Twenty Truths About Kuchiki Byakuya

7. Every year, on her birthday, Rukia would discover an exquisite silk kimono wrapped in satin on her bed.

The first time, it had been a small shock. The pale blue kimono was embellished with a black dragon that twisted from the hem to the dark gold obi, where the pattern of snowy white clouds with silvery linings began. She had swept her hand across the fabric- it was obviously the best money could buy. As she had lifted it up to eye level, a single note had fallen out. In neat, plain hanwriting, were the words Happy Birthday.

It had continued every year since.

One time it had been a dark green kimono with a design of bamboo, another time it had been a deep scarlet with white carnations and a light pink obi. Each time she was pleasantly suprised by their beauty. Each time the same note was attached. It was obviously Byakuya's doing, and each time she was grateful.

Byakuya was always careful to never show any emotion to Rukia, but he would always feel a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth whenever Rukia pranced out of her room on her birthday, her face glowing. She would always bow to him and say thanks, but it was always done timidly.

But the year that Aizen had turned traitor, they had grown closer. On January 14th, she found another kimono on her bed.

It was the loveliest she had ever seen. Pure white, with thousands of tiny pink cherry blossoms expertly woven in; it seemed to give off its own light. The obi was a magnificent shade of burgundy with silver strings entertwined into a pattern of sakura.

There was no note this time. She was afraid to touch it; it couldn't be real.

"Happy Birthday, Rukia," Byakuya said from her doorway. She spun around quickly.

"Nii-sama..."

"It was Hisana's," he went on. "I'm sure she would have wanted you to have it."

She took an uncertain step towards him, before crashing into him with a hug.

"Thank you, Nii-sama," she whispered. He knew she was crying, and hugged her back.

A/N: If you don't know, an obi is the sash thingy on a kimono. So, anyway, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Ishasuki Mitochi, who asked for a chapter with Rukia in it. Hope you liked it! (Even if it was a bit short)