Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Chapter Six: The Growing Storm

Two Months Later….
Kuchiki Clan Manor

Masaki hurried down the hallway, careful not to spill the pot of tea on her tray. She'd heard the news: Rukia had been found! Masaki had breathed a sigh of relief when she'd been told that the girl had been found and recovered by Byakuya himself. Surely Byakuya would calm down now that his sister was safe and sound.

To everyone else, Byakuya was just his cold, stoic self, acting coldblooded to everyone, especially his own lieutenant. But in private, when he and Masaki were alone, Byakuya would take off his grim mask and show the man who was struggling to keep it together. After Rukia had gone missing Masaki had noticed how the man, little by little, was beginning to show signs of anxiety and dread. He ate little and slept even less. The man was constantly on edge and would snap at her for asking even the simplest of questions.

Opening the door to his room, Masaki put on her happiest smile…only for it to drop when she saw Byakuya's face when she walked in. He did not look happy. "My lord?" she said as she set the tray of tea and treats down. "Are you alright?" She noticed that he was as white as a ghost. "What is wrong?"

Byakuya reached into his robe and revealed a paper. He handed it to Masaki. The woman read it and understood immediately why the man was so pale. "Rukia…has been sentenced to death?!" she gaped. "But why?"

"The transferal of Soul Reaper powers is a capital offense," Byakuya said, his eyes closed as he evened his breathing. "In a few weeks, she will be taken to the gallows and executed for her crime."

Masaki dropped the paper and stared at Byakuya in disbelief. After all his talk of caring about his younger sister he was so calm to hear that she was going to be executed. "But…why? Why did she transfer her powers?" she asked.

"After we retrieved her, my lieutenant interrogated her and got what we believe to be an honest account of her actions. She encountered a Hollow which blindsided her and in desperation she transferred all of her powers to a Human who she'd been conversing with."

"But then…if she had no choice-"

Byakuya opened his eyes and gave Masaki a cold glare. "Any transferring of Soul Reaper powers is an offense punishable by death. No exceptions. Central 46 has already ruled on the matter."

Masaki stared at Byakuya with wide disbelieving eyes. "And you're okay with this?" she asked, her face growing pale as she remembered that timid, troubled girl who looked so afraid and ashamed to even be in the presence of her brother. "But she's your sister?"

The man's expression grew colder and his hands balled into fists. Masaki may have been the closest thing he had to a friend, but there were limits to even his patience. "Do not take mistake my silence for apathy!" he said coldly. "Of course I am upset. I made a promise to my wife that I would find Rukia and keep her safe! And not only did I let her deployment slip under my notice but she is now a criminal sentenced to die!" He looked away and the mask of stoic coldness started to fade, his expression showing painful emotions. "Hisana…my wife…" he shook his head. "I have failed her."

"Is there really nothing you can do?"

Byakuya shook his head. "Once Central 46 has decided on a ruling, nothing can overturn it. I am a captain and not even I may challenge their decree." He looked down at the floor with eyes filled with sorrow. "I appealed to them to make Rukia's sentence lighter after hearing her account but they ignored me. The law is absolute." Regaining his composure, Byakuya sat up straight and closed his eyes. "I will accept their verdict with no further questions."

Masaki's jaw dropped. "You…you can't mean that!" she said, not sure of what she was hearing.

But Byakuya remained resolute. "You who are not one us will never understand. My clan is meant to be one of the guiding lights of the Soul Society. If I do not uphold the law then who will?" he said as he looked at her with a calm expression. "When I brought Hisana and Rukia into the clan I swore it would be the last time I would break the law. No matter how much it kills me, I won't defy the law again."

"Does Rukia mean so little to you?" she asked boldly, disgusted at the man's cold attitude.

Byakuya opened his mouth but again, the mask of composure he tried to hold up crumbled and he let a tear fall from his face. "I am torn…" he muttered, his body slumping as he stared down at the floor again. "And Rukia is not the only one who is guilty…."

"What do you mean?"

Byakuya closed his eyes as he sighed. "I killed a boy."

Masaki's face turned white. "Wha-what?"

"The one who Rukia transferred her powers to. He was just a boy. No more than sixteen at the most." Byakuya shook his head. "He and one of his friends tried to interfere with our capturing Rukia. After Renji dealt with his friend, he attacked Renji. I stopped the fight and killed him." His eyes opened partly, showing the remorse on his face. "Had it'd been left to Renji he'd have killed him slowly and painfully." The man had always been disgusted with Renji's savagery, understanding why he'd held such a high rank in Squad Eleven. He simply shook his head. "I knew that the boy meant something to Rukia so I made it quick."

Byakuya did not tell her that when he'd left the boy had been still alive, though powerless. That being said, Byakuya highly doubted that the Substitute Soul Reaper who'd come to Rukia's aid was among the living. Unless he got immediate medical attention the boy would've bled out, which was a far less brutal death than what Renji had in store for him.

"I see…" Masaki said, scooting closer to Byakuya. She could tell that Byakuya was being weighed down by both the looming death of his sister and the apparent murder of a child. When Masaki saw a small tear escape his eye, she became bold and took hold of his hands. "My lord..." When Byakuya looked up she gave him a warm smile. "You're only human. I know that you're conflicted. If…" she took a moment before she continued, "If you're going to let the law play out then you should make sure your sister is comforted until then and know that her brother is there for her. And as for the boy, pray that his soul made it to the Soul Society so that you can apologize to him." She knew that what she said was a bit cruel but she knew that Byakuya was truly morally conflicted.

Silence filled the room as the two stared at each other. Masaki reached forward and wiped the tear from Byakuya's face. Byakuya sat back and sighed. "Thank you for understanding," he said before standing up. "I must go and speak with the Head-Captain about the execution. You may return to your quarters," he told her before leaving the room.

Masaki watched Byakuya leave before letting out a loud sigh. She looked over at Byakuya's small shrine and noticed that it was open. She saw the picture of Hisana and frowned. 'If you were here…what would you have said?' she wondered before looking down at her wedding ring. "Isshin…I wish you were here right now. You'd be able to talk sense into him…."

Deciding that there was no point brooding on the matter, Masaki got up and exited Byakuya's room, wondering how best to guide Byakuya onto the right path. As she walked out she looked outside and saw a thunderstorm gathering and had the ominous feeling that this was somehow a sign that things would get worse.

To be continued

A.N.: I didn't quite know what to put as Masaki's reaction to Byakuya's confliction so I just went with this in order to keep the flow of the story going. I apologize if it's so short.