Disclaimer: Impossible to own it…TT

Summary: What if the relations between Byakuya, Hisana and Rukia had been different?

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It had only just began.

Less than an hour after he had received word that she had collapsed while taking a walk.

Then the pain began.

Now, Byakuya sat beside his wife, clutching her hands tightly as her frail and slender body tried to birth the being that was inside of her.

"Kuchiki- san, you have to push harder…" a member of the Fourth Division said gently.

"I'm…try…ing…" Hisana gasped. Byakuya squeezed her hand.

"It'll be over soon, Hisana…just hold on a little longer…" Byakuya said softly.

A forced nod was her response, then squeezed her eyes shut and let out a muffled scream as another wave of labour pains took over her body.

Byakuya was starting to regret his choice…no…rather, their choices. That night when they had married, both of them did confessed their desire of having a child. But now, seeing Hisana in this state was not what he had predicted.

A gentle cough knocked him back into reality. Hisana smiled weakly up at him.

"It hurts, but I don't regret it." The look on his face must have given him away. Hisana looked a little longer at him, then placed her attentions on trying to push the baby out.

He felt so helpless.

Hisana was in pain, and all he could do was just to sit beside her and give her the support she needed right now.

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Byakuya's POV

Is this all I can do?

Just sit here, hold her hand and give her support mentally?

Why can't I do more?

Hisana…hold on a little longer…

Please don't leave me…

Damn it all, why…

Why do I feel so helpless…!?

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Hisana's POV

I know.

I know my life will come to an end soon.

Byakuya- sama knows it too…

But for my child,

My beautiful child…

I want to at least see your face before I leave…

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More words of encouragement and muffled screams filled the room.

As it was already in the late afternoon when Hisana went into labour, it was not surprising for Byakuya to see that it was pitch- dark.

But the baby had yet to be born.

When Byakuya demanded to know why, the medic said,

# Flashback #

-"Kuchiki- san's body has taken its toll as a result of her sicknesses, and besides, her body is quite slender, thus it will take longer for the birth of the baby."-

-"But its already so dark!"- Byakuya snapped harshly.

The medic was unfazed. "Kuchiki- taichou, I understand your worries, but yet you have to patient. I fear the worst for both mother and child…but I hope it will not come true. Pray hard, Kuchiki- taichou…even to saving lives…there's a limit to how much we can do…"- the medic shook her head sadly, and walked back to the room as another of Hisana's screams filled it.

As the meaning of the medic's words came crashing down on him, Senbonzakura asked him;

-So Byakuya…which will it be? The mother, or the child?-

It frightened him.

For he realized that he had not the answer to that dread question.

# Flashback ends #

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Dawn seemed to take forever.

"That's right, Kuchiki- san! Push harder…a little harder now…yes, I can see the head now! Kuchiki- san, ganbatte! Michi! Bring the cloth over! Hurry up, people! The baby is coming out soon!" the medic barked out orders as everyone scrambled to follow the instructions.

Byakuya gripped Hisana's hand tightly. "You're doing a fine job, Hisana. Hold on a little more longer, everything will be over soon. Then we can raise her together…"

He knew it was a lie.

She knew it was a lie.

Both knew that one would to be the sacrifice for the other to live.

But now, both of them were contented to just keep quiet about the truth and await the joyous birth of their child.

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"One more push, Kuchiki- san! Just one more!"

"I…can't…" Hisana tried to restrain tears against the pain that was overflowing. Only the hope of seeing her child was her motivation to keep holding on.

"There you go…yes! Michi! Gently now! Yes…a little more, Kuchiki-san…and…ah! Its out! Congratulations, Kuchiki- san, Kuchiki- taichou! You have a beautiful baby girl!"

A smile broke out on the faces of everyone as the baby wailed.

"May…may I carry…?" the medic immediately passed the baby over.

Hisana clutched the child tightly to her. "She's beautiful…" Tears sprang from her eyes as she realized she had managed to have her last wish fulfilled. She turned to Byakuya, determined not to let him see the fading life in her as he faced him.

"What will her name be, Byakuya- sama?"

"It is for you to decide…"

Hisana looked at the now sleeping child in front of her. "Rukia…her name will be Rukia…"

"It will be as you wished then…"

"Will you like to hold her, Kuchiki- taichou?" the medic asked. Byakuya looked at Hisana and the bundle in her arms tentatively, then stretched out his hands as Hisana placed their newborn child into his arms.

"She looks like you, Hisana…"

Hisana smiled.

"She just has our hair colour and eyes…" She said softly, then fell back into the futon.

"Hisana!?"

"Kuchiki- san!" Both the medic and Byakuya cried out at the same time.

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Hours later…

The baby had been taken to the elders of the house to allow them to view her.

Now, Byakuya sat beside Hisana again, but this time…

The situation was different.

"Byakuya- sama…" Hisana said heavily.

"Hisana, don't talk, just rest…"

"Byakuya- sama…promise me…promise that you'll raise her to be what I could not be…"

"Hush, now's not the time for that…" Byakuya shifted gently to let her see the faint streaks of light breaking through the skies and showering upon the plum blossom tree just outside of the room. "See? Even though its only one blossom, yet it still looks beautiful…"

"Promise me…Byakuya- sama. In this life, I'm so happy to be loved by you, but yet I'm unable to return half of it to you…so please. Let Rukia be the joy that I could not be…promise me that you will accept her as your daughter…"

"Hisana…!"

"Please…just this wish…Byakuya- sama…" Hisana said pleadingly. She did not want Rukia to be like her, so weak and fragile. She wanted her daughter to be herself even though she had to live a life of a noble.

"Very well…I promise you this, Hisana…" Byakuya said, his voice heavy.

At that instant, Hisana felt life drain out of her. "Thank you…Byakuya- sama…"

Her hand went limp in his.

Byakuya choked back a sob as he gripped her lifeless hand tighter.

Few rooms away, elders tried to pacify a crying Rukia before word of Kuchiki Hisana's death came round.

Dawn had then just fully broken.

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A/N: This is my very first Bleach fanfic…so…erm…hope you enjoy it of course, and I hope that doesn't sound weird…

As a side note, should I leave it be, or continue it? I was thinking of continuing it…but then again, I need the reviewers to decide if it should be left as a one-shot or continued on…

Please read and review, thanks! And be gentle if you want to flame because I am aware that the Soul Society arc was long over, but this idea only came few days ago…TT