Whew, it's been a while. I've decided that while I'm updating the other story, I'd update this one too. This chapter's a little bizarre, I apologize. I wanted to start looking more into Byakuya's past, especially meeting Hisana. I wanted to add more to this one, but I didn't want it to get dragged out, so it's kind of short.
"Here you are, Daylight's star,
Made out of miracles…"
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-55 years ago-
"What is this? W-where am I?"
"Don't move. You were injured badly."
She stood by my bedside, but at that point, she was just another face to me.
"You're…a Rukon dweller?"
"And you're a shinigami, I presume."
I briefly looked around…all around me, I could see people…mostly children, clinging to their own sad ramshackle families. Though their faces had no expression, I could see it in their eyes – anger, strife, bitterness – my presence here was clearly unwanted. After all, I was a shinigami…a demon in their eyes.
"But why? You know what I am, so why save me? Why not just leave me to die?"
"I guess I'm human…I couldn't leave you there."
Human? The term almost made me laugh…almost.
"What is your name?" I was startled by my own curiosity.
"My name is Hisana."
"Hisana?" The name rolled from my lips gracefully.
"Mm-hm. That's right. What's yours?"
Against my better judgment, I told her. "It's Byakuya."
Whether it was out of a strange desire to see her, or something else, I'll never know, but in the days that followed, I found myself visiting the Inuzuri district often…Little did I know, though, that within those seemingly blissful days, was what set our tragedy in motion.
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"Hm…" Hinamori looked Byakuya over carefully. "It's bad."
"How bad?" Rukia asked, preparing herself for the worst.
"Well, I sense a great deal of internal conflict. Whatever he was poisoned with is affecting the way he thinks."
"Is it fatal?" Unohana asked, surprised she would ask such a silly question.
"Yes, but I could prepare a simple antidote to eradicate it."
"Well, what's with the waiting then?" Renji asked. "If it's so easy to prepare, why hasn't anything been done about it yet?"
"Whatever he saw that night has affected him deeply. While the antidote is simple to prepare, once I give it to him, it would cause some very severe reactions."
"Reactions?" Unohana asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Body spasms. Intense pain. At this point, I'm not sure I'm willing to risk it."
"What's the risk?"
"Death. Even though I could physically treat it, his mental state is in such poor condition, he wouldn't be able to endure it."
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is," Hinamori said, pursing her lips together. "He lacks the will to live."
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-200 years ago-
"Where is he?!" A loud voice echoed through the mansion. "Where is my son?!"
"He's out in the garden." Reasoned Yuu, trying desperately to calm his master. "But really, Makoto-sama-"
"Is he alright?" Makoto asked, turning to face Yuu, stopping momentarily, than continuing forward, ignoring the stares from the servants and the other elders.
"Y-yes, he is, but-" Yuu said, surprised by the sudden question. "But really, Makoto-sama, it really wasn't necessary for you to return home for this. We could have easily handled this problem ourselves."
"How so?"
"Because, we thought we could deal a better punishment for him. After all, his selfish actions could have ruined the Kuchiki name. We're just lucky the other nobles didn't catch wind of this, or we'd be the laughing stock of the Seireitei."
Makoto stopped in his tracks. "If that is indeed the case, and Byakuya's actions were really so outrageous," Makoto said, turning to face the feeble old man behind him. "Than wouldn't it be best for me, his own father, to speak with him?"
"With all due respect, Makoto-sama…" Yuu began, wringing his hands. "We think you're too soft on the boy. You've let him get away with his reckless behavior, and now he's out of control. He's-"
"He's my son." Makoto said, glaring at Yuu. The old man suddenly realized the rudeness of his words and slinked back, dipping his head in apology.
"P-please forgive me." Said Yuu.
"He's my son, therefore, I will deal with him." Makoto said, paying no attention to the old man groveling for mercy, but instead, continuing forward. When he reached the door to the garden, he heard small sobs coming from by the pond. Approaching small, huddled figure before him, the boy seemed to not notice him coming closer.
"Byakuya…" he said, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder.
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Silence fell over the room. Though no one wanted to say it, everyone knew there was no hope.
"So, he's going to die?" Rukia said, her eyes filling with tears.
"I'm afraid so."
"Isn't there anything you can do to help him?" Ichigo asked, comforting Rukia in his arms. "Anything at all?
"Well, there is one way..."
"What is it?" Unohana asked.
"There's a ritual I can conduct. It's one of the forbidden arts, but at this point, I see no other options."
"What does the ritual do?" Ichigo asked.
"It allows one to venture into the mind of another."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Renji asked.
"Yes. In order to do this properly, someone would have to volunteer."
"So, basically, all someone would have to do is go into Kuchiki-taichou's head, and knock some sense into him?"
"Yes." Momo said.
"I'll do it." Rukia said, looking worse for wear. "I'd probably have the best chance of getting through to him."
"No." Unohana said. "I'm sorry, Kuchiki-san, but you're in no condition to be attempting something so dangerous."
"Unohana's right." Renji said. "I'll go. I've always wanted to smack the guy anyway." A cheesy grin lit up his face. "It'll wake him for sure."
"Yeah right. Know you, you'd probably make things worse." Ichigo said, giving Renji a dirty look.
"Watch your mouth!"
"Make me!"
"ENOUGH!" Silence spread throughout the room. All eyes focused on Rukia, who had stood up.
"He's my brother." Rukia said. "I will go, and there's nothing any of you can say to make me change my mind."
"But--" Ichigo, Renji and Unohana all stood in protest.
"No!" Rukia's eyes softened. "Please don't try to stop me. Byakuya has saved me from death many times. For once-" Rukia's eyes sank briefly, then rose to face the others.
"For once, I want to save him."