Skeleneko's Note: This isn't my story. I have permission from Twilight Countess (Amy) to repost this. If you like this story be sure to look out for her book "Eris"!
Senbonzakura
Chapter Five: Letters
Present day…
Almost everybody who was anybody realized that Kuchiki Byakuya was distracted. When confronted by either a fellow captain or and elder about his behavior, he would merely shrug, saying that he wasn't getting enough rest. Which was perfectly true; ever since he saw the writing in the secret passageway, his body couldn't relax enough to sleep.
Byakuya sat at his desk, the brush in his hand motionless. Four days had passed and he had yet to confide in anyone of his findings. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but so many questions had arisen without anyone to answer them.
"Why did you not tell me, Hisana? How did you hide your injuries? Did you know about Aizen's treachery? Did he threaten you? Hisana…"
Byakuya stood up and walked out the door. He would drive himself mad if he continued on like this. He had nothing else to go on, he needed help, but who to go to? Then it clicked. As her mentor, Ukitake-taicho was probably the only one who knew Hisana almost as well as he had.
Byakuya shunpoed until he was facing the entranced of the 13th Division.
"Well hello, Byakuya, it's certainly been awhile since you've paid me a visit," said Ukitake with a slight cough.
"Ukitake-taicho, may I speak to you in private?" asked Byakuya, his voice portraying the seriousness of the matter. "Outside the earshot of your two loyal 3rd seats," he added.
Ukitake sighed. "Kiyone, Sentaro, please come out."
In an instant, the 3rd seats in question stood before their captain.
"Hai, Taicho!" Sentaro saluted.
"Is there anything I can do, Taicho?" insisted Kiyone.
"Yes, Kiyone, Sentaro, I'm afraid you will have to stalk someone else for a few hours.
Kuchiki-taicho and I had private matters to discuss."
"Are you sure, Taicho…" began Sentaro.
"Yes, Kuchiki-taicho shall be here should anything become of me," said Ukitake. He shooed his subordinates out and slid the door behind him.
"Please have a seat, Byakuya."
Byakuya obliged and situated himself on a mat in front a low table. Ukitake sat down too, opposite of Byakuya.
"So, what brings you back to the 13th Division?" asked Ukitake.
"I wish to discuss Hisana," said Byakuya. Ukitake broke into another coughing spell. Once he cleared his throat, he stared at Byakuya with a concerned expression.
"Well…I must say this is rather unexpected. Alright, Byakuya, what about Hisana?"
"Besides her failing health, did you notice anything peculiar about Hisana before she died?" inquired Byakuya.
Ukitake closed his eyes, trying to remember.
"I'm sorry, Byakuya," Ukitake said finally. "Nothing is coming to mind. "Why are you asking me this all of the sudden?"
Byakuya breathed deeply. "Ukitake-taicho, what I am about to tell you does not leave this room. Am I understood?"
Ukitake frowned. "Of course, Byakuya."
"Four days ago, I discovered a secret passageway that I was previously unaware of in the Kuchiki estate. When I investigated further, I found a trail of blood on the floor."
Ukitake's frowned deepened.
"The stains were dry, and when I followed them, I found this…" Byakuya reached for the inside of his robes and dropped Hisana's bloody sash onto the table. Ukitake's face went pale.
"B-Byakuya! That's…"
"It was my wife's, yes," Byakuya cut him off. "Do you remember even one event where Hisana was injured in her gypsy ensemble?"
Ukitake tried to recall his memories. "The only times I saw her wear that after she accepted my proposal was when she went in Rukongai to look for Rukia. She could have gotten beaten up by one of the many thugs out there, but it doesn't seem like Hisana to deliberately conceal things from you."
"No, it doesn't," said Byakuya.
"I'm a little confused, Byakuya." Ukitake said. "You first asked me if there was anything strange about Hisana right before she died. Hisana died of an illness. I know this new information is quite disturbing, but do you really think it has a connection with her death?"
"There's something else…" muttered Byakuya quietly.
"There's more?" Ukitake asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
"Come with me."
Kuchiki Estate…
"B-Byakuya!" Ukitake gasped. He was staring at the word Aizen in horror. Byakuya lowered his head.
"Did…did she know something about Aizen? Did she know he would be a traitor?" Ukitake asked.
"I don't know. I don't know…" said Byakuya said, his shoulders drooping.
"We must think logically about this," said Ukitake forcefully. "Why would Aizen attack Hisana in Rukongai? Only you and I know in detail about her gypsy background. It doesn't add up."
"I believe I shall ask a few of her old friends some questions," said Byakuya, striding out of the secret room.
"Do you want me to go with you?" suggested Ukitake.
"No, thank you," he said, and with that, Byakuya shunpoed all the way to the office of the 10th Division.
He knocked on the door. No answer. Byakuya slowly opened the door to see the 10th Division lieutenant sleeping on the couch. As Byakuya approached her, she woke up with a jolt.
"I'm doing the paperwork, Taicho!" she screamed and she fell on the floor. When her eyes finally met Byakuya's, she rose to her feet.
"Oh, Kuchiki-taicho, what a pleasant surprise! Please, forgive me." She dusted off her robes. "So, what brings you to our humble division?"
Byakuya wasted no time with small talk. "You were a dear friend of my wife, were you not?"
Matsumoto's smile fell and her eyes suddenly found the floor to be very interesting.
"Yes, Kuchiki-taicho, a very good friend, you know that."
"I know that you often visited Hisana in her last few weeks. Did you notice anything strange about her behavior?" asked Byakuya.
"No, not really, wait…" Matsumoto thought hard. "Hisana was fine when we were in your home, but if I suggested we take a walk through the Seireitei…she never refused…but she was constantly be on the alert the minute we were off the Kuchiki grounds. Always looking behind her shoulder, as if someone was going to jump out and attack her. She never told me why, no matter how many times I asked."
Matsumoto looked at Byakuya's face. It was as emotionless as ever.
"I see," he said, turning to make his departure.
"Kuchiki-taicho, wait," said Matsumoto. Byakuya watched her as she hurried over and pulled a small box from the lowest drawer in her desk. She walked over and offered it to him. It was about 5 by 7 inches.
"Hisana gave this to me a week before she passed on," Rangiku said. "It has all her gypsy jewelry in it."
Byakuya took the box in his hands.
"You can keep it," she said.
"Thank you," said Byakuya and he vanished with the use of shunpo.
Later that night…
Byakuya sat on his bed, propped up by a pillow. He had the box Matsumoto had given to him in his lap. He gingerly opened it to be met with several familiar objects. He picked up each item one by one and examined them. There were few gold bangles, her single hoop earring, and (he smiled) a coin hanging on a chain. The coin was embossed with the Kuchiki clan crest.
Byakuya was about to closed the box when the base on the inside wobbled under his touch. Frowning, Byakuya peeled the bottom away to reveal a small compartment of the box underneath. There was an envelope addressed to him.
He took the envelope out and opened it. He recognized the handwriting…
Byakuya-sama,
If you are reading this, then I know I must no longer be with you. I am assuming you found the secret passage in my old room and went to question my friends. That's why I gave my jewelry box to Matsumoto, in hopes that she would give it to you. Byakuya, it's time you knew the truth. My death wasn't an accident…it was a set up.
Byakuya's heart stopped.
I'm sorry I can't explain now, but I am being watched as I write this very moment. Follow my clues, and all shall be revealed. I love you so much.
Hisana
P.S. Go to Ise Nanao and give her one of my gold bangles and say "Hisana sent me" She will tell you some important information.
Author's Note: Next chapter I swear will go back to Hisana and her life.