"Good morning, nii-sama," said Rukia as she entered the dining room of the manor for their daily breakfast together.

"Good morning, Rukia," Byakuya replied.

Rukia was dressed in her usual Shinigami uniform, but she immediately noted that Byakuya was not.

She took her usual seat at the table and her plate of food was placed in front of her.

"Are you feeling alright, nii-sama?" she asked her brother.

"I'm fine," he replied. "I have a previous engagement today and will not be in squad 6."

"Oh, ok," she replied. She was obviously curious, but something didn't feel right about prying. If he had wanted her to know his business, he would have come right out and told her.

"You should report directly to your squad today. I have already informed Ukitake-taicho that we will not be training this morning."

Rukia walked alone to squad 13 and began to go about her usual day. Because she usually spent half a day working with Byakuya, her workload had been temporarily lessened and at lunchtime, she found herself with not much to do. It would be good for me to get some extra training in.

Rukia walked to the squad 13 training grounds, but found the newest members of the squad running through drills with the 4th seed.

She exhaled, a bit frustrated. Then an idea popped into her head. I'll just go back to the manor and train.

Rukia made her way to Ukitake-taicho's office. She sat on the floor outside his door. When he acknowledged her, she gently slid it to one side.

"Rukia, it is nice to see you," said Juushiro. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Hai, taicho. I was hoping to get some extra zanpakto practice in today since I've caught up on all my administrative work, but the new graduates are using the training area. Would it be possible for me to use the Kuchiki training grounds this afternoon?" she asked.

"Of course, Rukia. I will send a hell butterfly if I need to relay any messages to you this afternoon," said Juushiro.

"Thank you, sir," she bowed and slid the door closed again.

But first, back to the manor to get some lunch.

Goro was the first to see Rukia enter the mansion earlier than expected.

"Miss Rukia, you are home early today," Goro greeted her in the front hallway.

"Yes. Ukitake-taicho has given me permission to do zanpakto training on the Kuchiki training grounds this afternoon. But first, I wanted to get some lunch," Rukia replied.

"I-er, we were not expecting you for lunch. Nothing has been prepared," explained Goro.

"That's fine. I'm not above poking my nose in the kitchen," Rukia said.

"…and you aren't going to be looking for Kuchiki-taicho at all, are you?" Goro asked.

Strange question.

"I don't think so. Doesn't he have plans today?" she asked.

"Um, yes, he does, but he is still here at the manor," explained Goro. "And he has asked not to be disturbed."

"Goro, I understand," said Rukia. "I won't get you or anyone else in trouble by looking for him." She smiled to the servant.

Rukia then made her way to the kitchen where she surprised a handful of servants with her presence. She put them at ease as well and they served her several small dishes of leftovers and ready-made items for lunch. Rukia just took a seat on a stool right there as she watched the servants scurry around preparing food. She thanked them and made her way out through the door to the garden, the most direct route to the training grounds right outside of the manor.

As she was walking, she heard distant talking. That sounds like…Byakuya.

She looked around to see where the voice could be coming from. Then she saw him and all the secrecy made sense. He sat on a pillow in his study next to a wardrobe that was open. She saw that there were candles and incense lit and that there was a picture frame there. Rukia guessed it was Hisana.

As Rukia took in the sight, she started to think about what was going on and why. The door to the study is open to the garden, she though to herself. That door is hardly ever open. It is probably because he thinks that he has his privacy and anyone who might be listening is away from the manor. Is today an anniversary? Her birthday? She still obviously means a lot to him if he is spending the day with her rather than working in squad 6.

She heard him talking again. This time she actually heard a few of the words as well as a sob. Suddenly feeling like she was intruding where she wasn't welcome, Rukia turned so she could return to her original plan and begin training with Sode no Shirayki.

Byakuya sensed someone's presence where he didn't expect anyone to be. He turned his head and saw Rukia walking away.

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Rukia finished training with Sode no Shirayuki a few hours later. She followed the same path back to the manor and went straight to her room so she could bathe and get ready for the evening meal.

She arrived at dinner hoping Byakuya was coming to join her. Her heart sank, however, when her food was served and she was told that she would be dining alone this evening. It must be so hard to go through something like this alone, she thought. It has been decades since he lost her yet he still seems so despondent.

After dinner, she felt like taking a walk in the garden. It was a full moon and the stars shined brightly. She admired the beauty of the moon shining on the koi pond and all the ripples that were created each time a fish would touch the surface of the water. She made her way to her favorite spot and sat down under the sakura tree. Her thoughts were mainly of her brother and concern for his well-being.

"Do not fret over me," Byakuya said to Rukia almost as if reading her thoughts.

She jumped and grasped her hand to her heart. "Oh, nii-sama, I didn't hear you approach."

He sat right next to her under the sakura tree and she never heard him join her.

"As you might have guessed, today was the anniversary of Hisana's death," explained Byakuya.

"But why the secrecy, nii-sama?" asked Rukia.

"It is just a private matter," he explained.

"Nii-sama, remember how you thanked me the other night for telling you about Renji and I?" Rukia asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Please don't feel that you can't lean on me as well," she said. "Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on from time to time. Who better than me?"

A slight smile of thankfulness came over his face. "Thank you, Rukia," said Byakuya.

"I'm serious," she emphasized. "You like to be the strong one. I get that. But everyone needs someone at some time or other."

"You are very wise, Rukia," Byakuya told her. "And I do thank you for opening up to me. I will try to be more open with you."

"Don't think I haven't noticed that we have been becoming closer friends, Byakuya nii-sama. I do hold that bond between us as special…," she explained not exactly believing she was opening up to him yet again. "And I hope it does nothing but get stronger."

Byakuya's heart warmed at such brave words coming from the mouth of his sister. They had come so far and he knew that just a while ago, she would never have talked with him in this manner.

"So, please tell me….more about my sister," Rukia said.

Byakuya looked down knowing that he was going into foreign territory now. He had never been so open with anyone except Hisana. And even with her, most of their discussions were about her or her troubles since she was so sickly.

"Hisana was the one and only love of my life," answered Byakya. "We were together for five years before she fell gravely ill and died in my arms."

"Where did you meet her?" Rukia asked.

"I was young. Still a teenager. As a Kuchiki, I already knew the path that my life would take. I would become a Shinigami like my father and grandfather before me. I entered the academy at a young age and graduated quickly. It was one of my first assignments…it took me to Inuzuri. When I saw her there, I just…..there was just something about her. I've seen lots of Rukongai girls before and not one had this effect on me," Byakuya explained.

"It was love at first sight?" asked Rukia.

"No, not exactly. I noticed her…enough to pursue her," said Byakuya.

"Pursue her?" asked Rukia.

"I would make return visits back to Inuzuri and looked for her in that same area. I learned she was a server at a local eating establishment so I would eat there every so often just to talk with her," said Byakuya.

"She only knew I was Shinigami. She didn't know what the kenseikan were or anything about the Kuchiki clan," explained Byakuya. "Eventually, I didn't need to pursue her at all. We just met more and more often. She eventually showed me where she was living – I couldn't believe the squalor."

Rukia understood where he was coming from having grown up in Inuzuri herself. She also couldn't believe that he would ever be willing to subject himself to Inuzuri for any reason let alone for a woman he hardly knew.

"It didn't take long for me to invite her to the seireitei. She became my guest at the manor which was controversial in itself. The family questioned me about who this plain girl was living under the Kuchiki roof. I couldn't answer them very well. I was just following my heart," said Byakuya.

"I can see why the family was surprised," noted Rukia with a jovial tone to her voice.

He looked at her with a questioning tone.

"Until recently, I have never known you to be a man to follow your heart without good logic to back it up," she explained.

Byakuya looked away and nodded in agreement. He obviously agreed with her assessment.

"She lived at the manor and we maintained a respectable distance," said Byakuya. "I courted her and eventually married her."

"But the family didn't like that, did they?" asked Rukia.

"No, they didn't. But they were willing to overlook it. I was already the head of the Kuchiki clan and they saw, rightfully so, that they weren't going to change my mind. Hisana and I had a happy five years together. She told me once they were the happiest five years of her life."

"Was she really ill all the time?" asked Rukia.

"Yes, she was not healthy. Her search for you didn't help matters, but I can understand why she did it. I've had regrets during my life – you above all else know that – but I can't even fathom the guilt she felt when she abandoned you as an infant. It is difficult to admit you can't handle a situation – and she did not handle that one well at all. And she never did get the chance to make it right."

"Oh, nii-sama, I'm so sorry I exacerbated her condition," said Rukia.

"No, Rukia. It is not your fault. I don't blame you one bit," explained Byakuya.

"I am sorry I never got to meet her," said Rukia. "Even just once."

"She was very much like you. You already know that you look like her, but there are many similar personality traits as well," said Byakuya.

"Tell me," said Rukia.

"You are both kind-hearted and think of others above yourselves," said Bykuya. "Both of you have difficulty with initial relationships, but once you form them the bonds are very strong. Loyalty must run strong in your family." Byakuya pondered for a bit. "From what I can tell, she was more emotional than you are – however, you are much stronger and are able to handle situations that are thrown at you much better."

Rukia leaned her head over so that it now rested on Byakuya's upper arm as they both continued to sit under the sakura tree. Byakuya was further comforted by this show of affection.

"Do you ever think you'll find someone like her again?" asked Rukia.

Byakuya sighed. "To be honest, I haven't really looked. Even after all these years have passed, Hisana's passing still pains me to this day. I don't know if I can endure any more heartbreak."

Rukia sat up quickly. "Byakuya nii-sama, shame on you. You are already looking beyond the happiness and already assuming any love you take will break your heart one way or another," said Rukia.

"I still feel it is too soon," he explained further.

"I think you need to take a chance. Perhaps you do still need a bit more healing – more than any man I have ever known," said Rukia.

"Did you just take a shot at me?" asked Byakuya.

"Nii-sama, please. Just promise me you won't be too stubborn. I care about you and your happiness. You don't have to marry the first woman you date. You can take it as slow as you want. I just want to see you get past her. She is important to you – I can see that. She is important to me, too – she was my sister after all. But she is gone. And life goes on. You deserve to be happy," said Rukia.

Byakuya turned his head and pecked Rukia on the forehead. "Thank you, Rukia."

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

Hisana, I don't know how to say this. I love you – and I know how much you loved me. Rukia and I continue to become closer and closer. I have not felt this level of closeness since you still stood by my side. She cares about my happiness just as I care about hers. She is now advising me to seek happiness once again. It's true that I have not been happy since you left me – and maybe I only needed to hear it from someone else's mouth instead of my own. I am praying that you feel the same way as Rukia does. That as much as you and I loved each other, that your death does not mean the rest of my life should be devoid of joy. She says you would have wanted me to be happy – that is what it means to love someone. I thought long and hard about this. I think she's right – if our situations were reversed, I would have wanted you to be happy as well. Please forgive me if I am wrong for wanting things to change.