, whatever he had tried to make himself believe by now. He remembered how his body instinctively, yearningly reacted to her cool lips before he could regain control of himself.
For weeks now, he had wondered how he could have let this happen. He felt conflicted about standing by and letting her be punished for his lack of self-discipline. He had not expected to care, to be affected at all by anything that happened to her, but he could not forget the sound of the air rushing out of her lungs, or the deep vulnerable cry of pain which followed. He had, had to leave immediately, and subsequently had to avoid Kurotsuchi taichou due to his flaring, almost uncontrollable, instinct to harm him now.
This would not do! She had to go! She would have to leave him to his solitude – it was familiar, calm, isolating.
Hisana was never like this, he noted to himself, as the pain of her death stung him again. Hisana was strong, quiet, noble and caring. Plagued with guilt over abandoning Rukia, she could not fully return his love, but he had let her into his heavy heart – he had loved her, and in her death, she abandoned him. Byakuya still thought of himself as a married man, and swore he would never let anyone get that close again. The people he loved always seemed to leave him: his mother; his father; Kaien; Hisana; even Rukia would leave one day.
Byakuya had no hope that this would change. Hope was nothing more than a waking dream. Baykuya felt that love was just a prelude to heartache, and he would never be fooled down that treacherous path again.
Byakuya never let anyone get close to him, not even family, not even Rukia. He had no friends to speak of and simply evoked fear in all his subordinates and staff. He was noble. He was powerful. He was untouchable.
Women would smile at his beauty and freeze at his power. No one could get close enough to him to test his self-control.
She had to go, he decided. She was dangerous, he had feelings about her, not that they were good, but they were feelings none the less – she had to leave. She had affected him.
Byakuya walked into Renji's office without warning, startling the four huddled in conversation. Rukia in particular had a guilty look on her face which she attempted, but failed, to hide from his discerning gaze.
"Abarai fukutaichou." Byakuya said dispassionately. "I expect you to stay in your office and be on duty tonight, in case anything unexpected happens." Renji had that familiar stupid-confused look on his face, Byakuya thought. Perhaps the Quincy will have to catch the drift for these thugs.
"I will be inviting Kurotsuchi taichou and his daughter to the Kuchiki manor for dinner tonight. I want to be thoroughly updated on his progress." Byakuya saw a smile of hope spring to the Quincy's face.
"I expect you will be able to handle things over here, Renji," Byakuya said feigning indifference. "My dinner will be from 7 to 9 tonight; I do not wish to be interrupted. Did I make myself clear?"
"Hai, taichou." Renji stood and bowed, his hair flowing loosely over his shoulders. Byakuya took great pride in beauty, and it wasn't until this day that he saw in Renji, the potential to truly become his vice-captain.
After barely three whispered sentences about their surprising good luck, the other three left Renji alone in his office, for now.
How foolish, Byakuya thought – that they could not see through his thinly disguised words. But, it was perhaps better that they did not suspect his willing help with their plan to save Rien.
He had come to think of her so often that he had actually begun to use her name. Goodbye, Rien. He shook the silliness of the thought away as it entered his consciousness. If they succeeded, he judged that he would easily be able to erase all memory of her and return to his previous dissociated state.
He walked to the Research Bureau to extend a formal invitation from the 'The noble house of Kuchiki to Kurotsuchi taichou and Daughter'. Byakuya was adept at discerning people's weaknesses and desires, and this was Mayuri's – finally receiving the acknowledgement he felt he deserved from nobility. Byakuya knew it was the one thing that could drag that vile monster from its lair. He would not be Rien's white knight who offered love, but he was willing to be the dark prince who offered survival.
Author's Note
Hope I didn't disappoint the Byakuya fans in particular – I tried to maintain his real personality within the confines of the story, I hope I succeeded. Please review and let me know what you guys think.