A/N I don't own Bleach nor do I make any profit from it

Chapter Filler - Thousand Years Blood War

This contains spoilers of latest manga chapters. Also, this is set when Sara and Byakuya's children are adults so their fourth unborn child is an adult in this. Her name is Anna. The war with Aizen happened 17 months before it, but in my fanfiction, The Thousand Years Blood War happens much later on. The war with Aizen happens in "Just A Governess". I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Sara's POV

I rushed over as soon as I found out.

Byakuya had been taken out by As Nodt, one of the Vandenreich, which had retreated for the time being. My barracks had been smashed to pieces and my captain was nowhere to be found. When I went over to Squad 6, Renji had informed me that Byakuya had been severely injured and was on the point of death. Squad 4 was one of the remaining barracks still remotely standing, yet it still retained some damage.

Reina, Takuma, Hari and Anna had all been taken to Squad 4 for the treatment of their injuries as well. I too had injuries but my felt no pain from them as my mind was with my husband and children.

As arrived, Captain Unohana was busily attending to her different patients. Her face, for the first time, showed signs worry and fear. I approached her and she turned to me, "Sara, you're hurt too," was the first thing out of her mouth. My former mentor gazed at the cuts all over my face with despair.

"Captain Unohana, where are my husband and children," I asked, "I need to know. My injuries mean nothing to me."

Captain Unohana was about to protest but she shook her head, "Captain Kuchiki has his own room on the top floor. Your children are with him."

"Thank you, ma'am," I said with a bow before I quickly weaved in and out of the nurses who bustled about trying to treat the severely injured patients. I ran upstairs and eventually came to a darkened room. I opened the door to see my children standing around their father in silent vigil.

"Mother," Takuma whispered as he looked up at me. His shihakusho was torn and cuts were all over his handsome face. Hari, who was part of Squad 4, was trying some healing kido upon his father. Takuma walked over to me and noticed my cheeks had gone pale, "Hari's trying his best."

I looked up at my eldest son, who was painfully like his father but with my blue eyes, and I attempted to walk over to the bed. However, at the sight of my husband lying on the hospital bed, unconscious and heavily injured, my knees gave way and I felt faint. Takuma caught me and Reina gave up her chair for me sit down next to the bed. My eyes closed as I tried to suppress the tears which threatened to fall. Anna, my youngest and fourth child, walk around the bed and over to me. She was not a soul reaper so she had come straight from the Kuchiki manor. Anna knelt beside me rested her head on my lap. I looked down and stroked her white hair.

"Children," I whispered and my children turned to me, "You must prepare for the worst case scenario. Your father is severely injured and Takuma, you must prepare to take over the headship of the family. I cannot carry on being the matriarch of this family if I cannot have your father by my side. You must promise to look after this family as your father has done for so many years."

"I promise, Mother," Takuma said as he rested his hand on my shoulder, "But please do not give up hope yet. You are our mother and we rely on you to give us hope."

I looked up at my son and then back at my husband, "That's easier said than done, my dear. It is hard to watch your own husband fight for his life on a hospital bed. I gave up everything to become his wife: my body, my heart and my soul; the only thing I had was myself. I had no dowry and no noble titles. I was merely a Rukongai girl, a girl who had died in the world of the living. I should be me lying on that bed. Don't you give up on me," I stood up and dropped to my knees by the side of the bed. I gasped his hand, "Don't you give up. We're all waiting for you."

I kissed his bloodied hand and nuzzled it, "I love you, Byakuya, please don't die," I wept bitterly.

Reina, who had remained silent, clenched her fists and growled fiercely, "This is not how it is supposed to be! He is not supposed to be lying there in such a mangled way."

I managed to pull myself to my feet and I walked over to my daughter before embracing her. She fought my embrace for a second before breaking down into bitter tears and returning my embrace. The dim light became even dimmer when Hari stopped healing his father. He jerked his head to get his long side fringe out of his eyes and looked up at us, "That's all I can do for now. I'll try again later."

"Don't worry, Hari," I said in a motherly tone, "You've done well for now."

He nodded and sat down. I released my daughter and walked towards the door, "Where are you going, mother," Anna asked.

"I'm going to see Captain Unohana," I said, "Please continue to stay with your father."

They all nodded and I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. I walked down the corridor towards Captain Unohana's office. I knocked on the door and got a gentle yet quick "Come in."

I opened the door and Captain Unohana looked up at me. She sighed heavily, "What is it, Sara?"

"I don't know how to handle this," I said, "It's just too unreal. My children aren't taking it too well either."

"I don't suppose they would," she said as I sat down in the chair next to her desk.

"It's funny," I said with a bitter laugh.

"What is?"

"Last night, when the Soul Society was peaceful and before everything started, we had made love all night and didn't suspect that anything would happen; it was bliss. I never dreamed that I would have to watch my husband dying. I thought every war was over since the war with Aizen. I wasn't a soul reaper back then but still, I thought that rubbish was all over. Was is so special about the Vandenreich? How did it take less than an hour to take out the whole of the Seireitei? How did they kill the Head Captain? How? How? How? How can they do this to us?"

"Your husband isn't dead yet, my dear," Captain Unohana said with a small smile, "You should have hope and I will be along to change Captain Kuchiki's bandages."

"Thank you, Ma'am," I said, "I think we will leave the Seireitei for a while. I must look after my family. Whilst the Seireitei is important to me, my family must come first. Once Byakuya is awake, we leave for our summer home."

"Perhaps that would be wise," Captain Unohana said, "Rehabilitation would be best."

I nodded and stood up, "I will return to my family now; thank you for everything."

"You're welcome, Sara, and keep your chin up. Your family need you more now than ever," she said as I headed towards the door.

"Rehabilitation will only be useful if he lives," I said as I left. I walked back down to my husband's room and peered through the window of the door. I could feel my children's sadness as I watched them with sadness in my eyes. I opened the door and walked inside and they all looked up at me.

"Why don't you all go back to the Kuchiki manor and have some rest," I said.

"I'm not leaving him," Reina said vehemently.

"Neither am I," Takuma said.

"Nor I," Anna added. Hari walked towards the door.

"I have other patients to see anyway," Hari said and I nodded. Hari walked out without another word.

"We're not leaving him, mother," Reina said.

"I would like to be alone with your father for a while if you don't mind," I said in a more forceful voice, "He is my husband first and foremost. Please, grant me sometime to be alone with the only man I have ever loved. I might lose him and I need some time to say goodbye if it is indeed goodbye."

They all looked at each other and nodded, "All right, mother, as you wish."

My children filed out of the room and I was left with my husband at last. Byakuya's face was so peaceful and untainted with day to day worries. Everything was silent apart from the constant beep of the surrounding machines which were keeping my husband alive. The white of his hospital yukata was stained with his blood. Tubes were attached to him, feeding him blood transfusions and other different fluids.

I sat in the chair by the bed and grasped his hand, "Byakuya, can you hear me? If you can, I need you to hear this," I wiped away my tears with my free hand, "I need you to be strong for me, Byakuya, you are my world. I can't continue my life without you. You were the first and last man I gave my heart to. You were my first lover. Do you remember the night you took my virginity? It was the night Reina was conceived, right? Who could forget that night? Not me, I can guarantee you that. I hope you do too."

I received no answer from my husband.

My lip trembled, "Do you remember the first time you met me? We didn't like each other one bit, did we? I thought you were an arrogant bastard and you thought of me as a girl who spoke out of place. However, I cannot forget the way you looked at me when you found out who I really was. I was no noble. I wouldn't have blamed you if you had executed me but I am glad you didn't."

I stared at his expressionless face, "Please don't die, my love, think of your children! I know they're grown up now but still… they rely on you. Please… my love… my lord… Byakuya, please don't die!"

The next morning, light streamed into the hospital room and it shined on my face, waking me up. My head had been resting on the bed where my hands had been clinging to his hand. Stiffly, I sat up and rubbed my neck and eyes.

"Good morning, my love," I heard a deep voice say. I blinked and it took me a moment to make out who was speaking. I yawned and looked up to see Byakuya staring at me, "How did you sleep?"

Wordlessly, I buried my face in my hands and wept but now with sadness but happiness and relief. I looked up at him as he gazed at me tenderly, "I heard everything you said last night, my dear. I'm sorry that I couldn't reply to you."

"You did," I asked and he nodded. I stood up and cupped his face with my hands. Bending down, I kissed him tenderly. He responded languidly and lazily, not having the strength to kiss me back passionately. I rained small kisses all over his face, "What happened to you, my love? How did you get like this?"

"As Nodt stole my Bankai and attacked me with it," he replied, "For the first time in my life, I felt real fear. It felt very real, like insects crawling all over my body."

"Well, you're safe now," I said, "As soon as you're able to leave Squad 4, we will go and recuperate in our summer house by the sea… the one we spent our honeymoon at."

"We have our duties to the So-"

I kissed him to shut him up, "No, Byakuya, we don't. You need to be rehabilitated and rest. I don't care if we miss the next battle but we are not going into battle until you are healed. We can then hold Takuma's marriage to Airi. That will be a happy time, won't it?"

Byakuya sighed and nodded, "It will be good to see that boy married."

I nodded. It was a scary thought to know that my son was getting married. I was still relatively young by Soul Society standards and I hadn't aged a day since my arrival in the Soul Society as I hadn't even reached 100 years old. Byakuya was at least 200 years older and even he was considered rather young compared to the other captains and elders of the Soul Society. Byakuya and I had even considered having another child as our other children were all grown up.

"Yes, indeed," I said, "Anyway, please rest some more. I will be here by your side when you wake up."

Byakuya gazed at me and nodded, "Only if you get yourself healed up," he said, "You're in a bad way yourself."

I looked down and noticed cuts and bruises all over my body, "I know… but my cuts and bruises mean nothing compared to yours. I will stay by your side until the very end."

Byakuya smiled and nodded, closing his eyes, "I'm glad you have a wife like you."

I smiled and kissed his hand, "As I am glad to have a handsome and strong husband like you."

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