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Prize of Victory	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 87205 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make profit from this snippet

Chapter List
- 77
- 78
- 79
To Rule a Division

　

No, it wasn�t his imagination, he decided, and sighed in resignation.

He was attracting undue attention and some strange looks from passersbyers as he walked down the street towards the 2^nd Division. Yammy had not been happy about giving him up for duty during the day and had made it clear that he would have to put up with the brute�s �attentions� later on. However, Byakuya refused to let the promise get to him and instead flowed down the street as if he was still wearing his old 6^th Division regalia and not the pretty kimono Yammy had forced him to wear.

The outer layer was white with pink sakura blossoms all over it, an overtly feminine garment. As usual, the obi had been replaced with his scarf and his hair held back by the clips Yammy had given him ages ago. The entire ensemble might have been appropriate on a ten-year-old girl.

�I�m fortunate that bastard hasn�t decided to force me to put my hair in pigtails,� he thought.

If given a choice, he would have burned the entire outfit long ago and scattered the ashes to the winds, but once again that miserable Claim prevented him from destroying it. There were times he wondered why Yammy found humiliating him by dressing him as a woman entertaining. One would think that the novelty would have worn off years ago.

He reached the 2^nd Division gates and handed his prewritten letter over to the guards. One of them took it and read it before offering him a bow and asking him to follow him. All Division offices were designed the same so that any Taichou could be found in an emergency and he really didn�t need the escort, but he conceded to it anyhow.

He was pleasantly surprised to find Karin already in the office, talking to the few seated officers the Division had. Judging by the conversation it seemed to be about the training regimen.

�Any questions?� she asked at the end, meeting their gazes squarely and leaning forward in her chair.

From his vantage point, Byakuya could see that there seemed to be very little unspoken dissention among the officers; there was no fidgeting, no restlessness, no eye rolling and no questioning looks. That, at least in his experience, was all to the good; it didn�t seem Karin would have any problems maintaining authority over the seats below her.

Apparently, she had also made whatever point she had to make to them and the look she gave them told him that she expected results. Of course, her attempt at assertiveness wasn�t exactly helped by the numerous piles of paper stacked haphazardly on the top of her desk, one of which swayed a little with the movement of the floorboards beneath the her staff�s feet.

�No, Karin-Fukutaichou,� they said and saluted.

�Good, I will check on you throughout the day. Dismissed,� she told them.

They bowed and departed, pausing only to look at him in surprise as he stepped out of the way to let them pass. Out of the corner of his eye, the swaying stack of paperwork moved a little from side to side, but thankfully did not give way.

�Karin-Fukutaichou�� his escort called, and then cleared his throat.

�What is it?� she asked. Looking up, she realized he�d arrived and her expression instantly brightened. �Oh, Byakuya-san, you are here! Thank goodness. You are dismissed as well,� she said to his escort.

The Shinigami bowed and left as Byakuya carefully entered the room, moving to stand before her desk. She stood, equally careful and with a glare at the offending pile of paper, bowed as well, a little lower than was necessary for someone who would technically be his superior. He mimicked her, his movements precisely executed, and straightened just as the sliding door clicked shut, only to find Karin giving him a look of relieved gratitude mixed with a surprising amount of weariness.

With just the two of them alone in the office she finally let her exhaustion show and he noticed she sported a good number of bruises from her scrap with Yammy yesterday.

�Please forgive me for being presumptuous here, but I was really hoping you would be willing to take care of all this,� she waved at the piles of paperwork, �with our Third Seat while I see more to the training. He was trying to show me how to do it yesterday and all I got was a pounding migraine after ten minutes,� she complained.

Byakuya nodded and pulled out his chalk board from his sleeve.

�How much do you know?� he inquired.

�I can put together the training schedules and reports, as well as write up battle reports. But things like budgets and that stuff go right over my head. Remember, I technically have only a fifth-grade education. Debits, credits and all that is over my head,� she groaned.

He nodded his head in understanding. Truthfully, she was far more educated than half the citizens living in the Rukongai. In a normal scenario, she would have worked her way up the seats and learned the paperwork along the way.

He gave the mass of undone paperwork on the desk a thoughtful look. Dealing with it was definitely fine by him. It was a familiar duty from his days of glory and there was nothing like drowning oneself in it to forget the bleakness of one�s life. However, no matter how much he wanted to lose himself in it to temporarily forget his currently wretched living arrangements, his own sense of morality would not permit him to let her remain ignorant of the duties she should know as a Fukutaichou, regardless of how she came to the position.

He took the chair opposite her before quickly disassembling the pile that threatened to topple, rooting through the mess until he quickly found something that a Fukutaichou would normally handle. Finding another similar document, he placed it squarely in front of him, face-up on the desk.

Karin looked confused for a moment before bringing her chair around the desk to sit beside him.

It was going to be difficult to teach her without being able to speak and explain, but he was honestly pleased with the challenge to his intellect. It was about time he got some mental stimulation in his life again.

The sheet almost felt strange to him, for it had been a very long time since he�d had to fill this work out. He started at the top and was pleased to note she followed his example as they went through the form together.

She was not shy to ask questions, and that also pleased him as he wrote out the answers on his chalk board. He found himself relaxing into the familiar routine of paperwork and as much as he respected and liked Ukitake-Taichou, Byakuya couldn�t help but to wish that he took a good while to fully recover.

Someone brought them tea around mid-morning and Karin excused herself once every two hours to check on the training exercises before returning after fifteen minutes. He was definitely pleased with her work ethic and once more wished he had met her before her brother, for she was a much more impressive representative of the family.

Karin caught on quickly and Byakuya surmised she was very much a visual, hands-on learner like Renji, though probably much smarter than his former lieutenant and certainly more patient.

It was actually rather pleasant working alongside her as she didn�t feel the need for mindless chatter to break the comfortable silence. When she suddenly jumped a bit in surprise, he looked at her questionably.

�I have to go, but I�ll be back in a few minutes,� she excused herself before quickly leaving and launching into an impressively-executed Shunpo the moment she was out the door.

Curious, he followed her reiatsu as she headed towards what appeared to be every Arrancar in Aizen�s army. He vaguely recalled Yammy being summoned to a meeting this morning.

�A meeting with her mate perhaps,� he mused before dismissing the matter and returning his attention to the work before him.

　

　

Karin arrived quickly; stopping just out of sight, she made sure that she looked completely regal and powerful, despite the fact she was honestly exhausted enough to fall over and longed to sleep for a week.

Once she approached the meeting, she noticed at once that many of the Arrancar were indeed looking at Szayel as if he was their next meal. Szayel, for his part, was doing a good job looking utterly unfazed by what had to have been a very debasing event.

Her confident march into the midst of a large group of Arrancar definitely drew all of their attention. Those that knew her, like Tesra, simply continued on their way after politely greeting her, ignoring the whole thing. That included Yammy, who spared her one dark, threatening look before he found someplace else to focus his attention. Those that had been pondering whether or not to try to take down Szayel decided to transfer that look to her, as if they wanted to remind her of her place amongst them and were probably only holding back because they could tell she was Claimed.

�This is it,� she thought. �Time to give them something to think about.�

�How was the meeting? I trust all is now in order?� she questioned confidently as she marched up to the two Espada.

�Yeah, yeah,� Grimmjow grunted. �Aizen-Kami made him announce it himself though,� Grimmjow smirked at Szayel, perhaps showing a little more tooth than necessary, but it did help make the point.

Szayel looked flustered and adjusted his glasses.

�I honestly don�t see why such an event was even necessary,� he complained.

�Quit bitching, unless you want someone else taking care of you,� Grimmjow snorted.

�No, thank you,� Szayel scowled.

Karin closed the distance between herself and Grimmjow and quickly found herself in his embrace as he nuzzled her neck.

�You really didn�t need to,� she sighed.

�It would make me feel better knowing you got someone at your back,� he said truthfully. �Not to mention someone needs to keep an eye on our daughter while we are at work now that Ulquiorra�s bitch is knocked up,� he added.

�Oi,� she protested.

�Great, I have been reduced to your personal babysitter,� Szayel grouched, rubbing his forehead.

�It�s either that or you can become my sparring partner,� Grimmjow smirked at him.

Szayel froze and then let out a very put-upon groan.

�Are you sure you want to do this?� she asked Grimmjow.

�We are mates, what�s mine is now also yours,� he said firmly. �My territory, my food, my warmth at your back, and my possessions,� he added, smirking at Szayel.

The crowd was starting to disperse, a great many of the lesser Arrancar looking unhappy that their easy prey was turning out not to be so easy while a great many more appeared curious to know who she was.

Of course most of them had heard that Grimmjow had a child with one of the infamous Kurosaki Ichigo�s sister, but few of them had ever seen her up close. She felt many an appraising eye on her.

�Oi, you will serve my mate well, right?� Grimmjow glared at Szayel.

�Do I have a choice?� Szayel snorted back.

�No. You will obey her commands as my own, or so help me I will flay you alive and leave you for the crows to eat,� he snapped in threat. �I may even use your hide later for a coat.�

�Such threats are hardly necessary Master,� Szayel bowed to him. �If I may be excused, Karin-sama, Grimmjow-sama, I have much work to do.�

�Go ahead,� Karin waved him off.

�Of course,� he offered them another deep bow before disappearing into a Sonido.

�I must return to work myself before checking in on Jushiro-san. Thank you for the wonderful gift,� she smiled at him, adding a gleeful clap of her hands for good measure. Grimmjow raised one blue eyebrow at that, but shrugged it off.

�I�ll see you in bed tonight,� he promised with pleasant growl.

�Insatiable,� she chuckled as she untangled herself from his grip and disappeared into a Shunpo.

�You know it,� he replied into the now mostly-empty courtyard.

Karin came out of her Shunpo at the research building, arriving a few seconds after Szayel.

�So, did it work?� she questioned him.

�It definitely defused most of the tension,� he answered. �It was a rather stunning performance done by all. You were wonderful, my dear Karin-sama,� he bowed elegantly at her. She rolled her eyes in response.

�Ugh. I knew you were going to have too much fun with that,� she grouched, irritated with the flattery.

�I do wish it was unnecessary Karin-sama, but as you know, Kami-sama is all seeing under the light of the sun,� he pointed out.

Karin just gave him a pained look.

�Yeah, I know,� she grunted in annoyance. �Look, I need to get back to work. Do me a favour and try not to get into any more trouble, alright?�

�I will do my best to appease you, Karin-sama,� he bowed again and retreated to his laboratory.

�Way too much bloody fun,� she groaned as she jumped into another Shunpo and headed back to the 2^nd Division.

Maybe if she was lucky Byakuya had finished all of the paperwork and she could go pass out next to Jushiro in the 4th Division for a while to regain a bit of strength and let her aching brain and body rest. Of course, with the luck she�d had lately, that seemed unlikely.

She tiredly and reluctantly dragged herself back to the 2^nd Division and if she didn�t know better she would have sworn Byakuya hadn�t moved from his spot. However, the pile of finished paperwork astonished her as she took her place beside him. There was a neat stack on her side of the table, waiting for her attention.

�My apologies, but I needed to be elsewhere. I take it that this pile is mine?� she asked, regarding the stack of papers with a little resignation.

She took his nod as her answer. Karin picked up the top sheet and glared at it viciously before sighing in defeat and retrieving a brush and inkwell from her desk drawer.

�Funny, I could have sworn when I agreed to join this outfit that all I would be doing was training the troops, not melting my brain with paperwork and reports,� she mentally groaned.

She filled out the form slowly, but in all honesty she was just too tired to pay much attention to it.

　

　

　

He was definitely curious as to what could have possibly dragged Karin away, but he was not discourteous enough to question her. She was clearly exhausted, both physically and mentally, when she returned. Considering where she�d gone, he decided he might not like the answer.

She sat down beside him once again and after a moment grabbed the paperwork he had put aside for her. It was the most basic stuff any Fukutaichou learned to do. He continued on with the other more important reports.

It was a relief to note that Jushiro had a very well-organized structure in place and Karin had been called in before things could unravel or back-up too badly. That was one thing Byakuya had to admit about Aizen�s Empire. There was certainly a lot less unnecessary paperwork since there was no reason to report to the now-defunct Central 46 or the Noble Houses that had once financed both the school and the military force.

�I am too young for this crap,� Karin suddenly groaned.

Byakuya let out a soft chuckle of amusement at her statement. Normally people complained about being too old

�Yeah, go ahead and laugh,� she grunted. �Kami, I should still be in school.�

That was a strange statement. He knew she was younger than Ichigo, but he honestly didn�t know much about human years. She looked to be about Rukia�s age, but humans aged differently and looks could be deceiving.

He was sure he recalled Rukia telling him at one point Ichigo had been 15 years old when he rescued her. Surly, Karin couldn�t be that much younger than her brother. Despite himself, his curiously finally got the best of him enough to dare ask one of the three taboo questions when it came to women.

�How old are you?� he asked, the click of the chalk on the slate almost jarring in the quiet of the office.

�Eighteen,� she answered softly, after seeing the question.

He blinked in surprise and his eyes widened. Eighteen!?!? Byakuya did a quick mental calculation that nearly caused his jaw to drop. She would have been only fifteen, maybe sixteen at most when she became pregnant with Ajuga! She was so damn young, a youngster by any reckoning, human or Shinigami. He had assumed that she was, at the youngest, twenty-one or maybe twenty-two, not a child of eighteen. His incredulity must have been apparent because she looked away, shoulders slumped.

�I know, I�m too young,� she sighed, ��for anyone to take me seriously.�

She looked so fatigued and a little despondent that he overcame his initial shock and schooled his features, quickly writing out something that he hoped would help ease her self-assessment.

�You are now the youngest to have ever achieved the position of Fukutaichou.�

�I bet,� she chuckled tiredly. �Look, I know it is your first day and all, but I have had a rough thirty-six hours. Would you mind terribly if we call it a day and start early tomorrow?� she questioned.

Byakuya cringed inwardly. He had absolutely no desire to return home, but she definitely needed the rest. He was honestly surprised she had done as much work today as she had since he had a firsthand knowledge of how beaten up she had been yesterday. He still had no idea just what she had done, how her reiatsu had surged so impossibly high so quickly, but whatever the cause, it clearly left her drained for some time afterwards.

She must have sensed his reluctance regarding the end of his shift, because she suddenly sat upright and gave him a thoughtful look.

�I was going to swing by and check on the girls and Jushiro-san as well. Would you care to accompany me?� she asked.

He would take any chance at a reprieve from Yammy�s attentions, especially one sanctioned by a superior officer. He gave a firm nod of his head and tried to keep himself from smiling in gratitude.

�Good. Let�s clean up and retire for the evening.�

After leaving some instructions for the Third and Sixth Seats, they made their way towards the 4th Division. Karin hadn�t been there since the day before when she told Jushiro that she and Byakuya would be running his Division, so it came as quite the surprise to find his room assignment had been changed.

�Mama,� Ajuga cheered happily. ��And Bya-san!! Hi!!�

�Hey brats. Did you two do something to Jushiro-san�s room when I wasn�t looking?� she accused them. �You didn�t destroy his first room with your roughhousing, did you?�

�No,� Jushiro answered for them, smiling fondly at the girls. �And it is good to see you looking well, Byakuya-san.�

Both of them stared at Jushiro in surprise. For a man who had seemed ready to lie down in his grave the previous day, he was looking rather healthy, if still drastically underweight and clearly exhausted, today.

�Orihime-san came by and healed the damaged tissue,� he explained, earning a stunned look from Karin and a somewhat puzzled look from Byakuya, until he remembered the girl�s powers.

�I never thought about asking her to help,� Karin admitted, smacking her forehead. �I figured since it was a bacterial problem, there wasn�t much she could do.�

�She can�t get rid of the disease itself, but it seems she can heal the damage that the bacteria cause to the lungs. Unohana-san has me hooked up to all those medications with the convoluted names you informed her about. She hopes that, now that my immune system is up and the tissue healthier, they might help,� he explained, looking more hopeful than Byakuya had seen him in a long time.

�I certainly hope so.�

�Unohana-san said we can take �take-ji home tomorrow, but it will still take a long time for him to recover,� Hana announced.

�Yep, Hana-chan and I promised we would take care of �take-ji until he is all better, and Sensei said he would come teach us,� Ajuga added helpfully.

�Sensei?� Karin asked confused.

�Oh, thank you Byakuya-san for introducing me to Sensei,� Hana said suddenly, and bowed politely, taking him by surprise. �I have learned so much. See?� she held up a page scrawled with an equation that admittedly left his head reeling a bit in its complexity. He had to look at it carefully before he realized it was differential calculus.

�Oh, oh, see my work, Bya-san,� Ajuga held up her paper covered in various kanji. �Sensei said I can be reeeallllly good one day,� she said proudly.

Byakuya carefully considered Hana�s paper, giving her a nod, before turning his gaze to Ajuga�s worksheet. He had to admit her kanji were impressive, more so because she was so young. He had almost forgotten how much he enjoyed calligraphy. It had been so long since he�d had the chance or desire to truly practice it.

He offered her a small smile of approval before gliding over to the table that was covered in various pieces of paper and picking up the brush. Excited, both girls moved over to see what he was doing while Karin took the opportunity to give Jushiro a verbal report on how his Division was doing.

Byakuya took a deep breath and let his mind clear of all of his troubles before letting the ink-laden brush flow elegantly over the paper. Both girls watched in silent awe as the figure slowly emerged on the page.

�Oooo!!!� Ajuga cried happily, blue eyes following the brush-tip as he formed the kanji for �hard work�.

She picked up another brush and he watched, impressed as she settled down and looked at her page sideways. Hana dove right into trying to copy the intricate kanji he had drawn, while Ajuga continued to stare at her page.

After a moment she nodded her head and slowly dipped her brush into the ink and started to draw. Like she had done while hunting in his garden, there was no rush to her work now. He was amazed that someone with so much energy could remain so still and show such patience.

It was hard to consider that this girl was related in any way to Kurosaki Ichigo. Indeed, it was hard to believe Karin was related to the loud, over-eager, brash young man. With all the patience of a stalking predator, Ajuga slowly let her kanji take shape. It was still somewhat sloppy, but he attributed most of that to her young age and blamed the rest on the poor quality of ink, brush and paper.

Undeterred, she started again on another clean, part of her paper. Hana had already given up and was writing out an equation. Ajuga seemed happy to continue working diligently on the word he had provided.

For a very brief moment he almost wished that his family, Yammy, and Szayel were successful. For all of the love he�d had for his wife, Hisana, she had been far too sick to grace him with a child.

He had the barest memory of his mother, sitting patiently beside him, trying to get him to work on his own kanji while he had shifted impatiently, wanting to go back to weapons training. It wasn�t until after his parents� deaths that he had picked up calligraphy in earnest.

His mother had been exceptional at it, as expected of a noblewoman. He had grown fond of it because each time he did so it reminded him of her calming presence, even if the memories of what she had looked like slowly started to fade and might have disappeared from his mind altogether were it not for the family portrait in the shrine.

�Bya-san?�

There was a small tug on his sleeve, jolting him out of his daydream. He blinked and found Ajuga looking up at him worriedly, but no one else seemed to have noticed his gaffe. Hana was still humming and working out her numbers while Karin wrapped up her report.

He offered Ajuga a soft smile to assure her he was fine. She looked at him sceptically, reminding him a little too much of her mother, but returned her attention to a fresh piece of paper and set about working on the kanji.

�Anything you can think to add?� Karin suddenly asked him.

Only years of noble training let him get away with the fact that he honestly had no idea what they had talked about, that he hadn�t been paying attention. He thought for a second if there was anything he felt Jushiro HAD to know and came up blank. Byakuya decided that even if she had missed something, there was nothing so important it needed to be stated now. He gave his head a shake in the negative to answer the question.

�You look like you need some rest as well Karin-san,� Jushiro admonished her. �You were brought in drained of reiatsu and injured yesterday, you know.�

�I was?�

When Jushiro nodded again, she looked away, thumb and finger curled around her chin, frowning at that. �Strange, when I woke up I was at home in bed.�

�Well, other than exhaustion and some superficial injuries you were fine. Grimmjow took you home right after,� Jushiro explained.

�What happened, Mama?� Ajuga asked curiously.

�Nothing much hun,� Karin assured her daughter with a smile. �I was having a heated debate with Yammy and things got a little� out of control,� she answered truthfully.

Byakuya�s shoulders tensed at that.

�Truthful, if one could count several damaging blows to one of the thickest skulls ever created as a debate,� he thought sourly.

Jushiro gave her an unreadable look, stared down at his hands on the coverlet for a moment and then turned to the children at the table, giving a small clap so that he had their attention.

�Hana-chan, Ajuga-chan, I�m actually thirsty now. Do you think you two could get me some tea?� Jushiro asked sweetly. �And could you bring some for Karin-Fukutaichou and Byakuya-san as well?�

�Hai!� both girls answered happily before jumping out of their chairs and scampering down the hall, leaving the adults alone.

�What happened?� Jushiro asked her.

His tone was stern, and Byakuya knew the man would put up with no dissembling from the woman who had taken over in his absence. He felt his stomach clench in shame and more than a little fear, partly because Karin could not possibly leave out the reason behind her loss of control.

It was no secret that Yammy and he shared a bed, just as it was no secret that Starrk and Jushiro did as well. Until yesterday he had done a good job if hiding the fact Yammy had abused him so badly, and humiliatingly, over the last eight years. It was a task made easy since, despite his brutality, Yammy did not beat him often and when he did, he usually made sure that the marks weren�t visible when he was clothed. Usually, after several hours, the pain would diminish enough to be simply annoying instead of inhibiting him physically. Byakuya swallowed and tried to keep his face expressionless, all the while wanting to sink through the floor.

�Yammy just objected to the thought of having to give Byakuya-san up and used his fists to say so,� Karin replied, nonchalantly.

He looked at her, surprised at her words. He had honestly thought she was going to tell Jushiro the whole thing, about how she had found him pinned to the edge of the hot spring while Yammy raped him without hesitation, and much satisfaction, in front of her.

Jushiro gave them both a look that said he didn�t believe them, eyes narrowing.

�Yammy is not the smartest Espada, but he would not attack you over something like that.� Jushiro frowned at her. �He is not foolish enough to arouse Aizen-Kami�s wrath so easily by flouting his laws.�

Jushiro suddenly sighed and looked right into Byakuya�s eyes. He felt fear and could honestly swear he believed the other was reading his thoughts.

�I wish there was something I could do to help the others unfortunate enough to have ended up with Arrancar who aren�t inclined to look after their health,� he sighed almost brokenly. �I have spoken with Aizen-Kami about it a few times; to ask that he lay down some laws and guidelines. I know he�s made a few, but I have a feeling they are not being adhered to, nor strictly enforced.�

The room went silent for a second and then Byakuya broke eye contact, staring at the tiles beneath his feet.

�Is Yammy abusing you Byakuya?� Jushiro asked gently.

He wanted to deny it, to inform his once fellow Taichou that he was fine, but he could not bring himself to lie any more than he could meet the other�s eyes.

�I see. Following that line of logic, I�m guessing that you walked in on it Karin,� Jushiro sighed sadly. �Am I right in that assessment?�

Karin�s fists tightened, but she neither denied nor confirmed the claim, letting her gritted teeth speak for her. Neither one seemed to notice the drop in formalities either.

�I couldn�t stop myself,� Karin finally admitted. �How could anyone�� she didn�t finish her question. �And his so called �family� just stood there and watched!� she finished her broken sentence with a snarl of anger.

Jushiro�s gaze rested on him next. He wanted to deny it, but the thought of the truth being out, that someone was actually angry on his behalf was just too tempting to resist. Biting back his pride, he nodded his head.

It was strange how that simple action seemed to lift such a heavy burden off of his shoulders, how he didn�t have to pretend anymore that nothing was going on in his so called perfect, noble house.

Perhaps the most relieving part was that neither Karin nor Jushiro pitied him. He would not have been able to stand that. Both of them felt only anger at Yammy and his family for permitting such a thing to happen.

It was so much of a relief, that he found himself crying softly before he even realized it. Karin closed the distance and held him. In his mind he could hear the soft murmurings of Senbonzakura as his Zanpakuto also offered him comfort. Eight years of pent up frustration was finally let loose.

Karin didn�t hold him for long, and retreated almost before he was ready. He had just enough time to recompose himself before the two girls returned, Hana carrying a tray with a teapot and Ajuga clutching three empty cups tightly in her arms. The younger girl set them down carefully on the table while Hana placed the tray on an empty spot on the table, then filled the three cups.

�We got the tea, �take-ji,� Hana announced as she handed him his cup.

�Thank you Hana-chan,� Jushiro smiled happily at the girl and took a healthy slurp of it. �My, this is excellent!! Thank you both!�

Ajuga looked up at Byakuya oddly for a minute while Hana filled the other two cups before she suddenly smiled and handed him the next full cup of tea.

�You smell like salt water, but a lot less sad now,� Ajuga commented before returning to the table and her papers.

She hummed a happy tune as she set about trying to copy the kanji he had drawn for her earlier. A second set of footsteps sounded outside of the door, and the three adults turned to look at the new, unexpected arrival.

�Oh, Karin-chan, thank goodness you are looking better!� Orihime said cheerfully as she entered the room. �Oh, good afternoon Byakuya-san,� she greeted him with a wide smile and a bow.

He offered her a nod in greeting. The human woman, Tatsuki if he recalled her name right, entered after Orihime and offered her own greetings.

There were two things Byakuya noted right away. One was that Orihime was definitely pregnant; the other was the simple golden band on Tatsuki�s ring finger. Despite his slight curiosity, the suddenly crowded room offered him a means of escape.

Taking a sip of tea to fortify himself, he waited until the girls were too occupied with the work before them and Karin and Jushiro�s attention had shifted to the newcomers to slip out among the warm greetings. The guards bowed as he entered the Estate and headed to his private garden. He pulled Senbonzakura from his sash and settled into the preferred Jinzen position, hoping to be left alone for a little while, at least.

He slipped into his inner world with ease. The samurai was waiting for him beside the only surviving tree from what had once been a glorious garden. When last he had been here it had been barely a sapling. Now it was taller than he and the first blooms were starting to bud.

It was amazing how much simply letting others know about what was happening and having their support could affect both one�s mind and soul. And, he thought, it was also gratifying.

�You are not alone Master,� Senbonzakura commented. �They may not be of blood, but they do truly care for our well-being.�

�I know,� he responded, pleased to not only hear his voice, but to have it come out steady despite the trail of tears once more slowly making their way down his face.

He watched in pleasure as one of the buds on the growing tree slowly bloomed before his eyes, a true sign that, even though it was tediously slow and would take a very long time, his soul had started to heal, one small piece at a time.

　

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Stay tuned for the next chapter: Where Ulquiorra gets an earful from Tatsuki-chan.
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Prize of Victory