Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"Nii-sama... you wanted to see me?"
He was quiet, but Rukia could tell he was ready for her. She was a bit surprised when he sat down at a desk in his room, partially turned away from her. It wasn't the usual way he handled things, but Rukia didn't give it too much more thought than that.
She had never seen it before, but Rukia was not surprised that Nii-sama's room was less ornate than she would have expected. The far wall consisted entirely of cabinets and closet space. On the left side of the room, a large king-size bed was made with purple sheets and white pillows. It as a plum color that Rukia recognized, but she didn't know from where. On each side of the bed, matching nighttables with simple drawers held small lanterns, although they weren't lit at the moment. The wooden floor was made of undecorated bamboo slats that provided a measure of austerity. The wall on the right had a large mirror, with the desk underneath. On the far side of the mirror, there was a door; she presumed it led to his private bathroom. Sunlight filtered through windows above each nighttable. It was a large room; and she felt awkward being there.
Rukia expected to find him livid with her, but he didn't seem angry. In fact, he didn't seem particularly anything. Whatever he was feeling, it was locked inside way too deep. Even Rukia, who could read him better than anyone else in the world, had no idea what he was ruminating about; but whatever it was, Byakuya appeared to be lost deep inside his head somewhere.
When he spoke, his voice was eerily blank; almost as if the words came out like they had been strung together by random forces. "I made a promise."
She didn't know what he was talking about, but it was clear that he was troubled. Rukia was mystified as to what he wanted to talk about, and her anxiety was building. Nii-sama's promises were not always good things. She hesitated before speaking. "What are you referring to, Nii-sama?"
The thick silence hung in the air for a long time before he continued. "I am the Head of the Kuchiki House," Byakuya said, but his voice was uncharacteristically soft. It lacked the typical firmness and finality it always carried. "I have many responsibilities. Among them, I am obligated to look after my family."
Rukia wasn't sure where he was going with this.
"Rukia-san," he began, his voice uncharacteristically personal, "many years ago, I...." Byakuya paused, his eyes unfocused as he stared past her. Byakuya sighed and closed his eyes tightly, and Rukia could see his normal demeanor return. She didn't know what to make of it, but he was finally able to squeeze out what he had been trying to say.
"Many years ago," he began again, "when Hisana died, I cut out my own heart; never to see it again. I... I could live without happiness if it would allow me to live without sorrow." Byakuya paused to clear his throat. "I needed only two things: pride, and duty. With those two things, I could serve the Kuchiki House and the Gotei 13 with honor. But I learned only recently that without my heart, I... I could not serve my family."
Rukia's mind was spinning in a thousand directions. Trying to understand his intentions, she stepped towards him slowly. "Nii-sama -"
"Let me finish," he requested. Rukia was surprised - this was completely unlike him. He wasn't aloof, or cold, or seething; nor did he look at her with the slow, harsh stare that crushed you with its intensity. Rukia was the only person who knew him well enough to describe it - and to her, it made no sense. Nii-sama could never be like this.
Kuchiki Byakuya never appeared vulnerable to anyone.
Within seconds, his commonplace mask of stoic indifference returned; but Rukia had already seen the pain he had been hiding, and she had no idea what to do. She had never seen him like this. Rukia couldn't believe this was possible.
She tried again. "...Nii-sama...?"
He was silent.
"Nii-sama...?"
There was quiet for a long time. It may have been twenty minutes, Rukia was too disconcerted to even think about it. Finally, Byakuya stood up from the desk and faced her. His face was unreadable - even for her - but his eyes.......
His eyes were wet.
"I... I-- I am incapable of explaining myself," he admitted, his face indicating that he felt utterly pathetic.
Rukia's heart clenched at how pitiful he sounded. It was as if any pride he ever had was torn from him, leaving him like a destitute child with no one left to even hear him cry. "...It's okay, Nii-sama; really, it's ---"
"I am sorry, Im--- Imoto-san."
The words struck her.
An apology...?
Rukia forced back her discomfort and slowly advanced to him, each step cautious but brave, her feet marching their way until she was in front of him. Slowly, for fear of his response, she gently reached her hands up around his waist, and carefully pulled him into an embrace. Rukia could feel his arms finally settle around her shoulders, and for the first time, the brother and sister of the Kuchiki House shared a hug. Like family.
"Nii-sama," she whispered. His tears were falling onto her hair. For some reason, Rukia couldn't cry - she could only smile. Nii-sama needed her comfort, and she was the only one who could provide it. Rukia needed to be strong for him.
After a moment, he gently pulled away, and sat down on his bed. His eyes were raw with a deep, deep sadness, but he seemed to have found his ability to speak again. "I always see Hisana in your face. I sealed away my grief, and I feared that your presence would tear it open again. I closed my soul, and you have suffered. Hisana would never forgive me for what I have done to you. I have failed in my responsibilities and my duties, and I have utterly failed to fulfill my promise to her. I have not been the brother you needed me to be."
Rukia sat down next to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. So many things began to make sense now. The words flowed from her mouth naturally and instinctively, and she was pleased with how they came forth with genuine care and devotion. "But Hisana-neesama would remind you that you are still my brother, Nii-sama - and that I will always love you, no matter how many missteps you make."
To Rukia's relief, a smile actually came to his face. It was handsome. She could see how Hisana would have fallen in love with it.
They sat quietly for a few moments as Byakuya collected himself. When he stood up slowly, Rukia followed suit. "Please pardon me, Imoto-san; I did not invite you here to listen to my ramblings."
Rukia's heart twinkled. Is he actually going to start calling me 'Sister'? I never thought this day would come. I like it, she thought. "What is it, then?"
"A gift," he said, and brought her to the far wall of his room where the closets were. "Here - open it," he said, gesturing to one of the closets.
Rukia opened the closet slowly. Inside was a stunning red kimono that completely took her breath away. It was made of fine woven silk wth intricate floral patterns. Turning it, she could see that the weave of the silk had been crisscrossed into a large Kuchiki crest across the back. Threads of gold were stitched into the fabric, and the edges were lined with fine cashmere and velvet.
"It's--- it's beautiful, Nii-sama!"
His voice was unusually quiet and tender. "It was Hisana's bridal kimono. I would like to humbly ask if you would wear it for your own wedding."
"Of course!" It felt precious in her hands, like a treasure that would never be found again. "I couldn't think of wearing anything else!" and without thinking, she hugged him. He was startled, but didn't seem to mind. "Arigato, Oniichan." Rukia had never called him that before, and she was pretty sure she would never use the endearing name again; but it felt appropriate at the moment.
"Arigato, Imoto-san," he whispered. "It will honor Hisana's memory."
Rukia disentangled herself after a moment. Now was the right time to ask. "Nii-sama," she hesitated, "are... are you still mad at me?"
He was quiet for a minute as Rukia saw him formulate his words. "I have now learned from three women the value of being forgiving."
Rukia didn't completely understand that statement, but decided to use it to her advantage. Now was the only time she was ever going to get away with it. "Then please, Nii-sama - forgive yourself," Rukia prodded gently.
He sighed and closed his eyes. "I will try," he answered, although it sounded to Rukia like Byakuya believed it was an impossible task.
She hugged him again, worried that there may never be another opportunity for her to do so. They stayed like that for quite some time until Byakuya patted her on the back to get her attention. "I am sure you have somewhere to be," he said in a manner that indicated he clearly knew something she was forgetting.
A wave of awful guilt crashed over her. "Oh no! Momo-chan! I was supposed to meet her for lunch! I'm soooo late!" She didn't want to leave Nii-sama at the moment, but if her suspicions were correct, Momo wouldn't be the only one waiting.
He nodded with a genuine smile. Rukia was sure he didn't want anyone else to see that particular gesture. "Go, Imoto-san."
"Hai," she answered with a warm and endearing grin, and flashed off in shunpo.
***
"Aw, damnit," she swore under her breath. Hinamori wasn't in her office. "HITAMAKE-SAN?" she called out. "ARE YOU HERE?"
She heard the toilet flush, and a minute later he came out of the bathroom. "Kuchiki Fukutaicho," he greeted her with a salute. "Hinamori-san went looking for you. She thought you might be with Komamura Taicho."
"Ugh. Thanks," and she flashed off towards the 7th division.
***
"Iba Fukutaicho!" she called, spotting him by the 7th division barracks. He was sparring with Madarame Ikkaku, although 'barbaric bar brawl' would have been a more fitting description.
"Huh?" he answered, receiving a whack in the face with Hozukimaru for losing focus.
Rukia interrupted the shouting and swearing between the two testosterone-fueled idiots that followed. "Did Hinamori Fukutaicho come by here?"
"Yeah, she was looking for you," Iba answered. "Last I saw, she thought you may have gone to see Ise Fukutaicho about wedding plans."
Wonderful. Wild. Goose. Chase.
***
"Momo-chan? Nanao-san? Are you here?"
Kyoraku picked up his head from his desk. "Rukia-chan? Come in," he called.
She opened the door to his office. "Sorry to disturb you, Kyoraku Taicho. Do you know where either of them are?"
"Momo-chan was just here looking for you. Nanao-chan said to check to see if you were still at Kuchiki Manor."
Rukia sighed. "Where's Nanao-san, then?"
"Dunno, I fell asleep."
***
Rukia flashed up to the front gate. Tori was waiting for her. "Rukia-sama! Hinamori Fukutaicho came here looking for you. I told her to wait for you in the dining room, seeing as how it's around lunch time."
"Thanks, Tori-san!" Rukia flashed her way there.
***
The door to the dining room was locked. Huh? "Momo-chan?" she called.
Shiba Kuukaku opened the door. "It's about goddamn time you got here, sweetcheeks," and before Rukia could ask, she tossed her (one-handed, of course) flat onto her back into a large pile of pillows in the middle of the dining room.
The room has been cleaned out and filled with familiar faces. Rukia looked up from the floor to see Momo giggling. "Let me guess. Bridal shower, right?"
Matsumoto's strawberry blonde hair came into view. "Makeover time!"
Oh god, please no.
This Bya/Ruki scene was by far the hardest to write in the entire trilogy. After feedback from Act II, that scene underwent nearly seven rewrites until I was okay with it. I'm still a bit unhappy with it. Feedback on that scene in reviews would be very, very helpful; but please, constructive criticism. Telling me 'bya wud nvr do dat u doofus' is not helpful. :)
~~Crossover Cup!~~
Today's special guest: Shinigami-sama, from Soul Eater!
SS: Hey, hey! How's everybody doing?
Nathan (surprised): Lord Death! It's an honor to have you - what brings you to our program?
SS: I heard that we were giving Rukia-chan a makeover, yah, yah!
Nathan: Well, we'll get the details next chapter, but can I ask why you're so interested...?
SS: Of course, Nathan-kun! You see, I myself can attest to the transformative power of a makeover!
Nathan: ...Really?
SS (puts on old mask): See?
Children in audience: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!
SS (puts on new mask, chuckling nervously): Sorry, sorry!
Nathan: Er, uh... nice to have you Shinigami-sama, but it's time to go - see you next time everybody!
