Chapter 1 Byakuya x Hisana

First Encounters

Byakuya Kuchiki had never enjoyed sitting in the huge mansion the family owned. Instead he preferred to be alone, taking a stroll around the family gardens or training in one of the many training grounds on the Kuchiki property. He tended to avoid large groups of people preferring solidarity to the social gatherings that the Kuchiki clan enjoyed. So when Yoruichi offered to excuse him from one of the many parties the Kuchiki's held Byakuya jumped at the chance.

"Don't worry Byakuya-boy, we'll go to Rukongai and train. We both know this party is just a way for our families to flaunt all of their spiritual energy and money."

Even a party with elderly relatives was better than being in a cell.

Somewhere in transaction between the Seireitei and Rukongai Yoruichi had disappeared off into the distance laughing as she went. Byakuya had attempted to catch up but he lost her in the dense slums of one of the outer districts. That's when everything went black.

He was now chained to a wall in complete darkness in a cell that smelled like excrement and death. The worst part of it was that the cell was gently sucking away all remaining spiritual pressure he had left making any chance of escape less and less likely with each passing moment.

"I'm going to kill Yoruichi." He growled into the emptiness tugging the chains as he planned an escape.

"This Yoruichi is the least of your worries." A voice came from the other end of the cell; it was most defiantly female and was accompanied with the soft jingling of chains.

Byakuya looked harder into the darkness, "Who are you? I demand you left me go!" he jerked at the chains again hoping that the metal would weaken or the wall would collapse enough for him to free his arms.

"If I had the ability to unlock your chains don't you think I would unlock my own?" She replied, jingling the heavy object locked around her ankle.

There was a long pause as neither knew what to say.

The voice at the other end of the cell was the first to speak, hopeful to strike a conversation with her new cell mate or maybe just concerned she asked;

"Are your wounds better?"

Wounds? He was wounded? Now that she mentioned it his arms and legs felt bruised and his back felt torn as if someone had dragged him along the floor. He ran his fingers along his arms and felt the familiar inflammation of scratches and torn skin. Injuries he had not sustained before he went into Rukongai.

"I didn't realise I had any until you said." Byakuya muttered checking his chest, arms and legs for any more damage. "How did you know?"

"I tried to heal you before your wounds became infected." She whispered, "You were covered in them."

"How could you? There is no spiritual pressure in this place." Even he, a boy with the spiritual pressure as large of that of a captain, was nearly dry of all spiritual pressure and the effects were nauseating.

"I used herbs which cleanse and some clean water."

"I see." He was never one for conversation even with his own family; it wasn't like he was going to talk anymore to a mystery girl who he is locked up with.

Cluh, clunk

The door to the cell was thrown open and the sudden burst of bright light burned Byakuya's eyes, and for a moment he couldn't see anything.

"Ah, the son-of-a-bitch Kuchiki is awake!" a figure emerged, "Would you like him now or later?"

"Later." A second, more relaxed voice, echoed from behind the door. "Bring the girl."

The man walked into the cell leaving the door wide open. If only he could pull these chains from the wall he could leave this retched prison and go home.

There was a scuffle in the corner as the man attempted to unchain the girl, but she refused and kicked him in the groin.

"Stupid little whore!" He spat grabbing her by the hair as she screamed. "If only the boss would let me show you where your loyalties should lie." He thought out loud looking down at the struggling girl.

"Leave her alone." Byakuya growled, tearing at the chains as he attempted to go to the girls rescue but there was nothing he could do. The man hit her head on the stone wall and she gently fell silent, collapsing into the man's waiting arms. "Leave her alone!"

"Your Kuchiki honour will get you nowhere." The man turned to him and smiled with rotten teeth holding the unconscious girl in his arms, and for the first time he could see the girl who'd he'd been incarcerated with.

Even at just a glance he could see the bruises around her eyes and face, legs and arms, and although he couldn't see her body or back he had no doubt that there would be bruises there too.

Then the man shut the door and walked out, holding the girl hostage.

Although he wouldn't admit it he was worried about her, those bruises weren't caused by everyday accidents, and they were caused by vicious fights and attacks, much worse than the attack which he'd just witnessed.

He was scared for her.

He shouldn't be but he was.

Hisana had always hated the cell, but it was much better to the alternative. The lounge was always a bustle with people, mostly criminals, prostitutes and the odd corrupt Soul Reaper.

She looked a mess with her matted hair, ripped and muddy clothes, but it was far better than dressing in a tight fitting kimono and having men offer her money for services Hisana had never even heard of before. She wasn't a prostitute, she was a hostage, but no one here could tell the difference. She was awake but drowsy, her head ached and she felt like she was at an odd angle.

"Hisana." The voice of Jōshi (Boss) asked. She had no idea of his actual name, no one had ever mentioned it before and she guessed they never would. He was the boss of this Rukongai underworld.

"Leave me alone." She muttered, turning onto her side so that she was away from the voice.

"Hisana." There was the ringing of glasses as he shifted to lift her head. "My offer still stands."

"I'd rather stay in the cell for all eternity than become your little slut." She spat.

"There are many men who would pay for such services now, ready for when you become of age." He touched her cheek, running his fingers over the red hot skin. She said nothing and Jōshi took this as a step forward. "Bring the Kuchiki."

They brought the boy forward; she could hear it from where she was lying, the noise of him yelling, shouting, cursing and fighting, the jingling of chains coming closer and closer.

"Ah young Kuchiki." Jōshi muttered. "You've caused quite a commotion."

"Who are you and what do you want?" the boy muttered.

Byakuya wasn't in the best mood.

He'd sat in the dark, alone, for what felt like hours. He'd been there wondering about home, family, the girl, Yoruichi, squad six. He had never wanted to go home so much in his entire life.

"I am Jōshi, this is my domain." He waved his hand around in an adoring fashion. "And this lovely creature," he paused reaching out and tilting the girls head up "is Hisana." She quickly slapped his hand away.

The girl, Hisana, was in fact quite attractive, she would probably be even more so if she had a bath and a decent meal. She was petite, with skinny arms and legs covered in the thick obvious discolouration of bruises. Her face was just as bad but it retained the attractive innocence a girl her age (maybe a few decades younger than Byakuya) would have. But the thing Byakuya was most enchanted by was her big, blue-purple eyes. They were unlike anything Byakuya had ever come across in his lifetime and he was certain he'd never see such beautiful orbs again.

"You are lucky to have such a beautiful cell mate, any other man would be jealous of you." Byakuya stood quietly, he knew the longer the man rambled on the more time he had to survey his surroundings. The more time he had to plan an escape. "Mind you, you are nothing but a child. How old are you Kuchiki?"

"I have no reason to answer you."

"My guess is around 120? 130?" Byakuya glared upwards, he was correct. Byakuya was in fact 125 at this point in time; he was not yet old enough to be considered a man but was facing the changes necessary in order for him to be considered one. "By the look in your eyes I think I'm right." There was a long pause and Byakuya thought about escaping, there weren't too many people here – most of them were drunk on sake and prostitutes anyway – it would be easy just to run for the nearest exit. "Enough with the small talk, I see our guest is eager to go home, bring me the paper."

One of his large counterparts brought over a sheet of parchment and a quill, placing them on one of the overly-large tables in front of Jōshi.

"I want you to write: 'I am being held hostage in Rukongai. For my release my captors want 5,000,000 yen in cash delivered to a specific location in Rukongai.' And then I want you to sign your name."

"No." Byakuya moved away from the paper, away from Jōshi and closer to the nearest exit. "I will not participate in this." He paused and thought for a second, "How do you know I am a Kuchiki? Your source could be lying?"

"My source is yourself. After all it was you who stumbled blindly into Hisana, cursing and swearing. You told her that 'she better move out of the way as you are Byakuya Kuchiki, sole heir to the Kuchiki lineage'." Byakuya was dumbfounded, he never recalled saying such a thing, and he was sure that he would have remembered Hisana. Those eyes were not easily forgotten.

"You are lying."

"Even if I was, that still doesn't explain why a young man such as yourself is wearing silks in one of the poorest districts of Rukongai, nor does it explain why you had over sixty gold pieces on your person when we managed to… calm you down."

Byakuya was stuck in a corner; they knew how he was due to his overly large mouth and arrogance. As Yoruichi would say; 'you only have yourself to blame'. Byakuya knew he had to leave, he was in dangerous territory. Seizing his chance Byakuya picked up a glass which had been resting on the table and threw it at Jōshi, while he and the guards were distracted Byakuya made a quick sprint to the door. A gasp, the crowd of surrounding people yelled as their get rich quick option was running for the door.

"Get him!"
"Grab him quick."

He was so close when one of the larger henchmen grabbed him and threw him back into the room, causing a large amount of pain around Byakuya's middle. Two of the other henchmen grabbed an arm each and dragged him back to the cell which he'd woken up in. They threw him into the dark and Byakuya hit his head on one of the four walls - he was too nauseous to tell which one - causing him a few seconds of obscurity. One of the other henchmen began chaining him back to the wall, tightening the shackles around his wrists.

"Hisana?" Jōshi asked, "What do you say to becoming one of my girls?" he fidgeted as he spoke and Hisana could only guess that he was cleaning the mess Byakuya had caused by throwing the drink at him.

"I would rather live in my cell than ever work for you as one of your prostitutes." And to that she stood up. Walking the familiar pathway towards her cell not caring how long she would remain there, it was better than becoming a mindless whore.

Cluh, clunk

The door was locked behind her.

"Kuchiki? Are you okay?" she whispered into the darkness.

"I'm okay." He murmured back, rubbing his head. She walked over and knelt by his side. She could not see him but something about his voice and attitude told her that he was in distress, whether it is because he is lost or away from home, or whether it was because his escape attempt failed she didn't know. But she did know that he needed to talk about it.

"Are you hurt?"

"Not really." He muttered, and for a long moment there was a pause before Byakuya began to speak again, "Did I really say those things to you?"

"What?"

"Did I really curse and shout at you?"

"Yes, but I can't blame you, you did sound pretty angry." Hisana muttered back, remembering the enraged voice and language she hadn't expected to be coming from a noble heir.

"I'm sorry I ran into you."

"Don't be. It isn't your fault."

"But I shouldn't have been there in the first place."

"Yes but I am the one who walked into you." Hisana reached out and found his hand. "I was running away and I ran into you."

"I am the reason these men have you back here."

"No, I would not have gotten very far." She paused for a second, "I should have planned my escape better."

"Why?"

"Because I am blind."