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Renji suddenly popped through the open window, startling me out of my trance. "Captain Kuchiki- What's going on? I could feel your spiritual pressure all the way over at Kiskue's..." Renji broke off, seeing Rukia and Ichigo sitting in the bed, Rukia still using her hand to keep her nightgown from exposing her. "Oh wow. No wonder you were so pissed."

"Renji!" Rukia tried to stop him, but Renji had left through the window. Yoruichi stepped in and spoke softly to her. "Rukia. He's gonna be just fine." Yoruichi then turned to me, her face bright with anger. "These are just children! You shouldn't chide them like this!" I felt my own anger rise. "Which is exactly why marriage is out of the question!"

Rukia turned on her heel, staring straight at me. "Marriage?"

Sighing, I nodded stiffly. Ichigo, still on the bed, snorted.

"Byakuya, I already know about that. I have friends in the soul society."

Did he want me to murder him?

"Are you saying that- that you knew...? And what exactly do you plan on doing?"

Now, the boy's face turned pink, clashing with his hair. "I, uh- well, I wanted to, see what, Rukia! I wanted to see what Rukia thought of it."

"What. Are. You. Not. Telling. Me. Ichigo?" Rukia spoke through her teeth angrily, a habit she had learned from me.

Ichigo, to his his benefit, turned a darker pink, looking down at his hands.

"I was gonna tell you in the morning, Rukia, but, what the h-"

Yoruichi yawned, earning an annoyed stare from Ichigo. "Oh, shut up Ichigo. Rukia, you're supposed to marry him, so the Kuchiki clan can go on."

Rukia did not respond like I had hoped she would.

"Has it been ordered?" She asked timidly, slowly, just the way Hisana had asked when she wanted something. She'd always end up asking me for it, though, and I would always comply.

"Byakuya, do you think when our first... baby is born, I could name it after my mother? I know it is a great thing to ask..." "Of course." "Byakuya, I- uh, would like to go with you, please. I always miss you so badly when you're gone." "I'll have a servant pack your bags."

Did Rukia want his boy?

"No, Rukia, but it will be by tomorrow." I answered.

Rukia, blinking in surprise, nodded carefully, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. "Then it must happen."

"No." My answer was quick, Rukia's even quicker. "It has been ordered, brother! We cannot brake the law! It will be loveless, strictly business."

This was slightly more appealing.

"Hold up. This has to be done traditionally. Ichigo, down on your knee," Yoruichi purred, her yellow eyes darting between Rukia and myself.

Ichigo paled, but obeyed, clumsily pulling out a small black bow. "You have a ring! Then you were

planning THIS?"

Ichigo glared at me, cursing under his breath. "I knew about the orders."

With that, he pulled Rukia roughly to him, popping open the small box. I tried to glance at the ring, but his large hand kept it hidden. "Rukia, I gotta question. Will you... be my, uh, wife?" Simply nodding, Rukia held out her hand, where Ichigo slid a ring on her slender finger.

It was her ring.

My eyes wide in disbelief, I gaped at the ring I had given Hisana.

Impossible. She been buried with that ring. Yet there it was.

"Byakuya. I had a copy made."

Yoruichi's explanation made no difference.

I still remembered.

Nervously, I slid the ring around it's holder in the box one last time, hearing her footsteps. You'd think I'd be prepared, with all my training, but I felt inept and stupid. As she walked in the room, she laughed at me, seeing my face full of panic. "Bad time?" She asked quietly, not seeing the box in my hand.

Her wide eyes didn't leave my gray ones for several seconds, but when she looked away, she noticed the box at once.

I went to her, taking her hand, getting down on one knee. Slowly, I opened the small square, showing a simple, elegant ring made of three circles, a slender golden band, and... beauty.

"Hisana. I... love you." It was the first time I had said it, and it meant a lot to her, I could see. "If you would be my wife, I promise to make you the happiest woman alive."

"Yes."

I don't remember much about sliding the ring on her finger, because she had hugged me, knowing I wanted to save the first kiss for the actual ceremony.

But it was the closest I had ever been to her. I could smell the lovely lilac of her hair, could feel her heart beating wildly through her robe and mine, her heart almost directly over mine.

"Byakuya... thank you." Rukia's words made me wince.

They were Hisana's after she had broken off the hug.