Before Byakuya stood up, the demoness disappeared, seemingly vanishing in thin air. It did not bother the man as he was completely aware of her staying close by, watching and waiting. Still, there was a thing he needed to take care of before participating in the tag of tags.
The nobleman concluded that the faster he could do that, the better. So, he exited the office, entering a long corridor. Without a moment of hesitation, Kuchiki turned right. Not many sounds surrounded him, as if the building was abandoned. It was a fleeting experience as some scrabbing could be heard from afar. The sound was muffled and quiet, but there was no denying it was there. It was followed by a familiar voice, indicating the Captain was heading in the right direction.
A few moments later, Byakuya slid open the ajar door leading to his lieutenant's office. As expected, Renji was pacing around the room, murmuring something under his breath whilst a massive pile of documents lay seemingly forgotten at the desk's base.
"Captain?!" the red-haired man gasped, apparently surprised by Byakuya's visit. "Something happened, Captain?" Abarai questioned afterwards as he regained a glimpse of his composure.
"I need to leave the office, Renji," the raven-haired nobleman stated in his usual reserved tone. "Because of that, you can also finish earlier today. Please, do bring the unfinished document to my office. Any questions?" he inquired, visibly intending to leave the room as soon as possible.
"No, Captain," Renji replied, taken aback. "I'll do as you say. And… thank you, Captain," he continued, baffled, whilst scratching his nape.
The raven-haired man said nothing. Instead, he swiftly turned around and exited the office. Once out, he used flash-step to leave the barracks behind, constantly trying to relax and prepare for what was to come. But unfortunately, deep inside, he knew it was a fruitless endeavour.
After a brief session of flash-steps, Kuchiki noticeably slowed down, allowing himself to limp for a fleeting moment. His body was still weakened, not even partially recovered after the fight he had earlier. It was challenging to cope with the fact that something had awakened in him, yet… he had little to no control over it. But… it was a struggle for another time, perhaps, as he knew he was being watched.
"Master, I can still sense your presence," Byakuya calmly said, looking at the solid ground. "Shall we begin?"
"I see your senses sharpened when I was away," the demoness commented, manifesting a mere few steps away. "Not that it matters, though. You're visibly limping; it's no competition," Yoruichi stated, clearly dissatisfied.
"Eh," the raven-haired man sighed, collecting his wits. "I told you I have not recovered from my earlier training session, Master. Nonetheless, if you seek a game of tags or a race, I will participate," he stated emotionlessly.
"It's no fun in defeating someone who's already defeated," the demoness stated. "But… be my guest. Ready?"
"Yes," the nobleman replied, putting off his Captain's coat. "So… do we race or play the tags?" he questioned, stretching slightly.
"None of these," the woman said, flashing a mischievous smirk. "We're going to run. If you manage to keep up, I'll train you as promised. But the longer this run lasts, the faster I'll push. I wonder what're your limits. But, then again, I'll see them soon enough," she boasted confidently, discarding her coat.
The raven-haired man glanced over at his Master. Like in the past, Yoruichi wore a long pair of sleeve gloves nearly reaching her shoulders. Aside from the woman's hair length, she looked exactly the same as they first met. And… to Byakuya's horror, that glance was enough to trigger something inside. Momentarily, his consciousness was flooded with memories of his past life. Precisely speaking, the memories connected with the damned demoness. For the next minute, he visibly struggled to push back this flood as there were pieces of the past simultaneously making the man happy and breaking his heart and soul.
"Let's go," the dark-haired woman simply said and started to run.
It snapped the nobleman back to reality, allowing the flood to be stopped, at the very least for now.
Even though Byakuya did his best not to show the signs of his fatigue, it was only a matter of time before they manifested. The run was rather intensive, as the dark-haired woman clearly wanted to push him over his limits. Each time the weakened nobleman managed to catch up to the demoness, she simply sped up. It was no run, the man realised after some time. They played another round of their tags game. Still, Kuchiki would not give up. If it was his fate to fall down, so be it.
No matter the strain the run put on Byakuya's body, the longer it continued, the more monotonous it became. As if the Captains were running in circles, the surroundings had not changed much since the challenge's beginning. It was already near-impossible for the raven-haired man to fight against his broken body, but… as boredom started affecting him, the feeling of hopelessness only intensified.
"You're still keeping up?" the demoness asked unexpectedly. Yourichi's tone carried a glimpse of surprise as well as apparent exhaustion. It seemed the game was proving difficult for both of them. "I thought you'd give up some time ago, yet here you are," she added slightly aggressively.
"I can assure you, Master. It is not easy to keep up with you," the man breathed out weakly. "How long do you plan it to last?" he questioned.
"Till I see your limits," the dark-haired woman exhaled heavily. "But… now, be silent and run!" she bridled.
With that conversation undeniably concluded, Yoruichi sped up even more, trying to force fate's hand. In mere moments, she doubled or even tripled the gap between them, leaving the nobleman far behind. It was an unfortunate development, as Byakuya struggled to keep this chase going. But… there was nothing else for him to do. So, he tried to speed up, yet found it impossible. Was it the end?
The longer the game lasted, the more of a problem breathing became. The raven-haired man realised his body was at its limit, inadequately oxygenated. As the struggle continued, his vision blurred, and a raspy breathing pattern thundered in his ears. With no other option but to look inside, he dove deep into his soul's well.
At first, a near-complete silence welcomed him. Yet, the deeper he delved, the more signs of conflict manifested. There was a chaotic war wagging on. It looked as if something clashed over control. There was a taint of uncertainty and doubt, but the man knew he was close to the power source. He could physically sense it. As he descended even further, utterly unpenetrable darkness swallowed him, radiating with raw spiritual energy. Driven by sheer desperation, the nobleman reached out into the shadows, touching something. Immediately a chilling cold spanned over his arm, entangling him within the next few seconds. The sensation severely burned Byakuya, yet it only lasted a moment. Then, the darkness was no more, and the man felt a weird tingling.
Then, the nobleman was thrown out of the soul well, returning to reality. Even though he could still feel his muscles burning with exhaustion, it was not as severe as before. In a way, he felt refreshed, capable of continuing the challenge. So, with a muffled grunt, he sped up, quickly shrinking the gap to his ex-master. All in all, it was a surreal feeling. Something that he had not felt since he unlocked the 2nd release of his sword many years ago. His limits were broken, yet there was a price to that. This challenge must finish soon before his body completely shuts down.
"What do you want to achieve, Master?" Kuchiki asked. His voice was shallow and ragged, like his breathing.
"Defeat you, of course," the dark-haired woman hissed, visibly as exhausted as the nobleman. "Why haven't you given up already? You must know you can't win," she snarled, struggling to keep up the brutal pace.
"That is simple," the raven-haired man groaned. "If I give up, I will regret this decision for eternity. I might lose in the end, but there will be no regrets as I would give everything I could," he continued, stopping every word or so to draw another greedy breath.
"What drives you?" Yoruichi wanted to know.
"Pardon me for what I am going to say, Master," Byakuya said weakly. "But… I lost you once… and swore never allow that again," he confessed.
"What do you mean?" the Goddess of Flash inquired.
"If you want… we can discuss that matter thoroughly later on," Kuchiki responded, picking his words carefully. "What about this challenge? Can we consider it concluded, or will it last till one of us faints from exhaustion?" he asked, somehow managing to steady his voice.
"Eh," a heavy and prolonged sigh sounded. "Let's end this," the woman snarled, noticeably slowing down. "I don't know how you achieved that, but… this round is a draw," she added, clearly dissatisfied with the final outcome.
Byakuya opted not to respond, instead allowing the silence to fall. Partially, the decision was driven by a pressing need to stabilise his breathing, but there was more to it. For a brief moment, the man wondered whether his rather unexpected confession was the right move for him. Still, it had already happened, so he must deal with the consequences.
Within the next few minutes, they finally stopped. Even though the raven-haired man was utterly exhausted, the same could be said about Yourichi. She bent, panting heavily. For Byakuya, it was a major success, as up to now, he had always lost against her. If the situation differed, he might have flashed a small smile. But… deep down, he speculated… no, he knew Yourichi did not like losing. Hence, he kept quiet, waiting for the woman to speak up.
"Do indulge me," the dark-skinned woman started a few moments later. Her voice was still heavy yet much more coherent. "How did you keep up with me? I know you're fast, but I'd have never expected this fast. Tell me how you achieved this?" she inquired aggressively.
The nobleman could not decipher the woman. Since he showed up in the world of the living, she acted strangely. It would not have been an understatement if Byakuya had said she snarled, hissed at him, and teased alternatively. Considering their past, he did not expect her to befriend him, but the not-so-rare open hostility was surprising. Many questions lingered in the nobleman's mind, but, at least for now, he would only observe.
"It might be slightly complicated, Master," Kuchiki said after a long pause. "I would love to say that it is solely the result of my training. But… it would not cover the topic entirely. The truth is… something evolves inside me. It seems I have misread the capabilities of my own sword," he continued quietly.
"What do you mean?" Yourichi asked, intrigued.
"Let's head back," the nobleman offered. "I will try to explain the best I can in the meantime."
"Fine," the dark-haired woman agreed. "It seems a lot changed when I was away," she commented lightly.
"You have no idea, Master," Byakuya commented quietly.
…
Late evening, Kuchiki's manor:
It was one of these days when Byakuya so desperately needed help. Like many times before, the raven-haired nobleman would not seek it in the living; instead, he would turn to the dead.
At some point in the evening, he concluded there was nothing more he could do to finish checking the reports. It was rather unfortunate, but his mind was too conflicted and preoccupied with other matters to focus solely on the paperwork. The man detested such moments yet could not find a proper countermeasure.
After a few minutes of intense internal struggle, he finally gave up, standing up for the first time in hours. The movement was not as effortless as expected, but considering how eventful this day had been, it was hardly a surprise to the nobleman. Taking the realisation into account, Byakuya proceeded slowly, accepting his current limitation. It was not an easy pill to swallow, but it mattered not.
Soon enough, Kuchiki reached the pond located in the garden. In the past, he loved spending his free time here, standing on the wooden bridge and watching the fish. He memorised these moments as relaxing, a much-needed break after stressful days. Yet, recently Byakuya had started using this place as his personal training ground. Especially during a night like this, it offered everything the man could seek, solace and solitude.
In the moon's glow, Byakuya fought against an imaginary opponent. He kept pushing himself and his limits, hoping the fatigue would put him to sleep. Still, after a mere moments, the man realised he was not alone. It seemed his session attracted some spectators. A tiny snowy-white furball lay in the middle of the bridge, curiously staring at the man. The nobleman almost forgot he had adopted the kitten, asking the household servants to keep an eye on him. He smiled slightly, allowing himself to be emotional because nobody would see it.
The session resumed after a few moments of staring contest between the raven-haired man and the tiny furball. Not in the mood to play, the kitten seemed content to sit out. Byakuya appreciated this unexpected gesture and focused on his imaginary opponent again. It was a slow and painful downfall as the exhaustion deepened. Still, he bitterly accepted the development as he could do nothing about it.
All it took was a few more minutes for the nobleman to give up for good. Having reached his limits, he had to stop. But that did not mean he liked the decision. It was made out of necessity.
Kuchiki took a full minute to collect his thoughts before turning around. He wondered if the cat would stay or if he would find something more interesting than slashing the air with a wooden sword. At first, he had not spotted his tiny companion, but a few moments later, he noticed it was slowly making its way towards Hisana's shrine. The little creature marched straight towards the slightly ajar door as if guided by something.
Considering he intended to visit his late wife's shrine, he followed the kitten but never overtook it. After all, he was in no hurry, knowing full well that he would not be falling asleep any time soon. Once the tiny creature had entered the room, Kuchiki pulled the handle to widen the passage. As the familiar scent surrounded him, he realised he had not visited the shrine for a long time. A pang of guilt formed in his throat, but he swallowed it, ready to face the consequences.
The room was quite small, designed entirely to hold a pedestal with aromatic incense and Hisana's framed photo. It was more than enough, in the man's opinion. After all, the sole purpose of this place was to remind Byakuya of what he had lost. Even though he had visited the shrine many times, one aspect had remained the same over the years. The moment he would inevitably look at her, his mind would be flooded with memories he could not cope with. His wife was so different from other women he knew, yet she had made him whole. Hisana was the only person who could ease the pain after Yoruichi's sudden disappearance and betrayal. But... now? It seemed that the roles had been reversed. His Master had returned, while Hisana was nowhere to be found. She had died years ago, filling the nobleman's life with unimaginable sorrow.
Looking at the photo, Kuchiki wanted to cry out loud, to let go of his pain and sadness. But he would not. No... these troubling sensations, these feelings would be bottled up until they would inevitably explode and destroy him.
"I am losing my mind, Hisana," the man began in a barely audible whisper. "I thought I could bury my past. I thought I could seal away my feelings. But… I can not," he continued, lowering his voice even further. "Oh, how I wish you were here. You would have found a way that I cannot."
As expected, the framed picture made no reply, and the shrine fell silent.
Byakuya felt dirty. He stood before his wife's shrine, yet his conflicted mind drifted towards the demoness. These thoughts focused on her beauty and his admiration for her. It felt wrong, but there was nothing the man could do about it. Like a moth to a flame, he seemed to be drawn to Yoruichi. It was madness, to say the least.
"Master Byakuya?" a familiar male voice sounded nearby. "Master Byakuya, can you hear me?" the voice repeated several times.
"I am here, Kibe," the nobleman replied after a few moments. "Why are you looking for me?" he asked before the servant reached him.
"I am deeply sorry for my intrusion, Master," Kibe Orochi apologised. "The elders wish to discuss some matters with you. As far as I can tell, they want to revisit the subject of your second marriage, Master," he added, bowing.
The raven-haired man looked at the servant, trying not to show his irritation at being summoned so suddenly. What he saw was nothing special - a man with short brown hair, bright green eyes and average height. But the devil was in the details. Over the years, Orochi proved his devotion and unquestionable loyalty, earning a place among the few servants the lord truly trusted. Aside from the title, Kibe received much more, as Kuchiki had shared some secrets and information with him.
"What happened, Kibe?" Byakuya asked, slightly irritated. "Why is the summoning taking place now?"
"I'm afraid I don't know, Master," the man replied, bowing to apologise.
"It does not matter," Kuchiki said. "Thank you, Kibe. You may go; I will confront these charlatans," he added and left immediately.
With the unexpected summons of the elders, the man forgot all about the kitten that had led him here. However, his hasty departure meant the door was left wide open so he could go at any moment.
Moments later, the tiny cat left the shrine. If you looked closely, the fur ball seemed to be smiling.
Author's notes section:
[2023-06-11]: Hey, here is a preview of the story's next chapter. Please, bear in mind that it is, as mentioned, a preview. Some parts of it might not be included in the final release. I will try to finish this chapter as soon as possible. I would like to clean up some of the tasks in my schedule, and right now, there are many chapters queued there.
[2023-06-20]: Hey, I have a minor update for you. I think... I should be able to finish the piece with the next update, but sadly, I can not really promise that.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2023-06-11]: A preview has been released.
[2023-06-20]: A minor update was applied, mostly focused on expanding the piece.
[2023-07-03]: A minor update was applied, the final revision was released.
Info: I have included more stories in the schedule as I'm not 100% certain what I want to write next. Please, keep in mind that I might add or remove positions from the list. I might rewrite some of the older stories or extract some of the longer stories from `The story of one lost soul`.
Schedule:
- Exiled you say? (finish the WIP)
- Life is full of surprises (finish the WIP)
- Lifetime of war (finish the WIP)
- The shadows can be deceiving (new chapter)
- Until my last breath (new chapter)
- Hidden in the mountain's shadow (new chapter)
- The war call (new chapter)
- The rise of the Blood Moons' servants (new chapter)
- Black Diamond (new chapter)
- When the clock is ticking (Warhammer 40k new story)
- Sometimes it's just better not to know (new chapter)
- My home is where my heart lies (rewrite chapter 4)
- The heart not so cold (rewrite chapter 2)
- The family tree (revisit the previous chapters and apply adjustments)
- Will you look past my mistakes? (new chapter)
- The silence of the shackles (new chapter)
- The broken heart (new chapter)
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even two stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
Bleach story. (Byakuya x Yoruichi / ?)
Naruto story. (Neji x Hinata / Neji x TenTen / Nagato x Konan)
Fairy Tail story. (most likely Erza x Mira)
Maybe some Star Wars?
References:
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of the author's notes section.