Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters, they belong to Tite Kubo. I only claim the OMC and let him play in the field.

AN: Again English not my native language, sorry for possible grammatical/ mispelling errors.

Chapter 2 Secred known

The night fell and Rukia was determined to follow Byakuya. She needed to hide her reiatsu unless she wanted her brother to Bankai her. She knew her brother would soon leave his room and go somewhere.

Byakuya had retired to his bedchamber and he had changed into his sleeping ropes. After he had made sure that the rest of the household was securely sleeping he ventured toward the private areas of the house. No one had ever dared to follow him there and he was not expecting to be followed. The main staff of the house knew to keep themselves out of this area and only one servant was allowed here to keep the rooms clean. Kero, who was Tamashiro's own servant, accommodated one of the secluded rooms in these premises and the man was forever loyal to his master, keeping the blond man secured. Byakuya was forever grateful for the man. He stopped his musings when he was once again in front of Tamashiro´s bedroom. A small smile came to his face. Byakuya entered to the dimly lidded room and went towards the futon. Byakuya did not see Rukia following him.

Rukia followed closely her brother. She had assumed that her brother would leave the mansion. She was surprised to see her brother moving towards the area of the house that was unused, or at least that what she was told. Seeing Byakuya entering to a room and leaving the sliding doors open she quietly followed and hid in the shadows. She decided to peek inside the room. What she saw was completely out of the character of her brother.

Byakuya was holding a tall pale man. The man had long lavender colored hair. The yukata he wore was dark blue and there were several butterfly hair pieces on the man´s hair. Byakuya slowly removed the hair pieces and started to comb the man´s hair. The whole scene looked so strange to Rukia. The movements that her brother was making were done with gently, lovingly almost like the other man was the most fragile doll who could brake if he were too roughly touched. Byakuya´s face was hidden in the shadows of the room but Rukia could see the other man. He was not responding to the gentle movements of her brother. Somehow the whole scene was sad and it made Rukia gasp.

Byakuya combed Tamashiro's hair. The smooth movements calmed him, giving his inner turmoil some peace. Then he gently caressed the sleeping man's face. A small smile appeared on his face and he made sure that the lavender hair was as silky as it always was. He quietly took the butterfly clips and gently replaced them back on the man's hair. They do suite you. You have always loved butterflies, they are your signia. Byakuya placed the comb away and held Tamashiro close to his chest. He felt the steady heart beat thump on the other man's chest signaling that the other was still alive. He ached to feel the other man´s arms around him. Byakuya kissed the lips and gently laid the man back to the futon. He was about join him in his rest for the night when suddenly he heard something. A small gasp. Byakuya snapped his head back and looked directly at Rukia's shocked face.

Rukia almost bolted away when she noticed that Byakuya was directly looking at her. However she never had the change to escape when she noticed that she was bound to her place by kido she even did not heard. She was ashamed. Byakuya had stood up and was walking towards her. His face was angry and it looked like he would kill her.

"Nii-sama, Forgive me." Rukia said hastily. " I have been worried about you. You have been disappearing from your rooms so often. I wanted to know that you are well." She did not dare to look at Byakuya, but she at least could give him the reason behind her actions.

First Byakuya had been angry. How dare she follow him here? This was one most sacred place in this house. There had never been anyone who had dared to come here without his permission. Only Hisana had been here with him. But when Byakuya looked at the worried expression on Rukia´s face it made him change his mind. He sighed and removed the kido ropes.

"Rukia, I have been coming here for the past sixty years. This is my own house. What I do in the evening when I retire for the night should not concern you. However, now that you know where I go, I will tell you. Come inside and be silent." Byakuya sighed and went back toward the futon.

Rukia followed Byakuya inside the room and when Byakuya kneeled next to the futon she decided to follow his lead and she kneeled to the other side of the futon leaving the sleeping man in the middle. Byakuya was quiet and did not talk for a moment. Rukia followed Byakuya´s gaze and noticed the gentle smile on her brother's face. She had never seen such an expression on her brother's face; the man was known to be so reserved. Whom ever this person was laying between them was obviously someone very important. Rukia noticed how Byakuya had slowly begun to stoke the sleeping man´s face while taking a few long breaths as if to gather his thoughts. Rukia waited.

"His name is Ishikawa Tamashiro. We met over sixty years ago. He belongs to one of the lower noble house´s. We are engaged. He is my betrothed. The night after our engagement were announced he collapsed and since then he remained like this."

"What about my sister?"

"If I were allowed to take care of him our council decided that I needed to be married. The Ishikawa clan was not pleased but they knew that the care I would give him would be better than their own. Even though they are noble´s they were poor. I found Hisana. Her health was poor already and we made an agreement. If she were my wife I would take care of her as well and thus I would be able to take care of Tama. I was not aware that Hisana´s condition was already so poor and her hunt for you did not make it any better. I truly do miss her. She understood me and helped me to take care of Tama when ever she was able to. Your older sister was my best friend. I am sorry if this information about me disappoints you."

Rukia really did not know what to say. Some way she felt angry that she was not told the whole truth before but in a way she felt privileged that her brother trusted her enough to tell her the truth now.

"Nii-sama, you do not disappoint me. You took care of us and I am honored to belong to the Kuchiki´s."

Suddenly Byakuya smiled her. It was so unpredictable that it made Rukia look stunned. Then Byakuya looked at the man beside him and smiled even more. Suddenly Rukia realized that her brother truly felt strongly towards the man and it made her ache that the man could not respond to her brother´s gentle care. Rukia stood up and started leaving. Byakuya did not see this as he was once again lost in loving memories. Rukia smiled sadly and wowed to herself that she would repay all the good things Byakuya had done for her. She was determined to find the truth and help her brother.

AN2: Thank you for reading, please be kind and review. I would like to know what you think.