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Sakura Petals and Fairies	By : Zarakiswolf Category: Bleach > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1518 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Tite Kubo owns Bleach and it's characters. I own my OCs. This story is written for entertainment purposes only. I do not get paid for writing it.

Chapter List
- 1-One
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Four
- 5-Five
- 6-Six
- 7-Seven
- 8-Eight
- 9-Nine
- 10-Ten
- 11-Eleven
- 12-Twelve
- 13-Thirteen
- 14-Fourteen
- 15-Fifteen
- 16-Sixteen
- 17-Seventeen
- 18-Eighteen
- 19-Nineteen
- 20-Twenty
- 21-Twenty One
- 22-Twenty Two
- 23-Twenty Three
- 24-Twenty Four
- 25-Twenty Five
- 26-Twenty Six
- 27-Twenty Seven
- 28-Twenty Eight
- 29-Twenty Nine
- 30-Thirty
- 31-31
- 32-Thirty Two
- 1
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"Good morning, Miss Hayate. I've brought your breakfast." a quiet, gentle voice greets me. It is a voice I've not heard before. My eyes open slowly and I glance out of the cell to see a young man with black hair and a timid nature about him bearing a food tray. I can't see his eyes, as his head is bowed. I decide to sit up and greet him.
"Good morning and thank you." I reply, bowing to him politely.
"I will give you some time to eat and then I'm supposed to clean these cells today. I hope it won't be too much trouble for you."
"Oh, no, please don't worry about me. If I were allowed, I'd help you clean. Cleaning helps me focus a bit better."
"I couldn't allow that! You shouldn't have to soil your hands cleaning, ma'am. I honestly don't know why you're in here but I don't think you should be. You don't seem dangerous."
I laugh softly. "I'm not. I'm a scaredy cat, if you want to know the truth of it."
"So am I. Conflict is a scary thing." he chuckles. "My name is Hanataro Yamada. I'm co-third seat of the fourth division."
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Nanami Hayate."
As he finally enters my cell, he's very gentle when handing me the tray of food. I see rice, eggs, a pickle and azuki bean paste on toast. It's not much but it's enough to keep me energized for a short while. "I will return in a short while. Do you need anything? Books? Paper and ink to send a message to anyone?"
"Well, if at all possible, could you tell me if any of my family survived the raid last month on the Hayate estate?"
He blushes a little, his brown eyes sad. "Most of the estate was destroyed. Your brothers are being held in the Maggot's Nest, as they refuse to answer investigators as to what happened. Your father is in the care of my captain but he's not woken in the month you've been missing."
"I see. What about his wife?"
"Your moth-"
"She's not my mother. My mother passed while birthing me."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Well, Lady Hayate is doing as well as she can. She's very sad, it seems. She's asked about you when she makes her weekly visits to her husband."
"Thank you. Please let me know if my father improves."
"I'd be happy to, ma'am. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
"Well, I hate to ask, but can you please let whichever captain that is ordering me held here know that I would be happy to speak to him or her at their earliest convenience?"
"Of course. I'd be happy to and hopefully after speaking to you, Captain Kuchiki will let you out of here. But please, eat. I shall return in a short while. While you're eating, I'll go ahead and let Lieutenant Abarai know you're ready to talk."
"Thank you, Hanataro." I say pleasantly, giving him a smile, which he returns as he leaves.
******************
I'm sitting in the lone chair of my cell, reading the latest Seireitei Bulletin that Hanatora was kind enough to leave when he finished his cleaning duties, when the cell door opens behind me.
"Lady Hayate, I was given the message you are ready to speak with me?" the cold, calm voice from the captain from yesterday says.
I put the book down gently and turn to face him before bowing deeply. He's a higher noble than me, if this is a Kuchiki. "Yes, sir." I say quietly, my voice trembling with my nervousness.
"You may sit. My lieutenant will stay and take notes of our talk. You are being held here until you can convince us that you didn't launch that attack on your clan last month. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. I can tell you everything that I remember happening that day and in the time since my abduction."
"Would you care for some tea? You seem nervous."
"I am. I'm just a lowly illegitimate noble. You're the head of the Kuchiki clan. I do not wish to offend you in any way."
It is silent for a moment before he sits facing me. "I don't think you could offend me. You are like a fawn. Small and timid. I need to look you in the eye as you are speaking."
I smile a little before meeting his cold grey gaze. His face is an unreadable mask, his eyes even more closed off. "My name is Nanami Hayate. I am the daughter of Lord Hayate and a surrogate mother. The morning before the raid, I had a dream and when I woke, I had a sword. I'd been fevered that morning, so chose to stay in bed to rest. The night before, my two brothers and I had gone swimming and stayed out quite late into the evening catching the fireflies in our yard."
His face flickers for a moment before he nods. "Do you know who your biological mother is?"
"No. She passed away while birthing me. My father never told me her name, only that she was a maid in our household. However, before the abduction, when he came to wake me to tell me to escape, he let slip that she was a soul reaper. So I really don't know the truth, I'm afraid. About her, I mean." I sigh sadly, my gaze dropping to the floor.
"Look at me." he commands. My eyes snap back as my cheeks heat. "Now, did you hear anything about your brothers during the raid? Where they were, perhaps?"
I bite my lip for a moment before answering truthfully. "My father said something. His exact words were 'Your brothers have led them here.' I don't know what he meant. I didn't see them before or during my abduction."
"Is there anything else you think would help us?"
"No, sir. I'm sorry I'm not useful. I can tell you in the month I was in Hueco Mundo, Lady Harribel treated me very well and tried to help me learn to use my sword. She only said that her orders to her Fraccion were to take any women that looked like they could fight. She also told me that the reason I was taken is she is tired of seeing so many women injured or killed during battles and she had hoped her training could at least save some lives."
"I see. Did it help?"
"Somewhat. My sword still hasn't told me her name yet, I'm afraid. She speaks to me though." I blush, my eyes dropping again.
"You've dropped your eyes again, Miss Hayate." he says coldly.
"I can't look at you anymore, sir. It's inappropriate for someone of my station to gaze at you for long periods."
He stays silent for a few moments. "It would please me for you to look at me."
My cheeks grow even hotter as my eyes lift back to his. "I have a feeling that you're used to getting your way, sir."
I could almost swear I see a smile. "Your feeling is correct. Is there anything else you wish to say? And are you ill? Your face is red."
"No! I'm not ill! And I have nothing else to say pertaining to the raid. I wish I knew more but I don't. If it would help..."
"Continue."
"I am willing to try to speak to my brothers, if it would help. I love them but they have been acting odd of late. Since my ex betrothed was incarcerated for using forbidden demon arts."
"Now I recognize your name. Tayashi Nobiama was to be your husband."
"I never wanted him to be. I never loved him. It was arranged by Lady Hayate." I sigh sadly. "I believe in marriage, there should be love and friendship, as silly as that sounds. I could never love Tayashi. He was a cold, cruel man."
"It's not silly. I shall deliver the notes to the interrogation unit and see what our head captain says about it. Good day, Miss Hayate. I do not expect you will be in the cells much longer." He says as he stands.
"Thank you, Lord Kuchiki." I bow my head to him again.
"If you must call me something, Captain Kuchiki will be fine."
I smile a little as I hear him leave. He has a cold aura about him, one of seriousness and...loneliness. I remember my father telling me about the death of his wife. It was a tragic thing. Lady Hisana was a sweet, caring soul, or so the noble families tell it. She wasn't born a noble, but the head of the Kuchiki clan fell in love with her anyway and married her, a "lowly peasant". After her death, he had found and adopted her younger sister, as that was her dying wish. Perhaps he's not as scary as his aura feels.
****Byakuya POV****
"Captain Kuchiki, I believe the best thing would be to let her go. From what I've gathered, she's never even been out of the Hayate Estate, so she doesn't know anyone outside the family. Well, other than that Espada that kidnapped her." Soi Fon states coldly.
"But where would she go back to? Lady Hayate is adamant that she doesn't want her to come home until the investigation is complete. She hinted around that she is blaming Nanami for it." Head Captain Kyoraku sighs. "This is a bad situation all around."
To my dismay, the office doors bang open and in barges Zaraki's wife. Though beautiful, she is a nuisance, much like her husband. "Dad, I got a bone to pick with you."
"Not now, Harmona."
"Yes, now. That chick that Renji brought back. She's a soul reaper. She's got that soul reaper scent. I heard some of her family is being assholes about letting her come home. So why not put her in a squad, at least until things settle down?" the sapphire haired woman suggests.
"Do you know her?" I ask quietly.
"Not at all. Never met her or heard of her but...I don't want to see her end up like me. Nobody deserves to be shunned for things beyond their control." she answers honestly.
"Would you put her in squad eleven?" Soi Fon asks teasingly.
"Of course not! From what I hear from Hanataro, the girl is afraid of conflict. She'd be worse off in my husband's squad. Why not keep her with the princess?"
I show no irritation outwardly but inside I begin fuming. This woman is the epitome of annoying. She is able to get under my skin without even trying. When she'd first came to the Seireitei as a wolf, I'd known she was a monster. When she became the beautiful woman that stands here now, I admit, I had become a bit enamored with her looks. I had almost thought of getting to know her, but then I'd found her and Zaraki having intimate relations. It had confused me. My body had wanted her, the noises of pleasure from her mouth making me wish I was the one causing her to make them. Zaraki's jabs about my dear Hisana had angered me and I felt the need to punish him as well but instead I had run. I knew opening my mouth would have made foolish words come out in my frazzled state of mind.
"Well, that's an interesting suggestion. What do you think, Captain Kuchiki? Would you be opposed to keeping her in your squad to keep an eye on her?" Captain Kyoraku asks me.
"I do not think it is the best arrangement for her but I don't see a better one, other than her being returned home. She may stay with my squad for the time being." I reply.
"Thank you. I'm going to request you keep an eye on her. I don't think she knows what happened but then again, if she does, it should become noticeable by any strange behavior."
"Faulty logic, lady. I got strange behavior and I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground." Zaraki's wife laughs.
"Harmona, go away. Don't you have anything-" Captain Kyoraku begins to say.
"Actually, I came here to tell you Pachi wants you to come to dinner tonight. He's in a mood for some reason."
"Of course. You get him grumpy then ask me to dinner. You both are a pain."
"I'm your favorite pain though!" she laughs before scampering out the door.
"Why do you even bother with her, Head Captain?" I ask seriously.
"She is my best friends daughter. I helped raise her. I love that girl as if she was my own." he says, a soft smile on his face. "Anyway, Captain Kuchiki, I appreciate you speaking with Nananmi this morning. I wish-"
"She offered to speak to her brothers to help us."
"Well, maybe not right now. Let's observe her for a little while and then we can possibly do that. Let's see what she can do. Do you have the zanpakuto she was carrying?"
"Yes, it's locked in my office. Strangely enough, since it was placed there, my office has become haunted according to my lieutenant."
"Huh?"
"When he walked into my office this morning, he stated that my reports were stuck to the office ceiling and mysteriously all the chairs have gone missing. That feral woman isn't the cause, as I know for a fact she wasn't anywhere near the squad six office at any time in the past forty eight hours."
"Hmm...could it be her zanpakuto spirit perhaps?" Soi Fon asks.
"She stated it speaks to her but hasn't given her it's name yet so it is a possibility."
"So she hasn't mastered shikai yet. That's interesting. I hate to ask but do you think maybe you could help with her training personally? She may open up to you a little more as a fellow noble." Captain Kyoraku says.
I stare at him momentarily, hoping he's joking. When I see he's not I answer. "She seems afraid of me. She admitted she's illegitimate so she believes she isn't equal to even her brothers."
"That's...almost unheard of in a noble family, isn't it?" Soi Fon asks in surprise.
"Yes, it is. But it explains why she's got a zanpakuto. Perhaps we should get a blood sample to Captain Kurotsuchi to see if we can track down who her mother was." Captain Kyoraku states. "Byakuya, see what you can do to help her learn her shikai, please. The more we know about her, the faster this investigation will be complete. For now, I'm agreeing to her supervised release."
"Yes, Head Captain."
****Nanami POV****
"Miss Hayate, you are being released from the cell. However, as Lady Hayate has stated she doesn't want you to return until the investigation is complete, you will be staying in the Squad Six barracks until such time as you are proven innocent or guilty." Captain Kuchiki states as he unlocks my cell.
"I see." I say sadly as I get to my feet. I stare at the ground as I exit the cell. He says nothing, but doesn't move either.
"I have decided instead of the barracks, perhaps you would be better off staying in the Kuchiki Manor." he says softly.
"Please, don't trouble yourself about me, sir. I'm sure the barracks would be fine."
"I insist." his tone is a bit more commanding now.
"But-"
"You will stay in the Kuchiki Manor so that I can keep an eye on you and decide for myself if you are guilty or not."
"Thank you for your consideration, Lord Kuchiki." I bow to him, hoping I haven't offended this beautiful, cold man.
"Look at me." I look into his eyes, my cheeks once again feeling hot. He stares at me with a cool, focused look for a moment before leaning down to get eye level with me. This makes me blush harder and take a step back. "Do not ever retreat, Miss Hayate, when someone confronts you. It will end with you injured or dead."
"Forgive me. You scared me, Lor-"
"I believe I told you earlier to address me as Captain Kuchiki, did I not?"
"Yes, you did. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry...."
"Captain Kuchiki."
"Come along. You are about the same size as my sister so I shall see if she has some clothing to fit you."
"That's not-"
His glare silences me. "You will do as you are told, Miss Hayate. And accept the comforts I offer."
"Yes, sir."
****Byakuya POV****
I watch the woman as she eats. She hasn't taken much for herself, it's barely enough to feed a child, in fact. She's very quiet, only speaking softly when Rukia speaks to her. The rest of the family has been told to treat her as a visiting guest from the Hayate family. They watch her, I notice, but none speak to her other than Rukia, who seems to be treating her as a friend.
"So, Nanami, I heard you have a zanpakuto?" Rukia says, smiling brightly.
"Yes. She speaks to me but won't tell me her name yet. I'm too weak, I think. Conflict scares me, Miss Rukia. I try to be peaceful. I prefer to resolve conflict than be part of it." Nanami answers quietly.
"Keep working with her. That you're able to hear her is very good! If you'd like, I can try to help you in the evenings when I'm done with my duties in squad thirteen."
"Oh, no! Please, I don't want to be a bother to anyone." I notice the girls shoulders fall as her eyes do. Someone has convinced her she isn't worth their time. My thoughts immediately go to Lady Hayate. Her reaction had seemed odd as well. In a female lead noble family, generally their female children are guarded much more than the males. Even illegitimate ones. Why so much animosity to this girl?
"You won't be a bother." Rukia says gently.
"No. I can't. Thank you but I really can't ask you to-"
"Miss Hayate."
Her eyes snap to mine, though she visibly shrinks. "Yes?"
"Rukia wouldn't ask you if were going to be a bother. I insist you let her try. Just as I will be training you during the day, starting tomorrow. Head Captain Kyoraku has ordered me to try to help you get the ability to use your shikai. You are no help to anyone without strength." I say, rather coldly.
"I'm sorry. I...with everything going on, I believe I may be exhausted and speaking without thinking. May I be excused, please?"
"You may."
She nearly runs from the table. Rukia gives me a stern look but I do not falter. The girl will have to earn my respect. Though my body is attracted to her and my mind is distracted by her frequently, I cannot afford to fall in love with her...though I find her attractive. If she is guilty of the raid in any way, she will be locked away. Hisana would have wished me to move on. She is the only woman I've ever loved.
"Brother...please. Try not to be so cold to Nanami. I get the feeling she's never known warmth from anyone but her father and brothers. I know she's never been outside the Hayate Estate so she doesn't have much experience with people." Rukia scolds me gently. Again, she reminds me of her older sister. Hisana would have agreed with her, I'm sure.
****Nanami POV****
A gentle knock on the door of my room makes me wipe my eyes quickly. "Yes? Come in."
To my dismay, Lord Kuchiki enters, though he leaves the door open. To my surprise, he sits and bows to me. "Miss Hayate, I ask your forgiveness for my coldness to you earlier. I imagine you are under much stress and perhaps are not comfortable anywhere outside your family home."
"Please, sir, don't bow. I'm beneath you." I say softly. "And you have nothing to ask forgiveness for."
He sits back up and studies me. "Then why were you crying?"
I duck my head, rubbing my eyes furiously. "You weren't meant to notice!"
"Miss Hayate. I've told you before you look at me when you speak." he admonishes me. My eyes snap back to his. "Would you like to see the garden? You seem to enjoy being outside, from what I gathered when we spoke earlier."
"No, I can't-"
"I was going there anyway. I thought you might like to come along." he explains quickly.
"Oh...well, if you were going, I would love to." I smile.
"Come along." He commands, bringing me to my feet instantly. I'm having trouble understanding this man. He is warm one minute, cold the next. I feel like I've offended him in some way, though I can't possibly see how. I follow him outside and he sits beside a large pond, patting the ground beside him in a silent command to sit. I sit, though not close enough to touch him. "Are you afraid of me?" he asks.
"I...yes. I am. I was taught by my step mother that because I am the illegitimate child of my father, that I must be seen but never heard. I must not offend anyone, even if they are below me in nobility. She never liked me, I don't think, though my father said it was her idea for him to try for a daughter with another woman. I don't mean to speak ill of her but I often wonder if she's jealous that my mother was able to have a daughter with my father and she wasn't, though I know it's not her fault."
"Miss Hayate, why are you unmarried still? I know of your most recent fiance, of course."
"My father said there was no interest in me because of my blood being impure for a noble." I sigh sadly, gazing at the beautiful orange and white koi that has come to the edge of the pond. Without thinking, I reach out to stroke it's head softly. It seems to enjoy it, as it doesn't swim away.
"That fish is the most irritable one of the group in there. She doesn't like anyone, even me." he says softly.
"The koi at our estate always came to me for pets. I'm not sure why."
"Perhaps they sense that you're a gentle soul."
"Sir...why exactly did you bring me here? You don't seem to..."
"Continue. You need not fear speaking your mind for tonight."
"You don't seem to like me. Why not put me in the barracks like you originally suggested?"
"I thought it would be better for you. You seem afraid of the world."
"I've never been allowed out in the world."
"Miss Hayate, what would you have done if you hadn't been abducted?"
"Stayed, I suppose, and never ventured out, nor learned to use my sword. I'm obviously not a good prize. Most likely I'd have become like my spinster aunt." I sigh sadly.
"I see. Have you never loved anyone outside your family?"
"No. I've never even met anyone outside the family other than my previous fiance."
"What do you think is the perfect partner for you?"
"One who loves his family more than anything. One who can love me for my mistakes instead of ridiculing me...one who wouldn't mind my fear of thunder and rain."
"Why do you fear that?"
"The noise. I like peaceful and quiet noises."
"And sakura blossoms?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"You dyed your hair the exact color on those two strands."
"Oh, no. My zanpakuto did that somehow. And she braids them every night."
"Can you see the spirit?"
"Yes. She's a fairy. She has vibrant pink hair and golden eyes. She fits in the palm of my hand." I laugh softly. "She's very sweet."
"You are too."
My eyes snap over to him. "What?"
"I said you are sweet too, Miss Hayate. And beautiful. You remind me of my wife in some ways."
"Lady Hisana was someone I loved hearing about, when my father would tell me the story of you and her. I was sorry to hear she passed. I wish it could be like fairy tales. True love never dying."
"It is getting late. Perhaps we should retire. We must be up early to eat and go to the barracks."
"Yes, sir. Thank you for showing me the garden. Do you mind if I come here more often?"
"Of course. You may come here as you like. Now, let's retire."
I follow him back into the manor. He's kind enough to guide me back to my room before retreating to his. I fall into bed much more at peace than earlier. Perhaps Byakuya Kuchiki isn't as terrifying as I thought him to be.
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Sakura Petals and Fairies