Hana recoiled as she watched the eldest Kuchiki clan member scowl. "All those years you pretended to be my friend and helper. It was to disguise your true role!" Hana's head bowed down accepting the flames thrown from the mouth of the old woman. "We were never great friends and you know it. You, a woman brought home by my husband. At first, I assumed an affair, but I found out different. It was all because my son's wife was barren. And you gave us Byakuya. If it weren't for me, you would have been killed after the birth of that child!" The old woman stood up on her cane. "You owe me your life, and here you are, defying me?"
"How am I defying you. Kuchiki sama." Hana spat as bitterly as possible. "And, do not forget for one minute, that I am still not a mother. What will you do to me? Kill me? You cannot even lift your sword anymore. And if you ask Byakuya to, then I will explain to him the truth. About how your husband and clan begged me to lie with the heir to the throne just to produce another. Do not forget that you are in debt to me!" Hana turned around and then walked away. Before she left, she turned. "I will be leaving this household. It would be better for all of us."
"So be it." The elder woman walked away and sat down in her favorite chair, slowly starting to figure out a way to get an heir faster. "Hana is an idiot. That girl will never understand the importance of family."
Hana walked into her room trying to keep a straight face. It was hard but she could do it. She had endured this pain for years but she wouldn't take it anymore. With all the money she had earned behind the old lady's notice, Hana could afford a nice home in the Rukongai. So what if it wasn't as extravagant as the homes here in Soul Society, she didn't care. All she wanted was to be free, free like the days she was before Kuchiki Ginrei came to her home to buy her from her parents. She had only in the human age of seventeen then and she didn't want this. Not at all. Grabbing the money she had and whatever clothes she could fit into a small hand, the woman walked out of the house but not before praying for her son and his wife to have a carefree future. They needed it more than anything.
Tsukiko woke up to the sounds yelling. Looking over to her side, she found her husband gone. Lifting herself up, she walked over to her kimono and tried her best to pull it onto her body. She knew she needed to get out doors to see what was going on. Tying her obi, she walked outside to find Byakuya yelling at his grandmother.
"What do you mean find another!?" He screamed in anger. Tsukiko had never seen this much lividity in his eyes. "You force me into a marriage and then when I finally find peace in it you are not happy? We married not even a few months before, and you are already demanding something! Obaasan, please, for god sake's leave me and Tsukiko in peace, and maybe, just maybe you will find yourself an heir." Byakuya turned around and walked past Tsukiko. He was mad, she knew it, but in a way, she also understood obaasan's predicament. Gliding steadily towards the woman, Tsukiko stood in front of her and then bend down to her knees. Arching her back, she placed her forehead on the floor and then pleaded.
"Please, give me time. I promise, I promise that you will have your heir." Tsukiko spoke trying to find acceptance. She stayed there for a few minutes praying the woman would accept this pledge.
"And what if you do not get pregnant? What then? I will not have this house fall in crumbles or be ruled by someone who...isn't even of Kuchiki blood." It amazed Tsukiko that this gentle old woman hated Rukia.
"If I am not full with child, then I promise...I will step down as the Kuchiki wife and let my unwed sisters and nieces chose a suitor amongst themselves for Byakuya-sama."
"Alright then. A child. Soon. Or I will throw you down." The old woman picked her cane and walked away mumbling. Tsukiko sighed and then stood up, she walked over to see Hana packing. Hana looked up at the girl and then smiled a warm smile.
"Where are you going Hana-san?" Tsukiko asked sitting down in a chair.
"Out, for a while. I may not return. But, I have something I need to tell you." Hana said as she walked over to the girl. Sitting down next to her, Hana took the girl's hands into her own. "You promise me, that no matter what, you keep Byakuya-sama happy." Tsukiko nodded. "I want him to be happy, he was...heartbroken after Hisana's death but you, you Tsukiko have brought light back into his eyes. He is happy even today, and I am happy for him. Take care of him and do not let that old lady get into your way."
"Hana-san, why are you leaving?"
"In order to protect what is dear to me dear girl, I must leave. But, when the time is right, I will be back. I promise. But you need to take care of him. I need you to, be there with him."
"I will." Tsukiko promised. Hana nodded and then kissed Tsukiko on the forehead. "Have you told Byakuya sama that you are leaving?" Hana's eye's flew wide open. The woman stood up and started to walk around nervously. "You haven't told him? Why not?"
"He is to never know. Ever." Hana stood up and picked up her bags. "If he asks, you tell him to ask the elder obaachan. He is to never know. Never." Hana clutched her bags and then walked away leaving Tsukiko silent. After wondering what everything was about, Tsukiko decided it was time to go pacify her husband. Getting the strength to stand up, Tsukiko walked over to the gardens where Byakuya stood, alone. Knocking on the door, she caught his attention and his approval for entrance.
"What is it Tsukiko?" His voice was stoic again. Not like the loving voice he held the night before.
"Do not worry about what obaasama said. It will happen, I know it will. We just need to...stay where we are."
"Do you understand what she asked of me Tsukiko?" Byakuya asked turning towards the flowers. Gaining the silence as his cue to go on, he did. "She asked me to find another so I may create and heir. She didn't even give you a year to get pregnant."
"Do not mind what she said. She's old. And she doesn't understand the pressures."
"Tsukiko, that woman is a cunning woman. A very cunning woman." He walked up to her and then looked down into her eyes. "If you didn't know, she was the first one who accepted Hisana. The only reason she did so, was to show that she cared for me. She does not care for me. What she cares for is this clan and the next generation. She accepted Hisana because she was expecting children. Nothing more, nothing less. All she has are expectations. Not love."
"How can you be sure of this? She does love you but she is just misguided."
"No. She is not. She wants an heir, and for her, that is final." Byakuya turned around and started to walk through his home. Tsukiko, following him, followed him into the bedroom.
"Then why not give her what she wants?" Tsukiko asked striding over to him. "I mean, maybe we may need to try harder. This child bearing thing does take time. Let us just try harder." Byakuya looked at his bride as she spoke. The respect for her gaining more and more as time went on. Byakuya stepped forward and then leaned down and kissed her.
"Thank you for everything."
Sorry this is so short, I will try to post more asap but it is hard with school. Gomenasi!
