Chapter 7

Hisana was confused. There she was standing in the middle of the Thirteenth Division barracks, not knowing where to go. The moon shined, lighting up the place very well. For her, it was like a magical world with bunches of grass glittering the reflection of the white light. She was in front of a stretched opening. The shoji doors were pale, also shining with the moon's light, and the wood seemed to be painted chocolate brown every day, for how perfect each and every inch of coloring was. She placed a foot on the verandah of the long room and called out the name Yoruichi had told her to give the papers to, in a low voice at first and then a little louder.

"Who is it?" asked a voice, whom she could only describe as manly at the moment. When he opened the door, all sense of where she was and what she had come to the Thirteenth Division for where lost. The man in front of her appeared to be very young, and in the World of the Living he'd probably pass as a twenty year old. He had beautiful dark hair that seemed to be streaked with plum purple. His eyes were a beautiful teal color and she wished nothing more but to paint a picture of him. "Who are you?"

"Huh?" she asked, perking up. This was still a noble, she told herself, and she was still a Rukongai citizen. "M-My na-name is Murasaki Hi-Hisana. A-Are you-"

"Name's Shiba Kaien," he said cupping his chin with his left hand. "Nice to meet you! Now, how can I help you?"

What did I come here for again? She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound escaped. Her vision began blurring again and now the Kaiens called out her last name. It echoed in her ears and she let out a groan as she was plunged into a dark world. The dark world was cold and scary as ever. Hisana awoke in the middle of it, dressed in the yukata she had worn before days before. She could hear a baby crying, and she knew far too well whose cry it was. This wasn't the first time she had been there. For the past few decades, the darkness of my heart have never left me, nor will it. There was another sharp cry, followed by her voice trying to hush it to stay silent.

It was the cry of the baby who she had abandoned for no proper reason. "Rukia," she breathed as the darkness shifted and she watched a younger version of herself, slightly shorter place the baby on top of a few broken pieces of wood. The baby's face was streamed with tears and the blanket covering her moved up and down under her powerful kicks. She had violet eyes, much like Hisana and a few strands of pitch black hair stuck out on her scalp. A tiny hand popped out of the blanket and extended trying to reach the younger version of Hisana's clothing. She managed to get a tight grasp and Hisana watched herself roughly squeeze her younger sister's baby hand. Another terrifying yell that echoed in her ears was let out of the young baby and the younger Hisana jumped back. Their eyes connected and the sobs quieted down, but the tears continued to slither down the chubby cheeks of the young soul.

"'Ana," she whispered and extended her hands farther.

"Rukia," the younger version of her mouthed before turning around and striding away. She knew exactly what her thoughts were at that time. Some one will find her and give her a better life, I'm not old enough to take care of her, and the one that she was ashamed of the most; She'll find a way; I have to live.

The cries were louder and Hisana shut her ears with her hands. "Stop!" she commanded as she had when she was with her sister, but the screams of agony and hunger continued. "Why won't you stop?" she whined and she knew why they wouldn't. It was because it was her fault that her sister was crying like that. If she would've tried harder. If she wouldn't have been weak and pathetic and easily annoyed. If she would've had patience, then maybe her little sister would be by her side. Poor and starving, maybe, but happy. As a family.

The scene around her shifted and standing in front of her was a girl, who seemed to be an exact mirror of her, except her eyes were no longer innocent like they were. Her violet hues seemed to have disappeared, being replaced by dark and devastating ones. Her lips were pressed in a frown and she was wearing a shinigami garb. In one of her hands was a stained sword, and in the other was a limp man. Hisana's eyes narrowed, trying to recognize the man, but looked back at the older version of her sister when she yelled out chocked sobs. The rain pelted harder against her and the man, but she didn't stop.

"I'm sorry," she called out to no one, her eyes shut tightly. Hisana felt a lump form in her throat and she took a step forward. She stopped after what seemed like hours to Hisana, but in her dream reality were minutes. "I'm sorry," the soul mumbled again before continuing to walk. Hisana tried to place her hand on her sister's shoulder, but it went straight through her, like she was a ghost. She looked over her shoulder, and now she recognized who the female was dragging. It was Shiba Kaien.

"Rukia," she called out, but she was plunged into darkness once again. When she opened her eyes again, Kaien's face was her first sight. He was looking at her with a peculiar look, and she wasn't sure if he was concerned about her, or just curious. She slowly stood up, and quickly noted how he didn't try helping her. Perhaps out of respect, she thought. Her head hurt slightly and she shut her eyes as she rested her forehead against the wall she had been lying next to. "Where am I?" she croaked, even though she knew the answers. I had to find a way to start a conversation.

"My division," he stated proudly, pointing his thumb finger to himself, "and I'd like to thank you for dropping off those papers. Shihoin was supposed to do that three or four days ago. So Murasaki, are you hungry?" She blushed and stood up quickly, trying to ignore the surprised look Kaien gave her. Her dream replayed in her mind and she bit her lip. What a weird second part to my dream. But does it mean something? In the future will Rukia become a shinigami, and will she kill this man? "Murasaki you're acting very rude," he said with a hint of playfulness. Standing up, he placed his hand on her hair and now her cheeks were on fire. He leaned down slightly so that their eyes were at the same length and repeated, "Are you hungry?"

Her heart pounded against her chest, but before she could answer, her stomach growled. His response caused something in her stomach to twist. A wide smile, showing off a row of white straight teeth. Yoruichi had described his smile as annoying, but Hisana found his smile majestic. "I-I guess I-I am," she mumbled and he backed away, still grinning.

"Great! I haven't ate yet so take a seat in that table over there. "My wife will come in a bit with delicious food for all three of us!"

"Your wife?" repeated Hisana in a low voice as he strided away, leaving th shoji door that he had exited through open. A slight breeze rustled the tree leaves and Hisana felt horrible. Part of it was because of her dream, but a large portion of it was for forgetting that Kaien was married and that he was a noble. Earlier, she had said that she'd never fall in love with a noble, but just with one look from Kaien and a small gesture, she had felt attraction towards him. Maybe it's because he treats me normally. Not like a servant or someone from Rukongai, but as a regular every day soul.

So she sat there, behind the short, four-legged table. It wasn't long before Kaien entered, his arm around a woman who was shorter than him but slightly taller than her. Both of them fashioned bright smiles and the woman was holding a bento box in one of her hand while the other was around her husband's waist affectionately. Hisana stood up as they entered and bowed down.

"My name is Murasaki Hisana, Shiba-Sama," she said respectfully and there was a short silence which was interrupted by a merry chuckle. Hisana looked up to see the woman and now confusion swept over her. She had soft gray eyes and a warm smile, along with hair darker than her husbands that was swept into a bun, tufts of hair hanging by both sides of her face.

"Please," began the woman, merrily, "call me Miyako."

"Yes, Miyako-Sama," she responded and watched as Kaien took the bento box from his wife's hand and intertwining his on hers. They all sat down, Hisana facing Kaien, with Miyako on her right side. "Thank you for feeding me," she said as Miyako unstacked the layers, turning it into tree thin boxes.

"Don't mention it!" said Kaien as he grabbed an ohagi, which seemed to make up most of the bento slots. "Now eat!" Miyako nodded and began taking strips of the grilled fish she had packed. Hisana stared at the food, her mouth watering, but before she could reach to grab a piece, she remembered where her position was.

"Sorry," she interrupted the nobles in the middle of their chewing, "but I forgot to say that I'm not a shinigami or any noble. I'm a servant from Rukongai. My status is of too low to be eating with you two."

Before she could get up, Miyako placed a hand on her knee and there was a flash of anger. "You will sit," the soul demanded, and Hisana did as she was told, fearing what would happen if she wouldn't. She was about to say something, but Miyako continued, "Kaien and I do not care about your rank, Murasaki. He and his siblings grew up in the mountain area of Rukongai, even though they were nobles. I myself enjoyed spending time in Rukongai, so what is so wrong about being from there?"

Hisana was too shocked to utter a word, so Kaien finished off what Miyako had started, "To us, everyone is of equal ranks. So sit down and eat with us. Don't be shy and eat till you're filled." There was pregnant pause and Kaien sighed. "Listen, I knew you were a servant from the Shihoin clan. You're wearing a happi with their crest, so if I was really like that I would've kicked you out a long time ago."

Miyako handed her a piece of fish as Kaien finished his sentence, and Hisana took it, before biting into the juicy meet. They ate in silence, with just a few questions from Kaien to his wife, which she answered each one brightly. She did the same, which he answered turning each answer to a joke. Hisana found herself chuckling at some of them. She had stopped eating after a few bites, and they didn't ask her why. Miyako only gave her a small smile, that seemed to tell Hisana that she could eat more if she wanted to.

"Who is Rukia?" asked Kaien and Hisana's eyes widened as she stood up abruptly. Her eyes locked on his teal ones, and both of the nobles glanced at each other.

"H-How do you know that name?" she inquired, her hands clenching by her side. "I asked how do you know that name!" she growled, and Miyako blinked a few times.

The innocent picture of the oblivious and sweet girl sitting next to her had disappeared, and was now replaced with a soul that looked vicious, ready to attack at any moment. "Calm down, Murasa-"

"How do you know that name?" she yelled, her nails digging into the palm of her hand. Many thoughts crossed her mind. The main one was that perhaps Kaien already knew Rukia and maybe she was already in the Gotei Thirteen. "Is she here? Where is she?" Kaien stood up and walked towards her, but Hisana stepped away. "Tell me!" she spat, and before she knew it, he had his hand on her shoulder. Under his touch, she trembled with fear and rage. She's alive? Please, Rukia, you have to be here.

"You said the name in your dream a few times, so I was just wondering," he responded calmly, and all hope she had been gathering was crushed with just a couple of words. "Calm down. I don't know where she is."

"Y-you don't?" she whispered and from behind Kaien, Miyako's eyes softened. He nodded and stupidity didn't describe how miserable Hisana felt at the moment. "I said her name in my dream?" He nodded once again and tears began stinging her eyes. She placed her hand on top of his and slowly pushed it of. She slumped to the ground and placed her forehead against the wood, trying her best to do a proper bow. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for raising my voice on you two. I was being ungrateful," she choked out. After they fed me and taught me like just another normal soul, I yelled at them. Heartless, Kuchiki Byakuya's voice rang through her mind as she repeated 'I'm sorry'.


Kuchiki Byakuya stared at the bento box in front of him, his chin resting on his folded arms which were on top of his desk. It had been delivered by a Shihoin servant, but he wondered if Yoruichi would have the audacity of sending him poisoned food. His fingertips tapped on the cotton, light orange cloth that the bento box had been wrapped in. The food had been delivered early in the morning, but his servants hadn't told him till know at dinner time for he had been busy all day.

He had woken up extra early to practice his swordsmanship followed by kido practice. Then he had gone to his division with his grandfather, lying that he had eaten a hearty breakfast when instead it had only been a small proportion of an old onigiri ball he had kept in one of his cabinets. He had finished division work after the sunset and immediately went straight home. Once he had entered his room, the servants had informed him of the food.

Byakuya's reaction was something that Yorucihi would've only have dreamt to see. His eyes had widened and his mouth had hung agape as the maids handed him the wrapped bento box. The female holding it had extended her hand, her head bowed but Byakuya had refused to grab it. Finally, he snatched it from her and took it inside, but not before asking if the servant who had dropped it off had stated who had cooked the food.

"So that's why she asked me if I had eaten well," mumbled Byakuya to himself as he tilted his head to the side, looking out the open shoji door. "Probably has three to four different types of poisonings and it's probably burnt. He huffed before straightening up and opening the box, which his servants had said they had rewarmed. A delicious aroma rose to the air and he tilted his head to the side, wondering if he should try it or not. He shrugged after a while. What was the worst that could happen to him?


(A/N Chapter is out earl today cause I got a load of homework and I'll probably spend all of Saturday doing it. For those following Bulletproof, there may not be an update. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

HarunaOno, Karin Hitsugaya, and Taichichaser2000:- Delighted you guys liked the last chapter! Kuchiki Fucotaic and Panda-Angel-Wings:- Heh. I scared both of you! Careful, I might be scaring you both from here on out ;) Hisana Kuchiki:- I based Yoruichi's reaction on ironing clothes on mine. I like them hanged instead of neatly folded and ironed. Have three online classes and I spend three hours on each one. That's nine hours! My hand is breaking from taking notes! This year is more interesting though! H. Geometry is so easy... Hitsugaya Taicho:- You laughed? While two of my reviewers got scared, you laughed?! You must be a sadist. Careful, your bro might hurt you really badly! xOx ShinjiHirako XoX:- I was delighted when I received your review. Not everyone likes chapters that take a break from the plot.

Hopefully, till next Saturday. Now off to start on Language homework.)