Wars do not span a few years, the effects last a lifetime. After her mother's passing, Hisana Kuchiki comes upon her mother's diary. Through reading it, Hisana learns of her mother's past, her life in another country during a pivotal moment in the history that not only forever shaped the world, but also forever shaped her mother's life. AU, OOC, mentions of war, mature relationships & themes, rating may change to M
ByakuyaxRukia, RenjixRukia; yes that is right, both! This story is intended to be an intense roller coaster ride of emotions! Happy endings are always a guarantee =D
Some things may not be historically accurate. This is not meant in disrespect. I hold very high regard for those who lost their lives in hope that this world could be at peace. WWII was a very tragic moment in history that greatly affected many, including members of my own family. Many innocent lives were lost and I sincerely hope our world never experiences such a great shadow of darkness ever again.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
1 They say with death comes answers
Hisana Kuchiki's mother had passed two weeks ago, at the age of 97. Her father had passed ten years ago. For the first time in her life, Hisana felt truly alone. She was in her late seventies but like her parents had been, in great physical shape and health for her age. Hisana had been a doctor, and even now though retired age lectured at medical school and served on the admissions board. She also still went for her weekly hikes up the local trails.
The worst part of losing someone close to you was sorting through their belongings. Her father had left few belongings when he passed, and what he had left her mother had taken it upon herself to go through. But now it was just her left to look through the material remains of her mother's life. She found practically nothing to do with her mum's childhood, but this was not surprising. Hisana's mother, Rukia, had come to America as a child, at the beginning of the Second World War. The majority of her belongings were left behind. She often wondered what her mother's life had been like before moving here, but had never pestered her with questions. Hisana knew her grandparents had both been killed during the Blitz, and she assumed most of her mother's family had died since they were never mentioned. Hisana had aunts, uncles and cousins here in America, but they were distant and only came around during the holidays.
Hisana took a deep breath before opening the door to her mother's old room. It was surprisingly cold inside. Everything had lost its life when her mother passed. The sun did not seem to shine as it had; life was shaded gray. She wished her younger sister Tatsuki was here to help, but this would surely kill her. Kaien, her eldest brother had he still been alive, would have helped Hisana no problem. He had been killed during the Vietnam War. Hisana always felt her heart ache when she thought of her brother, and how senseless that war was. Is there sense in any battle? She wondered. Maybe, at a time when men fought with honor and not hidden behind bombs and inhumanity.
Looking around the bedroom, Hisana had no clue where to begin. Her mother's death had been quite sudden. It started with a cold, which progressed to a flu and then pneumonia. No one thought it would kill her though, Rukia was a fighter her whole life. It was just her time.
She decided to go through her mother's closet first, knowing there had to be lots of boxes to go through. Surprisingly though upon opening the closet there was just a single trunk. Hisana got on her knees and opened it. She found lots of photo albums, many of her parent's wedding, Kaien as a baby, her, and Tatsuki. There were some dresses, scarves, letters, postcards, little things here and there. How can I think to get rid of these? Hisana then upon moving some of the stuff around saw a something rectangular within a silk bag. The bag had a diamond charms hanging off the drawstrings. Opening it, Hisana found a notebook inside. It must've been white at some point when it was new, now it was yellowed with age. Opening it up slowly, Hisana read an inscription on the inside:
"To my dearest niece,
Life is very unexpected. Write it down—so when you get to be my age you will remember it all.
Love always,
Aunt Nanao."
Hisana smiled, wondering who this aunt was, figuring it must be an aunt from England. So this is my mother's diary… Hisana turned the next page and saw her mother's first entry:
Aunt Nanao gave me this diary, a travel souvenir from her most recent trip abroad with Uncle Shunsui. I am not sure if I will use this past today… but it would be rude not to at least try. I am really not at all surprised Aunt Nanao gave me this as a gift, she is very meticulous about note keeping. She is a secretary for a very prominent businessman in London. How I wish I lived in London, it seems so much more exciting than here. Alas, until my school is complete I am confined here, this torture chamber of a home. I can never seem to get the recognition or privileges I desire. Silly Ichigo gets to come and go as he pleases, and he is two years my junior! I know it is because I am a woman, an 'aristocrat' as mother so affectionately and proudly puts it. There are certain expectations that accompany this title, I understand, but in all honestly it is nearing the forties! Can society seriously expect women to be confined to the home? Surely I will not have to tolerate such nonsense once I am done schooling. I am going to be a physician! It is not that I do not hold values for family life, but for myself it just would not satisfy me to be perfectly in place in another's puzzle. I feel that education is the key to empowerment and freedom; it is something that I value greatly and hold dearest to my heart. It is something that distinguishes one from others. I greatly do often wish to be apart from others… Well I have written far more than originally intended. Perhaps there is some use for you after all, until then,
Education, Freedom & Summer Snowflakes (my favorite flower)
—Rukia Kurosaki
Hisana felt as though she could faint. These words, these thoughts, had been her mothers' years and years ago… when she was still in England! Who was Ichigo—possibly a brother? Kurosaki… Kurosaki had been her mother's maiden name… It was hard to picture her mother as a young woman in college, with parents, a brother, a differently last name, a different life! She had no idea her mother wanted to be a doctor… Of course she knew her mother was very well educated compared to her friend's mothers. Rukia had always been reading and debating. Hisana felt tears remembering a conversation she had with her mother when she had been debating university… her mother was the reason Hisana went through it all and became a doctor… she never told me about herself…
Hisana smiled as she closed the book, intended to respect her mother's private thoughts. As she went to see what else was in the trunk, a forceful breeze blew opening the diary back up… to the next page… Looking around the room, Hisana was at a loss as to where the breeze had come from, all the windows were closed. She closed the diary again and was about to look in the trunk once more when the breeze came again, strong enough to blow Hisana's hair into a mess. Once it settled, she fixed her bangs from her face and slowly looked at the book, again it was open to the following page. It was if her mother was in the room when she swore she heard her voice 'Go ahead… Hisana…' Shaking, Hisana picked up the diary and began to read…