Title: Sins of the Fathers
Author: Lilya
Genre: Drama/Angst
Summary: SS Arc. Can you lose what you never had? The day of Rukia's execution, two members of the Kuchiki House confront each other. One is Kuchiki Byakuya; the other – his son.
Main Characters: Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Rukia, various Original Characters.
Rating: PG
Pairing: Byakuya/Hisana
Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite. If you see a character you don't recognize, then it belongs to me. The whole plot belongs to me as well.
Author's note: 1) English is not my native tongue – please forgive my mistakes. If some sentences don't make sense, please tell me and I'll try to fix them.
2) I choose to call the main character Kenshin because I was told that it contains the element of "sword" (ken) and "heart" (shin) in Japanese. I thought it was quite fitting.
3) I arbitrarily decided that spirit age more slowly than human beings. The fact that they must be able to have children was stated - between the lines - by Kubo Tite himself – isn't Byakuya the 28th Kuchiki generation?
Sins of the FathersPART I – CRASH AND BURN
I sigh as I sneak a glance outside the window. It's such a lovely day – how I wish I could go outside, instead of being stuck here.
I wish aunt Rukia was here.
Aunt Rukia is surely the best member of the Kuchiki family ever!
How wish she'd come back soon. She has been gone for almost three months and I miss her a lot. It gets really lonely here when she's not around.
I frown.
What if something has happened to her?
No – she's too smart and too good. And then, Father would have told me.
Well, most likely, he would have ordered Toma-san to tell me.
That old hag… I don't like her at all.
Neither does Aunt Rukia – another thing we have in common.
On the other hand, Father leaves her the complete control of the mansion. He doesn't realize how insufferable she is, since he is never home.
It does get really lonely when Aunt Rukia is not here.
In these days, I feel like I hate everything. This huge manor, my name and my position….
I know I shouldn't say it. I know I'm really lucky, that I have a lot of opportunities. But…
I wish you would come back soon, Aunt Rukia.
My auntie is the only one who understands me and always finds time for me.
Once I was having another bad day like this and she made me spill everything. I feared she would think me a spoiled, ungrateful brat. But she didn't.
She said she could understand me and hugged me tightly.
I do love aunt Rukia very much. She's like a mother to me, even if we don't see much of each other.
All my best memories revolve around her.
"Kenshin-sama…"
I raise my head. "Yes, Shinju?"
"I beg your pardon, Kenshin-sama, but you will be late for your lesson with Yazawa-san."
Then the old scarecrow will report to my father and he will scold me about My Responsibilities As Heir To The Kuchiki Name.
"Thank you, Shinju." I sigh as I get up and gather my things.
I really hate this place.
The only nice people here are Aunt Rukia and Shinju.
Shinju was my mother's youngest handmaiden. When my mother died, a few months after my birth, she became my nanny.
Not that I need a nanny anymore, but she's really nice to have around, even if it took me thirty years to convince her to call me by my given name.
What's the use in a name if nobody ever uses it?
Even my Father – the rare times he speaks to me at all – doesn't say it.
My other relatives do, however, I'd rather that my name was said by people that I actually like.
Like Father's vice-Captain.
I don't know why Father is so cold with him, he's so funny! No wonder Shinju has a crush on him…
I wish her luck from the bottom of my heart. He's a good man.
And he never treats me like a baby. That's what I like about him and Auntie Rukia: they don't think I'm stupid just because I'm young.
They never tell me that I'll understand when I grow up or that I'm too young for something. If I have doubts or don't understand something, I usually talk to them – mostly to auntie, however, since I don't see much of Abarai-san.
"Good morning, sensei." I say as I enter the school room.
"Good morning, young master."
Outside, the sun is shining.
I wish aunt Rukia was here…
And yet…
I have a feeling that there's something going on. I'm not talking about the drifters that entered Soul Society – although I'm sure that they must be connected, somehow.
Except for aunt Rukia and Abarai-san, nobody bothers to tell me anything – I'm just a child, aren't I?
Shinju is close to me, but she is still a servant and Toma-san could have her out of the house in no time. Plus, she fears my father – like everybody else.
Not that I despise her for this, even Auntie is afraid of him and she is very brave.
I think I'm the only one in the whole Gotei 13 not to feel anything for him.
But this is not the point.
The point is, something is going on behind my back. And I'm really worried, because I feel that aunt Rukia is involved, somehow.
I saw our servants' nervous faces. I heard them whisper among themselves.
I bet Father knows – and so do my "dear" relatives. I've seen them come to visit my father very often in these days.
But I can't ask them. Father would simply tell me I should concentrate more on my training and studies To Uphold The Kuchiki Family Name – I swear that that man talks in capitals.
My other relatives that are not – and could never be – Aunt Rukia would pat my head and tell me to go off and study and not trouble my little head with grown-ups' business.
Yet something is in the air. Something bad.
I feel it.
I try to concentrate on the lesson, but those thoughts still linger in my mind.
My after-lunch break is almost over – soon my next lesson will start. As I'm walking down the hall to head to the training grounds, a sound reaches my ears and forces me to stop dead in my tracks.
Voices… voices coming from Aunt Rukia's room!
She's back! Why didn't she come to me? Surely she knew I was worried…
Ah, who cares! She's back!
I know it's unbecoming of a noble boy, but I start to run nonetheless.
I grasp the handle and right when I'm about to throw the door open, I freeze.
This isn't Aunt Rukia's voice!
Somebody's arguing – it sounds like… Shinju?
Shinju is arguing with Toma-san?
What on Soul Society is happening?
I press myself against the door to listen – I know I shouldn't, but I don't care. I'm sure I heard them mentioning my auntie.
"Kuchiki-sama hasn't ordered to take away Rukia-sama's belongings yet!"
What? What are they talking about!
"I am ordering it!"
Toma-san – it figures.
"The sooner we clean away every trace of that scum, the better!"
"Don't talk about Rukia-sama like that!"
Scum? My auntie!
That's it, she's SO being fired!
I hear her scoff. "Don't call her "sama." That ungrateful wench was never a true Kuchiki to begin with! And look how she repaid our master's kindness! He took her in, brought her higher than she ever deserved and she goes and shames this House's noble name!"
"Well, I can't see how lending her Shinigami powers to a human could be an offence worth of death penance! She must have had her reasons to do so!"
"That's why you are only a lowly servant. You have no right to talk!"
"I don't care! And I wouldn't speak so highly of Kuchiki-sama's kindness, since he didn't move a single finger to help her!"
The sound of a slap echoes in the room. "How dare you question our master's actions!"
"Rukia-sama deserved at least a trial!" Shinju says.
"That would soil even more the Kuchiki's name! That wench doesn't deserve so much!"
"Yes, she does! She's the kindest person I've ever met!" Shinju sobs. "Kuchiki-sama is a cold, cruel man! If it wasn't for young Kenshin-sama, I wouldn't stay here another minute! He's unforgivable!"
"He can't risk his position to help that ungrateful scum!"
"That's not the only thing! Abarai-san told me that when they took back Rukia-sama and our master told her that he wouldn't help her, the only thing she asked of him was to send Kenshin-sama her love. Do you think he did it? No!" another sob. "What is he waiting for, the end of the execution?"
Toma-san huffs. "There's only a few hours left anyway!"
"That poor child will be heartbroken! Rukia-sama was so close to him…"
"Kuchiki-sama shouldn't have allowed her near the young master."
Shinju says something back and they keep on arguing, but I can't hear a thing.
Aunt Rukia is about to die.
Aunt Rukia sent me her love.
Father didn't help her, he didn't even try!
Aunt Rukia didn't even had a chance to explain, to defend herself…
This can't be true. He can't have done that.
No. Not my auntie.
Not Aunt Rukia.
He can't have done that. Not to her. Not to me.
This can't be real…
But there's only a way to know.
I turn back and run.
A few seconds later, I burst into my father's room. He slowly turns toward me and my heart sinks when I notice that he's wearing his full uniform.
"Son. I believe Toma-san has taught you at least the basic manners." he says, looking coldly at me.
Usually, his glare has me blushing, bowing and apologizing in no time.
But not today. I have no time for this.
I glare back.
"Tell me it's not true."
He merely raises an eyebrow at me. "I have no time for your riddles, child. I have an important meeting."
He starts walking away, but my words stop him. "An execution, maybe?" I say. "I guess it wouldn't be fitting for a member of the Noble Kuchiki Family to be late – especially since the one who's being executed belongs to said family."
No answer. No reaction at all.
We just stand here, staring at each other.
"What are you going to do, father?" I say. "Will you just stand there and watch as Aunt Rukia is killed?"
"She has been sentenced to death by the central government." he replies, as if this news could settle the turmoil of my soul. Or actually make me feel better.
"She didn't have a trial!"
"They didn't think it was necessary." he replies, cold as ice.
My fists clench. "And what do you think, Father?"
He looks right through me, as if he couldn't quite see me. "I approve whatever decision they make."
What's this pain in my chest?
Why do I feel like my heart is breaking?
I stare at him, trying to keep my face blank. "Is that all?"
He looks almost…surprised by my boldness. "Do not waste your time with things you can't fully comprehend yet. You are only a child."
A hand grasps my shoulder. Toma-san stands behind me. "Forgive me, my lord. I thought he was attending his lesson with Morioka-san…"
Father nods briskly. "Make sure that this won't happen again, Toma-san. As you know, drifters have entered the Gotei 13 and my son must not be left unattended."
I hate it when he talks about me as if I wasn't there – as if I was nothing.
But today, it doesn't hurt that much anymore.
I am already bleeding too much – I won't feel the prickle of this needle.
Toma-san gently tugs at my arm, but I stand still, looking straight at him. "It is so, then?" I say. "You won't do anything."
I already did what I was ordered to. he says, turning his back on me. "I believe you have a lesson to attend to. A nobleman must not let other people wait for him, it is extremely impolite."
Toma-san tugs more insistently.
"I understand." I start walking away, then, right before crossing the doorstep, I turn back. He is still looking outside the window. "Is there anything you need to tell me…father?"
A moment of silence. And then…
"Nothing."
I cast a last glance at him. Then, I cross the threshold and head down the hall without turning back.
Nothing's gonna change the things that you saidNothing's gonna make this right again
Please don't turn your back now,
I can't believe it's so hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand
(Simple Plan – Perfect)
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