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1. Lieutenant
He is too late. The hallow has gotten her and is stepping trough the Garganta. Why would that mindless creature kidnap a shinigami? He doesn’t stop to look for answers. With a burst of speed he jumps trough the gate after them. They are no were to be seen. Around him, as far as any sense can perceive,there is only desert. But he is not alone. For the first time in the outside world, he sees a beautiful being wearing the sea as a dress and the sky as an overcoat.
‘’Let’s get our subordinate back.’’ Nejibana’s voice roars as the seas, thunders like the heavens, ready to unleash a deadly storm. His own worry and desperation are readable on his zanpakuto’s face.
‘’Everyone in Soul Society knows that you don’t mess with the 13th, without Lieutenant Shiba dropping down on you, like the hand of a vengeful Soul King. I guess that Hueco Mundo will need to learn that too.’’
‘’You will need bankai for this.’’ Nejibana agrees.
2. Friend
As long as a shingami is in the 13th, he will be on their side even if he dies. The fear is almost drowning him but his outrage is giving him power.
The worry biting his heart with sharp teeth, and the indignation he feels…
He realizez that are beyond those bred by being someone’s brother-in-arms.
He realizes with a start that his latest charity project, which coincidentally is also his latest annoy-Byakuya-Kuchiki project, has wiggled herself into his heart, in a position dangerously close to that of a little sister.
‘’When I get you back I won’t let him treat you like that anymore. You will be MY little sister.’’ He swears to himself.
He is going to get her back from the anti-shinigami group in Rukongai, and then things are going to be different. She won’t have a cold and hateful brother but a loving one, instead of a cold and empty house she’ll have a home bursting with life and new siblings. Instead of being denied even the knowledge that she had an older sister, Miyako will sleep with her usual grace into her role.
That’s how things were always meant to be, the girl was always more Shiba than Kuchiki at heart.
After she saves her again, and she obstinately remains in the house of her unhappiness, he can’t quite describe why he is so disappointed by her decision. He realizes that for a long time now, he thought about her as being a part of home. Somehow, Byakuya’s runt of a so called sister, had gained the power of making him unhappy with her decisions. Sad and shy, she became a closer friend than any other subordinate without him realizing it.
3. Lover
After Metastacia transformed Nejibana to dust for a time, Kaien was sure that he will fallow his beloved wife and his men into death.
Fortunately, his kiddo mastery, and the knowledge that Rukia and their sick Captain were there and needed protection, made him triumphant in his quest to avenge the dead and protect the living.
For the longest time he was so sad that it escaped his understanding. All of the time he was walking on a long dark path in winter. It was always night and clouds stole the little light that the distant stars could give. Miyako’s warm memory was transformed by his grieving into a vengeful ghost, haunting his every every hour, even though he knew that the real Miyako would never do that.
Slowly in that desolate place that was his inner world, he started hearing her voice <>. And her voice parted the clouds. He could see the stars again.
Then he found himself smiling when her face appeared in his mind’s eye.
The Moon, full and beautiful, started to rise on his sky and suddenly it was Spring.
Then Ukitake, Kyone and Sentaro and all of Squad 13 joined in his happy thoughts.
Even the cruel simulacrum of Miyako was finally replaced by the memory of the real good and beautiful soul that she really was.
The light of the Moon melted away the guilt and the ghosts.
Then one day he woke himself with the realization that he was in love again.
He felt happy.<< There can be life even after something like this.>>
He felt guilty.<< Your tarnishing Miyako’s memory.>>
And: << Don’t pretend, you always felt something more than what you were supposed to feel for the Kuchiki princess. Did you really wanted to help her ? Admit it, it was just an excuse for you to be near her, to spend time alone with her, to let your hands linger when you corrected her posture, to have the excuse of sparring so you can touch her. You were worried that if she remained in Byakuya’s care, he will make a move. It was not your desire to protect her from a man whose wife she was the exact copy off, you were afraid and projected on Byakuya Kuchiki your own desires. Of the two of you, he was the one that saw her a as a sister. >>
<< It isn’t true. I simply loved and lost. Then I fell in love again. Get out of your own head Shiba. You loved Miyako, now she is gone. You fell in love with the friend that kept you in this life, whose voice guided you back to happiness. Miyako loved you and she will want you to be happy.>>
<< Was not your bankai gained for Rukia sake? Didn’t your will force Nejibana out onto the sands of Hueco Mundo , because she was in danger?>>
<< I just kept my oath as the Lieutenant of the 13th, to never leave a man behind as long as live.>>
<< And how many men of the 13th did you invite to move into your home?>>
<< She was more to me by then. She was a precious friend. What kind of man would I be if I turned my back to a friend in need?>>
<< You sure are a prodigy when it comes to excuses.>>
<< But even if it was so, AND it was not. I did love Miyako. We were happy together. I never cheated on her, I didn’t even think about the possibility while she was still with me. Ours was a marriage of love and mutual respect.>>
<< So you are going to pretend that you just recently took notice of Rukia? Unbelievable.>>
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<< Not anymore. She came out of her shell. She has other friends now and she hasn’t worshiped me in a long time.>>
<>
<< Just a little, and only because it annoyed Byakuya Kuchiki. I wanted her to gain confidence in herself, I wanted her to like me. Then I just fell into friendship. And now that I love her back, I will not let myself of all people to keep us apart. The only way we aren’t going to be together is if she doesn’t want me.>>
‘’Hey, Rukia can you make some time for me ?’’
‘’Right away Kaien-dono.’’
‘’I appreciate the sentiment, but I was thinking more of tonight after work. There’s this new hot desserts place I wanted us to check together.”
‘’Sure thing.’’
‘’Great. And Kuchiki?’’
‘’Yes?’’
‘’Thank you. For everything.’’