Before the Quincy Invasion

Darkness has fallen upon Soul Society. In Rukongai, the night was just getting started. Shady men prowled up and down the lanes, watching and waiting for their unsuspecting prey. Fights were not uncommon, the blood of men splattered against broken walls and bumpy pavements. Inner Seireitei however, was calm and quiet. The divisions had retired for the night, and only the night watchmen were awake. This area also housed the main complexes of the Four Noble Houses, each over tens of hectares large and guarded by some of the best warriors money could buy. There the occupants usually retired early, save for the odd aristocrat that had an engagement.

In one of these sprawling mini-villages, the head of a clan was taking a leisurely stroll. His adopted sister had turned in, wishing to arrive at her division earlier to help out with some things. He himself made a mental note to go to bed soon, or he may miss the Captain's meeting scheduled at the ungodly hour of 8 in the morning.

Unconsciously, his walk had taken him to a more secluded area of his compound- the back gardens. Although it was shabbier than the main gardens, he did not mind, simply because she liked it.

Years ago, he and his wife used to admire the moon there together. She had told him, once upon a time while in Rukongai, that her baby sister had believed the Four Noble Houses were built on the moon. When they lay starving on the streets, they'd come up with elaborate dreams of what they might find once they reached it. There she and her sister would never starve again, and could wear as many fine ornaments and trinkets as they saw fit. Her sister would always fall asleep before they could finish their elaborate depictions of the imagined lifestyle. Even though they were starving and cold, and the future looked bleak, her little sister would point a finger up to the bright moon, and say that one day she'll build a huge flying ship and bring them both up so they can have good days together. She'd always laugh in spite of their situation and told her young sister to aim for the moon, so that should she fail, she'd still be among the stars. Little Rukia always gave her a look of bewilderment but Hisana would hold her a little tighter and tell her to go to sleep, never mind what nonsense her elder sister sprouted.

A cruel twist of fate saw the elder sister abandoning the younger one. She had left the girl at the doorstep of a brothel. It wasn't the best choice, but it was the most ideal. No one would willingly throw away a would-be worker, she had reasoned when she left her sister at the door. She told Rukia that she would go off to find good food for them to eat and she would be back shortly. She never did come back.

A few days later, driven mad by the guilt, she went back to find her, but she wasn't there. Probably dead, one of the homeless on the street told her. She refused to believe it.

Byakuya closed his eyes briefly. He could feel her presence right beside him although she had long gone. Every time he stepped out to admire the moon, he could recall with crystal clear clarity the stories she would tell him. It took him several months to earn her trust; he would never forget the night where she finally confided in him.

She had worked her way up from the bottom of society. First as a bar maid in the worst bars of the 78th district, she then sold herself as a worker to one of the pleasure houses in the 60th district. There she had learnt how to read and write from her clients who were all too willing to oblige her with lessons. Soon after, she was bought over by one of her customers as a maid and lady companion for his daughter, and moved to the 14th district. It was there when she was traded to the then head of the Kuchiki clan for a favor. She had done everything in her power to look for Rukia. She believed that the closer she got to powerful people, the more likely she'd find a way to get her sister back from the clutches of Rukongai. She had always believed that the moon would guide her. It was her sister's dream to fly to the moon, and so she would make at least one dream of her sister's come true. She swore it by the very same moon that saw them through their hardest days.

Byakuya could still recall the fierce look of determination in her eyes as she swore to find her sister and bring her a good life. How could he not, when moments after that passionate declaration she had dropped to her knees and begged him with tears streaming down her face to assist her in her task? He too, remembered his exact response. He had almost yelped in surprise. He told her to dry her tears, for that as long as the clan existed, he would find Rukia and take her in. This too, he swore by the light of the silvery moon. He pulled her off her knees into a tight hug, as she kept on crying against his shoulder, apologizing for being such as mess and reaching above her station. He only gripped her tighter.

When he reached that point in his memories, he stopped short. A wave of pain flooded his heart. He didn't want to remember the pain of losing her.

He sighed once, continuing on his walk around the garden. Barely a year after she had passed on, he found Rukia. Immediately he had sent out for the relevant documents to adopt Rukia in to the house of Kuchiki. When he met her that day, the similarities between her and her sister were so acute that he might as well have been standing in front of a copy. He couldn't bear to look at her more than necessary.

The night he had taken in Rukia, he had finally ventured into the gardens again. He had refused to go after she had died, every leaf and rock a painful reminder. He stood under the plum tree which she loved, looking at the bright moon. He stood there in silence for a long time, admiring, just admiring, how beautiful the garden looked bathed in moonlight.

By the next time he had visited the garden, a small memorial had been erected in her honor. Kneeling in front of it, he noted the shadows that the moonlight had cast on it, making the place even more surreal. He murmured, "Hisana, today Rukia had unlocked the powers of her Shinkai. It's first attack, it is 'White Moon'."

A/N: I've got a beta reader now! Thanks to Aria's Locket for agreeing!