The last wisps of the cold winter breeze were blown away, against the onset of the warm spring air.
A few weeks had passed in a blink of an eye, since that chilly winter night. Byakuya leant against the trunk of the tree that had heard his sincere confession... "Look! Byakuya-sama! The first cherry blossoms of the New Year, and on our tree too!" The memory of Hisana's joy resurfaced in his mind, the first spring after he'd proposed to her, under the tree that held all the memories of the days of their courtship.
Rukia looked out at the lone figure by the tree. Nii-sama. He hasn't seemed quite..well, the same as before. Is it because of his additional work due to my wedding preparations? Or because of…
Even though it was too dark to see a single thing, Byakuya lifted his head, seeing the first blossoms in his mind's eye. A clock chimed four times in the distance…4 o'clock… Byakuya thought, I haven't slept this little since the day before…
She reached out her hand as she walked closer, to touch him. Even as she neared, her hand dropped back involuntarily…she opened her mouth and whispered, called out to him…
"Nii-sama!"a loud whisper interrupted his thoughts at that moment.
…our wedding.
He turned to see Rukia standing before him, waiting for his response…
"What are you doing here? Its late. Go back to sleep."
His curtness stung her as she replied, "I should say the same to you, Nii-sama. Please go back to bed."
His heart wrenched at the sound of her voice, and he turned his back to her, not wanting her to see his expression. "Please leave. I'll go back later."
"Nii-sama… I came to…to see if you were feeling alright. You haven't been the same since…that day."
When Byakuya gave no reply, she shook slightly, reprimanding herself. I shouldn't have spoke so bluntly. Now he's going to be so mad at me. "P-Please forgive me if I spoke too directly…"
Byakuya turned at her explanation. She cared about me. She was worried for me.
Without thinking, without caring about the reactions of others if they'd found out, he reached out and pulled her to him... "Rukia… …"
Shock. That was all she felt as Byakuya pulled her into his tight embrace. "Nii-sama…?"
He hugged her tightly, taking in the small that was so unique to her, that fragrance that filled her soft wavy hair. "Rukia… …" His voice filled with emotion, emotion that he'd never felt before. After all, Kuchiki tai-cho was known have the least emotion among the 13 squad captains…
"Nii-sama..?"
When no response came, she tried again, louder this time.
"Nii-sama..?"
Byakuya spoke then, in a voice barely louder than a whisper. "Please, let me stay like this, if not for a while..."
… …
"Let me stay by your side."