DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. They belong to their respective owners. This storyline, however, does belong to me.
animequeen100: XD I'll see what I'll have him do. But yes. GO BYAKUYA!
thelovablechelsea: Updating! Sorry I didn't get this up sooner. School meetings and whatnot. And fear not! He'll sort things out and everyone will be happy!
The House of Kuchiki
CHAPTER NINE
"Borrow..." The instructor blinked then looked at the class. "One of them?"
"Yes. One of them. For a few minutes."
"Do you want me to pick one, or ask for a volunteer?"
Byakuya shook his head slowly. "The one in the back."
Hisana, who had been staring down at her desk the whole time, looked up to meet Byakuya's eyes.
The instructor's jaw dropped. "Who? Hisana?" She lowered her voice to prevent Hisana from hearing. "She's been a wreck this last week. Wouldn't be any use to someone like you."
"I can assure you, instructor. She's perfect."
"Very well then... Hisana. Please come up here." As Hisana slowly stood up and began walking over, the instructor looked at Byakuya. "We're covering new material today. She can't fall behind."
Byakuya nodded. Hisana walked up to Byakuya and the instructor, but kept her eyes to the ground.
The instructor frowned. "Hisana. Show your respect."
Hisana nodded slowly, then looked up at Byakuya and went to bow, but stopped when Byakuya shook his head.
"I'll bring her back shortly."
Byakuya took a step back and nodded for Hisana to leave first, then walked out behind her, shutting the door.
The instructor watched them leave, perplexed. "What could THAT be about?"
Outside the room, Hisana was facing Byakuya, looking at the ground again.
"You've lost weight, Hisana-san." Hisana nodded slowly, and looked up at him, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"I owe you an apology. And an explanation."
"My marriage hasn't been cancelled," he started, to which Hisana's jaw dropped slightly. "At least... not yet."
"I had been expecting an arranged marriage for months. The elders had said they would arrange one if I didn't find a bride quickly, they just never gave me a date..."
"The day I returned from the mission, they had told me I was never to speak with you again, and that my wedding had been arranged. I didn't know what to do, so I thought if I made you hate me... things would be easier." Hisana looked down at the floor again.
"A servant in my house since my childhood told me this morning that everyone in the estate noticed my joy when I had spent time with you, and the sorrow I had now that I didn't. I tried denying in my mind that hurting you was the reason for my sadness, because then the marriage wouldn't happen."
"But then... something sank deep into my stomach each time I remembered the moment you slammed your door. I couldn't put my finger on it; I was sad... lost... angry... I couldn't sleep; I never ate. I thought it might be the arranged marriage, but then I figured that if my parents were happy with an arranged marriage, I would eventually be."
"As it turns out... my parents weren't arranged. My father went against the elders and married my mother." Byakuya moved his hand to Hisana's chin and lifted her face to look up at him. Moving his other hand to wipe her tears away, he forced a smile. "I'm sorry, Hisana. I was too blinded by upholding the clan rules and honor that I failed to realize what everyone else around me knew all along."
"Even if it means breaking all the rules and disgracing the Kuchiki name, I never want t--" At this point, Hisana stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, crying into his robes.
Byakuya slowly moved his arms up to embrace her, bringing her closer to him as she turned her head to the side. "Please don't cry, Hisana-san..."
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Sorry that it's kinda short. I have to go to a driving lesson thing now, but I'll be back soon enough. Sorry, also, that I couldn't get this up yesterday, I had a billion things to do at school and I didn't get home until practically midnight. I'll post chapter 10 today as well, to make it up to all of ya. :D