Itonami: Not too late with this! Hope you enjoy it since I think this is by far the worst chapter I have written so far. --;; Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but still…I'm not too proud of it.

Thank you so much for all of you who review this story! You guys are awesome.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Bleach.

Chapter 6: Marrying Him

The morning after Grandfather Kuchiki's funeral procession was an opening to a warm, cloudy day. Byakuya sat on the porch as usual, meditating quietly, his peaceful demeanor unchanging even as he felt the presence of grace behind him. Hisana knelt beside him and stole a glance at the handsome Kuchiki.

"Where were you?" He asked, the only thing moving being his mouth.

Hisana inhaled deeply the air around them. "I was talking to ojii-sama."

"What did he say?"

She giggled. "He kept asking when the wedding was going to be."

A small smile appeared on his face. "Aa."

"Byakuya-sama, could we venture into the village today?" She asked quietly. Lately, she became a little bit bolder but still retained her quietness about her.

The man opened his eyes and gazed at her. For a moment, she was facing the garden, but then matched his eyes and smiled. He couldn't refuse. "You should learn how to ride a horse by yourself."

His voice was almost teasing, as if he knew that she had been terrified when they galloped to shinigami headquarters. Hisana carefully moved in front of him, Byakuya's eyes following her every move. She reached out and carefully undid the noble hairpieces from his head and brushed down some of his natural bangs.

"You should learn how to blend in with the crowd."

It was a challenge for a challenge.

Hisana dressed in her plainest kimono while Byakuya also dressed in a plain kimono and a hakama aside from his usual shinigami uniform. She had first insisted that he wear just a kimono, but he had said it looked too formal. He made sure she was also taking a haori with her.

Once outside, they were greeted by two horses each with their own saddle and reins. Byakuya gestured to the horse nearest Hisana. "We will not ride fast. I will help you mount."

True to his word, he settled her on top of the horse, her legs on the right side of the horse so that she was sitting sideways. Byakuya let her hold on to the reins. "He is obedient. You won't have to worry."

Hisana felt like a princess in a fairy tale while she sat straight on her horse. Byakuya mounted his own and began to walk it toward the gates. Immediately, her horse followed as if it knew she didn't want to be left behind. The horses walked side by side peacefully into town.

Hisana found riding very easy and simple as long as it did not require riding as fast as a lightning. The Kuchiki halted. "The horses would attract too much attention, Hisana."

She laughed. "Byakuya-sama is taking my challenge?"

His angular face hinted of a smile. "I seem to have the more difficult part of the challenge. You learned how to ride a horse far too easily." He offered his arm, which she looped with hers and they walked into town.

"A charming couple…"

"Beautiful woman, isn't she?"

"Is that a zanpakutou at his side?"

"He is so handsome…"

Whispers and quiet comments reached their ears, but they did not care. Hisana spotted a stand with colorful treats on display. She eagerly tugged on his arm and led to the stand. It turned out to be a candy shop like nothing she had seen before and she decided that she had to try one for herself.

The excited young woman popped a pink candy in her mouth, savoring the sweetness that coated her tongue. Taking another off the stand she held it out for Byakuya, who looked at her as if she had gone insane. "Would you like to try one?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but she quickly replaced his words with her piece of candy. He tasted a sweet apple flavor. Hisana proceeded to buy a bag of the different assortment of candies. "I did not realize you had a sweet tooth."

She laughed softly as she held the bag to her face. "I guess I have been missing these."

They walked further, but the Kuchiki stopped at a stand which sold hairpieces. An ivory pin lay at the far right, among the more expensive articles. It was relatively flat and rectangular in shape with a rose carved into the surface elaborately. "Do you like that one?"

Hisana smiled and nodded. "It is beautiful, Byakuya-sama."

The shinigami captain temporarily disguised as a villager asked and paid for it. It was put in a box for him and he put it in his kimono. Arm in arm, they continued walking while looking at various items.

Hours and hours passed until the clouds grew darker and signs of rain began to show. Byakuya, aware of how weak she would become if she caught a cold, gently yet urgently persuaded her to start back home. Hisana reluctantly followed him. They passed by a group of woman carrying laundry baskets full of the day's shopping. A central woman seemed to hold the attention of all the others.

"But did you hear? The poor little baby that Tsumata-san found by the river was kidnapped!"

Hisana abruptly froze when she heard those words. Even Byakuya stopped to listen. The chubby lady who was speaking continued her gossip.

"Tsumata-san thinks that it was a person from a poor area since the only evidence that crazy kidnapper left was a footprint. Only the poor areas don't wear any shoes…"

Hisana's shaking hand could not retain a grip on the bag of sweet treats in her hand and so it fell, the candy shattering into millions of pieces. Her hand around Byakuya's arm slid away as she stepped forward and she could only think of one thing.

Rukia was alive!

She stumbled toward the middle of the street as her mind swam in her own guilt and sorrow. "Ru…kia…" She whispered painfully. A carriage clattered toward her and Byakuya had to grab and pull her away before she got run over.

Hisana pushed her body away from his firm chest and began to unsteadily jog, her head turning everywhere, trying to spot anyone with a baby in their arms. The skies opened up then, the rain drenching her suddenly, but she did not notice. The winds picked up, starting to howl around her.

Byakuya caught her by the wrist but she wrenched it away, turning to look for her sister. "Rukia!" She screamed into the wind.

Hisana continued running, her eyes squinting in the rain as people rushed past her to find shelter. "Rukia!" The sound of rain drowned her voice out.

Frustrated and worried, he quickly gathered her up in his arms. His action was met by powerful resistance and squirming as Hisana kicked and hit his chest, screaming at him to let her go. Never had Byakuya heard the petite lady raise her voice before.

"Rukia! I'm sorry! Come back!" She screamed again. There was no need to cry. The sky was doing everything for her.

Byakuya tightened his hold on her and this time, Hisana gave up and just remained still in his arms. Water soaked him to the core, rivulets of the rain running down his face.

In order to get Hisana back to the manor as quickly as possible, he used his incredible speed, shyunpo, to get to where he had left the horses. Mounting swiftly, he held the reins of both horses and let them away at a gallop.

When they were in front of the Kuchiki manor, Byakuya leapt off the horse with Hisana still in his arms and went to his room. His cold hands almost shook as they fumbled to get the wet haori off of her. He put down his futon and placed her on top of it. He covered her with a blanket and barely hesitated before reaching to undo the obi. He kept his eyes averted out of respect from her naked form as he carefully slid the sodden garments off of her.

He replaced her clothes with his spare yukata. The patriarch was shivering and he also got out of his damp clothes.

The room was warm and Byakuya grew warm with the temperature. He sat next to Hisana's still form, his brows twisted together with worry.

The Kuchiki thought back to what had happened. Hisana's sister, Rukia, had been found by the river, yet she was kidnapped, perhaps for ransom. But there was a chance that it could have been another baby besides Rukia. This would have been an acceptable answer to a simpler person, but Byakuya was not one to believe in coincidences.

He had a servant bring in some hot tea for the two of them, though he was the only who drank it since Hisana remained quiet for another five hours. It was after twilight before she got up wearily.

Byakuya helped her up and held a cup of fresh water to her lips. Hisana took a small sip and gently pushed it away. The yukata was too large for her petite form, but she didn't pay any attention even when it slipped off one of her shoulders.

He carefully readjusted it and brushed away some of her bangs from her pale face. Her blue-violet eyes were blank and empty, only showing the raw emotion of maddening sorrow.

"I've committed a sin far too great, Byakuya-sama. You best not marry me." Hisana said quietly, bitterness lacing her voice.

He took her hand, wary of the slight flinch at the contact. He tightened his grip. Hisana forced down a sob and rested her head on his chest familiarly. Byakuya was still holding the cup of water, but he gently set it down to wrap both arms around her frail looking body.

"It's so cold, Byakuya-sama." She whispered, her body starting to shiver lightly.

He covered her with his blanket and allowed her to remain in her position against him.

Hisana was feverish the next morning. It was just like…

Byakuya pushed the thought from his mind and refused to finish it as he asked some of the maids to take care of her. He had to go to a senior officers' meeting in the Seireitei. With a last, backward glance at his beautiful fiancé, he left without a sound.

At the Court, several captains were already there making small talk. The Kuchiki was almost surprised to see Ukitake Jyuushiro, the thirteenth division captain, there as he smiled pleasantly at Soi Fong. Byakuya made an effort to stroll in noiselessly and unnoticed by the others, but Ukitake raised his head from his conversation and spotted the silent noble.

"Byakuya, good morning!" He called out good-naturedly.

Byakuya only nodded his head once to acknowledge the greeting.

"How is Utaka-san? Is she faring well?" He asked.

It was of no one else's business to know what was going on in his household, but the sixth captain shook his head. "She fell ill this morning, senpai."

Jyuushiro frowned out of concern. "I see. I hope she gets better. When will the wedding take place?"

"As soon as the arrangements are made." He replied. Without really caring about manners, he turned away and walked a little further to his assigned spot.

The thirteenth captain wondered how long he himself had been captain which was long before his sickness. Come to think of it, the young Kuchiki leader had joined the captain ranks rather easily. Jyuushiro had not been surprised since he had seen the young man in the academy. He was not a rookie captain, but perhaps fresh out of the title. No one would have guess though, since he was as serious about his rank as any shinigami could get.

Ukitake snapped out of his pondering moment when Shunsui entered, forever wearing his flashy pink flowered haori. His friend's new vice capatain, Ise Nanao, entered a little bit behind him with a book dutifully clutched in her arm.

"Oi, Ukitake, have you met my lovely Nanao-chan?" He asked with his lips puckered out and his chocolate eyes sparkling.

"We have met, Kyrouraku, and I don't think she appreciates you calling her Nanao-chan." He said a little disapprovingly, but he turned to her with his usual grin. "I hope being vice-captain is not too difficult for you…" The conversation continued.

Byakuya waited impatiently for the meeting to start and his impatience showed on his by a furrow of his brows and the twitching of his hands which were hidden inside the sleeves of his uniform.

"Kuchiki-sama! Kuchiki-sama!" An unfamiliar voice shouted from the Court. A panicked servant from the Kuchiki manor came literally bounding up the steps. He was completely out of breath but relieved to have found his master. "Kuchiki-sama, Utaka-san is getting worse! Her fever has spiked!" He panted with his hands on his knees.

Without listening any further, he bowed to Yamamoto, who waved at him to go, and disappeared with a sigh of the wind.

The First squad taichou nodded gravely. "Let's hope that lovely woman gets better."

Byakuya had never used his highest capable shyunpo even when he was in the captain ranks so far, but he used it to get to the manor in under a minute. When he did, he was almost out of breath. His usually composed face was now displaying an array of emotions that made him look more vulnerable than ever.

He burst through the door of his room and found the maids quickly wiping the cold sweat off of Hisana's pale face. "What is happening?"

One of the servants bowed and shook her head. "Her fever sudden got worse. We don't know what to do."

After futile attempts to decrease her fever, Byakuya dismissed all of them and simply sat beside her again. He wrung a cloth waiting in a bowl of cold water and placed it on top of her burning forehead.

"If you give up now, I will not forgive you…not ever." He said, pushing away some of her bangs.

His only reply was her ragged, unsteady breathing. Hisana's body trembled as if she was fighting the illness in herself. And he held her hand throughout it.

It was another two weeks before Hisana was recovered fully. She was back to her smiling self and apologized to Byakuya profusely for not being able to recover quicker.

"Then get ready for a wedding tomorrow." He said as he handed her a wrapped box. She opened it to find the ivory hairpiece that he had bought week ago at the market. Hisana thanked him verbally and with a quick kiss on his cheek.

The wedding was quiet and many of the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants were in attendance at the reception to fully congratulate them. Hisana proved to be the perfect hostess and invited them all of the captains and vice-captains to a formal dinner.

"It is alright, isn't it, Byakuya-sama?" She asked, smiling in her beautiful white kimono. He, looking striking and handsome in his black wedding garments, nodded but remained in his stoic personality.

Unohana Retsu and Hisana struck up an instant friendship which Byakuya did not seemed to mind. The fourth division female captain was charmed by Hisana's wit and ability to laugh.

"I presume Kuchiki-taichou is treating you well, Hisana."

The petite woman could only reply with a broad smile. Retsu let out a soft chuckle. "I wish you all the best."

"Thank you, Retsu-san."

"And I will be monitoring your health from now on, Hisana. I heard about how much you struggled some weeks ago." She said firmly. "It would make me happy."

Hisana was extremely grateful for the offer. "I don't know what to say." She said while laughing.

"Just stay healthy, Hisana. I'm sure Kuchiki-taichou would want nothing more."

With Jyuushiro, Hisana was put at ease by his voice and friendly eyes. She didn't have to be quite so formal with him since he insisted that she did not refer to him as Ukitake-san. She also found out he had a sickness in the lungs that even with medicine and healing could not cure him of it.

"Hisana-san, have you been able to explore the markets?" Jyuushiro asked as Hisana handed him a cup of water.

She smiled. "Of course, though I haven't been able to go too far."

"Oh, I see, Kuchiki-san is too concerned with you wandering off too far?" He asked.

"Is your throat bothering you, Jyuushiro-san?" Hisana asked out of worry as she noticed his face constrict as he battled the urge to cough. The pretty woman patted his arm as he turned away completely to cough violently. The spasm racked his entire body and had to double over to lessen the pain in his abdomen.

"Is there something I can do for you, Jyuushiro-san?" She asked but he shook his head vaguely and he tried to regain his breath.

"Hisana." A familiar deep voice sounded from behind her. She turned while she was still patting the other man's arm.

"Byakuya-sama, Kaien-san was looking for you."

He nodded and gave her the barest hint of a smile which she returned fully and looked around to find Shiba Kaien. He walked away.

Ukitake got up and sighed. "Sorry about that, Hisana-san."

"No, no, it was you I was worried about. Perhaps this festive atmosphere isn't that great for you." She smiled through her concern.

"Go to Byakuya. I think he's getting a little antsy because I'm talking to you too much. I need to leave soon anyway." He gently shooed her away toward her husband.

Jyuushiro watched the Kuchiki wife brighten as she stood next to Byakuya while talking to his vice-captain. She was arm in arm with the groom and seemed to be so content with the man beside her. He smiled to himself and coughed lightly into his hand.

"A wonderful woman, that Hisana. Byakuya probably needs her…..more than I do." He sighed and disappeared from the crowd.

Author's notes: Mission chapter accomplished! A faster update than usual, I think.

Jyuushiro likes Hisana! When did that happen? Sheesh, I am too random for my own good. Just make a triangle with Byakuya, Hisana, and Kenpachi while you're at it! --;; Just shoot me.

Don't worry, though. It is just a one-sided Jyuushiro x Hisana. I never really intended for anything like this to happen, but it just did. If you'd like to see more of the triangle, just tell me. If you don't, only slight mentions of it will be in the future. Not much to worry about.

Oh well…. R&R! Thanks!