Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters on the show. They are the sole property of Tite Kubo. I do however own this idea.
AN: This is my first Bleach story. I came up with idea one day when I was watching Bleach Movie 3: Fade to Black (sub version of course). The fact that Hisana and Rukia look so much alike made me wonder what would happen if one little lie expanded over years and years. The result is this story here. The first four chapters will focus on Rukia as a child before we get into the Rukia we all know and love. I hope you all enjoy. Reviews are always appreciated.
"Ladies and gentleman please rise and address the new lord and lady of our manor, Kuchiki Byakuya and Kuchiki Hisana."
The royals from the four noble clans rose to their feet and rejoiced in jubilation over the happy newlyweds. It was beyond their imagination to witness the joining of two beings of noble blood. No one was more excited than the retired captain of squad six and the grandfather of the new head of the Kuchiki family, Kuchiki Ginrei. It was a benediction for him to witness the joining of the Kuchiki and Shihõin clan.
Byakuya smiled outwardly as he led his new bride through the precession of guests who stepped aside to allow the couple freedom to continue forward. He glanced at his wife and exhaled slowly. Her beauty captured his breath. He did his best not to stare but he couldn't help admiring the two rows of cherry blossom flowers pinned on the left and right side of her hair. His gray eyes didn't stray away from the white kimono she wore which had a plunging neck line which tastefully exposed her ample breasts. She looked dignified, resembling the grace and style of a newly crowned princess.
It took every ounce of strength to refrain from taking his wife into his arms, disappearing from the eyes of his invitees and taking her in their new bedroom quarters to ravish her mind, body and soul.
Keeping his wits about him, Byakuya viewed the crowd of well-wishers gathered for his special day. He couldn't place each and every face smiling at him as there were different members from the four clans present but there were two people with whom he knew very well. His eyes first aligned with his grandfather who stood to the right mixed in with the rest of the crowd.
Ginrei nodded approvingly as he watched his grandson and granddaughter in law proceed past him. Byakuya slowly closed his eyes and looked away from him. He cringed as the prideful image his grandfather displayed on his face appeared in his thoughts. He shook his head, wanting to make the appearance fade from memory. He couldn't bring himself to face the one person he never betrayed…until now.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the exit to see a pair of golden colored eyes staring back at him. On instinct his eyes enlarged but seeing the smile on the dark skinned woman's face he relaxed but kept his eye contact. He watched as the woman leaned against the wall with her arms folded across her chest.
She had a smirk on her face as she kept her eyes locked on Byakuya. Shaking her head, she held up her left hand and slowly tussled her short purple hair then lowered the same arm to her side. Turning away, she gave the couple one last look before walking through the exit doors, her long white haori flowing behind her.
Byakuya stopped and watched as the woman disappeared quickly from his sights exhausting what he could only guess was her trademark usage of the technique flash step. He held his contempt as he had always despised that woman greatly for all the years she tormented him in her own way. That, however, was in the past. She was the one who thought up the charade he now found himself enthralled in and as the only other person aside from his wife that knew the truth he didn't want to go back to the way things used to be between them.
"Byakuya, are you okay?" Hisana questioned at her husband's sudden hesitation.
Blinking, Byakuya turned to his spouse and smiled adoringly. He brought her left hand up to his lips and kissed it softly.
"Yes, it's time for us to go."
Hisana smiled and gently placed her head against Byakuya's forearm.
The couple continued their graceful walk toward their future together as husband and wife.
Five Years Later...
Standing at his spouse's side, Byakuya closed his eyes as the vision of his time with Hisana replayed vividly in his mind. It was only five years since he gave his word to love her forever. He would never forget that day as it was also when he began a secret that he kept with him unbeknownst to those who served beneath him.
His wife cough brought his attention back where it had been for the past four hours. His heart skipped a beat every time he heard her struggle to catch her breath. Her illness was growing stronger each and every day and it pained him to have to sit back and watch it happen. He eyed the three medical personnel kneeling beside his wife's bed with disdain as they quietly tended to her. She wasn't getting better and every day he wished he could dispatch them and bring in a better set of attendants to help cure his wife of her sickness.
"What is her status?" he questioned with authority, making sure he stressed the tone of anger within each word he spoke.
The attendants immediately turned toward the captain of squad six and bowed their heads respectively, making sure to keep their eyes facing the ground.
"Captain, she is showing limited progress but it is going to take some time." one of them responded.
"By limited progress do you mean that she will live or is she destined to leave this world forever?" Byakuya continued to press.
The attendants were silent, neither one of them sure of how to respond or whether or not they should respond. Their silence was more than enough. Byakuya knew what they could not say.
"Do all you can for her," He turned away but paused and glanced over his shoulder at his wife's frail body as she helplessly gripped the bed sheets. "Any change in her prognosis you are to inform me immediately."
"Yes sir," the three attendants replied in unison.
Walking with a purpose, Byakuya stepped outside of his bedroom chambers and shut the door behind him. Instantaneously he felt his knees grow weak and his body unable to withstand the pressures that weighed down on his shoulders. His back slouched against the wall as the anguish he felt tore him apart internally. His hands gripped his knees as he leaned forward trying to catch what short breath he had left.
Hearing the sound of footsteps he collected his composure and stood erect as his sign of weakness vanished entirely.
"Sir," a guardsman addressed as he knelt down before his lord. "Elder Captain Kuchiki has requested your presence in the library."
Inhaling deeply, Byakuya nodded and walked down the hall opposite the guard while only replying "Message received."
His thoughts swayed as he pondered why his grandfather was bidding to speak with him. He was sure it had something to do with the events that transpired within the home two weeks ago. He was sure that, and only that, was the reason his grandfather was taking an interest in meeting with him.
Stepping into the library he caught a glimpse of his grandfather standing on the left eyeing the various books that adorned the shelves of the room. Closing the door behind him, he swiftly moved closer so that he stood the middle of the room. He fell to his knees and bowed his head while waiting to hear his reason for being summoned.
"How are you today, Byakuya?" Ginrei questioned as he slid a blue covered book off the shelf then placed it back where it originally sat.
"I am well, grandfather. How are you?" Byakuya responded.
Removing another blue book from the shelf, Ginrei held it in the palm of his hand and began flipping through the pages.
"I can easily say I am doing much better than your wife. Has Lady Hisana's condition changed?"
Byakuya hesitated. His eyes closed as he envisioned his wife panting and struggling to withstand the illness that was eating at her from the inside.
"I take it by your silence that she is not doing too well."
Byakuya grunted but still refused to answer his grandfather's question. Ginrei glanced at his grandson then turned back toward the book in his hand.
"We should call forth the members of the Shihõin clan so that they can say their farewells to their fallen family member."
Byakuya could feel a lump begin to form in the back of his throat. He never expected his lie to take off like it did and now that it had he had no way of bringing it back down within his reach. Opening his eyes, he exhaled then did the only thing he could do to rectify the situation.
"I will go and visit Captain Shihõin Yoruichi and discuss plans with her."
Ginrei nodded his head stiffly then returned the book back to the bookshelf. He placed his hands behind his back and walked toward the glass windows that looked out over the Kuchiki grounds.
"If Lady Hisana does not make it then you know what you must do. As is our tradition, you must bare an heir. It does not look like you will be able to produce one with your wife since she is fading from this world."
Byakuya clenched the fabric of his shihakushõ as he clenched his jaw tightly. He had to refrain from exposing his emotion but it was difficult. He respected his grandfather, so much so, that he couldn't go against his or the family's honor by marrying someone not of noble blood. It was this same respect that caused him to unwittingly join forces with the leader of the stealth force and the captain of squad two, Yoruichi, in order to satisfy his families wishes and keep the one he loved by his side. The ruse worked to his advantage and with a second captain to lay claim to his story no one questioned his wife's true heritage. Now as his spouse lay weak and deterring before his eyes, he had to submit to his grandfather suggesting he take another wife and produce an heir to take over the family manor.
"I respect your wishes, grandfather, but I cannot take another woman to be the lady of my home. I do not wish to speak of this further as my wife has not passed on yet." he replied.
"Byakuya, you are head strong which is why you were hand chosen to take over as head of household but you must produce an heir. You must follow the laws set forth by our ancestors. An heir must be born to take your place when you have decided your time is complete."
"I do not see my time ending any time soon. I will remain as head of household for many years to come. You took over as the head of the house over one hundred years ago and I plan on not only doing the same but surpassing that amount. I have no wish to retire." said Byakuya.
Ginrei chuckled. "I see. In either case, whether lady Hisana passes on or not, an heir must be produced."
Byakuya sighed. His words were not getting through to his grandfather as hard as he tried. He released the material in his hands and exhaled once again. He didn't want to make the situation worse but he had to end this tiresome conversation he was having. He had no choice but to use his last resort.
"Hisana and I have already produced an heir to take over the family if I decide to retire."
To this, Ginrei turned around promptly. He studied Byakuya's demeanor while parting from the window and approaching his grandson.
"Is that so? Why was I not informed? How long was it since she gave birth in her condition?" he inquired.
Byakuya kept his eyes lowered. He refused to meet his grandfather's glare as he continued to play the last card in his deck.
"It was two weeks ago. I was preoccupied with her health after she delivered the child. Please, forgive me for delaying the news." he replied.
"What of the child? Is it healthy?"
Byakuya nodded. "Yes. She gave birth to a girl. We have given her the name of Kuchiki Rukia. She was born of the same black hair as Hisana and I. She resembles her mother greatly."
"Hm," Ginrei had an unsettling look in his eyes as he listened attentively. He knew he kept his distance from his grandson and his affairs unless it pertained to the house in its entirety. However, he wished he would have kept up with the activities surrounding his grandson conceiving a child. He wished to hear he had a great grandson to grow and take over the family but a great grandchild was still a great grandchild regardless of race. "Where is she? I wish to see her immediately."
"She is in the nursery I requested built upon her birth. It is opposite Hisana and my bed chamber."
Ginrei walked with haste past Byakuya and pulled the door open. Glancing through the corner of his eye, Byakuya watched as his grandfather disappeared from view. He could only assume he was headed toward the nursery to see his great grandchild. Rising to his feet, Byakuya sighed. Although it was true that there was a new addition to the Kuchiki clan only one thing made the situation a significant problem.
Adjusting his light silk silver-white windflower scarf that sat snuggly around his neck, he proceeded after his grandfather to visit the newborn that biologically was not his child.