Hello everyone!
I didn't expect all of this love for the fic since posting the last update! So here's a big thank you to all that favored/ added STW to their alert list:
And of course, a really big thank you to Syvlanas, ladyfujin, SenSen-chan, and Guest for reviewing! As always, please enjoy this chapter!
Warning: a bit of strong language!
Chapter 24
To Have her Back
A senkaimon lit up the dark alleyway and disappeared behind the stoic captain. He took a deep breath of the fresh night air. It did nothing to calm his nerves. He couldn't believe what he was doing - standing in the open alley that housed Urahara Shoten. Even though he was nowhere near the gates of Hell, he could feel the flames that were ready to engulf him if he didn't play his cards right. It was now, or never. Stepping into the moonlight, he grabbed a certain someone's attention.
"My, my, to what do we owe this pleasure, Captain Kuchiki?"
The infamous shop owner sat outside on the front entryway of the Urahara Shoten, taking a break from star gazing and drinking green tea.
"I'm more accustomed to seeing Miss Rukia here than yourself. What brings you here? Would you like to procure some supplies? A new gigai, perhaps?"
With a clenched fist and closed eyes, Byakuya remained calm. "No, thank you. I'm here to see Yoruichi Shihouin. It's urgent."
Kisuke raised a brow. "Oh? Is that so? She should be finishing her bath, but I'll go fetch her for you."
Giving him a thankful nod, he watched Kisuke retreat into the shop. Each passing moment made his stomach turn. He couldn't believe that he went this far to reach Miyako, but he had no choice.
It didn't take long for Yoruichi to come to the door, wrapped in a sage green and white yukata, her hair hanging free from her long ponytail. Seeing her dressed like that reminded him of Miyako, making him reminisce about their time together…oh how did he want that all back.
"Well, well, if it isn't Baka-bo from Shit's Creek!" she said with crossed arms. "What did you do to my poor little sister now? You must've hit rock bottom if you've come all this way to see little old me, considering that you never visit me."
Byakuya chose to remain silent, slowly pissing Yoruichi off. "I was wondering how long it would take for us to get to this point, if at all."
Byakuya sighed. "Let me explain, Yoruichi -"
"NO!" she screeched. "Let me tell you something! Miyako's heartbroken because of you! She holds you near and dear to her heart and you threw it all away, you bastard! And for what? Hisana?!"
Hearing Hisana's name almost made him boil over. "Must you throw Hisana in my face?!"
"Yes, dammit! As much as you don't want to come to terms with it, she's gone, Byakuya! She's never coming back!"
Byakuya tensed up at hearing her words - it was like hearing Miyako in stereo.
"It's fine if you don't want to move on from her, but it's not fine when you lead my sister on and trample on her feelings! She doesn't deserve that!"
"Don't you think that I'm well aware of that?! Why do you think that I'm here in the first place?!"
Yoruichi didn't flinch at his outburst and continued to keep her narrowed eyes on him. Byakuya cursed; he hadn't had an outburst since he was a teenager. With a clenched fist, he continued on.
"Miyako doesn't deserve any of the horrible things that I've inflicted on her! I've sullied our relationship to the point where I'm forced to ask you for assistance! I need to find her and repair the damage that I've caused!"
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes further. "What do you mean 'find her'?" she asked sharply. Yoruichi was starting to see red. "...What did you do to Miyako…?" she growled.
Now he could feel the proverbial flames nipping at his feet. He had no choice but to tell Yoruichi about the train wreck of a dinner that ended with Miyako's abrupt departure. Upon hearing it all, Yoruichi wasn't shy in letting Byakuya have a piece of her mind.
"You son of a bitch!"
Shock filled Byakuya's face when Yoruichi lunged at him at the speed of light, grabbed a good fistful of his robe and got close and personal with him.
"Why the hell do you think that I should help your sorry ass?! You don't deserve to be in her life!"
Byakuya gritted his teeth; he felt like he was going to explode. "I know that I don't have the right to be with her, especially after what I've done…but all I desire is to have the opportunity to apologize to her! I need to see her!"
Yoruichi kept him tightly in her grip, clearly showing that she didn't believe him.
"Please…I beg of you! I know where she is, but she's prohibited my entry. I'm putting my pride aside and asking for your help!"
Yoruichi continued to give him the silent treatment, not budging in her stance.
"I promise if you help me open a senkaimon into her compound, I will apologize to her with everything that I have in me! If I don't succeed or apologize in the manner that you approve of, you can do whatever you or Miyako want to punish me, but…"
Yoruichi released an inaudible gasp as she looked into his eyes. It was the first time that she had seen genuine emotion from him in decades. Hurt, guilt, loneliness clouded his gray eyes.
"All I want is to have her back…even if it's just for a moment…"
Taking in what he had said, it took a moment for Yoruichi to release him.
"Come with me." she commanded, walking inside of Urahara Shoten. Byakuya quickly followed behind her as she led him to the compound under the store. Taking a small dagger from her robe, she stabbed the air ahead of her, opening the senkaimon to her old compound. Byakuya grew anxious at the thought of being almost at the finish line.
"Thank you, Yoruichi."
Yoruichi turned to him with her arms crossed. "Consider this a one-time favor. If I find out that you messed up again, I'll make sure to punish you in such a way that you wish that a Kushinada had eaten you instead."
Shivers ran up Byakuya's back and he had pursed his lips. Why did the Shihouin sisters have to be so violent?
"I understand. Thank you, again." he replied before quickly entering the portal. After the senkaimon disappeared, Yoruichi could hear Kisuke walking towards her.
"So…what made you change your mind?" he asked as he stood behind her.
"Well, he came all this way to damn near grovel before me and actually had some manners…I know he's sorry. Besides…he's an idiot in love…just like you."
Kisuke wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on her head as she gently caressed his arms.
"Can't argue with that statement," he replied.
The air changed the moment the senkaimon opened its doors. Once the doors had shut, he took it all in.
The environment was all familiar to Byakuya - the roar of the waterfall, the pleasant air and the faint scent of golden-rayed lilies brought back many memories. It felt like forever since he had been there. He missed being in that secluded place. Being in the compound brought on a wave of nostalgia…except for the barrage of hadou attacks that came his way. Quickly dodging sokatsui spells in rapid succession, Miyako came into view.
"How in the hell did you get in here?!" Miyako screamed as she charged towards him with snarled teeth.
Remaining stone faced, he continued to dodge her attacks and eventually blocked them using dankuu. Pissed off, she aimed at him from various directions, but he continued to keep using dankuu.
"I locked you out of here! You shouldn't even be in here! Get out!"
The two continued their ill game of cat and mouse for a few minutes, but Byakuya didn't retaliate to her onslaught; even from a distance, he could see that her golden eyes were riddled with rage. Guilt nipped at him again - he knew that he had to work fast. Soon, her movements were starting to become slightly sluggish as she grew angrier, upset that she couldn't land a blow on him. Holding up her fist, she decided that she was going to end this in one blow.
"GET OUT!" she screeched as she charged at him. She was determined to break through dankuu. She was ready to strike, but she was thrown off guard when the barrier disappeared and gave her access to something that she hadn't seen in quite some time - a smiling Byakuya standing there with open arms. Her power left her when he had caught her in his arms, effectively pinning her against him.
For the first time in forever, she felt his warmth. His signature cologne filled her nose with the yearning that she tried so hard to bury. This is what she missed for the longest…she wanted it so badly, that it started to bring down walls within her, bringing tears to her eyes - tears of joy and grief.
"Let me go!" she cried. Being there with him in his arms was wrong. "You want Hisana, not me! Hisana belongs here! Let me go!"
Byakuya remained silent as she continued on, holding her tighter as she struggled terribly. Getting desperate and growing tired, Miyako thought that she could scare him with her glare.
"What do you want from me?!" she growled.
Looking down on her, their eyes finally met for the first time in two days. His infamous stare made her blood boil.
"Was that your plan from the beginning?! Using your smile to capture me?! How pathetic!"
Miyako soon found herself shouting bitter words, telling Byakuya repeatedly that she hated him while her vision began to blur and sting.
'How much more should I suffer from this?'
Her choice of colorful vocabulary and assault would make anyone see red and draw their sword, but he didn't care. He would take the blows as long as she was with him. Miyako caught him by surprise by stomping on his foot, releasing her. She had put some distance between them, giving him a chance to get a good look at her.
He was relieved that she appeared to be physically fine, but he knew that her emotional state was in need of much repair, no thanks to him. Taking in her appearance, it reminded him of the first time he had discovered her secret place, her purple yukata sticking to her curvy body like a second skin. Tempted to blush at the situation, Byakuya pushed it aside. He had a mission to complete.
After what seemed like an eternity, small fists made contact with his chest in a vain effort to convince him to leave, but with each punch, they became softer. Being the man that he was, he didn't retaliate, just like before. He could feel her turmoil with each punch and was determined to make it disappear.
Unable to resist any longer, Byakuya conceded once more, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into a tight embrace, dampening his robes again. This felt so surreal to him; he took in everything that he missed and took for granted; her scent, her warmth, her presence….everything that made her Miyako…his Miyako.
"I've finally found you, Miyako." she heard him whisper.
There was no doubt that his words took her by surprise. Holding her head against his chest, she tried to wrestle her way out again, but he refused to let go. She wasn't going to leave him again.
"I'm so happy that I found you and that you're safe…"
His pleasant words were enough to cease her fighting. She couldn't believe what he had said. 'What..?'
"...why are you here?" she asked weakly.
Byakuya managed to sprout a small smile. "I've been searching for you ever since you disappeared, Miyako. I had to know if you were alright."
Silence fell upon them. Again, here she was in his arms again; it felt like a dream. That warm, energizing scent of cinnamon, sandalwood, patchouli lulled her into a trance, the warmth of his toned body comforted her and the sound of his heartbeat rang in her ear; this definitely wasn't a dream. This is what she coveted in the deep confines of her mind after he had kissed her in the forest, even before that time decades ago. Was it right that it was happening now? Were his words about being happy about finding her sincere? So many emotions and questions swirled in her mind before she could focus.
"...how did you get in here?" she quietly asked again. She could feel his muscles tense up at the question. Byakuya Kuchiki never flinched at such a simple question…only a select few things could make him react that way. It didn't take long for her to think about how he possibly found his way in. It didn't take long for him to hear her sigh.
"Did my sister help you?"
Byakuya didn't waste any time fusing his eyes shut tight at hearing about Yoruichi. He tried his best to hide his feelings, but another contraction of his hug gave it away. She didn't know whether to kill her sister or hug her for allowing him to get in.
"Miyako…is it alright if I speak?"
After an intense pause, Miyako nodded her head.
"Miyako…there's been a deep, dark pit of loneliness in my heart ever since I lost Hisana. For decades, I retreated away from the world, not allowing anyone to get emotionally close to me, especially women. After I lost Hisana, many women didn't waste any time and tried to get close to me; they didn't even allow me time to grieve. But I knew that all they wanted was the prestige, resources, and the power that the Kuchiki name held. No one wanted to know who I really was. With Hisana, I didn't have to hide myself or pretend. Although Hisana was busy with her search for Rukia and didn't commit herself a hundred percent to our marriage, it was still a joy to have her in my life. It had hurt so much to lose her; I had sworn that I wouldn't love another woman. I thought that I would be better off being alone, although it proved to be very difficult to cope with at times."
Miyako lightly clenched his robe. She remembered when Hisana had died and didn't know how to best comfort an old friend, so she had kept her distance and watched him from afar. Her heart had ached for and with him; the light in his eyes had died after she had passed on.
"But I never would've thought that one night by the river would change my life - a young woman from my past would return to become such a positive fixture in my life."
Byakuya felt Miyako grip his robe momentarily in shock. Closing his eyes, he continued to hold her tight and started to dig deep within himself and appreciate the moment he had with her, unsure if it would be for the last time.
"Miyako, I thank you; you were the one who brightened my world for the first time in decades…the one who warmed my cold heart and made me feel loved. For the first time in forever, I finally had someone that cared enough to reach out to me and genuinely wanted to be my friend, allowed me to be myself and not judge me even though I was difficult to befriend…I'm so grateful for that. Although I didn't think that our relationship would progress as quickly as it had, I wouldn't change it for the world. You are a tenacious, compassionate, beautiful and talented woman. Any man would be fortunate to have you by their side, myself included. You deserve every good thing that's meant for you."
Miyako was at a loss hearing his words. Byakuya could feel her tense up in his arms again before he heard a sniffle that she was terrible at trying to conceal.
'I promise I'll never make you cry again.'
"My desire is for us to start over…but if you don't feel the same, I'll respect your wishes and bid you farewell…"
A moment of silence came between them. She felt him tighten his embrace before he continued. She could've sworn she felt a tremor. "And if you wish for us to go our separate ways, there's one more thing that I must say before I make my leave."
She waited with baited breath for him to continue.
"Miyako…for everything that I have done to cause you pain…from turning your love away, breaking your heart, making your words and feelings seem irrelevant and selfishly using Hisana's memory as a weapon against you…from the bottom of my heart…I'm sorry."