Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ The Secret ( Chapter 3 )

Three days later Byakuya came across Lady Kikyo training with Ichigo, his eyebrow twitched; their version of training was more like horsing around in his opinion. He tightened his jaw to stifle a growl when the boy tackled her to the ground and she laughed. Why did he care what she did and whom she accompanied? Their laughter rang out through the valley and he watched them wrestle around when Rukia appeared. She looked surprised at first and then smiled at them. Ichigo broke free and ran behind her to cower, Rukia's brow twitched. She began yelling at him and chasing him around with her sword while Lady Kikyo laughed so hard she nearly fell down. He turned to leave but stopped when his gaze fell on his lieutenant. "We're leaving tomorrow."

"Fine." Renji stiffened at the coldness in the word as Byakuya went around him.

"Captain, you've been acting strangely the past few days."

"My behavior is none of your concern."

"Yes it is, I am to report such things now." His body tightened and he looked back over his shoulder at Renji. "I've been assigned to be Kikyo-sama's personal guard in the real world. She's to return with Ichigo as well as Rukia."

Byakuya remained blank, "I see," and then disappeared. The redhead turned back to his friends. The truth was he had volunteered for the position. He had grown rather fond of her and wished to stay with her as long as possible. Renji knew she could not stay and would not even if he asked her to so he was determined to spend as much time with her as possible. She spotted him up on the hill and smiled at him. His heart stopped and then began to pound against his ribcage; she had the exact same smile as Rukia, at least when he could get Rukia to truly smile which wasn't very easy for him. He jumped as Kikyo appeared next to him and his head spun as he took in her sweet musky scent.

"Hey, where have you been?"

"Getting orders. We're going back with them." He inclined his head toward the two she had left behind. "We're to investigate the strange attacks; apparently they've had a few." He shifted uncomfortably at her close presence.

"Oh," her happy demeanor waned and he looked at her.

"Do you not want to go? I can - "

"No, it's alright," she smiled at him, and he blushed slightly, "I just haven't been there in a very long time, that's all." She looked back at the pair wrestling, "Is Byakuya alright with it?"

"He kind of has to be, Rukia is in squad thirteen." Her smile was weak and realized that's not what she meant.

"You've spent a lot of time with the captain and Rukia." Kikyo glanced at him before looking up at the evening sky.

"I've spent a lot of time with you too, haven't I?" She watched him blush from the corner of her eye.

"I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

"I know;" she replied sweetly, "now let's play!"

"Huh?" His eyes widened and she tackled, causing them to roll down the hill, when they got to the bottom she laid there laughing. He stared up at the multi-colored sky with a very warm feeling in his chest and a dazed smile on his face.

Kikyo inhaled deeply; there was nothing better then the air in the living world. She wrinkled her nose; well at least it had been better, "when did the air in this world become so disgusting?"

"About sixty years ago my lady." She looked over at a man in a striped bucket hat. Kikyo smiled sweetly at him.

"Kisuke!" She screeched and moved to embrace him, "it's been so long." He smiled and returned her hug. Ichigo leaned over to whisper in Renji's ear.

"They know each other?" The redhead shrugged and looked as stunned as the others.

"I guess so." Kisuke walked them into his shop and showed Kikyo to a spare room that was quite cluttered, he peaked an eyebrow.

"Renji," he called lightly, "you live like a pig." He turned back to her, "I'll have him clean it and sleep in the store."

She smiled her polite smile, "no need Kisuke, I can share it with him, I've been attempting to teach him manners anyway." He laughed.

"Good luck with that my lady."

Kikyo turned to face him, "enough with that Kisuke." She gently punched his arm.

"But Kikyo-chan…" The woman stuck her tongue out at the older man as Renji joined them.

"My, my look what the cat dragged in." They all looked to the window and the noblewoman light up and walked swiftly into the room.

"Yoruichi!" She squealed with delight and scooped the feline up. She brought it up to her face and nuzzled her eagerly.

"Can't…breathe…Ki…kyo." She pulled back with a large smile on her face.

"Sorry Uichi, it's just been so long." Kisuke smiled and turned to leave. "So have you finally asked her yet onii-chan?" His cheeks turned pink and Renji gave a puzzled look.

"Kikyo." He growled at her.

"Ask who what?" Yoruichi asked in an obvious naive tone propping up part of her brow. Kikyo burst out laughing at the woman's dumbness. She was about to tell her when she caught Kisuke's threatening glare.

"Nothing." She said nervously, the cat turned on her yelling at her that she had better tell or she'd scratch her eyes out but they were interrupted by the presence of something evil. They exited the room and found the others jumping around. Renji began arguing with Ichigo and Rukia started yelling at the both of them.

"Has anybody noticed the evil presence outside yet?" Yoruichi asked, clearly annoyed.

"Yes, they seem to be arguing about who'll get to fight it." Kikyo looked over at the Quincy.

"Why are you present?" They all froze waiting for him to answer, expecting him to become angry or at least annoyed.

"It's odd yes but we function as a team sadly." Everyone was silent, he had answered kindly with no sarcasm.

"Oh," she smiled, "how wonderful." His brow twitched slightly. She's like Orihime. The woman clapped her hands together, "okay children, time to fight…something other than each other" She looked past Uryu to the three fighting and arched an eyebrow. Renji blushed and went to the door with Ichigo chasing after him.

"Damn it! Wait for me!" The orange-haired boy griped.

"Can't you act more grown up?" The redhead spat back.

"What?" He screeched in return. Rukia stood there with tired but annoyed look on her face.

"Would you like to accompany me?" She smiled at the quiet giant and nodded. The young people all filed out of the small shop and scattered in opposite directions.

An hour later, they entered the shop looking defeated, "we couldn't find it," Ichigo reported with a sigh before plopping down on the floor around the circular table and poured himself a cup of tea.

"You didn't find it?" The cat asked with surprise in her tone. She was about to say something else when Rukia and Chad entered, looking just as empty handed. "Let me guess you didn't find it either." They shook their heads and Kikyo indicated to Rukia to have seat next to her and poured the young woman a cup of tea. Lastly, Uryu arrived, Yoruichi sucked in a breath, but alas, he too had nothing. "Well that settles it. It must have been a human than." They remained silent for a while trying to believe her but it just didn't seem likely, what did seem likely was that it was a new arrancar that mostly likely was going to be harder to defeat then its predecessors.

Later when everyone had settled down and was relaxing, Kisuke leaned over and whispered to Kikyo, "and why didn't you go out?"

"Why didn't you?" She fired back; he leaned back and drank his tea with a slight smirk. They spent the evening together, the whole group laughed and ate, Kikyo told of few battle stories and described a bit of the court life. The young ones seemed more interested in the king and what he was like than her other tales. Kisuke informed her later after they left that they had just learned of the king's existence and of course were curious about it.

A few days passed and they had gotten nowhere with the investigation. She was out wandering around with Renji when he sensed something very powerful but failed to locate if before it vanished, "Something powerful was just here, but it wasn't threatening." She stopped.

"Where?"

"I don't know, it was here quickly and then gone just as quickly. Didn't you feel it?" She smiled faintly.

"No, I must have been too distracted." She lied with a stronger smile. "Don't worry Renji it wasn't evil." She added nervously.

"Yeah but I couldn't help noticing it turning angry before it disappeared." He shivered; the presence had felt very familiar he kept looking around until she grabbed him by the arm.

"Renji." He looked at her and then smiled. They walked around some, he showed her some sights, and then they stopped for lunch.

"Don't worry, I'm buying." She pulled a credit card half way out of her purse. "It's on the king." She giggled and put it away.

"So you get money and I have to dress like a hippie." He griped with a soft look in his eyes and she instantly grew uncomfortable.

"One of the perks of being noble. I have a magical fountain that also allows me to see anywhere." He gave her a look of bewilderment and horror."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere in the present." Suddenly she looked sad and distant.

"Kikyo-sama, I've been meaning to ask you something." He said nervously, shifting in his chair.

"Renji I told you to call me Kikyo here. No need to be formal if we don't have to be…ask away."

She smiled sweetly at him but it faded quickly when he spoke, "are you married?" A moment passed before she answered.

"No," his eyes brightened and she further felt uncomfortable.

"That's rather hard to believe."

"Oh?" She softly laughed.

"Aren't noblewoman always married off as soon as possible?"

She laughed again, "Yes," but then turned serious, "can I trust you Renji?"

"With your life." He answered strongly and added a gentle smile.

"I'll tell you a secret then…about me." She looked stern, "but if I tell you it goes no farther than this table, understand?" The redhead nodded, "I was married here, my husband was a lord like my father and I was traded like cattle, it was around the wars, it's a bit fuzzy as to which but…"

He touched her hand as she choked back tears, "the man killed me, and I don't know why." He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, she smirked, "ten years later I watched him get thrown apart by a hollow." Renji half smiled. "It was during that time that I discovered my brother had died saving my sisters from a hollow attack. Then at some point our house was burned and it killed my mother and sisters." She dropped her head into her other hand and shook it back and forth. Renji's heart sank as she watched her struggle with the memories.

"I'm sorry that that happened to you, did you find your family at all?" He pulled back as their food arrived and she waited until the waiter left.

"My mother and sister have since been reincarnated, I don't care about my father, who knows about my brother but my baby sister is a soul reaper." She took a bite and looked away from him.

"That must be hard on you."

"Sometimes but I think she's in good hands, especially now, I think she has great friends." He was about to ask her if he knew the sister when he felt something and watched her look up at the sky. It clouded over in a hurry and began to pour. People fled in terror of the water while they continued to sit there. An explosion happened across the street sending the rest of the people running from the area and in that spilt second they had changed to spirit form.

Renji released his zanpakuto and was about to ask why she hadn't when he was smacked by an invisible force into a near by building. Kikyo fled in the opposite direction only to be thrown back by an explosion. She hit something hard and warm. "Renji?"

"Please don't insult me," she heard coldly and looked to see her savior but couldn't, she found everything extremely blurry.

"I…I…" She looked up and blinked. There was a hiss and he moved them.

"Scatter," he commanded, she froze and took a deep breath. He smelled musky but a clean, crisp musky like a wintry forest.

"Byakuya…I'm - " They moved again and again, when they stopped she fell from his arms to her hands and knees.

"What's wrong with you? Why aren't you fighting?"

"I can't see." She looked up at him and stared past his face.

"The blast blinded you? But why did you run?" He asked coldly, "You have more than enough power for an arrancar." An explosion shook the area and she clutched his hakama as dust burned her hazy eyes. Byakuya's heart panged, this woman had demonstrated power and skill of extreme levels and was now trembling at his feet but he doubted it was just because she was blind. He yanked her up onto her feet, "use your zanpakuto to at least defend yourself."

She let a tear fall, "my powers are completely sealed in the living world." He stiffened and tightened his grip on her arms causing her to yelp.

"Then why are you here? Are you mad?" he snapped, "It's just as dangerous here if not more so."

"Are you angry with me Byakuya?" She half smiled.

"Why are your powers sealed?" Kikyo remained quiet, "well?"

"Aren't there more important - " The captain's grip tightened.

He narrowed his eyes and barked, "You will tell me."

"Don't order me around!" She bit back.

"I can do as I please, I'm not blind or powerless," he paused and turned sarcastic, "my lady. Now tell me." A chill ran down her spine, he wasn't shouting but his aura did it for him.

"Aren't you nice to anyone?" Renji stood behind him looking very annoyed. "I thought you were supposed to play nice with ladies."

"I'd hardly call her a lady." The lieutenant growled and started for him.

"Don't Renji!" She shouted drawing the Arrancar's attention. Byakuya's grip tightened so hard she cried out and he instantly let go. He scooped her up in his arms and flashed stepped her somewhere else.

"Renji," he shouted, "she's blind with no powers." Kikyo felt herself blush and her stomach churn as a wave of helplessness washed over her but it was quickly replaced by anger.

"Don't announce that you idiot!" She snarled.

"Why? The arrancar already knows you're useless." She opened her mouth but found she had nothing to say. "Odd, you without a retort, I never thought I'd witness the event." The woman turned her face away and listened to the fighting, she could hear Renji take hit after hit and Byakuya hiss before he moved them. The battleground was so noisy it was almost too much to bear but she refused to faint and cause more trouble for the pair trying to save her. A near by explosion ripped her from his arms and she landed face down in rubble rather hard. She checked her face for broken bones and then started searching for her knight.

"Kikyo!" She heard Renji shout before he was slammed into a building.

Suddenly she was scooped up again, as there was another explosion, she tensed until she heard his voice in her ear. "I've got you." He was thrown forward by the blast, they landed on the ground with tremendous force, and her heart thundered against his chest. Byakuya rose and was blown from her, his blood splattering across her face. She went to scream his name but stopped when she smelled copper and rubbed at the warm liquid on her skin.

Someone approached her, and she turned to meet the stranger. "They seem to want to protect the pretty little spirit…really bad. Right captain?" He began to laugh but let out a sudden scream as she heard the tearing of flesh. A strong hand gripped her shoulder and she smelled a sweaty Byakuya.

"Run, while Senbon still has him."

"I can't leave y- "

"You'll get me killed if you stay here." He said coldly. She stood on wobbly feet and started through the rubble when she heard him curse and the enemy laugh.

"Stupid captain!" He roared and she listened to Byakuya fight back without retorting. "You're really annoying," the man growled after a pause, "if you won't die easily how about her?" Kikyo's blood ran cold; as far as she knew she was the only "her" present. Byakuya growled and attempted to flash step to her but they all knew, he too was sealed and too injured to make it to her…she was going to die. Scrambling through the debris she tripped and fell skinning her knee, she looked back as she felt the enemy charging straight for her.

"Awaken, Benihime."