Chapter 22

Author's Note: I PROMISE! Now we're back to our regularly scheduled programming! Read, enjoy and review! Hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful 4th!

The sun was dipping below the evening horizon, painting the sky with reds, oranges and yellows that gave way to blues, pinks and purples. The air had cooled to a tolerable degree from the unseasonably warm day, and a soft breeze had picked up, carrying with it the electric scent of an approaching rain.

Inside the training room at the Kuchiki estate, the captains waited for the last to arrive. They had all arrived a bit earlier than scheduled, but were content to sit and enjoy some tea, or simply lay down and take a quick nap before the evening's training began.

Byakuya, Ukitake and Kyōraku sat at a table, sipping some tea that Captain Ukitake had brought as an offering to the head of the clan while the others simply sat and did their own thing, ignoring the conversation at the table.

"That was all Urahara could find I'm afraid. I've double checked and even triple checked in some areas, but all I was able to dig up was the basics." Captain Ukitake said with a sip of tea.

"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to compile a more complete file that could be used later. With only the bare essentials, that is proving to be difficult." Byakuya said with his own sip.

"Very. I checked the computers at the Great Library like you asked and it was exactly the same. There doesn't seem to be anymore information available." Kyōraku said.

"Hmm," Byakuya hummed, resting a knuckle on his chin, "It does seem rather odd that there is so little information."

"Well, that's what we get when a Hollow is entirely invisible and takes the steps to avoid detection." Kyōraku said with a shrug.

"What's more disturbing, is that this Hollow was in Soul Society without any of us knowing. I fear he may still be here and hunting for Nyruki." Byakuya said lowly.

"What I wish to know is why he's possibly hunting her? If those with high spiritual pressure are capable of sensing him, why would he even come within miles of her?" Ukitake asked.

"That may be an answer we will never know." Byakuya mumbled.

The door to the training room slid open, revealing Byakuya's attendant whom immediately bowed and announced Nyruki's arrival before taking his leave and shutting the door behind her without so much as another word.

"Good evening, Nyruki. I hope your night off was relaxing." Captain Ukitake said with a wide smile as he stood and wrapped her up in a warm embrace.

Nyruki squeezed just hard enough to garnish a low groan that was followed by a laugh.

"It was. Is everyone feeling rested?" She asked, unwrapping herself before going to stand in the middle of the circle.

"I went to bed early. It was wonderful." Kyōraku grinned wide and with an expression that would be at home on someone whom just woke up.

Nyruki smiled, "So I see Captain Kurotsuchi isn't here again." Her smile disappeared.

"He won't be here I'm afraid. I have him under sedation for the time being to monitor him." Captain Unohana said with the kind of smile that could make even the most seasoned combat veterans shiver with fear.

"Won't lie. Kind of happy about that." Nyruki said with an exaggerated shutter.

"As are we. I am rather happy to not have the risk of becoming trapped again." Said Hitsugaya as he sat down and got comfortable.

"You aren't the only one." Soi-Fon scoffed.

As each captain found their usual spot and got comfortable, Nyruki simply stood and drew in long breaths to prepare herself. It would be another long night of waiting and watching, but she absolutely had no plan on drawing everyone in together. Each would battle their desires alone and all she could do was hope that what little instruction they got would be enough.

"Everyone ready?" She asked as she slowly pulled her Zanpakutō from its sheath.

All the captains nodded.

She brought the silver blade to her lips and uttered its release command, instantly being surrounded by the delicate mist that trickled into her mouth and down her throat. She closed her eyes as she drew in the mist, taking the largest breath that her lungs would allow. It only took a moment before her powers took affect and she opened her eyes to reveal one gold and one crimson.

With another long breath, she entered Bankai just as easily as more mist radiated from her body in a low hanging fog. To her, the mist smelt of nothing, felt nothing, but to everyone else, it had taken on the scent of whatever they found most tantalizing.

One by one, Nyruki enthralled each captain with easily shot, concentrated balls of the mist. She placed a finger over her lips and heaved a hard breath, spitting two shots at Soi-Fon and Hitsugaya, landing direct hits right in the middle of their faces. Another heaved breath took Kenpachi Zaraki and Unohana in the same instant before she swirled a ribbon of mist around her arm and forced its entirety down Sajin Komamura's throat.

When it came to the three remaining, she was a bit kinder. She softly blew a swirling ball of mist into Kyōraku's face as if she were blowing him a kiss and did the same with Ukitake. Both were consumed by Kibōyūwaku within moments, leaving only her and the Captain of Squad 6.

"How do you wanna do this?" She asked lowly as she knelt down in front of him.

Byakuya's eyes were soft and his lips had taken on the barest of smiles, "However you wish." He said softly as he reached up and twirled a loose lock of her hair around his finger.

"You're leaving it up to me, hmm?" She hummed, admiring his face.

Byakuya nodded once and let go of the twisted lock.

Nyruki smiled as she allowed a moment to get lost in the silver sea that was his eyes. They sparkled in the dim light, twinkled like stars that were more beautiful than the actual ones outside.

Her smile briefly widened as she leaned in closer and softly placed her hand along his jaw, caressing her thumb over the entirely smooth skin with no hint of stubble. His hand found its way to the nape of her neck just as her lips touched down on his to be instantly greeted with a heat that warmed her entire body. His lips danced effortlessly with hers, each breath being inhaled and exhaled in unison.

Only a moment passed before his tongue began to knock at the front door of her mouth where her tongue greeted his in long strokes and the moment the heat of her mouth met his, his throat rumbled with a predatory growl.

Nyruki's own throat rattled with want as she moved to straddle his lap, resting each leg on either side of his hips as she continued to lustfully kiss him. Her arms snaked around his neck, burying her fingers in the long silken locks of his hair while his own hands began to roam.

They floated down her back with slightly clawed fingers, pressing down just enough to let her know where they were going. They came to rest on her hips before changing course to travel along her thighs, their lips and tongues still engaged in mutual combat. She pressed into him as she continued to kiss hard, her lips becoming numb from the pressure as his hands tightly gripped her thighs and rocked them forward.

He used his greater strength to rise to his knees, wrapping an arm around her hips to keep her in place while he set her down on her back, never once separating their lips.

Nyruki sucked in a long breath as she broke the bruising kiss and stared deep into his half lidded, passion filled eyes.

"Here? In front of all the captains? I like that idea." Nyruki breathed, drifting her hand down his cheek while she smiled wide and bit her lower lip with rising anticipation.

Byakuya's breathing was quickened, heated from the rising passion. His eyes were blurry and unable to focus with her so close, pressed beneath him with her legs wrapped around his hips. His heart thundered in his chest and no amount of self control was going to be able to calm him down.

However, through all the passion filled haze, there was a nag in the back of his mind that refused to silence itself, making it near impossible to enjoy what was happening.

"Are you alright?" Nyruki asked in a whisper, caressing the back of his neck as she planted soft, lingering kisses to each corner of his mouth.

Byakuya nodded, "Y-Yes. Just... lost in the moment." He whispered airily as he dropped his head to return the tender kisses.

"Good. You're supposed to be." Nyruki said as she wrapped her arms around him.

That nag continued as they fell back into each other with lips slicking in a wet heat. His stomach rolled with the rare feeling of nerves the more her tongue ran long, hot runs along his own, building the heat low in his core to near unbearable levels.

This wasn't right. It was wrong. Not at all how he thought things would turn out. Nyruki was far more brazen, throwing caution completely into the wind and she felt like a whole different person because of it. He didn't know she could have such a side, especially with her darkened past and that nag, that roaring nag only served to get worse.

After several minutes, with hands caressing and leaving hot trails in their wake, their lips parted once more, offering another chance for him to lose himself in her intoxicating eyes.

"I want this... I want us, Byakuya." Nyruki whispered, smiling lustfully up at him.

His eyes shot wide in an instant as his breath caught in his throat. Hearing his name on her breath, in her voice, had frozen him solid to the point that the only sound was of that near constant nag. It had moved from the back of his mind, to the front.

"Y-You called me by name." He whispered, resting a hand softly against her cheek.

Nyruki nodded, "That's what you want isn't it?"

Byakuya forced himself to breathe, but remained as still as possible. He knew what the nag was now, knew what it was trying to tell him. There was no mistaking it.

"You made a mistake." He whispered, brushing a lock of her hair from her face, never looking away from her crimson and gold eyes.

Nyruki's smile began to fade, "What do you mean?"

"I do want you to call me by name, but I want the real you to do it." Byakuya said lowly.

Nyruki's eyes widened, "W-What?"

"Forgive me for this." He said softly, placing another soft kiss to her reddened lips as he arced his forefinger and gently placed its tip against her temple.

"Forgive you for what?" She asked with rising worry and eyes that had begun to shake with added fear.

He kept his lips against her's, soft and tender as he spoke.

"Hadō #4: Byakurai."

With a sharp, sparking crack, the concentrated bolt of pale energy shot from his forefinger to careen through Nyruki's head before erupting out from the opposite temple. His chest instantly hurt as his eyes stung, forced to watch as the life left her eyes as a glassy, blurry sheen built across the crimson and gold.

A single tear leapt free of her eye, the crimson one, to slowly crawl down her skin as her last breath left her lungs and her whole body fell limp, no longer wrapped around him.

With her lifeless beneath him, his chest hopped with barely contained sobs. He never wanted to see her like this, to see her still and void of life with eyes unseeing. It hurt him more than remembering his mistakes before Ichigo Kurosaki had changed everything. He would never allow this to happen, not to her, not to anyone that had wormed their way into his ice shielded heart.

But the ache in his chest was soon replaced with all out pain, hot as the hottest fire and just as violent. It erupted like an explosion that caused him to roll off of Nyruki and claw at his chest, desperate to rid it of the crawling pain. His throat roared with the growing pain as his fingernails began to break into his skin, ripping and scratching to draw a tiny amount of blood that was barely able to show between the walls of the scratches. He screamed, wanting desperately for the pain to go away, writhing and clawing at the invisible maggots eating their way through his chest. He couldn't see, couldn't hear, but mercifully, it all ended when his world went black.

The training room was quiet enough for Nyruki to hear her breathing. Each one seemed far too loud for her ears, coming and going like a rush of wind through forest leaves and the only way she could drown it out, was the swallowing sound her throat made whenever she took a sip of tea.

She had enthralled each captain a couple of hours ago, save for the Captain of Squad 12 whom wasn't present. She had tossed concentrated balls of the enthralling mist into the faces of most, but when it came down to, admittedly, her favorite three, she was a bit more tender. She had blown a mist laced kiss to Kyōraku and Ukitake, but when it came to the last, being Byakuya, she had hesitated on what to do.

She had wanted to kiss him. Every fiber told her to, but it was those same fibers that quivered with fear and nerves. He could see it in her shoulders and he had simply waited with kind eyes until she decided. How he waited, just sitting with his hands unmoving on his thighs, was a comfort. He had given her complete control and would go along with whatever she wished. She was thankful for his patience and to say thank you, she had placed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips and laced it with mist.

After that, she had simply sat and waited for what would surely be another night of no progress. She had taken a spot at the small table to enjoy some tea while she took a gander and decided to flip through a couple pages of Byakuya's book. It wasn't a particularly interesting read, being a collection of poems and short stories, but it filled the time as each minute ticked away.

With a strong sigh, Nyruki took her freshened cup of tea with book in hand and went to sit in the middle of the circle so she could keep an eye everyone. None moved and all were sitting the exact same way; on their heels with hands on their thighs. It was the same as it was every night.

As she flipped the page in the book, printed with a small poem, the softest of moans broke through the silence of the training room. Her brows softly furrowed as she sat perfectly still and waited, holding her breath and watching each captain for any indication of whom had made the sound.

After a few seconds, another ultra soft moan sounded while she was looking back at Kenpachi Zaraki, but the sound had clearly come from in front of her. She whisked her head back to the front as another moan hit her ears and aided her in zeroing in on the captain.

It was Byakuya.

She set her tea down and placed her open book with its pages down on the mat next to it before crawling up to him, keeping her eyes locked on his dull ones the shade of dark gray skies. His lips had parted slightly with each moan, and more came, soft and nearly too low to be heard as his eyes fluttered in their attempts to close.

He was close to breaking free again.

Nyruki sat down on her heels and gripped both sides of his neck, forcing his unseeing eyes to look at her. They continued to flutter, but were soon joined with short, stuttering breaths that shook, making his chest hop rapidly.

"Come on, Captain. Break free of her." Nyruki whispered, still holding his head, watching and waiting.

Byakuya's breathing worsened as his eyes squeezed shut, springing free a singular tear that raced down his cheek until it collided with her hand.

"Come on... Come on." Nyruki whispered until she got her answer.

His eyes shot open wide as he gasped, sucking in a breath that completely filled his chest while his back and head arced backwards.

Nyruki kept her hands on both sides of his neck out of fear of him from falling backward, but his entire body soon relaxed, sending him forward into her in a limp heap with his forehead resting against her shoulder.

"Captain! Please say something, Captain!" Nyruki near begged as she maneuvered her hands to his shoulders to push him up.

With another low moan that dragged out, Byakuya's hands gripped her shoulders to help him sit up, his head hanging and his hair clinging to his sweat dampened forehead that obscured his face.

"Captain?" Nyruki tried again as she brushed aside his hair to get a clearer line of sight to his eyes.

Finally, Byakuya lifted his head and looked at her with liquid silver that was a bit shinier than usual.

"I-I... I did it." Byakuya exhaled with a short swallow as he pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut from the sudden dizzy spell.

Nyruki exhaled a wide smile, but kept her hands on his shoulders as he wobbled a bit, "How're you feeling?"

Byakuya stayed silent for a few moments as he focused on himself. His breathing was normalizing and his vision was clearing with each blink of his eyes. His muscles were a bit sore, but nothing wholly miserable. However, it was his chest that stung every time the fabric of his top grazed over his skin.

"Just my chest. I fear I clawed a bit too hard." Byakuya said, taking in a big, deep breath as he began to sit up on his own.

"May I?" Nyruki asked quietly as she took her hands off his shoulders.

Byakuya simply nodded as he dabbed his forehead with his sleeve to dry off the lingering sheen of sweat.

Nyruki softly gulped as she reached out and grasped the hem of his Shihakushō, carefully pulling the small V apart to reveal his trimmed chest. It had been marred by shallow reddened scratches that broke at random intervals with tiny lines of blood that never found its way free of his flesh. They were nothing more than scratches and would heal up on their own in a few days.

"Well, you have two choices, Captain." Nyruki said as she released the cloth.

Byakuya's brows softly furrowed.

"Either I can heal them for you, or you can tough it out and they heal up on their own in a couple days." Nyruki said with a small smile.

"I won't burden you with healing minor scratches. They were done by own my hand." Byakuya said as he released a sigh and fully sat down.

"You alright?" Nyruki asked.

Byakuya nodded, "Yes. Just... exhausted. How long did it take?"

"A couple hours."

"That won't do. It needs to be faster." Byakuya said as Nyruki went to the table and poured him a cup of tea.

Byakuya took the cup and allowed a moment for the aroma to fill his nose before taking a much needed sip that felt like the rejuvenating sun after a storm.

"Well, it's a start. What happened if I can ask?" She asked as she picked up her tea and closed the book, making sure not to lose Byakuya's place, marked with a thin strip of paper.

Byakuya briefly smiled as he glanced at the book, "That's my favorite book."

Nyruki's cheeks tinted pink, "It helped pass the time." She said, setting the book down next to her.

"Was there any particular one you enjoyed the most?" He asked with another sip.

Nyruki brushed aside a lock of her hair, "I liked the one about the cherry blossoms. It was really sweet."

"I like that one myself. I think I've read it every year for fifty years. Ever since Hisana's passing." Byakuya said softly.

Nyruki's soft smile instantly vanished, "O-Oh... I didn't know this was-"

"It's alright. It was a birthday gift from her the winter she took ill. I used to be able to recite every poem from memory for the longest time, but now... I can only recite that one." He said lowly with a long sip.

"How come?"

Byakuya shrugged, "Memories lost to the passing of time and the shifting of hearts."

"I see." Nyruki whispered as she stared down at her lap.

They stayed quiet for a minute while the tea worked to clear Byakuya's head. The sight of Nyruki dying by his hand still flashed before his eyes; The look in her eyes as their life faded, the burnt hole he had put in both her temples. It churned his stomach, but his gut had been right and for that he was thankful.

"I'm glad my gut feeling was correct." Byakuya said after a few minutes, looking up from the swirling tea in his cup at her.

"Why do you say that?" She asked, clutching her now empty cup between both her hands.

"I took your advice. I... extinguished my desire. But just the image of her. I knew it wasn't you when the visage called me by name." Byakuya said, offering her that soft smile that seemed to be reserved only for her.

Nyruki's cheeks began to heat up, "I'm not sure I wanna ask." She looked away from him.

As he drew in a long breath, he slowly reached out, hesitating a moment before his fingers softly cupped her chin and coaxed her to look at him.

"I know you well enough to know when it isn't you. You don't call me by name and that was Kibōyūwaku's mistake. Yes, I desire to hear my name cross your lips, but that alone was enough to tell me that it wasn't you." He said, his deep voice airy and calm.

Nyruki's entire face felt as if it was on fire, "It was that simple?"

Byakuya nodded, "It was." He released her chin.

All Nyruki could manage to do was smile softly at him while he finished his tea. She didn't have the words and the more she thought about what to say, the more her mind was drawing a blank. Her heart thumped hard in her chest, but not unpleasantly so. It was a flutter, a gentle knock against her sternum that spread the soft smile a bit wider.

"I don't mean to pry, but may I inquire about something Rukia told me about?" He asked after a short while.

Nyruki looked up from her hands, "Hmm? About what?"

"Please do not be upset with Rukia, but she was right to tell me regarding your questions about how to access sensitive information from the Great Library." Byakuya said with kind eyes.

Nyruki gulped and sunk into her own shoulders, "Um... I was... I was just..." Words had failed her.

Byakuya raised a hand to silence her, "I am not angry. All I ask is that for any future questions, come to me, as I am the head of the clan, as well as head of clan business."

Nyruki nodded, "I'm sorry. I felt like you'd be angry if I had asked."

"I wouldn't have. As the head of the Kuchiki clan, I oversee many requests to access information within the Great Library. Not all I deem worthy, but some I deem valid. What is it you seek?" He asked calmly and without any indication that he was angry about her inquiries.

Nyruki gripped the back of her neck, "Um... I was," She sighed and hung her head, "I was hoping to look through the Hollow histories to find any sort of information on the Hollow that attacked me."

Byakuya drew in a long, unbroken breath as he set down the tea cup and neatly folded his hands together in his lap.

"How long have you been searching for information?" He asked.

"A while." She still didn't look up at him.

"Nyruki." He breathed.

Blowing out a long sigh, Nyruki finally looked up to face the music, "A few months. I've looked through everything I can in the Great Library, but I can't find anything. Only mentions of an invisible Hollow."

"I must make a confession of my own. I too, have been looking into this Hollow." Byakuya said.

Nyruki gasped, "Really?"

Byakuya nodded, "Yes. I've assigned a few Kuchiki familiars to search through the Great Archives of Hollow History and unfortunately, there is very little. Only mere mentions of this invisible Hollow. I have only been able to compile a basic understanding. Nothing that could help the Department of Research and Development to track this being."

"Oh... So I guess there's no need for me to request access is there." She sighed.

"If I thought it would aid you, I would gladly grant access, but since even my familiars were unable to find anything concrete, I see no need." Byakuya said softly.

"I understand." She sighed again.

"If I may ask, why do you wish to find this Hollow?" He asked.

Nyruki shrugged, "Because it's responsible for everything. It killed Father, it caused me to live in fear for a century while I struggled to survive... Everything." She growled lowly.

"He's also responsible for sending you here." Byakuya said so low, it was almost a whisper.

Nyruki's heart skipped a beat, but she nodded, "Y-Yeah."

"I have half a mind to thank him for it." He said, looking into her crimson and gold eyes.

Nyruki bit her bottom lip, "I may do that just before I kill him."

"That would ensure your honor." He said.

Nyruki briefly smiled, "I just wish there was more I could do."

"As do I. In the meantime, focus on this training. Focus on securing your place within the Gotei 13 and after that, I promise you, I will help you find and kill this Hollow." Byakuya said, offering that barely there smile for her.

Nyruki held her breath as her eyes locked hard with his. That same sincerity she had seen was there, warming the liquid silver until it seemed to be alive with swirls like mixing paint. It caused her heart to skip several more beats the longer she looked and it felt like a breath of fresh Spring air after a gloomy winter to know someone was so willing to help.

Before she could think better of it, Nyruki sprung forward and tackled him backwards, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face into his neck.

"Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!" Nyruki called into his flesh, holding him tightly.

Byakuya's throat lowly rumbled with a deep laugh that sounded like chocolate to Nyruki's ears. It was a sound so delicious, so intoxicating that a hot whoosh flooded her gut, instantly making her let go and scoot back with a mortified expression.

"Oh my gods... I'm so sorry! I can't believe I did that, Captain! I am so so sorry!" Nyruki rattled on with terrified eyes.

Byakuya's rumbling laugh ebbed away, returning his stoic expression that Nyruki instantly wished would give way back to that delicious laugh.

"It's alright, Nyruki. I can't say your reaction was unexpected. It's not like any of them saw anyways." Byakuya said as he glanced at each motionless captain.

Nyruki blushed hard as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, "Y-Yeah."

She offered one last smile before they settled back into a comfortable silence, watching each captain with hopes of seeing signs that another would be close to gaining their freedom. Byakuya read his book, while Nyruki sipped at fresh tea that had just been delivered by Byakuya's attendant, along with some small plates of snacks while they waited.

She felt comfortable, content with the silence that was light, somehow refreshing. She sat next to him with a soft smile on her face, periodically catching glimpses of him as he turned a delicate page. Every now and again, they would catch each other looking, and it would cause both to softly grin, but both remained quiet, just enjoying each other's company.

Perhaps there was a chance that Nyruki could do this, as progress had been made.