A/n: Thank you all readers, new and old! :)
Chapter Eight : That One Bouquet
Since that time when you were 'handed-over' to us four years ago, that is, Ukitake thought, but didn't say in front of Byakuya. That was something even Byakuya couldn't know now.
After her marriage to the Kuchiki heir, Hisana had insisted on finding her little sister she had abandoned to find happiness in her own life. She realised that it was a mistake to leave Rukia behind and wanted to fix that now that she had the resources.
Byakuya, being the kind husband he was, promised her that they would find Rukia, and agreed to devote whatever power he could afford to do so. The search grew even more frantic as Hisana fell ill in the third year of her marriage, and Ukitake clearly remembers that day in the hospital, when the couple celebrated their anniversary.
"Are these flowers okay?" Byakuya had asked the doctor, showing him the bouquet of handpicked pink azaleas from the garden.
The doctor seemed to fall into an uneasy silence, and Byakuya got the message.
"If, for health related reasons, gifts are not allowed in her room, please tell me without hesitation," He laid the flowers on the chair outside the ICU. "Hisana's health comes before my sentiments today."
Later that day, Byakuya stood next to her bed, hand clasped in her pale one, Hisana is deep slumber.
The flowers lay outside, not seen, but meant.
In regards to finding Rukia, Byakuya thought of it as a request of elder sister to wash past wounds, but his grandfather thought of it as an obligation, an abuse of power on Hisana's part. That is why, even though Ginrei-sama had found Rukia, he kept it a secret from the couple.
In an alienated sense of duty, Ukitake almost felt sorry for the little girl who wasn't at all at fault, and yet bore the burnt of Destiny. Despite the orders, he treated her like the daughter he would never have.
A smile graced his lips.
"W-where do I…"
"Rukia," Ukitake moved forward and touched her back, "Let's get out of this place. You need to think several things through."
"Yes, Ukitake-san."
He stopped and looked towards Byakuya, motioned for him to join them. "Where do you think we are going, Byakuya-kun?"
"Where?"
"Your house."
End of eight
To be continued
A/n: I researched on the internet, and pink azaleas mean 'take care of yourself for me' and I think that that's what Byakuya would give to Hisana when she was sick, it's such a sweet meaning :)