Falling Petals

Chapter 4
Sakura

Byakuya stared up at the enraged face of one of the last people he wanted to see on a good day. And the last month had definitely not been a good one.

“How could you?” Ichigo hissed enraged.

“I do not need to answer to you.” He said as calmly and firmly as he could.

Considering he was once again almost too weak to even sit up without assistance was not helping his position any, or perhaps it was as Ichigo had yet to draw Zangetsu and hadn’t touched him to try and strangle him yet. Even the loud mouthed commoner had some semblance of respect for the sick and injured.

“This is Inoue we are talking about. A friend. And you trick her into… into… into this?” He snarled.

“It was not me doing. She signed before I did.” He tried to reason with the boy in hopes he would just leave him in peace.

He tried to settle his glare on the one who had gotten the boy past security in the first place, but Renji just matched his gaze and leaned against a wall with a rage of his own in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Renji hissed his own question. “All I got was a bloody message saying you had family business to attend to and I was to take over the division during that time.

“Every time I tried to stop by to drop a bloody report off or get your signature for something I couldn’t sign I was told you were busy and to deal with it. Do you not trust me enough to let me know what’s really going on.”

“Forget that. How could you drag Inoue into all of this? She had friends in the living world. What right do you have to drag and lock her here?”

Byakuya used years of practised meditation to tone the two men out. One was ranting about trust and the division and the other was going on about betrayal of friendship. It was giving him a resounding headache.

Unfortunately inner peace was not so easy to find now a days. His inner world was corrupted horribly and reeked of death and decay. Everywhere he looked the wood work of the ancient houses were mouldy and falling apart, the greenery yellow and sickly looking and even the once proud armour of Senbonzakura was black and tarnished.

His Zanpakuto spirit hardly had to strength to even lift his head to greet him and wearily he sat down next to it as they both suffered their final days in silence, or as silent as it could get with two hot heads yelling at him in the top of their vocal range.

“Enough.” A firm voice broke the endless tirade, and surprisingly both men shut up.

The silence was enough to break him out of his trance and he opened his eyes to see his home once more instead of his destroyed inner world. Standing at the door was Rukia and Inoue.

The first looked furious and the second looked like she had been crying again. Both boys opened their mouths to start up again, but Rukia shot them both a frosty glare that silence any forthcoming words.

“Both of you, out now.” She ordered.

“But….”

“Now.” She snapped.

Cringing, both of them left the room, but had the audacity to send him matching glares that promised the conversation wasn’t over. Rukia all but slammed the door shut on their heals, leaving him alone with the two woman.

As soon as the door closed he could tell Rukai herself was close to crying as she walked over to his bed side and kneeled beside him.

“How are you feeling?” She asked softly.

“Adequate.” He responded.

“I wont ask why, I know why.” Rukia assured him. “Inoue has already informed me of everything that has happened.” She frowned. “But…. Why her?” Rukia asked.

“It was the elders decision.”

“Right. The rules.” Rukia almost spat the last word out.

Inoue joined their side, sitting next to Rukia.

“You have been crying.” He noted.

“Oh.” Inoue forced a smile on her face. “It’s nothing. I was just being silly.” She tried to wave the concern away.

The three sat in silence.

“You should see the trees, they are starting to bloom.” Inoue was the first to break it.

“I would like that.” He commented.

“Naegi has grown a lot too already.” She added.

“Naegi?” Rukia asked in his stead.

“Oh.” Orihime blushed embarrassed. “My tree.”

He wasn’t all that surprised she had named her tree. It was a well known secret within the family that everyone had a name for their tree, his own the same as his Zanpakuto and he always found it easier to speak to Senbonzakura when sitting under the branches of his own tree.

He wondered if his Zanpkauto’s spirit hadn’t been influenced by his connection with the Sakura tree and that was why the horde of sharp blades looked like Sakura peddles as they caught and reflected the light.

There was a timid knock on the door and Rukia rose to answer it. He couldn’t catch the conversation, but he did recognize Hanataro’s voice. Rukia returned after a moment, a frown on her face.

“Inoue, is there something you haven’t told me yet? Something I should know about before Renji and Ichigo do?”

He was also curious as to what Hanataro could have wanted. He was sure it had nothing to do with his condition. His suspicion suddenly skyrocketed as small little things he had noticed clicked into place, mainly how pleased his elders had been lately.

“What did he want?” Inoue asked nervously.

“To let you know the Elders have requested you go to the fourth for a ‘check up’ to see how things were coming along.” Rukia answered.

The look of terror on her face had him instantly worried.

Orihime quickly averted her gaze to the floor and he saw the tell tale start of tears.

“Inoue?” Rukia pushed, moving closer.

“I….”

He knew. Why no had told him yet he wondered about, unless they foolishly thought she would be thrilled and would have told him herself. Yes, that was exactly what they had expected.

True any noble woman here would have been more than thrilled to be carrying the next head of the clan. It was one of the highest honours a woman could ever hope to achieve in Soul Society short of becoming a taichou or being recruited into the royal guard.

But that was the problem, she wasn’t from here. Their world was not hers. Had some commoner dared to take her as a wife he would already have been executed and she would have had her memory erased and shipped home.

His thoughts were pulled back to the two woman. His adopted sister was holding his wife as she cried.

“I just don’t know.” She sniffed. “Everything is so sudden. And I am afraid. And alone.”

“I am here.” Rukia soothed.

He felt like an intruder in his own room, but more importantly he felt anger at his family with how they had been handling the situation. He should have been informed he would be a father soon.

That thought sent a spike through him. He would be a father, assuming he even lived long enough to see the child born.

“I should have said something. But…”

“I understand.” He interrupted, bringing his thoughts back on track.

“I’ll tell the two hot heads.” Rukia promised.

“Rukia?” Inoue gasped.

“You looked like you both need some rest. I wish you would have said something to us sooner, but I understand.” She smiled at them sadly before excusing herself, leaving them alone.

They remained in uncomfortable silence. He wanted to ask her why she didn’t tell him she was with child, but understood now was not the time with the emotional stress the day had brought to them.

Instead, he thought of a different question that he knew was sure to break her out of sadness she had fallen into.

“How much has Naegi grown?” He asked.

Startled grey eyes met his and he saw the faintest glimmer of light in her eyes that grew quickly as she launched into talking about every thing and anything she could think off about her sapling.

He let her words flow over him and felt a bit of longing of his own to sit beneath the roots of his own tree. Like her he had found comfort at the base of Zakura, as he had shortened the nick name to differentiate between his Zanpakuto and his tree.

“The trees should be in full bloom soon. I know everyone is preparing for the Sakura Festival.”

“I would like to see that.” He admitted.

She nodded with a fresh look of determination in her eyes and he wasn’t at all surprised when the healing energies rose up to ease his pain. He simply closed his eyes and let himself drifted in the warm energy that belonged to his wife.

It took arguing, ordering, wheedling, ganging up and laying down the line that it would happen to get things set up to move Byakuya from their chamber to a comfortable blanket set up at the base of his Zakura for the Sakura festival so he could enjoy the blossoming trees.

Orihime related the good news to Naegi and Zakura as the caretakers worked like frantic bees to get the gardens ready for the festival. It sort of disturbed her peace and she bowed to the trees, about to leave.

She frowned when she noticed the decay once more infesting Zakura. She summoned her shield without a moments hesitation, concentrating solely on removing the decay so her husbands tree would at least look healthy for him.

Like last time it felt like she was wadding up stream. Healing a tree was a far cry from healing a person, but she endured. She didn’t; stop until all visible signs of decay were once more gone, even though she still got a feeling like Zakura was rotting on the inside, at least on the outside the Sakura tree looked healthy.

“I was unaware you could affect something other than people.” Ginrei commented, causing her to jump slightly in surprise.

“Ginrei-sama.” She bowed to him. “Gomannasi, I didn’t hear you approach.”

He gave her a small nod of his head while studying Zakura.

“ A strange thing to do.” He commented.

“It’s just….. With everything Bykuya-san has been going through I thought it would be nice if his tree at least looked healthy.”

Her grandfather in law nodded his head in understanding.

“Ano….”

He turned his gaze from Zakura to her.

“I was wondering….. I asked Jousou-sama, but she seemed a little…..” She tried to find a word that was polite but was failing miserable.

“Ask.” He bade.

“The trees. Do they get sick when you do?” She asked. “I mean, the others all look healthy and I remember being told that when you die you are buried at their roots, and clearly the trees are still alive. But you can also draw strength from them too right.” She rambled.

He looked at her with a hint of surprise.

“It’s stupid.” She mumbled off at the end.

“There is, indeed, a stronger connection to those with higher levels of Reiatsu.” Ginrei commented before she could try to leave.

She looked at him startled, but before she could ask anymore questions he politely excused himself and continued on his way.

She returned to her room. Byakuya was sitting up and looking rather healthy and energetic considering his current condition. His hair was wet indicating he had been bathed and he was working something out with Renji, the two of them pouring over a scroll.

“I think the idea of getting out of this room has giving Oniisan something to look forward too.” Rukia commented as she joined her at the door, a tray of tea in her hands.

“Mmm-hmm.” Orihime agreed.

There was even some color in his skin again and his hair, despite its dampness, looked less limp. He did seem to have allot more energy. No doubt being cooped up in their room all the time was getting monotonous.

“The preparations are almost ready. The elders are still against the idea of putting any stress on him, but they bent when Unohana-taichou agreed it might do him some good to get out.” Rukia went on to report.

Rukia walked into the room, drawing the two men’s attention as she delivered the tray of tea. They both thanked her as she began to pour. After a moments hesitation, still feeling like an outsider in what was now her home, Orihime joined them.

She didn’t feel like an outsider for long, Renji had that effect on people and before she knew she was laughing comfortably as Rukia told them some story about another one of Ichigo’s mess ups.

She felt a slight pang when she thought of her high school friends and how they had all gone their separate ways over the last ten years, but it was good to hear how successful they had all become.

Eventually Reniji and Rukia had to excuse themselves to return to their own divisions. The divisions had their own Sakura Festival events to get ready for tomorrow. Orihime walked them to the door before returning to see to her husband.

He was wide awake and reading a scroll in bed. She prepared herself for bed before crawling in next to him. They lay in silence and she found herself twiddling her thumbs, not the least bit sleepy.

“Ano….. What are you reading?” She asked nervously.

He turned to look at her shortly before shifting so the scroll was now between them so she could read for herself.

It was a scroll of poems and she read through the first one in a bit of confusion. She was never any good at that kind of stuff or making sense of obscure symbolism. Her teachers had been trying to get her into the poetic talk nobles were expected to use with each other, and in the rare case they had to deal with commoners to find various ways to insult them without seeming to be rude.

“I never could make sense of this stuff.” She sighed. “I always hated poetry in school.”

He didn’t answer and seemed to be absorbed in reading the scroll again. Despite herself she couldn’t help but to read as well. She drifted off and before she knew it she was waking up the next morning to the servants sliding open the doors to reveal a beautiful morning with the first of the pink peddles already drifting through the air and breakfast being brought to them on trays.

Byakuya was feeling much better this morning. Rather it was because he was recovering or because he was just pleased to get the hell out the room he had been locked into for some time now and get some fresh air didn’t matter.

He was amused to watch the rather shy Orihime ordering the servants around, insisting they both be dressed in proper Sakura Festival regalia and getting him out of the ‘hospitable clothes’ he had been wearing sine shortly after their wedding.

The familiar weight of his kenseikan was something he hadn’t realized he had missed until now. Fully dressed in the garb he usually wore for this event he turned to see his wife just coming out and pulling nervously on the hem of her Yakuta. The dark blue material was highlighted only by a soft, geometric designs.

Unlike what the commoners wore, these ones were made from the finest silks as opposed to cotton. Her eyes were down cast and her noticed her long hair had been done up in a bun with a few tendrils hanging loose.

He had never really taken the time to look at her, but she was a rather stunning creature when dress right. Perhaps the best feature was that she looked absolutely nothing like Hisana.

Nothing about Orihime reminded him of his late wife and she did noting to try and fulfill that role. In fact, she was kind of amusing to watch as she fidgeted about while the servants tried to frantically get her to hold still so they could finish the last bits to her outfit.

For the first time in quite a while he felt almost normal, and without a single tremble of weakness in his step, he stopped all the commotion simply by walking up to the women.

The servants quickly bowed and steeped aside and Orihime looked up at him with wide eyes. Silently, he offered her his arm and nervously, she took it and he led her to the Sakura field.

He felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of his shoulders as they walked along the path. The scent of the sakura blossoms eased his body and the closer he got to Zakura, the more confident his steps became.

A blanket had been laid out at the base of his tree and he settled down onto it without any assistance, his wife taking her place beside him. He glanced over to her sapling and was pleased to see how much the little tree had already grown. You could barely see the leaves and branches under the army of pink petals.

He rested his back against Zakura and froze. With his reiatsu all but destroyed by the disease that had been plaguing him he couldn’t touch on the strength the tree had offered him in the past, but he could still tell something was wrong.


He could feel it in the bark, sense it in the roots. Zakura was dying. He felt a bolt of panic tear into him. It was considered a huge sign of bad luck for ones tree to die. Orihime noticed his panic and asked him what was wrong, but he found his heart in his throat and was unable to answer.

By this point the servants and rest of the family also seemed to notice something was up as suggestions to return him to his room quickly arose, as well as comments on how they knew it was a bad idea from the start.

“Byakuya-san?” Orihime pressed gently, resting a hand on his shoulder.

He continued to stare at Zakura in shock, hand resting on the bark of his tree. The last thing he wanted was to be removed, so he forced his heart back where it belonged in his chest and forced himself to speak.

“I am fine.”

There was a wave of relief from the servants and the rest of the family relented but still eyed him suspiciously.

“What is wrong?” Orihime asked softly, her hand still resting gently on his shoulder.

“She’s sick.” He whispered.

Orihime seemed to understand at once, a look of sadness on her own face.

“I know.” She whispered. “She was sicker, but I thought it would be better if she was looking healthy for you.”

He turned his gaze to her in surprise, understanding at once what she had not said. She had used her powers to heal a tree, simply because she knew it would make him feel better to see Zakura in full bloom.

“It is….. Bad luck to lose ones tree.” He mumbled.

A look of surprise flashed across her featured before she nodded in understanding. Hesitantly, she reached her other hand out to cover the one still touching the tree. She wrapped her fingers around his and pulled his hand from Zakura’s bark.

He shot his gaze to her once more, noticing the look of determination in her eyes. She brought his hand back to his chest before reaching out with her free hand.

“Soten Kisshun.” She whispered.

Golden light fell about them as the shield enveloped the tree.

He could feel the rot and decay ever so slowly start to recede, and communication with his tree became slightly easier. In fact, he was shocked to notice some of his reiatsu was even returning.

He reached his free hand towards the tree, and held back a hiss as he burned his fingers on the shield. Orihime’s display of power had drawn the attention of everyone else again, but he ignored them.

Something was going on, and with most of the pained fog lifted from his mind by his wife’s dedicated healing, something started to seem off. He noticed almost at once the more she healed Zakura, the more of his reiatsu slowly returned and the more pain lifted.

Like his grandfather had told Orihime earlier, those with stronger reiatsu shared a closer bond, one that might even been targettable if one know how to use bonds. Ignoring the commotion, and the gasps from the others and he stood up, he slowly walked around Zakura before stopping.

There, at the base of the tree the ground had been disturbed.

“Orihime, drop the shield.” He ordered.

He couldn’t see the note of surprise on her face since Zakura was in the way, but the shield did drop. He kneeled beside the disturbed dirt and the moment his hand came into contact with it, he felt a blinding flash of agony and his world went dark.


The moment Byakuya collapsed everyone went into a panic. Orihime almost did as well but she forced herself to remain calm and instead quickly moved over to see what had grabbed his attention.

A patch of dirt looked different from the rest and her suspicion growing, she started to dig. No one seemed to even notice what she was doing except for Ginrei, who stood silently behind her.

“What is it?” He asked.

“I don’t know.” She muttered.

Her hands hit something other than dirt, and carefully she pulled out a small box with Byakuya’s name carved onto the lid, as well as what looked like several different seals.

The box was suddenly slapped from her hands by Ginrei, who sternly ordered her not to touch it shortly before ordering one of the servants to quickly fetch both the Soutaichou and the head of the Kido Corpse.

“I would ask you see to your husband.” Ginrei suggested.

Nodding in understanding, she quickly lifted the edge of her Yakuta and raced after the procession that was carrying her husband to the fourth. She arrived right behind them and shouldered her way past them all and into the emergency room shortly before Isane and the other members of the fourth locked everyone but her and Jousou out.

“Inoue-san.” Unohana greeted her as her division stripped Byakuya out his clothes and settled him into one of the beds. “Tell me what happened.”

“He was just looking around Zakura when he suddenly collapsed. We found something at the base.” She reported.

Unohana frowned.

“Ginrei-sama called for the Soutaichou and Kido Corps.” She added as she moved towards the bed.

“I see. Can you handle things here?” Unohana asked, a look of worry on her face.

“Yes.” Orihime answered confidently.

“I protest.” Jousou interjected.

Unohana ignored the noble woman and floated out of the room. Orihime ignored the woman as well as she summoned her shield. All she could do now to heal what she could.


Unohana arrived at the Kuchiki estate and was admitted almost at once. She was led to a field of Sakura trees in full bloom where her old comrade was speaking with the Soutaichou and the head of the Kido Corps, a woman named Tataru.

“What have you discovered?” She asked.

The two men and one woman turned their attention to her, and she could tell that the situation was very grave indeed.

“Unohana-taichou, it is good you have come. I will need you assistance with this….. thing.” Tataru commented.

Unohana joined the woman’s side and her frown deepened when she saw the box covered in spell seals and Byakuya’s name carved into it. There were black seals all over Tataru’s hands as the woman slowly picked the box up.

Green sludge dripped from it and carefully she turned it over to reveal the holes that had been drilled into the bottom. Unohana quickly caste a Kido herself before pulling forth a swab and dabbing the green ooze.

“Poison.” She muttered. “I can‘t identify it.” She frowned.

Tataru had placed the box back down before pulling forth a sheet of parchment and jolting down seals in a circle with her own blood before placing the box in the centre.

“I am about to open it.” She announced.

“I am ready.” Unohana confirmed, hand on her Zanpakuto.

With a nod Tataru placed her hands on the top of the box. Ginrei and Yamamoto took a step back out of the way as the two woman prepared for opening the box. Tataru slowly opened the lid and set it aside.

The contents of the box seemed innocently enough. A single green candle was burning with a black flame. The bottom of the box was full of the melted wax, which was what had been seeping through.

“An elaborate set up to be sure.” Tataru commented. “And dangerous. This is no easy ritual to set up, nor one with easy to acquire components.”

“Indeed.” Unohana agreed. “This was a very targeted ritual. One that was specifically designed for this. Why burry it here though?” She asked.

She looked up to see the very grim look on Ginrei’s face. He obviously knew more about what was going on, or at least suspected something.

“What is it?” Yamamoto demanded.

“This was an assassination attempt by someone who clearly knows a lot about the family.” Ginrei commented coldly. “I think I know who is behind this, and they will be dealt with. Is there anything you can do for my grandson?”

“Now that the poison has been removed it should start to deteriorate. Orihime-san should be able to assist with the healing as well of course.” Unohana commented.

She looked up to notice Ginrei was no longer standing beside them. Clearly he planned on dealing with the issue right away. Just as she would have expected of him.

Orihime worked diligently as she tried to fix whatever was wrong with Byakuya. Jousou remained thankfully silent. Almost too silent. With a frown Orihime turned around, and as such barely had time to duck to the side as a blade swung at her head.

She caught sight of Jousou, laying unconscious on the ground in a puddle of blood. The very small stirring of her chest let Orihime know the woman was still alive.

“I have to admit, I never expected they would find someone to keep him alive, or have the time and willingness to bear the child of a dying man, when you could so easily have caught whatever was ailing him.” The cloak figure commented coldly.

“Who are you?” She demanded.

“The one who should have been chosen.” The man answered. “Instead I was overlooked for this whelp of a boy.”

“You mean…. you are the reason Byakuya-san is sick?” She demanded. “All because of some jealousy?”

“I don’t expect some….common girl would understand.”

She stiffened and stood up straight, glaring at the still unknown intruder.

“I may be common, but at least I understand what it mean to have family.” She snapped back. “You disgust me.”

“Regardless. Once I deal with the two of you there well be no more obstacles to my course.”

He lunged at her, blade leading.

“Santen Kesshun.” She declared, the shield snapping before her and deflecting the blade.

The cloaked figures eyes widened in surprise.

“Tsubaki. Koten Zanshun.” She shouted.

The last two petals from her hair clips shot forth in a line of light and through the hand holding the blade.

The man screamed and dropped his weapon, a hole burned cleanly though.

“About time you used me right.” Tsubaki snapped and he hovered beside her.

“Cursed wench.” The man snarled.

“Get away from us.” She commanded coldly.

“You really are a pain aren’t you?”

“Leave.” She commanded again.

She heard a gurgle and her eyes went to Jousou. She felt indecision tear at her. If she didn’t act quickly Jousou would die, but to switch her healing shield would leave Byakuya unprotected.

She felt her husbands reiatsu, weak thought it was, stirring behind her. He was waking up. Decision made she switched the target of her Soten Kisshun to Jousou. The man lunged for her, trying to get around her Santen Kesshun.

She adjusted quickly and directed the shield once more between them while sending Tsubaki out again, this time piercing the man through the shoulder. That earned a cry from him and she heard banging on the door.

“Bloody street whore.” The man snarled and started to chant a kido.

Her eyes widened and she barely had time to cover Byakuya’s body with her own as the blast tore down walls and ripped through her Santen Kesshun. The force of it knocked them over the bed and onto the floor on the other side.

Tangled in blankets and her husband she could only stare up in horror as the flash of steel came down upon her unprotected back. She cried out in pain as it sliced into her flesh.

He rose his blade to strike again and she felt fear paralyze her. Suddenly she was rolled to the side and the blade struck the floor instead. She gasped as she was pulled to her feet and behind someone.

“Byakuya-san.” She gasped.

Sure enough her husband was on his feet and holding her behind him. He was clearly still in pain and weak. Blood was dripping down his arm from where the enemies blade had sliced him when he had rolled them out of the way.

“Disgraceful.” Byakuya said coldly.

“So you have awoken. A pity. It will make finishing you off that much more of a nuisance.”

“Tsubaki.” Orihime called. “Koten Zanshun.”

The man ducked to the side as Tsubaki went flying past him.

“Missed.” The man snarled.

“No, I didn’t.” She said confidently.

“Dumb ass.” Tsubaki laughed at him.

He didn’t have time to turn around before his sword was knocked from his hand and he was tackled to the ground as the members of the 4th forced their way into the room.

“Inoue-san, Kuchiki-taichou, are you both alright?” Isane demanded as she made her way over to them.

Byakuya seemed to lose what little strength he had gained and Orihime barely had time to catch him before he collapsed.

“Enough.” The unknown man screamed, managing to get up and lunge towards them, grabbing the sword from the ground.

The world seemed to slow down. Without thinking she grabbed Byakuya and pulled him to the ground with her. There was a sound of mettle on mettle and when she dared to open here eyes it was to see two blades crossed before her.

“Disgraceful.” Ginrei commented shortly before his blade plunged through the unknown mans chest.

Orihime let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she had been holding before turning her attention back to her husband.

Isane was by her side in an instant as the others dealt with the now dead man. They got Byakuya back into his bed and Isane set about binding his arm. Orihime went over to check on Jousou, who was once more conscious.

She let her shield fall away as the 4th surrounded the woman, no longer in danger of losing her life. Truthfully she was starting to get drained herself. She had been using her techniques almost all day.

“Not bad. For once you didn’t suck.” Tsubaki commented before disappearing to return to the hairpin.

“Who was that man?” Orihime asked.

“No one.” Jousou and Ginrei said at the same time as both nobles were ushered out of the room.



One more to go, and than I would suggest reading chapter 2 of Twin blossoms. Twin Blossoms were two one shots Kazes and I did as a challenge and the second chapter is mine, which ties into this.

/hug to those that reviewed.