AN: Yo! All your reviews cheered me on no end! Thank you everyone so much!

If you've looked at my catalogue of stories, I flit from fandom to fandom. I tend to fall in and out of love with things pretty quickly. I was deeply in love with Byakuya and Hisana when I wrote this, but that has burnt out somewhat. It may grip me again and I'll write a one-shot at some point, but don't expect anything too soon.

Review replies, hmm… I kinda wish I were Hisana's shoes too. I love the man's hair. I don't have a great deal to say tonight, I haven't been well. Anyway.

It's a little crazy, but for some reason I have an image of the two of them in a pillow fort having this discussion. Of course they're not, but in my head they are surrounded in pillows. It's a bit odd, but I can't shift it. And you people probably didn't want to know that. No matter – on with the show! Four chapters to go after this (gulp).

8. Our Own World

"Theoretically…" she began, frowning slightly as if she didn't like what she was going to say.

"Theoretically…?" he asked, diverting his attention from his seemingly endless paperwork to Hisana.

She scrunched her face up, unwilling to continue and Byakuya found himself narrowing his eyes at her. She caught him and briefly stuck her tongue out before sighing.

"Theoretically, if you had the power to take over the world, would you do it?"

Byakuya remained silent, brows slightly furrowed.

"What makes you say that?"

"It doesn't matter. It's theoretical! You're meant to say 'Sure' or 'Nah' and why. I may let you off with a 'Maybe' if you give arguments for both sides of the case," she explained, sitting up from the mound of cushions she'd gathered in his office in order to keep out of the servants' line of coldness. They tripped over themselves to see if she was fine when Byakuya was around. The rejection was easing off now she'd been married to him for a few months, but it still bothered her.

Byakuya gave her a look that suggested he thought she was a little crazy, but it soon melted away into pensiveness.

"Yes," he decided.

Hisana had been rather surprised by his decision.

"What?! You'd rule over everyone even if they didn't want you to?"

He nodded.

"If I had the power to take over the world, I must have the power to change things in the world for the better. Just because I took over the world, wouldn't mean I'd rule over it afterward. I believe if I had that kind of power, I would like to see if I was capable, wouldn't you?" he replied.

Hisana looked amazed at the words coming out of his mouth.

"The amount of power required to take over the world would have probably corrupted you, so anything you did wouldn't improve the world for the better," she pointed out and Byakuya made a soft scoffing noise.

"Sensible people don't allow power to cloud their judgement."

"Are you saying you're sensible?" she challenged, an eyebrow raised.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. The conversation had become interesting.

"Would you like to illustrate how I am not?"

Hisana lay back on the cushion pile to look at the ceiling.

"Taking midnight walks instead of sleeping isn't sensible. Acting all aloof around people when that isn't how you always feel isn't sensible. Marrying me wasn't sensible."

The room fell deathly silent.

Hisana's heart was heavy. It had bothered her for a while, and to say it hadn't exactly made her feel better.

"Because of your status," he said bluntly, picking up his pen, only to motionlessly hold it.

"That's one reason. Another is my need to find my sister. Sometimes… I feel like I can't devote all of myself to loving you when finding her still looms in my mind. She… Rukia… takes precedent in my mind, Byakuya. There are moments – many moments – when you slip ahead of her. But then I feel guilty that I've placed my happiness over hers, and that hurts the worst," she explained, not daring to see his expression.

He sighed.

"I would take over the world just so it could be just you and I."

She bit her lip to reign in her tears.

"I think a world of our own would become tiresome eventually, Byakuya," she sighed, closing her eyes. She tried to imagine what such a world would be like, but she couldn't quite picture it.

Hisana suddenly felt warmth hovering above her and her eyes flew open to see Byakuya leaning over her. He looked grave, but his eyes belied something Hisana couldn't quite put into words.

'Is it pain? Sadness? Longing, something else, or them all mixed together?' she briefly wondered.

"Hisana, don't worry about it. As long as you stay by my side, I am happy. I understand your desire to find your sister." He inclined his head until his lips gently pressed against hers. The kiss only lasted a few seconds before he pulled back. Hisana looped her arms around his neck, still holding back tears.

"You don't understand, but there's no way for you to, Byakuya. And that's okay. So… let's just stay here for awhile and ignore the world," she whispered, sitting up to embrace him.

He felt like a lifeline she knew would one day be cut. But for now, he was there in her arms and all she could hope was that they could have their own world for a little longer.