Erisia arrived at the Academy and could not help but look up at the looming structure. It was easily at least as large as the college she'd been attending in the Living World - if not larger. Her heart was thundering in her chest. She was in her uniform and she was making her way in with the rest of the arriving students. She felt overwhelmed now more than ever. She was actually here now and part of her could hardly believe it.

She looked at the letter she had received that told her where she would be staying and had her class list on it… All of the things she would need to know. She also had the Captain Commander's orders ringing through her head. She was not to tell anyone where she had truly come from. She had been given a story that was to be her truth as she went through her schooling at the Academy. She hated having to lie but she understood the need for it. She just hoped she could keep it up.

First order of business was to get her things to her room and get settled in. Among the information packet for new students information was the name of her roommate - Akane Sotami. She hoped that she and the girl would be able to get along… She really did… It would make things easier if they got along. The last thing she needed right now would be one more thing to complicate her situation any further. It was already more than complicated enough - thank you.

She looked at the small map and made her way to the dormitory she was assigned to. Once she got to the proper building, finding her assigned room was not hard. She saw the door standing open and noticed the young woman within. "Akane Sotami?" Erisia inquired timidly. "Yes. You must be Erisia Nakayama - right?" The girl said with a smile.

Akane was taller than Erisia by maybe a couple of inches. Her long brown hair was done in a simple plait down her back. Her eyes were a chocolate shade of brown and at first meeting anyway, she seemed warm and pleasant… Erisia nodded and stepped into the room, the servant that had been assigned to help her get here brought in the trunks and then bowed and departed.

"Servants?"

"Not mine… My mother was a seamstress for the Kuchiki family. When she passed Byakuya-sama was kind enough to allow me to remain there and when my reiatsu became noticeable he graciously sponsored me so that I could attend the academy." Erisia explained. Let the lies begin…

"You live at the Kuchiki Estate?"

"I do. It was all very overwhelming. Once my mother passed away I had been living alone in her small house, it was not part of the Estate proper but it was on Kuchiki property. I was somewhat lost after her death… I was quite surprised when the head of the Kuchiki family himself showed up to pay his respects. But then again he did say that my mother was a very respected seamstress. I suppose it is hard to find good ones and my mother really did not work for anyone but the Kuchiki family ever since I could remember… It was not long after that I suppose that word reached him of my having noticeable reiatsu. He had me brought to the estate proper and had some people test me. When it was decided that the levels were not just a fluke brought on by stress he said that I should attend the Academy so I could learn to control it. When I agreed he said he would sponsor me. It feels like everything happened so fast, I fear my head is still spinning from it all." Erisia says and she certainly sounds overwhelmed enough.

"I can only imagine. Is he really as scary as everyone says?" Akane inquired.

"Oh he can be quite intimidating, yes. But as cold as he is… he did not have to help me. I realize that to a man of his position and standing, my mother's skill was highly valued. But he did not have to do anything to help me. I'm not a noble or anything… I owe Byakuya-sama a great debt of honor if nothing else. I said as much and he said that if I truly wished to repay him that I should do my best at the Academy and become a Shinigami. So I am going to try to do so."

"Wow. I guess since your mother pretty much worked exclusively with his family and since you showed signs of reiatsu levels high enough to merit it, that he probably felt it was his duty to make sure you were trained. I've heard he's big on that sort of thing…"

"He does seem to have a very high regard for honor and for duty." Erisia agreed.

"And since he's your sponsor I'm sure he took care to make sure you represented him properly. You might only have been a seamstress's daughter but since he's sponsoring you, what you do will reflect on him."

Erisia blinked. "I had not thought of it that way before. I suppose I shall have to try very hard then to not be a disappointment. I would not want to reflect poorly on him."

Akane nodded. Erisia seemed like a fairly down to earth girl. Though it impressed her that Erisia could be part of the Kuchiki world in any way. The girls continued to talk as they got their things situated and put away. It seemed like they were going to get along quite well - a fact which relieved both girls…

As they got settled in and started the daily routine of classes and Academy life in general life continued elsewhere as well. The daily routine of Squad life had returned with one glimmering light no longer present. However, there was a reminder of her. Every day around lunch time, Yuriko would appear with a familiar basket of food. The first day, Byakuya had inquired as to the reasoning behind it and Yuriko had said simply: "Erisia-san asked that I continue making sure that you and your Lieutenant ate lunch every day. I know it was not a direct order from you, Sir but I could not in good conscience deny her request." She had explained. He had nodded and assured the servant that she was in no trouble and that she should continue to do so. Though Yuriko did not stay, did not join them for lunch it was still almost like Erisia wasn't that far gone from them.

Of course it was also one more reminder of her. Not that he was trying to forget her, he wasn't and he did not think he could… Bu the was trying to put those reminders and memories into a nice neat little box on a shelf in his mind so they could not distract him. However they were not going into that box so easily. He did not truly show his distraction outwardly, but this change had certainly affected him… And unbeknownst to him, someone had noticed.

When Yoruichi had noticed it, he could not say for certain but once she had caught scent of it, nothing could deter her from finding out the truth of the matter. Yoruichi eventually coaxed Byakuya to speak with her privately. Of course it had taken her threatening to discuss whatever it was that was on her mind in front of Renji and half of the 6th squad to convince him, but that was neither here nor there.

"What is it you want, Yoruichi?" He asks, his tone neutral as they wandered out into the gardens of the Estate.

She fixed him with a knowing look, a smile on her lips. "You like Eri-chan, don't you Bya-bo?" She asks with the slightest hint of a chuckle to her words. He frowned.

"How many times must I tell you to stop using that infernal nickname - demon cat?" He inquires, annoyed.

She couldn't help but laugh at that. "At least a few thousand or so more." She chuckles. He might have groused about it, but she knew he didn't really mind. If he had, he wouldn't have stooped to calling her demon cat again. He would have found a more effective way to get rid of her. She sighs briefly. "Just answer the question… Byakuya."

He did not look at her. "I have grown accustomed to her presence and I have come to enjoy conversing with her." Comes the initial reply.

"Right. You know, if we hadn't been friends for well over a century now, I might have actually believed that. Luckily for you, I don't. So what's the real story?" She inquires, leaning against a nearby tree. Byakuya sighed deeply. Of course Yoruichi could still read him like an open book. So many infuriating things about her. Yet if he had to consider someone to be his best friend - Yoruichi would be the only one he could truly call such. She had been grating on his last nerve for several decades now… But the old fire wasn't there anymore. It was more a spark of nostalgia than actual rage.

"Erisia is a very sweet young woman. She in some ways reminds me of Hisana. Yet I could never mistake her for my late wife. There is just something about her… something that is different. The staff all love her. And you can easily see the impression she has made on all who have met her. Regardless of any of this, she has left for the Academy and that is more important than anything else." He replies quietly.

Yoruichi regarded him for a few moments, actually appearing thoughtful. As much fun as it was to torment Byakuya and to make sure the little boy was still in there somewhere, she knew that there were times when she had to handle him differently. She'd known him too long, come to like him for more than just the amusement of tormenting him… "Of course it is important. But you are going to miss her, aren't you?"

"The house does seem much lonelier without her company - yes." He admits, though his tone did not truly betray what exact emotions had birthed it.

Yoruichi pondered a lot of things in the next few heartbeats. "Erisia likes you too, you know. She was always trying to innocently inquire about you. Always trying to learn more about you without seeming too obvious about her intention. Of course she's not very good at hiding it. Though she did stop asking me…"

"Thank Kami for that." Byakuya almost half scoffs. The tone was almost sarcastically playful and it made Yoruichi smile. Bya-bo was still in there somewhere - buried underneath title after title after expectation but he was still alive in there. There was hope for her friend yet.

"She will not be at the Academy forever, you know." Yoruichi reminds him.

"That is a bridge to be crossed at that point in time, not now." He retorts… She could tell that she was starting to cross over into the area he was not only reluctant to talk about but reluctant to even face. Had she been anyone else she might have fallen for the mask he put up… But she knew the truth of what lay hidden behind the mask. She'd known the boy he'd been before the mask had been forged much less donned. It also helped that she'd been the leader of the stealth squad and that she was naturally oriented to noticing the things that escaped most people.

One had to be well versed in subtleties and the subtext of subtext to read Byakuya now. Yet she knew that he was troubled. His heart was torn at the moment. Torn between the love lost and the love that if given the chance could come to blossom. Right now it was more delicate than a sakura blossom. One wrong move and it would scatter to petals before it ever got the chance to bloom. As much as she teased Byakuya she did want her friend to be happy. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that he hadn't been happy now for quite some time.

Yet, there were moments - fleeting moments - where a look in her direction or the sound of her laughter would soften his eyes. It was like the weight that rested on his shoulders lightened just a little bit. Were he anyone else, by this point all of Seireitei would be saying he had it bad for the girl… But that was not the way Byakuya worked. He was still deciding if he could allow himself to feel again much less feel for the girl…. He was still warring with the memory of Hisana. Would allowing himself to entertain even the idea of emotions for this girl be disrespectful to his late wife? Poor boy needed to think a LOT less and act a LOT more.

"Perhaps you are right, Bya-bo. But do yourself a favor, don't just try to hide it from yourself and thereby from Erisia. You deserve to be happy, Byakuya… and we all know you haven't been happy in quite some time. I won't bug you about it now… but don't close yourself off to it after she graduates, okay?" Yoruichi asks. Had she not looked so genuine in that moment - which was a definite rarity from her - Byakuya would have slammed so many mental doors in her face…

He sighs deeply. "I will try not to."

"I suppose that is the best I can hope for right now. But I will hold you to it Bya-bo… and if you try to hide away from it I will call you out on it - just to forewarn you."

"Of course you will… haven't you been doing that practically my whole life?" He asks with a scoff.

"Yeah well someone has to look after you." She teases.

"I never asked for you to."

"No, you didn't… but that's what friends do. If you need someone to talk to… though I know you won't ever really take me up on it.. I will listen to you, and I won't tell anyone. Even the great head of the Kuchiki Clan needs someone to confide in."

"We shall see… demon cat." He says with a tone that was almost playful coming from him.

"Take care of yourself Bya-bo. I don't think Eri-chan would much like it if you didn't." Yoruichi chides.

Those words gave him pause and pulled another deep sigh from him. Though the demon cat probably had a point. "I have much to think about, Yoruichi… and I would like to do so in peace."

"Fine, fine I'll leave you alone for now… Just take care of yourself - okay?"

"I will…" He says softly and with that, Yoruichi nodded and turned into a black cat and was gone.