Byakuya Kuchiki made his way from the Kuchiki manor to the sixth division headquarters, choosing to walk instead of flash-stepping so he could enjoy the warm, lovely spring day. He knew he was already late getting to the office, but there was good reason for his rare bout of tardiness; he'd spent the morning talking to his wife in the shrine he erected in back of the manor, as he always did on the anniversary of her death. It was hard to believe it had been more than fifty years ago that he'd been sitting in at the edge of the bed as his most beloved drew her last struggling breath as the first of the cherry blossoms were blooming on the trees outside. The memories of that day were still so vivid and tangible to him, as if they'd happened yesterday; her weak, cold hand that he cradled in his own, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. The dryness of her skin that had always been so creamy and soft beneath the kisses he brushed across her forehead, lips and fingertips. How her gentle, sweet voice was so hoarse and strained as she begged his forgiveness for being such a burden to him, words that cut him deeper than even Gin Ichimaru's zanpakuto had pierced his chest. It was the last day he allowed himself to surrender to tears, and then promised himself that he would never let himself be vulnerable to such agony ever again.
And I held firm to that vow until Rukia came into my life, and I once again allowed myself to recklessly put myself in danger of getting burned again, the clan leader sighed to himself and tried to calm his riled thoughts with deep inhales of the sweet, sakura laced breeze and the heat of the sun on his back. A low branch of a tree swept in front of him, yielding one small cherry blossom bud which the noble plucked off and tucked it into his taichou's haori. Fingering the delicate petals of the cherry blossom, he cast his smoky eyes to the ground and let his mind wander back even further.
It was the night of his eighteenth birthday and his attendant had just led him back to his room after the coronation ceremony and reception where he was named the leader of the Kuchiki clan. After waving off his attendant, Kaito when the younger male offered to help the new clan leader bathe and get ready for bed, he stepped into the dressing area that was adjacent to his bedroom, gazing into the mirror. A petulant scowl darkened the young man's soft, handsome features as he looked himself up and down with disdain. The kenseikan his grandfather had placed in his hair bit down annoyingly on his scalp, giving him what he feared was the beginning of a migraine. He quickly untangled it from his shoulder-length raven hair and tossed it uncaringly onto his nightstand, smirking in satisfaction when he heard the clink it made. I hope I broke the damned, rotten thing. Next he unwound the pale green ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu from his throat and tossed it onto the floor, treating it like the noose of silk he saw it as, just another way his elders were trying to strangle the life out of him.
Their strict rules and stuffy lifestyle is not for me, just as it was not for Tou-san. We have wild and free spirits that cannot be subdued and concealed in their gilded cage. They believe that because I worked so hard that it was my sincere goal to be a strong leader... But I only listened to them and did as I was told so I would not dishonor the Kuchiki name.
He walked from the dressing area back into his bedroom, dropping to his knees as he rummaged through his bottom drawer for the heavy, thick cloak his grandfather gave him, slipping it around him and pulling the hood up over his face. Then he went out the balcony door and leapt down silently into the gardens, shunpoing while keeping his reiatsu masked so he wouldn't be spotted by the manor security guards. He made his way stealthily across the estate, keeping his guard up as he made his way into the stables where Ginrei kept his stallion.
The pure, snow-white horse raised its head as he fed on oats and hay in his food barrel, his ears twitching curiously at Byakuya as the young heir approached.
Byakuya quickly grabbed his saddle and bridle, hurriedly tacking the stallion before climbing onto his back. He leaned forward, running a gentle hand along the horse's soft neck as he whispered to him, "Take me to Inuzuri, Yuki."
The stallion whinnied quietly, stamping his front legs on the ground as Byakuya turned him toward the trail that led away from the manor, gently kicking him into a gallop. Yuki sped up to a flash-step, finally making it out the Kuchiki estate gates and into the streets of the Siereitei, running all the way to the Rukongai where Byakuya slowed him to walk. The Kuchiki heir eventually dismounted, leading the stallion through the dilapidated streets of Inuzuri, glancing around at the people huddled together around fires in trashcans or trying to find shelter in old, abandoned buildings, all staring at him with baleful, hollow eyes.
Somehow, I feel they know I do not belong here even without any of the markings of my nobility, Byakuya thought gloomily. He kept his eyes cast at the ground, tightening his control on his reiatsu in hopes that he would not stick out. His heart ached at the sight of all the hungry, poor denizens of the district, hating to see all the suffering. But still, in my eyes they have a more desirable existence than I, because for all they lack in riches, they possess the one thing I long for more than anything; freedom. Their lives are difficult, but they are their own for them to decide what to do with them. My life has already been predetermined by my elders, I have no choices in any of it. He sighed heavily, gently pulling Yuki along, not sure where he was going but knowing he did not want to go back.
Suddenly, he bumped into someone and sent them pitching forward, the pitcher of water in their hand crashing and breaking on the ground. Byakuya gasped, releasing Yuki and scrambling to help the young, short raven-haired woman up.
"Gomen nasai!" He exclaimed, grasping her too thin shoulders and gently setting her back on her feet. "I – I must not have been paying attention where I was going, I apologize deeply. Onegai, let me help get you some more water."
"It's all right," she said in a soft, timid voice, meeting his eyes shyly. Byakuya caught his breath as he looked into her wide, periwinkle eyes and studied her dirt-covered but lovely face. He was instantly taken with her beauty and the warmth he felt radiating from her. "You don't have to do that, I'm fine. Arigatou." She turned and bent down to begin picking up the broken shards of her pitcher, but suddenly doubled over and grabbed her chest, going into a coughing fit.
"Oh," Byakuya said, alarmed, bending down to help her. "Are you okay? Here, let me."
"I – I'm okay, really, thank you," she said, then stopped cold when she turned to look at him and saw that he'd lowered the hood of his cloak, revealing his face. She stared at him in awe, unable to recall a time when she had ever seen someone so handsome in her life. His slate gray eyes, like pools of liquid silver, froze her in place as they gazed upon her with not pity, but concern and kindess. Raven black, slightly layered tresses fell around his almost delicate face, ending just below his shoulders. She didn't even realize her mouth had dropped open.
"Is something wrong?" Byakuya asked slightly nervously, handing her the pieces of broken clay before slowly climbing to his feet with her.
"I – Iie," she stammered, a lovely blush creeping up her neck and coloring her cheeks. Byakuya smiled at her then and she nearly fainted.
"Listen, I really do feel bad about what happened. Will you let me escort you to where you live, then I can go and collect more water to bring to you? I can also get some food, I have a little money with me."
She bit her lip, tucking a piece of hair that hung down and split in front of her face behind her ear. "I don't even know your name..."
"Of course," he chuckled softly, shaking his head at his own foolishness. "Onegai, forgive my rudeness, I am Byakuya," he said, deciding to omit his surname, bowing to her.
"I am pleased to meet you, Byakuya-sama. My name is Hisana," she introduced herself with a soft smile.
He returned her smile, finding his own cheeks aflame with heat as he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers lightly."The pleasure is all mine, Hisana-san," he patted Yuki's side. "Would you like to ride with me back to your place? Don't worry, Yuki can be somewhat cantankerous at times, but generally he is very nice."
Yuki released an equine sound of annoyance, nudging Byakuya's shoulder and nipped at him playfully. Hisana laughed as Byakuya swatted back at the horse, then gently lifted her onto the stallion's back and climbed up himself. "Hold onto my waist, all right?" He instructed, looping her arms around his midsection, trying not to pay attention to the twinge of emotion her touch sparked in him.
Hisana smiled and nodded. "Okay," she agreed, hugging him from behind and lightly resting her chin on his shoulder, taking in his scent as they began walking. He smelled intoxicatingly of cherry blossoms mixed with a deeper, more masculine scent underneath. She directed him through the district to a small cottage at the edge of town, pointing to it. "That is my home."
Byakuya nodded, leading Yuki over to the doorstep before helping Hisana down and dismounting beside her, then tied him up and went inside with her. The entire house was about the size of his bedroom at the manor, but it was homey and welcoming, and a fire in the fireplace kept the place considerably warm. He glanced around at the miniscule furniture, spotting a crib in the corner.
"Do you have a child?" He asked curiously, watching her go into the small kitchen to grab another pitcher.
She stopped dead in her tracks, her shoulders visibly tensing up. She looked at the crib sadly, then answered in a wavering voice, "N – Not anymore."
Byakuya frowned, watching her worriedly as she wiped her eyes, then went back to rummaging through the cupboards. "Gomen nasai, I shouldn't have asked."
She turned back with a pitcher, smiling bravely as she walked over and handed it to him."Iie, don't worry, it's okay. The well is a few blocks down, and there is a noodle shop nearby if you want to stop there," she blushed a bit at how forward she was being, then said, "I feel guilty, Byakuya-sama, you have offered to help me but I have nothing to offer you in return. What is it I can do for you?"
He thought for a moment, then replied, "Let me eat with you and enjoy the pleasure of your company."
She smiled, her cheeks turning even more red. "That's all you want?"
"That's all," he agreed, smiling back at her.
She smiled and happily agreed to his request, leading him to the door.
"Try not to break this one," she called after him teasingly, laughing.
He looked back at her and laughed, then went to retrieve the water and bought their meal, then returned to find Hisana outside feeding Yuki and petting him. He stopped a short distance away, watching her moonlit form and thinking once again how incredibly beautiful she was in a perfectly simplistic way. Somehow he knew that after tonight he would never be the same again.
Byakuya released a trembling sigh, the images of that time slowly fading as he approached the sixth division office. They ended up spending that entire night together, eating and talking. He'd never felt more at ease with anyone in his life, and it began the love affair that would turn into the greatest, and ultimately most tragic thing in his entire life. For the next six months he went to her each night, getting to know the kind, beautiful woman that had so easily accepted him for who he was, not because of any title within his clan or the Gotei 13, but the real man he was underneath it all. He also met her best friend, Sukina and Tanaka, Sukina's husband who both lived with Hisana.
As he expected the first night he met her, life was never the same again.
"Hey there, Taichou," his fukutaichou said when he entered the office, looking up from the stack of papers he was poring over. The crimson-haired man stood up, "Would you like some tea?"
Byakuya nodded, sitting down at his own desk and picking up his pen. "Hai, Renji, arigatou."
Renji nodded and bowed to him, then went down the hall to the kitchen to make the tea. Byakuya attempted to focus on his work, but his attention was drawn outside to the blossoming trees, still lost in his memories. He barely even felt the solitary tear that slid down one porcelain cheek, his heart aching for everything he had lost.
"Here's your tea, Taichou."
Renji's voice startled him from his thoughts and he reached up quickly to brush the wetness off his face, but not before Renji saw.
"Taichou, are you... okay? You're... You're crying!"