PROMISE ME TOMORROW
-Never Had A Dream Come True-
CHAPTER TWO
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"Whew!"
School was over and now she only had one year of internship before taking the chalkboard. She'd chosen to become a teacher not only because of her passion for sharing knowledge and guiding future generations. She'd chosen to teach also because she wanted to be close kids. Being surrounded by kids gave her some sense of closeness to baby Rose. What if in a million or billion chance that baby Rose was among one of her students.
Even before Mom had told about baby Rose's escape from death, she'd wanted to be around younger kids. Younger kids gave her mind peace and kept her incomplete heart in balance. She wondered what baby Rose was doing. How did she look like growing up? Did her violet eyes still have childish innocence in their depth? Or her violet eyes had become less bright and filled with uncertainty and loss?
Uncle Shuuhei had traced to little Rose's adoption while working on a case for over four years. Unfortunately Uncle hadn't been able to look at her adoption records. Both Uncle and her parents had appealed to the courts but all judges had denied their appeal. They had said Rose's adoption was closely related to a top secret federal case and sealing her adoption records had been done for her own protection. Even Aunt Fon's godfather, also a judge couldn't have asked other judges regarding the case. It seemed everyone had been involved in that case wanted to hush and move on.
Who were little Rose's adoptive parents? Had they been treating her well? What grade was she in? Where was she? Did she have any memory of her big sister?
Impossible. She smiled although her eyes were pricking with tears. How could little Rose remember her? Little Rose had been eleven months old when they gotten separated. She doubted even geniuses couldn't recall any memories from their childhood before one.
"Hisana? Child, are you up in your room?"
"Yes, Mom. I'll be right down."
She left her room as soon as she said to her Mom. And Mom was already waiting by the stairs when she got down. The smile on Mom was radiant like a glow. She was still surprised by the happiness evident in Mom's eyes. She was really, truly happy for Mom.
"You look radiant, Mom."
"Really?" Mom winked at her, smiling. "Your dad said the same thing. Isn't he a perfect gentleman?"
"Not a perfect husband, my kitten?"
Dad walked up and put his arms around Mom from behind. Mom leaned back then said, "You're both, my wolf."
She knew why they only greeted each other with their personal endearments but not a kiss. She was there with them. And so she excused herself to go look for Toshiro. As she was just a few feet from them, she heard Mom giggle at something Dad had said in her ears. The last sight she saw was them sharing a passionate kiss. She smiled remembering the times they had gotten scolded by Grandpa for showing their love in front of her and her brother. Grandpa had told them to have some modicum in front of kids. But she hadn't been a kid, she'd been twenty by then. She also knew Grandpa had been teasing the so much in love couple while scolding them.
"What are you doing now, my mysterious sorcerer?"
Sorcerer was what she'd called the person she'd run into at eighteen. He couldn't be a normal human and must have done a spell on her during that meeting. Before running to him, she'd never paid attention to the male gender. And after him, she'd found herself searching strangers' face to see if any of them was him. Sadly she hadn't seen a face like him and yet she wasn't giving up. The four years she'd been waiting for him to reappear were nothing, comparing to the decades Mom had waited for Dad. Therefore, she would wait for him while searching for her little sister. She was still young but if she hadn't been, she wouldn't have minded either. Mom and Aunties had waited for their true love for years and they were happy once they had found it. She wished for and wanted the same. Mom had said there had been good men and even handsomer than Dad had come along, but Mom wouldn't have had any of them. Mom hadn't wanted to make do with any other than Dad, knowing she would have regretted later on if somehow Dad had realized his love for her and come back. Mom always said either all or nothing at all. And by any chance, her sorcerer had already gotten married and had a family, she would just live her life like before, alone. She wouldn't be alone however. She had Grandpa, Mom and Dad, little Toshiro, Aunties and Uncles and their kids. And there would be her students to keep her company, she wouldn't feel lonely.
Furthermore, she had her portraits of him. She turned the blank canvas on her easel and revealed a face, which had imprinted itself in her mind and heart. "You're a sorcerer, aren't you? If you're, you need to use your magic and find me. I've been waiting for a long time for you. Please come, my sorcerer."
"Sis, who is that?"
Her little brother's voice startled her and she dropped the blank page to cover her sorcerer's emotionless face. Although emotionless, she'd always felt his eyes were telling her something, hidden but very deep and strong. Turned to her brother, she winked at him. "That, Toshiro, is your brother-in-law."
"Really, Sis? That's so cool."
"How so?"
"Because he looks so cool. I bet he's like Grandpa, serious but calm and reliable. Very good looking too." He winked back at her. "Now I understand why you've never brought any guy home. My friends in school complain that their older sisters only bring monkeys home. And they have no manners at all."
"I think so?"
"You betcha!"
"How could you tell? You only saw him once and only on paper."
"I could tell because the gentleman in your portrait doesn't have wandering eyes." Her brother smiled his male smile or so he'd called it. "Although Uncle Shunsui is said to be a flirt, I don't see his eyes wander either. So, Sis, don't worry. My brother-in-law is a true gentleman."
She was happy to know her little brother had high opinion of her sorcerer and seemed to be approving of him too. She knew he was a man of principles too. If he hadn't been, he wouldn't have moved her person from him by the arms when she'd run into him. She'd come across several guys who wouldn't have passed on any opportunity to touch a lady. No matter how innocuous those guys had made their accidental and brief contact look, she'd noticed their intention to linger on the lady's person here and there. She herself had been on the receiving end once although she'd tried not to contact another male's person after her sorcerer. It couldn't have been avoidable since she and her family had attended a major social event. There had been a ball dance during that event and she couldn't have declined the guy who had asked her for a dance, without making a faux pas. Since that awkward incident she'd begged with Mom to talk to Grandpa and not ask her to another social event, which would hold a dance.
She hugged him. "Thank, little brother. I hope Grandpa and Dad will share your thought if he comes to ask for my hand."
"I'm sure about Grandpa, but you don't have to be concerned on Daddy's account." They looked at each other and laughed. Then he nodded. "Yep, Mommy will convince Daddy. But I think Daddy will like him too for they both are gentlemen. And a gentleman can tell if another man is a true gentleman or not."
"Aren't you too young to know all this, little brother?"
"No, Sis." He stood up and looked proud. "Grandpa says knowledge doesn't discriminate people. It's open to all ages and all walks of life."
"Thank you, young man."
She told him then turned to put her easel back into the corner of her room. As she did so, her brother looked at her, wondering. "Do you think we can come downstairs now?"
"Why ever not?"
"I wanted to go earlier but saw Daddy and Mommy talking. I didn't want to intrude," said her brother. He walked to the window next to her bed, looking outside. "Grandpa says Daddy and Mommy were away from each other for years, so we shouldn't take up their time when they talk."
"Very thoughtful, little brother." She hugged and pulled him with her. "Let's play Scrabble in the library. I want to see how many words you've learned since we played last. I think I'll have to call you teacher very soon at your rate of learning new words."
"You're good speller too, Sis."
Her brother told her as they tip toed passing the stairs for the library. She heard Mom and Dad talking and laughing. Grandpa was right like always, Mom and Dad needed time alone to make up the decade they had been apart.
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"Brother, please come home. That man Andy. He broke into my room and- Please, I beg you, come home."
Byakuya was on his way home and her plea had been haunting him since his assistant had forwarded the call from a private number. Although his heart had turned cold during the call, his legs had turned jelly. He'd have fallen if he'd been sitting, taking the call. And they were still shaking as he drove. He'd left the meeting as soon as he'd heard a sob on the other end of the line. He'd run at least one red light before he reached his childhood home, which he'd left eight years ago.
"Rukia? Rukia?" He'd left his car running in the driveway and was greeted by an eerily silent home. He scanned the living room as he called out for her. She wasn't there. He checked the kitchen where she always went to talk to Mom when distressed. She hadn't broken off that habit even though Mom had passed on two years before. "Rukia? Please answer me. Where are you, little sis?"
He'd checked all rooms and now was in their library. He saw Rukia by their parents' altar, sobbing. He shook his little sister by the shoulders. "Rukia. Tell big brother you're all right. That man didn't do anything to do you, did he? Rukia?"
"Big brother?"
That was all Rukia said then threw herself at him, holding on for her dear life. She sobbed and told him about her ordeal between sobs and hiccups. His worst fear confirmed as he smelled alcohol still lingering on her torn clothes. She was shaking from head to toes. He reached over to the arm chair by the desk and pulled his jacket that he'd put there the night before. He covered her cold body while stroking her back with his also cold hands.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't here when you needed me."
He felt his eyes burn but he stopped the tears threatening to get out. He needed to stay strong for his sister. He wished Mom had been with them still. She would have known what to say to comfort her sweet Rukia and beautiful violet rose. Despite the fact that He'd left home after high school, he'd been home long enough to see the strong bond between his mom and baby sister. He recalled how much happy Rukia had looked whenever Mom had called her violet rose. Mom had called that name because, according to Mom, Rukia was special and rare. While away at school, he'd visited home often he'd been able to. Mom had asked him to move back home, but he hadn't until Mom's accident and death. Still, he rarely stayed home for he had business trips out of town almost every week. He said a prayer to Mom for it must have been her doing. If it hadn't been, he would still have been back East working instead of choosing to transfer to San Diego.
"How could he do that, Brother? Daddy trusted him." Rukia's eyes were tearful and tears were running down her small face. "Mommy trusted him and his friends too."
"I thought they were trustworthy too although I never liked them." He hugged her wishing things had been different. If he hadn't been envious of his own sister and taken one of many job offers here back home, what had happened wouldn't have happened. "Big brother is so very sorry, Rukia. Can you find it in your heart and forgive me, little sis?"
Even as she'd just gone through a terrible ordeal, his sister still thought for others. Rukia moved back from him and said, "There is nothing to forgive you for, Brother. You didn't do anything wrong. That man did. I'm fine now, Brother. Please don't cry."
"Thank you, Rukia." He took the handkerchief from his breast pocket and dried her tears. "Do you think you can come with me to the station and report the incident? I know it's uncomfortable, but we must report it. Who knows what he'd done before and may try again with other girls?"
"I'm all right, Brother. Please do whatever you think is right. I don't want what happened to me to befall on other girls." Rukia took the handkerchief from him and dried herself, telling him. "Let's us go, Brother. I'm fine now."
He knew she couldn't be fine and so his admiration for her grew. His little sister was no longer the baby who had picked her nose or eaten with her fingers. She'd grown into a fine, young lady. Mom and Dad would have been so pleased and proud. But the reality was horrendous. How could he ever look at his little sister without guilt? Her clothes were torn and who knew what that man had done to her. He as her brother couldn't ask straight out. He had to ask another female to speak with her regarding the incident. He wanted someone to take care of any possible injury on her too. Yet, they needed to get to the station to report and have the evidence collected.
He shrugged off his jacket and put it over Rukia's thin shoulders. "I know you want to be presentable but we can't have get dressed up and erase the evidence."
His sister nodded her understanding while buttoning up his jacket on her. "We should go now before his trails go cold, Brother."
And so they left heading for the station. He checked on her from the corner of his eyes, making sure she was all right. If the situation hadn't been dire, he would have praised her for her composure. He'd almost broke down when she'd said they should go before the trails went go. She had looked too calm and collected for a young girl. Watching Law & Order was paying off for his sister knew the procedure so well. She would have known more than him if he hadn't been a lawyer. Two years of living with an absentminded father must be another factor influencing her maturity.
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He let out a long breath shuddering as he finished telling his honorary uncle and mentor about last month tragedy had taken place in San Diego. He'd moved to Santa Barbara with his little sister and were staying with Jushiro Ukitake, their honorary uncle and his mentor. He was glad to still have someone trustworthy called as family. He wouldn't know what to do if it hadn't been for Uncle Jushiro, who offered them a place to stay until he could find a suitable place back East. He'd been working in D.C. since his graduation from Harvard. Also, Rukia was only months from graduation from middle school. It was better for her finish here instead of transferring out of state and graduate there.
"Thank you, Uncle. I know it was such a short notice to drop on you like this." He thanked Uncle again. "Rukia had withdrawn into herself until we came here. She's opening up gain."
"No, it's the least I can. I just wish I could help more and not let her come in contact with man like Andy. How is the authority holding the case?"
Uncle had just brought up another concern. When he and Rukia had come to the station and reported the incident, the officer had told to wait for him to inform the chief as soon as he'd heard the name. He had been puzzled for the officer himself could have taken case since he was a lieutenant.
"I'm not sure since the Chief himself talked to us, taking on the case. It seems like he'd committed some serious crime before Rukia. Then the officer we spoke to before seeing the Chief told us not to worry and he'll personally see that Andy pay for his crime. He also mentioned Dad and Mom."
Uncle looked apprehensive telling him. "Is he Lieutenant Madarame?"
"Yes, he's Ikkaku Madarame." He looked at Uncle. "How did you know his name?"
"Then rest assured, Byakuya, he'll do as he promised. Because Ikkaku and your parents used to work together. They go way back."
"Oh." He wanted to ask Uncle more about Chief Juan but changed his mind as Rukia appeared at the doorway. "Is there anything you need, little sis?"
"Yes, Brother." His sister answered her before turning to Uncle. "Good evening, Uncle."
"Good evening, Rukia. Well, what I do see? Our little Rukia has grown." Uncle said to Rukia then to him. "Beautiful and graceful. Don't you think so too, big brother?"
"Yes, Uncle. Mom would have been so proud of her little Rukia."
"Thank you, Uncle. That's very kind of you." Rukia looked to Uncle then back to him. In a small voice, Rukia asked, "Will we go back home before leaving for D.C., Brother?"
"No, we won't. I've put our house for sale." He told her then inserted, seeing the despondent look on her. "We can come back if you want to, Rukia."
Rukia's face lightened up. "Can we really, Brother? I want to see our house one last time. I also want to take the magnolia champaca with us. Mom used to love it."
"Tomorrow is Saturday, but I'll call the real estate agent and tell him we forgot something and want to retrieve it. We'll leave in the morning so we can get back early for you to rest. Next week is your final week."
"Yes, Brother."
She bid them goodnight then quit the study. She kept her back straight and head high as she walked. He was proud of her too. His lips twitched remembering the day Mom had brought a baby home and told him the baby was his new sister. Thinking back, he felt ashamed for treating his new sister coldly for the first few months she'd stayed with them. He'd never disliked the addition to the family but the attention their parents had given her had made him envious. He'd thought they had loved him less after her arrival and so he'd treated her accordingly, cold and distant. Baby Rukia would have followed him whenever he'd been home and kept that habit until his leaving from for college. But then she'd been old enough to notice the unwelcome aura from him and started to pull back. He'd regretted his earlier treatment toward her then. He'd started to appreciate his little sister the day he'd told her to always keep her posture and head high. And his little sister had been doing so ever since. She hadn't even let her back hunch or head drop that day at the station.
"Byakuya?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Does that incident still make her scared to make contact with the opposite gender?"
"I wished that day wouldn't have left long lasting impact on her young mind. But yes, unfortunately, she keeps her distance from the boys in school. She only make contact with Uncle Kenpachi, Renji, and myself. Then you." He put his hands together to support his head. "I wish I wasn't too self-absorbed and ignored her childish chattering during my visits home. I would have noticed the weariness in her when Dad was too grief stricken to. Dad was set on revenge to see anything else and welcomed a predator into our house. I know Dad couldn't have known but if he'd been less vengeful, he'd have noticed the depravity in Aizen's cohort. I chill to the bone whenever I recall the sight of Rukia in her torn clothes."
"I know you're right about your dad and yet you need to understand that your mom was everything to him. Your parents were high school sweethearts and got married right after graduation. They were so happy together."
"They were terrific adoptive parents."
"Well, young man, let's call it a night. My old bones are complaining." Uncle came and patted him on the back. "You sleep early too. You're no different from your late parents now that Rukia needs you more than ever. Take care of yourself. Rukia will be completely lost if something happens to her the last of her family. She's lost so much since birth."
He wanted to ask what Uncle had meant by his last statement. However, Uncle looked tired and was already at the door. "Goodnight, Uncle."
Uncle waved his hand then left. And he found himself alone again. He should have been used to being alone and loneliness. He'd been alone and moved from one foster home after another until Kaien and Miyako Kuchiki had adopted him when he'd been ten. His young, adoptive parents had been only twenty four and childless. Then three years later, Rukia had come to live with them. Neither Mom nor Dad had said anything about Rukia's background. They had only told him to love his new little sister like a real sister. He hadn't been gracious about sharing his new parents with another. He'd seen little Rukia as a threat and that his parents would have returned him to the orphanage. As a result, he hadn't been the greatest big brother that he'd always envisioned himself to be when his parents had had their own. And time had flown by, he'd graduated from high school then gone on to college.
After college he'd gone to law school. He'd always wanted justice for the less fortunate but once in law school, he'd realized people with less money didn't have much say. And so he'd changed his career path and studied to become a corporate lawyer. One year after the next, he'd done what he'd planned and achieved all his short as well as long term goals. He was living all his dreams except for two. He'd wanted to repay the kindness his parents had shown him when no one else had wanted to adopt a serious looking, unsmiling minority kid. But maybe he could still return the favor by raising the daughter of their hearts. So there was only one dream that he had yet to live. His remaining dream had to do with a five feet tall, dark hair girl.
How is she doing, he wondered. She'd been in her late teen at their meeting. He couldn't have known if he hadn't overheard her talk to her mom. They had been shopping for her school supplies before her first term at LB. What school did LB stand for? Los Angeles? Loma Linda? Loyola Marymount? No, they had said LB. An out of state university? No, that couldn't be. The girl who had run into him had had the looks of a well protected and sheltered young woman. She'd called him sir. Her outfit and manners had spoken of quality and good upbringing. Her family was either of middle or upper class. She should be safe then and not suffer the same fate had befallen on his little sister.
But when did wealth stop men with no principles from committing hideous crime against defenseless females? Was there anyone protecting her? Although taller, that girl was just as small as his little sister. He hoped people shared strong resemblance didn't share the same fate as well. He didn't want to see the same scared look or death of innocence in his sister in that girl or any other girl. And if, yes if, one day they ran into each other, he would like to see the innocence and wonder in those brown eyes again.
Will we ever meet again, my fairy? Do you still remember the guy you ran into at Staples? He'd been listening then to the voice from the next aisle and not paying any attention to his surroundings either. And so the moment he'd felt a solid form against him, he'd felt off balance not knowing how react. He had Mom to thank for since Mom had taught him to respect ladies and keep his distance, unless he'd been invited. And so he'd separated her from himself by the arms although he'd wanted to stay where they had been. The subtle fragrance on her had teased his senses and there had been her eyes. He'd felt as if her eyes had delved and touched in him that he didn't want anyone to see. For a moment back then he'd wanted to introduce himself and ask for her name. He'd wanted to get to know her, but he couldn't have. He'd been afraid of getting hurt again.
He often heard old habits died hard but hadn't believed so, not until that meeting. His biological parents, who were supposed to love and want to protect him the most had abandoned him. Then all the couples had been to the orphanage had taken interest in him until the social worker had told them that he'd been there since birth. Those couples had second thought and discarded their consideration of adopting him. He'd heard them talk among themselves that there must have been something wrong with him for no one had ever wanted him. Thus, he'd told himself that he'd never put his dreams and hope on another person ever again. Until his parents had come and wanted to adopt him the second they had looked at him. From then he'd hoped again but with caution.
That day at Staples he'd wanted to throw caution to the wind and ask her out there and then. But he wasn't the type of guys who lived for the moment and her instant impact on him had scared him. He knew he'd been a coward and lived to regret it ever since. He'd been to that Staples several times during his visits to Uncle with a hope that he'd have run into her. Miss Fate hadn't been kind to him. Maybe there wasn't a Miss Fate to begin with. If there had been one, shouldn't she already have sent his fairy to his side while he'd been at their first meeting place?
My fairy. What had his fairy been doing? Was she still spreading her wings or some lucky guy had clipped those fairy wings and kept her by his side? Had their encounter ever revisited her dreams as it'd been doing in his?
"My fairy, it's been very lonely for me and now I have a withdrawn little sister to care for. I really don't know how to help her to get over her scare. Please find me if you're really my fairy."
That was his conscious thought before revisiting that place and his fairy in his dream as he'd done many times before.
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A/N
Sequel to Never Had A Dream Come True and Angel and the Devil. However, you can skip Angel and the Devil and try NHACT (Hisana's childhood)
