Not Just A Mother Figure

by feanor's flame

author's note: i'm not sure if this is the title i want but anyway. this would be my first ever fic. as in ever. i dont like to write stories that much. i prefer to read. but now i'm off topic. so i hope you read and comment on how i can improve or something. i do not mind constructive criticism. but please do not flame me XD thank you

disclaimer: i do not own Bleach nor do i own the characters... sorry...

All was quiet in the Kuchiki Manor. It was the first day of Spring but the air was still chilly and the flowers were still nothing more than young buds. A normal passerby would think that everything was peaceful in the Kuchiki estate, home of Kuchiki Byakuya, captain of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13. But that passerby didn't know the inner turmoil that was going on in the house of the captain and that all was not well for him and most certainly for his wife, Hisana.

The Kuchiki estate was a beautiful and magnificent place to behold not only for its size but for its gardens which hold uncountable species of plants and flowers. At the Southern part of the house, a window, overlooking the revered garden, was open. But its occupants were far from admiring the view and it had nothing to do with the fact that the flowers were not in bloom yet.

"Byakuya…" whispered a voice weak and weary as if a dead weight was on top of her.

"Don't speak. It is bad for your condition," urged the tall, beautiful man. Kuchiki Byakuya, who was most known for his proud and cold demeanor and incredible indifference, was now unbelievably close to panic.

His wife, Hisana, must not have seen the fear in his eyes nor heard the tremor in his voice and if she did, she did not show it as she continued on. "Please promise me that you will find my sister, Rukia, and adopt her into your family so she may call you brother. But please, do not tell her that I am her sister. I do not deserve it."

Byakuya, eager to please his wife especially during her last dying moments, nodded and promised. The two exchanged a few more words until the inevitable came and Hisana, wife of the 28th head of the noble Kuchiki clan, passed away.

Byakuya, the master of masks, took of his, hung his head and wept.

Several moments later, he turned his head to look at another figure in the room.

"Thank you, Unohana-taichou, for trying your best," he said softly.

The kind and pleasant face of Unohana Retsu smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Kuchiki-taichou. I should have been more strict with her and made her take more rests."

"It's not your fault. Despite her weakened state, Hisana still chose to continue to search for the sister she abandoned. Her guilt plagued her till her death." The last words of the noble were almost lost in the sound of the wind due to the softness of his voice.

Unohana Retsu cast a worried look at her fellow captain who was now looking out the window.

"Death didn't even wait for the first bud to bloom," he said.

Kuchiki Byakuya, whom she had known since he was a young child, had a look of utter despair that caused her to become alarmed. In all the decades she knew Byakuya, he had never shown his weaknesses for he hid them very well. But now, he did not even try to hide them. But he knew that Retsu could be trusted and even if he concealed his emotions and built a brick wall around his heart, he knew she could still see through them anyway.

Unohana stood up and walked towards the sorrowful man. She gently laid a hand on top of his shoulder and said "Do not lose heart, Kuchiki-taichou. Continue to live* so that you can fulfill the promise you made this day. May it be your anchor to this world. I am confident that you will find her sister soon."

Byakuya looked at the gentle healer and slightly nodded. Retsu smiled faintly, hoping that her words were a comfort to him. Then she looked up at the sky and saw the light was growing weaker. She turned to Byakuya and gave him a small friendly hug. "I must go back and get more helpers to prepare Hisana's body. I will also see you at the funeral. If you'll excuse me, Kuchiki-taichou."

The noble tried to bid the lady farewell but found out that he couldn't speak so he bowed his head instead as Unohana Retsu, captain of the 4th division, made her way out of the room.

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*live- i don't know whether soul reapers are "living" or just existing :D but i went for live in the end 'coz it's deeper, i guess. exist is nice, too...