Nia sat on the roof of the Urahara shop lost in her world of thought. Suddenly Yoruichi was beside her.
"Hey…" She said softly.
Nia looked up at her best friend with a weak smile on her face.
"Can I sit?" Yoruichi asked.
"Yeah…Go right ahead" Nia said motioning for Yoruichi to sit next to her.
"You know…What you did was very strong on your part…" Yoruichi started.
Nia clenched her teeth and tightly shut her eyes.
"I…I told him to stay away! It's over with that man and me! I don't want to be a part of that false aristocratic world that he and I used to live in!" Nia exploded into tears.
"There there…I told you not to bother coming out honey…You know you still love Byakuya…" Yoruichi said hugging Nia.
Nia looked up at her.
"Yes…Oh yes…I still love him so much! No matter how cold he may have become…I forgive him…Yoruichi you now what?"
"What?"
Nia lay down o the roof tucking her arms under her head…Gazing up at the bright stars.
"He came for me…" She said softly.
Yoruichi giggled.
"You play hard in front of him and you soften out in front of me! That's my girl" She said giving Nia a friendly shove.
"But all the same…I won't see him again…He won't come…" Nia said sighing deeply.
"Then you go to him!" Yoruichi said.
Nia jumped up abruptly.
"No!" She said sharply. "I won't go back to that world Yoruichi!"
Yoruichi shrugged carelessly.
"It's your life honey…But just between you and me…Old sparks don't fade…Just ask me and Urahara…We know…" Yoruichi said enigmatically, with that she changed into cat form and disappeared over the rooftops.
Nia remained alone…She slowly lifted her hand close to her face…Upon it was the green jade ring…The symbol of her love and bond with Byakuya…She removed it from her hand and gazed at it…Slowly her eyes began to water…She threw the ring abruptly away. It glistened momentarily in the moonlight before disappearing…
"Farewell…" Nia whispered.
At the Kuchiki house Byakuya roamed restlessly about his room… He had finally found Nia…Only to lose her again…
He sighed and closed his heart towards one more person once again…It wasn't painful anymore…He had done it so many times…
The next morning was grey and cloudy...Nia awoke to find Yoruichi dressing herself.
"Where….Where are you going?" She asked sleepily.
Yoruichi gazed down at her.
"You're coming with me…And don't you dare say no!" She said abruptly.
"Where are we going?"
Yoruichi paused.
"Soul Society" She said.
Nia jumped up.
"Why?" She shouted.
Yoruichi grabbed Nia's shoulders.
"Nia…Your mother is dying…" She said.
"W-what?" Nia exclaimed.
"Yes Nia…She's dying…If you truly have any feelings left in you prove it now!"
Nia sat down devastated shaking her head…
"Mother…" She paused closing her eyes…Remaining silent. Then she spoke.
"Let's go!"
Yoruichi nodded…
Minutes later they ware hastening towards the Oonishi house.
"Let me pass" Nia commanded the two guards.
They looked at her.
"No one passes…Leave!"
Nia lifted her top revealing the mark on her back.
"As Oonishi Nia I command you to let me pass!"
The guards gasped. They both bowed before Nia.
"My Lady…Welcome home…"
Nia passed swiftly…Up the familiar path, through the gardens.
Towards the manner…Agony and sorrow were burning in green eyes… She arrived at her mother's chambers…She slowly entered the room. Almost all the members of the family were crowded around the bed…Some of them weeping… Once they saw Nia they all began to bow to her…
Nia regarded them not…She hastened past them to her mother's bed side.
Lady Shiori opened her eyes…
"Nia?" She asked feebly.
"Hello mother" Whispered Nia.
Lady Shiori smiled.
"My little girl…You're alive!"
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry mother…I'm so sorry…"
Lady Shiori reached out her hand to Nia. She clasped her mother's hand in hers…It was freezing.
"Nia…You are in charge now…Do what you will…My brave daughter…" Lady Shiori gasped breathlessly.
"Please…Don't go mother…" Nia whispered in her tears…
"My little one…Don't cry for me…I will always love you…" Lady Shiori said closing her eyes and letting out one final breath.
Nia hung her head down…She squeezed her mother's hand. Hot tears began running down her eyes…
Most of the women in the room began to mourn and weep.
"Lady Nia"
Nia looked up.
"Your mother made no will… Everything belongs to you now…Welcome Oonishi Nia! Head of the Oonishi clan!"
Nia nodded in her tears…
One by one the family members paid their respects to both Nia and her mother and departed…Nia hugged her mother's body one last time praying for her soul and left the room…
"Nia…" Yoruichi called after her.
"She's gone Yoruichi…" Nia whispered.
Yoruichi nodded.
"May she rest in peace" Yoruichi said.
"Yoruichi…I have decided to remain here…And take my responsibility as Head of the clan" Nia muttered.
Yoruichi nodded once more.
"I respect your decision Nia…it was the right decision to make…"
"Yoruichi…If you will…Please be present at mother's funeral…I need your support" Nia said blankly.
Yoruichi hugged her friend.
"I'm sorry Nia…" She said
Nia hugged Yoruichi tightly exploding in tears…
Minutes later servants emerged out of the room carrying Lady Shiori's body to prepare it for cremation.
A few hours passed with other members of noble families paying their respects to Nia and congratulating her as the position of Head of the family fell to her.
After these painful and stressing hours Nia left the house…She wanted to talk to someone who she knew would understand her best…
(At the Kuchiki house)
"May I help you my Lady?" A servant said bowing politely.
"Is Lord Kuchiki here?" Nia asked softly.
"Master Kuchiki is out at the moment…If you still wish to speak to him please wait" The servant said smiling.
"May I know your name so I can inform…"
"There will be no need…We are very well acquainted…From your childhood one may say…I shall wait for him" Nia said firmly.
The servant bowed.
"As you wish my Lady" She said showing Nia inside.
"If your Ladyship wished for anything please inform us…" The servant said bowing…Then she departed leaving Nia alone.
'So many memories…' Nia thought to herself as she made her way towards Byakuya's private room.
(At the Oonishi House)
"Lord Kuchiki…Welcome" A young servant girl bowed deeply.
"Is Lady Oonishi here?" Byakuya said abruptly.
The servant girl shook her head sadly.
"They haven't told you my Lord?"
"Told me what?" Byakuya asked coldly.
"My dear mistress is gone…" The servant girl said trying not to cry in front of Byakuya.
"Huh!" Byakuya gasped.
"Yet…Lady Nia has retuned...Her dear mother's last wish was that she should take her place as Head of the family…She has honored that wish…"
Byakuya's eyes widened in astonishment .
"Where is she?" he asked impatiently.
"I believe she told me she was going to visit an old friend…" The servant girl said.
"Did she mention the name of this friend?" Byakuya was growing more impatient by the minute.
"No my Lord…She just said that…he knows her well"
That was all Byakuya needed to hear…
"Thank you" He said stiffly and shunpoed towards his manner.
The time was near for truth…His own heart could scarsely hold out against it!