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A/N : I do not own any of Bleach's storyline, characters and so 's merely a fanfiction service.
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Chapter 3 : Doubt
Even as Byakuya became aware, he didn't fully understand what Rukia was asking for earlier. It's pointless to begin with because he knows nothing about her for these past four decades despite living under a same roof. Thoughts rushed through his mind that he never considered voicing them.
He didn't realize he is near to his mansion. But someone he knew for a long time was standing in front of him. He knows this person is waiting for his return.
"Good work. Kuchiki-Taichou." The man greeted. But Byakuya wouldn't satisfy with that greeting and go on with,
"You don't seem to be the person who would greet anyone in front of their house, don't you, Ukitake-Taichou?"
Ukitake-Taichou, the 13th Division Captain and in other words, he's Rukia superior. He senses Byakuya isn't happy with him being here at this time. Byakuya continues walking toward him. But as he walks pass Ukitake,
"Are you fine with Rukia-san being execute, Byakuya?!" Ukitake's asks frankly.
"…."
Hearing nothing from Byakuya, makes him angry that he garbs his collar. Despite so, Byakuya shows no emotion to his action that Ukitake has no choice but to let go.
"She's your sister, Bya..kuya." He continues, "How can you be so cold, so calm as though she's nothing to you."
Seeing Ukitake trying so hard to make him realize Rukia's current position, he replies,
"She went against the Shinigami's rules. There's nothing I can do about it and…." He stops as he's hesitates to continue his words.
"And..?" Ukitake asks.
But seeing how persisting Ukitake is, he decides to tell him the truth,
"…she's not my sister."
Ukitake repeats after him, "…not your sister ?" and he continues with all doubts running wild in his head. He simply doesn't understand what kind of joke is Byakuya throwing at, "Stop joking. Everyone in Soul Society knew Rukia-san is your adopted sister…There's no doubt that her actions bring down Kuchiki clan's name but it doesn't mean she has to be kick out from the family!"
Before he could finish his line, he's stops by Byakuya and stunts with his interruption,
"..She my fiancée. Not my sister. She agreed to the clan to keep our relationship unrelieved until then. "
Things get denser after Byakuya confessed the truth that he has no idea all this while. He recalls the time when Rukia would addressed Byakuya as Byakuya- niisama were all lies to cover up their relationship. He could not understand Rukia feeling at that time to address someone like Byakuya who's the fiancé as brother. Ukitake understands so well how happy a person can be to introduce their other half to the world but it's must be heart aching every time Rukia needs to cover up their relationship. The more he thinks about Rukia feeling, the angrier he's.
"Byakuya, is this how you play the game? Is this how you make fun of someone life like Rukia-san? Are you happy to mess with her life ?" Ukitake snaps at Byakuya as he can no longer hold his temper. To him, Byakuya's actions are unacceptable.
Ukitake turns around to confront him ,
"How much do you know about Rukia-san? Only this much you care for her, don't joke. She tried so hard to get acknowledge by you. She trained harder than anyone else. It was me to thinks all her effort was to impress by you to accept her as your sister but now that you tell me the truth, I can surely conclude all this effort was to impress not only you but your Kuchiki clan because she's the person who thinks about others first than herself. She wants you to sustain your places as an heir of Kuchiki clan without being rumors of having an useless wife to begin with."
Every words confronted by Ukitake has been like a thousand knife stabs over Byakuya's heart.
"… to sustain my places as an heir of Kuchiki clan without being an useless wife…is this what she has been thinking for the past forty years?...all for my sake..?" he doubted himself and Ukitake continues,
"And you said you can do nothing about it? You must be kidding me. Rukia's your fiancée."
Hearing Ukitake mentioned 'fiancee', it brings Byakuya back to reality. Reality is always cruel.
Byakuya replies with icy cold tone, "Just a while ago, she called the marriage off. She's no longer my fiancée."
Ukitake's shocks with his sudden replied," What ? What now?"
"She wasn't happy all this while being as a Kuchiki. She hates it and unwilling to die as a Kuchiki. She asked for her freedom to be grant and I granted." He answers plainly.
"Byakuya, what with your long face?" he continues "Don't tell me you believe that she hates being a part of your clan? Wait, don't tell me you think she hates you to begin with? Arghh! I'm so confuse with you both. What do you guys really want from each other?"
As Ukitake being frustrating with their complicated relationship, Byakuya begin to walk into his mansion and as soon as Ukitake realise Byakuya is taking his steps, he warns him,
"Rukia-san will be executed soon. I don't understand why it's so complicated between you both but what I can said is you both care for each other. Rukia san called the marriage off may have her reason. For someone who love you that much, Rukia san must be feeling sad and hurt right now for not able to stay by your side anymore and for you to grant her request I doubt is simply because you love her. Being unable to help her, you wish to give everything you could to satisfy her. Don't try to deny your feeling. From our earlier conversation, you show your true feeling. Byakuya, there's still time before her execution. You know what to do, don't you?"
"…." Byakuya does not bother to reply despite hearing him. But his doubts Ukitake words.
"Am I in love with Rukia?"
He continues walking to his mansion and to Ukitake's sight, Byakuya little by little vanish from his vision. Ukitake left with heavy heart.
A/N : I'm so sorry for the late upload. I was so busy with my real life. Hope you guys enjoy my first Bleach fanfic and thank for those who had left me with comments and for those who haven't, you're most welcome to do so. It will really inspire me for a better storyline and I wonder should I go for a bad ending ? No worry, still a lot to fanfic about these two stubborn Kuchiki. Until then, stay tuned.