Disclaimer: ...gosh I can't even spell the character's names! Of course I don't own them! I just felt sorry for Byakuya...

A long time ago, but not too long ago

"Captain Kuchiki Byakuya!" There was the soft sound of feet landing on the balcony outside. "Captain Kuchiki Byakuya! I am sent to remind you that the newly appointed seat is set to meet you this morning in one hour! Is this notice agreeable to you, my lord...sir?"

Byakuya flinched. Damn communications division, always sending some low-life to shout messages at him.

"...Yes, tell him to meet me in the main hall."

He couldn't care less about the new seat, much less most of the rest of his division. He knew that the respect given to him was because of his noble status - the disdain in his vice-captain's eyes told him as much. But as long as you kept the respect, he figured, it didn't matter how you got it.

Byakuya looked back at the shrine, where a small picture of a woman sat framed. The room, although large, was otherwise empty except for a set of two sleeping pads. He knelt on one; the other hadn't been touched for a long time.

There wasn't much sun that day. Good. He liked it that way; bright days made him tense up, as if the light was exposing something of him to the world. That face doesn't inspire any pity, you know, she always joked, laughing at his scowling face on sunny days. Hmmph! I can make that face too, you know! And she would walk around with pouty lips and crossed arms for hours, until finally the corners of his mouth gave in to a faint smile. If he was the snow, she was the Spring. That was her for sure - always knowing how to melt his cold heart.

Is it too dark for you...Hisana?

He pulled open the doors of the room a little and laid back down, turning toward the empty, empty hollow in the sheets next to him. It was a bit stupid, to pretend after all this time, but sometimes, if he closed his eyes hard enough, he could feel her lying next to him, and he was less lonely.

"Hello, cap-tainnnnn..."

One hour later, Kuchiki Byakuya was once again kneeling, this time in the main hall. And once again, he was subjected to the downright abasement of his name.

"By-a-KU-ya...kun!" sang the new 3rd seat of the 6th division, as she sauntered into the room and gave a saucy salute to the very surprised and offended noble seated on the floor in front of her. Behind her, vice-captain Abarai Renji's jaw dropped straight to the floor.

"K-kouyori-san..."

A/N: I don't read the manga too carefully (although I'm up to date at 180 right now!) and I'm going back to read the old ones up to where it is in the anime (since apparently there is a lot that isn't explained in the show), so I couldn't give less if there are already named seats under Byakuya! And forgive my lack of knowledge on correct Japanese grammar. x.x; Hell, it's all AU. I wrote this at 2 AM, so it's shorter than the other chapters will be. Please crit!