Chapter Twenty-Two:
Heather's POV
"I'll see you at home," I told Rose and kissed his cheek, he smiled before nodding and walked into the direction of his division. I turned my attention to Captain Kuchiki whom watched the man leave. "Are you sure you don't want to live in your division's barracks?" he asked me with uncertainty in his voice. I nodded, knowing where he was going with this. We had been having the same conversation since Rose asked me to move in with him. "I'm sure, you don't have to worry about me anymore. I don't think that I can thank you enough, Captain Kuchiki." I told him truly grateful for all that he had done for me even now when he really did not have to. "There is a way." he stated softly and that piqued my interest. "What is it?" I asked curiously. The captain informed, "I need you to talk to Byakuya. He seems off since you announced that you were leaving." I thought over the request and nodded slowly then replied, "Yeah, I'll see what I can do."
I walked over to the training grounds and found him not there. I shrugged that off. He was supposed to be acting strange, so I hardly thought he would be training. I wandered around all angles of the manor and still no sign of him. I had no choice but to walk into the Kuchiki family tombs. I never wanted to go to this part of the grounds. I didn't think it was my place to go in, too personal. I saw him finally. He was sitting in front of a pair of graves just staring at them. I knew I had to talk to him now. This was not strange, it was mildly grim. "Hey." I called out softly. He did not look at me when he asked, "Come to say you're leaving?" "You know it's not forever, right? We can visit each other." I told him. He was quiet for a few moments and I invited myself to sit next to him. Out of all four years of knowing him, Byakuya never seemed so sullen. "Why do you have to leave? I never see people after they leave." he told me. I looked to the graves and frowned. So that's what his mood was about. "Because I'm back on my feet and fully grown." I replied softly. "But you're a part of our family." he argued. I smiled and couldn't help but to hug him then I explained, "I know the feeling, Byakuya. I love you guys, you and Ginrei both, but I can't stay forever." "But why? Why can't you stay forever?" he demanded. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. "I know what you're going through. I had a lot of people pass away." I motioned to the graves of his parents and continued, "I lost contact with so many others or just had them flat-out walk out on me. It feels like you can't get attached to anybody, even makes you a little afraid to make a new friend. Don't worry, I am three divisions away, a couple doors down so to speak, and I will visit as often as I can." "What if you forget?" Byakuya asked skeptically. "How could I forget you? You're like a brother to me, I ain't leavin' you behind." I replied.
Bya's face perked up a little and he questioned, "You mean it?" I cocked my head back and asked, "When was the last time I steered you wrong?" He gave me a smile and sat up a little straighter. "I guess you have a point." he replied more confidently. I smiled back and stated, "That sounds more like the Byakuya I know."