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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
- 28
- 29
- 30
I take a deep breath, tilting my face up to the moon. "Mizu yōsei, I want to train. Will you come out for me, please?" I ask, holding the handle of my sword gently. For a few moments, nothing happens. I briefly wonder if she is asleep or ignoring me, perhaps. "Mizu yōsei?"
A bright flash of golden glitter in front of my face startles me. My fairy friend frowns at me. "Are you sure you wish to do this now? It will be hard and in your current condition, it might be taxing on your health." she says seriously, the first time she's ever spoken to me in such a tone.
"I must. It is time that I must take control of my future instead of hiding behind my husband." I answer.
"Very well then." She sits on my shoulder, which startles me. Water spheres appear in the air, at least two hundred of them. "Find the one that doesn't hurt you. I will warn you, Nanami, if you touch the wrong ones, you will be in severe pain. It will be excruciating."
"Will it hurt my son?"
"Of course not. Just you."
I take a deep breath and nod. "That's fair. I will do this."
Mizu yōsei flies up into the sky overhead, staying just above the spheres. "Begin, Nanami. I will not help you with this task. You must do this alone."
I nod. This will be difficult, but I have faith in my abilities. I notice as I look into each sphere, different memories of mine play as if they are a movie. Happy memories and terrible memories, all have a sphere. I decide to reach for the memory of Sakurako's birth. On touching it, the sphere bursts and my body is wracked with the worst pain I've ever experienced. I bite my tongue, refusing to scream and wake the household. This will be trickier than I thought...
****Byakuya POV****
The morning sunlight wakes me. I'm startled to realize I've slept a bit later than usual. It must have been the sake I imbibed at the restaurant last night. I did partake more than usual. Something seems amiss though. I don't feel Nanami's presence beside me. I roll over completely and she isn't in bed. I rise and do my normal morning preparations, assuming she's gone to eat breakfast already.
"Byakuya, where's Nanami?" Rukia asks, looking behind me as if expecting my wife to appear.
"She is not here? I assumed she came to eat before I rose."
"No, we haven't seen her all morning." Granny says, worrying her lip.
"Search the grounds." I order the maids on duty this morning. They quickly comply with my order, scattering like the four winds...
****Nanami POV****
I'm woken by the frantic shouting of a maid and my shoulders being shaken. "Miss Nanami!" Rina cries.
"Will you stop shaking me please?" I beg of her, wincing. My body hasn't recovered from the many bad choices I had made last night.
"What were you doing out here!? You're drenched! Come inside. We'll get you in a hot bath to warm up."
"I can't move. My legs are numb." I sigh.
"Stay here. I'll get Master Byakuya!" Rina shouts before running back into the house. I shiver a bit. She's right. My robe is drenched. I notice my hands are white as bone while my fingertips are blue with cold. My hair sticks to my face, still damp from my training. My body hurts terribly, the muscles aching as though I've stretched all the muscles to the limit. I cough, wincing at the burning in my throat.
Byakuya says nothing as he approaches me. He looks angry though. He lifts me and I whimper a bit. "What hurts?" he asks as he walks.
"Everything. My entire body aches."
As we enter the house, he commands Doc to follow us. He carries me to the bedroom and, just before setting me down, decides better of it and carries me into the bathroom instead. "Doc, she's ice cold. She says she's aching all over. Nanami, you need to get into the bath and warm up." he says, his tone like ice. I struggle with the knot in my robe and he finally steps in to undo it. He curses on seeing my body. "What the hell were you doing outside!?" he hisses as he puts me in the water.
"Byakuya, easy. I've caught her sleep walking the past couple days. I haven't woke you, just guided her back to bed. I should have mentioned it." Doc lies before kneeling beside the tub. She pops a thermometer in my mouth. "Nanami, sweetling, as cold as your body is, I'd like it if you stayed home today, please. I want to monitor you and the baby. As cold as you feel...well, you feel like a corpse."
"She will stay and not get out of bed except to use the toilet. I will not give her any other option. If I must chain her to the bed, I will do so." Byakuya says, crossing his arms over his chest. He never does this unless he's extremely furious.
"That won't be necessary. I will do as you both are asking. I'm too sore to do anything else." I say to placate them. Doc seems satisfied, though Byakuya is furious still. The thermometer beeps and Doc takes it and sighs.
"A mild fever. Do you feel sick?" she asks.
"My throat is a bit sore but nothing terrible. My body is aching but I am starting to feel less cold."
"Open your mouth for me." she says, taking a light out of her pocket and shining it in my mouth when I open. "Your throat does seem a bit red, dear, but not enough to say you're sick. I'll instruct Chef to put honey in your tea to help. I want you to stay in the bath until you warm up. A good indication would be when your fingers return to their normal color."
"Yes, Doc."
She leaves with a gentle pat on my head. Byakuya, however, continues glaring at me for a moment. "My own staff is now going to lie to me, I see. This is the last chance you have to tell me what you were doing outside or I shall assume the worst and banish you to the other end of the manor until our son is born. At that time, I will divorce you, Nanami, and you can find some other man to put up with your idiotic self." he says, his voice quiet and threatening.
"Byakuya, please, don't say such harsh things." I say, reaching for him. He smacks my hand away, hard enough to make my skin sting a bit. I see a murderous look in his eye. "I was training." I cry, curling myself into a ball and resting my head on my knees.
"Why!?"
"I was jittery last night. Too much sugar in the cake, I think. I didn't know what else to do."
"You could have woken me!" he hisses.
"You were sleeping so well I didn't want to disturb you!"
He walks to the sink and takes a small mirror from a drawer before coming back to me. He holds it up, showing me my face. My skin is still very pale and my lips are a blue-grey. My eyes look such a dark violet that they could be mistaken for black at this moment. "Do you see how close to death you look?"
"I'm sorry."
"You could have frozen to death and taken our son with you! I swear sometimes I don't think you have a brain in your head. You foolish, idiotic girl."
I can't answer as I'm too astounded and hurt by his words. He doesn't seem to want an answer, as he storms out of the room. I hear our bedroom door slam as he leaves. It is when I realize that he's threatened to divorce me that it all comes crashing down. He's lied to me from the start. He doesn't love me, merely keeps me here to entertain him. Now that he has a male heir, I am disposable. This thought crushes me. I can't even summon the strength to cry.
****************************
I've slept for most of the day and still can't get warm. Doc says my mild fever has gone. I assume this is the coldness of true depression. I've forced myself to eat when food is brought, but it does nothing to clear the chill in my bones. I flinch when the door opens after supper has come and gone, knowing Lord Kuchiki has returned. There is no greeting for me, he simply goes to the bathroom and shuts the door, confirming my thoughts from today. I decide to pretend to sleep. Surely if I do that, he won't hurt me anymore...
He settles into bed behind me, causing me to flinch involuntarily. This alerts him to my state of awareness. I feel his hand on my arm and I move away, rolling to face him when I'm out of his reach. He frowns, which isn't a good sign. "I'm not going to hurt you, Nanami." he says quietly.
"Do not say things that you don't mean, sir." I tell him quietly.
His frown deepens. "What's happened that's gotten you to call me sir again?"
"You made it clear this morning just what you think of me. I do not wish to speak anymore. Nor do I wish to listen to you speak. I just wish to sleep." My voice trembles.
****Byakuya POV****
I do not like the look on my wife's face. She is not only afraid but sad. Tears begin to spill from her eyes and she rubs them quickly, as if trying to make them stop. I realize my words this morning must have really hurt her. "Nanami, I am sorry." I say quietly before moving quickly and pulling her into my arms. She struggles for a few moments before finally stopping and sobbing against my chest. My hands stroke her head and back, trying to comfort her.
It takes nearly an hour for her sobs to cease. She still won't embrace me, and I understand why. My threat this morning was terrible. I should not have spoken in anger like that, especially not to her. She had scared me, seeing her looking so much like a corpse. My words had been from fear, which had sparked anger. I pull her body closer to me, needing to feel the warmth of her skin to reassure me she's still alive. Her words cut me though. "Stop it, Captain. You don't have to pretend that you love or care for me anymore. You wanted a son, I will have him and then you can toss me out so I will no longer be a burden to you. I'm sorry I've not lived up to your needs in a wife. You deserve better. I am only a mongrel, after all."
"Do not say such words, Nanami. We both have spoken out of anger today and it is doing nothing but hurting us. I did not mean any of what I said to you this morning. I was afraid and let my emotions rule my tongue."
She sighs but refuses to speak any further. Her sigh lets me know exactly what she thinks. She doesn't believe me. I suppose I deserve this, as harsh as I was with her earlier. I will let it rest for the night. I refuse to remove my arms from around her as I slowly fall into sleep.
****Nanami POV****
I wake shivering and disoriented. Lord Kuchiki is nowhere to be found, though I hear footsteps approaching. As the door opens, I see Doc fly in. A thermometer is once again in my mouth. "Nanami, sweetheart, how are you feeling?"
"I'm c-c-cold." I whine.
"You shouldn't be, under four blankets. Byakuya, has she been like this all night?"
"Not as severe, but her skin has begun to get increasingly hot." Lord Kuchiki responds.
I feel something against my chest and then moved to my back. "Pneumonia. It's treatable. She needs to not lay flat for a few days. I have antibiotics on hand. She should be feeling better by tonight, thought not completely healed until at least a week. Nanami, since I don't have any pills that won't affect the baby, I'm going to have to run an IV, ok?"
I nod and close my eyes, shrinking into the blankets and trying very hard to get warm.
"Byakuya, you'd best remain here the next two days. She'll need a personal heater, as cold as she's feeling." I flinch a bit when he sits next to me. This makes him sigh, though he makes no remark. "I shall have Rina take these blankets and bring hot ones. As much as she's sweating that's probably contributing to the cold feeling she's got."
"Thank you."
Doc hurries off and Lord Kuchiki lays with me, shifting my body so that I'm laying between his legs, my head reclined on his chest as he's sitting braced by pillows. I'm too weak to fight him, at the moment, so I simply lay as still as the shivering allows me to. "Nanami, do not die on me. Do you understand me?"
"Why not? You j-j-just want me for the baby." My words are a bit hard to enunciate due to the shivering.
"That is a lie. I want you because I love you. I told you before, I was angry and spoke out of turn. I'm sorry my words have hurt you. I will do what I must to regain your trust but you have to survive."
"I w-w-will live just to s-spite you."
Rina and Doc return, each carrying a blanket. "Byakuya, she'd do better naked. The sweat will soak her clothes and make it worse." Doc orders.
I groan as the blankets I'm under are removed. Byakuya removes the robe I slept in last night quickly before removing his own robe, giving me better access to his body heat. The two blankets are arranged on top of us and I nearly moan. They're hot and steaming slightly. My shivers settle down, somewhat, though do not stop completely. I flinch as Doc stabs a needle into my vein, hooking me up to the IV quickly. "Nanami, do you feel like eating, dear?"
"Please?"
"Good! That's a relief. Rina, tell the cooks to make some soup." Rina gives me a small smile, which I return, before she leaves. Doc eyes me. "I'm not sure what caused you two to be upset with eachother, but I'd suggest you solve it. Nanami, your health is too important to sacrifice. Byakuya, your pride is being a hassle. Fix it with her or I shall ensure to lace your food with laxatives for a month. Now, rest, Nanami. I will have soup sent shortly."
Doc leaves and I'm alone with Lord Kuchiki again. There's an awkward silence before I sigh and close my eyes. "I might as well tell you while you're still angry at me...I succeeded in my training." I say quietly.
"I see. You were uninjured though?"
"My fairy made water balls. If I found the correct one, she would grant my bankai. Grabbing the wrong ones hurt, terribly. I succeeded finally but I was so exhausted I fell asleep outside. I didn't realize I'd get cold enough to make me sick. And you threatening to divorce me over something so simple hurt me very much. If I die, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life." My threat holds absolutely no merit, but I decide to say it anyway.
His hand cups my cheek gently. "If you didn't haunt me, I'd be disappointed. I will prove to you that I love you, no matter how much you push me away."
I yank his hand down to my belly. He moves his other hand to rest on the other side. I can feel the soft fluttering of our son. I can't quite call them kicks, as they aren't very strong yet, but I definitely feel something. "He loves you already, it seems."
"What do you mean?"
"Every time you touch or speak close to my belly, he goes crazy. I can barely feel it, but I feel it."
"I see. Are you warm enough now? You're not shivering as much."
"For now. I'm sure I'll get cold again soon. My chest feels heavy."
"It's likely the fluid building up. You'll have to sleep like this for the next few days. I will try to make you as comfortable as possible."
"I am still upset with you."
"Then I shall endeavor to make you not upset with me."

****Byakuya POV****
Nanami is reclined against the headboard and I feed her soup. That's all she's eaten for the past two days is soup. This appears to be chicken and noodle soup. She looks much better today. She still isn't calling me by my name though so I shall continue to work on gaining her trust back. She takes the last bite of her soup and sighs softly. "Would you like more?" I ask her, hopefully.
"I'm full."
"Good. How are you feeling today?"
She glances down, her trademark of when she's going to tell me a lie. "I feel fine."
"I think you're lying."
She sighs. "I'm better but still tired, my chest still feels heavy and I'm cold."
I set her bowl down on the serving tray before shifting around and pulling her body back against mine. She still becomes stiff for a few moments but the amount of time it lingers gets far less. She turns her head, resting it comfortably against my chest. Before long, she's sleeping, which I am grateful for. She has been having trouble, between the chest tightness and the coughing spells she's taking.
A gentle knock on the door warns me of a visitor. Doc sticks her head in the door. I give her a nod and she immediately comes to listen to Nanami's chest. Her relieved smile tells me that Nanami is getting better. "Does she still feel fevered?" she whispers.
"Not as bad. Perhaps a little warm still. She still complains of feeling cold."
"I'll bring another round of heated blankets. Her lungs are sounding much better. Have you been holding her like this to sleep?"
"It seemed the best way to keep her from laying flat."
"It's a very smart idea. It's obviously helped tremendously. I'll go get those blankets."
After she leaves I take this time to stroke Nanami's hair softly. No matter how stubborn she is, I can be more stubborn. She is still hurt from my words, it seems. I watch the rise and fall of her chest, thinking on how to fix things with her.
"Byakuya...don't leave us." she mumbles, still clearly asleep.
"Never. I will never leave you, Nanami." I whisper in her ear.
****Nanami POV****
It is day four of this illness and I feel as if I can finally breathe again. Though I still have a cough, I'm no longer having to take light, shallow breaths. My anger at my husband has cooled, as he's been very attentive of me. He even went so far as to paint my nails just to make my smile. Somehow, I never in a million years would have pictured the beautiful, pride-filled Byakuya Kuchiki painting anyone's nails, let alone mine. I decide this must be his version of groveling. I am not quite ready to forgive him completely, but perhaps I could start saying his name again.
"I think I'd like to try something a bit heavier than soup today, please, Rina." I tell her when she comes to ask what I'd like for breakfast. She brightens up immediately and nods before practically running out the door. I glance at Byakuya. "Why is she so excited?"
"The entire household has been worried for you, Nanami. I'm sure you haven't noticed, as you haven't been up and moving much lately, but you've lost a few pounds due to your inability to eat anything more substantial than soup. Hearing you request something heavier is like hearing the most beautiful words you've ever heard." he answers swiftly.
"I see. I just haven't been hungry. I'm not sure why. Honestly, many times you'd feed me I felt ill after, as if I'd over eaten. I knew that couldn't be correct though, because I can eat more than that normally."
"And yet you said nothing. Why?"
"Because I knew I needed to eat, not just for me but for our son too."
"That's very true."
I pull the blanket back up over my shoulders. "I feel better except for a random chill now and again."
"That is a very good sign. You're finally getting better."
I roll so my chest is laying on his belly before kissing his chest softly. "Thank you. For being my personal space heater. I'm sorry for being a burden, yet again."
"You are not a burden. It is my job to provide you heat when you are ill. I've enjoyed it, for the most part. Renji has been kind enough to deliver reports daily and Captain Fon has been giving directions for the squad's training to keep them from getting too bored."
"I think, if you'd like to go back to work, you can. I'll miss the heat but you do have duties to preform. You can't do them while babying me."
"Are you still so angry at me that you must chase me away now?"
"No, just making an observation."
"I will return to work when it is necessary. I cannot leave you, knowing you're ill and need my body heat to get well again."
"You could just make someone else cuddle with me, though I can't think of anyone I'd rather cuddle with."
"Have you forgiven me, then?"
"Not completely. However, you are quickly changing my opinion."
He tilts my chin and kisses me gently. "I will continue to convince you that what I said was a terrible lie. I could never leave you, Nanami. Not even if I would die. It would be impossible for me. You're my wife. The mother of my children. You've made my heart beat again after so long of being buried in ice."
"Such a way with words." I give him a smile before laying my head once more on his chest. "Even though you are a fool, I love you."
His hands caress my back gently. "I love you too."
*****************************************
The alarms begin sounding as I complete some paperwork. Byakuya gets to his feet. "You are to stay, Nanami. I will worry too much if you are on the battlefield. It's just a few small Hollows. It won't take long to dispatch them." he orders me.
"I agree. Good luck, Captain." I say.
He kisses me gently before heading out the door. I do not stay long before rising. Before I've taken three steps a pain in my belly makes me gasp. I look at the calendar and curse. It is late in October. I am not due for another two weeks. Another pain forces me to act. I move to the door and, finding no one nearby, I grit my teeth and make my way home. "You stay right where you are, my son. At least until we get home." I tell my child, hopefully.
"Nanami! Do you mind if I walk with you?" Momo calls, running up beside me.
"No, actually, I'm glad you're here. I need help getting home."
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"No, my son has decided that today would be a good birthday."
"Wha....oh! Nanami! You shouldn't be up walking!"
"I'm fine for now. My contractions aren't close together yet but I'd feel safer with you walking with me just in case."
She nods and falls into step beside me. "I'm glad I happened to be walking this way. Where's Captain Kuchiki?"
"He was called out for that alarm."
"Oh, I see. That must be why Captain Zaraki was so irritated. I think he's bored."
"Niisama is likely extremely bored lately. It's been too qui-"
"Nanami." a familiar voice calls to me. I turn and my head thumps against a very well endowed chest. My face heats dramatically.
"Lady Halibel!" I cry, hugging her.
"You look like you need some help."
I hear Momo unsheathe her blade. "You stay away from her, arrancar." Momo says, her voice dark.
"Momo, it's alright. Lady Halibel won't hurt me. She kept me safe that long month I went missing after my family was raided."
"I won't hurt either of you. I actually came to speak with your commander. I was invited here. I just decided to get a little side tracked. I wanted to see how my young friend was doing after she was taken back." Halibel says.
I wince as another pain hits. "Well, as much as I'd like to-"
"Well well, isn't this a funny little flock of hens." Kenpachi growls.
Halibel looks unconcerned. Momo looks terrified. "Niisama, Momo was escorting me and Lady Halibel is here for a meeting with Head Captain Kyoraku. There's no trouble." I say.
He eyes me. "I don't buy that for a fuckin' instant, Noodle. You're pale and sweatin' and have your arm on your stomach. Come here." he orders.
I walk over to him and let out a frightened squeal when he lifts me into his arms. His glare returns to Halibel. "Go to your meetin' but I'm warnin' you, woman, you start a fight, I'll end it."
"I had no intentions of it. Nanami, I wish you luck. Perhaps I shall see you later?"
"I'd enjoy a visit from you." I give her a smile before Kenpachi begins walking. "You don't have to carry me, you know." I gripe.
"The sooner you get home and safe, the better off you'll be. I got a bad feelin' in my gut. Somethin' ain't right in the Seireitei." he grumbles
"Is it really that or are you just bored?" I ask, hoping it's the latter.
"Would I lie?"
"No, I don't suppose you would." I wince as another pain hits. "Byakuya isn't in the Seireitei. He was called out on that alarm."
"Figures. Bad fuckin' timin'."
"Did you stay with Harmona when she had your children?"
"I was by her side for the twins. Well, technically behind her. She was in the bathtub. The triplets were surgically removed due to Mitsuki havin' her cord wrapped around her neck."
"I see. Somehow I never pictured you actually being there for their births. I always figured you'd be off fighting someone or something." I laugh.
"If I was younger, before the Blood War, I likely woulda been."
I notice him slowing but, looking at the walls surrounding us, we are not quite to the Manor yet. "What's-"
"Nanami, get behind me. Don't move your back from the wall. Do you understand me?" he growls.
"Understood." I say as he sets me on my feet. I quickly dart behind him, placing my back to a wall that's twenty feet to the left but facing the direction we were going. My blood runs cold as I see Tayashi there.
"I want the woman, Captain Zaraki. Give her to me." he demands coldly.
"Not a chance, kid." Kenpachi says, removing his eye patch.
His reiatsu washes over me, chilling me to the bone. I sink to my knees. "Kenpachi, I trust you." I tell him. This makes him grin.
"Bout damn time, little sister."
"Sister? She killed her brothers. She has no siblings, especially not an overgrown pest from the Rukongai." Tayashi snaps.
"Jokes on you, Tayashi. The paperwork was completed two months ago. I adopted him as my brother." I say, right before gasping in pain.
Tayashi looks disgusted. "Then all three of you will die."
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Sakura Petals and Fairies