Disclaimer: I do not claim Bleach. Nor any of its characters.
Warning: Beware of Kuchiki Byakuya being OOC.
Title: His wife. Her sister
(629 words)
This was her first time stepping into her Nii-san's room. The room of the Division 6 captain Kuchiki Byakuya. And the Division 13 shinigami Kuchiki Rukia could only watch around the room, surprised at a painting of a cheery blossom tree hung at a side of the four walls. It was when she noticed a brown door at the inside of the room. And Kuchiki Byakuya just stood in front of the door, his fist clenching and unclenching clearly seen by Kuchiki Rukia.
"Nii-sama…"
"Shh… I'll just lead you in but please don't make too much of a noise. Your onee-chan hates noise." The 6th captain spoke calmly, an icy tone obvious. Yet Rukia could not help but feel that his tone was also shaking a bit.
She nodded behind him and it seemed that Byakuya could see her through his head as he did not turn around to look at her. He gently pushed the door opened and Rukia gasped. An altar cupboard could be seen inside the room beyond the door. The oak cupboard 'doors' closed. The female shinigami felt a feeling of calmness in her heart. That is the altar of her sister. Ex-wife of Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Hisana.
Byakuya walked ahead of Rukia, opening the 'doors of the cupboard gently. And Rukia gasped again. She had not seen her sister's face so clearly and at such a short distance before. She was only shown a photograph of Kuchiki Hisana when Byakuya first came to ask her to be adopted into the Kuchiki family. And now she could see her sister's face clearly… indeed. Her sister looks just like her. As if she was the reflection of the dead soul. Rukia looked at Byakuya.
"Thank you, nii-sama." Finishing her thanks, she saw Byakuya's eyes reddening. "Nii-sama?" She asked worriedly.
Byakuya breathed in slightly before turning to her. "I have something to do for you, Rukia." And he reached for the joss sticks, taking six of them out of the cylinder. He lit them and passed the sticks to Rukia.
Bowing three times before Hisana, he then stuck the joss sticks at the altar pot. Rukia followed the actions and Byakuya took it from her hands, sticking them to where they are.
"Why did you bring me here, nii-sama?"
"Pray to your sister. And apologise to you."
Rukia silently looked at her elder brother while the captain shinigami looked at Rukia coldly. "Apologise because it's my confusion between the promises I made to your sister and my family that I was not willing to save you. Apologise for breaking the promise I made to your sister. Apologise…"
"Nii-sama." Rukia interrupted as her brother tried to continue on with his words. "I understand your feelings, nii-sama. As leader of the Kuchiki noble clan, you must uphold your morale and rules of the society. You saved me from death too, nii-sama. And you saved Renji too. Even as you injured him badly, you still left some words for Unohana-taichou to come save him. You helped us a lot, nii-sama."
"Thank you." Byakuya ended her words, hugging her gently too. And Rukia was stoned, surprised and shocked that the proud captain would embrace her. He was not cold anymore. He was just like how a brother would be towards his sister. She hugged back and Byakuya released his hold on her.
"Lunch?" He asked, walking away from her. Rukia felt a little disappointed at this. She thought that he had become warmer towards her but now he's back to his old ways. She frowned, wanting to reply but was surprised again as Byakuya smiled at her gently, "What would you like to eat?"
Rukia widened her eyes. Wow, her older brother was finally changing. For the better. For the better.
Owari
Author notes: How is this one-shot? Please review. Thanks.