-oOo-
Her brother has reverted to how he was before, not in his manner towards her, but in his avoidance of her gaze.
She knows that it's not his fault. Her vibrant spirit and healthy body were, after all, the only things that really differentiated her from her sister – his beloved wife, Hisana.
But now, Rukia is decaying as well, withering like a blossom in drought.
Byakuya has always been a gardener, caring for the most fragile of blooms with inordinate patience. His efforts are rewarded with vivid color and flourishing buds, life abounded and spring personified. Yet, he acknowledges that the kind of beauty and joy he cultivates is ephemeral, fleeting whispers of a daydream before they all scatter like cherry blossoms in a storm. He knows very well the empty desolateness of a wilted garden.
It's why he tries so valiantly to prolong what he can salvage, to delay the inevitable. It's why he gives his tacit consent when Rukia asks to venture into the human world for what may be the last time. It's why he looks at his sister's violet eyes for the first time in a long time; they shine with more happiness than he's seen in weeks.
He hopes that Hisana will still forgive him some day, now that he's run out of time to atone for his sins.
-oOo-
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