A/n: I thought of some really good plot points for this, so I'm updating!

Thank you for all the nice reviews on the last chapter :)

Chapter Seven : Many Things Unknown

"U-ukitake-san? What is th—" Rukia stuttered, completely shocked by the white-haired man's appearance.

"Rukia," He replied, smiling in her direction, "Calm down and listen to me for a moment, okay? First of all, this man you see in front of you," he motioned towards Byakuya, "isn't one of Jaegerjaquez's henchmen. He's… someone else."

Rukia nodded, and lowered her guard the least bit. Then, frowning, she said, "But he knows my name."

"Of course, he would. Because he is your…" Ukitake looked towards Byakuya, his gaze questioning, is it okay to tell her? Is it okay to finally spill the beans about what you and the Family have been hiding for so long?

Byakuya faced him, still appearing nonchalant, "I would prefer telling her myself, but as convoluted the situation is becoming, it is imperative that Rukia knows this now;" He turned to Rukia, his expression grave, "I am your brother-in-law, Rukia. I was married to Hisana, your elder sister."

If Rukia was shocked earlier, the look on her face now couldn't be described by words. Her pupils contracted so much that the purple of them looked like an inky black. Byakuya didn't know why he was always studying her so sincerely, but unknowingly, he was, and the fact somehow unsettled him the slightest bit, for unknown reasons. He directed his attention to her hands now, fingers that were quivering at her sides.

Was she scared? Was she angry? Perhaps angry, and if she were to know what luxury the Family had inadvertently denied her by not accepting her into the household at the time of Hisana's marriage, she would be even more so. Rukia had a reason to be seething at the injustice.

Since his childhood, Byakuya was raised to not judge people directly, but given her state of poverty, it wouldn't surprise him if she was vengeful about being refused her share of inheritance and grandeur.

"Are you the reason?" She said, head lowered as though defeated. "Are you the reason my sister abandoned me?"

Byakuya quirked an eyebrow. Rukia surely had talent in making him elicit emotion. "I do not know." His mind took him back to the time six years ago, when she was completing her education and earning money at the same time. "I do not know, Rukia, and I am the wrong person to ask."

Her eyebrows came together in an expression of distress. "I…" Rukia took a deep breath, "I really need to calm down, Ukitake-san."

"Right, it will be good if you rested and thought about this, Rukia. Everything must be a bit too much for you." Since that time when you were 'handed-over' to us, that is, Ukitake thought, but didn't say in front of Byakuya.

End of seven

To be continued

A/n: Making Byakuya quirk an eyebrow, good going rukia. I'm really gonna work hard to make this more interesting from now on! Until then, tell me what you think in a review :)