Byakuya woke early as usual to begin his routine, reaching for his partner Senbonzakura as the sunrise crested over the horizon out his window. However, the beauty of the morning was forgotten when he grasped nothing, falling to the stand his zanpakuto always rested on. Senbonzakura, his only constant companion through all his decisions, even through his mistakes, was gone.

Byakuya didn't let himself ponder it for long. Hand clenching slowly, he continued through his schedule.

As a servant served a light breakfast a couple hours later, a Kid blast echoed out, burning all but the stump of a practice dummy. Byakuya narrowed his eyes, not satisfied, and turned on the next one, determined to incinerate this one.

A moment of silence stretch out. "Bakurai." The lightning arced and struck dead center, leaving nothing but a scorch mark.