"Is she asleep?" Byakuya questioned Aimi at eleven o'clock that night. The young girl nodded her eyes wide. Byakuya seemed to be in an upset mood, and she didn't want to get the wrath of that mood. Hisana was, for all she knew, asleep. At least she had gone to bed and not risen, as far as she could tell.
"Hai, Kuchiki-sama," she replied, her lips barely moving. Byakuya nodded and side-stepped her, opening Hisana's door and entering it. He was ready for bed also, but he wanted to make sure his wife followed his orders. He had told her not to stay up, but he also wanted to spend time with her.
Hisana heard her husband come in and she closed her eyes. He planted a light kiss on her lips, and she opened her eyes. She smiled up at him, and touched her cheek.
"I thought I told you not to stay up," he whispered to her, sitting down on the futon. He didn't move, and kissed her forehead, pushing her hair out of the way.
"I couldn't sleep," she responded, watching him. "Are you upset?"
"As long as you didn't stay up," he paused, but Hisana shook her head.
"No, that's not what I mean. You seem troubled, why?" Byakuya shook his head. "Byakuya-sama, tell me. I don't want any secrets."
"In the morning, my sweet," he told her, kissing her once again. He got up, and left, not letting her say another word. He was regretting telling her, but it had to be done. She had to know.
--
Hisana awoke a few minutes before the sunrise, and she quickly dressed herself. That was one thing she didn't miss – having servants dress her. She felt helpless, and she hated that. Quickly, she went out into the garden. She watched the sun rise, and she smiled. She loved this time of day, especially in the spring time.
"Kuchiki Hisana-sama!" Aimi said, walking in, and not seeing her mistress in her bed. "Kuchiki Hisana-sama!" Hisana, still in the garden, did not hear her. Aimi ran and found Byakuya, and she quickly told him that his wife was missing. Byakuya wasn't so fast for nothing – he quickly shunpo'd to Hisana's room. However, when he saw that Seishuku Harou was missing, he visibly relaxed. He opened the door to the garden, and saw Hisana.
"Did you check in the garden?" he asked, looking at the servant. She shook her head, looking ashamed. "If Hisana is never in her room, check in the garden. She loves it here." Then he turned his attention to his wife. "Hisana, it is time for breakfast! I will tell you what you want to know."
Hisana turned and walked towards her husband, grabbing his hand and together they walked into the dining room. Both of them sat in seiza, and ate their breakfast.
"Last night, Abarai Renji and I were dispatched to Karakura Town, to bring back Shinigami of the Thirteenth Squad, Kuchiki Rukia. She violated Shinigami law by giving her powers to a human, and is to be held as prisoner for execution. In twenty-five days, to the Central Execution Grounds for her sentence," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Hisana looked down. "Byakuya-sama, can't you do anything?" she asked, still eating. She would not cry, especially when Byakuya was so calm about it. He shook his head and she got up, nodding. "I understand. Thank you very much." She got up, and went to her bedroom.
"Aimi, please pin my hair up in a bun," she requested, and in fifteen minutes, Hisana was no where to be seen in the house. She was not as skilled at shunpo as her husband, but she was as good as she could possibly get. She arrived to the prison, and told the Shinigami guard the following:
"Kuchiki Hisana wishes to see Kuchiki Rukia, death sentence prisoner," she said. She was allowed entrance, and she was led to the prison cell Rukia was being kept in. She looked at her sister, a single tear falling from her eyes.
"Kuchiki Rukia, I have only one thing to say to you. I am sorry for what I have done and I regret it. This is my last chance to apologize for what I have done."
Rukia's eyes widened as she registered who the girl in front of her was. "Hisana-nee-sama," she whispered and Hisana looked away.
"I do not deserve to be called your sister, Rukia, do not call me that," she said sharply. "I have not been your sister, at any point in my life, except while we were still living, which we are not."
"Hisana-nee-sama, it was not your fault. I do not regret it! You would have never met Byakuya-nii-sama if you kept me, and I would have never met Renji or become a Shinigami and got placed in Ukitake-taichou's squad!" Rukia said, almost shouting at her. Hisana let another tear escape.
"I left you and it was inexcusable," she stated firmly.
"As inexcusable as it was, it was done. And you cannot take it back, nee-sama!" Rukia said, glaring at her sister. "I forgive you, and that's all that should count!"
Hisana started slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Byakuya. She looked away and attempted to leave. He wrapped his arm around her waist, not allowing her to leave.
"Rukia, I want you to apologize to Hisana," Byakuya said, still holding Hisana still.
"Byakuya-sama, it is fine," she said, shaking her head.
"Now, Rukia," he growled, ignoring Hisana.
"Gomen nasai, Hisana-nee-sama," Rukia said quietly.
"It is perfectly alright, Rukia."
Rukia bowed her head to Hisana and Hisana continued trying to get away. Byakuya released her, but he tucked her arm in his elbow and kept his arm closed, keeping her close. Hisana let the tears stream down her face, and Byakuya did not once look over at her.
"Hisana, you will train with Abarai-fukutaichou today. He is to decide what placement you are – if you are good enough to be a seated officer. If he thinks you are, we will get together the seated officers and have you battle each one," Byakuya said, his voice toneless. She said nothing, knowing that he would not care about her input. He dropped her off at the training room, where Renji was warming up.
"Hisana-sama," Renji greeted. "Taichou," he said, nodding at his captain. Byakuya nodded, before leaving. Hisana looked at Renji, taking off her white haori she had been wearing. She couldn't fight with it on, and it was really not necessary. She looked at Renji, bowing towards him.
He returned the favor and the two took out their swords. The hilt, close to the hand guard, was a light cranberry, and about two centimeters down was a silver band, and after that the color darkened for about one centimeter, another silver band, then a very dark cranberry, one more silver band, and then a dark violet. The hilt finished with a piece of silver that wove in, and then out, to form the oval that was at the end of the sword. The blade was a hue of blue, like the ocean.
Renji attacked first, and she blocked him quickly. "No bloodshed, Hisana-sama. Whoever gets close enough to kill wins," he said which got a nod in return from her. She swung low, and he blocked. It was an intricate dance between the two, one that Hisana had to remember.
Block, attack, block, attack, dodge, attack, block, block, attack, block had been carved into her mind for too long for her to get. However, to respond to it fast enough was a task. She continued to fight with him, attacking. Since they were in an outside arena, Renji released his shikai.
Hisana stepped back, and she almost copied Byakuya. Their fighting styles were alike, but not identical. Byakuya was more experienced, while Hisana was trying her best to improve constantly. Her shikai also started out like Byakuya's bankai, but the elements were opposite and the commands were far apart in power level.
"Saesuru, Seishuku Harou," she whispered, releasing her sword with the blade pointed down. The slid downward and dissolved into the ground, causing ripples to emerge from the spot. It took it a moment, but from the exact spot, a ribbon of water twisted itself around Hisana's arm and she smiled at Renji.
She pushed her arm forward and spiral of water shot towards him, and he could only move away, but Hisana twisted and commanded it with her fingers to follow him. Renji found it impossible to attack water, seeing as it just spilt and went around Zabimaru.
With a close of her fingers, the water formed a circle around Renji and closed him in with water. Hisana counted to twenty and let him down, but he got up and had Zabimaru attack her from all different directions. She shunpo'd around, dodging it. That was her sword's weakness. It could attack, but it took too much time to construct a shield on the battlefield.
Zabimaru, in its long state, was able to touch her neck ever so slightly, making her freeze. "You fought well, Hisana-sama. I would say you are good enough to become a seated officer."
She nodded, and they contacted Byakuya. The rest of the day was spent finding what seat Hisana was supposed to be at, and she ranked second. But, by the end of the day, she was ready to fall asleep. Byakuya led her to the Sixth Division Office, where he made her sit down on the couch. She fell asleep on the couch, snuggling up to warm herself.
"Byakuya-sama!" Hisana was yelling, but his back was turned to her. She was bleeding, from everywhere, but she could see the person who had done this to her. The only person she saw was Byakuya, and his sword was drawn and bloody. She kept screaming his name, feeling her voice become raw. When he finally turned around, a Hollow faced her, in face of her husband.
She couldn't find Seishuku Harou, her only weapon. She knew kidoh, but she had not used in forever. She couldn't use it right now, when she needed it most. She wept, holding onto herself tightly. She was going to die and become a Hollow, all because she had followed Byakuya.
She couldn't breathe and she hurt badly, due to her injuries. The Hollow was approaching her swiftly and with a quick flash of, what could only be Senbonzakura, the Hollow was gone. She felt arms circle around her, holding her close to a broad chest that she was all too familiar with.
"Byakuya-sama!" she yelled, struggling against his arms, not processing that it was he. "Byakuya-sama!"
"Hisana," he breathed into her ear, holding her tightly. "It's okay, I'm right here. I'm right here, you're safe. You're safe." He kissed her jaw, and her yells became sobs. She clutched onto him, looking up at him as she slowed down to just cries.
"B-Byakuya-sama," she said, looking at him. She continued to hold onto him, and he wrapped his arms around her, sitting down against one of the walls of the office. He opened his legs a bit and put her in the opening he made. He wrapped his arms around her, looking down at her. She buried her face in his chest, thankful for his presence all around her.
"What happened, Hisana?" he asked her, stroking her back lightly. She relaxed, still crying slightly. She knew she had to tell him, and now was a good time, where no one could overhear from her own house.
"I was hurt, as if I had been in a bad battle, and there was no one there, except for you. You were facing away and Senbonzakura was full of blood. I was calling out your name, and you turned around, but it wasn't you. It was a Hollow. I couldn't find Seishuku Harou, and I was weaponless. It was approaching me, and your shikai defeated it. And then I woke up. I know it sounds far from scary, but I was terrified," she said quietly, and he hugged her close.
"Regardless, it was just a dream, and you're safe now," he said, kissing her forehead. "You're safe now." He didn't move, completely content in his current position.
"Remember when I used to have nightmares about Rukia, and what would happen to her if I didn't find her?" she asked, looking up at him. "I'd always cry and scream and have a rage in my sleep, and you would come into my room and hold me while I wept, hating myself for leaving her. You didn't care, and you would just hold me, telling me it wasn't my fault and that I was okay."
"I remember those nights clearly," he said, holding her close. "I love you, Hisana."
"I love you, Byakuya." And with that, Hisana leaned up and kissed her husband on the lips.
A/N: Awwww. That was cute! What with Hisana being all, "I'm scared" and Byakuya being all, "You're okay. I love you." Anyway, I know Hisana's turning out sort of Mary-Sue-ish (that could also just be me) but she'll have flaws. They are just slow to emerge. I DON'T OWN BLEACH. TITE KUBO DOES.
Zammy: Thanks for the review and I plan on updating often!
Forme: Isn't this couple just awesome? Thanks for the review!
CherryIzzy and Shanny - thank you so much for being my lovely betas.