Author: Uchiha Yumi

Title: Behind Blue Eyes

Genre: Angst

Rating: K+

Parings: In reality, none. Somewhat Byakuya x Hisana.

Main Characters: Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Hisana, a nurse.

Dedicated to: Tharuka, BlackGeta, Yuume Li, Kawaii Eyez and Honto.Kawaii.Neko-chan

Why? Simply because, I want to be honest, being Kuchiki Byakuya my favourite character, I was waiting a little bit more…feedback from this series (dejected sigh) – so I thought the brave ones who reviewed needed a sort of "reward".

Ok, here another drabble – I hope it will "score" somewhat better.

If you have any requests, please, send them now – University will start soon and I don't know how much spare time I'll have on my side.

Yumi-chan

Behind Blue Eyes

"But my dreams, they aren't as empty
As my conscious seems to be…"

Behind Blue Eyes – Limp Bizkit

Set after the betrayal

Kuchiki Byakuya sat upright on his hospital bed, his blue eyes distractedly glancing out of the window. He liked high places, he liked to see how everything looked insignificant and small, how every object seemed to find the right place and the right dimension in the ensemble of the universe.

He watched people keeping on rushing back and forth in the Sereitei, just as if nothing ever happened. And still, it was just seven days before. Seven days since the whole Soul Society had been shaken by what could be considered the worst crisis they had ever faced.

The Captain shifted slightly, his healing wounds itching beneath the silky bandages wrapped around his body, and winced the tiniest bit, indulging in that act just because of the awareness to be completely alone in the room.

He hated hospitals. He hated everything concerning medicines, doctors, illnesses.

It wasn't like he was scared of it all – his noble status wouldn't allow it anyway. Just, whenever he found himself face to face with this, every smell, every taste, every movement constantly reminded him of…her.

'Hisana…'

His was the one to take care of her, in the very end.

He could have instructed one of his many servants, but he didn't. He wanted to spend with her any second left, everything looking far too precious to make it go to waste.

It didn't matter how hard it hurt deep into his heart to see her so harmless and weak and how quickly she was slipping away between his fingers, he would always hold her hand tightly, support the back of her head and bring the glass to her lips whenever she needed to drink, stay awake and keep her company during her sleepless nights.

Kuchiki Byakuya never cared about his own sufferance. He was a strong man, he could endure it.

But then, in a mockingly sunny day of early spring, she was gone, flown away forever, a flower dying when everything else around was blooming.

It was in that moment that he understood it.

He wasn't strong. He was nothing like that.

All of his courage and might were lying within the frail body of that little woman, in her tender words, her cherished smile and caring habits.

For the first time in his long life, Kuchiki Byakuya felt lost.

It was absurd. Everything else in the world seemed to go on normally and no one else noticed of his inner sorrow.

Was he so…alone?

Time, willingly or not, heals many wounds, they say.

But, in the nobleman's case, not even the soothing bliss of time flowing could help him wholeheartedly. He had to sacrifice his feelings for it. He had to hide everything under a thicker and thicker mask of iciness, detached manners, senseless and constrictive rules.

That's why he hated hospitals. Because every single time everything he had built to protect his wounded self seemed to quiver menacingly, threatening to shatter and destroy every strive he made to keep himself together.

"Kuchiki-taichou, it's time for your-"

The man abruptly turned around, that sudden and unexpected presence making him startle.

How could he not notice such a clear reiatsu approaching? Was he so lost in his thoughts?

A nurse had entered the room and was staring at him with wide eyes, a white tray with his medicines in her hands. She blushed a bit and vainly opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before a tiny voice could come out again.

"Kuchiki-taichou…you are…crying?" she asked, hesitantly, head bowed in fear and reverence in front of such a noble and mighty man.

Without even being aware of it, his hand slightly brushed his own cheek. When his fingertip caught the sensation of something wet, Byakuya felt his heart missing a beat.

He cleared his throat, lightly.

"I forgot to take my pills today"

He paused for a moment, his usually royal tone now coming out of his lips almost strangled, as if filtered through a knot of sadness.

"It's just the pain" he spoke again in the end "Just the pain…"

And deep inside of himself, he knew he wasn't completely lying.

Owari