Author's Note:
Okay, here's one more chapter for you to enjoy this weekend! This is to make up for my long absence and yesterday's short chapter. :) Thank you once again, for everyone's reviews and comments! ^^

Currently listening to:
Once in a blue moon - (from the Japanese Drama, With Love*)
*I haven't watched it before but a friend sent me the song and I thought it was very beautiful and very suitable for this chapter.


Lady Kuchiki

Chapter 7: Our Inner World I


My inner world?

A wave of cherry blossom petals surged up into the air as Byakuya landed smoothly on the ground, swinging Senbonzakura upwards, before twirling to leap into the air again.

Like this Senbonzakura?

The swish of the air hissed against his ears as the sleeves of his kimono fluttered in the wind.

To lose the self and dance to that image of spring cherry blossoms petals?

He closed his eyes and in mid-air swung his sword in front of him, creating a powerful force that sent the amorphous heap of cherry blossoms petals before him swarming madly in all directions.

"That's it Byakuya... Didn't you use to love the cherry blossom weather?"

Landing on a knee on the ground, Byakuya swung his sword again, shredding the falling petals.

Yes, that was when tou-san and kaa-san were still alive. That was before they named me as the next heir.

He got up now, and turned towards the other side of the garden.

"Don't you enjoy it anymore?"

Lunging forward, Byakuya shunpo-ed to shred every single piece of petal in the air.

Enjoyment is frivolous. Laughter is frivolous. It is not fit for a Kuchiki.

...

One piece escaped and landed whole on the ground.

Senbonzakura? ...

Frustrated, Byakuya plunged his sword into the trunk of a sakura tree in front of him angrily.

It was a little after dusk but already the sky was a deep navy blue. The pale white moon was gleaming enigmatically, in such a way that made Byakuya feel unsettled. Ever since Hisana returned Senbonzakura to him, his zanpukato, somehow, had felt different in his hands. She felt more forceful, more alive, much more responsive, and not to mention, much more assertive too. He had returned to the garden by the lake to train the next day after duties at his division, a little earlier than usual. He had wondered if he would find her sitting in one of the pavilions again, if she would be gazing out in contemplation at the lake like she did the night before.

Who are you? What have you done to Senbonzakura?

A rustle from behind him made him turn back.

"Byakuya-kun, good evening."

"Hisana-san! What are you doing here?"

Hisana was standing several feet away from him, her hair tied up as usual, in her soft, silky kimono, a little pouch around a wrist, green slippers peeping from underneath the hem, and her face glowing in the moonlight.

"I thought Byakuya-kun would be here. I wanted to return this to you," she said, holding out his neatly-folded haori with both hands.

Byakuya reached out for it, and looked curiously at the bundle on top of it.

"What is this?"

Hisana bowed at him. "I want to thank Byakuya-kun for lending me his haori. So please accept this bento as a token of my appreciation."

"Ah... thank you."

Hisana straightened her back and looked up at Byakuya. "I hope I have not interrupted your training. I just thought that maybe you needed a break, that was why I came forward."

"You've been here?"

Hisana nodded.

"The whole time?"

"No. When I got here, you were already training." Hisana now looked down. Byakuya could see a light blush glowing on her face. "Byakuya-kun seems very adept at swordsmanship. You were very graceful."

Byakuya felt his heart thumping. He looked down, a little embarrassed, not knowing what to say.

"I... I should go then. I apologise once again if I have disturbed you Byakuya-kun." Hisana bowed and was about to turn away when she heard Byakuya quickly say, "Wait, don't go yet."

Surprised, Hisana looked up at Byakuya who once again averted his eyes. "I... Perhaps you would like to join me in the pavilion over there? I haven't had dinner yet."

"Of course Byakuya-kun!" Hisana smiled, her eyes sparkling up. "I am so glad I came at the right time then! I really hope that the bento would please you."

Byakuya managed a small smile at the beaming girl.

"I must warn you though," Hisana continued, giggling, "this is my first attempt!"

"Ah... I am truly honoured Hisana-san, to be the first person to try your cooking."

Hisana smiled and blushed.

They made their way towards the closest pavilion. However, Hisana tugged his hand and motioned for him to go towards a sakura tree. Byakuya couldn't help noticing how soft and cool it was against his.

"Let's just sit here Byakuya-kun! Wouldn't it be nicer to be sheltered by a sakura tree? And the grass is dry tonight too!"

Byakuya sat next to her, cross-legged. Putting his haori aside, he carefully placed the bento in front of him. He undid the knot of the blue furoshiki cloth, and lifted the lid of the black-lacquered wooden box. Inside, in the main section of the box, Hisana had arranged pink and white pieces of pickled ginger so that they represented cherry blossoms against the white rice, with lines of seaweed and black pickled vegetables as the branches, and a few peeled endamame and sesame seeds scattered around the picture. In smaller sections above, a cube of hiyayakko; a variety of kamaboko; and some pickled seaweed.

"I am sorry, Byakuya-kun, it really is not a lot. But that is all I could find in the kitchenette in our ward. I suppose Aino-san does not keep a lot of food there because most people in the ward do not eat. They stopped getting hungry after coming to Soul Society."

"Don't worry, I was just about to say that you did a very good job." Byakuya said giving Hisana a small smile. It was true, this was barely enough for him for dinner. But at that moment, Byakuya was not thinking about how hungry he was. He felt very touched, a warm sensation, long forgotten, coming back to his heart as he admired the picture that Hisana had meticulously created, the care she had taken in every single detail - the way the pieces of ginger folded, the way the kamaboko was neatly sliced into identical pieces. He could not remember the last time someone had made him a bento, or at least one that showed so much care, so much thought, one that was made so personally for him.

Hisana smiled back gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and then folding her hands neatly on her lap.

"This... this is really the first time in a while since someone has made a bento for me."

Hisana said nothing, a small smile still on her face as she cast down her eyes.

"Hisana-san, do you like sakura trees a lot?" Byakuya asked as he picked up the pair of chopsticks that was tied to the lid of the bento.

"Well, yes, I do." Hisana replied softly. "They remind me of my home and my family."

"Did you have sakura trees in your garden?"

"Oh yes! A lot to! My mother really liked them. In fact," Hisana said slowly, as she tried to recall last spring, when her family had their last picnic together, "in fact, the day I passed away from the human world, it was the season for hanami. We were picnicking under a large sakura tree, father, mother, Rukia, my baby sister, and I." Hisana sighed and leaned against the trunk of the tree. "It was exceptionally beautiful that day, ironically." Hisana added with a small chuckle.

"You must miss them a lot... now that you are away from them."

"Yes... I really miss them. I really really miss them." Hisana whispered. "I don't know where Mother and Father are now. I am not sure if they had died. But Rukia, Rukia is here too, in Soul Society. She is in another ward."

"What happened that day? Why were you and Rukia injured?" Byakuya glanced at Hisana, feeling for the young girl's plight.

"The day I died... I am not sure myself what had happened. The peasants were suddenly revolting against Father. It really made no sense because they had always respected Father. Father told us to run away, to the other side of the estate. But before we could get there, we were surrounded... Someone took Rukia away.... and I tried to save her.... but the two of us ended up dying together... "

"Hisana-san..."

"I was with Rukia when I woke up. The world was different then. It was snowing, and the estate was deserted. I tried to get back to the mansion but I got lost." Hisana had a faraway look in her eyes as she gazed out at the lake, a giant puddle of black ink. "We were lost, and I wandered into a haunted hut, and got Rukia hurt again."

Hisana now turned towards Byakuya, her eyes pained as his captured hers. "We were attacked by my departed aunt's hollow."

"Your aunt's hollow?"

Hisana nodded. "She was driven to commit suicide by my uncle, the same uncle who had betrayed my father."

Byakuya tightened his clutch on the bento. "When was this? Just a few days ago?"

"Yes..."

This had happened during the 13th division's expedition? Where was I then? She surely was not saved by my team.

Hisana looked at him puzzled. Why did he tighten his face and looked so stony now? Oh God, I must be boring him! Really, who would want to know how you died! She scolded herself.

"Oh Byakuya-kun, I am so sorry. We really shouldn't be talking about my death!" Hisana laughed softly. " 'My death...' that really does sound strange, doesn't it?"

"Anyway," Hisana continued quickly, "if you were asking me if I liked sakura trees to know the reason why I made you a sakura tree bento, the real reason is because we always meet under sakura trees. It just reminded me of you, that's all!" Hisana said cheerfully.

Byakuya raised an eyebrow at Hisana, amazed by how quickly she could change her mood, and the mood of their conversation. Hisana simply sat there like a doll, smiling back widely at him, her large round violet eyes softening every hardness in his heart.

"Hisana-san, please don't be sorry about bringing up your past. I wanted to know too. I am sorry, as a shinigami, I wasn't there to protect you. But I am grateful too, that you were saved."

He saw her relax a little, her smile softened.

"I asked if you liked sakura trees because... because I really like them too." Byakuya paused for a while, before continuing, "They too, remind me of a happy past with my family." He said slowly, revealing for the first time feelings that he had buried deep inside, cautious and scared still to bring out a raw wound.

"Byakuya-kun... "

Byakuya lowered his eyes, afraid to meet Hisana's. He slowly continued eating the bento as the two of them sat in silence.

Byakuya-kun... Hisana examined Byakuya, looking at him tenderly. His shoulder length hair was tied up in a ponytail today. And as usual, he was wearing his shinigami robes. Are you alone and sad too, like me? Are you without family too? Hisana felt her heart swell with every possible tender emotion for the young man before her. She really liked examining his smooth, pale face, his regal features, his lean but strong body, and his hands, those lean but firm looking fingers. Her heart swelled, because she knew he was a good person, and she was happy that he proved to be a good person. Her heart swelled, because she could see no flaw in this kind, well-mannered, hardworking boy. She wanted to protect him too, even though she was not a shinigami. She wanted to be there for him, to be able to sit with him beneath the sakura tree, just like it was now, to watch the moon, the stars, the lake with him. She wanted him to meet Rukia, she wanted him to be a brother to Rukia too, like she is a sister to Rukia. She wanted to share everything she held precious with him, because, because, everything felt so right, so peaceful, just being with him. Like this. Like now. Hisana closed her eyes, revelling in the moment, her head against the trunk and a small smile on her face.

Byakuya, having finished eating now, put down the bento, and folded it back up with the furoshiki cloth. He turned to look at Hisana, who looked like she was slumbering serenely next to him. She really was very beautiful. Byakuya took his haori. When he was leaning towards her to put it over her body, her eyes fluttered open and he found his face inches away from hers.

"Byakuya-kun... ?" She said softly. He could see the soft little hair on her cheeks, the pink on the tip of her nose... and as his eyes moved up to meet hers, they were drowned in those large violet pools that took his breath away.

"You... You must be tired... " He managed to whisper, frozen in his spot. She didn't move away, nor did she push him away. A gentle breeze blew around them. Her hair brushed against the side of his cheeks.

"No... " Hisana managed, shaking her head a little while her eyes, opened wide, kept locked with his.

They remained like this, for what felt like an eternity, captivated, drowned in the depths of each other's worlds.

"Byakuya-kun... " Hisana began. Byakuya felt his breath stuck in his throat. "I... I really enjoy being with you. I mean, just like this." Hisana whispered. "I... Are we friends?"

"Of course we are!" Byakuya breathed, losing all his cool as his heart thumped wildly in his chest and his face heating up so much that it must be radiating heat.

Hisana smiled, biting her lip, and finally tore her eyes away to look down, blushing a little. Byakuya too quickly sat back and looked away, fervently trying to regain his cool posture.

"You know, Hisana-san, you should probably go back! Won't Aino-san be angry with you for sneaking out again tonight?" Still a little unsettled from having been so close to her.

"Oh! Haha! She won't catch me tonight!" Hisana said triumphantly. "I put pillows on my bed and covered them with my blanket so she would think it's me sleeping!"

Byakuya felt his mouth drop uncharacteristically as a drop of sweat slid down behind his head. "That's baka! Of course she won't fall for it!"

Byakuya coughed and quickly sat up straight. "Hisana-san, shinigamis can sense reiatsu, spirit force that souls emit. You, although do not have a strong reiatsu, do possess a weak one that people can track you down by."

"Oh really?" Hisana asked, looking disappointed. Before long though, her brows knitted up with worry as her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh no! Then I really really should go back!" Hisana quickly got up. "Good night Byakuya-kun!" She bowed quickly, turned and began running towards the woods.

Byakuya got up too and looked wide-eyed after Hisana, amazed at how quickly the girl had fled. A stripe of pink falling towards the ground caught his eyes. He walked forward and picked it up. It was Hisana's ribbon. Byakuya gazed at it and stroked it with a finger. Smiling, he then put it in his pocket.

---

Aino Matsu shook her head when she saw the pillows beneath Hisana's blanket. She smiled, slightly amused and slightly annoyed. Hisana-san sure is one headstrong girl. She thought. She walked towards the window and looked outside. It was beautiful tonight. Just like it had been the past few nights. Well, if that girl really has snuck out to see Kuchiki Byakuya, she can't be in much danger. I guess I can just cut her some slack.

Aino closed the curtains in the room and moved towards the door, pausing to pick up her lantern and then closed the door behind her. She made her way down the dark hallway and towards her office. Tired, she sat down at her desk and began looking through the reports delivered to the ward at dusk. "Date Udo," it said, " -- Rukongai North, 20th district. Ito Hana -- Rukongai West 78th district." Aino frowned. Poor girl. How do people at the Soul Immigration Centre assign homes? How can a frail little girl survive in the 78th district? "Kimura Aki -- Rukongai West 30th district. xxx Hisana & xxx Rukia -- Rukongai North -- 12th district." That lucky girl! Aino smiled, happy for Hisana and her little sister. No doubt, she thought, Kaien probably is behind this. He probably made sure that they will be sent to the nicer districts. He is really such a kind-hearted man. Such an exceptional one among the shinigamis.

Aino flipped through the pages and looked at the detailed report for Hisana and Rukia. So, they will be staying with the Hayashis of the Hayashi Pastry Shop.

Aino nodded approvingly.

It would be hard saying goodbye to all these children three days later. They really were quite a merry batch.

---