DISCLAIMER: Bleach is owned by Kubo Tite. At long last, he had brought Rukia back. Let's all do the dance of joy! Hehe.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Minna-san, I'm sorry if it took me a loooonggg time to update this fanfic. Writer's block and school had gotten in the way. Grrr! But mostly it was the writer's block. But it only took Chapter 195 of the manga for me to get back into the groove again. Talk about major inspiration. :)

Thank you to the following reviewers: Soten, Ringo Onohara, Incandescent One. And of course, my special thanks to the people who made this fanfic one of their favorites. I'm deeply honored, I'll try my best to write good chapters. Mochi ice cream for everyone! Hope you enjoy reading this one. Ja!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Torasuto

Kuchiki Byakuya shouldn't feel uneasy. After all, he was the kind of person who could mask emotions and tuck them away in the deep recesses of his soul. He was unfathomable and he liked it that way.

But little did he know, his eyes betrayed what he truly felt inside. For every time he remembered distant memories, those seemingly unmoving black orbs become clouded with longing and pain. For every time he thought of the people he should protect, a hint of softness passes through them giving his usual stoic face a faraway look.

'Rukia,' he involuntarily thought, looking up at the blue sky of Sereitei like he was waiting for an invisible door to open. But he shut his eyes as if he knew they had conspired against him.

He shouldn't feel uneasy, he said to himself.

It had been a week since Rukia left for the living world. He remembered he had objected to it harshly. The very idea that she wanted to go back to the place that brought her only sadness and betrayal repulsed him. Why couldn't she just forget that world and be content where she belonged? She had her life back.

But he knew she wouldn't be deterred. Her eyes held the look of earnest determination and utter defiance that he had never seen before in his adopted sister. Yes, she had dared defy him for the first time in years.

Yet despite his anger and anxiety that day, he couldn't help but feel relieved and thankful at the same time. Relieved at seeing his sister bounce back from the horrible ordeal she had been through not too long ago. Thankful that the spark of life had re-ignited within her, showing her will to live once more.

Six months had passed since that event. He recalled how painful the first few weeks for her were like. He knew how she struggled to bring herself back to normal despite the lost of her shinigami powers, her imprisonment and death sentence, Aizen's evil revelation and the separation from the ryokas who saved her.

'For her, the latter was probably the most difficult to deal with,' he thought. He had sensed that she had grown fond of the ryokas, especially the one with the orange hair.

He remembered how she had stood calmly as they walked out the door that led to their world and smiled like she didn't have any regrets. But she was the last to leave even after the door had completely disappeared. She stood there, transfixed by the memory of her friends leaving, and he wondered if she really wanted to stay behind.

During the days after that, she immersed herself doing simple duties around the Kuchiki household. He could see she had been trying very hard to be busy and cheerful around him but he could feel her strained effort and seeming hopelessness. He became terribly worried, though he didn't show it.

But as weeks went by, his worries eased as he saw her resilience and tenacity shine through the gloom and helplessness. He believed these traits had made her strong to survive the things that had happened to her. So slowly but surely, she picked up the shards of her existence and began to piece them together. Her countenance changed and he knew she was ready to move on.

One day, he saw her practicing with a wooden sword, her face grim with determination. She slashed and cut the air with such enthusiasm but he could sense that her spirit powers were still weak. She was panting from her effort and was barely able to keep the wooden sword in her hands. She slumped on the floor in frustration, her head bowed low.

"Rukia," he said, gently.

"Nii-sama," she replied, her voice clearly startled at hearing her brother's voice. She quickly stood up to acknowledge his presence, while trying to hide the wooden sword behind her back. "I…I didn't know you were there."

"I see, you have been training hard," he said, eyeing the wooden sword Rukia was trying desperately to keep away from his view.

Rukia just nodded, half-expecting her brother to scold her and tell her that it was a waste of time, that she should just give up and become a fine Kuchiki noble woman instead. But she shook the thought away from her mind. This was her brother, the one who told the truth about her life, and the one who took on Ichimaru Gin's blade to protect her. The most cold, emotionless person she knew was now the caring brother she had always wanted. There was no doubt in her mind that he would say no such things to discourage her.

"I wanted to keep my strength up…" Rukia said. "So that when my powers come back, I would be able to use it."

Byakuya just nodded, his eyes softening at the thought of his sister's inner strength. He wanted to say more but feared that he might end up saying something that would dash her hopes to pieces. Despite her stoic façade, he knew his little sister could be as fragile as delicate china.

"I've been summoned to a captain's meeting," he said instead, trying not to sound pompous or arrogant.

Rukia nodded in understanding, averting her eyes to avoid her brother's gaze. She didn't want him to notice the longing on her face, the same longing to get back to her duties as a shinigami. She had been wanting to for a long time but she knew only too well that she couldn't. She was still weak. But this didn't stop her from feeling ashamed at being only a burden now to the Kuchiki family.

But Byakuya didn't need to see. He felt it, felt that helplessness hanging onto his sister's every word and every action. He turned to go, not wanting her to see his worried look. He wanted to say something that would reassure her and give her back her self-worth but he couldn't find the right words.

And if he had the right words, he was still afraid that his delivery would only make matters worse. Indeed, decades of his cold image would not be melted in one day. So he, too, needed to take things one step at a time. But he stopped by the door and said, "Don't push yourself too hard."

"I won't, Nii-sama," Rukia said, smiling at her brother's receding figure. 'Thank you for showing me strength,' she thought and resumed her training.

At that time, he knew she was going to be all right and that gave him peace of mind. So he made a point to watch her progress as she trained harder each day. It was quite reassuring for him to feel that her spirit powers were gradually coming back. Maybe it was time for him to step in.

It was during one of those wooden sword trainings that he found her on her knees, clutching the ground in frustration. Beads of sweat trickling down her tired face and her eyes were tightly shut. The wooden sword was a few feet away from her.

"What am I doing? I'm just kidding myself," Rukia said in a broken voice. "No matter how hard I train, I could feel no change in me. I can't even keep a wooden sword in my hand. It's no use. I'm never going to be a shinigami again. How can I protect the people I care about?"

Tears of anguish began to fall from her closed eyes. She didn't want to cry because it would mean that her heart had defeated her body; that everything was beyond her control. She dug her fingers deeper into the earth as if willing her tears to stop but they continue to fall uncontrollably along with all the sadness, anger and despair she kept within her for so long.

It was the first time he saw her so vulnerable and it was breaking his heart. He had never seen her cry, not once. Even when he told her about her execution, or when she came face-to-face with death at the Shrine of Penitence, she didn't shed a single tear. Instead of begging for mercy or weeping in fear, she accepted death without objections.

But now, that ordeal had taken its toll on her and everything came crashing back even though she tried hard to keep it together. He wanted so much to reach out to her and tell her everything was going to be fine, that her family would not think less of her, that he would be there to protect her.

From that day on, Byakuya resolved to not let his sister be this way again. He would lend her his strength as best he could. He would help her get back on her own feet. He walked towards Rukia with an extra sword in his hand.

"The power to believe in yourself will become your power to change fate," he said looking ahead. "So if you feel responsible, if you feel you must protect someone dear to you, then you must not give up and gain strength yourself."

"Nii-sama…" said Rukia, looking up at her brother. All her fear and self-doubt seemed to have been washed away by her tears.

"Here, take this," he said, handing her the extra sword. "It's your Zanpaku-tou."

Rukia's eyes widened at the sight of her soul cutter. She had almost forgotten what it looked like. She gingerly took the sword from her brother and cradled it on her lap with utmost care. She wondered if it would recognize her useless hands.

"But Nii-sama, I can't…" she said, almost too afraid to admit what she had made herself believe.

"Rukia!" Byakuya said sharply. "Didn't I just tell you to continue believing in yourself, to continue gaining strength? If you wish to become helpless for all eternity then I won't stop you."

Rukia bowed her head low to acknowledge her brother's wisdom. This time, she held her Zanpaku-tou with steady hands. Her resolve would not be broken again.

"Prepare yourself. We shall train with your Zanpaku-tou tomorrow," Byakuya said, after noticing her changed countenance and this lifted his heart.

Months wore on and he supervised Rukia's training. He could see she had grown skillful in handling her soul cutter and in honing her fighting techniques. But there was something else. He sensed her spirit powers had come back.

Rukia sensed it, too. She had doubled her efforts and practiced her kidou as well. And there were nights he watched her as she trained relentlessly until she was to the point of exhaustion. Deep inside, he couldn't help but feel the welling of pride for his sister's perseverance.

But relief weighed more in his mind. Aizen's parting words before he escaped reeked of hatred and revenge towards Soul Society. It would only be a matter of time before he made true of his promise. So the shinigami divisions had been on high alert ever since.

He willed his mind to think of better scenarios but he couldn't escape the inevitable. War would be at hand and all life would hang on the balance. If that was the case, he didn't want Rukia to be helpless in such a battle.

Right now, Gotei 13 needed all the shinigamis it could muster and he knew that Rukia would be reinstated back to her division sooner or later to fight in this war. If he couldn't be by her side to protect her, he would then give her a fighting chance to survive Aizen's onslaught. This he vowed on the grave of her sister and his beloved wife, Hisana.

Days had gone by quickly. But the atmosphere at the divisions and the whole Soul Society continued to become tense and urgent that his duties as captain had kept him away from the Kuchiki household most of the time. He was also unable to regularly supervise Rukia's training.

So the next time he saw his sister was the very day she had chosen to defy him.

"NO," he said, his voice authoritative and final as his eyes fell hard on Rukia's determined face.

"But Nii-sama," she protested imploringly.

He turned to go, he didn't want to hear any of it lest his anger burst uncontrollably. He just didn't want to say things that would hurt her.

"Nii-sama, please…" Rukia said, her tone pleading.

Byakuya paused but still didn't face her. The tension between them hung in the air.

Seeing that she got her brother's attention, Rukia voiced her intent. "I...I must go back there. I have to do something…anything to...to help Ichigo."

He closed his eyes when she mentioned the ryoka's name. It was like he was warding off a headache that didn't want to go away. Had he made a mistake of training his sister all this time only to lead her to this path? He remained motionless.

Rukia felt her brother's familiar coldness. It was as if he had become an impenetrable wall once again. 'How could I make him understand this unexplainable fear I have for Ichigo's life?' she thought desperately.

The deep foreboding she had wouldn't ease. She must go now or else, it would all be too late. "Please, Nii-sama. I beg you. His life might be in danger, if I don't come to his aid he'll…"

"Rukia!" Byakuya said sharply, not turning to look at his sister. "Are you going to runaway from your responsibilities?"

"No, nii-sama," Rukia replied.

"We are preparing to go to war and you'll soon be back to your post in the 13th division. Yet here you are being blinded by your personal indebtedness," he said in an even tone. "Tell me, which is more important to you?"

"I'm not turning my back on Soul Society," Rukia explained desperately. "You, of all people, should know that I have been waiting to go back and become a shinigami again. But this is something that I need to do and I will not turn away from it. Not now, when something in me…something so urgent is telling me that his life is at stake."

"Do you even know for sure if the boy's life is in danger?" he asked, aiming to discourage her from this foolishness.

Rukia stood silent. She was relying only on her feelings, after all.

"I see. Allowing your emotions to guide you to where you are going is like leading yourself to slaughter. Stop this foolishness now. You are to report to Ukitake Taichou tomorrow." He had had enough and started walking away.

Rukia balled her fists. She must go no matter what it takes, even if it meant defying her brother's wishes.

"Nii-sama!" she shouted after him. "I'm not asking for your permission. I'm going whether you allow it or not," her determined voice echoed through his ears. Somehow, he wasn't surprised. This was the new Rukia who had risen from the ashes, confident and strong.

Byakuya turned to face her, his eyes showing no emotions at all. He looked at her, his face stoic and expressionless.

"I owe Ichigo my life. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here," she said, meeting his intense gaze with her stubborn eyes. "You said if I want to protect someone I need to believe in myself. Deep inside I know he is in danger. I can't explain it but this urgent fear is growing inside me. How could I stand idly by when I know I can help him? He had done the same for me even if I wasn't worthy."

Byakuya walked slowly towards her. He was trying hard to control his anger. But he could plainly see that she couldn't be stopped; that she was determined to go at all cost. He knew there was only one way to resolve this.

"Then you would have to defeat me," he said, coldly.

"Nii-sama?" Rukia replied in disbelief. How could her own brother challenge her to a fight when he knew the big difference between the levels of their strength? 'It's no use. He will surely win against me," she thought in anguish. 'I can't possibly beat him.'

Byakuya walked to the big courtyard. This was one lesson he didn't want to give her. 'It can't be helped. She would need to learn it sooner or later,' he thought.

Rukia trembled at her brother's spirit powers. She clutched the hilt of her soul cutter, her mind momentarily debating whether to fight or to retreat. 'No, I won't runaway," she resolved, taking out her sword swiftly. 'I have to go forward and win.'

"Come," said Byakuya, his eyes cold and expressionless once again. He unsheathed Senbonzakura.

"Gomen nasai, Nii-sama, but I will not hold back," Rukia said to him, as she rushed towards him with sword in hand. "I will not lose here."

Byakuya simply stepped out of the way. But Rukia's leg went flying and connected to his chest. He absorbed the force of the blow but was pushed back a few feet away.

Rukia attacked in all directions but her brother dodged them easily. Sweat openly poured down her face. She moved to strike again but her brother lashed out his left arm towards her head and she fell to the ground.

'Why can't I land a substantial blow on him,' she panted as searing pain flared up the side of her head. 'Was my first blow just because of luck or is he playing with me until I get exhausted?'

These thoughts ran over and over in Rukia's mind as she attacked again. Their blades clashed. Rukia re-doubled the speed of her offense but Byakuya was faster. He flash stepped behind Rukia.

"Too slow," he said and swung the hilt of his sword hard on her shoulder. The force of the blow sent her sliding a few feet away. She winced in pain, her left shoulder throbbing from the blow.

A flash of worry gleamed across Byakuya's eyes as he saw Rukia rolled on the ground. He didn't mean to hurt her. He had no intention of being harsh in this fight. But this was not the time to be lenient, he reminded himself, because in the coming war, the enemy won't be.

Rukia struggled to her feet and held onto her sword tighter to keep her mind away from the pain. 'I will not give up,' she said to herself, her breath coming out in gasps.

Wishing not to aggravate her injury further, Byakuya lowered his sword and turned to go.

"Wait! Nii-sama!" Rukia shouted at the top of her lungs, her anger and frustration tethering over the edge. "I am not done yet! I told you I will not lose here! KISEICHOU! KAKERU!"

This was the first time he heard Rukia call her sword's name and summon its shikai. His usually expressionless eyes gave off a tinge of wonder and pride at how much his sister had regained strength.

He was still in awe when he saw her let go of her sword and let it fly towards him with enormous speed and accuracy. He blocked it with his Zanpako-tou as he remained standing perfectly still. Yet, he failed to notice the recoiling blade and it grazed his robe and broke through his skin.

Rukia was taken aback. She didn't think her anger and frustration would course through her sword and wound her brother. "Nii-sama!" She shouted, worried and repentant. Her recoiled sword was back to its original form.

Byakuya stayed motionless as if he was thinking of so many things all at once. Rukia had managed to wound him, he said to himself. 'She had showed me her resolve and grazed my arm.' He looked at the blood dripping down his sleeve. It was nothing but a simple wound yet it showed the strength of her determination.

"Why are you doing this, Rukia?" he asked, looking at her with eyes that were no longer cold but only expressed brotherly concern.

"Because…he is someone I want to protect," she said, her face reflecting the same steely resolve that her blade had showed him.

He turned so she couldn't see the small smile of understanding that overshadowed his stoic face. "Very well. Do as you wish," he said and started to walk away when Rukia's voice came close behind him. He stopped to listen.

"Thank you, Nii-sama. I give you my word that I will come back," she said, her voice confident and reassuring. "You just have to trust me."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Abarai Renji's arrival tugged him back to reality. "Kuchiki Taichou, it has been a week without so much as a word from Rukia. What do you think we should do?"

He didn't look at his vice-captain. He didn't want to see the same reflection of worry on his face. His eyes stared back at the blue sky of Sereitei as he struggled for words to appease Renji's concern. But none surfaced.

"We just have to wait," he finally said, careful not to put any emotion in his voice.

"But taichou!" Renji protested.

He gave his vice-captain a look that said his word was final and that he would not hear anymore of it.

Renji was miffed. It was like his taichou to be so heartless, even to his own sister. He walked out without a word.

'I shouldn't feel uneasy,' Byakuya thought. 'I trust her.'

----

To be continued...