Here's my thanx and a high five to the following who reviewed. :) Thanx all! My apologies for the length of time it took me to update!

..(anon)

Starsky Chan

sakura06

DaydreamerMagby

Empress-Dragon

Thanx to Ity for the much needed prod! Here's the chapter you, and everyone else, has been waiting so long for me to get off my ass and write! ;)

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing, zilch, zero. And I'm just a regular person to boot. :)

Note: I'm sure that you all noticed my characters are OOC...but I like 'em better that way, and they're much easier for me to write in that manner too. But that's my humble opinion. :) Enjoy the story.

A Noble Heart

Chapter 2: Jealousy and Family Issues

Ichigo having searched all night returned home without results. His father Isshin thoroughly questioned him receiving only a 'hmph' for his efforts.

Karin and Yuzu sat calmly at the table waiting for the peace to be broken. Any moment now father and son would strike out at the other; kicking off another spar. Yuzu had prepared a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast, which lay on their plates neglected as the two males in the family sorted out their "issues".

"Karin, do you think they'll eat instead of fight?"

"Doubt it." Rolling her eyes, "Those two would go insane without each other to fight with. They're more like brothers than father and son." Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called out, "Yo Pop, Ichigo, you want breakfast then come get it!"

In answer to her statement, punches and blows sounded from the living room as father and son connected through physical challenges with each other. A voice called out amongst the blows.

"Be there in a minute."

"Yeah, right", Karin mumbled. Continuing to eat her breakfast, the athletic, short-tempered brunette found herself irritated by her father and brother's immaturity and disrespect towards Yuzu.

The youngest Kurosaki, Yuzu, slaved daily, cooking and cleaning, mostly cooking, and to have her meals grow cold due to their physical idiocy and lack of maturity pissed Karin off.

Sighing, Yuzu glanced down at her plate filled with breakfast items and said, "It's okay, Karin." Her eyes downcast, studying the contents spread out before her.

Standing up from her seat, Karin growled, "No, it's not okay, Yuzu! You cook every day for this family with little appreciation; it's not okay they're screwing up what little family time we have, and they're acting like teenage idiots!"

Sarcastically throwing her hand against her cheek, she muttered angrily, "Oh, that's right, I forgot! One of them is a teenage idiot!" Flashing a look in their direction she spat loudly, "And the other idiot's trying too hard to relate and relive his!"

"They're just worried about Yara."

Digesting Yuzu's words Karin knew she was right, but that still didn't excuse their ridiculous behavior. Frowning, Karin stared into the eggs she'd been eating. "Since her disappearance, Ichigo's driving himself insane searching for her."

"I know, Karin." Her eyes grew deeply saddened. "Karin?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think they'll find her?"

Smiling, trying to reassure the younger girl, Karin replied, "I'm sure. Ichigo's never made a promise he couldn't keep." Finishing off her eggs with a flourish, she added, "Besides, our brother seems to have a knack for finding people. Everything will be alright, Yuzu. I promise."

Both girls returned to finishing their breakfasts over the shouts and blows of the two males in the living room. Karin thought back to when Ichigo told her father about Yara. Her skin crawled from the horrible scene depicted in his words. And she couldn't tell Yuzu what she'd heard. The young girl would be traumatized beyond words. So she'd only told her that Yara had disappeared without a trace.

Karin intentionally left out the bit where Ichigo discovered leftover riatsu markings from their cousin. Also, according to her brother's tale, a bloody hand print cascaded down the brick, dried, crusted blood decorated the street, and more at the scene, only Ichigo couldn't bring himself to burden his sisters with such disheartening news. She'd only found out by eavesdropping on her brother and father's conversation.

Sipping the last of her orange juice thoughtfully, Karin slipped on her hat and shoes, running out the door to find her friends and play some soccer. And on her way she'd search for clues regarding her missing cousin.

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Byakuya entered unit four's infirmary to check on the young girl he'd brought with him several days ago. He'd tried numerous times to see her, question her, but Unohana refused stating her patient was still not out of danger. The girl had been out of it for five straight days with little improvement on her condition. Maybe today would be the day she'd awaken, giving him the answers he required.

Opening the door, Unohana greeted him with a gentle smile. "Back again so soon Kuchiki-taicho? I assume you're still waiting for her to wake up, correct?" He nodded and she gestured for him to enter the girl's room. "She's awake, but for how long I can't say. Ever since this morning she's been passing between the waking and sleeping worlds. So do not exhaust my patient. That's your only warning."

Her eyes grave and serious, Byakuya knew he couldn't push her without some form of retaliation in kind. Unohana resembled a fragile flower, but in battle she was a fierce warrior. Her smile and mannerisms a charade for those who didn't know her. She was certainly a woman you didn't argue with.

Striding through the door to Yara's room, a tug pulled on his heart. There she lay, pale and sickly looking, eyes dull and tired. Long, red hair fell around her shoulders, strands of the fiery color plastered to her head from bouts of sweats that Unohana described earlier. He felt it was his fault for not jumping in sooner. Another blame to add to his list.

"It's not your fault, you know." Green eyes stared at him as she waved him over to sit by her side. Weakly smiling, she said, "It's automatic. Guys always think it's their fault if they don't intervene in time. I'm beginning to believe it's a rule or something."

Watching her carefully he asked her, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright this morning. Captain Unohana assured me that I would make it, but I shouldn't overdo any activities for awhile." Her gaze warmed slightly as she took his hand, surprising the stoic Captain, and stating, "Captain Kuchiki, thank you for coming to my rescue, you and your vice captain, Abarai. You'll never know how grateful I am to the both of you for your help."

Unsure of how to reply he stayed silent. He couldn't help but remember how she'd called out another's name, and how that name caused a fire to burn. A fire called jealousy. To him, jealousy wasn't an emotion that he was capable of, yet he was finding out different. He was very susceptible to that little green monster. And he didn't like it one bit. The head of the Kuchiki clan never had reason to be jealous of anyone or anything. Now wasn't a good time to start.

"What's your name?" That's one thing he'd wanted very badly to learn. To put a name with her face. Curiosity pounded at his head, wondering if her name would be beautiful as her face.

Pushing herself up from her pillow and grimacing from the pain in her sides and stomach, she groaned and fell back to the mattress, her strength still not up to standards. Tears welled as she fought against the depression clawing at her. Feeling so helpless, she pushed some strands of hair from her face and whispered, "Yara. My name's Yara."

Dark blue eyes seemingly cold he asked her, "Would you rather sit up, Yara? You seem uncomfortable."

"Yes," she whispered. Tears of sadness vanished from her eyes. Instead they streaked down her face as tears of relief as he offered to help her. The powerful Shinigami captain before her was deceptive in appearance. Strong jaw, cool, dark eyes; his lips pressed tightly together, seemingly drawn into a frown, while his facial expression resembled a scowl. However, she'd discovered, by hours of conversation, that until recently he'd possessed a heart of ice which, according to Renji, softened in her presence.

Rising from his seat he wrapped his strong arms around her; eased her up, adjusted her pillow's position higher up and gently placed her as she wanted. Face to face, she blushed and whispered her thanks, smiling as she noticed the slight flush across the handsome Shinigami's face.

Byakuya turned away and returned to his seat, now that she was comfortable. "Yara, I wanted to ask you a question. And also, our commander wishes to know the particulars of your attack, but not until you've had a little more time to heal quite substantially."

"Okay. What would you like to know?" Confusion evident in her eyes, head tilted to the side, it seemed she was intrigued about whatever weighed on his mind. Most males of her acquaintance, outside of family and close friends, only wanted one thing and it wasn't conversation.

"While you were unconscious, you cried out a name- Ichi. Who is this, Ichi?" His tone belied the disdain and irritation he felt whenever the name crossed his mind, or graced his ears. He wanted to reach out with his zanpakuto and slice the unknown competitor to ribbons. Completely at war with himself over the new feelings this girl induced, Byakuya felt out of sorts, his many emotions warring within a conflicted conscious.

Her posture relaxed, eyes immediately glazed over with familiarity, of love. Something deep inside him squeezed the notion of hope, sending it from his cold heart. Apparently, this Ichi was someone important, was someone of consequence to the young girl and this disappointed him greatly. A fist of ice gripped tighter as she began to speak.

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An orange haired male walked beside the sixth squad's vice captain, his eager pace pushing them into a brisk walk. "Where are you taking me, Renji?"

"You said you were looking for someone, right?" The overly exuberant redhead glared at Ichigo with self-satisfaction all over his face. As if the man knew a secret few others were privy too, including Ichigo.

"Yeah. So what are you yammering about? Where the hell are we going, Renji?"

Ichigo felt himself growing more and more impatient by the moment. Yara was no closer to being found today than yesterday. The weight of his overly large sword dangling down his back seemed to bear no weight against the slight build of the young Shinigami substitute. In fact, it seemed to propel him forwards, giving him a push; hurrying him along as he and Renji hurried towards an destination only known by his friend, and sometimes competitor.

Soon they'd arrived at section four's infirmary. Both males hurried through the door, ignoring the puzzled looks and brushing aside any questions put to them.

Renji and Ichigo stopped outside a door where they heard a female voice start to speak and Ichigo's brown eyes shot wide open. Renji opened the door and shouted, "Hey Captain Kuchiki-"

Ichigo chose that moment to shove the loudmouth aside and rushed into the room and to Yara's side. For a moment he couldn't act. He couldn't believe it'd been this simple. That she'd been here the entire time. Shrugging off his inability to act, Ichigo smiled brightly. Relieved, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly and murmuring his gratitude for her safety. He hadn't realized he'd been gripping her to tight until her cry and gasps of pain reached his ears.

"Yara, thank goodness you're safe. We all feared you were lost to us." He eased her back to the pillow trying to keep from causing her any further pain. "How?"

Yara didn't answer as she knew he was addressing the other two males in the room. Sitting silently she stared at the three men in the room: one looking rather amused at the situation and the other two...they looked ready to break into a fight. But why?

Yara patted the bed, motioning Ichigo to sit. "First things first." Glancing from Renji to Captain Kuchiki to Ichigo she smiled sweetly, green eyes twinkling even as pronounced shadows attempted to cloud them. Her eyes and words addressed the handsome, masculine form of unit six's captain first. "There's no need to be jealous, Byakuya, if I may?" He nodded and she continued. "The Ichi I spoke of while unconscious is none other than Ichigo, my cousin."

Byakuya instantly felt a little better at her admission. He had no desire to fight the bold, brassy Shinigami substitute over a woman. Standing to his feet he crossed the room to stand by his vice captains side, "Rest well, Yara. We shall leave for now, but we'll return." A cool glance slid towards Ichigo, "Take good care of her, Kurosaki." Abruptly spinning on his heel, Byakuya's tall, muscular physique exited the room, Renji followed in his wake.

Gripping his cousin's pale, trembling hands, he asked her, "Now that I know you're safe...what happened?" His worried eyes stared intently into her green ones, softly demanding answers she didn't know if she was ready to give. But then again when Byakuya and Renji returned she'd be questioned thoroughly by them, so she might as well get started.

"I thought I was going to die,Ichi!" Tears filled her jewel-like eyes. "There was no one to help me until the Shinigami came. With all the things my attackers were doing...I thought they were going to force me against my will and then kill me." Her grip on his hands tightened considerably, her face agitated. "I thought I'd never see you, Karin, Yuzu or uncle Isshin again!"

Her words broke off into sobs and he hugged her gently murmuring words of comfort as best he could, being a teenaged male and all.

"It's all right. You don't have to say anymore. We can talk about this later if you want."

"Please?"

Her plea went straight to his chaotic heart. "Sure. If that's what you want."

She nodded and yawned. Lying back on the mattress her eyes closed and within moments her breathing slowed and deepened. The emotional upset must've taken quite a toll on her, Ichigo thought.

Ichigo wanted all the answers but it looked as if they'd have to wait. At least until unit six's captain and vice captain returned. Narrowed eyes took in the palor of his cousin and his anger raged. If Renji hadn't assured him the assailants had been taken care of then he'd be out there right now hunting the unfortunate bastards down.

Unable to rest or sleep Ichigo stared out the window, taking in a spectacular sunset heralding the end of another day. The various fading hues coaxing a small smile from the tense male. So many questions. So many waiting answers. He'd just have to wait until tomorrow. And tomorrow still seemed so far away.

Sighing hard he resigned himself to be patient as he turned from the window and took up his position guarding his sleeping, recuperating relative.

A/N: I know this chap wasn't spectacular or anything, but I know you guys were wanting an update and I couldn't really think of something really good for this chap, but next chap it'll be more interesting and show more interaction between Byakura and Yara. So I hope you all forgive me for taking so long to get this out. See ya'll next chapter and thanx for reading:)