Title – Another Chance
Disclaimer – sadly I don't own anything… Tite Kubo does!
Author's note – My first Bleach story. I guess there are spoilers in here, so if your not in the fifth season and don't REALLY want to know what happens then don't read, but it's really nothing serious.
It was well past 3AM in the morning and it seemed that nobody in the Kuchiki mansion could sleep except the servants. A certain 6th squad captain couldn't sleep for many reasons, one being his nightmares only increasing as each day approached to an atrocious event. He was told several weeks ago that his younger sister would be sent to earth on a mission, to clean out the hollows. Byakuya Kuchiki thought this was the worst idea ever made by the soul society, but as a man from the noble Kuchiki family, it was his duty to be bound to his loyalties. But as he watched his younger sister run out of the gates just past the Kuchiki gardens he knew that this was a mistake.
Of course, the younger girl had a look of triumph on her face. She thought she had been undetected yet once again. This was not the first time this young girl snuck out. In all of the years Byakuya has had this girl in his home, she was noble and elegant around him, but once his back was turned, this girl from Rukongai was herself. A rebel and did what she wanted.
True, this girl was adopted into his family years ago. He would never have even dreamt of taking even the slightest look at her if not for her relation to his late wife. He was once married to this girl's older sister. Years before the Rukongai girl came to live with him as his younger sister his was, Hisana passed away, begging him to find her younger sister. She was weak and dying when she left her younger sister. She wanted her back and spent her days trying to find her. It was a mistake; it killed her already weak body. He promised his dying wife that he would find her. He did.
Rukia that was her name. He was as some would like to say, cold. He rarely spoke words to anyone, not even his own younger sister. He wondered if his cold attitude towards the girl is what caused her rebelling attitude. She snuck out all the time, but not like this. No, most of the time she would sneak out to get some air, or watch the moon. Instead of her normal sneaking out, she has snuck out only to have a forbidden love affair this time. It was forbidden for many reasons. He was a vice captain shinigami to the 13th division, a married vice captain. The man's name was Kaien Shiba.
He watched as she fled the mansion, keeping a close watch to make sure nobody was following her. But he knew. He knew she was running into the arms of a married vice captain. He had been walking out one night without letting anyone knowing when he heard voices. Byakuya was not one to eavesdrop. But he recognized the voice, and that voice was in distress. He concealed his reitsu carefully and listened more intently. He knew instantly who the other voice belonged too also.
"I can't! I can't do this anymore…. You know how much I look up to her." Her voice was thick.
"I know…. I know! Damn it I know! But Damn it… I … I love you. I love her …. I am so confused. But… Rukia… don't leave me… please… I can't do it without you." His words were strong, and coaxing.
Byakuya was surprised at this gathering of the two. The noble Kuchiki knew very well of his sister's feelings towards vision 13th's vice captain. But he thought that Kaien Shiba was much stronger then this then to fall for his younger sister. How wrong he was. The two have been having this love affair for over eight months.
He could put a stop to it. But he was testing his sister to see if she could end this herself, be the Kuchiki he knew she was. He wanted to protect her, just like Hisana had asked, but as his duty to the Kuchiki family, he couldn't allow such a disgrace to be going on much longer.
She was very good at hiding this. She would sneak out late and be up in the morning just like always. Never has she slept in late from sneaking out. She always made it home on time. Or at least she thought she was doing a good job at hiding it. And she was, to everyone else, but not to captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
He looked away in disgust knowing all to well that Kaien was her first everything. She was a noble now, their duties were to be untouched and clean before they choose another Noble family and marry. But Rukia ignored this. She was in love and young.
The days drew closer before she would be sent away to the living world and she had no idea. Maybe… the rest of the soul society found out, maybe that's why they were sending such a young inexperienced shinigami to the real world. But…. if they knew then they would have both of them punished immediately. So they must not know… so why then?
He must have been thinking for hours because the next thing he knew he saw his younger sister at the Kuchiki's gates next to her 'lover'. They shared one last kiss before she went straight back to her room.
It was probably time he went to sleep also.
"Good night." The dark raven haired girl smiled up at the other dark haired man.
"Get out of here midget!" He said pulling her into one last bruising kiss and ruffled her hair. She let go of his hand and quickly made it back to her room.
Rukia pressed her fingers to her lips. It was so wrong, yet it felt so right. The young Shinigami ignored her confused head and plopped on her bead letting sleep take control.
And it happened. The hell butterfly came early in the morning a few days later. Byakuya Kuchiki thought it was time, but he was wrong. Rukia's mission was delayed due to the death of Myako. Kaien's wife. Rukia's role model. How ironic. She adored this woman, yet she touched and loved the only thing that was what mattered most in Myako's life.
And then it came, Kaien went after the hollow that attacked his beloved wife with Ukitake the captain of the 13th division. They brought Rukia.
He heard all about what happened in a meeting. Kaien and Myako were being controlled by the hollow. Rukia was going to be killed if she didn't plunge her sword into her forbidden love's heart. He was surprised by this news, he didn't show it, but he damn sure was surprised.
His younger sister hasn't come out of her room for weeks. Everyone knew that she was close to Kaien and Myako, but what they didn't know was that she killed the man she loved. He could feel her guilt radiating off of her. She regretted everything she's done with him. She knew it was wrong, and yet she still snuck out to be with him. She felt weak. He could feel all of it in her reitsu.
It took his younger sister months to finally begin to act normal again. A lot of hard training was thrown on her for months. She grew stronger in mind and body.
It was time, the soul society decided, they would send Byakuya's younger sister to the living world.
He knew she was strong now. There was nothing to worry about. He knew what she had done was enough punishment already on her soul, so there never was a need to ever let her know he knew about her relationship.
The night came when Byakuya finally did tell his younger sister of the mission.
"When?" She asked calmly. But the shock was apparent on her features.
"Next month." He stated.
"Nii-sama…." She looked at him and bowed slightly, "I will do the Kuchiki family well."
So she was trying to atone for her crimes. He said nothing, but simply nodded and left her room. Her heart was strong. He was positive she'd do fine.