When Byakuya woke up again he felt much stronger. He did not know how long he slept for but when he stood he did not feel immediately ill. He still felt drained but not nearly as bad as it had been before when even staying awake was difficult. He looked down and realized that he also happened to be shirtless, wearing nothing more than a pair of pants. Byakuya raised an eyebrow. He rarely wore them, opting instead for hamaka. But there he stood in a pair of black sweatpants. On the dresser was a t-shirt. Seeing little other option Byakuya pulled it on, trying not to feel too strange in the odd clothing. He pulled open the door and stepped into the house, idly wondering if he had hit his head when he was collapsed back in the tunnel.

"Byakuya."

soft breath on his hands, how long had it been since anything touched the back of his hands...

Byakuya's eyes widened before he smoothed his features back. He had been by her bed. She had murmured his name and he had felt her breath on the back of his hand. He had saved her, he had stabbed her and transfered all his Spiritual Pressure to her. He had then promoted her and made her check on Senbonzakura--his hand laid against the wall. His Zanpakto was with her now. He winced. Ichigo was never going to let him live this down. He had put him through so much because of what his sister had done. Though the circumstances were different and he technically hadn't broken any laws, he had still done the exact same thing. He was never going to hear the end of it from the loud mouthed idiot. What Rukia saw in him he would never understand, though he wasn't really sure he wanted too.

"Oh thank goodness you're awake!"

Byakuya looked up to see Chiyo standing there. She was wearing snug pants and a loose shirt that fell to mid-thigh, the sleeves pushed up past her elbows. Byakuya realized they were both in borrowed clothing. Her shirt had slipped though, exposing the curve of her shoulder. Her cinnamon eyes were bright though and Byakuya realized she was smiling brightly. He was stunned, the last time they had been together she could barely stay upright. Though he realized he had healed as well. She walked over to him, the smile slipping as she approached him. Before his shocked eyes she reached out and pressed the back of her hand to his forehead to check his temperature.

Hisana had decided to do the only thing she could: deny there was a problem.

If Byakuya was in love with her then she would deny it. She didn't think he was going to be shouting it out to the world so it would be rather easy. She had been denying a lot since she met him, this would just be one more thing. Hopefully once he was married and she went back to the Division they would both be able to forget about this. She had been a bit nervous when she heard him coming but when she saw him leaning against the wall in a t-shirt and sweatpants, she realized that she enjoyed spending time with him far too much to let something as foolish as their mutual unspoken love get in the way of things. He seemed rather stunned when she pressed the back of her hand to his forehead, standing on her toes to reach, but he didn't push her away either. Nor did he flinch at the touch. Secretly she was glad of that.

"You're not warm," Hisana said lowering her hand and settling back on her heels, "maybe you should eat something," she continued, "come on."

She led him into another room. This one was much more spacious but retained the bright colors and homey feel. Food was already laid out and Byakuya realized it was around noontime. He could barely remember the last time he had slept so late. The food smelled very good, he could smell spices and meat. The cooks at his mansion were excellent but perhaps because he was so hungry he didn't think he had smelled something so good in some time. Manami, Nakashima and Kojima all came in and sat down around the table. Moments later Ayumi bounded out from the kitchen. She let out a high pitched sound at the sight of Byakuya sitting there, though wether it was because he was in a t-shirt or because he was conscious was something that could never be answered. Byakuya just knew the second she did he got identical death-glares from the two men seated nearby.

"You're alive Captain Kuchiki!" Ayumi cried, "we were so so worried! Its a good thing you like spicy foods because we all do too. But we were so worried that if you didn't wake up you'd never get to try them! And then you'd just keep sleeping forever and ever and--"

"Ayumi," Manami said her sister's name gently, "sit," Ayumi dropped into the chair, "lets eat," she said with a smile motioning at the food in front of them.

Hisana was careful to eat slowly. The first day or so being conscious with the addition of so much Spiritual Power she had been ravenous. Fueling it was not good though. She needed to get rid of it, so Senbonzakura would go back to Byakuya where she belonged. The influx of power was still strange but her body was adjusting to it rather well. It was easier said than done when the Hamano family all seemed to have the stomachs of garbage disposals. Even Ayumi put Renji to shame with the sheer amount of food she ate. Hisana glanced over at Byakuya. He still looked noble despite the fact that he too was eating a lot. Hisana felt bad for him, he must need much more food to restore his strength considering the sheer magnitude of Spiritual Pressure he had transfered to her.

Byakuya looked at his companions as a way from distracting himself from sticking his face in the plate to eat faster. Ayumi showed all the signs of someone recovering from Spiritual Pressure exhaustion, especially in how she ate. Nakashima, the scientist of the brothers, he was obviously thinking of something else as he ate, his eyes focused upwards. Manami was the mother-figure, something he had already recognized. She kept glancing around the table to make sure no-one choked or anything. Chiyo was eating but she seemed to be forcing herself to take it slowly. Byakuya knew it was impossible for her to have recovered from the exhaustion so quickly, she was clearly trying to aide Senbonzakura in returning home. Byakuya's eyes found the last member of the table, the one who had carried him back to the house. When he lifted his glass the scars on the back of his hand was visible.

Then he remembered, they all used to work for Kuroda.

Byakuya felt his heart lurch. Could this man have been one of the thieves when he was kidnapped? He couldn't have been more than a child but, then again, the scars did look old. If he was a child back then he could have known Hisana. Byakuya remembered when he was leaning over Chiyo's bed, trying not to think about his late wife. And yet of all the places that they could have wound up at, they found themselves in the company of someone who had a connection to her. Aside from Rukia, Byakuya did not think he had seen such a clear reminder of her in a very long time. It was easy on some days to push her to the back of his mind. Recently it had become harder to do so, it was like she was more and more in his thoughts. He blamed it on his upcoming wedding but to meet someone who had the burns, burns that could have been caused by her.

Or they could have been caused by Chiyo, he realized. He looked over at the young woman. Her Zanpakto was fire based. Could she have been responsible? No, the scars were too old for that. But for a moment--Byakuya cut himself off. He had vowed not to compare anyone to Hisana, not after what happened with Rukia. Glaring reminder or no, they were two different people and he had to remember that. Byakuya looked back at his food, trying to figure out what, if anything, he should think about seeing it. It had been such a long time since he had any sort of a reminder of the beginning of his relationship with Hisana. Seeing Rukia was a reminder, even once he realized that the two of them were different people. But it was also a reminder of those painful last few months, of when she had died.

Secretly he had hated that time.

She had been so different in those last few months. Quiet, sad and apologetic, nothing like she had been before. Byakuya knew that she had been frightened but he hadn't wanted to admit that her fears had been justified. How could he deal with the thought that she was dying? But he had stayed beside her. Through every agonizing visit to the Fourth Division, through every drop of blood she coughed up. He waited every night as she wandered through Rukongai, searching for the sister she would never find. He had watched the vibrant, beautiful woman who had saved his life more times than she'd ever know waste away. Through it all he wanted to scream, he wanted to shake her . He wanted to banish the pitiful, apologetic creature who had stolen his wife away before she had died.

It had been years until he remembered Hisana as she had been before the illness, before the sadness. It had been because of Rukia. Even with her startling physical resemblance she had always been quiet and almost shy around him, something Byakuya knew was completely his fault. So when she had started to act more like herself around him, Byakuya had seen the threads of Hisana as she had been. It had hurt, to be reminded of what he truly lost, but by then his heart had all the grief it could take. He even dared to inform Rukia of her similarity to her sister, something that caused her to turn pink. Of course when he realized that Ichigo was in love with her and that Rukia was more like Hisana he was rather dismayed to find there was yet another thing he shared with the bright orange haired man.

Renji, at least, found it very amusing.

"Hamano," he said and was greeted with four pairs of eyes, "Ayumi," he relented.

"Yep?" she inquired.

"Has there been word from Lieutenant Abarai?"

"Yes," she said, "well not exactly," she said, "he sent in some papers this morning but thats it."

Byakuya nodded. That meant Renji and Rukia were alright. After Soifon had told him about the crushed hell butterfly, he had decided not to risk and go with the most basic form of communication. Fortunately it seemed to have worked. Byakuya trusted Renji with Rukia. They were safe for the moment, that was what was important. Ichigo was back with the rest of the Division, holding down the fort--even though his handwriting was sorely lacking. But he would have to do. Byakuya knew that him going back to Soul Society in his current condition was the equivalent of holding up a big sign that said 'come kill me'. He didn't think that was a good idea, for anyone involved. The time when he would have welcomed death with open arms was long past.

"So how long does it take for Spiritual Pressure to return?" Ayumi asked looking at Byakuya.

"I've got a feeling that Captain Kuchiki had a reaction to the numbing gas," Nakashima said taking a bite of food, "between that and the transfer it might be a bit," he snorted, "that poison wasn't supposed to be used like that."

"Can you fix it?" Ayumi asked.

"Of course I can fix it!" came the loud reply, "I made it after all," he said with a snort.

"Can you fix this century?" Kojima asked turning his face to his brother.

"He can do it!" Ayumi cried, outraged at the suggestion of anything less. Nakashima smirked, "you should probably get your arrows though," she said to Kojima. Kojima's lips curved into a smile, "is there something that we can do to help?"

"Huh?"

"Well I know the poison is about Spiritual Pressure and you guys don't have any," she said with a shrug.

Guilt filled the faces of Ayumi's three older siblings. Hisana stared. she could understand the guilt in Manami's face but that paled in comparison to the guilt in the two other men, especially in Nakashima. It was clear that they were not biologically related to the two women and more, if Kojima had to have been one of Kuroda's men from a very young age if he carried the burn scars. Before when he told her to save her tears, when he had come to get Hisana he had simply escorted her to his brother and departed just as quickly without saying much of anything. Hisana didn't know if he knew who she was or if this was just his hatred of Shinigami but she had yet to have a chance to find out the truth. It was clear from the guilt in his eyes that he only regretted killing Shinigami because of their relation to his sister. Nakashima seemed to be far more guilty in terms of his involvement.

"I'm sure its alright," Manami said kindly placing her hand on her sisters. "everyone seems to be done, why don't you help me clean up?"

"Okay," Ayumi said.

Without a word Kojima stood up and walked out of the room. Ayumi hesitated as she watched him leave. Manami put a hand on her shoulder, bringing her attention back. Equally silent, Hisana stood up and followed him out of the room, not daring to look behind her at Byakuya's questioning gaze. She heard a door close softly down the hall. Hisana took a deep breath and walked down the hallway towards it. The door was nondescript, it would have been easy to walk by without a second thought. Gently Hisana knocked on the door. She received no permission to enter but, then again, she wasn't denied either. Squaring her shoulders Hisana pushed open the door.

"Kojima?" she called softly.

The room was cast in shadows save for the windows which were angled to allow precise squares of light on the floor. Hisana recognized it as a training technique, often used in a place where equipment and space was scarce. The rest of the room was in shadows. Hisana closed the door behind her, giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the odd contrast of light. Almost hesitantly she stepped further into the darkened room. There was no response which meant she was either about to get injured or he was waiting for her to say something. Well Hisana had learned her lesson, she wasn't confirming anything to anyone unless she was sure they knew it was her.

"What is Kuroda's interest in you?"

Hisana turned to see Kojima step into the bright square of light, Kuorda's former archer wore a loose, short sleeved shirt that revealed the scars reached up to cover almost his entire arm. The scars were old but they were still very visible. The quiet intensity he seemed to wear like cloths was still there, He did not seem excited but Hisana got the impression that not only did he know something was up but he was more than willing to call her out on it.

"You claim to have worked for him but given your age you would have been with him back when your brother and I were there," he continued, "but I never saw you."

"Did you see everyone?" Hisana questioned.

"Yes," he replied flatly, "especially those my sister's age. I know everyone who was that age, especially those who had Spiritual Pressure," Hisana's eyes widened, "I know you weren't among them."

Hisana kept her mouth closed and waited for him to continue.

"Kuroda is interested in you which is more than enough reason for me to want to keep you safe," he continued, "but you are a Shinjigami and by the same token, you're asking me and my family to risk a lot."

"I--" Hisana stopped, "I don't know what Kuroda wants with me."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't know!" Hisana cried.

She didn't know. He was using the knowledge he had about her to hold her hostage. He had threatened her of course but he had never come out and said what it was he wanted with her. Hisana realized that she had no idea what he actually wanted with her. Revenge might be it but it could just as easily be something else. She looked at Kojima who regarded her cooly. Hisana's head was spinning. She really didn't know what Kuroda wanted with her. He had never said anything. He was going to try and meet with her again. Her heart was pounding, he was going to come for her. If she got Ayumi's family hurt or if he found Rukia or, worse, what if he found Byakuya? He had no Spiritual Power and even if she had all the power in the world she wasn't stupid enough to think that he wouldn't have some kind of trick up his sleeve.

"Calm down," Kojima's hand covered her shoulder but all Hisana saw were the scars on his arm, "no harm is going to come to you or Captain Kuchiki."

"But your scars--"

"Whatever you know about them I made a decision not to do what Kuroda wished, we all made that decision."

"It is not that simple!" Hisana cried.

"Chiyo," he said.

Hisana looked at his hand and then at his face before she began to breath hard.

Kojima looked down, wondering exactly what had happened. He had just wanted to know how many weapons he should get ready depending on how desperate Kuroda was for her. However desperate he was it seemed that she was far more terrified of him. That compared with her recent poisoning and whatever happened with the Spiritual Pressure seemed to be too much for her. She looked very close to crying--again. When he said to save her tears he had meant until after his brother finished whatever tests he had to do on her. The last thing they needed was for Byakuya Kuchiki to go on a murderous rampage. He realized that it was probably not good for him that she was in the room with him seeming to suffer either a panic attack or a breakdown.

Maybe he should get his bow.

"I don't know, I don't--" she shook her head, tears beginning to sip down her cheeks, "I'm sorry," Kojima's eyes widened at pain filled whisper, "I never wanted any of this--"

"You're scared," Kojima said looking at her, "its a natural reaction, though a foolish one."

"Why does he want me?!" Hisana cried, "I don't understand! I never should have--I was so stupid doing that--I--" her words were becoming almost unintelligible, "I should go to him," she looked up at Kojima, "I should go to Kuroda."

"No," he said, "however much you risk by hiding her you risk much more by going to him. Whatever he's threatened you with, you know he'll just follow through with it, even if, no, especially if you go to him."

"But--"

"You have nothing right now," he said, "you know nothing can come of you going to him right now."

"I could end this," Hisana said.

"No," he said, "not until you know what he wants. You have to wait. My brother needs you for the antidote or no matter what, he will win."

Hisana shook her head. That was the most horrible thing she had heard in a long time. Wait? Wait like a sitting duck? Just sit there until someone else got hurt? Suddenly her betrayal of Byakuya seemed to be a secondary one. If she got Rukia killed--if she got him killed, that would be so much worse. She didn't know if she could stand the thought.

The sudden need she felt for Byakuya almost took the strength from her knees.

She had her bouts of doubt before, she had panic attacks and the crippling feeling that the world was ending but she had never wanted him before. Now though she wanted nothing else. She wanted his arms around her, she wanted him to tell her that no matter what happened he would be there. She wanted him as a friend, as her husband, as the man who she had always held dear even when she hadn't known it. But the whole charade they were both keeping up without even admitting it depended on them not being in love with each other on. Somehow Hisana had a feeling that Byakuya Kuchiki did not 'hug' anymore than he 'hung out'. She looked up at Kojima.

"I'll think about what he could want," she said wiping her cheeks and walking out of the room.

She walked back to Ayumi's room, feeling slightly dazed.

"What happened?"

Hisana turned her head to see Byakuya standing there, concern written on his face. She felt her breath catch as she looked up at him. Byakuya looked down at her. Though he hid it well he felt concern surge through him. She looked like she was a wreck. He might have been exhausted but it paled in comparison to the fact that in addition to a near-death experience she was carrying a Captain's Spiritual Pressure and being hunted by Kuroda. She was very strong, so strong it was sometimes easy to forget that she was only human. At the moment she did not look strong, she looked hurt and scared. Her cinnamon eyes were filled with tears which only made the sadness in them look even more heartbreaking. Bykauya decided that Kojia was going right up there with Kuroda on the people he wanted to kill in a slow and painful manner.

He was not one for displays of caring, physical or otherwise. But still his hand enclosed about her wrist when she took a step back, preventing her from running further. Her eyes widened as she looked down at the hand that enclosed her wrist. At the sight of the scars that Byakuya bore, Hisana felt her throat sting as her tears began to slip down her cheeks. It wasn't fair, that everyone had to suffer. Not because of her. But for the life of her she couldn't pull her hand away from his grip. Her breath caught as they stood there, his hand around her wrist, both not sure what they were going to do next. It would have been easy for her to slip her hand free and go into the other room to cry. She could sob alone and he could sit in the next room and come up with a thousand excuses for why he shouldn't care, all of which would make perfect sense.

So why were none of them coming to his mind?

When her hand lowered he let his hand open, releasing her wrist. She stood there, crying silently as she looked up at him. Her body shook suddenly as a sob escaped her lips. The last vestiges that were holding Byakuya back vanished as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around the crying woman. As Byakuya's arms came around her Hisana began to cry harder, her arms wrapping around him as she held on as tightly as she could to him. She didn't care in that moment if he was in love with her or if one day he would hate her. Nothing mattered but the fact that within his arms the hardships of the world seemed to lessen, just enough so that she could breath again.

That was all that mattered. Neither of them heard when Nakashima let out a triumphant cry as the reaction he was waiting for occurred, showing that he possible had workable antidote to the poison. Nor did they hear when Kojima emerged from his room, slowly starting to place weapons in vantage points throughout the house in case of an attack. All that Hisana cared about was the feeling of finally finally being in his embrace again. Byakuya was shocked at how perfectly she fit into his arms, like somehow she had always belonged there. Almost immediately he felt guilty. He couldn't not comfort her but still, this embrace when his wedding drew closer with each heartbeat was not a good thing.

Hisana

It hadn't been a problem when he was marrying for duty. It had been a problem he thought he would ever have to face. But with her in his arms, he knew that it was. Denying it was going to do him little good. He was caring about Chiyo. No, no it was more than that. Even if his mind could not come up with the words his heart knew. He knew the feeling, even if he had only felt it once before. Despite the guilt that filled him he could not let her go, just hold her tighter against his chest and pray that somewhere, somehow Hisana would forgive him, though he knew he did not deserve any such thing.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, there was a witness to their embrace. Ayumi was barely able to contain her shock at the sight of her friend in her Captain's embrace. Byakuya Kuchiki didn't break protocol or rules for anyone but there he was, hugging her. She saw poor Chiyo crying but he was comforting her. Byakuya Kuchiki was comforting her. Ayumi tip toed back the way she had come before she darted back for another confirming glance. But they were still there, still locked in each other's embrace. Ayumi hurried back off.

When Renji had enclosed a note in the papers telling her to make sure the two of them were okay and tell him what they were up too, she hadn't thought that she'd have anything to report. But this, this was a definite twist.

She couldn't wait to report it back to him.

Everyone say Yay for snow days!! Today and tomorrow I'm gonna be snowed in! Expect another update tomorrow...but don't forget to review today!

Anyway...

Uh oh! Kojima knows something's up. Hisana can't figure out what Kuroda wants with her...but thankfully Byakuya's there to comfort her! And poor Byakuya, struggling with a problem that doesn't have to be there.

Well lets hope Renji can give him some good advice!