Discalimer : I hope I own Bleach. If I do, there'll be lots of Rukia, Byakuya, Ichigo, Yoruichi, matsumoto and Hitsugaya. And no Inoue Orihime.
Sadly I dont... --
NO MORE THAN SIBLINGS
It was the quietness that woke him up. Byakuya sat up on his bed, looking around him. It was dark, the middle of the night, and no sound could be heard; it was as silent as a grave.
I'd take a night walk, he decided and stood up. The leader of the Kuchiki house went out from his room, still in his green kimono. His steps were soundless as he walked along the wooden floorboards, the way to the garden.
He froze.
The mansion's walls were unusually thin, and that is why he could hear faint sobbing from the room that was now behind him.
Rukia.
Byakuya hesitated. He didn't know what to do. For some reasons, he was awkward, unsure about what to do around her, and so was she. In an unspoken law, they best avoid each other, try not to look into each other's eyes when they spoke, and behave formally wherever they are. According to the rules.
Byakuya was about to leave when the sobbing grew louder.
"Kaien-dono…"a faint whisper rustled through the wind, "Kaien-dono, I'm so sorry… so sorry,"
Byakuya frowned. Just as he thought. Since Shiba Kaien's death, his adopted sister was more detached than ever, and she always cried at night, believing that he hadnt heard her, but he did, and it ached his heart so much because he couldn't go and comfort her.
He was thankful for Kaien. He had given Rukia home in the thirteenth squad, but he cursed him for leaving her alone, making her yearn for his voice and he blamed him for dying.
The sobs grew more frantic and without thinking, Byakuya slid the door open.
The room was dark, except for a few candles that lit Rukia's bedside table. Illuminated by its dim golden light, Byakuya could make out his sister, sleeping, eyes closed, and crying.
She's dreaming about that horrible night, the captain realized. He remembered how haunted Rukia looked that night two months ago, her Shinigami robes torn and bloodied, her cheeks scratched, her skin soaked with a mixture of tears, rain, and blood.
Slowly, Byakuya approached her. He could see tears glistening on her cheeks, and she kept mumbling.
"Captain Ukitake… Kaien dono… sorry." She whispered.
Byakuya sighed. Should I wake her up?
Rukia's voice dropped a notch, and she started murmuring something.
"Nii-sama, I'm sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations," she muttered, another fresh gust of tears cascaded from those sleeping blue eyes, "I'm sorry I'm weak… Kaien-dono, sorry I couldn't protect... you,"
His self-control shattered as Byakuya blinked. Him? Did he really make her suffer this much? Did she really think he wanted her to be a captain or something? He didn't care if she was weak, she was his sister as well as Hisana's.
Hisana…
Byakuya couldn't help thinking that Rukia looked so much like his deceased wife. The same hair, black as the night, the same petite form, the same skin, the same smile. But Rukia's eyes were bright blue like the sea, whereas Hisana's was brown like the earth. They were the same, however. Looking at Rukia always made his heart jolt. It was like seeing his wife everyday, with a different personality.
"Kaien-dono…" Rukia murmured again and Byakuya bent down, touching her arm and shake her.
Rukia twitched but didn't wake up.
"Rukia," he said, shaking her arm a little more, "Wake up,"
The girl's eyes flew open and she froze when she saw her brother. Quickly, she started wiping her tears and sat bold upright.
"N-nii sama!" she exclaimed, her voice still sore from crying, "What are you-?"
Byakuya's voice was indifferent, "You were dreaming,"
Rukia stopped stuttering and averted her eyes. Did he hear what she was saying? She hated herself for not being able to control her emotions.
Byakuya stood up. Rukia was expecting him to walked right out of the room, but instead he turned around and offered his hand.
"Let's take a walk to take your mind off your problems," he said, somewhat awkwardly. Rukia nodded and followed him out.
Cold night air greeted her and she shivered, putting her arms around her. She followed her older brother to the moonlit garden, full with blooming summer flowers.
They walked for some time, and Rukia couldn't help feeling happy. Suddenly, Byakuya stopped in front of her.
"Nii-sama?"
The dark haired young man turned back, his deep gray eyes inscrutable.
"Why were you crying?" he asked, not unkindly.
Rukia bit her lip, "Forgive me, nii-sama, it's about K-Kaien-dono…" her voice faltered, "I couldn't forget that night,"
Byakuya's face was emotionless when he asked, "Why is that I heard you apologizing to me in your sleep?"
Rukia's face turned scarlet, "I-I was just…"
Her brother bent down in front of her, and strangely he smiled, "I heard what you say. I just want to tell you that it doesn't trouble me the least,"
Rukia's eyes widened, "B-but I'm weak and I-"
"Stop," Byakuya said. He seemed unsure for a while, but then he continued, "You're strong, and I'm proud of you. I don't care…" he stopped, searching for the right words and avoiding looking into her eyes. Saying this kind of things troubled him, "I don't care if you're weak, or flawed. You're not just Hisana's sister. You're mine, too."
Rukia looked surprised and Byakuya couldn't help noticing how that expression reminded him of his wife. His heart jolted a little, but he pushed the emotions away.
"T-thank you, nii-sama," she whispered quietly, looking down. He has the urge to hug her and comfort her, but there was always this invisible barrier among them that prevents him to do so.
Instead, he just smiled again and put a hand on her shoulders.
"So don't worry," he told her. Slowly, Rukia looked at him and the pain in her blue eyes started to disappear.
"Nii-sama, thank you," she said, and hugged him. Byakuya's eyes widened and he stiffened, but hearing his sister sobbed at his shoulders, his heart melted and he returned the embrace.
For a moment they stayed that way, until Rukia pulled away. She was still crying, but she was smiling.
"You…" Byakuya struggled to regain his composure, "You should go back to sleep."
Rukia nodded, then said sheepishly, "Good night, nii-sama."
Byakuya didn't answer, and watched as she walked away, back to the direction of her room. Fluorescent moonlight danced on her hair, making her look like some characters out of a fairytale book.
Only has she closed the door behind her Byakuya murmured, "Goodnight, Rukia."
He sat down, letting all these needless emotions washed through him.
Was she more than just a sister to me? He thought. He remembered her clumsy attire, her independent behavior that always seems to fade wherever she was close to him, the sparkle in her eyes…
Maybe I did, he sighed, It was hard to resist loving her.
Byakuya buried his face in his hands, lost in thought. He knew he couldn't, though. They were siblings. It wasn't wrong if they're together, they're not related by blood, but still…
Hisana told him to make her his sister, nothing more. And he had done so. He had to respect her wishes, and not breaking the rules again, though sometimes he ached to do so.
Kuchiki Byakuya buried this little secret in his heart as he watched the full moon, glowing brightly in the dark blue sky.
There. By ByakuRuki fic...lolz
I love writing sad stories about Byakuya, he's just so cool...
Anyway, reviews please, and tell me what u think