Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo. I do not own any of the characters represented.

Notes: This is my first attempt at writing, though please be as critical as you like. I have already uploaded some chapters and received absolutely wonderful reviews, so I feel very grateful and honored. I have edited and merged chapters as well as renamed some of them, so they are being reposted, but not too much has changed outside of grammar.

For those who have reviewed and asked me to update, I would like to respond: I will try my absolute hardest to update and finish this story. Nothing bothers me more than an incomplete story, because it leaves me dying of anticipation. With that in mind, thank you for reading what I have so far, because even I would not have done it! Although, after having started my own story, I understand now that the encouragement of readers can play a monumental role in the development of one's fiction and I think I will read incomplete stories more often.

On the story, I am unsure of where it is going. Currently I have about three chapters posted (I may merge chapters), but roughly twelve written. Before I post some of the chapters that move the plot, I will make sure I know where it's going! Anyway, enough chit chat. Happy Reading!

Chapter 1: Settling In, Settling Down

Dusk was settling over Seireitei, and with it the stir of conversation and the bustling of feet. It was only a few hours ago that Aizen, Gin, and Tousen had escaped to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo was still being healed by Inoue, while Sado, Ganju, and Ishida were resting in their own quarters.

Rukia groaned as she sat up in bed. She could barely move because of so many days inside the lethality stone, but she was feeling restless nonetheless. She looked out of the window at the purple clouds and the dust rising from the destruction of the last few days. Most of that damage had been caused because of her. Lost in thought, she did not hear the nurse enter her room.

"Kuchiki-san, please lay down and rest. We cannot return you to Kuchiki Taichou in this condition after all he has done to save you." The nurse placed a tray on the table beside her bed.

"...Yes. I'm sorry."

The door clicked behind the young nurse as she left. Rukia stared over at the tray, neither the food nor water catching her eye, instead the pink flowers in a tiny vase. Byakuya. Nii-Sama. Kuchiki Taichou. He had snatched her from death at the last second. Just enough time to save me, but not enough for him to escape Gin's Shinsou.

When everything was over he had revealed to her his heavy secret. Torn between a promise to his wife, her sister, Hisana, to protect her and to his parents not to soil the Kuchiki name any further, Byakuya chose to keep his promise to his parents and abide by the laws of Soul Society.

Hisana. My sister. I have a sister.... I had a sister...

Her head started to swim, her mind racing through his story over and over. She had understood, but now it was beginning to sink in. Her shoulders started to tremble, her hands clutching the sheets tightly in fists, and tears began to stream down her face.

"Why didn't he tell me...Why did he keep it a secret!? Bastard! How selfish!! Why didn't I deserve to know!?" She clenched the sheets and buried her face as she wept. "Why does it feel like this?"

A knock at the door made Rukia jump. She wiped her eyes with her white sleeves, rubbing her face harshly to make herself look tired instead. She held her breath as the door creaked open...

Orohime had just finished bandaging and healing the last of the shinigami from the day's battle. She had never really stayed long at any hospital before and despite all of those injured around her, and how tired she was, she had felt better than ever since coming to soul society. As she walked down the hallway to her bedroom, she mused over the evening's events.

"So this is what it feels like to be a doctor...Unohana Taichou is amazing... I wonder if I could ever be like her. Not only does she heal people but she fights... I'm glad I could finally do something... At least for Kurosaki-kun..."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout and a choked sob coming from the room she had just passed. "Rukia...?"

Uncertain if she should interrupt, Orohime waited at the door for a moment listening to the tiny sobs. She had come to Soul Society to save Rukia -- she couldn't do anything before so she would at least try now. She gently knocked on the door hearing a brief silence before deciding to enter.

"Kuchiki-san, can I come in?"

"Inoue!! Of course! Come in!"

Orohime walked into the small hospital room and sat on the floor by Rukia's bed, wrapping her arms around herself holding her knees to her chest.

"What is it Orohime? Is everyone okay? How are you? How's Ichigo!? I'm sorry I ...heh... I'll just...let you talk."

Orohime replied giggling, "Don't worry Kuchiki-san, I have been keeping busy helping Unohana Taichou. Everyone is stable now and resting. I was walking down the hall when I heard you -san, Why were you crying?"

At this question, Rukia's eyes became downcast. "I said that out loud? Heh...No, it's nothing. I'm just being stupid," she said as her eyes began to shimmer.

"Kuchiki-san... it's can't be nothing. You were captured by your brother and best friend, imprisoned, almost executed..."

"Ahh..."

Inoue's eyes started to widen losing herself in the story. "...had your soul used to store a deadly item,

"I get it, Ino-.."

"..barely escaping death right before having your soul pierced by a monst- "

"Ah! I get it Inoue! I know! I was there, remember?" Rukia chided as she smiled at her walnut haired friend.

"..ehhh...sorry... I get carried away. but, you were saved by your brother, Kuchiki Taichou...."

Immediately her smile disappeared, "That man..."

"Kuchiki-san?"

"I'm sorry Inoue... I haven't had a chance to tell you yet..." With that Rukia shared with her Byakuya's story from that afternoon.

"....wow...that's fantastic! It explains everything!"

"It is not fantastic! It's terrible!!!" Inoue's blank expression told her that she needed to explain further. Rukia took in a big puff of air and began, "I spent all those years wondering why he had adopted me! At first I thought it was because I looked like his wife, but I thought if he wanted her around, then why adopt me as a sister? If he took me in because I looked like her, then why didn't he ever look at me? Why did he bring me into his home if he was just going to treat me coldly?! Inoue... I've spent the last 50 years believing, hoping that there was some warmth to him, defending him to others while thinking that he hated me, not knowing why I was there... I looked like someone he loved, yet I was so disgusting and such a disappointment that he couldn't even look at me! I did everything I could to please him to show my gratitude, but it never seemed to be enough, I tried to understand him... I tried... and this... now...I'm not anything... I'm nothing more than a promise to be kept to someone who abandoned me...all of my trying... was for nothing...I... I don't even know what to think anymore...my entire life...feels like a lie in someone's game of secrets..."

Inoue watched as Rukia's eyes started to well up. She got up and sat on the bed next to her as the tears began to fall, listening to her between sobs.

"Why... why couldn't he just tell me..." Rukia buried her head in Orohime's lap, hands covering her eyes, her body shaking, "...why...."

"Rukia-chan...." Orohime held her close, stroking her hair, wishing there was something she could do for her friend. Thinking of nothing, she stayed holding her while she sobbed.

When Rukia's sobs subsided, the sky had become pitch black highlighted by wispy blue streaks of starlight.

"Kuchiki-san... I think he does care and he must have cared a great deal for your sister to keep such a promise for so many years. If he didn't he would not have protected you like he did today... it is very special to have someone who is willing to die to protect you..." a sad smile crept over Orohime's face. She thought of her own brother who had passed away, Sora who had fought the hollows that consumed him just so that he could protect his sister.

"...Inoue." Rukia saw the sad smile and the downward glance that Inoue gave, and immediately felt a pang of guilt for mentioning these particular feelings.

She had spent years in the Kuchiki household, but still had very little grasp of the man who had saved her life. She had a small gauge of his moods, which went from cold, to colder, but she had always sensed or perhaps hoped for a warmth there, which is what preserved her faith in him. She still felt foolish and insecure, but her hope gradually creeped back, slowly pushing away her proud anger.

Rukia let out a long deep breath and tried to swallow the conversation she had just brought up."Well... I'm glad I didn't call him a bastard to his face!" Both girls giggled."I guess I shouldn't have said that. He did save me after all... I still just wish he had told me. I'm grateful... I just...nevermind. Thank you for listening, Inoue."

"Of course, Rukia-chan. Well, I better get to bed. I have to help out Unohana Taichou in the morning, and you need your rest too! Rangiku-san and I might even cook for everyone tomorrow! Good night, Kuchiki-san."

"Ah. Good night, Orihime." After the door closed behind Orihime, Rukia picked at her food, drank some water, and lay in bed, her imagination taking over. Inoue is right, he must have cared a great deal for my sister. The idea that he could keep a secret for someone who passed away fifty years ago, was astounding. He must have really loved her.

Rukia tried to imagine what he must have been like in a relationship, what he must have been like before losing someone that he loved. He was the high prince of Seireitei and he had married a girl from one of the lowest districts of Rukongai. Rukia knew he was different from most nobility, not extravagant in the least, and when he had adopted her, she had understood further that he was not as elitist as the rest... but for nobility and a captain of the Gotei 13 to marry someone so much lower in place with barely enough strength to stay alive... She had given up a long time ago trying to figure him out, but now with the truth in front of her she was once again fascinated by the mystery that was Kuchiki Byakuya, the life he led - with my sister.

Hisana. Hisana. Hisana. That is your name. A sister. I had a sister. Hisana...

Notes: So there you have it! The refreshed first chapter. I merged the original chapters one and two into this chapter. I chose Inoue because really, Rukia has no women in her life that she can really talk to, also because I would like to see Rukia and Orihime become closer, though that may or may not happen in this story.

Thank you for reading! And reviews, complimentary or critical are welcome and appreciated!