Chapter 1: The Stolen Heir

A woman could be heard screaming and crying as she tried so desperately to bring a child into the world from her already weak body. Gripping the silk covers that were beneath her as she let out another cry never seeing the concerned look that went across her husband face as he held her hand tightly.

Gripping his hand as well before she let out a final scream and then heard a cry that sounded like music to her ears. Letting tears of joy flow down her face as she saw her husband hold the bloodied infant in his arms with a uncharacteristically soft look in his eyes.

Her husband looked up to see her smiling eyes before adjusting his arms so she could see their new child. Speaking up in a soft voice that trembled slightly " Is Byakuya-sama pleased ?"

Byakuya responded back in tone that showed the deep love he held for her " I'm very pleased, what shall we name her?"

He reached over to place the crying infant in his wife hands so that she could hold her. Hisana then stated " I was thinking we could call her Rukia!"

Byakuya gave a soft smile that only she noticed " Then that shall be her name as is it your wish my love."

Picking up the child from her his beloved wife's arms and handing her to the mid-wife whose job was to take care of her. The mid-wife walked out of the room and the couple noticed the smirk on the woman's face.

She glanced over to her husband asking him " When do you think they'll bring Rukia back?"

Byakuya in turn responded back " I don't know, for now focus on yourself." Silently he watched the various mid-wifes working around the room to clean everything in neat and efficient way. He reached over to hold his wife's hand softly as they waited for their bundle of joy to be brought back.

He watched like a hawk as they removed the covers from his wife and saw a wince come across her face. Concerned he reached up to touch her cheek gently and his other hand grabbed her's. Turning to the head mid-wife to ask " Where is my daughter?"

The mid-wife stated calmly " I don't know, Byakuya-sama. Would you like for me to look for her?"

Byakuya eyed her coldly " See to it that you do. My wife would like to see her daughter?"he looked at her lovingly. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the mid-wife leave the room to begin her search.

Suddenly their loving gazes where broken by a loud scream that echoed through the hall. Byakuya eye's uncharacteristically widen before looking down at his concerned wife. Quickly saying to her " Stay here Hisana!"

Getting up from the floor and walking over to a table where his blade laid. Grabbing it off the table and walking up to were the shoji had been closed by the mid-wife helper. Just as he was about to pull it open, but a voice stopped in place " Byakuya-sama please check on Rukia?"

Opening the shoji he responded in a tense voice " I will."

Walking outside into the hallway where he came upon the head mid-wife screaming over the bloodied body that had been the mid-wife that had taken his daughter Rukia from the room. He glanced over to see the mid-wife face in frozen in shock.

Walking past her in a trance as he searched high and low for his daughter. When he came to the end of the hallway and when he saw no sign of his daughter. He fell to his knees and his face held a broken look.

He sat there for what seemed like hours as the noise around him became nothing but a blur. His mind was a whirlwind of distress and rage. However to the outside world his face was a blank canvas as he sat their staring out into the world.

Suddenly he came back into the world of the living when he felt a hand gently touch his shoulder. He glance up to see a pair of a warm green eyes that belonged to a man who had a handsome yet emaciated face. He had his long white hair tied in a low pony tail.

The man asked him gently " I heard what happen is there anything I can do to help?"

Byakuya responded back in a soft broken voice " Find my Rukia." Getting up from the ground to give the rain one last broken look. Turning around with a cold mask in place on his face and saying in a cold voice " Now if you excuse me I have to inform my wife of this situation."

Walking down the hallway calmly even though inside his mind was racing like a storm full of emotions. The most prominent emotion was distraught of what to tell his poor wife. Opening the shoji door again before placing his sword on the wooden holder on top of his table.

Turning back to face his wife who was openly weeping on the ground still weaken from childbirth. Dropping his cold mask as he crouched next to her and placed a comforting hand on her cheek.

" We will find her Hisana, I promise you that. " He held her shaking body close to him as he waited for her sobbing to calm down. He felt her body shaking from a harsh cough that escaped her.

" Do you promise me, Byakuya-sama? That you'll find my Rukia." Before she burst into tears again clutching at his shigami uniform. He squeezed her shoulders in comfort so that she would feel better.

"I'll begin the search for her right away."

Getting up from the door and grabbing his sword once again. He then slipped on his wooden shoes before opening the shoji again. Turing back to ask her " Will you be alright while I'm gone?"

The woman tearfully nodded and clutched her silk blanket tightly. Closing the shoji door and slipping on his cold mask once more. Turning to see two men in purple ninja garb and the clan symbol on their uniform bowing before him.

Speaking up in a cold voice " You two will stay here and guard the Lady Kuchiki."

Walking down the hallway he could see more of his men lined up against the wall. Reaching the end of the hallway where he paused and stated in a commanding voice " As you have recently been notified my daughter Rukia Kuchiki is missing. You will not stop until you find her, now go."

Walking down the hallway once more he came to another pair of shoji doors. Opening the doors wide open he stepped out into the baring rain. Ignoring the rain touching his clothes he started his trek down the streets.

A few feet away from his house he sound the beautiful silk white ribbon he had made for her before her birth. Picking up the ribbon from the ground the rain disguised the tears that fell silenly down his cheeks. He continued down the muddy road that led from his house looking for his stolen heir.