A/N: It's a little late to be saying that I'm not Kubo or own Bleach, but I forgot to post an author's note on my first chapter . I hope you're enjoying the story so far and as always thank you for reading!
Etsuko stood in front of the Kuchiki Manor. After getting lost a few times, she had finally made it to her destination. It was a rare occasion that she didn't have a companion, but everyone still had their lives regardless of her schedule. She smoothed out the skirt of a western styled dress that the head captain's lieutenant had gifted her. It was pretty in its own way, but what she loved about it was the freedom of her legs and how the wide skirt moved with the wind.
Making a mental note to ask Miyako if she could get more of them, she called out into the compound. "Good afternoon! My name is Abe no Etsuko. My father, Kyoraku Shunsui, said you were expecting me!"
A guard suddenly appeared before her. Caught off balance by the ninja, she let out a squeak of surprise.
"The young master has been expecting you," the man addressed her curtly as he led down into the compound.
Looking around in awe, Etsuko had never seen such a beautiful courtyard. Wide open spaces under the outside corridors of the mansion made it seem so much bigger. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and petals wafted on the gentle breeze. It was like she was in a dream.
"Oi, do you know how long I've been waiting for you, you little brat?" A boy's brash voice snapped her out of her dream like state.
Etsuko looked up at him with apologetic eyes. In a quiet voice she answered, "Sorry. I would have come sooner, but I wasn't feeling well, and then I got lost. I'm Etsuko and I'm really sorry!"
"Kuchiki Byakuya." He gave her his name. His voice softened at the timidity in hers. "I suppose it gave me a little more time to practice my sword."
Etsuko hadn't met anyone her own age since she'd been in Soul Society. The boy seemed to be some years older. Somehow he reminded her of a samurai. He was in training clothes with a wooden sword in his hand, but it wasn't that which made her think of a samurai. There was something else she couldn't put her finger on. His grey defiant eyes looked at her in the most scrutinizing way and widened at the daisho tucked into her sash.
He gave a start. How could such a wimpy girl like her dressed in weird clothes be carrying swords? Byakuya would not stand for it. "You, why do you have those swords? Did you steal them from that idiot Kyoraku?"
Etsuko clutched the swords with her small hands as if she feared he would take them. "The Captain Commander gave them to me. And my father is not an idiot! You're the idiot!"
"How dare you call the future head of the Kuchiki clan an idiot, idiot!" He tightened his hands around his sword.
Etsuko ran without thinking. She didn't want to be hit by the sword, wooden or not, she thought the boy was a more than a little scary, even though he looked so noble. Byakuya followed suit, yelling at her to stop running around his yard.
Within a few moments, Etsuko began panting. Whatever energy she had that fueled her fear and anger dissipated like fog with the dawn. Everything went black.
Byakuya watched the girl crumble to the ground. In the blink of an eye he was beside her. "Hey, wake up! Abe?!"
There was no answer. The boy shook her again. There was no reaction. He reached for her hands and came in contact with the cuff bracelet on her wrist. Recoiling at the draining effect, he persevered, trying to undo the clasps to no avail. Picking up the strange girl, he placed her under one of the cherry blossom trees and went seeking help.
"Ah, lord Kuchiki, there's nothing to worry about." One of his guards began the most unbelievable of explanations. "I was told that Abe gets tired very easily. She must have overexerted herself. The cuffs you saw are for her protection. She just recently arrived in Soul Society and cannot control her spiritual energy. I'm sure she'll wake up soon."
Byakuya walked back to where he left the girl wanting a better explanation. There was no way the head captain would give her swords and use sekkiseki to limit her power if she was some ordinary soul with above average powers. The fact that she was beginning her training so young hinted that there had to be something very wrong with her or that the old man wanted to use her for some purpose.
The sight young Byakuya saw upon seeing the girl under the cherry blossoms caught his breath. Etsuko looked like she was sitting under the tree leaning against the trunk. Her short black hair moved with the cool breeze. The sunset made her golden skin glow in the warm dusk. It was like he was looking at something not of this world. Surrounding her were sakura petals seemingly suspended around her. With the rhythm of her breathing they danced about her. It was the most enchanting thing he had ever seen. Careful to not make noise, he moved closer to see that she was still passed out. Not wanting to cause her any harm in waking her violently, he sat next to her watching the cherry blossom petals waft about them while the sun sank into the horizon.
"Prince Samurai." Byakuya nearly jumped when he heard her little voice murmur as she finally stirred.
"Etsuko? Are you alright?" Byakuya watched the petals fall to the ground. It had been the wind around her that made them dance so beautifully.
"Bee…bya…B-chan?" Etsuko had forgotten the boy's name. She shakily sat up to watch the last sliver of the sun sink into darkness. "Did I fall asleep?"
"B-B-B-chan?!" All concern for the girl passed at the two syllables she uttered. "Kuchiki Byakuya! Kuchiki Byakuya! Say it!"
"B-chan." Etsuko groaned trying to stand up.
Byakuya immediately took her hand and placed the other on her shoulder to steady her as they walked to the engawa of one of the branches of the main building. Her hand felt so cold. Even as they sat under the porch, he had not let go of her for fear that she would collapse again. The teenager did not want the responsibility of explaining to his elders what happened.
"I'm sorry. Ki-chan, I guess you know him as Captain Urahara, said that these new cuffs would take a while before I can go about normally." Etsuko explained, watching the stars appear one after the other. "I guess I shouldn't have pushed myself so hard."
"Does it hurt?" Byakuya found himself asking. He could not shake the image of her out of his head.
"Not really. But can I tell you something?" Etsuko looked up at him. The moon has risen, illuminating his face. His face appeared kinder now. The steel grey eyes she looked into didn't seem bad. There was something about him that allowed her to trust him.
Byakuya nodded, trying his best not to look into her eyes. There was something unnerving about them that he couldn't put into words.
"I think it's why I get these scratches. I don't want to make Ki-chan sad by letting him know that it might be hurting me, but I wake up crying sometimes. Every time I wake up I feel like there's something I'm forgetting and everything hurts and I get these scratches like I've run through a field of nettles."
Byakuya felt himself wanting to console this perfect stranger. He couldn't help but be further drawn in. "Did you tell Kyoraku?"
"I don't want to worry him." The sheepish smile that played on her lips made her seem sadder.
"I'll look into it for you. The Kuchiki family has a vast library. I'm sure that there's an answer somewhere in all those books." He grinned at her in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture.
"You'd do that for me, B-chan?"
"As long as you address me as Kuchiki Byakuya."
"B-chan! Thank you!" Etsuko ignored his demand as she threw herself at him embracing him in gratitude. She yawned. "So tired…"
Byakuya froze as he felt the tension of her embrace loosen. Had she fallen asleep again? He guessed the sekkiseki on her wrists and ankles had more to do with it than just tiredness. The gold on her hands and feet gave off an eerie glow under the moon. He adjusted his arms that returned her hug to make himself more comfortable; there was no knowing when she would wake up again.
"Hey! Get your grimy hands off my daughter!" Kyoraku's playfully gruff voice came out of nowhere. As if he appeared out of thin air, he pulled her away from him and took her into his arms. Looking at her, he spoke sweetly, "Men are pigs. Don't let them deceive you, princess. They'd say anything for a smile from a cutie like you."
"Papa!" Etsuko tried to protest after waking up with a start. "It's not like that at all! B-chan's my friend!"
Byakuya already had his wooden sword in hand. "I will not tolerate slander of the Kuchiki name, Kyoraku!"
"Oh? You want to fight me? Is it because you want my daughter's hand in marriage? Aren't you moving a little too fast, Byakuya? You've got another hundred years before you even get close to being worthy of my princess!" Kyoraku let out a bark of a laugh.
Etsuko hit him on the head. "Papa! I'm going to kill you!"
Kyoraku resigned himself and gave a halfhearted apology to placate the two children. After clearing up the misunderstanding sufficiently, Kyoraku and Etsuko picked up the books she needed and said their goodbyes. Walking hand in hand with her father, Etsuko felt on top of the world. She had made a real friend; someone her own age that she could talk to. The little girl hummed all the way home, forgetting the constant drain on her body.
Byakuya sat on the porch a little longer, staring at the cherry trees in the moonlight. He smiled. A friend, huh? He had never had a friend. Most of the children his grandfather brought had been not to his liking. The heir could not deal with others like himself. There was something a little more than annoying about their self aggrandizing attitudes and most were too soft, afraid to pick up a sword. They all put on airs, holding their noses up at everyone. To have someone not be afraid of his position or act like they were better than he was refreshing. He rang his fingers through his bangs, looking forward to the next time he would meet her.
