Disclaimer- Since there are still no flying unidentified pigs it should be obvious... I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 5

Dreaming of You

The usually quiet compound was buzzing with chatter and laughter. Tables had been erected and piled with all types of delicious and exotic food. Servants dressed in dark blue kimonos wandered through the crowd with trays of the finest wines and an assortment of other beautifully crafted drinks. The guests were dressed in lavish, colorful kimonos and the women had their hair done up extravagantly.

Off to the left of the room, near the doorway leading into the brightly decorated space, stood three people. Two were adults, a man and woman, who were husband and wife. They looked to be middle aged with graying hair and a few wrinkles on their faces that were brightened by genuinely happy smiles. The woman had her graying brown hair pulled up into a neat, but simple bun that was secured with two chopsticks that had little black feathers dancing around them. She wore a simple yet elegant kimono in a pale shade of blue that was decorated with white and lavender lilies and tied with a silver and white obi. The man wore a simple black uniform with a white haori over it, signifying his position as a captain in the Gotei Thirteen.

Between the two smiling hosts stood a short, petite girl of about fifteen years old with white hair and striking pale blue eyes. Her hair was twisted up at the nape of her neck in a sort of eight shape and secured with hidden pins. Her kimono was a deep midnight blue with a few scattered colorful flowers that made her eyes even more noticeable in her pale face.

The girl was smiling invitingly and bowing respectfully as people entered the house and greeted her and her parents. She looked regal in her elegant kimono, but it was obvious to those who were observant that the girl wasn't very comfortable around the multitude of fancy, over dressed nobles. Her smile didn't reach her eyes and a small twitch could be seen in her cheek whenever she thought no one was looking.

Among the last guests to arrive was another captain of the Gotei Thirteen, he was also the current head of the Kuchiki clan, Ginrei Kuchiki. The tall nobleman had brought his grandson, Byakuya Kuchiki, along with him.

The white haired girl smiled and greeted the two politely. She had met Ginrei Kuchiki before, after all he was a captain just like her father was, but she had never met his grandson. The boy looked to be her age if not a year or two older. He had long black hair and gray eyes that seemed to be bored with his current surroundings as he glanced around at everything except for Sayomi.

"Sayomi, why don't you show Byakuya to the tables, we'll be starting dinner in a few minutes," her mother suggested with a kind smile and an unusual twinkle in her eyes.

"Of course," Sayomi replied respectfully.

She turned to face the uninterested Kuchiki heir and smiled at him, he raised a brow at her as he glanced over at her, but didn't say anything as she bowed her head to him.

"The tables are just outside, Kuchiki-sama," Sayomi said to him, straightening up and gesturing gracefully to her left with a small, pale hand.

With a slight dismissive nod the boy followed Sayomi silently, barely bothering to register her presence as he looked out into the sea of people with a look of distaste.

A little put off by his cold behavior Sayomi remained quiet while she lead the young nobleman outside into a well lit, well kept garden. Paper lanterns hung above the elaborately decorated tables, making everything glow softly.

She led him towards the head of the table and gestured to two seats with a pale, small hand. "Your grandfather and yourself are guests of honor, it would please my family and me if you would sit here, close to us," Sayomi said to the boy, her words sounding rather rehearsed.

The young noble merely glanced at the seats blankly while Sayomi fidgeted restlessly beside him. She felt a little awkward since he hadn't spoken a single word and seemed to be doing his best to ignore her existence.

"Kuchiki-sama, did I displease you?" Sayomi asked politely, though there was a hint of irritation in her tone.

The Kuchiki looked up, a little confused by her question, but didn't let it show, he just stared blankly at her with his gray eyes.

"Do you even talk?" Sayomi inquired, getting a little annoyed and not caring that she was no longer being the polite hostess she had promised her father and mother she would be.

"Of course I talk," he retorted snobbishly.

"Hm," she sniffed, a brow rising arrogantly. "Well, that's a relief. I was beginning to think you were mute."

He scoffed at her and turned his head away from her.

"Is it really that difficult to talk? Or are you always this rude?" Sayomi asked bitterly.

"Why should I talk to the likes of you?" He answered pompously.

Her arms dropped to her sides. "Because, like it or not, this party isn't about you, you stuck up ass," Sayomi snapped, her brows drawn together in her anger.

Byakuya seemed to not expect this from her, she had seemed so pliant and well mannered moments before and most of the other girls he had come in contact with had never once insulted him. They had always given ridiculous amounts of praise and plenty of fake smiles. It was rather annoying really, but it was what he was used to.

"What?" Sayomi barked at him when he continued to stare at her silently.

"No one's ever spoken to me like that," he admitted a bit reluctantly.

"Really? Well that's what you get for being an ass," Sayomi huffed indignantly before brushing passed him and walking into the gardens.

'Jeez, what a stuck up little brat. He's the type of person I can't stand. Typical noble children, think they have it all and are better than everyone else,' Sayomi thought angrily as she plopped herself rather gracelessly down onto a stone bench that looked out over a large koi pond.

'You're a noble too, are you not?' A voice asked. It was clearly male, soft and crisp, with a trace of coldness to it.

"Who's there?" Sayomi asked as she looked around for the person who had spoken to her only there was no one there.

There was a sigh that made her feel as if she was listening to the breeze of a winter snow storm blowing itself out as it passed through the mountains.

'You finally hear me and you don't even know it,' the voice replied softly.

'What the hell is going on?' Sayomi thought as she continued to look around for the owner of the voice.

'Such language from one so small. It's really not fitting, Sayomi-sama,' the voice scolded playfully.

Sayomi's eyes widened. 'Are you in my head?'

'Not exactly, but close. I'm in your soul.'

'Ehh! What are doing in there? Get out!' Sayomi ordered the voice, standing up abruptly from the bench.

'Sorry, Sayomi-sama, but that isn't how this works,' the voice replied with an amused chime-like chuckle.

"Am I crazy?" she asked aloud suddenly, letting herself fall back onto the bench as her brows knitted themselves together.

'No.'

"You sure, because I'm hearing voices in my head."

'No, you aren't. You're only hearing one voice, and it's mine, so it doesn't really count.'

"Eh... how does it not count?" Sayomi asked thoroughly confused by the explanation as she cocked her head to the side and blinked a few times as if it would help to clear her mind.

'I'm the spiritual manifestation of your energy, and if-'

"You're what?"

'It's rude to interrupt.'

"I'm... sorry," Sayomi said slowly.

'Now as I was saying. I am the spiritual manifestation of your powers. I reside in your soul, but if you're strong enough you can manifest me in the same world that you currently live in. Of course, I won't take on a human form outside of the realm in your soul, but-'

"I'm insane," Sayomi stated suddenly, her face clearing of confusion as she nodded once with certainty. "Absolutely insane."

'You're interrupting again,' the voice chided monotonously, it sounded a bit annoyed with her conclusion despite the monotone.

"So? I'm interrupting a voice that's talking nonsense in my head, big deal," Sayomi retorted with a snort.

"Sayomi, what are you doing out here?"

Turning around, Sayomi looked up to see her father standing over her. "Talking to the voice in my head that's talking nonsense," she told him with a small shrug.

"I see. I thought that might happen one day," he replied.

"So you knew I was going to go insane?" she asked, befuddled.

Hiroshi laughed at her and she frowned, not seeing what was funny about her current situation and mental state.

"You're not going insane, dear, but we'll talk about that later, we have a dinner to get to," he said to her.

"Yes, father," she said as she stood up to walk behind him as they returned to the tables.

She glanced at the Kuchiki heir she had snapped at earlier to see that he was watching her with mild interest, his eyes carefully studying her as she moved. Turning her head forward again she decided to ignore him for the remainder of the evening.

Luckily for her, it wasn't very hard. After dinner almost every female in their age range was huddled around him, giggling and smiling like idiots. Sayomi rolled her eyes at their antics, it was quite obvious to her that Byakuya wasn't enjoying the attention, at least not that he was showing.

"You know my grandson is quite used to having the girls flock to him. However, I don't think he really cares for their wiles."

Sayomi looked to her right to see that Ginrei Kuchiki was standing beside her, she bowed slightly and smiled at him.

"Why is it, Sayomi, that you do not join the other girls?" Ginrei asked curiously.

She tried not to snort, but wound up making a slight muffled grunt anyways. "I don't find your grandson's charm to be as intoxicating as the others do... Please don't think of me as rude in saying that though," Sayomi said quickly, after she realized just what she had said and how rude it sounded.

The old man laughed lightly at her, before patting her on the shoulder. "I think the two of you would get along quite well if you actually tried talking to one another. Now why don't you go and rescue him from those girls before they devour him. After all, this gathering is to celebrate your birthday, and they can't object if you steal my poor, defenseless grandson away from them for a dance."

"But there's no dancing," Sayomi replied, before regretting it when the older man looked up and nodded his head at a man on the opposite side of the room.

A moment later the soft sounds of music began to drift through the air.

Sayomi sighed, defeated.

"Go on, dear, before one of the others beats you to it," Ginrei said as he lightly pushed her forward.

'Stupid, meddling old man, and to think he used to be against my adoption in to the Himura family,' Sayomi thought as she walked towards Byakuya.

She made her way through the gaggle of giggling girls and found herself staring into the surprised eyes of the Kuchiki. The area around them had gone quiet as the girls that had swarmed around him became silent and waited to see what Sayomi was going to do.

Sayomi raised a pale brow at Byakuya who was looking at her curiously. She raised her hand to him, and he finally seemed to catch on that she was trying to help him, but it would be rather forward of her to ask him to dance.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked her a bit more eagerly than he had intended.

"It would be a pleasure," she replied, playing the role of the demure and shy noble.

He grabbed her hand and practically ripped her arm off as he led her through the crowd of stunned girls.

"Why did you do that?" He asked as they danced, their feet automatically performing the steps they had been trained for years to know.

Sayomi snorted stubbornly. "Your grandfather likes to meddle and thinks we would get along well."

"I see. So you don't wish to dance with me?" He asked her, he almost sounded disappointed.

"I didn't say that," she replied quickly before inwardly slapping herself for saying it.

"So you do want to dance with me then?" He asked, an arrogant smirk beginning to form on his lips.

"Just dance, would you," Sayomi said to him, flustered with the entire situation as her cheeks grew warm.

They continued to move through the steps of the dance silently and only occasionally looking at each other.

As the music came to an end Sayomi stood facing Byakuya. She bowed to him politely but didn't thank him, instead she walked off and disappeared through the door that led back out into the gardens.

She wandered the familiar and fragrant pathways that were lined with different types of plants, flowers and trees until she once again came to the same koi pond she had been staring into earlier in the night.

Taking her seat on the stone bench once again Sayomi watched as the brightly colored fish swam aimlessly around in the shallow pond.

'What's wrong?' The same airy voice from earlier inquired.

"Nothing," she answered automatically.

'I know you're lying. What's on your mind, little hime?'

"Little hime?" Sayomi asked.

'Yes, you're the little princess of your clan.'

'They aren't my clan,' Sayomi thought sadly.

'Maybe not by blood, but they accept you as such, and others are following suit as well,' the voice said reassuringly.

Sayomi sighed.

'Now what is really bothering you, Sayomi-hime?'

"Now it's Sayomi-hime, how many different ways are you going to address me?" She grumbled.

There was a soft, light, and breezy chuckle in response. 'As many ways as possible. Now tell me, what is wrong?'

"I hate parties," she answered in a mumble, staring down at the dirt beneath her feet. "I hate the people and their idiotic need to be better than everyone else. I just want to sit under a tree and read and be left alone. Instead I have to pretend to be something I'm not and they all know it."

"Who are you talking to?" Someone asked from behind her.

Sayomi jumped from her seat and spun around to see Byakuya Kuchiki looking at her with curious gray eyes. "None of your business. Now if you don't mind I'd like to finish my conversation," Sayomi snapped at him. She hadn't actually meant to snap at him, but he had startled her and it made her angry for no real reason.

Byakuya raised an elegant black brow at her, he didn't like being dismissed by her, by anyone actually. "You can't order me around, I'm staying here," he answered her.

"You're all the same," Sayomi blurted out, blushing furiously and gritting her teeth as she looked quickly away.

"What do you mean?" Byakuya asked her coolly.

"Never mind, just leave me alone."

"No."

"And why not?" She questioned, her hands curing into fists at her sides.

"Why are you angry with me?" Byakuya asked curiously.

"Because you're annoying," she replied tersely.

"And you're not?" He retorted.

"You just have to be better than everyone, don't you?" Sayomi snapped.

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters. I may not be worth your time, or anyone else's for that matter, but you don't have any right to judge me."

"What are you doing then?" He inquired casually.

She seemed confused by his question and looked at him oddly. "What do you mean?" She asked uncertainly.

"Aren't you judging me?"

"No, I'm making an observation," she replied quickly, defensively.

"An observation based on what?"

"Based on the fact that you didn't even bother talking to me until I was forced to rescue you from the horde of man eating girls and now you're out here to what? Pick on me, belittle me?"

"No one forced you to dance with me, you chose to do that. As for my reasons for being out here, I merely wished to thank you," he stated.

Sayomi stared at him for a moment before tweaking a brow at him. "Huh?"

"I wished to thank you for the dance and for allowing me to get away from the horde of man eating girls as you call them," he answered a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Ok."

"Ok?" He repeated.

"Yes, that's what I said. Ok. Are you going deaf now that you've learned how to speak?" She asked, the hint of a smile tugging at own her lips.

"I believe it's from having to listen to the constant whining of the man eating hordes," Byakuya replied.

Sayomi laughed lightly, it was like the sound of small tinkling bells that was carried on the wind.

"You never answered my question. Who were you talking to?" Byakuya asked her.

"Uh, well," she began unsure just what to say.

'What's your name?' She asked in her head, knowing full well that the voice would hear her question.

'You aren't ready to hear it yet, Sayomi-sama,' he replied.

"I have no idea," she informed Byakuya.

"You were speaking aloud, but you don't know to whom?"

"He says I'm not ready to hear his name," she answered.

"I see, so you were conversing with the spirit of your zanpakuto?" Byakuya asked.

"My what?" She had no idea what he was talking about. "Zanpakuto are swords. Why would they talk?"

"You really don't know anything about the zanpakuto spirits?" He asked her, he sounded like he didn't believe such a thing was possible.

"No," she replied a little offended. "I haven't exactly gotten out much you know."

"Of course, you are a woman after all," he replied.

Sayomi smacked the black haired noble on the shoulder. He seemed rather surprised by this and turned to see a very angry looking Sayomi glaring at him.

"Men," she spat before walking off in a huff.

"How is it I always seem to make her angry without doing anything?" He asked himself as he watched her walk away deeper into the immense gardens.

A rustling of cloth on the path he had followed Sayomi down drew his attention from Sayomi's retreating figure and to the man approaching, Sayomi's father.

"Byakuya, there you are," Hiroshi said as he walked about to the boy. "Have you seen Sayomi? I was hoping to speak with her."

"She went off that way," he answered nodding towards the path that Sayomi had taken.

"Did you make her angry?" Hiroshi asked with a sigh. "She never goes that way unless she's angry. I'll talk with her later I suppose, she's a bit.. hard to handle when she's angry."

Sayomi walked down the path that led to a large rectangular clearing, in the center of the clearing stood a large three tiered fountain. Walking towards the fountain, Sayomi sat down with her back against the cool marble, and closed her eyes. She listened to the splashes and bubbling of the fountain and the sound of the wind as it blew through the grassy clearing.

'So why is it I'm not ready to hear your name?' Sayomi asked the voice impatiently.

'At the moment it's because you're too angry,' the voice answered.

'Are you saying I shouldn't be?'

'All I'm saying is that you need to relax and focus.'

Sayomi sighed stubbornly, but began to try relaxing herself. She focused on the sound of the wind that was softly rustling the leaves of the nearby trees, blocking everything else out of her mind. Time seemed to slow down around her as a vision began to come into focus behind her closed eyelids.

At first she couldn't see anything but she could feel a cold wind blowing around her and felt her hair as it blew around her face and shoulders while the loose fabric of her kimono flitted around her small frame.

"Open your eyes, Sayomi," the voice instructed her, it sounded as if it were right in front of her.

Sayomi did as she was instructed and slowly blinked her eyes open. Standing before her was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, and was sure she ever would see. He was just under six feet tall and had hair the color of fresh snow, it fell to his shoulders in a straight stream of white, it was parted so that some of his hair was brushed over his right eye. His eyes were the deepest shade of blue, quite similar to the color of her kimono, and she was pretty sure that if she continued to gaze into their depths she would be lost forever in their mystery. He wore a white shirt and dark blue hakama that were tied with a dark blue obi. On his right wrist Sayomi noticed that he wore a bracelet, it was a link bracelet with a dark blue ribbon through it that tied neatly around his wrist. It would have seemed feminine on any other man, but not on him it looked like it belonged there.

"Who are you?" She asked in utter astonishment, her wide eyes and wonder filled voice giving away just how awed she was.

He smiled at her and she could have sworn she felt his happiness filling her entire being with warmth.

"I still don't think you're ready for that," he answered, but his smile didn't fade from his face.

"Where am I then?" She asked as she looked around for the first time.

If the man before her was the most beautiful man then the world around her was the most beautiful she had ever seen. She was surrounded by nothing but a pale blue sky that was just a little darker than her eyes. Below her was a snow covered mountain range, the wind, though invisible, was easily seen as the clouds and fog shifted and swirled in silvery white drifts. She had the sense that the winds were showing off for her, showing her how beautiful and powerful they were. A small laugh slipped from her lips as she watched the swirling and writhing winds below her playfully continued their unpredictable dance. It was then that she noticed what she was standing on, there was a strange white cloud that swirled beneath her feet, it was mostly transparent and the feeling left her a little nervous.

"You're safe, no need to worry," the man said to her when her smile dropped away from her face.

"I don't understand," she said, looking around herself. "Why am I here?"

"You're here so that we can get to know one another. We are partners now, and I will never leave your side," he replied.

Sayomi frowned, she didn't fully understand what he meant. "Are you a zanpakuto like the Kuchiki had said?"

"I am."

"But I don't understand, I have only seen zanpakuto as swords."

"A zanpakuto is part of its master's spiritual energy. It is the physical manifestation of that power. This is how I appear here, in your inner world. You will have to bring me into the outside world on your own. Then you must learn my name," the man told her.

"Why can't you just tell me your name?" She asked with a childish frown pulling at her pink lips.

"It's not that simple. You will have to learn to trust me and know that I will always help you as long as you need me," he answered.

"So how exactly do I bring you into the outside world then?" She asked impatiently.

A soft smile curved the mans lips upwards and once again Sayomi felt his happiness. He stepped towards her and placed something in her hands. It was cold and oddly heavy despite the fact that it fit on her small palm. When she looked down to see what it was she saw that it was a bracelet identical to the one he wore on his right wrist.

"A bracelet, I don't understand," she said as she looked questioningly up at him.

"You will in time, but I think someone is looking for you. It's time for you to go."

"I'll see you again though, right?" She asked. Part of her didn't want to leave the peace that this world had filled her with or the warmth that she felt any time the beautiful man in front of her smiled.

"Of course, whenever you wish it, little one," he replied before disappearing in a fierce gust of icy wind.

Sayomi shivered as the wind circled her and was confused when the rushing sound of the wind was replaced by the sound of splashing water. She blinked her eyes open and realized she was once again sitting against the marble fountain and the strange, beautiful man was gone.

A sound of metal tinkling quietly drew her attention to her hands. Cupped in her hands was the silver bracelet with the deep blue ribbon. She stared at the sparkling silver chain for awhile, not really sure what to do with it, and afraid that if she moved it might disappear.

The sound of footsteps snapped her back to reality and she looked up to see that Byakuya had followed her to the clearing. She didn't say anything as he approached her silently and took the bracelet from her hands, she watched as he tied it securely to her right wrist before he backed up and offered her a hand to help her up from the ground.

Taking the offered hand after a brief moment of hesitation, she felt herself get pulled up off the cold ground. Neither one said anything as they made their way back to the main house. They hadn't noticed until they returned to the house that they were still holding hands, they wouldn't have noticed if Sayomi hadn't heard the angry whispers of a few jealous girls as they passed them.

Looking down, she realized her hand was indeed still in his and she quickly withdrew it.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, turning a soft shade of pink.

"Don't be," Byakuya replied, he seemed a little surprised at his own words but didn't try to change them in any way.

"Thank you," Sayomi said, smiling.

"For what?" he asked, a little dazzled by the light that danced in her eyes when she truly smiled for the first time that night.

"I guess for not being like the rest of them," she answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should really find my mother and father."

After a quick bow Sayomi was gone, leaving a confused Byakuya staring after.

'She's one strange woman,' a voice said in his head.

'Yes, she is, Senbonzakura,' he answered.

~A/N~

Thank you, thank you to all of my lovely, super amazing readers and reviewers!

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