Hello everyone! Sorry for taking so long to update, but I hope that this was worth the wait!
As always, please enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 33
Loose Ends Pt. 2
Back in the Division Two barracks, Rika sat alone in a holding cell. She had been there for two days, her spirit down in the dumps despite the sunny weather outside. She had awoken and was immediately poked and prodded at before being arrested for her involvement in assaulting Miyako, Byakuya, a fellow classmate and other captain level personnel. To say that she was absolutely embarrassed when she was put on the stand before Central 46 was an understatement. She had to stand there and admit that her jealousy had gotten the better of her, that it was enough to attract such an evil being that intended to use it for their own gain. She thought that finally accepting that Byakuya loved Miyako was the darkest moment of her life until now. Letting her emotions be the catalyst of what had led up to the incident brought many tears - her family was brought to shame and she knew that sooner or later, the whole Seireitei would know her sins. No amount of apologizing to her family would suffice for what she had done. Now it was time to await her verdict, the end of a normal and happy life that she had dreamed of.
'What a way to hit rock bottom…'
The sound of footsteps entered her ears, interrupting her thoughts. Many people had visited her; her family and Division Two personnel brought her food. Her eyes widened when the visitor stopped in front of her cell.
"Miyako…" she uttered.
With a small, worried smile, Miyako didn't break eye contact. "Hello, Rika."
She didn't know what to think. Her breathing grew heavy. "What are you doing here? Are you here for revenge?!" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of fear.
Miyako shook her head. "No, not at all. I'm just here to say a few things to you."
Rika looked at her with furrowed brows.
"I wanted to thank you for what you have done."
Rika narrowed her eyes at the princess. "Are you serious right now? Is this a sad excuse of a joke?! You really did come here to condemn me to the pits of hell!"
Miyako shook her head once more. "No, I'm not and I'm serious!" she retorted, seeing that Rika wasn't convinced.
"Because of what's happened, you've given me a different perspective of my life and has made me think about what I want. You see, from the very beginning when I found out that I was assigned to the Sixth, I was not happy. Captain Kuchiki already had an issue with me and he made it known to me. I understand why you would've thought from our negative interactions that I had a thing for him and I was annoyed by you accusing me of such. As much as you probably don't want to hear this, I was in love with him long ago."
Rika's stomach dropped as she listened to Miyako.
"I had buried my feelings for him once he married. After that, we grew apart, especially after Hisana had passed away. Being under his mentorship was the first time I had really interacted with him in decades. Seeing him made me want to repair the relationship, especially after your accusations. We grew closer and my feelings for him grew more everyday. I never stopped loving him; you and my friends helped me realize that. But now…"
"Stop." Rika said suddenly. "I understand what you're saying…and I know that he loves you…he always ran after you, no matter what."
The two women stayed silent for a moment. "And for what it's worth…I'm sorry for everything I've done…to the both of you. Honestly…with the incident with the arrancar, I never had any intention of working with that monster!" she admitted with tears in her eyes.
"I know…and I'm sorry that you had to endure such manipulation and pain. That's another reason why I'm here…" she trailed off with her soft expression transforming into a serious one. "I'm here to deliver your verdict."
"Before we make a decision, we need to know; Miyako Shihouin, do you wish to press charges against Rika Omaeda?"
Miyako looked up to the chair with a stiff expression with all eyes on her.
"I-I…"
Her heart pounded against her chest, her breathing grew heavy. After thinking about everything that had transpired, she quickly calmed down.
"I do not wish to press charges." she stated, shocking everyone and eliciting many whispers.
"Quiet!" Chair 35 had shouted. Soon the room fell silent once more. "Are you sure that you truly don't want to press charges, especially as your position as a noble and the future Captain of the Second Division?"
Miyako nodded. "Rika was a victim of foul play. During our battle, I could sense that deep down, she never intended for that to happen. That arrancar was just as malicious as Aizen, using and manipulating people for their own benefit. If anything, I will continue to fight so no one else will be caught in that web of deceit, so long as I live."
Byakuya's heart skipped a beat. She didn't need that light to shine; she was her own light - she was truly a beautiful, strong and compassionate woman.
"I understand that she will face some form of punishment, but please don't let it be severe."
They waited in silence for an answer. With each second, the air grew heavier.
"We will deliberate momentarily concerning the verdict."
All of the members rose from their respective seats and exited the room, leaving Byakuya and Miyako by their lonesome. He had looked over to her and she could feel his eyes on her. Their eyes met for a moment, causing her heart to race again. She grabbed her forearm with her left hand and pursed her lips before breaking eye contact. She cursed; it was just too awkward to look at him. Hurt, Byakuya had returned to facing the empty chairs of the Central 46 members. Soon, the sound of footsteps entered their ears and they all returned to their positions.
"We've all come to an agreement and decided on our verdict. In the case of Rika Omaeda - she will be sentenced to the first level of the underground Central Prison for 150 years and will be stripped of her powers until the end of her sentence. If there is a positive change in her behavior, she will be allowed to reapply to join the Gotei 13 once more, but…" Chair 35 had trailed off. "If this occurs again, she will be dealt with a much harsher penalty and the charges that you have not pressed against her will be applied ten times greater."
Miyako breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for your consideration." she replied, bowing deeply.
"Her verdict will be officially announced to her later this evening."
"Excuse me," Miyako interrupted. "I'd like to ask for permission to deliver her verdict."
Everyone raised a brow. "That would be a conflict of interest."
"Quite the contrary, sir. There's just something I need to say to her before she leaves…it's pertinent that she hears it." she explained with a softness in her voice that for some reason, the chairman couldn't say 'no' to.
"Very well. You have permission to do so. This case is dismissed. Rika Omaeda will be transferred in the morning to begin her sentence."
"So that's your sentence."
Rika sat there in disbelief with tears threatening to fall. "You…did that for me? You even saved my life when yours was on the brink of ending….after everything I did…why?"
Miyako's expression softened. "Let's just say that I believe in second chances…and miracles."
She turned away from her rival. "Goodbye, Rika. If it wasn't for our rivalry, we could've been friends and you would've made an excellent lieutenant. I wish you nothing but the best once your sentence is completed."
Miyako began to exit the room after that. Once she heard the door close, heavy tears ran down Rika's face as she sobbed.
'Thank you, Miyako…'
The next day, Miyako had resumed her internship. After the arrancar incident was resolved, the rounds for fighting hollows in the World of the Living had lessened. Everyone had continued to train and prepare for the final event that would take place in two weeks time: the Final Exam Showcase.
The day had finally arrived. Daybreak's light slowly crept over the Seireitei.
The crisp autumn air greeted everyone as they gathered in the academy courtyard for the showcase. Miyako stood in front of the crowd, looking over to the judging table. At the back of the courtyard, a long table was set up for the captains to sit and observe all of the students, along with academy staff.
Miyako watched as the captains arrived, her eyes focused on Byakuya. She couldn't crack a smile as he stood behind his chair. A small part of her wanted him to lock eyes with her, but he continued to stand tall with his eyes closed.
It had been two weeks since Rika's trial and Byakuya's not so subtle confession. Everytime her mind trailed back to that moment, a shiver went up her spine. The heat of his breath and the sensation from his strong hand cupping her cheek was as fresh and clear as if it had just happened. She covered her face to conceal the blush that colored her cheeks. Soon, the staff from the academy entered the courtyard and stood in front of the tables. Kubota's lips curled upwards as she looked out into the crowd.
"Dear pupils, welcome to the Final Exam Showcase. Here and now is your chance to showcase your abilities, skills and strengths to the captains and gain early entry into the Gotei 13. If a captain decides to prepare an offer of recruitment, you will receive the notices upon graduation. When it's your turn, your name will be called. Please come to the front, state your name and prove that you belong in the Gotei 13."
With those words, the captains sat down as everyone waited in anticipation. "We're starting now. Good luck!"
Everyone waited as a name from 260 students was called, starting the beginning of a long final exam. Some were better than others having average skills and abilities. Halfway through, Rumi was called to the front.
"I'm Rumi Akiyama." she announced before bowing. She started by showing off her skills in kidou and hakuda. Finally she unsheathed her zanpakuto and grasped the blade with her free hand. The blade transformed from a shining steel to a smoldering brown color as she ran her hand down the tip.
"Rise from the Ashes, Homura Hou-ou!"
The blade shedded its smoldered appearance and transformed into a shining red blade of pure heat. The heat from her blade made the Captain Commander open an eye as she summoned a wall of flames, shot a blade of flames into the air and finally launched an inferno into the sky. The captains nodded in approval and they took notes. Rumi deactivated her shikai and sheathed her zanpakuto before bowing.
Next, Shirayuki was called.
"I'm Shirayuki Yukimura." she announced before bowing. Shirayuki demonstrated exceptional skills in houhou and kido. Unsheathing her zanpakuto, she placed it vertically in front of her face.
"Bloom, Shirafuji."
Her zanpakuto transformed into a beautiful crystal blade. She swung her blade over her head, sending a wave of sharp ice petals into the air. The attack left a chill in the air, cooling it down after Rumi's presentation. Next, she swiped the blade across her left arm, shocking everyone as they watched her blood flow downwards. The wound was quickly healed with her kido, which Captain Unohana couldn't help but smile at her healing proficiency. Lastly, she demonstrated her skill in hakuda, earning respect from the crowd.
The showcase continued for another half hour before Miyako was called. She let out a light sigh as she stepped out to the front. Looking out to the captains, she briefly glanced at Byakuya, who had his eyes dead set on her. His stare sent a chill up her spine; she didn't know what to make of his gaze. She was quick to break eye contact.
"I'm Miyako Shihouin." she announced before bowing.
"Ah yes," Head Captain Yamamoto started. "You're the student that's achieved bankai, correct?"
Miyako briefly pursed her lips.
"...That's correct."
"We've heard a great deal about you, young lady. If you would be so kind as to present that along with your other skills to us today, it would be greatly appreciated."
After she let out a small sigh, she began her skill demonstration, with her showcasing Unabara afterwards.
Her movements with Unabara were just like he remembered when he saw her again on that fateful night - quick, sharp, and sly, except they were more refined. It wasn't before long that he, along with the rest of the crowd were mesmerized as she performed with great poise, refinement, power and grace. Even in battle, she was beautiful.
Finally, she readied herself and raised her reiatsu. Byakuya's lips pursed slightly; it was bringing back unpleasant memories. He wanted her to cease her presentation, but he had to trust that she knew what she was doing.
"Bankai! Unabara Tsukiyo no Tenshi!"
When Miyako called on her bankai, Unabara emitted a bright, magical glow before encasing Miyako in a swirling cocoon of light. Seconds later, she emerged from the cocoon as an iridescent angel armed with a cerulean blade.
Mouths agape, everyone watched as she demonstrated the power and abilities of her bankai. To Byakuya, it was just like yesterday that she was fighting for her life against Rika. This time, she wasn't struggling, much to his relief. There was still so much of her bankai that he didn't know about.
After a few minutes, she had deactivated her bankai and gave a bow, signaling that she was finished. Most of the captains rewarded her with applause, especially Soifon. Although he didn't clap, he gave her a slight nod of approval, which was much more than he gave most of the students.
The showcase continued on for another two hours, finally concluding for the anxious students.
Kubota clapped for a moment as she took center stage once more.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Your skill set and such have been noted with the academy and with the Captains. We will use the next few days to discuss who all qualifies for graduation and create offer letters. With this, the Final Showcase is over. You all are free to go and will receive your official graduation status statements in two days. The graduation ceremony will take place in three days and offer letters will be distributed then. You're dismissed!"
Still filled with anxiety, the crowd of students bowed and thanked everyone for their time before dispersing. Miyako glanced at Byakuya, who was engaged in a conversation with Toushiro, Juushiro, Soifon and the head Captain. Before she could get lost in her thoughts, a lone hand grabbed her and brought her back to reality. She was face to face with Rumi and Shirayuki.
"Hey, Miya! Since we're free, wanna go grab a bite to eat at our usual spot?"
Miyako was slow to nod, worrying them.
"Are you alright, Miyako?"
She was quick to nod her head. "Yes, yes! Let's go before we're waiting with everyone else!"
Later on, Restaurant Row was bustling with business, just like they predicted. Luckily, Rumi, Shirayuki and Miyako were quick to grab a room at their favorite spot before the impending crowd. In the private room, they kept the shoji door shut, ignoring the business outside. It took a while, but they were finally served their usual drinks, anxious to wind down after the Final Showcase. With their bellies filled with some alcohol, a weight was lifted from their shoulders.
"That was something else, huh?" Rumi started off. "I'm glad that it's finally over!"
Shirayuki took a sip of her peach green tea while Miyako stayed silent.
"It was a little bit more exhausting and stressful than I would've thought," Shirayuki added. "But I'm sure that we all will receive glowing offers from many captains! We are some of the few that have achieved shikai…how many people performed shikai? Around ten?"
"And our favorite princess here showed everyone up by performing bankai!" Rumi said with a sly smile. "Forget worrying about graduating! Miya's going to graduate with flying colors as captain!"
"I'm not ready to assume a role as captain just yet," Miyako replied before taking another sip of sake. "I still need to master my bankai and it takes years to do so. I had also planned to keep that under lock and key until I was ready, but you all know what happened."
Rumi wagged her finger. "True, true, but you know that you're gonna be hounded for a while."
Miyako let out a heavy sigh. She wondered how long that was going to go on.
"Speaking of hounding and captains…" Shirayuki interjected. "Have you given any thought about your decision concerning your relationship with Captain Kuchiki?"
Butterflies instantly fluttered violently in Miyako's stomach. Her two friends looked on at her, waiting for her to answer.
"...N-n-no…I haven't."
Rumi sighed heavily while Shirayuki looked on to her in worry.
"And I guess it's the same with Isshiki, too?" Rumi asked, slightly irritated.
Miyako's silence was all that they needed to answer that question. She hadn't spoken to Isshiki since that time she had awoken from the hospital. Her mind trailed back to the disappointed look on his face when she had chosen to speak to their mentor instead of him. The guilt continued to build; he had been so kind and attentive to her and she had placed him on a shelf like a discarded toy. Tears threatened to fall as she pursed her lips. Shirayuki was quick to place a loving hand on her shoulder.
"Miyako…we know that this has been difficult for you, but they both deserve an answer and need closure to move on…I'm sure if you were in their shoes, you would want the same."
"I know…" she replied softly.
"What's stopping you from giving an answer?" Rumi asked. "Are there too many pros and cons? Are you afraid of what people will say if you choose one or the other? Are you afraid of hurting their feelings or you just unsure about your feelings for the both of them? Throw us a bone, here!"
Miyako started worryingly into her drink. "I'm…just afraid to make the wrong decision…"
"The only wrong decision to make is you betraying your own feelings to make someone happy." Shirayuki replied sternly. "What do you truly desire from this?"
"Yeah! She's got it right! Just dig deep and think about how they make you feel and in the end, if you're not happy, who says that you have to pick either one of them?! It's perfectly okay to be alone for a little bit while you work on yourself or find someone else."
Miyako looked over to Shirayuki, who just nodded in agreement. They both watched her grip her cup a little tighter and gave each other a worried glance.
"Just promise not to make them wait too long and be honest with yourself, okay?"
Miyako's eyes widened at their words. 'What do I truly want from this? Where does my happiness lie?'
Her grip on the cup loosened and she took a deep breath. "You both are right," she said, her voice a bit stronger than before. "I've been dragging this on for a bit too long. Being honest with myself and them is something that I need to confront sooner rather than later. Thank you both for being honest with me and caring like you do. It means much more than you know."
Rumi and Shirayuki exchanged relieved smiles.
"We're always here for you, Miya!"
"No matter what," Shirayuki added.
A knock interrupted their conversation; their food had finally arrived. The aroma of the fresh food made their stomachs rumble.
Rumi nodded. "Now let's enjoy the rest of our day and drown ourselves in delicious food and drink till our heart's content!" Rumi said, wasting no time grabbing a pair of chopsticks. Miyako and Shirayuki were quick to follow suit. She would start being honest with herself after she had a full belly.
As promised, the official letters had been mailed out and received two days after the Final Showcase had passed. Miyako, Shirayuki and Rumi were eligible to graduate and were to report to the ceremony the following day in the evening at sunset. The next day came as quickly as a thief in the night. Many graduates stood proudly as they waited for their names to be called up on stage to be acknowledged by the staff and captains. There, they were acknowledged by the staff and captains. Kubota handed out their certificates of completion, along with another letter if they were offered a position. Miyako's name was finally called. Stepping onto the stage, she returned the smile that Kubota had given her. She proudly handed her the certificate and a handful of letters. After she received her acknowledgement from the academy, she was given nods and smiles of approval from most of the captains, especially Soifon. When she locked eyes with Byakuya, his slate eyes displayed a sense of melancholy, but he was quick to shape up and give her a small nod of approval. A heavy sigh escaped from her nose. She knew what she had to do.
Not long afterwards, the ceremony was finally completed with some final words of congratulations from the academy staff. The crowd erupted into a loud cheer before they talked amongst each other and began to leave.
The friends were quick to meet with each other with smiles on their faces.
"Congratulations, ladies! We're officially shinigami and a part of the Gotei 13!" Rumi shouted. "I can't wait to party full time with Lieutenant Matsumoto!"
"You do realize that we need to be sober for our jobs, right?" Shirayuki added.
Rumi brushed off her remark. "If I'm intoxicated, I'll just get medicine from you while you're on duty! See? Problem solved!"
"...That is not how that works…"
Ignoring her rebuttal, Rumi wrapped her arms around her two friends. "Yeah, yeah, but now we have another problem! We're off duty until tomorrow and we're not drunk or full of delicious food! Where are we going to celebrate?! Let's get a spot before everyone takes them all!"
Shirayuki gave Rumi's arm a hug. "Since it's such an auspicious occasion, I'm not opposed to a good night out with my girls. Should we go to our usual place again, Hanasuki?"
"Girl, we're celebrating, not shooting the breeze! We just went there the other day! Let's go to Yumetsuki!"
"That's a little expensive…"
"Ah, come on Shirayuki, we're celebrating!" she argued before turning to Miyako. "What do you think, Miya? You've been pretty quiet…"
Miyako's attention was stuck on a particular person, who was off in the distance and chatting with Captains Hitsugaya, Ukitake and Kyoraku. Rumi and Shirayuki couldn't help but smile at Miyako's sweet, whimsical smile.
"Miya…MIYA!"
Miyako quickly snapped out of her daze.
"What?! Oh yes, a celebration!"
She turned her attention back to where it was. "Hey girls…make a reservation for tonight at Yumetsuki and I'll meet you there in an hour or so…but right now…I have somewhere I need to be. There's something that I need to do."
Both of their eyes went wide when they realized what she was talking about.
"You mean you finally…" Rumi started off. Miyako nodded, not bothering to look at them. She could only imagine the looks on their faces.
"Oh my goodness…" Shirayuki uttered. "We understand, Miyako. Go and we'll see you later."
"Yeah, go get your man…if that's what you're going to do…and if you do…get enough ass for the three of us! It's dry over here!" Rumi added, making Miyako and Shirayuki turn red as tomatoes.
"DAMMIT RUMI!" they shouted in unison.
Rumi gave another laugh before flash stepping away. Not wanting to keep her any longer, Shirayuki bid her farewell before making her exit.
Looking towards Byakuya she had seen that his eyes were already fixed on her, but was quick to look away. Her heart pounded against her chest. She waited anxiously, yet patiently for them to end their conversation, the other captains moved on to other people. He was finally alone; this was her chance to take charge and end it all. She let out a sigh and walked up to him nonchalantly, trying her best not to wear her heart on her sleeve.
"Good evening, Captain Kuchiki."
"Good evening, Miyako."
Miyako pulled a letter from her robe and handed it to him with an unreadable expression.
"This is for you."
Byakuya could hear his heart beating in his ears. The last time he received a letter from a Shihouin, it didn't turn out so well.
"Please read it as soon as I leave."
Byakuya nodded and took the letter from her. Giving him a bow, she left for the exit in a hurried manner.
Nervous, he quickly excused himself out of the way of prying eyes. The last time he received a letter, all hell broke loose. When he thought about it, ever since he received the letter about the new internship program, chaos ensued after every letter he received. Why wouldn't this one be any different?
'At least it's personally from her, this time.'
Outside in the courtyard, he stood alone and anxiously stared at the letter. He took a deep breath before opening it slowly. His eyes were quick to begin reading.
Captain Kuchiki,
Come to my compound the moment you read this;
His heart racing, his eyes went wide when he read the last part.
I've made my decision.