AN: I can't believe how many lovely responses I got! Thank you all so much! I do stress though never to feel obligated to review – I dislike people who really push for people to do so. Comments (especially critical commentary) are always appreciated, though. Anyway – chapter eight, number nineteen is here for you viewing pleasure. If you've got a good memory, this event is something touched upon in an earlier chapter. Enjoy!

19. Red

The bridge meetings were her guilty pleasure. After a day of surviving and searching was over, she considered this her reward; to speak to this slightly mysterious man known as Byakuya Kuchiki, shinigami and noble.

She was aware she was walking a tightrope - that things couldn't last. But for time being she was content and that was enough. One of her greatest fears was letting these feelings for him build up too much. Hisana was already cursing herself for already considering the boundaries outside of friendship. Even their friendship should be judged as tentative, but she knew there was something there that she craved.

Hisana sighed, watching the water and thinking of Byakuya's voice. She was getting in too deep, but she couldn't help herself. She liked him a lot, and a small practical part of her mind she tried to bury considered the money he had and the life she could lead if… if…

But that's all it was, if. She couldn't let herself forget that. It irritated her that she still hadn't got to the bottom of why he spoke to her, knowing her lowly status. What was it about her that he liked? Surely he liked her, otherwise why would he come out for these chats and walks?

"What's a pretty thing like you doin' here?" a gruff voice asked and Hisana spun to see a trio of men leering from the path that led to Rukongai. So, she had finally been found out. It had always been a risk coming out to an exposed area like this just to think and to meet Byakuya, but it had been a price she'd been happy to pay. Now she was beginning to feel sick. She was weaponless and helpless.

Adrenaline pumping, she took a step back.

"What do you want?" she growled, praying she'd find a weapon, Byakuya would show up or the men would decide she had nothing of worth and left her. None of them seemed likely.

The man a little ahead of the other two set foot on the bridge, lifting the heavy stick in his right hand. She told herself that it was worse than a rod, better than a sword.

"You want to hand over your goods, woman. You trade here with a guy from Seireitei, right? Must have some nice things to trade with bastards like that," he said, grinning horribly. It irritated her that she'd been caught out. It irritated her even more, that they had caught onto her too late. She didn't even have anything to bargain with anymore.

"I don't trade with anyone! I have nothing, so don't bother!" she spat, wondering if she could outrun them. Unlikely.

"We've seen you talk to that guy, so lying is useless. And if you haven't got the goods, then I'm sure we can think up a price for you to pay."

"For what? I owe you thugs nothing!"

"Oh, now that wasn't nice, was it? For that… you've made your punishment so much worse."

And with that, he leapt forward, motioning for the other two to charge with him. A scream escaped Hisana and she began to sprint, trying to think of a plan. Could she lose them? Her eyes darted around her surroundings. There was nothing to lose herself in, no clusters of trees or bushes, just grassland and flowers.

The leader caught up with her and lashed out with his stick, knocking Hisana's feet out from under her. She yelped and crashed hard to the ground, splitting her lip and found the wind had been knocked out of her. Gasping for breath, she struggled to move, but was swiftly struck again. The pain shot through her legs like an electric shock. They were making sure she couldn't run.

"You shouldn't have let one of those Seireitei bastards near you, bitch. Rukongai doesn't need high and mighty scum like that," he murmured before striking her again. The other two were weaponless, but kicked her when their leader drew back. Hisana screamed.

She curled into a ball, eyes squeezed shut, desperate to shut the shocks of pain wracking her body. She realised her mind was starting to blank out and her eyes shot open. She could see a small patch of grass and a boot.

But the fringes of her vision were darkening. There was nothing she could do. Her eyes slid shut.

"Way of binding, number nine – geki!" she faintly heard, and then knew no more.

Byakuya looked impassive, but he could feel his blood begin to boil. His eyes moved between the frozen forms of the three attackers to Hisana's curled up unconscious form. He strictly forbade himself to run over to her, so instead sent a cold glare to each man while contemplating how to punish them.

"Death is too good for you," he said slowly, gracefully crossing the expanse of grass to Hisana. He would not show anything in front of these men.

"But perhaps… a limb each?"

He savoured the fear emanating from them before utilising his shun-po to flash in front of them and smoothly knock them out. He wanted his face to be the last thing they saw before they experienced the same pain and unconsciousness Hisana had.

And once they had fallen, he allowed himself to show his concern for Hisana. In an instant he was knelt beside her body. Tentatively, he reached out and pulled her shoulder so she rolled on to her back.

She was in bad shape. He wiped the blood that trickled from her lip, frowning. Gently, he scooped her up into his arms and held her close. He noticed how small, how fragile she was. Yet she lived in Rukongai every day and survived.

"I will not let you down," he told her.

Sometimes he could only say things when he knew no-one was listening.

Her eyes were heavy, but Hisana dragged them open. She was indoors and it was dark.

"… What?" her voice rasped.

A shadow came forward and fear shot through her. She couldn't move, save her hand jerking away, for all the good it would do.

"It's me, Hisana," whispered Byakuya.

Hisana could feel tears of relief well. Her mind felt so jumbled, and her entire body ached. But his voice reassured her. Everything was going to be alright. She didn't feel like talking, content to listen to him, if he had anything to say.

"Don't cry; those three bastards don't deserve your tears. They have been dealt with," he said softly, "To say I was surprised when I came upon that scene would likely be an understatement. I… cannot imagine what would have happened if I hadn't arrived then."

She wished she could thank him, but her eyes refused to open again, let alone her mouth work. Her body felt like it wouldn't ever move again.

"I'll let you rest and check on you later."

Her mind started to return to the comfortable darkness of slumber, when she felt Byakuya place a kiss on her forehead. It was so brief, and she was so tired, she wasn't sure whether she imagined it or not.

Imagined or not, she was comforted, and slept.