A/N:Awh, thank you everyone for the review alerts! Hope I won't disappoint you!

Disclaimer: Hisana's coma is mine.. that doesn't sound good, does it..?

This chapter is dedicated to Lena Hime-chan, for being an incredible, loyal and sweet friend! Thank you!

"I am going to continue the search for Rukia today," Byakuya mentioned, while opening some curtains in the dark chamber where Hisana rested. He also opened one of the windows and he enjoyed the gentle breeze that came flying in. He then turned on his heels and walked to his wife. Squeezing one of her hands, he bent over and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I will go now. I will talk to the elders and explain them the situation today. Then I will go to the academy and look for her. I will make sure you will not have to be separated ever again."

Byakuya took another look at Hisana. Even though her eyes were closed, her face was pale and her lips were as white as her skin, she was still beautiful. Today, Byakuya had gotten permission from Unohana to visit his wife twice. In the morning, to tell her his plans and for his own mental support; the sight of Hisana always got Byakuya more determined to find Rukia. And this evening, Byakuya would want to tell Hisana what had happened that day.

Another kiss on her temple and Byakuya left the small room. He said his goodbye to Isane, who was on duty in the construction where Hisana lay. It was located in the Soul Society forest, and nobody was able to see the building. Only a couple of workers from the fourth division, including the Captain and Vice-captain, and Byakuya knew how to reach and enter. Whenever Otaku or Samoshi would want to visit Hisana, they would have to wait for permission from Byakuya, otherwise they wouldn't be able to find her.

Byakuya entered the large mansion and made his immediate way to the conference room. As he had expected, some of the elders were sitting there. He also noticed Samoshi among them. Byakuya coughed once, as to announce his presence, and the elders turned around.

"Byakuya-sama, what's the honor?"

"I would like to start a meeting. It is about Hisana."

A couple of disapproving coughs went around the elders and some of them rolled their eyes. Still they didn't like the heir's choice of marrying a mere commoner. The elders gave some servants the order to get the remaining seniors and after a couple of minutes, the Kuchiki-leaders had gathered around a large table.

"As you have already noticed, Hisana hasn't been present for the last few days," Byakuya started. He saw some of the elders nodding and one of them said, "Ever since your wedding day. Is that correct?"

Samoshi gave a small sob.

"Yes. Hisana…" Byakuya turned his head away for a second and closed his eyes. "She has problems."

"Awh, our little princess has got nightmares and doesn't dare to leave your bedroom anymore?" one of the elders mocked. The table gasped as Byakuya gave the man a death-glare.

"No. Hisana did have nightmares, and I will make sure that when she wakes up again, there is no need to get them again." Byakuya folded his fingers together.

"'When she wakes up again'? What do you mean?" came a loud voice from the back of the table.

"Hisana has fallen into a coma," Byakuya told the elders. He explained the situation with the bug, just as Unohana had explained him a few days ago.

"And also… when she died, her baby sister was sent to Inuzuri with her."

Confused glares went around the group. "Sister?"

Samoshi's eyes widened. "Hisana has got a sister? Why didn't she ever tell me?"

Byakuya made a gesture to shut his niece up. "Hisana had no power to take care of both of them, so she put her sister down somewhere and fled. Ever since that day, she's been regretting her decision and she has been looking for Rukia everywhere around the district."

One of the elders started to shook his head dramatically. "No, Byakuya, we are not going to help her. What will happen to that sister whenever Hisana finds her?"

"I am pretty sure that I have found Rukia already. I am about to confirm my thoughts. I will ask Rukia to be part of the Kuchiki-clan, as my sister. There is no way she can become something else." Byakuya answered casually.

"No, Byakuya, we have made our deal with the commoner girl, but we aren't going to let another girl smutch our reputation." an elder gasped.

"No, Bya. This will get too hard. Don't you think getting her into the Kuchiki-resident will make things painful? For you, for me and for everyone else who liked Hisana!" Samoshi showed her opinion.

"This matter is what has made Hisana sick, Samoshi. Her searches in Rukongai would be over when Rukia would be under my protection." Byakuya replied coldly.

His statements got the elders and Samoshi dumbfound. Byakuya amused himself by the shocked looks on their faces and with a sigh, he stood up and left the room.

---

"Oy, Byaku!"

The voice of his cousin made Byakuya turn around. There, in the hallway, stood Otaku. He wore a wide grin on his face and he seemed to have run his way to the heir.

"What is it?" came Byakuya's bitter respond. He hoped that Otaku would notice and leave him alone; for now, all Byakuya wanted was to go to the academy and look for Rukia.

"I just want to congratulate you on your achievement to piss off the elders again."

Byakuya rolled his eyes. He was not going to waste more time on Otaku, who didn't have anything good to tell anyway.

"Oh, and you know, I went to the academy today. You know, some things to ask the people there." Otaku continued. Byakuya froze to the spot as he heard the next few words. "But there was someone who looked an awful lot like Hisana."

It couldn't be. Rukia… really was at the academy? Byakuya must've put his face into a puzzled expression, as Otaku nodded.

"Yeah! I walked towards her and I really even named her Hisana… but she said that she didn't know a Hisana, but the name did sound familiar, somehow. What was her name again..? Er.."

Otaku rolled his eyes and thought about it. He made a few turns on his spot and clapped his hands together.

"Rukia…" Byakuya said, almost in a whisper.

"Yeah! That's it! How did you know, By-- Byaku?"

But the spot where Byakuya had stood, just seconds before, was now empty. Otaku stared at it for a second, then shrugged and made his way towards his bedroom. His hair needed to get curled, anyway.

---

The building was towering up in front of him. The large wooden doors stood ajar, as if inviting him to enter. Was he ready for this? Was he really ready to face someone who was supposed to look like his wife so badly that she even tricked Otaku into confusion?

Taking a deep breath, Byakuya opened the door and entered the enormous construction.

His mind went back to the time that Byakuya himself spent time in the academy. He remembered the ways and passages very clear, and he wasn't surprised, with his thoughts still hunting him, that he was at the help-desk almost immediately.

"No, Kuchiki Byakuya! It's been too long, sir! How have you been?" said the woman behind the desk. She had become rather old, it seemed, for her face was now curved with lines and her hair was dyed.. obviously to hide some grey hair.

"I've been fine. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to ask something." Byakuya replied.

"Sure! Anything, sir!" the woman said happily.

"I would like to know in what class a girl named Rukia is."

The woman made a noise and she got to her feet. She walked to a different desk, which held all of the records about students. "A family name?" she asked

Byakuya shook his head. "No, she hasn't." he replied, remembering the day that Hisana told him that she never knew her family name. How was Rukia supposed to know if Hisana didn't?

"Let… me… see…" the woman murmured while rummaging through some files. "Ah! Here it is. There are several Rukia's here at school, but there is only one who doesn't have a family name. She is in class B12 right now."

Byakuya gave a short 'thank you' on her help and he left, following his memories to the mentioned classroom.

He came to a halt in the hallway where B12 was located. The curtains on the other side of the windows were closed, but Byakuya found a small opening and peeked through. Then his breath failed him.

There, in the middle of class, sat Hisana. Her head rested bored on her hand and her other hand was making short notes. Her eyes were semi-closed and her mouth was half open, as if gaping. Only when Byakuya took a better look at the girl, he noticed differenced between his wife and the girl he was now observing.

While Hisana had beautiful dark and large eyes, Rukia had violet ones which were smaller. Also, Hisana had her hair hung onto her shoulders, and Rukia had her hair a little longer. Rukia's face was a bit more round, and Hisana had a small scar on the left side of her jaw, which Rukia obviously hadn't. Hisana had gotten that one when she passed out from carrying Rukia, Byakuya could recall his wife telling him.

Byakuya took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in," someone said.

Byakuya opened the door and stepped in. The little murmurs which were in the room had stopped, the students now noticing the noble Vice-captain entering. Some of them actually came to their feet to take a closer look.

"Good day, Kuchiki-Vice captain! How may we help you?"

Byakuya turned his gaze to the classroom, to one person in particular.

"May I borrow Rukia from you for a minute?" he asked.

As a result, Rukia gasped in shock, wondering what the hell she could have done wrong for someone this high ranked to know her name.

If only she knew…