Author's Note: I'm starting another story, and I still have two unifnished ones. This is going to be difficult since I often have huge writer's block. This story is about Byakuya and Hisana and it is pretty AU. I'm really having a difficult time with Byakuya'scharacterization since most of it would be from his and Hisana's point of view. But what the hell, this is fanfiction. Anyway, on with the story

Summary: His life ended when hers did. Now, the elders are obligating him to produce an heir and forcing him to betray his wifeby marrying another. But could one call it betrayal when the woman they're forcing him to have the heir with is the same woman who he thought died fifty years ago? Now Byakuya has to confront the unfathomable - one startling revelation at a time. Is it really possible for the two of them to fall in love at second sight?

Discliamer: I do not own Bleach, and this applies to all chapters.

At Second Sight

by: WishHeart

Chapter 1

Presumptions

I could wake up now…

Seriously…

Wake up body!

Damn it!

Okay…let's give this another try.

Oh great Kami-sama let a hollow appear now and rip their heads off their scrawny bodies

Ahmmmmm…

That's not working…Dang! Nothing's working!

What did I ever do to deserve something like this? I was the perfect child, I avoided trouble (though that was a little hard to do since I am the trouble), I got fairly good grades, and I got into the academy! The frickin academy and I'm about to graduate! So, tell me why am I standing in front of these four old farts?

Yes, you heard it. I called them farts. Sue me for being overprotective of my freedom!

Dancing zanpakutos! (I know that's soo lame, but I couldn't think of anything witty to say) But put it down…yes, put the communicator down. Before you dial the numbers of the men in the black robes…wait…I am one of them!

HA!

In your face!

Oh, fart! There are a hundred of us. Damn!

Okay…I'm sorry. But please, put it down. Okay, now step away from the communicator.

Good.

What I'm about to tell you is like one of those cheesy soap opera dramas you used to watch on the living world that had this incredible 'what-the-fuck' twist, the only difference is, this twist had gone horribly wrong.

First of all, I had to admit that I too was wrong. I should have never said yes to my father, who I have found out isn't really my father,

THE SHOCK!

Yes, he really isn't my father. See, I told you this was one of those soap operas. Anyway, moving on. He asked for my help, so being the good daughter that I am said 'yes'. I should have seen his underlying motive when he used the puppy dog eyes on me.

I swear, who ever created that damn puppy dog eyes is conspiring against me. But then again, who am I to begin with? (I'll tell you all about that later.) I have to admit I probably would have said no had I known that I'd be plunging head first into this mellow drama.

My father, if that is his real name, was very vague about what he wanted me to do. His exact words were: Their Excellencies have to get what they have been letting me keep for the past fifty years. Please, go and see them and let them reclaim their possession.

That doesn't imply anything, right?

I swear, I should've bought that '101-ways-on-How-to-decode-your-father's-words' .

Anyway, that little request was just the beginning of my little escapade. I didn't know that his cipher meant graduating earlier in The Academy, and becoming a member of the fifth squad.

You're probably like, "What the hell is wrong with that?"

What's wrong is that, I had to cut my waist long hair (this had brought many tears to my eyes). They had it chopped off until my shoulder, said it was the maximum length for women's hair in the fifth division. I mean 'What the fuck!?' Unohana-taichou has her hair until her waist and the fifth division HQ is one shunpo away from the fourth division HQ.

Okay, that didn't make any sense and has no connection whatsoever with my hair length, but hey, I'm desperate! I didn't talk to my dad for hours (I couldn't give him the cold shoulder because I was more of the yelling type) But even after two hours of arguing, he still hadn't told me what it was that I was supposed to be doing. If it involved the cutting of my hair then I figured it had to be something that I wasn't going to like.

He also neglected to tell me that I would have to switch houses. Again, his exact words were: You'd be living with them from now on.

That wasn't really bad I thought. My father was cousin to one of the old farts, so maybe I'm part nobility, plus who could argue in living in one of the biggest mansions in Seireitei, and, they had servants! I mean! Hell yeah! Servants! Though, my father's motives were still unclear. I was starting to get really impatient with him after that. What was he hiding from me?

It wasn't until he started canvassing for THE kimono that I understood. I was absolutely horrified at the idea of being a bride to one of the old farts. I had told (I think screamed, is more precise)…I had screamed at my dad that I wasn't going to do it. I had said that this was going too far. But then he pulled his trump card on me:

He presented me to the old farts.

He confessed of my adoption, and the old farts confessed their scheme. Luckily, there plan didn't involve me marrying any of them, but tricking someone that I am who they think I am.

Woah! I totally didn't get that.

I got over the adoption part quickly, maybe because ever since I was a kid, my last name was different from my father's, and I was the only raven hair in our family, and partially because I felt sorry for him, despite the fact that I haven't met him and only know him as one of the greatest leaders of both his family and his division, and my classmates often talked about him (and when I say talked about it him, it always included swoons and squeals). But the objective of my impossible mission still hasn't sunk in.

Do they really expect me to believe that they own me?

Me?! That I was the possession my father was talking about?! The one they were letting him keep for the past fifty years?! This must be some sick joke! I am my own woman!

"Your last name is the same as ours, is it not? Then you must abide by the law and follow the elders of your clan"

That stuck man, Riyuko was it? He's going to feel my wrath, though I think it would be difficult for them to swallow the credibility of my intimidation. I'm just too much of a sissy, and all I say are empty threats

"Please, give it a chance. You never know, he might be your type"

I remember my father saying, with that infamous puppy dog eyes. Oh please! My type? I don't like rich, stuck-up snobs. But I at least owed my father for all the good things he has done.

It really sucks to be such a good person.

So that is what led me here. I'm boldly crossing the boundary that no pitiful shinigami from Junrinan should have cross. I'm going to pretend to be his dead wife that suddenly came back from the dead. But not only that. I have to convince him that I am his wife…and probably break his heart after that.

The old farts…I mean…the elders are looking at me with interest. Their gaze is so penetrating I feel like I'm being undressed.

Damn! What if they are?

Oh…right, I bet they haven't seen a woman naked.

Hahaha.

But they're gaze. It almost makes me want to confess all of my wrong doings.

They all took their cups at the same time and drank their tea in an abnormally slow manner, then the one in the middle spoke "We wish for you not to say anything to him"

I nodded stupidly. My palms were starting to get sweaty. I hated being in the presence of such enigmatic personas. "Yes."

"We trust that you'll feel right at home here."

"Of course, sir."

His eyes twinkled and smiled. "Very well then, if you do not have anymore questions you may go. Feel free to look around the mansion. Familiarize yourself with the house."

"If I may," I said, smiling inwardly that my voice didn't fail me. "How would I act in front of him? I certainly have no idea how she had acted. How am I to convince him that I am her? What about his questions? What about…sex?!" My voice gave a squeak at the idea of sexual intercourse.

The elders laughed heartedly.

"We would take care of that"

I nodded, turned around towards the door and out of the torture room. I just wanted to get out of there. As I walked down the corridor, many servants stopped their chores and stared, they had this look on their face as if they just saw someone rise from the dead. And that clichéd sound of glass dropping because of shock actually happened.

Byakuya

x-x-x-x

"Kuchiki-taichooooooou!"

Ugh. My head is a ticking time bomb, and she just cut off the red wire.

"Matsumoto-fukutaichou, what can I do for you?"

Her eyes widened. "Woah. That's four words more than last time we talked"

"Are you here for the exchange?" I said, immediately deflecting the topic of my short speeches.

"Huh?"

I had completely forgotten to use smaller words. "The Hollows."

"Oh yeah! The exchange, yes I'm ready"

I nodded. And started to walk away "Oh!—"

She said before I could enter the gate to Soul Society. Leave it to Matsumoto to say the very important information when you're about to leave. I guess she takes the reporting of the very essential information during the most climatic moment to a whole new level. I have to tell Yamamoto-sotaichou to lessen her time in the world of the living, she watches too much soap opera with that Orihime girl.

I looked at her over my shoulder, "What is it?"

"The Kuchiki Elders wanted me to tell you to hurry back"

Obviously. I haven't been able to tend to my responsibilities as the Head of the Kuchiki clan for the past two weeks, so hurrying was absolutely something that I shouldn't miss.

I shook my head and walked through. I hurriedly closed the gate, and upon arrival at Soul Society, I shunpo-ed to the Kuchiki household.

"Welcome home Kuchiki-sama" One of the gardeners greeted.

I nodded a bit in response, not bothering to look at him. I walked towards the door and was greeted by the head butler, Takako.

"Inform Abarai that I have returned. Have him deliver the transcripts of the meetings I have missed"

"Of course, milord" Takako bowed as he opened the door for me.

As soon as I stepped inside the mansion, I felt it.

'That room'

I looked up at the second floor from the threshold of the vast house.

This reiatsu, it couldn't be, could it?

I walked hastily towards the second floor, and felt the reiatsu grow closer and closer. Many of the servants had stopped their chores and turned to look at me. I couldn't blame them, it wasn't everyday that my paces were this brisk.

Then, as soon as I reach the huge ornate doors at the end of the long corridor, the reiatsu vanished as quickly as I felt it.

As I thought.

My imagination. No need to be alarmed. I haven't felt this disappointment ever since Rukia decided that Ichigo was the man of her dreams.

The bittersweet taste of having your hopes abolished gave a weak pang of nostalgia through my chest. I shouldn't have let any glimmer of hope surface.

Expecting something that you know would never happen in a million years was just too difficult to handle, even for me, and that's saying something. That is why I had long cast away hope. Believing in false presumptions only phases your ability to distinguish reality from fallacy. And yet, just because of a small amount of reiatsu I had let hope suddenly surface. I should know better.

My senses are getting dull, I should see Unohana-taichou.

I sighed hopelessly; the fatigue is getting to me. But then again, what if what I felt just now wasn't due to fatigue or stress? What if, she really was here?

I don't think someone would have the audacity to make me look like a fool, and go as far as using her.

Use her?

How could they even use her to get back at me?

Emotional breakdown, perhaps?

Kurosutchi Mayuri would be the only one who has that audacity, motive and resources to use a dirty trick like that on me.

In any case, I don't think I should let myself get carried away. I'm already starting to come up with possibilities of why I suddenly felt her reiatsu. Something as trivial as hope, I had long lost it when I lost her.

I stood in front of the huge ornate white doors. I would get my answer soon enough. If she was here, I'm pretty sure they could answer my question. After all, I felt her reiatsu in this room.

The Elders' room.

As soon as I walked in I knew that there was something amiss. The curtains were drawn up to let sunlight in. There were fresh flowers. Miyako, the head maid, was standing behind the elders.

And the room was clean.

I knew for a fact that the elders' room was never clean. They've never touched a cleaning supply in their entire life, and they think too highly of themselves that they do not want anyone without nobility coursing in their veins to enter their sanctuary. And yet, Miyako stood there like she had been doing it for the past decades.

I pondered the possibilities for a moment. They never let maids inside their room, so that option was ruled out. They were a bunch of lazy slobs themselves, so the possibility of them cleaning it is too far fetch. That only leaves one more possibility, someone of grave importance entered here and they didn't want that person to know that they were dirtier than the Hollows in Hueco Mundo.

"Ah…Byakuya-sama. How was your mission?" Elder Tsukushi asked.

"Rather tiring" I replied simply.

This is getting too peculiar even for me. This is the first time in many years that they have asked how my mission was.

"Rukia-sama, how is she?" Elder Riyuko asked.

I looked at them intently and was quiet taken aback. Did I just hear them address Rukia as Rukia-sama? This must be a bad dream. And to hear it coming from Elder Riyuko, I remember overhearing Rukia calling him the man with a pole shoved up his ass.

I've let that slide. Her accusation is justifiable. Ever since Rukia became part of the Kuchiki Clan, Elder Riyuko was nothing but standoffish to her. He even talks to her through the doorway.

I turned around to take my leave.

"Where are you going Byakuya-sama?" Elder Riyuko's voice stopped me midway.

"I am tired, and I wish to retire to my quarters" I replied.

This really is a bad dream.

"But, you haven't answered our query" He said.

I suddenly felt a surge of annoyance creep through my veins. I turned to face the elders, and they all had a grin on their old scrunched up faces.

"I find it impossible to believe that you just called my sister, Rukia-sama. The room is clean, and Miyako is in here. You are even concerned about my mission. I am near a conclusion that you four are planning something that I'm not going to like"

Their smiles widen. I am not going to like this.

"As you know, we are getting old, and so as you. Death is just around the corner, we never know when our time is up" Elder Tsukasa said.

"I am deathly tired" I said sarcastically, no pun intended. "I am aware that death is one shunpo away" I sounded like a TV advertisement. "Let's discuss the matters of your burial after dinner"

I turned back towards the door, and this time, even if Elder Riyuko drops to his knees or kisses Miyako I will not turn back.

"We want an heir from you"

Did I just hear them right?

"You're ears are not deceiving you Byakuya" Elder Tsukasa said with voice as hard as steel.

I turned towards them; did I just say that out loud?

"An heir? For what reasons?"

"Like you said, death is just one shunpo away"

I think he sounds better as the TV advertisement.

"Rukia is more than qualified to claim my position if I'm gone" I replied nonchalantly.

"Rukia is not of noble blood. Even if you had adopted her, she will only be recognized as an impure leader. Do you want to see the Kuchiki Clan be debased into nothing more but mere memory?"

"What do you want me to do then? Marry Yoruichi Shihouin, or maybe even Kukaku Shiba? You know as well as I do that I have no interests in marrying any woman."

Besides, what would be of my child if I marry either of them. I will never allow a Kuchiki to be either a common housecat or even an obsessive pyrotechnic.

"You will give us a suitable heir whether you like it or not!" Elder Riyuko shouted.

What was his right to shout at me? I am still the Head of the Kuchiki Clan and whether he fancies it or not, they are mere advisors. What right did he have in my decisions? I was determined to give him a piece of my mind. I walked up closer to them.

"I am still head of this clan! And whether you like it or not, I am still above all four of you put together! My decision is final, I will not marry—"

This reiatsu, it's present again.

"Upon seeing your frantic expression, I'm guessing you've sensed her"

I looked at the four of them. So they knew something about this. I should have asked them earlier about it, but it just slipped my mind. I'm positive that anyone who's have encountered them would also be astounded by their sudden politeness and their epiphany on cleanliness.

"So you know something"

"You are still a boy Byakuya." Elder Tsukasa said. "You have not let us finished. We know that you could never betray your wife. We are aware of the level of your loyalty to her."

I glared subtly at them. Up until now, they couldn't even speak her name.

"We said we want an heir, and the one who will bring forth that heir would neither be Yoruichi Shihouin or Kukaku Shiba. They are both excellent candidates but they are not what you're looking for."

Elder Tsukasa stood up, and moved towards the ceiling-high windows behind them, staring intently out into the garden below.

"This reiatsu you are feeling is not because of your weariness. As a matter of fact, I'm quiet surprised that you felt her the instant I removed the barrier."

"What are you implying? That the person I held in her death bed fifty years ago was just a creation of my imagination? That by some miracle my wife is alive?"

"What happened fifty years ago was all real. But what happened after that is quiet incorrect."

"Incorrect?!" I bellowed, causing the three seated elders to become awkwardly quiet.

"We are not asking you for an heir from Kukaku Shiba or Yoruichi Shihouin. Come here," He said calmly.

I sighed in defeat and walked towards him. If I am to get my questions answered I might as well do as he says.

"Look there" He instructed, pointing out to the garden.

I followed his finger and my eyes rested on a woman picking up one of the irises in the garden.

My eyes widen in surprise. It's her. This reiatsu is real. It really is her.

"Tell me, could one really call it betrayal when the woman we want you to have an heir with is the same woman who you thought died fifty years ago?" He paused. "She would be the bearer of the next Kuchiki leader

…

…

Your wife, Hisana-sama"

Author's Note: So how was it? I know its a bit confusing but, hopefully, if anyone reviews and tells me that this is worth continuing then maybe we could shed light to the mystery of Hisana's sudden come back. And who's the woman? Okay, maybe you know her. And I purposely didn't write her name, I hope to have that element of mystery, but I guess you've figured it out since this is about Byakuya and Hisana. Anway, please tell me your thoughts.