Siblings

"Kuchiki-hime is late."

Kuchiki Rukia, the new taichou of the thirteenth division, attempted to calm herself at the sound of Zakari-taichou calling his fellow captain by a nickname he knew he hated. I didn't really notice of how Nii-sama and Zakari-taichou openly detested each other until I became a captain. Nii-sama…always seemed to the one who would be the least person to compete with anyone, but it seems the dislike is mutual. Ichigo still finds it hilarious that Zakari-taichou calls Nii-sama by that nickname, but I find it to be insulting! The petite Kuchiki did note that the captain of the eleventh division spoke the truth. Nii-sama was never late to a captain's meeting. I always heard Renji complain of how Nii-sama would always have a huge pile of paperwork for him to do. The female Shinigami's violet eyes eyed the empty space worriedly. Nii-sama didn't arrive home last night either. It was odd to call the Kuchiki manor home after all the decades she had spent lonely and unhappy in that place. Since Aizen's defection however, Nii-sama had been melting the cold aura he always presented himself with, and the two siblings began to grow close. Renji was affected as well, I think.

Rukia never mentioned of how she noted that her childhood friend's growing feelings for her older brother, or of how worried she had been for Renji when his taichou had been in the coma for half a year. It was pure hell for him…but I never mentioned of how his loyalty towards Nii-sama extended beyond that of a vice-captain. Of how he seemed to forget every rule we had learned when he was by my brother's side. Something that Ichigo would find hilarious and pick on poor Renji if he knew. Rukia smiled softly at the thought of her boyfriend, and almost wanted to laugh at the uncharacteristic bashfulness aimed in her direction when he caught her staring. I love seeing him like that with such a ridiculous face. Rukia had been beyond shocked when Ichigo had confessed to her. I never thought I would fall in love with him. I thought it wasn't something that would happen to me. But then, Rukia thought with fondness at the thought of Nii-sama and of the story of her older sister Hisana. Nii-sama probably never thought he would fall in love with my older sister, or with…

"Oi, Shunsui, can I go wake the princess or no?"

I do not understand why he continues to call Nii-sama by that undignified nickname! At the corner of her eye, Rukia could see Ichigo struggling not to smile.

"I do not believe that would be wise, Zakari-taichou," stated Soutaichou without a hint of humor at the suggestion of the towering Shinigami. "But it is extremely unusual that Kuchiki –"

The doors to the captain meeting hall opened, and Rukia couldn't help but to turn her head around excitedly, certain that Nii-sama would certainly have arrived by now.

It was not Nii-sama. Rukia's blood became cold at the sight of the elder in front of her, recognizing his cold green eyes and dark hair so much like the taichou of the sixth division. But…his reiatsu... Ever since she had been adopted into the Kuchiki clan, Rukia had seen this elder member from afar, his white robes immaculately clean and his face with a slight sneering expression whenever he saw her. Nii-sama would never allow her to meet with his cousin alone, and a polite mask of indifference would always cover the elder's features, even though Rukia knew there was something wrong with this Kuchiki Norinaga.

"Councilor Kuchiki Norinaga," Soutaichou stated calmly as Rukia stared directly ahead of her, "of what is the cause of this visit? I presumed the Kuchiki Council of Elders preferred to stay out of Gotei 13 affairs."

"I apologize for this transgression, Soutaichou-sama," intoned the Kuchiki, "but I believe it is time to choose a new leader for the Kuchiki clan."

No… Rukia thought with cold fear, her heart colder than her bankai. No…why would they…?

"No council member can come and state the appointment of a new clan leader," stated Soi-Fon-taichou with a glare at the council member. "Kuchiki-taichou is still –" Suddenly, her expression froze and a look of shock framed the second division's captain's usual stern expression. "Impossible…" she breathed.

"I see that you noted that Kuchiki-taichou's reiastu has disappeared," Kuchiki Norinaga stated so smoothly Rukia resisted the urge to sheathe her zanpakutou. "It is true, Gotei 13." His cold green eyes surveyed the thirteen captain's, lingering especially on Rukia's for a moment. "Kuchiki Byakuya has disappeared, with no trace behind. As such –"

"Hold on!" Ichigo yelled with his taichou's haori rising from the surge of his reiatsu. "How can you just dismiss that? Byakuya's your leader, right?" Rukia felt burning anger as well at the councilor's statements. Nii-sama is not dead! Renji would –! "Why aren't you looking for him, you scumbag?" the orange-haired Shinigami stated with barely concealed disgust. "I fought him, so I know that Byakuya is anything but weak!"

"And yet my cousin was weak enough to be defeated by you, Kurosaki Ichigo," Norinaga stated without a change in his expression. "And now he is weak enough to be kidnapped by a Hollow."

"Even if that was true, Councilor Norinaga," Rukia stated with practiced calmness that her life in the Kuchiki manor had taught her, "Renji would certainly die before anything would happen to Nii-sama."

A sly smile suddenly appeared on the councilor's face, and Rukia barely suppressed a shudder.

"I heard similar words from that vice-captain as well. He seemed…extremely concerned about the whereabouts of my dear cousin, and demanded why the "stuffy nobles" as he called then, were not looking for Byakuya-sama."

"You state the name of one of our own captains with barely concealed ill, Councilor Norinaga," stated Hitsugaya-taichou. "Are you certain there are no malicious feelings between the two of you that would affect your decision?"

"Councilor Norinaga," Soutaichou intoned carefully, "has the Kuchiki Council of Elders truly made this decision?"

There was no pause. "Hai."

Why would they want to remove Nii-sama from leadership? Rukia thought furiously as Ichigo was looking with rage at Norinaga. The other captains as well were staring the scene grimly. He hasn't done anything to require investigation!

"Is your clan's pride truly worth more than your clan leader's life?" There was dismay and disgust…and something else in Soutaichou's voice that Rukia could not name that she heard. I haven't heard him speak like this since before the war, Rukia thought stunned as she felt the faint rise of anger in Soutaichou's reiatsu. With so much…

Councilor Norinaga did not smile. "We would die for our pride, Soutaichou-sama," the Kuchiki stated without a glance back at the Gotei 13. "Surely you, of all people, would know that."

There was heavy silence as the door closed behind the council member. Rukia's violet eyes stared at the ground, determined not to show anyone of the emotions that she felt now.

"Kuchiki-taichou and Kurosaki-taichou," Soutaichou stated almost immediately, pausing only to push his straw hat further down his face. Rukia looked up and dread began to gather within her when the former eighth division taichou started walking to the doors exiting out the hall. "Come with me. We need to go to the sixth division."

Rukia could feel that something was very wrong by the expression of shock and then fear on Soutaichou's face as he sensed the reiatsu in the captain quarter's bedroom. Beside her, Renji attempted to keep his distressed reiatsu under control. I sense only a Hollow, Rukia thought with growing uncertainty as the tense seconds passed. I don't understand either. How would a Hollow be strong enough to defeat Nii-sama, even weakened as he is? And…

"Go to Urahara Shoten," came the immediate order from Soutaichou. He ignored the shouts of protests by Ichigo and Renji, and still stared at the place where the Hollow's reiatsu was the strongest. "Find Shihouhin Yoruichi," stated the commander at the bewildered faces of the captain-level Shinigami. "She will provide you with the information you need."

"Information?" Renji almost screamed. His reiatsu spiked, and Rukia flinched at the heaviness of it. "What information do we need to rescue Kuchiki-taichou from a goddamned Hollow?"

"It is not an ordinary Hollow," Soutaichou said. "That Hollow was used to be a Shinigami."

Byakuya awoke to find himself in a pure white robe. His taichou haori had disappeared with his shihakushou, and his feet were bare. He recognized the interior of the place immediately. Why would this Hollow transport me to Aizen's former palace? Senbonzakura… Byakuya immediately thought as he felt for his zanpakutou to no avail. What would cause such carelessness? I have never had Senbonzakura from my side, expect… Byakuya remembered of how his bankai had been used against him in the fight against As Nodt. I was defeated shamefully, and remember every moment of my failure. His mind flashed to Renji. I became stronger, much stronger, but was defeated yet again by another foe. And your words…

"You have awoken." Byakuya stood at the sight of the Hollow. He was inwardly surprised that the Hollow could speak, observing the dark hole in the heart and the mask covering its face. A kido spell was on his lips. A memory of seeing eyes identical to his own came to his mind then, and Byakuya felt an apprehension that he hadn't felt since…

"What are you? Why have you not devoured my soul?" he inquired quietly.

The Hollow didn't move for a moment. Suddenly, its hands moved to its mask again and Byakuya felt a strange coldness overcome him. His heart started to race and his dark gray eyes widened as the mask clattered to the ground.

The face that stared at Byakuya as it transformed never left the other's face. Byakuya stared, his dark gray eyes widening impossibly wide as his heart beat as if it was about to burst out of his chest. Impossible… the Kuchiki male thought as his hands started to tremble. Impossible…This is…

"You are…" Byakuya gasped. His breathing hitched, and he fought the nausea coming in his throat. "You…im…possible…" he rasped.

"Yes." The voice was his own. The same dark gray eyes and thin face stared back at him. "It is me…"

"Otouto."

Shihouhin Yoruichi stood in front of the Shinigami, her expression becoming more serious by the moment as Rukia explained of what happened.

"I never thought that the Kuchiki clan would go so far to disown Byakuya-bo," she stated calmly with her arms across her chest. "To think that –" She paused at the gaping looks Renji and Ichigo were giving her. "What?"

"Um…why did you just call Kuchiki-taichou Byakuya-bo?" Renji asked with a bewildered expression. Yoruichi grinned.

"I was the one who taught him flash step!" she announced smugly. Both Renji's and Ichigo's jaws dropped. "Ichigo, you were there when we starting playing tag again –" Playing tag? Rukia thought incredulously as the male Shinigami sweat-dropped – "– so you should know that I have a past relationship with him!"

"Past relationship?" Renji blurted, then stopped and refused to look at the growing grin on the former noblewoman's face. "I mean, why did Soutaichou want us to come to you?"

Yoruichi's grin became a thin line as she was silent. "There's no way that Byakuya-bo wouldn't have able to take out a strong Hollow, and why the Kuchiki clan would allow him, the strongest clan leader in generations, to simply remain missing is just –" Suddenly, Yoruichi stilled and an expression of growing horror remained as the silence continued.

"We need to rescue Byakuya-bo right away," she whispered.

"We know that," Renji retorted. "What's the issue now?"

Yoruichi closed her eyes and sighed.

"This…is a secret that only those who were there that day know, and the Kuchiki clan is forbidden to speak of it." Yoruichi stared at them with solemn eyes, darker than before as she sighed quietly again. "Kisuke only found out about it because of everything he does know. The Kuchiki clan does not want to rescue Byakuya because of the dark secret."

"A dark secret?" Rukia asked. "What's so terrible that Nii-sama can't even speak of it, and what does it have to do with him?"

"Byakuya," Yoruichi stated slowly, "is especially forbidden to speak of it. I don't know if any of you know this, but the Kuchiki and Shihouhin clans have had ties within another for generations."

"Is that…why you were the one who taught Nii-sama flash step?" Rukia asked quietly.

Yoruichi nodded. "Yes. I was there when he was born. The most boring day of my life," she sighed.

"Wait." Yoruichi stared at Ichigo's bewildered expression. "How old is Byakuya, anyway?"

"He's two hundred years old," Yoruichi said to Rukia's and Renji's shock. "I know, he appears old because he has a stick up his ass all the time, but he's actually only fifty years older than Rukia and Renji. I was there when he was born, as I said before." An expression of sadness echoed on her face. "I remember every moment of it."

"Why are you so angry, Yoruichi-san?" Kisuke's smiling face irritated the Shihouhin heir, and she glared in the blond-haired child's direction. "This is supposed to be a joyous occasion to foster relationships between –"

"Did you get that from my father?" Yoruichi growled as she suddenly pounced on her the smaller child and grabbed his face. "We could be playing outside in the snow with Tessai, but instead, we have to wait for the Kuchiki brats to be born!"

"Don't be like that, Yoruichi-san," stated Kisuke in a sing-song voice. His large eyes looked into his friend's. "We'll at least get to –"

"And didn't I tell you to stop calling me Yoruichi-san?" the purple-haired child snapped. Kisuke only smiled at her.

"I'm only from Rukongai, Yoruichi-san, so –"

"How many times have I told you that it doesn't matter? You live in my mansion after my father had to rescue your stupid ass!"

"You shouldn't say such language, Yoruichi-san," Kisuke continued to say as the Shihouhin heir became angrier by the minute. "Maybe you should –"

There was a cry suddenly. It was loud, and invaded Yoruichi's ears. For some reason the child found herself not be annoyed. In fact, she felt…

Yoruichi remembered of how another child was born, not being able to be held in his mother's arms. She remembered of how the Kuchiki healers were running back and forth to the room where Lady Kuchiki was in, the dark stain of blood against their robes. That was the first time that Yoruichi ever saw blood. The child remembered of how Kuchiki Soujun was ordered outside as his wife lay dying. The trembling of his limbs and the paleness of his wife as his father, Kuchiki Ginrei, stood by his side. No one said a word, not even headstrong Yoruichi, when the head healer told the father and son that Lady Kuchiki had died moments before. "She was…too weak, Soujun-sama. I am sorry. The heirs…" The healer was not able to speak, pushed gently aside by the elder Kuchiki as his son stepped inside the room where his wife had died.

Later, Yoruichi held a newborn Byakuya in a blanket as the tiny Kuchiki slept, the dark hair thick over his head and his hands slightly clenching the blanket inside.

Beside her, Kisuke held the other child in his arms.

"Two hundred years ago, Byakuya was born, yes." Yoruichi stated quietly. "But that was also the day when his mother died."

"His mother…died giving birth to him?" Renji asked incredulously. Yoruichi nodded. "I…had no idea," Renji said subdued with an expression of shock still on his face. "Did you know, Rukia?"

"No," Rukia breathed. "I…" I always thought Nii-sama didn't like to celebrate his birthday because he doesn't seem to notice those kind of things. The servants would never say a word as Nii-sama would always visit the graves of his parents on his birthday. I…once went to look for him one time after Aizen, and thought he was visiting my sister again when I looked closer. Rukia remembered of the photo of the woman in the photo, her dark hair tied back with the same material, Rukia noted with shock, of the scarf her brother wore. She was beautiful, with kind eyes and a peaceful expression. Nii-sama saw me standing there, and I was so shocked. I thought he would ignore me or tell me to leave, but he didn't. He told me to come sit with him. We didn't speak. I tried only to stare at that woman in the photo, because…there were many photographs there…people I didn't recognize. "No," Rukia stated with a regretful expression. Beside her, Ichigo had a similar reaction, perhaps even deeper than hers. He loved his own mother very much, Rukia thought, and he can't imagine not knowing her, wondering how Byakuya must have borne it.

"Byakuya wasn't the heir of the Kuchiki clan," Yoruichi stated to the shocked Shinigami. "Even though the records state otherwise. Byakuya had an older twin brother."

"His name was…Kuchiki Akiya."