Chapter Nine

Kohana couldn't believe what she was about to tell her boyfriend, Byakuya Kuchiki, about her past and about Tao.

Just seconds ago, he said he loved her but she wondered how long that love would last when he found out about her past.

Kohana took a deep breath and sighed, "It all started when I became apart of the Hyoujin family". She paused trying to see what his reaction would be but he just sat there, his face expressionless.

She exhaled again and said, "Well, when you join the Hyoujin family, you become their property and you have no say in anything. If you refuse to do what they want, they either make you do what they want or kill you. Well, they forgot that little tid bit when I joined the clan."

"Why did you join their clan? Surely—", he started to ask.

"I joined because Tao, the successor to the clan, saved me", she answered him.

"What do you mean 'saved me'?" he asked after a moment.

"I wish you hadn't asked me that", she sighed.

"Kohana . . ." he said impatiently.

"Okay, okay", she said holding up her hands defensively. "Well, it was late and he took me to the side of town where he lived. When I got to his house, he told me he wanted to show me the place where I was going to be living. I didn't believe him then but he knew I would join his stupid family", she rambled on.

"Is there a point to this?" he asked irritably.

"Yes, there is, if you would kindly wait, I'll tell you", she hmphed at him.

When she saw that he had nothing to add she continued, "As I was saying, I didn't believe him and had no intention of joining his stupid family, so I ran. But the thing is, I was in another part of that I had never been to before and I had no way of knowing how to get back to my part of town. I ran and ran until someone stopped me and no, it wasn't Tao, it was some random guy with a sword and only one thing on his mind . . ." she trailed off and looked at the ground.

She then felt him shift and wrap his arm around her shoulder, cradling her in his arms and rocking her gently.

"I'm so sorry", he whispered in her ear while rubbing her leg with his other arm.

"I know", she patted his hand. "But no worries, I was saved. Tao killed the man and took me home, but to his house, not mine. I still had a chance to say no, even during the adoption ceremony, I still could have said no, but I didn't".

"Well, why didn't you?" he asked.

"I don't know", she stood and began pacing the room. "I just . . . I just thought that maybe this would be my only chance to have a family, even the Hyoujin, but still . . . a real family", she stopped and looked at him.

"Any family would have been better than theirs", he said after a moment.

"Well excuse me. I'm sorry, but not everyone has the luxury of being born into or adopted into the Kuchiki family", she hmphed placing her hands on her hips.

"Okay, you're right", he said standing and walking up beside her. "But still, couldn't you have chose a different family—"

"I didn't choose them, they chose me!" she snapped at him. "Of course I would have chosen a different family, but who would have wanted me? I was a nobody with no kind of promise or future. The Hyoujins were probably the best I was ever going to get".

"I'm sure that wasn't true", he said.

"How would you know?" tears began to fill her eyes. "You were born into the Kuchiki clan while I was left for dead on the streets of Rukongai. If it hadn't been for Tao, I still would have been lying there, waiting to die or be killed", she turned from him and started to cry.

This was why she hadn't wanted to tell him about her past. She knew he would never understand the pain that she went through and why she even joined the Hyoujin clan in the first place.

As she stood there and cried, she heard footsteps come up from behind her and felt two strong arms wrap around her shoulders, pulling her into his warm embrace.

"I'm sorry", he said. "I didn't mean to make you cry. Nor did I mean to be so insensitive and not understanding".

"I know you didn't, but this is why I didn't, couldn't tell you about my past. It was just too painful to relive through" she cried into his arms.

"I'm sorry", he said again. "But at least it's all over. You no longer have to be in that horrible family".

"Actually", she pulled away from him and turned to face him. "That's not quite true".

"What isn't?" he looked down at her curiously.

"I'm still apart of their family", she looked down at the floor jabbing her index fingers together, back and forth.

"What do you mean? I don't understand", she felt him pull away from her, as if she were the plague or death himself.

She knew this would happen. She knew he would freak out and hate her but she couldn't stop now. He asked and she was going to answer. She just hoped that he would still be there for her. If he truly loved her, he would stay, but maybe this wouldn't be the case.

"Look Byakuya", she looked up walking toward him. "It's not what you—"

"B-but you can't be still in there family. Once the members of the family die, the clan becomes dead. And since you aren't an original member of their family, that doesn't make you a Hyoujin. Unless . . ." he finally stopped and looked at her.

"Byakuya, I wanted to tell you sooner but I knew you would go with me if you knew . . ."

"If I knew what?"

"Byakuya", she grabbed his hands in hers and looked deep into his navy blue eyes. (absolute anime says his eyes are black but a few times in the anime, his eyes have been known to be a shade of dark blue or violet blue, whichever, but in my fanfic, his eyes will be navy blue. Got a problem, get over it) "Tao and I were . . . or still are engaged. So technically, I am a member and soul survivor of the Hyoujin clan".

Byakuya snatched his hands out of hers and walked away from her, pacing across the floor.

"So this was all a joke to you, huh?" he said angrily.

"Byakuya, what are you taking about?" she said as the tears she held back began rolling down her cheeks.

"What am I talking about?" he raised his voice. "I'm taking about the fact that you are engaged and how I was just some toy for you to play with before you got married."

"Byakuya, it's not like that. I swear", she cried.

"Tell me, is it or is it not true that you are engaged?" he looked at her.

"Well . . . yes and no", she stared back at him through watery eyes.

"Don't give me that bullshit! Are you or aren't you engaged?"

"I thought I wasn't but it turns out that I still am", she tried to reason with her might soon to be ex-boyfriend.

"What happen, he leave you alone for too long and you got bored and decided to date in his absence?" he sneered at her.

"Now just wait a minute", she stomped her foot down hoping to hit his in the process. "You have no right, no matter how damn high and mighty and rich you are, to imply that I am a whore. You asked and I answered. Don't like my answer, then you can just get the hell out!" she shouted.

"Fine! I'm sorry I ever met you and I hope you and your fiancé rot in hell!" he said as he slammed the door on his way out.

"Well, at least one of us will", she mumbled to no one in particular.


Byakuya couldn't believe what he had just heard. Kohana was engaged and worst of all, to a member of the Hyoujin clan. And what made matters worse of all, he told her he loved her and she had the nerve to say it back.

Byakuya knew it was his own damn fault that he had actually believed she loved him as much as he had loved her.

All this time, she was just toying with him, using him for her own selfish gain. She was that lonely without her fiancé that she just had to find someone to tie over her time while he was away.

Byakuya felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't believe how foolish and stupid he was.

He had made her seem like this angel that was supposed to heal the wounds of his broken heart but she was really some kind of she devil that had wounded him greater than Hisana or anyone else could possibly hurt him.

Byakuya was through with love and hoped he never meet another woman in his life. He especially hoped he wouldn't be as foolish to fall in love with one.

When Byakuya reached the Kuchiki residence, he ran straight to his room. Not bothering to talk to his servants, address his parents and relatives. Why he didn't even care that Ichigo was sitting in his living room sipping tea and all hugged up with Rukia.

Well, he did care a little but he chose not to ruin her love life for once. He decided at least one person in his family should be loved, so, he just went to his room and cried like never in his entire life. Cried for the woman that he still somehow loved but could never have even if she did really love him back.


Sorry so short but this is where I leave you. For now anyway. Please review and tell me how you feel. Bye