A/N: ..actually, I don't have many things to say. I hope you enjoy this chapter, though! I did while writing!

The day after Byakuya's departure to the material world, Rukia found herself standing in front of the construction where Hisana was. She felt quite uncomfortable, walking in on somebody she barely knew, but she had promised her brother to visit his wife every day. Rukia knew that it meant a lot to him.

So she opened the door and made her way in. Walking towards the door with the name 'Kuchiki Hisana' written on it, she took a deep breath. This would be the first time she'd be in this place without her brother. What would she do? Byakuya would be with Hisana sometimes for two hours, or longer. The thing Rukia noticed the day before, was that he just talked to the woman in coma, as if she was listening.

But she couldn't hear him, could she? Rukia didn't know for sure. She had never known someone who'd she be talking to, without even expecting to hear a reply.

Opening this door too, Rukia walked in and saw Unohana bent over Hisana. The moment the captain heard the door, she glanced over her shoulder and she smiled upon seeing Rukia.

"Hello, Rukia-san! If you could wait for another few minutes, please, I'd like to finish giving her medication and food."

Rukia nodded, and waited patiently for Unohana to finish. In the meantime, she pulled out a stool and sat down.

"I'll be outside, if there's anything you need to ask," Unohana said kindly, when she had finished attaching the drips to Hisana's arm.

Rukia nodded and saw Unohana leaving the room, closing the door behind her back.

Then she turned herself to her sister. It was still a lot of getting used to: suddenly, she had a sister. A real relative. Nausea washed over Rukia as she finally realized that she in fact had been adopted because of this sister.

Rukia sat down to observe Hisana. Actually, she thought, they didn't look that much alike. Rukia looked much younger, her hair was shorter and Hisana her hair was more fluffy. That could be due to the lack of daily care, of course.

However, Hisana was daily taken care of. Once every two days, Isane would wash her, and she would made sure nothing physically would abuse the state she was in. Knots in the hair would be combed out and the bed would be cleaned every week.

Rukia clasped her hands together. This was hard. So how long exactly would she be there? Rukia guessed that Unohana had left the room for about seven minutes ago. If she would be here for another seven, she could get out, be alone. Because for some reason, Rukia didn't feel alone, while she thought she was.

Minutes passed slowly, and when Rukia thought that she had suffered enough, she stood up. Before leaving the room, she put the stool away and said softly, "Nice meeting you, I guess."

However, when she stepped out of the room, Unohana stood right in front of her.

"Won't you? Won't you talk to her? She is waiting for the voice of someone who needs her to call out."

Rukia frowned. "What do you mean?"

Unohana smiled, as if understanding. She took the handle of the door and pushed Rukia back in and followed. Putting Rukia back on a stool, Unohana herself sat down at the foot of Hisana's bed.

"The bug that had contaminated Hisana has left a very long time ago. Actually, her body is healthy again. But somehow, she got used to being in a coma and now… she's waiting to wake up. Everyone is waiting for her to wake up. But you know, Rukia-san… Hisana is waiting for something that needs her to wake up. Something that surprised her on such level that she can't stay like this."

Rukia understood immediately. "Do you think… I am enough of a shock to her?"

"Kuchiki-captain knew that she needed something to wake her. He just didn't know what to do. He brought things she liked; pictures, stuffed animals, anything that might remember her that people needed her. He never wanted to use you."

"Why not?"

Unohana stared Rukia right into her eyes. Rukia felt the piercing glare, even though it was meant to be comfortable.

"He didn't want you to feel used. He loves you as his sister. And, also, he wanted Hisana to tell you about herself. Not him."

Rukia nodded slowly. She closed her eyes and let a tear caress her cheek. Soon after, a finger wiped it away and the hand squeezed her shoulder. Rukia looked up, to stare into those big and friendly eyes of the fourth division's Captain.

"I'll be waiting for you."

With this, she left the room, and she left Rukia behind.

Encouraged by Unohana's speech, Rukia was also a bit frightened. What if Hisana would wake up without Byakuya being around?

Rukia thought of things she could start to talk about. Her youth in Rukongai? Her adoption? Otaku? The thirteenth division? Eventually, Rukia desided to go through it all, starting with introducing herself.

"So…" she started. Would she take Hisana's hand into hers?

"I'm Rukia… as you probably know…"

She felt awfully awkward.

"I… am adopted by Byakuya nii-sama… quite some years ago… and I met Samoshi-san and Otaku-kun. They're crazy about you, aren't they?"

Things were getting more comfortable already.

"I've been thinking, you know. Ever since I know that you're my sister. I asked myself all the time if I should forgive you for leaving me behind. But… I don't see a reason not to. Well, of course there are reasons not to, but still…"

At this moment, Rukia didn't feel out of place anymore. She relaxed and didn't mind talking to someone who wouldn't reply anymore. And she even understood how her brother was able to do this. It felt like Hisana was really listening.

It was an experience you had to go through yourself before you could give an honest judgment.

"I mean," Rukia continued, "some people in Inuzuri would rather kill a child than abandon it. And you kept looking for me, right? You went so far that you even got me adopted into a real family!"

Without any hesitation, Rukia continued to talk. To somebody, she felt, that she could fully trust and to somebody who would listen.

--

Samoshi was sitting on the veranda, reading her book. She found it rather interesting; it was about a noble woman who went undercover to the slumps of her city to see what she could do to help the poor. Samoshi liked to see herself into this book. But not as the noble woman; as one of the poor. And Hisana had been the noble one. With her presence, Samoshi had felt a warm friendship like never before. As if Hisana had given Samoshi all the possibilities to be rich with emotions.

But right in the middle of a sentence, the book was snapped shut and taken out of her hands.

"Hey!" she protested.

"Better listen to me, first."

Otaku was standing in front of her. Instead of his regular grin, he wore a frown.

Samoshi noticed this quite fast and she sat up straight, taking the book back and placing a book-marker on the right page. Facing her brother, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Otaku sat down on the floor, Indian style. "I really need to talk to you about Rukia-san."

Samoshi snorted. "Unless you have found a way to get rid of her, I won't be interested."

This sentence seemed to anger Otaku. "Samoshi, what is the deal between you and Rukia-san? It is not in your nature to be so harsh and awful. Why do you act like that to her? It's been over a twenty years, for heaven's sake!"

Samoshi averted her gaze. "It's for my own sake. Done? I'd like to continue reading."

"What do you gain from acting like this?"

Samoshi held her breath for a while. Tears came up in her eyes as she started to sob. "Nothing, okay? Nothing! Not even some kind of satisfaction! Do you think I enjoy being like this?"

"According to the way you continue acting? Yes, I do think you enjoy this!" Otaku had raised his voice.

But by doing so, Samoshi started to cry. "I hate myself, Otaku-nii! I really do! I can't help it! I have no one to go to, I have nowhere to run! Why did she leave me like this? Why did she betray us?"

Otaku didn't reply immediately. Instead, he lost a bit of the color on his face. "Betray us? You know Hisana wouldn't do anything like that."

He walked over to Samoshi and embraced her. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. But you know that I'm only worrying."

Samoshi nodded. She put her arms around her brothers torso and she allowed herself to cry.

--

"And then we talked about you."

Rukia was now talking as if nothing was in between her and her conversations partner. The coma didn't bother her to speak anymore and anything went all right.

But time passed by amazingly fast now, and Rukia desided to head home. She stood up.

Unsure of what to do now, Rukia bent down and managed to give Hisana a quick and shy hug. "Thank you," she whispered in Hisana's ear.

She glanced back before Rukia moved to the door. But just when she had turned her gaze away, she thought that she saw a mere movement of Hisana's hand. But that couldn't be.

Just to be sure, Rukia walked back slowly, taking up every single inch of Hisana. Nothing was moving.

No, wait.

Her hand wasn't in the position Rukia had left it. Also, looking over her face, Rukia noticed a twitch of Hisana's eyes.

The calm feeling inside of Rukia turned in no time to panic. Hadn't her brother told her that Hisana hadn't moved ever since the day she had gotten into the coma?

"Hi..sana-nee?"

Dark brown orbs shot open. Due to not having seen light in twenty years, the eyes were shut as fast as they were open. Her lips parted, trying to say anything. But, caused to the lack of use, only a very hoarse sound came out. Trying to sit up, Hisana opened her eyes, until the point she had gotten used to the light again.

Then she saw her.

"R-.. Rukia!"