Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. That is property of Tite Kubo.

Every morning at 11:54, on the dot, she stands by the kitchen. She waits like so many days prior. At 11:58, like clockwork, she sees the door to the kitchen open. And once she hears those familiar shuffles, she looks up and greets the cook who offers her a plate of food. "For the Lord Kuchiki." He said softly before turning back. And at noon, she finds herself in his room.

Kuchiki Rukia watched her brother silently pick at his food on that lazy afternoon. Kurosaki Ichigo had returned home a few days ago and the Soul Society was quietly restoring the Seireitei to its former glory. Her brother, Byakuya, had revealed the truth to her; his deceased wife was her sister. Rukia continued to watch him as he ate, unsure what to say in the currently awkward situation. After an encounter with the former captain of the Third Company, Byakuya had been confined to bed rest by the Fourth Company's captain until he had a decent recovery. At noon every day, Rukia would bring him his lunch and sit at his bedside in silence.

"You haven't asked about Hisana." He said softly. Rukia looked up at him rather startled that he had said something. She wondered if it was just her imagination. He wasn't even looking at her, but instead had focused all attention out the window, staring intently at something she couldn't comprehend. She would have believed it was her imagination if he hadn't spoke again. "She looked for you."

"Hisana-san?" Rukia answered. Byakuya nodded, now focusing his violet eyes on her. "Will you tell me about my sister?" When he didn't answer, she quickly went on. "Is it painful for you to bring up such memories?"

He nodded slowly. "I would rather not bring up such a topic." He said in his usual emotionless tone.

"She's my sister. I have a right to know why she abandoned me in the first place." Rukia protested. "I deserve to know after you lied to me."

"That's true." He said.

Seeing that he wasn't going to say much, Rukia lifted the plate off of his lap, bidding him good day before leaving. She handed the plate to a servant in the Kuchiki estate and casted one last glance back to her brother's room. Byakuya was looking out the window once more. She wondered what intrigued the man to stare so longingly outside. Perhaps he disliked to stay in bed and wanted to go outside. Or perhaps it was flowers in the trees, dropping their petals one by one. Like he had previously stated, Hisana died when the flowers bloomed late. Perhaps the sight of falling petals reminded him of the day fate took away what was most dear to him. Then Rukia couldn't help but to wonder, did Byakuya really love Hisana? Shaking her head, she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and went else where.

The next day, Rukia followed the same routine, waiting by the kitchen, greeting the cook and taking the hot plate. But to her shock, Byakuya was not in his room when she arrived. "Nii-sama?" She choked out, setting the plate onto his night stand.

No answer.

Rukia looked around for a note left by him or anything. There was nothing. What was most interesting was that Byakuya hadn't taken his silk scarf nor his kenseikan. They lay untouched on his dresser. Opening the closet door, she found his hoari and shihakusho so he hadn't gone to the Sixth Company's barracks.

"Are you looking for something?" That all-so familiar voice questioned.

Rukia turned, sighing in relief. "Nii-sama. You weren't here so I thought you had gone to see if Renji had done your paperwork properly but you didn't because your hoari is still here..." She trailed off weakly. Her face was now flushed and she scanned his expression to see what he was feeling, but he had hidden it all too well. Her gaze then trailed to the book under his arm. Frowning slightly, the book was thick, dusty, and she could see that it was starting to turn yellow.

Byakuya followed her gaze to the book and a light smile came onto his expression.

Did he just smile?! Rukia wondered, thinking it could have been a trick of the light. No, he was definitely smiling. A small one, but it was still a smile. "What is that?" She asked in a shaky voice as she pointed to the book in an attempt to break the ice.

"Photos." He answered, brushing past Rukia and laying down into his bed. Rukia sat at the edge of the bed, looking over curiously as he opened the book. "They're of Hisana." He stated, looking at each photo adoringly and his fingertips ran over Hisana's smiling face. "You look a lot like her."

"Why are you doing this?" Rukia questioned. "You're not the person who would dredge up old memories."

"True." He answered, flipping the pages and stopping at the wedding photo. "But you're right. You deserve to know."

She stared at him in surprise that he was willing to do so. "I do? But I have never met her."

"She's still your sister." Byakuya said softly. "She never wanted me to tell you in the first place but I'm sure she would have liked for you to know a bit." he admitted.

Rukia leaned over, trying to get a better glimpse of what photo Byakuya was looking at now. "Twenty questions." he stated.

"What?" Rukia stared at him blankly.

"I'll answer twenty questions you have about Hisana and the bringing of you into the Kuchiki family." He said softly, closing the photo album and handing it to Rukia. "Twenty questions and twenty questions only."

Rukia nodded slowly. Questions were now running through her mind. She had already too many. Now to pick, which ones were worth asking?