Um, I needed a forest and I don't know of any in the actually show so I made up Aoki Forest. I also made up Suoh and Yueliang, obviously.

A quick guide on honorifics

-san: most common; similar to Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss, etc.; it's kind of the all-purpose honorific for politeness

-sama: indicates a level of respect higher than "-san"

-kun: usually added to the end of boys' names to show familiarity or to those younger or of a lower station

-chan: usually added to the end of girls' names to show familiarity; can also be used for little boys, pets, and anyone for whom you want to show endearment

[no honorific: shows close intimacy, usually only used between family, lovers, and close friends; if the person did not give permission to be addressed without an honorific, it can be insulting

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, any of its characters, its concepts, etc.


"Please, Byakuya-sama. Think of the family. You need an heir. There are many available noble ladies that would make perfect wives, and many of them would like nothing more than to marry you."

"I will think about it. Now please leave me to myself."

"Thank you, Byakuya-sama," said the elder as he bowed out of the room, closing the screen door behind him.

Byakuya sighed. He still thought of Hisana daily, and her death was still as painful to him as ever, but he had his duty as the head of the Kuchiki clan. He needed to produce an heir, one with the strong, pure blood of the nobles, but that would require… He still loved Hisana and remarrying felt as if he were betraying her somehow. If only I were free of these cursed duties! But he was not free. He knew what was required of him but… Hisana…

"Where are you going, My Lord?" asked one of his servants.

"I am going to take a walk. If anyone asks for me, tell them they can find me in Aoki Forest."


As Byakuya strolled through the life-filled woods, he started to hear someone's voice. Singing?It was coming from somewhere to the left of the path. He saw an overgrown, rarely-used path leading towards the voice and, intrigued, decided to follow it.

Soon, he also started to hear the trickle of a stream. As he came closer, he walked off the path a bit so as not to get noticed. What Byakuya saw through the thick foliage fascinated him.

There was a young girl there. She had beautiful midnight-blue hair tied in a ponytail with flowing bangs left out. She was slender and delicate-looking and her skin was a glowing ivory color. But it was not the girl herself but what she was doing that had captured Byakuya's attention. There was a girl- no, a young lady of obviously good upbringing, judging from the quality of her clothes and posture, sitting on the ground, singing and… playing with fox cubs!

Suddenly, as if sensing his presence, she looked up. Blue eyes met blue eyes, although hers were of a silvery shade while his were of a darker hue. As she looked into his eyes, her marvelous voice began to falter…

The notes of a flute came drifting into the clearing. She immediately turned towards to sound and Byakuya followed her gaze. Coming down the path towards her was a man with hair a few shades lighter than hers. His eyes were the darkest brown and he was playing an enchanting melody on his flute.

As she sang out to him, Byakuya realized that the song the girl had been singing was actually a duet, and that man was now playing the other part. The two voices wove in and around each other and created a song worthy of the king's court. It was absolutely mesmerizing and Byakuya found himself rooted to the spot, unable to do anything but listen in awe.

As the final notes faded away, she rose from where she had been playing with the cubs and ran towards to man with a delighted smile. "Suoh-sensei! I thought you said you could not come until four," she said while hugging his lean frame.

"It is four, Yueliang" he responded with a chuckle, returning the hug.

"Oh. So it is," she smiled, embarrassed. "I must have lost track of time playing with them," she said, turning away from him towards the cubs. Facing away from the man, Suoh, she met Byakuya's eyes once more, gave him a warm smile, and turned back to Suoh. Byakuya took his cue to leave.