AN: Once again, thank you all for the reviews. I'm glad people found it funny – I wasn't too sure how my humour would go down. Anyway, enough of my whining – we have finally reached the first theme (insert gasp here). This one is a little more sombre. Because everyone has problems. Enjoy!

PS - Slight edit made for punctuation.

1. Look Over Here

Hisana found it so hard to restrain herself from just running around these gardens like a maniac, trying to take in every sight, sound and smell.

Byakuya had been invited to dinner with his senpai, Captain Jûshirô Ukitake and, being his wife, was invited too. She had been rather frightened by the prospect of meeting and dining with a powerful shinigami captain, but when she met Jûshirô Ukitake she realised she had got completely the wrong image in her head. Not that she was sure what she imagined what the man who mentored Byakuya looked like. It had been a half-formed idea of a tall, stern and old man. Though he was tall, he was more polite and easygoing than stern. As for age… from what she heard, he was pretty damn old in term of years, but the only real signs of age were his hair, and she knew that was from illness rather than age.

She liked him as soon as she realised her error, and had been relaxed in the man's company during the rest of the evening. But Byakuya was proving another story.

Hisana wandered along the stepping stone path, pausing to examine more of the beautiful flora the thirteenth division possessed, and surreptitiously eyed Byakuya talking with Captain Ukitake on the veranda.

He had been uptight from the moment they set foot out of the Kuchiki grounds. She was aware that he wanted to make a good impression, appear like captain material, to be a model shinigami. But he had upped the aloofness she encountered when she first met him to levels even she could barely tolerate. It was like a barrier he put up she didn't dare touch. She couldn't speak with him this way; it made her uncomfortable and awkward.

And if Captain Ukitake was anything to go by, there was no requirement of appearing unapproachable to be a captain. She didn't think she'd met a more easygoing man in Seireitei, though she hadn't met many people who were in the Gotei Thirteen.

Hisana didn't know what to do or think, really. So she contented herself to looking at the gardens while she thought about how to deal with Byakuya. It felt odd, Byakuya barely saying anything, while she and Captain Ukitake chatted about all sorts of things. She worried she was showing Byakuya up, since she had no idea how to act. It was meant to be an informal dinner, but had turned into a nightmare of conduct for Hisana.

"Hisana-san! Would you care to join us for some evening sake before we part?" called Captain Ukitake. Hisana bit her lip. She knew she couldn't stay out here forever, no matter how attractive the idea seemed.

"I would be honoured, Captain Ukitake," she replied, walking over to the veranda to join them.

Captain Ukitake went to get the sake, leaving the couple to sit tensely.

"Byakuya-sama…" she began and saw him frown, but not look at her.

"Byakuya…" she started again and he relaxed a fraction, "can we talk later?"

She cursed herself for not having the guts to discuss it then, but she worried about Captain Ukitake walking into a marital quarrel.

'Now that would make for an uncomfortable situation,' she thought, waiting for Byakuya to react.

"Very well."

Impulsively, she waved a hand in front of his face, but he refused to take the bait. He simply calmly, coldly stared out at the gardens.

"Will you look over here? Where your wife is sitting at the moment, planning to take drastic action if you don't," she said, trying to lighten the tense air.

"Here we go!" cried Captain Ukitake, stepping out onto the veranda with sake and cups. Both Byakuya and Hisana's gaze flew to the Captain, startled. Jûshirô wasn't completely oblivious to the situation, but tried to make the best of it. He sat with a slightly strained smile and poured the drinks.

Hisana wasn't much of a drinker, not ever being rich enough to afford such a commodity. So the drink hit her pretty hard. After her second, she refused a third, her head spinning. She ended up trying to sit very still, determined not to let a lack of sobriety stand in the way of good conduct. What she wasn't aware was she couldn't hide the fact she wasn't in the best condition, as she swayed a little and appeared quickly distracted by the slightest of things.

Captain Ukitake and Byakuya had spoken some more, but were becoming more aware of Hisana's deteriorating condition. Ukitake smiled brightly and patted Byakuya on the shoulder.

"I think it may be time for bed, Byakuya-kun. Hisana-san is looking a little off-kilter. It's nice that she's not used to alcohol. Too much is bad for you and all that."

Byakuya scowled. Even his Captain wasn't precisely sober anymore, but then again had drunk almost triple the amount Hisana had, and double the amount he had.

"Yes, we shall depart. Thank you for your hospitality, Captain Ukitake," Byakuya said, standing along with Jûshirô.

Hisana finally noticed the other two were standing and tried to jump to her feet, unacquainted with the jelly-like condition of her legs. She wobbled, stumbling backwards and hit the side of the house. She used the wall to steady herself and wished she'd refused the drink altogether.

Byakuya had a look of contained annoyance, but said nothing. Captain Ukitake led them to the front of his house and Byakuya thanked him once more before taking a firm hold of Hisana's arm and departing.

As they walked, Hisana realised they had left and looked at her husband.

He still wasn't looking at her, keeping his eyes trained straight ahead. She noticed his hand gripping her arm and wrenched it out of his grasp.

"People who don't look at me, don't get to touch me," she snapped, wondering where in Seireitei they were. Seireitei was completely unfamiliar territory for her; she didn't think she'd ever get used to it.

"I apologise," he said monotonously and Hisana scoffed.

"Thanks for that genuine act of remorse."

He finally looked at her and she paid attention. His eyes shone in the light and she was surprised to find he didn't look angry, but genuinely sorrowful. Her mouth dropped open slightly before she gathered herself.

"Byakuya… what was that all about?" she questioned, gently laying a hand on his arm.

"I try too hard," he responded plainly.

They reached the Kuchiki house and entered, heading straight for their bedroom. Hisana watched him change into nightwear, thinking about his actions.

'He really was trying too hard. He puts on this act and it forces everyone away from him. You dare not even think about approaching him, let alone touch him. Is that really what he wants if he becomes a captain? To be forever trapped as this untouchable, distant figure of fear? It's so… sad he has to act that way. Maybe it's too late for him to change.'

She sighed heavily. Her body was feeling heavy with alcohol induced stupor. Hisana looked up and found Byakuya was standing, watching her. He silently approached and she wondered what he was going to do.

"The alcohol is probably making you really tired, isn't it?" he said in more of a statement than a question. Too tired to say anything, she simply nodded.

"I'll help you."

He kissed her reassuringly and Hisana's eyes slid shut. She felt him fumble for her nightclothes and knew that the incident would probably never be resolved.

For now, she didn't care.