Two More Years
Hisana sat, her back leaning against a post as she watched the clouds scud across a stormy night sky. The sporadic rain had turned into lilting song that had made men want to go back and wait out the storm near their fields. For the barmaids working tonight, it was an unexpected night off.
"Tell me," Eriko smoothed the yukata under her behind as she seated herself, "about that Kuchiki."
"Kuchiki-sama," Hisana's eyes slipped from the sky and her cheeks heated. "Kuchiki-sama."
Eriko frowned, "That bad?"
"Shiba-dono…I suppose I should use proper address for him from now on as well, too." Hisana sighed and she drew her legs close, crossing her arms over them before resting her head on her knees. "Shiba-sama told me he would be the Twenty Eighth head of the Kuchiki clan after his father. I thought…" She sighed before looking at her friend, "I thought he was just a nice guy, you know? A guy that happened to be the vice-captain in the Seireitei. One…" her voice hitched, "It's not like I love him, Eriko. I still want to find my sister someday and love would get in the way of that. I did like him, but what was I to him?"
The boards under her rump vibrated as Eriko scooted over to throw her arms around the slighter woman. "It happens, Hisana-chan. The bastards in the Seireitei look at us in the Rukon as little more than workers and trouble."
Hisana shook her head, "I know, I saw how that prick treated Mari." She sunk a little lower, "But Kaien and Byakuya…"
"He treated you well." Eriko's eyes lidded with confusion, "Do you know why Shiba-dono said what he said?"
Hisana thought back to the other night. Why had he said what he said? She hardly thought it was out of some sort of jealousy. Both men had come to visit together and separately and neither one ever tried anything even remotely romantic; unless you counted a few bouquets of flowers or trinkets bought at harvest or festival were declarations of love. Even though she knew almost nothing about matters of the heart and all that goes with it, she did not believe that either man was interested in anything other than having a reasonably clear-headed companion to spend time with.
Byakuya had frowned heavily when he said it, and then proceeded to say that if she found him impressive, she should know that Kaien should have been Clan Head if not for his refusal to take the seat. She had been confused, and she felt the same about it now. Why had they brought it up? Were they tired of her company? She'd had near two years of friendship with the men. What had she been to them?
She blinked, a tear running slowly down her cheek as she coughed heavily for a moment. Whenever she was worked up, or depressed, her chest would constrict painfully. She still couldn't afford a healer, and the hedge doctors she had seen couldn't tell her much besides it seemed chronic. She clutched her chest, wracking coughs sounding in counterpoint to the soothing rain.
Byakuya sat up in his bed, the bedclothes falling from his shoulders as he tried to analyze what made him wake. A dream, his mind helpfully supplied, and he slipped back under the covers. Hisana. He shouldn't have done it, now it was too late. She was too beautiful, kind, and wise in a homey comfortable way that reminded him of his mother. She had invaded his every waking thought, and now she stole into his dreams as well.
He was in love. It was a simple enough concept. He had been in love before, but this was different. This was a love built on layers of friendship and time spent together. When had she transformed from a bright, smiling companion? He was sure he couldn't tell you that it was this or that day, it simply was.
That simple realization did not help him as much as he wished. Not only was her reiatsu barely present, but she was common beyond belief. Even if the clan never found out that she came from a district none of them would dare to step foot in, the fifth was a long way from the first, and its homes full of nobility, the rich, and the influential.
That made his stupidity of the other night even harder to bear. He had asked Kaien what would hurt her badly enough that she would never agree to see him again. When the older man had suggested telling her that they were both potential clan heads, she would be either too scared or angry to want to see them again. The plan was possibly the hardest one he had agreed to in the past twenty years. That was until he saw her eyes. He knew then, not only was this the hardest mission he'd ever had, but the one with the highest personal pain. He could not thank Kaien enough for sacrificing himself for his sake.
Even with those thoughts running around in his head, he found he couldn't evade her. Hisana's dark sapphire eyes that sparkled so beautifully whenever she'd laughed or smiled. Her unruly inky hair that stubbornly refused to remain in any kind of hairstyle that a woman of his rank would have. Her rose petal lips that formed words so perfectly. He shivered. Her betrayed look would haunt him until he died.
A knock sounded, and he sat up again, "Father? Come in."
Sōjun, who used to rival Hisana for happy smiles and gentle wisdom, slid the shoji open, "There's been an emergency captain's meeting, Byakuya. I suppose you'll hear of it soon enough, the captain of the third division has disappeared." He sighed wearily as he sank to a seat on the corner of the bed, "I believe he's dead, there's a feeling in the air tonight." His eyes took on a faraway look before settling back on his son, "I don't know when I'll be back." He reached up, and with sure movements stripped his double kenseikan from its place of more than a hundred years.
"What…?" Byakuya's eyes widened when the warm metal was placed in his hands, his fingers formed around it. "Father?"
"A symbol of pride, Byakuya-bo. Don't forget."
He shook his head, not understanding, "But…of course, father. Do I need to dress and join you?"
"It's captains only this time, son. Get some sleep. I…," his father sighed, "I want you to wear it, Byakuya. And if I can say one more thing?"
Byakuya's brow creased, this was turning out to be an unexpected night. First the kenseikan, now his father asked permission to offer advice? He mustered a smile for his father, "What would that be?"
Sōjun smiled, Byakuya hadn't seen a genuine one from him in so long, his heart leapt to see it again. "Follow your heart."
With that, he squeezed the hand still holding the folded metal in Byakuya's hand and left the room. Follow my heart? Byakuya slipped free of his covers. He stood, shrugging his sleeping yukata straight before he sat in front of the mirror. His hair was mussed with sleep and he looked at it with a critical eye. Quickly combing the worst of it, he held his father's kenseikan up against his temple, just above the ear. How many years had he wanted to wear it? Since he was tall enough to remember the emotion of his father telling him he would wear it when he was ready to lead the clan, surely. Quite possibly longer than that.
With a rueful grin, Byakuya climbed back into bed. Finally, things seemed to be going his way.
The next day, everything felt off. He couldn't explain it, but a dark cloud seemed crouched on the horizon. The few hours he had to himself before he would present himself at division six were filled with an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He turned down breakfast opting to just get to the division a few minutes ahead of schedule.
When he walked in to see his grandfather, not his father sitting at the captain's desk, he hurried his steps to the older Kuchiki's side.
"Genrei-sofu-sama?" Byakuya registered the unhappy looks and unusual amount of people in the office, "What has happened?"
"Your father," the old man didn't even bother to connect to Byakuya's worried frown, "died on his mission last night. There will be no investigation."
Byakuya's brows drew down, no investigation. That could only mean, "Sofu-sama?" He sank into a chair; his father was dead, screw propriety!
"Have you mastered Bankai?"
Was this old fool really worried about his bond with Senbonzakara? Another thought hit him like a brick, "I am not qualified to become captain yet, Sofu-sama." He meant it to come out as cold as his grandfather's words, but the best he could do was deliver it quietly, not allowing his voice to waiver.
"Leave us," his grandfather frowned at the attendants and the divisional messengers until they scurried out. "Byakuya-bo."
The name he had distained when he was younger acted like a catalyst, "Will," he paused, swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, "Will you be taking over?"
"Yamamoto-sou-taicho has decreed that until you achieve Bankai and pass the test for captaincy, I will take over, yes."
Byakuya nodded, "I must go, Sofu-sama."
"Collect yourself, and report back this afternoon, Byakuya-bo." His words were surprisingly gentle, "We must remain strong for the clan's sake."
Byakuya nodded, registering the tone if not the sentiment behind the words. With a determination to be away, he ran as hard as he could. Slipping into flash step, he arrived at the last place anyone would look for him. He had gone back to Hisana.
AN/ Sofu is grandfather, so, sofu-sama should be honored grandfather. Poor Byakuya-bo. Where's your pride, now? Almost done, gentle reader.
