I'm making another story… I just couldn't get this one out of my head! And it's something not IchiRuki, so it made me want to post it all that much more! I'm a very impatient person, you know. So anyways, here's the prologue to my first ByaHisa fic!
Echo
She was a broken girl when he'd found her. A broken, bloody bluebird in a world of white bliss. ByaHisa.
Rating: T-M (M for safety)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
NOTES: This takes place 10 years after the current storyline.
Prologue
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
-Alice in Wonderland-
She was just a fragile, broken, bluebird when he met her.
In the slums of Rukongai, it was a twist of fate that she stumbled in his life. Held down by two lowlifes who tried to rape and murder her, he rescued her from the desolate wasteland of Inuzuri.
He rushed up to help her, his mind still reeling. "What the hell happened?"
"Nothing," she said hastily. "Those guys…" she shuddered. "It—they're not the only—" she sighed. "Let's just say it happens a lot."
"To you?" Anger bubbled up inside his chest. He'd just met this girl, but felt strangely overprotective.
"To everyone," she offered a meek smile. "Mostly girls, actually." She bit her lip.
Realization dawned on him and the swell of fury almost became unbearable. "Come with me to the manor." The words were so rash, so impulsive he could barely believe he'd been the one who'd spoken them. It'd been a good month since he'd first met Hisana, and they'd become friends, yet neither of them mentioned anything of their home lives. "Melinda can clean you up."
Hisana blinked twice before flushing. "O-oh no," she murmured. "I couldn't…" but one look at her swollen, possibly sprained ankle, and she knew she had to comply.
He never knew that warm feeling in the pit of his stomach was love, until much, much later. For ten years they talked, met up at the old red bridge outside Rukon, and walked through the cherry blossom trees outside the manor.
What would she say, if she got the chance to see him happy, with Hisana?
"What'd I tell you? Social status doesn't matter, nor does the word of others. Just as long as you're happy and in love, it's okay. It's always okay."
Yes, that's exactly what Mitsuki would say. Mitsuki was his twin sister, even more callous and rude than he, at that age. She'd been in love for only a short period of time, also with a Rukongai commoner. She'd loved and she'd lost at a young age, barely fourteen in human years. Hardly enough to call actual love, but he'd seen how her eyes sparkled as she spoke of that man—Keita Ryo.
He'd died the way so many others from Rukon had—by turf wars, a fire. She'd been so heartbroken, and the Elders held no compassion. Only threats. They'd said since she was the elder twin, she had to take over the clan one day. That hadn't made anything any better; it'd only strengthen her sobs every night, welcoming the oncoming tears. She'd been murdered by a Kuchiki clan traitor, and died before she'd been 'fifteen' in human time.
"I am sorry," Hisana had said, looking down at the simple grave. It held only a first name, no last name. She never did know what to call herself. 'Ryo' or 'Kuchiki'?
"Its fine," Byakuya said back, seemingly unfazed. "Let's go inside. Mel will make us tea."
"Okay."
Now, many years later, he sits at his desk, staring languidly, mournfully, at two pictures. One of him and Hisana; beauteous, graceful Hisana, on their wedding night. She had the biggest grin on his face. He did too, looking uncharacteristic on him. Her wedding dress looked spectacular. The other, was a simple photograph of one summer festival, so long ago, where his sister stood, looping her arm around a hesitant version of his younger self.
He smiled faintly at the two pictures, the two moments lost in time.
"You're insane." Ichigo looked at his girlfriend seriously, "Like hell he's gonna accept me into this noble-ass family. He hates me."
"You're over exaggerating," Rukia says, scoffing. "He doesn't… hate you, per say, he just…" She paused, "Doesn't approve of some of your methods."
Ichigo scoffed, "Like what, Ru?" She really hated that nickname, but it actually sounded somewhat bearable coming out of Ichigo's mouth. Smiling gently, she sat down next to him on her bed.
"Well… how about throwing me off an execution stand into Renji's all-too-willing arms, nearly killing us both?"
Ichigo winced. "You know that wasn't my fault. I had to get you outta there…" He smirked, leaning forward a bit on the bed. His hand curled around her head, weaving itself inside her ebony locks. She whacked him with a nearby pillow, squealing as she jumped up.
"Stop! Ichigo, I'm serious. Dating-sex is one thing, but engagement-sex is something more altogether. Wait until it's actually approved."
Ichigo pouted. "Seriously? Even if Byaku-brat says no, are you really gonna obey his orders?"
"Of course not. But it can't hurt to try." She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, smirking. "Love you."
"Love you too." Normally, Ichigo Kurosaki was not a mushy man. But when it came to Rukia Kuchiki, his brain melted like putty, his heart jumped in circles, and his lungs went into overdrive.
Rukia grinned cattily, and sauntered out of the room, ready to tell her brother.
She was marrying Ichigo, no matter what he or anyone else said.
B:
It'd been late afternoon when I got that knock.
"Come in," I say mechanically, like always.
Rukia pokes her head in. She grins. My eyes flick up to her, and my heart jolts at how much she looks like her sister. It hurts sometimes. But I know, deep in my soul, that she's not Hisana, and she never will be. "Brother," She says hesitantly, stepping fully into the room.
She's right to the point, as always.
"Brother—Ichigo and I are engaged!" She almost shouts. I raise an aristocratic eyebrow. I do not like that boy—Kurosaki Ichigo. I knew of the relationship he has with my sister; the one the brat's had since the death of Aizen. I'd known something was up when I walked in on him giving her so-called 'CPR'.
'Breath of life' my noble ass.
"I'm marrying him no matter what you say—" She's a very brave girl, I'll give her that. "—But, I would love it if you'd give us y-your blessing…" She trails away, blushing, humiliated, and fully ready to run out that door.
My hand stops signing the parchment on my desk as I grasp the irony of the situation.
"If you felt the way I do, Byakuya… then you wouldn't say that. If you were in love like I am, you wouldn't care about social class. And trust me, one day, you'll fall head-over-heels in love with a great girl, and neither Daddy's, or Mama's, or those moronic elders' words can do anything about it."
How true were her words back then?
"Mother—I love Hisana. I love her like the Moon loves the Sun. And I'm fully prepared to walk out on this family—to walk out on my responsibilities if it means being with her. That I can promise. I love her. She gets me. And nothing you, or Grandfather, or even the Elders say can do anything about that."
I meant it.
I sighed, nodding. "Fine, very well."
Rukia's head jerks up, and I swear I can hear her heartbeat. "R-really?"
"Yes."
She cries out in happiness, jumping up to my desk and hugging me tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much, Brother! I love you! Oh, I have to go tell Ichigo! Thank you thank you thank you so much!" As if the situation couldn't get any more out of character, she kisses me on the cheek.
I blink as she skips out of the room, to her fiancé.
Just this once, I let the barest of smiles cross my face.
Seems history just loves to repeat itself.
N:
"Brother?" Rukia's cautious voice echoed in the vast emptiness of the library. "Brother—hello?"
"Rukia," Byakuya's voice called back, a slight smile in it. "Come here," He said, his voice coming from the big sixteenth-century velvet armchair that made you think about tea in the parlor and croquet in the backyard.
Rukia tiptoed up to Byakuya, blinking down at his sitting form. "Why aren't you sleeping?" She couldn't think of any moment, as a 'teenager' or a 'child' that she'd actually caught Byakuya up late. Unless he was in his office, of course.
"I'm thinking."
"About what?"
He sighed; "Things. Your request made me think of some things. Like… how I met your sister." He knew, the second the words left his mouth, she'd be wondering exactly how they met. Hisana wasn't a servant in the house, and most definitely wasn't one of those Inuzuri whores. Byakuya didn't seem into that kind of thing, anyway.
"How'd… how'd you meet, anyways?"
Byakuya smirked—a small one, but a smirk nonetheless—and sipped his glass of whiskey. He normally never drank—not counting the formal shit they gave out at the clan parties that wouldn't even give you a slight buzz—but he needed the alcohol. His headache was horrible, and the whiskey numbing.
"Funny you'd ask."
I know this is short, and I kinda left you with a cliffhanger, but whatever. I hope you liked it! The chapters do get longer!
This is my first ByaHisa, so please be gentle. Anyways, reviews make me so happy. Review and make me happy, please.-Pandora