The night was hellish. Yet Byakuya was with her for every lapsed breath, every spray of blood, coaxing her to drink or eat anything she could keep down, soiling his hands in her filth. Hisana was downright confused. She wouldn't even take care of herself in the way he was trying to take care of her.
She didn't talk to him; for the most part she couldn't. Every breath she could afford to take was dire. Every breath she managed to inhale filled the air with the sound of gurgling; fluids were building in her lungs. A pile of cloths had accumulated with blood stains from her strenuous fits. A red tint covered the skin on Byakuya's hands from all the times he attempted to keep her blood off of her.
Her skin was paling by the hour. At midnight she was able to sit up, but by six in the morning she was able to breathe only on her back despite the bedsores she could feel burning into her skin. Every attempt to sit up after that was swiftly forbidden by Byakuya who constantly reminded her that the fluid in her lungs would fill every time she dared to move.
She felt lighter than air. Her thin robe seemed too much weight to bear. Feeling this, she opened her dry lips to speak.
"I was poisoned. In the holding cell. After my first mission." Byakuya seemed to snap back to his body and looked down at her.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Byakuya asked. There was no malice or distrust in his voice only a painful curiosity. She smiled ironically.
"I was selfish. It kills me faster to mention it. I wanted to spend more time alive. That's what I told myself and I don't regret it," She smiled, her hand gripping his more tightly.
"Can you tell me who did this to you?" Her smile faltered, she didn't want Aizen on her mind in her final conscious moments.
"My love, if I speak the name I could fall unconscious and I don't want that to be my last memory with you."
"Forgive me, I didn't-"
"You've done everything and more." She bit her lip and he reacted as if he could see her thoughts spinning.
"What is it?"
"My sister. You must look out for her. Treat her as your own sister, for me. I know it's selfish of me and I've been nothing but selfish but I've hardly even thought about Rukia since coming here so I need to know she'll be safe under your protection, just as I was."
"Just as you are." He corrected, his other hand came to enclose the exposed side of her white hand.
"Don't tell her about me, Byakuya. It will put her in more harm to know about my existence. I have all of our good memories stored within my heart and it's enough for me to know they were real, but she cannot ever know, not while the person who did this to me lives on."
"How I wish you would tell me," He insisted deeply. She smiled again a bit perversely given the situation.
"In time, you will know."
"In time?" She forced herself to not think of Aizen's plans lest she die in fear.
"When everyone forgot me you still knew me. Was I just dreaming?"
"I'm afraid not," Her smile quickly turned to pain, and not just from the physical condition her body had been left in.
"I never deserved you,"
"That's for me to decide." He said briskly, his lips pressing up against her feeble knuckles.
"Never could I ever have imagined more for my life. Forgive me?" She couldn't help but release fearful tears from her eyes as she felt the coldness in her body closing in. The control over her limbs was steadily vanishing. Her heart beat was slowing dangerously.
"The plum blossoms are in bloom. Spring is here at last. We'll have a magnificent season."
"Please?" She said, ignoring his attempt at changing the subject.
"Hisana. You need to save your strength." He bent forward and earnestly wiped her tears away.
"I'm sorry I could not return your love in the way you loved me. If I had more time, I'd hoped I could make you happy and not worry." She squeezed his hand. "Byakuya…"
"Hisana?" The hand in his slowly went cold. Her once effulgent skin was gray and waxy. Her lidded eyes were still set on him and he could not stifle the hideous sob that spewed from his mouth. He had failed to protect her. He had failed his family in marrying below his station. He had failed to produce an heir. He had failed to save another person he loved. He pulled her cold, limp body into his arms as if to force his body heat into her own. But she didn't move and that final failure was too great to bear.
The following autumn, Gin stood behind Aizen's desk. Since her death right before her private execution, two men had become more ruthless: Byakuya and Sosuke. The later was difficult to work with if something reminded him of Hisana. The first was perpetually sour- a man a very few words, feelings, and no expressions. He was the perfect killer and so the head-captain used him as such. Though Gin still like to joke with him, he also knew when to keep his distance. Even Aizen seemed to interact less with Kuchiki.
"I have begun to research the ways to remove our item from Miss Rukia after you implanted it within her. We have time, seeming as the maturity of the piece will take decades, but I need you to take this list," Aizen handed a paper to Gin as he continued to move his calligraphy brush diligently. "and remove the people from it." Aizen had also obtained the habit of skillfully removing anyone who stood in his way of obtaining the proper information of object-removal from souls.
"Ya said I should come here for this?" Gin yawned.
"Not just this." Aizen peered up at his colleague through his thick-framed glasses. "Rukia heard every word exchanged between Mi and I last year. She must be punished for the eavesdropping. She can't go blabbing about how I treated Mi before she died. She could blow my cover sooner than what we're ready for."
"I thought the case was hushed up after…"Gin stopped himself. Hisana had been a deeper part of Aizen's plan than he had originally thought. Her death had been a speed bump in his planning and it enraged him to be reminded.
"It was quieted for the time being but with her proven ill health she was cleared of all charges, on the efforts of her husband, no doubt. Which means they will still find a suspect to put to trial whenever the case is reconvened."
"And how does this concern me?"
"You've always had an eye on her, Gin. I'm giving you the gift of taking your pleasure as her punishment. The object is inside. We can't kill her yet. You might as well do what you want now."
"I couldn't do that with the sixth lieutenant hanging around her."
"Then get rid of him, as her further punishment. Even better, I can do it myself while you're with her. I could torture him to see if he actually knows anything."
"I would prefer to do these things myself." Gin spoke in boredom.
"I don't care who does it or how. Just as long as she's scared out of her mind. Too scared to talk. I deduced that one street rat to another would ensure that the fear I need her feeling is instilled. I assume your people know how to threaten each other." Frowning mentally at the insult to his origins, Gin merely walked out of the office to obey.
As Rukia thundered towards her office, stripping down completely and changing into a spare uniform she kept in her desk, she groped around for a teacup so she could calm her nerves with something. The dumb new entry to squad thirteen had scalded her front torso with an entire cauldron filled with hot broth and her skin was still stinging. It had made her angrier than she expected.
"You ruined the lovely sight with your incessant rattling," Gin motioned, coming into her office. He bothered to shut the door behind him before he looked at her shaking hands that clutched a cup and a kettle.
"Now i-isn't the time, Captain Ichimaru."
"Now is the best time."
"Please!" She begged with tears in her eyes and he could see it wasn't caused by his presence this time around. The fact disconcerted him but he cornered her in her office nonetheless. "Aizen knew you were listening to his and Lady Mi's conversation last year in the ryokan."
"L-lady Mi?"
"A concubine to Captain Kuchiki."
"A concubine to-?"
"Yes, yes."
Peevishly she made sure her robes were tightly fastened and managed to pour her tea on her desk. "What will you do?"
"Honestly, I'm here to warn you."
"Warn me, why?" Her moon-sized eyes narrowed to slits. Gin's smile lessened in intensity and he reached out to touch Rukia's hair but she dodged. Her heart was racing in expectancy.
"Expect Captain Aizen to hurt Renji Abarai for your curiosity."
"Renji has done nothing wrong!"
"It's your association with him that endangers him."
"I don't know what I heard. It could've been any couple arguing."
"They aren't a couple."
"Then wha-"
"It's this curiosity that I'm speaking of. This is why he intends to destroy you if you don't give it up."
"Destroy me? You've come here to threaten me again. It's one of your favorite things- toying with me. Even though you can see I'm already in a bad situation." She shouted in rage at what he was saying, raising her hand to hit him. Gin stopped her attack calmly.
"As I said," His face was dangerously close to hers. "I came here to warn you. He wanted me to do other things to you. I am not doing those things now, am I?"
"What things?" Rukia growled, her arm shaking in the effort to take a swing at him.
"You need to put as much distance between you and Lieutenant Abarai as possible and as fast as you can. Make it look like you've never cared for him and do it quick. If you don't, Captain Aizen sends his regards. Not only that but he'll come after you and won't wait for Abarai to turn cold in his grave before he does you in."
"He means to kill me over a flimsy conversation with some woman he boned?"
Gin bent her arm back behind her and placed his other hand over her mouth as she screamed in pain. "Stop talking about that. It's why you're in this mess." His fun and games, his amusement, it was all gone now and what remained was even more terrifying. His frozen eyes stared directly into her own. He had the opportunity then to do what she knew he always imagined when he looked at her, and yet he did not. His gaze was chilling enough to look at, she wasn't about to read into them to uncover his true motives. He slowly untwisted her arm so that no permanent harm would be done and removed his hand from her mouth. "If you don't follow my generous guidelines I'll be back to complete everything I was originally ordered to do."
"Why do you care about protecting Renji?"
"I don't." Rukia eyebrows shot up.
"Then you're doing this for me? Why?" She demanded.
"From one street rat to another, I suppose." She gulped, not understanding him completely. Most Rukon people, the poorer ones, would never help one another out. It was basic survival of kill or be killed. His excuse made no sense. It also reminded her how precious her relationship with Renji was and just how much more she couldn't let go of him.
"So I'm supposed to believe that removing Renji from my life will save him?"
His trademark smile returned. "You can believe whatever you like. But you know what you have to do. Bye!" He left and Rukia plopped on her backside, unable to get her mind to process anything, scratching her head to figure out what has just transpired between them.
She didn't have much time to mull it over. But she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that Ichimaru was being truthful. There was malice in his intentions yet they weren't aimed at her.
Her shift was coming to an end and she quickly cleared out her remaining work half-heartedly. Once she finished, she walked slowly back to the barracks, replaying her conversation with Ichimaru over and over in her mind.
She didn't know the first thing about ending a relationship with someone she loved. She could follow in Kaien's path, and tell Renji there was another. But it would be a bigger lie and there was no other that she could prove existed or prove she loved more.
She also wished she had just went straight to get the towels that day at the ryokan. Another thing Gin had been right about was that it was her curiosity that had gotten her into this.
Rukia found Renji in her barracks, waiting for her in her room. As she walked in quietly she saw his face light up despite the exhaustion etched into his fine lines.
"Another long day, I see."
"I was at Captain Kuchiki's mercy, of which there was none to speak of. I suppose he was having one of his moods today."
"He has his moods every day." Rukia angrily reminded, grabbing Renji's stupid face and kissing him deeply. She pulled away and wiped the remaining saliva on his chin away with her sleeve. "You can't keep letting him push you around just because he's a moody bitc-"
"I take it you had a great day." Renji interjected smoothly, grabbing her pale hand and pulling her into his arms gently. She relaxed there for only a brief moment.
"Just like every other. Why?"
"I don't think I need to elaborate this one." She let go of a breath that she felt like she had been holding since the afternoon and shook her head, taking in his clean scent. Despite how tired he was after doing nigh impossible tasks for his bitter, brooding captain, he always managed to shave, bathe, and present himself nicely after his shifts. She appreciated his efforts and his affection for her so much it pained her to think of what she was faced with earlier in the day. She sat up straight in his lap and pulled his tongue into her mouth once more, putting his big mouth to good use. Rukia pushed him onto his back and he tried to pursue the subject as her caresses went lower. "Did someone piss you off?" Ignoring him she wiggled free from her uniform and untied his.
"I just want to forget about it, alright?" She snapped and he looked up at her in vexation but kept his mouth shut. During their intimate proceedings, Rukia couldn't help but let her mind wander. Laying beneath him, with her arms and legs strongly clasped around his torso, she felt emotional at the idea of purposely pushing him away. He was the one person who knew everything there was to know about Rukia.
And where would he go without her? Where would she go without him? They'd always been together even if it wasn't in the physical way. She couldn't recall a day before meeting Renji Abarai. In fact, her life didn't really feel like it had begun until she met him. They'd both made idiotic mistakes in the past but usually found a way back to one another nonetheless. Maybe they could still find a way to one another in the future.
Could she even shake him off her tail if she tried? He was so stubbornly loyal to her. Just like a dog. She couldn't see Renji running off after a shooing.
If she was to consider keeping him safe she would need a valid excuse to force him away and none of the ideas popping into her head ended with Renji believing her or being happy. Or her being happy, for that matter.
She wanted to keep clasping to him forever.
"Rukia?" Her whole body shook and she looked up at him.
"Yes?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" A cheeky grin stretched his mouth, showing his canines. "Could it be your thinking about how much you love me?"
"What?! NO! In your dreams!" She shoved him off aggressively, pulling the blankets around her. Scratching the skin beneath his chin, Renji sheepishly looked away from her.
"I didn't mean to make you so upset."
"Don't mention that again."
"…you mean the love part." He muttered weakly. Turning to see his expression her heart began to wane.
"Yes, I mean the love part."
"Don't worry. I won't." He laid down and gave her the cold shoulder.
"Renji," She reached out to touch his shoulder but he shrugged it away. "Fine! Good night you platonic ass!" She chuffed, pulling the blankets over her head and turning her back to him as well. "Two can play at that game." She whispered under her breath.
The realization struck her that this is exactly how they used to fight as children. Usually it was over Renji hogging all the blankets or something to that effect. Rukia giggled into her pillow and Renji snuck a look at her.
"What's so damn amusing, huh?"
"We're doing it again!" She laughed into her hand, turning completely to face him. He flopped on his side to look at her.
"You're so fucking weird, Rukia. What the hell are you on about?"
"You don't remember?" She ceased laughing and jabbed him in the rib with her bony finger. He cringed.
"Remember what?"
"When we slept on the same mat as kids! We'd always fight over the blankets and who got to have the pillow in the same way." Renji reached up to scratch his red hair and broke into a crooked smile.
"Yeah, guess so. 'Cept it's a little different now."
"How?"
"Well, we certainly never shared the mat naked." He pulled her by her waist so that he could take some of the blanket's warmth. "And you certainly never had those," he looked down at her chest and she quickly threw an arm around her breasts with a stern pout.
"Don't make me take a nut shot!" Rukia threatened and Renji rolled his eyes.
"It was a joke."
"You're the joke." Rukia playfully tore all the blankets away from him, hoarding them for herself.
"Come on, it's freezing outside and you are the one who likes the cold!"
"Payback for all the nights you stole the sheets from me," Rukia stated victoriously and Renji roared with laughter. Her heart drummed as she watched him happily cackle at the memory. Was this the last time she would get to make him happy? Her heart beat faster and she faked sleepiness to get him to sleep. After several long moments, she let out a deep breath and a tear. She stared at him, smiling as she tried to take in every curve of his face, taking a mental snapshot to have a happy memory fresh in mind for when she had to approach him.
Renji was still asleep. One of his large arms was still tightly wound around her waist and the light breath from his snores still tickled her ear. She usually felt contented and calm whilst in his arms but this morning was different. She felt sickened. She felt the hairs on her arm stand erect.
Her barracks were very quiet for an autumn morning when the lower, unseated officers such as herself were usually up early to clean. She slipped from her warm bed, tightening the sash of her robe and throwing a glance over her shoulder at Renji as he rolled over in a continuous sleep. She smiled and walked outside. There was no wind or sound, except for the sleepy cooing of an owl and Rukia stretched tall, emitting a loud yawn.
Footsteps rounded the corner at the same time. She turned her head and saw the twentieth seat coming straight towards her. He looked startled and excited simultaneously. With a hop in his hurried step, he bowed.
"I was the only officer awake so they sent me to fetch you."
"What's going on?" Rukia kept her voice low, not wanting to wake Renji. Catching the hint the twentieth seat lowered his own voice.
"There is a Kuchiki clan retainer here to see you. They want to speak only with you directly. They told me it was a private, family matter."
"A family matter?" Rukia's head spun and she numbly followed the officer back to Captain Ukitake's own office that was orderly and empty except for four men who stood stone-faced. Two of the men were extremely tall and stout; they stood on the flanks. An old, hunched man with glasses and facial hair stood in behind Captain Kuchiki himself. Though he wore silks instead of his Captain's uniform, he was still as unreadable as ever. The hunchback gave her a forced smile and she felt naked in only her night attire. The guards looked at Rukia with alarm as though they recognized something in her appearance. Captain Kuchiki stared directly at her but it was his steward that spoke.
"His Lordship, Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Division of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, has issued a certificate of adoption to one Rukia, of the Thirteenth Division. Upon signing this document you will become, permanently, a daughter of the esteemed clan, and the Leader's sister."
"I don't understand," Rukia susurrated, so light-headed she thought she would fall.
"I was perfectly clear. What remains to be seen is your answer."
Rukia was quiet, staring awe-inspiringly at Captain Kuchiki who looked back harshly, as though he'd rather decapitate himself than look at her for any longer. Which begged the question of why? Why? Why? Why was he doing this? Rukia's mind went blank under the exertion she put her mind to in trying to answer such a question. All except for one thought. This offer could give her the perfect excuse to push Renji away. He would be safe and she would be safe. They may not be able to speak to one another much until the whole thing blew over. It was too good to pass up yet her heart still ached sorely at the thought of what still lay before her.
"I appreciate the generous offer. I should like to accept." She faked a firm bravado and the steward, seeming just as shocked as she, passed the certificate to her. She went to her captain's desk that had been set up with the proper ink stone. She ground the inkstick to a fine black liquid. The room was totally silent and she was afraid to breathe. She didn't hear their breaths, only hers. Was she really that nervous? She took the brush, swirled it into the fresh ink and carefully signed her name on the formal document. She handed it to the hunch who bowed, acknowledging her new status' immediate effect. The flanked guards bowed as well and she, in turn, bowed to her new older brother shakily. Captain Kuchiki remained totally silent, tearing his eyes from her gratefully before whizzing out the door, moving on with his busy life as though adopting a commoner into a noble family was an everyday occurence.
Once gone, Captain Ukitake came through the side door into his office. Having heard the whole encounter, he was able to catch Rukia by the arm before she collapsed.
"I didn't think you'd say yes."
"I didn't either." Rukia panted, trying to calm the adrenaline rush within her.
"What will you tell Abarai?" She stared up at her captain with a shrewdness in her eyes.
"Nothing. He will not be a part of my life anymore." Ukitake nodded slowly in surprise, letting her stand on her own and leave the room. He shook his head with sadness for the man who was about to receive a deep blow.
Rukia did the unthinkable and allowed herself to finally, fully trust Ichimaru's words. She was going against her own moral fiber and had taken the time to rehearse and practice her conversation with Renji. As she walked into the room he seemed to be waiting for her to return. His toned arms crossed and uncrossed in a subdued fury. His beige robe was Rukia's gift to him. She had always joked that when he wore his flowery night robe that she felt like she was sleeping with a woman, considering his long hair and all.
The tan robe made him look more masculine and more commanding. With his inked torso, he looked like a very attractive gang boss.
"My captain paid you a private visit. Do you mind explaining to me what that was all about?" Rukia stood small before him. It was no longer just their physical height difference that made his presence so imposing on her.
"The Kuchiki clan wants to adopt me as their daughter." Renji scrunched his nose in disbelief, but giving her the benefit of the doubt, he willed himself to believe it.
"But of course you'll say no."
"I said yes, Renji." His arms dropped to his side and he stared at her in shock. He passed a hand over his stubbly face. He opened his mouth several times, but his loss for words prevented proper words from leaving his lips. The pressure intensified in the room as her plum irises stayed locked in on him.
"Er- that's not ideal. I can see the awesome benefits to being a noble. It might look a little strange to be in a relationship with my captain's sister, but we'll find a way to-" Rukia shook her head. He threw his hands in the air towards her. "Why did you shake your head at me? I'm not the one who went off and entered the Kuchiki clan. Why did they make such an offer to the likes of you? You're nobody to them!" Renji growled roughly. He shamefully avoided her hurt eyes after his statement.
"I don't understand their reasons. But don't you want me to have a good life?"
"Yes!" He sighed earnestly, trying to pull her into his arms longingly but her spine was rigid in defiance at his touch, her feet firmly planted in place. "I want to be the one to give everything to you. Don't you know that by now?" He shook her like a child.
"You can't give me anything." She said bitingly. He noticed her eyes could no longer meet his. "I came here tonight to tell you that I'm leaving in the morning…and…and I'm not coming back." He released her from his hands and took a step back as though she had just deeply driven a knife into his chest. His breathing grew hard.
"You're leaving me?"
"As a noble I can't be seen cavorting with commoners."
"C-commoners." Renji repeated, forcing a dry swallow. His eyes watered to his grand humiliation. "We are still friends, aren't we?" It was desperate, he knew. It was such a cliché to say and made him look like the beggar he once was, but he couldn't help asking. Rukia let out a choking sound and her own eyes were watery.
"We shouldn't speak to one another again." Renji's canines sank through the skin of his lower lip.
"Who put you up to this? The Rukia I know would never say things like this. Someone else has put these words into your mouth-"
"Goodbye. Renji." She turned and ran from the room. Tears spilled over the rim of her eyes despite her best efforts and she hurried away to conceal them.
Rukia wore her very best green robe when she arrived at the estate. She should've been impressed by the grandeur of the manor but she was doing everything in her power to not cry. The Kuchiki steward came over and greeted her with a deep bow.
"Welcome home, Lady Rukia. I've been ordered to show you to your chambers." She nodded for lack of what to do and dumbly followed the hunched old man. As they walked through summer gardens in full, grandiose glory, she noticed a circle of maids passing a ball around in boredom. None looked happy to be outside playing instead of working. The scene was entirely odd and unexpected. She kept looking at them as the steward guided her through.
"Pardon me-" The steward spun around and quickly bowed at the waist and she held up her hand in apology. "I didn't mean to have you bow!" When he didn't respond she looked awkwardly around for help but found no other souls than those of the maids across the gardens. "Please rise." The steward obeyed and looked at her. "Why are you acting like this?" Rukia's impulsiveness to speak was ruining her refinement.
"I am his lordship's retainer. You are his sister. You are the unofficial mistress of the estate." Rukia swallowed the nervous panic that came with his statement. She hadn't ever thought that she would have to run a household before. Let alone one the impossible size of the Kuchiki estate.
"I was only wondering why there are ladies maids if there is no Lady." The steward nodded as though it was the most natural question in the world and continued on leading her through the labyrinth of an estate as he explained.
"They served the late Lady Kuchiki. For their loyal service, his Lordship kept them employed." The steward's voice was considerably quieter as he said this.
At the mention of Captain Kuchiki, or Lord Kuchiki as she would now refer to him, she grew even more curious.
"Will I be allowed to see him? To speak to him?" Rukia was desperate to know why Captain Kuchiki of all people decided to adopt Rukia nobody into his prestigious clan. She had no affectionate, familial relationship with him. She had never spoken with him. She had seen only glimpses of him and heard bits and pieces of his character through Renji.
"One cannot say. After her death he hasn't spoken to anyone except to give orders."
"I didn't know. That's rather sad. He must've loved her-"
The steward spun around with a whisper "My lady!" Rukia jumped in fear of what she had done wrong. This was it. They were going to already banish her from the family. "You must never speak of Lord Byakuya's wife here again." The steward's shifty eyes unsettled her further. "It will greatly anger him if he hears. He has forbidden her memory."
"That's cruel. She was his wife." The steward shushed her harshly, looking around to make sure the maids nearby did not hear. The steward leaned in.
"He adopted you as his sister because you greatly resemble her." Rukia arched a brow in wild astonishment. She had been briefly told of Lady Hisana and how beautiful she was. There must've been a mistake.
"I…do?" She was in disbelief that that was the only reason he took her in. If he had forbidden her memory then why adopt someone who looks like her? The steward nodded. He seemed antsy and eager to drop the subject.
"Now come this way, miss, and see the marvelous rooms prepared for you…"
Author's Note: END OF PART II!
Part III is to come soon. Yes, it is NOT OVER. Hopefully this news leaves you confused. If so, then everything is going to plan and you have read everything correctly. Omg I sound like canon Aizen. MAYBE I AM! If I was a dude I would totally have a thing for Hisana. Talk about woman-crush Wednesdays, am I right? This is taking a really weird turn. Pabst will do that to you. . .
See you in Part III!