Itonami: I'm back with an actual story rather than one-shots. After reading 178 and 179, I just had to dedicate a fic to Byakuya and Hisana. Wow, even though it was short, the story was just so beautiful. I had to write something.

Hopefully, I get to finish this fic. I tend to start and stop some. Please read and review! Tell me if you like it or not!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach.

Chapter 1: Meeting Her

Kuchiki Byakuya gracefully strolled down a beaten path toward the meeting house in Inuzuri. He was asked to come, being the head of one of the four noble houses, to make a judgment call.

"To need me in such a trivial matter…" He trailed off without saying the last few words, as if it was too troublesome to waste his breath on them. His finely chiseled face was set in a small frown.

Random villagers bowed to him respectfully and made a path for the noble. He was wearing a black kimono and his traditional white scarf around his neck. The Kuchiki's tall regal figure stood out stunningly amongst the poorly clothed souls.

Once Byakuya arrived at the meeting place, a servant scuttled out nervously and bowed. "Kuchiki-sama, this way please."

Kuchiki took off his shoes and coolly waited as the servant scrambled to put it neatly with the other shoes. He followed the usher down the hallway and stopped in front of two beautiful mahogany doors, highly polished and clean. A pair of golden handles was turned and the doors were pushed open, revealing a long table with numerous people seated around it. All of them stood and bowed to Byakuya. He bowed in return courteously.

"What is the urgent issue?" He asked as he took his own seat near the head of the table.

An older man, one of Soul Society's elders, coughed and began to speak. "Now that we have our last member, let us begin. Bring forth Utaka Hisana."

The grand doors were once again opened and a petite figure entered between two guards. She raised her eyes and quickly lowered them; the room full of men seemed to make her uncomfortable and nervous. Hisana fidgeted with the coarse material of her kimono as she slightly shifted her weight from foot to foot.

Kuchiki raised his fine eyebrow. When his spoke, his deep, rich voice made her jump. "Who is she?"

Faces turned to look at him. He met all of their eyes one by one. Each one dropped their gaze. The elder at the head of the table spoke gently. "Utaka-san just recently died in the real world. Her mother's family was a well respected name around here, the Matamori family, but all of you know that the entire family had been wiped out by hollows.

"Since we can't have such a bloodline go to waste, I have called all four noble houses to request that she be married into one of your families."

An immediate tremor of murmurs and whispers made its way through the people at the table. Kuchiki took the opportunity to investigate the young woman. Standing, he made his way almost noiselessly toward her, who was too buy staring at the grains in the wood.

He did not disturb her study and actually did one of his own. Dark eyes searched her figure. The way she stood with small, delicate shoulders indicated she was soft spoken and gentle. Her arms were thin and her feet tiny. She had jet black hair, quite like his, and her ears were rightly proportioned with her head. Her head…was actually a little bit more on the large side compared to the rest of her body. A thick strand of hair ran over her forehead and off to one side of her small button nose. What was the most striking about her were her eyes.

They were a deep blue, almost a shade of violet, and they looked straight in to his unwaveringly, though they seemed to be a little shy. Hisana blinked but he didn't, and he let his charcoal orbs gaze straight into her heart.

Hisana didn't know what to do when she first noticed that he was standing not one meter from her. When she looked up (she had to considerably since he casually towered over her), the first thing she noticed about him was how flawless his face was.

It was smooth and angular, complete with a long sharp nose and a nice chin. The man's eyes were dark and mysterious and held a look of pride and energy. He wore a katana at his side which was partially covered by his lengthy white haori. When she took a step back, he took as step up front.

"Utaka…Hisana…" He said slowly, articulating each word carefully and smoothly. Byakuya's deep, velvet voice almost sent chills down her spine.

"Hai…?" Hisana answered, forcing herself not to pathetically stutter in front of such nobility.

"The others," he indicated to the other men by how his irises moved to the corners of his eyes to see them, "are discussing your marriage."

"I don't seem to have much choice." She offered up a smile, something that seemed to change the structure of her face. "A man explained that there are four noble houses. I am to choose the one I think I will be most happy with."

There was a note of sadness in her voice. Kuchiki nodded just slightly. "All will be well."

Hisana gazed up at him again, this time hope filling her eyes, as she bowed again. "Thank you, Kuchiki-sama."

He returned to his seat and sat calmly as he waited for the various discussions to close. The man in charge of the meeting stood. "It has been decided. A unanimous decision has been made concerning Utaka Hisana. Kuchiki Byakuya, we have chosen you to marry this young woman. Do you agree?"

Time in itself halted. Kuchiki stared at Hisana, who stood still with shock written all over her face. The declaration had taken him by surprise and he paused to consider what they had decided for him: a wife of no noble blood to bear his children and carry on the Kuchiki line.

But he dare not disobey what an elder asked of him.

"If Utaka-san will agree." He spoke softly.

All heads turned toward the woman and eyes drilled holes into her. Hisana gulped visibly. "H-Hai." She nodded hesitatingly

The tension in the room instantly released and everyone had smiles on their faces again. One by one, the men began to leave, congratulating Hisana and Byakuya as they went by.

Without meaning to, she smiled shyly up at him but Kuchiki pretended not to notice. He swept out of the room, briefly stopped to vaguely glance at her to make sure she was following him. She hurried after him, much like the servant man from before.

Upon reaching the outdoors, Hisana breathed in the fresh air and felt her body completely relax. She kept close to the tall man, two steps behind him out of respect, as they traveled up the path to the Kuchiki mansion.

The manor was a sight to see. It was enormous and explicate in every detail. The oriental porch was so clean she was afraid to trail in even the smallest amount of dirt. Hisana didn't dare touch anything once inside the huge house. Her husband-to-be led her down a series of long hallways and finally arrived at a private room. A shoji door stood closed.

"Grandfather, I have come to bring news."

For a long time, there was no answer until the door slid open and an aged woman stood before them. Her small, hooded eyes graced over Hisana and then to the patriarch of the Kuchiki house. She stepped back and Kuchiki entered first.

Byakuya knelt on the tatami-covered floor and Hisana did the same quickly. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye to follow his every fluid movement.

"Why have you brought her here?" A ragged, shallow voice rasped out.

"The elders have requested that I marry this woman into our family. She is from the Matamori family, a family long decimated by hollows."

A small grunt of recognition followed the mention of the Matamori. Hisana dared to lift her face a little to take a look at the old man speaking. He appeared so ancient that she was afraid he would collapse any second. His skin was wrinkly and brown and his face was almost entirely hidden by extended bushes of white hair above his eye sockets and below and above his mouth area.

"I knew a Matamori about two hundred years ago. An honorable man…talented shinigami…He saved my life countless times. He was my vice-captain." Each spoken word jiggled his beard in such a peculiar that made Hisana giggle.

The old man lifted his heavy eyebrow to look at her more closely with his dimming sight.

The young woman smiled shyly yet cheerfully that it took him by surprise. "You seem like a very kind person, ojii-sama. I wish to make you and this family happy. I wish to make Kuchiki-sama happy. I will do my best. Please, do with me as you like." She bowed kneeling, touching her forehead to the cool floor.

Byakuya stared at the female beside him with wide eyes. She just sounded so sincere and wise. He looked to his grandfather who was looking severely at the woman.

The old man spoke again. "Our Byakuya needs a woman like you. We will be proud to have you in this family. I will personally arrange the ceremony. You may go now."

Byakuya stood and bowed. He waited for his wife-to-be to get up which she did shortly. Instead of walking to the door, Hisana went to kneel once again before the grandfather and said, "Thank you, ojii-sama," and kissed the old man's balding head. She bowed again and left, leaving a shocked, flustered man behind in the room.

The couple walked down the hall way together. Now that Kuchiki took a closer look at his betrothed, she was tall enough to reach his shoulder. Not an hour ago did she seem smaller and even more petite.

He led her to a different part of the manor, the sleeping quarters. Byakuya slid open the door to reveal a very spacious bedroom with only a low desk and two dressers occupying it. He gave her a look. "This will be our bedroom. For now, you will sleep in the room next door."

Hisana looked at the room, knowing that in a few days she would be sleeping with a semi-stranger. She decided that she needed to get to know him a little before the wedding. After all, what else was a soon-to-be-bride supposed to do?

Before she could even open her mouth, he unknowingly cut her off. "Dinner is always promptly at six. You may walk around and familiarize yourself with the mansion. I have business to attend to."

Disappointed, she watched him turn on his heel and walk away, leaving her behind like politely discarded garbage. Hisana sighed and entered the room next door to his and looked around. It was only slightly smaller and an empty dresser kept to its place against the far wall. There was an oval mirror above the dresser and she looked into it, seeing her reflection. Her hair wasn't in its best condition. She would have to ask where the bath was later.

Hisana looked around the room and thought to at least get to know some of the people here. Walking around, there were many bodies ambling around, some conversing while others walked by themselves.

She tried to greet them but non would even glance her way. Hisana felt despair starting to rise within her heart and she knew not what to do with such feelings. The only time she felt like this was…how she regretted that day.

Her troubled mind came to rest when she came upon a small man-made stream in the backyard, just in view of her window. The young lady delighted in simplicities. Wrapping her kimono closer to her, she went out to meet the waters and sit by on the rocks. Like the stream, sudden bouts of tears slid down her face. It was near a stream where she had left. A body of water meant more people to find.

The sun was already setting when she became focused again. Hisana sighed and got up, a bit stiff from sitting down for so long. She bent down to swish her hand around in the little rivulet. It was cool and the touch of it reenergized her again. She felt better enough to take on what Soul Society had to offer.

"Come in, Utaka-san! You'll catch a cold!" A kind voice called from behind her. The petite girl turned to see a chubby woman waving to her.

"Hello! What is your name?" She called over as she walked up to the stranger.

"I'm one of the caretakers of this mansion. I'm Tsumoto Yukimi. Now, little lady, you shouldn't be outside all alone. Kuchiki-sama would be much displeased. It's almost dinnertime. I found out about the sudden marriage arrangements an hour ago. I was searching for you through the entire building! What a workout!" Yukimi was obviously the talkative type. Hisana liked that.

At dinner, Hisana was seated at the right of where Kuchiki Byakuya was supposed to sit. He was not there. Someone informed her that his division was taking care of some hollow business. The old grandfather from before was sitting at the other end of the low table, opposite from Byakuya. He was served first then, surprisingly enough, Hisana was served second. The food was delicious and she had to make a conscientious effort not to spill or start eating like crazy. Luckily, she survived through the dining and she watched as servants came to take her plates away.

"Byakuya isn't here, so I will announce his wedding engagement." The old man spoke from his end of the table. His voice was stronger now and less frail. It demanded respect and attention. "Utaka Hisana will be married to Byakuya in seven days. She is from the Matamori clan from one and a half centuries ago. I expect you all to welcome her. If you give her a hard time, I give her the right to come to me and tell me. Then, I will deal with you personally."

There was a chorus of 'hai' and they were all dismissed. The old man had to be helped up. Of course, Hisana was the first to be at his side to support him. When he was on his feet, he patted her cheek. "Byakuya likes to eat alone. He will be here. Just wait and see."

She nodded and bid him good night. Hisana took her place at the table and waited.

And waited…

Kuchiki Byakuya entered the dining room, the candles melting lower and lower. His keen eyes could barely make out the little form of his betrothed lying on her side, sound asleep. He frowned deeply. What was she doing here?

With a little bit of annoyance (he did want to eat), Kuchiki gently scooped her up in his arms easily as if she weighed nothing. He started to her room when she stirred. He stopped. Hisana blinked open her eyes and found herself in a place soft and warm. "Ku-Kuchiki-sama?"

"Why were you sleeping in the dining room? I have told you where your room is."

She blushed. "I waited for you to come home. I'm sure you're hungry, Kuchiki-sama."

"Go to sleep. I come back late every night. You should not stay up." He told her sternly yet gently, as he cradled her against him. He didn't know why he liked the feeling of her against him so much. He did not indulge in sexual emotions or actions.

"I have displeased you." She said angrily, mostly angered at herself.

"You have done nothing. Go to sleep." Kuchiki dropped her off at her room.

Hisana bowed to him and softly told him to sleep well. She would ask him what shinigami, hollows, and the third division were tomorrow.

After making sure she was in bed, he went back to the dining room where he was served fresh rice and side dishes. Byakuya sighed inaudibly. The number of hollows had been great that night. His division had barely handled it. It had only been a training session. In the end, he had to kill off the big ones so that his division wouldn't get wiped out.

He set down his chopsticks and stood. He would have to go out on a walk tonight. He was too tired to sleep and there were too much things in his head.

Author's notes: Well, my first chapter is done. I hope it didn't suck or anything. T-T I was thinking more on the lines of "sweet" or "cute." What do you think?

Next chapter: Finding Him