A Mistaken Past

A/N: Here is the latest chapter. Hope everyone had a happy holiday and a great new year! And I must apologize my software is taking a major crap. I can't upload my files so until I get it fixed I have to resort to copy/paste.



Chapter Five



“Did you see the look on his face?” Tatsuki couldn’t help but feel elation as she imagined the look on Miamoto’s face as she managed to bind him during practice. For the last three weeks Orihime had stayed late with her after class to help practice.


“Hai, he wasn’t expecting that.” Orihime placed the remainder of the fruit onto the paper napkin. She’d already eaten enough for three people. Even while using reitsu Tatsuki didn’t eat more than she did while alive. They were sitting in a courtyard with over a dozen more students. Some had already gone home but those that were serious were merely taking a break before resuming the lesson.


The victory had brightened up her day immensely. What got her down this morning was the request brought to her before she had time to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Byakuya wanted her to come straight to his office when she returned this evening. What did he want? Had he heard about the squad offer?


Hisagi-taichou hadn’t returned to speak with her about it but she hadn’t forgotten. It was the reason she was trying so hard. Before it had looked like she’d end up stationed under Byakuya and that had filled her with dread. She spent her nights being ignored by him; she didn’t want to endure that during the days as well. If another captain might recruit her then she’d do whatever she could to ensure they did.


What would serving under someone like Hisagi be like? She didn’t know too much about each squad. Just that Orihime was joining the one that dealt with healing and being lackeys. There was also the one that believed in strength instead of kendo but that was led by the weird guy with all the bells in his hair. The thought of being around that one gave her the creeps.


“If we pass the test next week then we should get a new instructor. I wonder how long it will take for us to get our powers.” Orihime wasn’t sure what her zanpakuto would be like. During training she’d never lost the use of what she’d started with. It was the reason why she still wore her hairpins.


“Ugh,” a sudden throb behind her eyes had Tatsuki rubbing the bridge of her nose. Was it the beginning of a migraine? It’d been weeks since she’d gotten one but with her luck she’d have to deal with her other half while managing a headache.


“Are you okay?” Orihime paused in lifting up her water bottle noticing how the color was quickly leaving the brunette’s face. “Tatsuki?”


The sound of her name came over as being spoken miles away. A shrill ringing in her ears had her cringing, wishing the noise would stop. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t felt this lightheaded even when she’d been pregnant. A wave of heat ran down her spine leaving a cold chill in its wake. The bottle in her hand fell with a resounded thud. She ignored the hand being placed on her shoulder and the touch to her face.


“Tatsuki!” Orihime screamed catching the attention of others. Her friend was pale and both eyes had rolled back but Tatsuki hadn’t fainted. A moan formed between them and a gurgling sound that filled her with dread. What was happening? The light shaking wasn’t bringing the other girl to and neither was the shouting of the other students.


Rough hands jerked the brunette from her grip. “Miamoto-senpai?” Orihime watched in horror as the student took her friend. Something was wrong, as he placed Tatsuki on the ground the violent jerking began.


“Quick, someone go call for Unohana-taichou. We need someone here now.” Miamoto sent a look towards the students standing around gawking. Several took off to do as he bade without glancing back. “You, find me a stick or something.”


“Okay,” Orihime wasn’t sure what he wanted with it but searched around the grounds. There weren’t any trees in the courtyard, where would she find something like that?


“Here Miamoto use this,” another student she didn’t recognize handed over a thick piece of leather that she’d been using for a hair strap.


“Shit,” Miamoto slapped the hands reaching for the downed girl in desperation. He howled in pain as the teeth
came down on his fingers that were forcing the foreign object into the girl’s mouth. The slender body jerked in his hold and blood was shot in several directions, encasing the strap. “Help me get her on her side.”


Orihime placed her hands on Tatsuki’s hips and did as he instructed. She found the other student to be mean and bossy most times but he was ahead of them and the class leader. He seemed to know what he was doing as the blood oozed from her friend’s mouth from the side.


“Help me hold her down, we can’t let the blood flow back or she’ll drown.” Where the hell was help? It’s not like they were at war and the damn squad had shit to do. He knew there would be hell to pay if Kuchiki-taichou’s wife died in class. “Fuck, what the hell?”


“Tatsuki-chan,” she could see the panic in the guy’s face and saw what caused it. Seeping through the white cotton covering Tatsuki’s chest, the crimson stain of blood was pooling at a rapid pace. Had someone attacked without them knowing?


“Is she wounded? Someone take a look, don’t just stand there.” He pointed towards another girl just standing there looking petrified. Luckily he didn’t have to convince the girl to move her ass. She fell to her knees and pulled the material apart. Another series of spasms consumed the upper part of Tatsuki’s body. “Well?”


“There isn’t one,” Yumi, another new student ran her hand over the bright area. Ignoring the blood that stained her hand she wiped to clean the area. Just as she swept the sticky substance aside the fluid seeped from the heaving chest. “I’m telling you, she’s just bleeding. I don’t see anything.”


“Look again, there has to be one.” Miamoto felt the presence of the captain but it was still a minute away. Those seconds could cost the young student her life. Was it some type of poison or disease? She had looked just fine prior to the seizure.


“It’s coming from right here; I can see it coming out. I can’t stop it. I don’t know what to do.” Tears of helplessness stung her eyes as her hands could no longer be seen. Hearing the loud weeping of Orihime-chan wasn’t helping matters any. How could she apply pressure to a wound that didn’t exist? Their classmate was dying right in front of them. “Do something!”


“Stop yelling at me,” he couldn’t believe this was happening. There was nothing else he could do and a puddle of blood was touching his knees. Not to mention Yumi had it covering her arms and it was also on her face and hair. A couple more minutes and Tatsuki-chan will have bled out.


“Stand aside,” Unohana landed down next to the crying blonde. It was worse than she’d assumed. If one could count an instructor rushing up to her office and screaming that the Kuchiki was dying giving her any kind of clue.


“There’s no wound Unohana-taichou, she’s bleeding to death.” Miamoto leaned back to allow the captain to examine the girl. It was out of his hands now and if anyone could save her it was the woman kneeling before them.


“I see, Isane take the girl back to the hospital ward and make it quick. We don’t have much time,” the captain turned to the three students standing around. “I want you three to follow and don’t lag behind.” If it was what it appeared then she had to be sure.


“Hai, but shall we have someone contact Kuchiki-taichou?” Miamoto was glad that it wouldn’t have to be him doing it.


“It has already been done,” Unohana gave Orihime a reassuring smile before quickly following her lieutenant. Time was of the essence if the girl were to survive. If she were correct then not even the talents of Orihime could bring the girl back if she were to pass. An inner conflict was wounding the girl’s soul and could cause it to be destroyed.


A hell butterfly had been sent to the girl’s husband the second she’d confirmed it was indeed the one and the same. Unohana wasn’t sure how close the man was to his second wife but had been there when he’d discovered his first wife was dying. She’d been the one to treat Hisana and help the woman’s days pass more peacefully.


Isane already had the girl on a bed and removing the soiled clothing. “Are we sealing her?” She frowned as the blood started to drop from the girl’s fingers to make little red dots on the floor. If they didn’t act now the girl would be too weak to recover.


“Yes, then we will do what we can to bring her out of it.” This was a method she didn’t like using but they had to stop the bleeding. It was the girl’s own reitsu working against her causing the damage. Once the bleeding stopped then they would see what could be done before the soul shattered.


Minutes ticked by and their work was interrupted by the arrival of the three students. Both ignored the sobbing of Orihime and completed the process of sealing away the girl’s reitsu. Sealing it meant that the girl couldn’t heal on her own.


“She’s weak and we can’t risk introducing our own reitsu. We must try to wake her without causing anymore damage.” Unohana placed a hand on the girl’s cold cheek, not getting any kind of response. If it were some type of enchantment then it was the best she’d ever seen. There was no trace of an outside reitsu, nor did one linger.


“Tatsuki?” the question slipped from Orihime’s lips as she ignored the demands that she stay away. That was her friend lying there looking lost. What was wrong with her? Why wasn’t the woman healing her?


“Why haven’t you healed her?” The voice that demanded an answer wasn’t hers. Byakuya moved from behind the girl to get his first glance behind the curtain. He’d been told that his wife had suffered an accident during practice. He could barely make out her slight form underneath the sheet of blood.


“We cannot, we don’t dare. This isn’t a wound or something we can heal. Something is injuring her soul and I can’t find the source. I can’t detect any poisons or spells. If it is an enchantment then whoever is doing it is the best I’ve ever seen. There isn’t any trace of reitsu but hers. She was bleeding to death so we had to ward her. There is nothing we can do but wait and hope that whatever it is will cease before she becomes too weak and her soul is destroyed.” The look in his eyes made her wish she had better news. No man wanted to watch his wife die a second time.




It was cold; she could feel it down to her bones. Tatsuki rubbed her arms in earnest as she examined the area. She was still in the courtyard but all the other students had fled, even Orihime. Why was she alone? Had she fallen asleep?


Her headache was still throbbing and she was dead tired. When had the temperature dropped? The heat from her breath was causing it to coil and form a cloud. It had to be almost freezing if she could see her breath. The thin material of her training uniform did nothing to keep her skin from turning blue.


Knowing that getting inside the building was the wisest thing to do, she took a step forward causing the scenery to change. This was almost as weird as having walls jumping in front of her. The brown building swam and disappeared leaving her staring at empty bed. Blue walls sprang from the ground, matching carpet formed beneath her feet.


It would be a nice bedroom except for the fact that she suddenly found herself standing in it. Then she caught sight of the tall male standing near the window as if expecting her arrival. Furniture popped out of nowhere, placing a table right behind her. Fear had her taking a step back until her ass hit the wood. That felt real, too real.


“Where am I?” She spoke the question to no one in particular. This had to be a dream. She didn’t know this place or the male staring at her. He had to tower over her by more than a foot, his size dwarfing her own. Long chestnut hair was pulled back in a thick braid leaving a layer of bangs to frame his forehead.


Every inch of him had to be built; he was wearing nothing but a pair of black pants that hugged his hips like a lover. What had her cowering in fear was that mask. It reminded her of those you’d see in a costume store. It was the perfect face of a skeleton, with two tiny gashes above the eyes.


This had to be a nightmare. The eyes were a deep crimson color that reminded her of blood. The heat that crept from them had her moving in a frenzied panic. The table was knocked over in her rush to get away. The sound of it hitting the floor echoed loud in her brain.


The door was thrown open but she could swear his breath was ghosting over her neck. Who was he and what did he want with her? She wasn’t foolish enough to turn around and inquire. Instead she focused on the long hallway she found herself in. Ten feet away from her was another door, she had to reach it before he caught up.


Time slowed down and she was sure she wasn’t running any longer. Her feet hit the carpet and the eerie silence that penetrated her mind was only interrupted by the sound of a soft laugh. He was toying with her. Somehow she knew that he was letting her run for it and it was only a matter of time.


Tatsuki cried out in frustration as the door seemed to get further away. Thoughts of dying had her trying to move faster. Her lungs felt like they were on fire and her legs wanted to buckle under the strain. When she didn’t think she’d ever make it the door suddenly appeared before her and she barged through without worrying what awaited her.


Her mistake was realized as she felt herself falling down. Air rushed by her, air so hot her skin felt like it would melt. The impact of hitting solid ground forced the oxygen from her lungs. She blinked seeing the door she’d fallen from suddenly disappear. If the door was gone it meant he couldn’t follow her, right?


“I’m glad you made it but I would have given you a proper escort.”


She jerked into a sitting position hearing the voice from her left. It was him and he was standing casually only three feet away. How had he beaten her here? Both arms felt like lead and she didn’t think she could stand. “Who are you and what do you want with me?”


“I will not answer the first question. Not until I know, because you are not the first.” A hand shot forward and grasped her around the throat. She hadn’t even seen him move! “As for the second, I wish to see who you are.”


“I’m…..” her name stuck in her throat as she was lifted into the air. The fingers held her throat so tight it was impossible to take in a decent breath. In desperation nails dug into the digits cutting off her means of survival. She didn’t want to die like this. If this was only a dream then why did it feel real?


“Search her, Shikyo.” The man wasn’t speaking to her but looking down at the zanpakuto that he unsheathed.


It looked like a normal zanpakuto to her but that didn’t mean she was in any less danger. The long blade was being pointed at her in a menacing manner. ‘Please, let this be a bad dream.’ Tatsuki screamed as the fist pushed forward and the cold steel entered her chest. If it had been quick she would have been blessed that it had ended quickly. Instead the bastard was slowly pushing and twisting it deeper into her body.


“Do not fight it, it will be over soon.”


She wished he had ended it with one blow but fate had other plans. Why wasn’t she dead yet? The pain had her trying to thrash out of his hold. Anything to stop what was happening. The tip was resting in her, stopping far from exiting through her back. Another painful twist and darkness threatened to consume her.


“Your name, tell me your name.” He wasn’t even talking to her. His gaze was focusing on the extra hole he’d just carved.


She would have told him her name if she believed that was what he wanted. A demented, sadistic, annoying bastard was going to kill her in the nightmare. If she died in the dream did it mean she’d die for real? Blood was seeping down her front and onto the blackened pavement. When would it end?


“It hides from us!”


‘Who else is here?’ Tatsuki was sure it hadn’t been him speaking but the voice had been male. Her captor had a deep voice and that had come out high-pitched as if the owner had been kicked in the dick. Was someone else helping him torture her? What were they looking for?


“Don’t stop, search deeper.” He jerked the blade to the side and she cried out. “Hold still girl or you will endure more pain than necessary.”


It was all unnecessary as far as she was concerned. There was no point in him using her for a pincushion. Except that the fucker got some sick twisted pleasure in watching her bleed. Bile rose in her throat and another scream penetrated her mind. This one came from inside her head and was very feminine but also in pain. ‘Stop!’


Why wouldn’t they listen? Even the voice she was hearing saw that this was wrong. Instead of listening the man gave a loud laugh and pushed the sword until it burst through her back. Blood sprang from her lips and she knew this was where he took pity on her.


“Is it her?” The man looked almost desperate and ignored the sobbing sounds she was making.


“Yes, I’m positive.” The eerie helium voice echoed around them, sounding just as excited as her tormentor. “We’ve found her.”


The hold released her and she felt herself falling to the ground.



“Tatsuki,” the hard intake of breath had Orihime rushing over to the bed. She slapped away the hands of Unohana and threw her arms around the girl. The violent shaking had stopped moments ago and brown eyes opened to stare at her in confusion.


“Please Orihime, let us see to her.” Unuhana pulled the girl back without much trouble. Whatever had been causing the distress had vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The bleeding had stopped, so they could undo the seal.


Tatsuki wanted to demand why Hisagi had felt the need to run her over again. Every nerve felt like it was screaming in agony, her limbs sore. Had that been a dream? Why was she in the infirmary? The swollen eyes of Orihime told her something had definitely been wrong. The dream, had it really happened? How could a dream make her feel so horrible?


“Kuchiki Tatsuki, can you hear me?” A quick nod and the captain went to unsealing the girl’s reitsu. “I’m going to unseal you now and then try to heal you. Do you remember anything that has happened?”


“No,” she didn’t remember what had gotten her put in here and didn’t think the woman wanted to hear about the fucked up dream she’d had while out.


“Very well, I will do what I can. After we get you cleaned up, I’m going to send you home to get some rest. I want you to stay in bed for a few days and if you feel any kind of pain or discomfort I want you to send for me.” Unohana thought the girl should stay here for a few days but Byakuya had already informed them that as soon as she was out of immediate danger he’d be taking her. She wasn’t going to argue with the man. Whatever had caused the problem had disappeared. Just to be sure she’d stop by and check up on her until she was sure the girl was out of danger.


“Okay,” Tatsuki felt sticky and in dire need of a shower. She felt a hand squeezing her own and looked into the worried face of Orihime. “I’m okay.”



“Did you forget where you stuck me?” Tatsuki snapped as the man strolled by the hall that led to her bedroom. If only her legs would work then she wouldn’t be forced to endure this indignity. It was disturbing how all the servants were gawking at her.


“Silence, do not waste your energy provoking an argument.” Byakuya sent a meaningful glance to those standing around watching. He’d been told to ensure that she stayed in bed and wasn’t disturbed. If he hadn’t already come to a conclusion then this would have changed their situation.


“Whatever,” she wanted to have a fit. After being washed like a newborn baby, she’d been dressed then handed over to her husband. She hoped they sent him a huge ass bill. Being carted back home like an invalid did nothing for her temper.


Upon reaching the door to his room, he managed to open it without dropping her in the process. He had the urge to do just that with all the thrashing she was doing. “Stop moving or I will toss you. You will be staying in my quarters starting this evening.”


“What? I’m not that sick and I don’t need a babysitter.” She couldn’t believe he would suggest something so stupid. Why the hell would she want to look at him every night before going to bed? He had to have one of those crazy dreams too and had lost his mental capabilities in the process.


“Did I suggest either? Recall that before you had your accident that I had requested your presence. It was to inform you of my decision. There is talk amongst those in my house and family. I will not repeat the gossip but will tell you that this is necessary. To lessen the strife for you and my son, we will reside in the same quarters from this night forth.” He hoped she’d accept that and not cause a scene.


“What gossip? You mean the rumor that you married me to piss your family off? Or is it the one where you didn’t father Kouji because you wouldn’t lower yourself to fuck someone like me?” Tatsuki was sure there were a few more she could rehash. It was nothing she hadn’t heard already and she really didn’t care.


“I see I did not stop it from reaching your ears. Regardless, I will not have such talk in my house. I went against their wishes to wed you and will not give them the means to question my reasons. You will do as I ask and sleep here. You can calm your nerves and be assured that I will not touch you.” Byakuya could see the large brown eyes already looking towards the bed in apprehension.


“Fine, just put me down.” She felt a little better knowing that he didn’t plan to actually do anything with her. It wasn’t because she found him unappealing, far from it. It had taken sake for him to touch her the first time and she was sure only similar reasons would make him touch her again. It would be foolish to get involved with him sexually and let any kind of attachment form.


“It is settled then,” he released her near the edge of the bed. She couldn’t have much energy after her illness and he wouldn’t have her passing out on the floor. This should stop further talk about her sleeping arrangements. His only worry was if he’d be able to do the noble thing and stick to his word of not touching her. “You should get some rest.”




Next Chapter: Another dream…..