AN: This is my take on how Rukia and Byakuya's relationship evolved from the first season when he was ready to have her executed to the present where he called her his pride. I must admit that was my turning point with him. He was always just sort of there for me before but when he said that it completely changed the way I saw him and I wondered how he had gotten there. So this is what I came up with. Hope you like.

Reviews: Good or bad, I always want to hear your thoughts. Everyone's opinion is valid and I will acknowledge and respond to any opinion as long as you're willing to defend it. Thank you!

Rukia slid the shoji door open and stepped in quietly. Byakuya glanced at her from the corner of his eye but made no other motion of recognition.

"Nii-sama," Rukia said firmly.

Although her tone surprised him, Kuchiki Byakuya never showed it for a second. When Rukia whispered a kidou spell and erected a barrier around the room, Byakuya raised an elegant eyebrow. The strength of her spell was impressive, especially since she was still recovering. He could easily break it but for the time being he allowed it.

"I want you to release me from the Kuchiki clan."

"Excuse me?"

"I understand your reasons for adopting me now and I appreciate everything that you have done for me since I have been brought into your family and home. But your promise to Hisana has been honoured so there is no reason for me to stay any longer."

"My promise to your sister was that I would adopt you and keep you safe. It is a promise that I intend to keep."

"She's dead," Rukia said icily. "She didn't care in life and she certainly doesn't care now."

Byakuya's reiatsu turned vicious and the stare that he fixed on his adopted sister would have brought any mighty warrior to his knees but Rukia didn't even flinch.

"You will refrain from speaking of your sister and my late wife with such disrespect. Do I need to remind you that you wouldn't be standing here if she didn't care?"

"She abandoned me as a baby. I will not suffer to be your burden because of her guilt."

"That's enough," Byakuya spoke, quiet but menacing. "You will show your sister the respect she deserves."

"I owe her nothing. I will not be made a tool to ease her guilty memory."

"Do you have any idea how she suffered with the guilt of abandoning you?"

"Suffered? Do you even know what suffering is? Do you know the feeling of watching the old woman who used the meager scraps she owned to raise you and feed you without any expectation for repayment, then watch from inside the cupboard she stuffed you in as she was struck down by bandits who made off with the 6 coins we had to our name? Do you know what it's like to wander the streets stealing food and ducking the groping hands of perverts who didn't even care that I didn't even have breasts yet?"

"I know you had a difficult life. Hisana knew too and she regretted it, she dedicated her existence to finding you. To making it right…"

"That doesn't erase anything!" Rukia screamed, shoulders shaking, tears threatening to fall. "All the guilt in the world doesn't change a damn thing! If I hadn't met Renji, I would have probably ended up in a whorehouse…"

"But you didn't. You're here. You're a Kuchiki and it's because of her."

"How can you defend her?" Rukia screamed, tears now flowing freely. "What if it had been your baby? What if she had given you a child and in her incompetence been unable to care for that child. Would you still be defending her if she abandoned your daughter in the Rukongai? How can you love a woman that selfish and pathetic?"

"Stop," Byakuya said but it lacked authority this time. I sounded more like a plea. "I understand that you have no love for her but please, stop... If not for her sake then for mine. I did love her, I still love her... Please stop. I want to remember her in the best light."

"Let me go," Rukia said again. "You've kept your promise, so let me go. This is the only thing I have ever asked of you. All these years I have done everything you asked without question, given up my best friend, given up my pride, my ambitions... All of it because I thought I meant something to you. But all this time and it turns out she's still screwing with my life, taking everything I have achieved in my life without her."

Before Rukia could blink, Byakuya had flashsteped over to her. On instinct, she reached for her sword even though she wasn't carrying it but froze when she realized there were strong arms wrapped around her and her cheek was pressed against the rich fabric of his kimono.

"In all the years you have been my sister," Byakuya said, "this is the first time you have spoken so directly to me. In all the years you have been here, you have done everything you were ever asked. You didn't only look like her, but you were as docile and subdued as she was. How could it not break my heart every time I looked at you?"

Rukia looked up and saw real emotion in his eyes. Byakuya's face was still stoic but his eyes spoke volumes. She wanted to say something but he continued before she had the chance.

"When you went to Karakura town and gave that Kurosaki boy your powers, you went against the rules of soul society and when you were caught, you took your punishment like a true noble. Like a Kuchiki. You were never a burden, Rukia. Because of all the rules I must follow and the promises I have made, I haven't given you the chance to be yourself."

Rukia's tears started anew. She was so tired. That spell took a lot out of her and then with the confrontation, the confessions, it was so much to process, so much to think about. Her knees gave way and she all thoughts escaped her.

It was dark when she woke again, in her own room, in her own bed. Had it all been a dream? Did she have to confront him again? She didn't know if she had the strength but she didn't want to wait either. The longer she stayed, the longer she would be taking advantage of his promise to her sis... to that woman. Bile rose into her throat at the thought of her. She couldn't have had all that hard of a life if she managed to make it all the way into the bed of a noble. How hard was it to take care of a baby anyway? Kenpachi could do it and that bloodthirsty man didn't have a nurturing bone in his body. Yachiru was a brat but she was alive. Yuriko, the old lady who had found Rukia had managed. Despite her poor health and her age she had managed. The old woman had fed her by washing dishes in restaurants with Rukia tied to her back in exchange for the leftovers at the end of the night. She had never taken a bite as far as Rukia could remember. Every morsel had gone to the hungry baby.

The door slid open and Byakuya appeared with a tray of food. He came to kneel next to her, placing the tray on the ground as she sat up stiffly. There was a long moment of silence before Byakuya spoke.

"The first time I saw you, you were hitting Abarai in the head because he called you short. You also silenced those who had the audacity to laugh at his statement with a carefully placed glare. That was the little sister I was expecting: defiant and fierce but graceful and noble at the same time. I was prepared for a quick witted, rebellious hell raiser and despite the fact that you look so much like her, I knew I could not confuse the two of you since you were so different."

Rukia remained motionless. Why was he telling her all of this?

"When I took you home, no doubt you heard some of the arguments I had with the elders. Perhaps you even got wind of the whispers from the servants of the uphill battle it was for you to join the clan. I instructed the clan never to say a word to you but I had observed on a few occasions that their interaction with you was either cold or nonexistent. I spoke to them about it but I only have so much power. You welcome into this family was a cold one and I must apologize for it. The strain of this household is suffocating even for someone born within but it must have been unbearable for you to enter into. When you arrived, you were very docile and shy. Hisana was very much the same way. I had hoped that your spirit would return once you grew more comfortable within these walls but that never happened. You've never felt at home here and I am to blame.

You were wrong when you told Abarai that I have never cared for you. I would not have chosen Abarai as my Lieutenant had it not been for you."

"Renji deserved that position," Rukia cut in sharply. "He is strong and able."

"Indeed," Byakuya said. "He has turned out to be an excellent Lieutenant but I must admit he would have been quickly dismissed had it not been for you. As you know from my previous Lieutenants, I prefer my subordinates to be less hot headed and more obedient."

"If it hadn't been for me?"

"It would be much more appropriate for my sister to speak regularly to my Lieutenant rather than one of the ruffians in the 11th division."

"You did not chose Renji just so that I could talk to him again," Rukia said.

"Of course not. His abilities won him the position but you won him the consideration."

"Why would you care if I spoke to Renji or not?"

Byakuya sighed, he wasn't used to stating the obvious. "You don't have many friends, Rukia. After Kaien's death you became even more reclusive. I knew I couldn't offer any comfort. I was impressed with Abarai for keeping his distance for your sake. It showed how much he cares about you. The first and last time I saw you smile, he had put that smile there. I was hoping he could do it again."

Rukia remained silent. Who was this man? She no longer knew what to think. He had revealed more about himself in the past week than in all the 40 years she had been his sister. It was unsettling and very difficult to swallow.

"If you wish to leave the Kuchiki house, I will not hinder you. But it is not my wish that you leave," Byakuya said, very formally.

"What is your wish," Rukia ventured.

"My wish is that you stay and give me another chance to be your brother."

Suddenly, Rukia saw it. It was always there and she wondered how she could have missed it before.

"Are you really that lonely?" She whispered.

Byakuya's jaw clenched and his eyes slid shut. He took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat. "Yes," he admitted quietly.

Rukia felt the urge to hug the man. He was human! A small smile tugged at her face.

"If I stay, certain things must change," she said.

"Such as?"

"We must start having meals together."

"We do have meals together."

"Not once in awhile. Every time we are both home and they can't be in complete silence like we usually do."

"I don't understand."

"At Ichigo's house, they tell one another about their day at suppertime."

"I doubt anything in my day will be of any interest to you."

"Then we'll talk about anything."

"Our food will get cold."

"You're being stubborn."

Byakuya raised an amused eyebrow at her. "Alright. We'll try it. What else?"

"You must let Ukitake Taicho rank me as he sees fit."

"The missions will get more dangerous," Byakuya cautioned.

Rukia's response was another request. "You must have a little more faith in me."

"I have faith in your ability, Rukia but even as an unranked officer I haven't been able to keep you safe."

"I can't improve without challenging myself."

Byakuya sighed. "I will speak to Ukitake Taicho but only when you have fully recovered."

"Deal!"

"Anything else?"

"Nothing else for now. We'll see when I'm feeling better."

Byakuya smirked. It looked awkward and unused but it was the closest thing to a smile he could muster.

"Goodnight, sister," he said. He gave her a kiss on the temple and left quietly.

"Goodnight, Nii-sama," Rukia whispered touching her temple where he had kissed her.

It was the first sign of affection he had ever shown her and for the first time ever, it made her happy to be his sister.