Chapter 85: 1,000 Yr. BWArc – A New Morning

Minata's POV

"It has been a while since your spirit has felt so light, master . . . The fog hasn't been this sparse in days."

"Well, I guess receiving a marriage proposal can do that for a person," I say as I look out at the terrain that made up our Inner World. When I first entered it decades ago, I was surprised at the amount of fog that covered the landscape, obscuring every notable landmark around me until I walked close enough to touch them.

Mizukiri herself never physically appeared to greet me when I first entered our shared realm, but her voice did. It was my only guide in this strange new world until I finally found her sitting on the stairs of the small manor that was her home, but not before almost falling into the small lake that surrounded the property first.

The area has never changed much since that first visit, but I have grown accustomed to it. By taking away one's ability to see what's in front of them, it was a world that forced you to use your other senses to make your way through it. It made for good practice with one's hearing and ability to sense reiatsu, but sometimes Mizukiri just likes to drop obstacles in my path just to see if I'll actually face plant for once.

"I think you're a bit mistaken with your last comment master. Marriage proposals don't make everyone happy, especially if they're the arranged variety and both sides have never met before . . . You just have the benefit of knowing your beau since childhood."

"Hmm, you have me there Mizukiri," I say as she joins me on the deck. "As for the fog itself, it has been quite thick these past few days . . . Seeing it lighten up is a nice change of pace, though it still carries that unsettling eeriness that hasn't been there before."

"That eeriness has been around since we became partially Hollowfied," She says, leaning her body against my own. ". . . It likely won't leave until the reiatsu finally leaves your system, and who knows how long that's going to take."

"We'll have to ask Urahara the next time we see him," I say as a small breeze passes by, ruffling our hair. "How are you feeling Mizukiri? I'm sure becoming a partial Hollow has not been the easiest experience in the world."

"It's taken some adjusting to, but I know it is a necessary measure to prevent the Quincies from obtaining our bankai," She calmly answers back, her tone still tinged with the echo that all Hollowfied beings shared. "I know they focused on the captains during the first invasion . . ."

"But they could come after non-captains that they suspect could have one," I finished for her, agreeing to her thoughts. After all, they're partially my own. "After watching us from the shadows for so long, it wouldn't be too crazy that the Quincies may know that captains are no longer the only ones carrying such power."

"True, and speaking of captains, I think a certain captain is about to wake up . . . You should be there to greet him."

"I should, shouldn't I?" I say, smirking slightly as I feel Mizukiri's eyes on me. ". . . Alright then, through the fog or the water?"

"The water is always more fun," She advises me, the smile obvious in her voice as she points downward. "It's nice and warm, well, this time around."

"No thanks to you," I say as I prepare to dive in. "The last time I exited through the lake, I had to jump right back out to avoid freezer burn."

"I only made it that temperature just to mess with you a little," Kiri says in her defense as I flex out my fingers. "I made it nice and warm immediately after you jumped out."

"Yes, after teasing me mercilessly about it for a good minute," I say as I tuck my hair behind my ears. "I'll see you on the other side."

Diving into the water headfirst, I was pleased to find that the lake was at a reasonable temperature this time around as I let myself sink deeper into the void. Closing my eyes, the feeling of the warm water surrounding me is slowly replaced by the warmth of another being. . .

. . . One that had his arms wrapped right around me.

Opening my eyes, I find myself looking directly at a familiar sharp jawline. Moving my eyes upward, I find a set of slate gray eyes looking down at me, not with the cold stoicism that was usually directed to subordinates and elders alike, but with a sleepiness and quiet warmth reserved for those that truly gained the love he kept so contained in his heart.

"Have you been awake long?" I asked, my throat slightly dry from sleep as I felt his arm move against my waist.

"Probably for the past twenty minutes or so," Byakuya says in return, his deep voice slightly raspy. ". . . We will need to move soon."

"And find the others . . . It will not be the easiest of things to do, but we will manage," I say as I look down at our current position. "Hopefully they managed to find some cover in between whatever battles they found themselves in."

"That is all we could hope for," He says in return as he finally loosens his hold on me. ". . . I am amazed at the restraint you're showing in our current position."

"And why do you say that?"

"I was sure you would have made some comment about our positioning by now."

"Why would I when I find this position quite comfortable?" I conceded as we finally sat up. "Besides, I believe we have much bigger things to worry about than what the gossips may think about an esteemed clan head sleeping in the same bed as the clan heiress he just recently proposed to."

"Still, this is the kind of stuff that you love to tease me about," He prompts as his hand remains on top of my thigh, his brazen conduct in such a secluded setting very much endearing. ". . . Your self-control in the face of such an act is quite impressive."

"It helps that my mind is more focused on other things at the moment," I say in return, smirking slightly. "For example, how has Senbonzakura adjusted to the temporary Hollowfication?"

"He has taken it better than I thought. The fact that our bankai has been steadily returning helps with that," He says as he looks off to the side. "However, it may be a while before you actually see him out here with the rest of us."

"Oh, he's not entirely used to his Hollow form just yet?"

"Oh no, he finds that it makes him look more intimidating," Byakuya is quick to correct me as I watch him get to his feet, a slight hint of annoyance apparent in his tone. "He is simply trying to get used to the feel of his abilities now that we are not entirely shinigami at the moment."

"And how has that been going for him?" I ask as I followed him over to the table, where I had set some rations for us to eat the night before.

"He has gone . . . overboard a couple of times, but it has been a quick learning process," He eventually concedes. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi returning to our possession has certainly uplifted his mood . . . Though, he has made it known that regaining our bankai the way we did is quite anticlimactic."

"He was expecting a battle with the Quincy that almost killed you," I say, ignoring the grumbling I could hear from Mizukiri in my head. "Hmm, it probably is for the best that he doesn't show his face just yet then. . . Apparently, your words have rubbed Mizukiri the wrong way."

"Mizukiri, or you?" Byakuya asks, stressing the word as he hands me a ration bar.

"The small, immature part of me doesn't want you to even get within ten miles of that fear-inducing Quincy," I admit as I tear into the wrapper. "But I know that whatever protests I voice will not change whatever decision you make . . . Besides, even if you do manage to heed my words, what will stop that Quincy from seeking you out to steal Senbonzakura Kageyoshi again?"

"You're not even bothering to try?" He asks, surprise evident in his eyes as he takes a step closer.

"For one, you can be very stubborn when you want to be and tend to show resistance to sound advice when it's not in your favor sometimes, so, no, I won't try to waste my breath here," I explain, smirking slightly as his lips come this close to forming a pout.

"Besides, whether you seek him out, or he seeks you out, the two of you will inevitably cross paths again, whether I like it or not . . . How you decided to approach your second meeting, well, I hope, at the very least, you've learned your lesson from the first?"

"In more ways than one. . ." He concedes, his fingers finding purchase on my chin as he gently keeps my head in place. "I promise you, Mina, that I have no plans on making the same mistakes I did before. . . With Senbonzakura Kageyoshi now back in my possession, finding the Quincy that took him is no longer a pressing matter. However, if we do ever run into him, fighting will be inevitable, and I will make him pay for what he did."

"So, the next encounter won't be entirely out of revenge then?" I ask, my tone challenging as I kept my gaze firmly on his own. His glare was steady, not giving a hint to whatever thoughts were running through his head, but eventually he spoke, and it is an answer that I can live with.

"I will not lie to you. Part of me wants to seek revenge, but I also know that is not the true mission at hand," He finally says after taking a deep breath. "Our mission is to protect the Soul Society, and seeking out an enemy for personal vengeance is not the way to go about it . . . However, if we do cross paths, I promise you that I will not let revenge block my sense of logic."

"And if it somehow does?"

"I trust that you will interfere to snap me back into focus?"

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. "Someone has to watch your back out there."

Byakuya's POV

"Hmm, there is a certain buzz in the air . . . Do you feel it?" I ask as Mina and I finally exit the bunker, reemerging in the outside world to feel the air tinged with an energy that was not there the day before.

"It feels like something big is about to happen . . . The calm before the storm if you will." She says in return as she looks down the alleyway.

"Can you sense anyone specifically?" I ask as I follow her down the pathway.

"I can sense Abarai. He's being followed, but whoever is following him is keeping their distance," She says, keeping her head facing straight ahead. ". . . They're preferring to observe rather than engage for now."

"Is Abarai's follower a pressing threat?"

"I can't completely tell from this distance," Mina tells me as we finally emerge on the street, her head suddenly swiveling east. "I found Rukia."

"She is close?"

"She is, but she isn't alone either," She says, her tone growing tense. "Whoever is following Rukia feels in a different league compared to whoever is following Renji . . . Wait a minute."

"What is it?" I ask, almost taken off guard by her sudden use of shunpo. "Mina?!"

"The reiatsu. . . I recognize it!" She calls back as I follow her, matching her stride for stride. "It was lingering all over the battlefield that the medics found you in, and considering Renji already dealt with the other one . . ."

"It's him . . ." I say, immediately catching on. "It is As Nodt, and he is going after Rukia."

A/N: Please review!