A/N: This is a direct continuation to Chapter 27.
Verse: 'Half-Canon'.
The room was bright with sunlight—so bright that it pierced through her drowsiness like a knife. It was a jarring contrast to the darkness she'd fallen asleep in last night, and Hisana realised with a jolt that she must have slept right through the night.
Blearily she turned her ebony head on the pillow, only to see a tired-looking Akari sitting on a zabuton by her bedside. The handmaid perked up the moment she noticed that Hisana had awoken, and she clasped both hands together.
"Hisana-sama!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with relief. "You're finally awake. Are you…" She hesitated, then said, "Are you feeling all right, Hisana-sama?"
Hisana pushed her comforter down as she sat up sluggishly on the downy futon, one hand rubbing the grit of sleep from her eyes. To her bemusement, Akari leaned over hastily to help her up.
"Of course I'm fine," Hisana answered, puzzled. Other than her lethargy, she felt no different than usual. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She cast her violet gaze around the otherwise empty room. Judging by how bright the sunlight was as it streamed through the shoji screens and the transom windows above the fusuma panels, it was probably noon already. She was astounded and chagrined by how late she'd awoken. Her husband was obviously long gone by now, given that he rose at the cusp of dawn almost everyday for the Sixth Division.
Hisana flinched. The memories of what had transpired yesterday hit her back in full force, and it took everything she had to stay upright on the futon. She couldn't believe she'd completely forgotten about Kuchiki Nanami's visit, and the subsequent conversation they'd had together.
Nanami was still awaiting Hisana's reply. Hisana had promised to answer Nanami's proposal today. She felt sick just thinking of it.
"Hisana-sama?" Akari must have noticed the ashen tinge on Hisana's face, for she looked both worried and frightened. "I—I'll call the physician. Byakuya-sama already has him on standby, so—"
"I'm fine," Hisana cut her off shakily. She was confused as to why her husband had placed the physician on standby, but she brushed her bafflement aside. Right now the only thing that filled her mind was Nanami's impending proposal. "I… I need to go to the branch family's residence."
Akari's eyes turned twice their normal size, and her mouth fell open.
"You can't, Hisana-sama," she said. "The branch family is currently under house arrest. They are not allowed to leave their residence or receive anyone other than the Head of the family."
"What?" Hisana's brows drew together in perplexment. Ever since she'd awoken she'd sensed that something was amiss, and she was determined to get to the bottom of it now. "Why is the branch family under house arrest?"
"I'm not sure, Hisana-sama," Akari admitted. "All I know is that Byakuya-sama went to the branch residence last night. I don't know what happened over there, and why he issued that order."
Every drop of Hisana's blood turned to ice in her veins. She froze, her muscles locking up with sheer, unadulterated horror.
Byakuya had gone to the residence of the branch family? It didn't make sense; she'd retired to bed with him last night. Why had he left in the middle of the night to see the branch family?
It had to have been for something urgent. Either that, or he'd wanted to visit them while Hisana had been asleep. If he'd spoken to Nanami, it meant they must have discussed the prospect of his having a concubine. Nanami was desperate for him to take one to further the Kuchiki bloodline, and she would definitely have mentioned it to him.
It was one thing for Hisana to respond to Nanami's proposal. It was another for Byakuya to make the decision himself.
Obviously his input would eventually have been required either way, but the former had granted her a false sense of control over the situation. All of that control would cease to exist once he made his decision. There was nothing she could do now but wait for her husband to inform her of his plan to take a concubine. Like it or not, his word was law in the Kuchiki House, and she would have to accept this horrible, nauseating reality upon his return.
Yet regardless of his decree, she would never have allowed herself to deprive him of what he needed. If she was unable to fill that need for him, then who was she to deny him access to other sources?
Acidic bile climbed her throat, and Hisana blinked back hot tears pricking the back of her lids. In contrast her bones felt unbearably cold as a frisson of fear and panic blossomed in her chest, and she was suddenly struck by an overwhelming urge to flee. If she was gone when her husband returned home, he couldn't impart the news of his decision to her, could he? What if—and she couldn't help thinking it despite herself—she chose never to come back? Then she'd never, ever have to hear his decision.
She hadn't changed at all from the person she'd been when she'd abandoned her baby sister. The discovery almost made her laugh. She was still a coward that turned tail and fled whenever things were dire.
"Hisana-sama?" Akari looked uncertain. "Are you all right?"
Hisana stood up from the futon. She was vaguely aware of her diminutive hands trembling, but she ignored the sensation.
"I'm fine," she said. "I'm heading to the Rukon District."
"What?" Akari leapt to her feet as well in alarm. "No, no, Hisana-sama—you can't. Byakuya-sama made it clear that you are not to leave the Kuchiki Manor today."
Hisana tensed in surprise, but steeled herself and made her way fixedly to the built-in wardrobe on the left side of the room. "It's fine. I'll be back when he returns."
Only she wasn't quite sure even to herself if she was telling the truth.
"Hisana-sama!" Akari sounded horrified as she scurried swiftly after Hisana. "You really can't go—this is Byakuya-sama's order!"
Hisana slowed. The audacity of what she was doing sank in then, and she bit her lip. Never had she outright disobeyed the Head of the Kuchiki House before, at least not to this degree. Even when she'd acted against his wishes she'd always entreated him for his approval first. She knew that no one else in the family ever dared to act against the Kuchiki Head's orders. If they did, the consequences were severe. Her husband was not known to be a forgiving man.
But she couldn't stay here. She couldn't sit around all day waiting for him to come home and drop the news. She would go mad. She needed to do something—anything—to take her mind off her impending nightmare this evening. The Kuchiki Manor, her home and sanctuary for so long, felt almost like a prison now, one she had to escape.
For the first time in her life, she actually feared Byakuya's return.
Hisana slid the shoji door of the built-in wardrobe open, ignoring Akari's cries of protest. She carefully rummaged through the immaculate pile of expensive silken clothing neatly folded inside the closet, then tugged out the cheap ginger robe and green sash that she always wore whenever she left for the Rukon District.
"Hisana-sama," Akari tried again. "Please stop. You can't leave…"
Hisana undid the cord tying her one-piece hadajuban together, then stripped herself bare. The handmaid looked beside herself with a mixture of horror and anxiety; her hands were floundering and flailing helplessly at her sides as she watched Hisana change into the ginger-brown robe.
Hisana almost wanted to comfort the handmaid, but she was too distraught by her own situation to care. Nudging past the other girl, she went into the bathroom to wash up. She was vaguely aware of a stricken Akari pleading her not to go as she splashed water on her face, but she tuned the handmaid's pleas out. Once she'd cleaned herself thoroughly, she left her quarters with her poor handmaid running desperately after her.
She had just stepped past a bend in the corridor when a familiar tall, snowy-haired figure materialised before her, and she stopped short, startled by the unexpected sight. Akari, too, came to a gradual halt beside her.
Seike Nobutsune lowered his silvery head respectfully at Hisana, his eyes sombre behind his round glasses.
"Hisana-sama," he croaked, bowing. "May I know where you are headed to?"
Hisana bit the inside of her cheek hard, then released her breath jerkily as she spoke.
"I'm going to the Rukon District," she replied calmly, keeping her soprano voice as neutral as she could despite the ugly emotions brewing within her. "Is there a problem?"
Seike dipped his pale head apologetically at her once more.
"When Byakuya-sama departed this morning, he left an order for Hisana-sama to stay in the Manor today," he said throatily. "Therefore, I am afraid Hisana-sama cannot leave."
Hisana's miniature hands bunched into fists. The feeling of being imprisoned here heightened, and she was suddenly so, so sick of the laws governing the Noble Kuchiki House. She was sick of their endless expectations, all of which she did not meet, and never would. She hated their need for an heir, their need to protect their prestigious bloodline, and their need to punish her for it.
She was so sick of knowing that by the end of the day, her love for Byakuya would never be enough.
"I'm leaving," Hisana said, aware of Akari audibly sucking in her breath. "Are you going to stop me?"
"I do not wish to come to that," Seike answered.
"Then don't," Hisana forced out. "You…" She faltered, then squared her petite shoulders as imperiously as possible despite her racing heartbeat. "None of you have the authority to stop me. Only Byakuya-sama does, and he is not here."
An instant silence greeted her words. It was suffocating, but she kept her composure despite the urge to squirm. She didn't remember ever exerting her power as Lady of the House like this before. Second only to her husband, her power reigned over the entire Kuchiki House, and even over other lesser nobility. It was a power bestowed on her by Byakuya, a power she had never felt deserving of, and thus a power she'd never dared to use to her advantage.
But now… she was beyond desperate.
Not wanting to look at any of them, Hisana resumed her walk down the corridor, her footsteps slightly unsteady on the wooden floor. She stepped around Seike, waiting for him to say something to stop her from fleeing, but there was no sound from him or Akari.
There was still no sound from them even as her footsteps quickened down the corridor. She didn't look back; she just kept walking faster and faster until she was almost running.
It was exactly as she had done with her sister all those years ago.
The streets of Seireitei were incessantly chaotic and loud. Rows of vendors stationed along the alleyways were boisterously crying out the prices of their goods to the chattering hordes of residents—Shinigami and non-Shinigami alike—passing by. The hubbub was stark in contrast to the peace and quiet of the Kuchiki Manor, and the change always took her time to adjust whenever she left her opulent home.
Now that it was spring again, flowers had bloomed abundantly on the tall rich trees adorning the streets. What stood out and caught her eye were the bright pink cherry blossoms that further lit up the vibrant, bustling lanes of Seireitei. If not for the similar—if not more majestic and lavish—scenery on the vast grounds of the manor, she would have been even more awestruck. Ambling along the open streets now she saw lovely cerise-and-white petals strewn delicately on the calm lakes that stretched across paths and wound between the towering white edifices that comprised Seireitei. A light breeze swathed her skin, and she tilted her ebony head back, letting its airy coolness filter through her mussed hair and reinvigorate her spirits.
"Ojō-chan!" One of the vendors called to her then with a radiant beam on his mustached face. "Welcome back! Would you like another hairpin this time? We have more flowers now—peonies, roses, lilies—"
Hisana smiled gently at him. Even if she wanted to purchase from him today, she couldn't do so this time. Considering how she'd unceremoniously fled the manor earlier, Akari had not been given the chance to pass her the usual kinchaku bag packed with coins.
"I have no money," Hisana told the vendor kindly. "So I'm afraid I can't buy anything."
Following her statement came the hiss of disbelieving whispers behind her, and she turned to see two red-lipped women dressed in expensive, elaborate kimonos standing together. Their inked brows were raised incredulously as they took her in, and she realised how shabby she must look without the slightest bit of makeup on and in her plain cheap ginger robe. It was a garment specifically modelled after her old clothes back when she'd lived in the Rukon District, only without the tatters and holes. She couldn't return to the Rukon District in the silk clothes she normally wore in her new home—that was akin to painting a bright arrow on her head for money-hungry thugs in Hanging Dog to target.
"No money?" one woman muttered to the other hushedly, but not so softly that Hisana couldn't overhear her. "How did someone from the Rukon District manage to sneak in here?"
"Who knows? Some of them tend to slip through the cracks at the gate," the second woman responded derisively. She approached the mustached vendor and carelessly tossed several coins at him. "Give me the peony hairpin."
Sighing inaudibly to herself, Hisana tore her eyes away from the vivid display of accessories in front of the vendor and trudged forward. She had taken no more than a few steps forward when she heard the two women behind her inhale sharply.
Hisana twisted her head around quizzically at them. Their heavily made-up eyes were riveted to something ahead of them, and she shifted back around, following the direction of their scrutiny.
It was then that all of the air seemed to desert her lungs.
A small group of Shinigami had emerged from a corridor ahead of her on her left. At the forefront of the moving group were a Captain and Vice-Captain, as evident by the respective white haori and Vice-Captain's armband that each figure donned. But none of that was what chilled her to the bone. Oblivious to the sudden lull around her vicinity, she opened her mouth weakly at the hauntingly familiar sight of long fluttering windflower silk in the distance.
He hadn't seen her. Surrounded by all the colourful kimonos in the crowd, she faded into obscurity easily enough. And yet even in spite of that, her terror rose like a tidal wave. She knew all too well that she should not be here. It had been one thing for the household to stop her.
It would be another if the Kuchiki Head—who had ordered that she stay in the manor—found her here himself.
Hisana stumbled around, brushing past one of the women behind her as she took off in a wild sprint in the other direction. She ran as fast as she could through the dense throng of people, her heart beating so maniacally in her chest she thought it would burst. She couldn't remember the last time she'd exercised as vigorously as this, but she pushed on determinedly, weaving past startled passersby and into numerous interlinked alleyways.
It wasn't long before she had to stop from sheer exhaustion—her battered lungs felt like they were about to give way inside her—and she stumbled gracelessly into a deserted corridor. Placing one small hand on the white bricked wall to keep herself upright, she closed her eyes and gasped violently for breath. Sweat had broken out all over her slight body, and a tiny bead of it trickled slowly down between her breasts.
Despite her intense lightheadedness from lack of air, she felt somewhat reassured and relieved. She knew she'd bolted quite a distance before she'd succumbed to her short-windedness. With that thought in mind, she opened her eyes wearily again.
Her relief dissipated as quickly as it had come.
A long dark shadow had fallen over her feet, dimming her surroundings. Her lashes were sticky with perspiration, and she blinked them rapidly, trying to process the sight before her. Already she could feel her throat closing up and her airways tightening at the ominous feeling in her gut—she didn't need to look to discern the source of the shadow. Ever-so slowly, almost reluctantly, she turned her head, and her mouth went dry at the tall elegant figure before her.
The breeze intensified then, ruffling the thick inky locks of her hair gently. The ends of the newcomer's silvery windflower silk scarf rose and fluttered serenely in the air, almost brushing the pale porcelain cheeks of Hisana's face.
Her lips gradually parted as piercing slate grey eyes bored right into her dilated violet ones, and her voice came out choked.
"B—Byakuya-sama…"
:tbc:
