Byakuya sat on the steps leading to his inner courtyard. The family had finally decided to release him to his duty as a captain of Gotei's 6th squad. After his first severe injury at the hands of Gin Ichimaru, a follower of the traitor, Sousuke Aizen, the family had stepped in. He had been removed from the 4th Squad's care into the family's estate until deemed completely well, and they had begun to take a firmer hand with him. If he had had an heir, things would have been different, but he did not. He had no wife either. Byakuya closed his eyes, at peace in his home, at last.