Byakuya stared at his wife, who was setting the table for their dinner. He watched her, noticing that she was also dressed in a pink kimono, not the hakama she went to work in. She lowered her eyes and sighed. He looked up at her.

"That is the servants' duty, not yours, Hisana," he said, his voice tense. Hisana ignored him, continuing to set the table. "Let the servants do it." Hisana sat down in seiza and grabbed her tea, sipping it slowly. "Hisana, what is wrong?"

She looked down and proceeded to eat, not saying a word. Byakuya growled, and the servants bowed to him, leaving the two alone. Hisana didn't reply. The only thing she said was, "Your food will get cold if you don't eat soon."

He ate, watching her. "It is because I refer to Kuchiki Rukia as if she's no longer a part of my life, right? Well, I've got something to tell you – she will be erased in a few days' time, and then she will be no more. She will only be a memory."

Hisana stiffened and she glared up at her husband. "Thank you for saying that, Kuchiki Byakuya-sama." She stopped eating and just glared him. The two who were in seiza were staring at each other. Hisana was the first to look away.

"How is this different before you come back? It is exactly the same – only you've had the privilege of talking to her."

"A cold unfeeling man such as yourself would not understand if I even told you," she snapped. "You may not love your sister, but I love her. You will never be able to change that."

"But eventually you forget about her. You forget about everything. Time heals wounds, especially those which are out of our control."

"When I die, I hope you tell yourself that to keep you from spilling a single tear," she sneered, still eating.

"That is different."

"I guess it is. I'm Hisana, she's Rukia. Hisana's your wife, and Rukia is just a small thing your wife wanted. Two very different things," she snapped, trying to remain calm.

"You are right."

Hisana's eyes went wide and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Before she could lose control, she started to clean up dinner. The servants protested but Hisana ignored them. When she returned to the room, Byakuya faced his back to her.

"I understand your feelings, Hisana. However, mine don't mirror those. Kuchiki Rukia is more than a pawn to me, but she will soon –"

A loud sound echoed throughout the room. It was the sound of skin hitting skin. It was the sound of the Kuchiki Byakuya being slapped. He looked at her. Actually, he stared at her. Hisana's cheeks were red because of the anger she had and the fact she had just slapped her husband.

For five minutes the two stayed like that. Hisana's face didn't change and Byakuya didn't drop his stare. Hisana shifted, knowing without him speaking, he was very displeased with her display. He didn't shift his gaze once and it made her feel uncomfortable. Did he even blink?

Holier than thou was the exact words Hisana would describe her husband at the moment. Her eyes were looking down and Byakuya still hadn't moved. It was driving her crazy. She looked up at him, before bowing her head and not looking at him.

"Gomen nasai, Byakuya-sama – that was wrong of me," she said and she heard Byakuya shift. He tilted her chin up, making her look up at him. Her eyes were watering and she didn't want to face her husband's eyes, but he made her.

"Hisana, forgive me. It is wrong for me to speak of Kuchiki Rukia in such a manner. I just don't usually…"

"You don't usually speak of those who are no longer worthy of the Kuchiki name," she whispered. "I know. But please, do not make it seem as if my sister committed a crime because that was running through her bones at the time. It was in order to save four humans from a Hollow – in order to do her job as a Shinigami."

"I still cannot change it."

"And I'm not asking you to, Byakuya-sama. But you are always speaking about her as if she is not my sister, and I'm asking you to stop it," she said, trembling. He watched her, and she looked at him with a perfectly indifferent face.

"I will, if I can remember it," he said, letting go of her. "It is time for your bath, Hisana. I will not keep you."

"I took it early – this morning."

"Why?"

"Rukia's execution is the day after tomorrow."

"And this provokes you to change your routine…Hisana, don't tell me that you…"

She looked away and Byakuya stared at her. He grabbed her arm pulling her close. "You visited her, didn't you?"

Hisana shook her head. "No, Byakuya-sama. I may have spoken to the Commander-General about it, but I swear I didn't visit her!"

He let her go, before storming off. Hisana sighed and went off to get ready for sleep. He was being a jerk and she couldn't figure it out.

--

Hisana, once in the comfort of her room and in the safety of her bed, let the tears fall. There had to be something troubling him, and he didn't feel the need to talk to her about it. Then again, he'd been like that ever since Hisana could remember. Had she really thought he changed?

No, she didn't. She just hoped he had. She hoped that they could communicate without tears or anger. They could, but not with matters such as these. Was her request that unreasonable? When he was in her company, he should act as if Rukia was something to him, just not a prisoner who was going to die.

How is this different from the time before you left?

She kept her eyes closed tight, trying to prevent herself from crying more. She heard her servants leave the room, which caused her to pull the blankets over her head. Byakuya walked over to the futon and pulled the covers back. He looked at her tear stained face and gripped her elbow, forcing her stay like that.

Slowly, Byakuya leaned over and gently kissed the tear trails away. She let him, her large blue eyes watching him with every move he made. He then kissed her lips, pressing himself close to her.

"Hisana…" he whispered, pushing her hair out of her face. She nodded slightly and he pulled her close. He laid a soft, feather kiss on her lips, which she returned. His hands moved down to her hips, and she wrapped hers around his neck. They continued to kiss like this, before Byakuya pushed her kimono off her shoulders and discarded it completely. His hands roamed her body, touching everything he could.

Hisana's eyes closed with the delight of her husband touching her again. He deepened the kiss, and Hisana let him. Her hands, after a while of this, tugged at his belt, getting it undone. She pushed his own hakama off, laying her hands on his chest.

"It has been a while, hasn't it?" he questioned, which got a small smile from her. He returned the kiss, his fingers gently slipping into her. She moaned, and after a bit of this, he pulled away from her completely. She watched him, nodding her head slightly. He then poised himself above her, and in a brief moment, the two bodies of man and wife became one.

Hisana knew two things as she let him have his way – One: He's making up for being a jerk. Two: He's been away from me far too long. Of course, she thought the same for herself, but she wasn't going to admit that out loud. She just enjoyed this, knowing that this was only one way Byakuya would show his love.

Byakuya kissed her again, causing her to smile. After a few more moments, they both came together, in unison. He pulled out of her, before lying on the futon next to her. "Do you forgive me?"

She laughed, pulling the blankets over both of them. "You're silly, for a noble man. I've already forgiven you, and this wasn't necessary. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. But, in order to make you happy – I do forgive you."

He grinned, looking at her face that was covered with sweat. He pulled her close, and she snuggled up to his chest, letting her eyelids slowly close. He rubbed her back, watching her fall asleep. He knew he was going to fall asleep too, but he wanted to watch her as long as possible.

She looks so peaceful in her sleep. I've seen this look three times – when we got married, when she and I shared the same bed, and now. It's rare; she's usually worrying for Rukia. It makes me hurt to say what I did, and then see her cry. I bet she knows that something's troubling me…And there is, rightfully. That ryoka – Kurosaki Ichigo – defeated a 3rd seat. Not just any third seat – third seat of the 11th division. I'm afraid I'm going to have to fight him. It's not like I'm afraid of fighting him, it's that I'm afraid for Hisana. If she picks up both our reiatsu, she's going to freak out and not be able to think properly. I don't want her to worry so much.

It's bad for her. I've tried speaking about it before, but she just smiles and walks on, as if nothing's the matter. That's what I love about her, is that she can always smile a true smile. I love everything about her. Her size, although most people complain is too short for a tall man like me, is perfect. I wouldn't want it any other way. People often pick out the flaws in other, to fix the flaws in themselves. Living with Hisana, I know her flaws. She tends not to speak her mind, unless it's for someone else. She tends to apologize too quickly for something that should have rightfully been done. She also has an inability to talk to new people and make friends. She cries too easily. She laughs too little. She smiles too much. She thinks people can't hear or see her, but that is a mistake…

In this thought process, somewhere, Byakuya fell asleep. He kept his arm around Hisana, and when the servants returned to the room, they smiled. At least their boss loved his wife and was good at making her stop crying.