Byakuya's Guilt
Byaukuya woke suddenly, his sleep disturbed by Hisana's silent sobs. It did not matter that she did her best to remain as quiet as possible; he could still feel her body shaking against his.
Oh how it broke his heart to see her like this. She was so beautiful, without and within. Someone so beautiful should never be made to cry, he thought. It made him feel utterly helpless. He was supposed to protect her! But how could he fight against guilt and dreams. How he wished his enemy was tangible so that he could defeat it and protect Hisana from the pain it caused her.
Rolling over on the bed palette, Byakuya gently put an arm around his trembling wife.
"Was it the dream again, Love," he whispered as he sat up, pulling her closer to him and onto his lap.
She only nodded against his chest, gripping his night clothes for dear life, as if she'd somehow lose him too if she were to let go.
"Oh, Hisana," Byakuya sighed as he stroked her hair. He could think of no words to comfort her. He would promise her the moon if only he could take away the tears.
"Hisana, look at me please," Byakuya's voice remained as soft as his beloved cherry blossoms. He waited quietly until his wife finally brought her eyes to meet his. "Hisana, what has passed has passed. There is nothing you can do to change that."
She only shuddered in response.
"All the tears in the world could not help, Hisana, so please, stop your crying. Dry your eyes, Love."
"I… I feel so worthless," she mouthed to him, sound barely escaping her lips.
"We will find her, Hisana. I promise you. Get some rest, Love. My rounds with Ukitake do not start until 7:00. By 5:00 I will be in the Rukongai searching for Rukia. We will find her and bring her home to us."
Hisana only nodded once more and buried her face in Byakuya's chest, drawing comfort from his warm, enveloping presence. Enveloped in his embrace, she finally surrendered unto sleep.
Byakuya sat there all night long, holding his precious Hisana, fighting his own guilt for not being able to stop her's.
A single tear ran down his cheek, coming to rest in his wife's silken hair. He would find Ruka, his wife's sister, if he had to search ten lifetimes for her. He would end Hisana's guilt. He would defeat this enemy.