DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. They belong to their respective owners. This storyline, however, does belong to me.
Two for one! Yay! In this chapter! Byakuya vs Hisana! GASP! And then a night walk, as promised.
The House of Kuchiki
CHAPTER FIVE
Hisana's jaw dropped momentarily and she thought that she must've heard incorrectly. "Hisana-chan." Matsumoto beckoned her forward. "He called your name."
Hisana slowly stepped forward and made her way over to stand across from Byakuya, avoiding eye contact as much as possible by looking down at her shoes.
"Everyone else, exit the courtyard and meet me in the next courtyard for your assignments." The instructor began to hand out the weapons. As the rest of the students exited, Hisana felt her face go warm. He looked at her, hadn't he? Does that mean the night walk actually happened...? Maybe he just looked at her out of coincidence. Eye contact doesn't mean anything...
"The five of you will be sparring with these remaining Death Gods. You'll be using the practice weapons you've been using. I apologize, graduates, but your soul slayers are too strong for them, so we've gotten you some practice weapons as well. No demon magic allowed... this is for sword training only." Hisana wasn't paying much attention to the instructions, intently staring at her shoes and counting the pebbles around her feet.
"Now. Kuchiki-san and Hisana... you two will be over there in that corner." At this, Hisana looked up. All the others were already preparing to spar with their partners in their assigned areas. She followed the instructor's finger and turned to begin heading in that direction. Byakuya walked next to her silently.
As they arrived at their location, they stood facing each other. "We meet again, Hisana-san."
Hisana, who had convinced herself that it was just a dream and he just happened to meet her eyes at that moment, was taken aback. "That actually happened...?" Oh, no... she thought out loud again...
"Our conversation? Yes, I believe so." Moving his sword into fighting position, he took a step back. "We should get started before your instructor gets upset, hm?"
Hisana nodded and took a step back herself. She raised her sword up, and she could hear Hinamori shouting at Hitsugaya to stop flash-stepping. Blocking out all the sound from the courtyard, she could hear her heartbeat speed up as she focused on Byakuya. "Alright."
"I'll give you the first move then, Hisana-san. Whenever you're ready." Hisana nodded and got ready to lunge.
Jumping ahead, she was shocked when Byakuya blocked her attack with ease. "If you make it obvious as to what your move is going to be, you'll never land a hit."
Hisana jumped back and tried again, only to be blocked once more. Jumping back again, she frowned and lowered her weapon. Byakuya lunged at her quickly and put the practice weapon's point up to her neck. "Never let your guard down, Hisana-san."
Hisana's eyes were wide as Byakuya lowered his weapon and stepped back. "Now, try again."
Hisana nodded slowly and put her weapon up. Barely moving, she remained in that position while Byakuya waited patiently. Lunging quickly, she was blocked once again. "Better. Once more." Instead of jumping back, Hisana swung the weapon around, causing Byakuya to jump back in order to avoid it. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the instructor's whistle, signaling the end of the class.
"Everyone, bring your weapons here. Make sure to bow to your Death God sparring partner for taking time out of their busy days to come here and help you out. Thank you, all of you, for coming."
Hisana was quick to bow. "Thank you for sparring with me, Kuchiki-sama."
Byakuya bowed his head in response. Hisana stood straight and began walking towards the intstructor with him. Putting her weapon down carefully, she watched Byakuya leave his weapon with the instructor and walking towards the other Death Gods.
Matsumoto watched Hisana. "Ah... I seeeee..." She smirked at Hisana. "Kuchiki Byakuya's the man who's stolen your heart, Hisana-chan?"
"W-what?! N-no! What are you talking about?!" Hisana turned bright red.
As everyone began leaving the courtyard, Byakuya and Hisana made eye contact once again. Nodding at her, he turned left to leave the academy grounds with the others. With his back turned to her, he lifted his hand up and gave a gesture of farewell. Hisana waved back sheepishly, walking into the building to collect her belongings with Matsumoto.
The rest of the day was almost a blur for Hisana. She collected her things, said goodbye to a smirking Matsumoto, and headed home. She vaguely remembered eating dinner and getting ready for bed.
It seemed her mind was occupied with other things, more specifically, a single person. I wonder if he'll be out walking tonight...?
She lay down under the covers of her futon and stared up at the ceiling. Five minutes passed.
Then ten minutes. Hisana closed her eyes to try to force herself to sleep, but to no avail. It was much later last time... he wouldn't be out now...
Then again, though... it never hurts to try. Hisana sat up and lifted the covers off. As she was going to stand, she stopped herself. What if he isn't there...? Or... if he doesn't want my company tonight...?
She stood up and got a glass of water. There! Now I can say I woke up from thirst.
She brought the glass out with her as she left her house, closing her door quietly behind her. Walking down the street, she turned the corner and tried to remember the path she had taken when she last bumped into him.
"Let's see... Was it this corner...? Or the next...?" She frowned and stopped for a moment, looking around. Going straight, she chose the next corner out of sheer gut instinct. After continuing on for a little while, she heard someone's footsteps approaching from around the corner. The figure turned the corner slowly and she stopped in her tracks.
"Ah, Hisana-san. Twice in one day, I see." Kuchiki Byakuya, with his hair down and a glass of water in his hands, walked up to her. "Woke up from thirst as well, I take it?"
Hisana looked down at her glass and blushed, but nodded.
"Truth be told..." Byakuya frowned slightly and began walking in the direction Hisana came from. "I failed in my attempts to fall asleep."
Hisana turned to walk next to him. "Something on your mind, Kuchiki-sama?"
Byakuya didn't respond, and took a sip of his water.
"Do you... wish to talk about it?" Hisana also took a sip of her water.
Byakuya shook his head as they turned the corner. "There are some things, I'm sure, you would rather keep to yourself. My situation is one such as that."
Hisana nodded and looked down at her glass. "I understand. It's the same with my nightmares, I guess."
"The childish ones?" Byakuya glanced down at her, turning the corner to where her house was like the last time. Hisana nodded, and looked up to see her house.
"Do you... mind if we keep walking, Kuchiki-sama?"
Byakuya looked at her and smiled slightly. "Is it the walking or the conversation that you would like to continue, Hisana-san?"
"I... well... both, I suppose. But if I had to pick... the conversation." Hisana looked down at her glass once more.
She looks sad again... Now that he thought about it, he hadn't even seen her smile once yet... "Well... then our next move is up to you."
Hisana looked up. "The night breeze is nice." Byakuya nodded. Hisana took a couple of steps passed her house. "Let's keep walking then, Kuchiki-sama."
Byakuya walked up next to her as they continued on. He didn't know what it was about this woman, but he enjoyed her company. She somehow seemed to settle the feeling of unease in his stomach... she made him feel comfortable. He looked down at her from the corner of his eye.
"It must be difficult..." Hisana broke the silence after a few moments.
"Hm?"
"To have to be the leader of a clan... It must be difficult. The things expected of you... Do you have any younger siblings, Kuchiki-sama?" Hisana took a sip of her water once more before looking down at her glass.
"No, I don't. I'd imagine being an older brother would be much harder than being a leader of a clan, however. Because then... every move I made would influence my siblings."
"But everything you do influences your clan, doesn't it?" Hisana looked up at Byakuya.
"Yes, but younger siblings would learn from what I did... the clan would just scold me or praise me. Whether I was right or wrong... my siblings would copy."
"Hm... that's true..." Hisana looked back at her glass.
"Do you have siblings, Hisana-san?"
"One... a baby sister. Rukia. She should be in Rukongai."
"Should be?"
"I don't ... know exactly where she is..." After I abandoned her... Hisana added mentally, frowning.
Byakuya glanced down at her. "I'm sure she's fine..."
Hisana nodded, trying to convince Byakuya that she agreed with him, "So... did your friends say anything about the sparring lesson today...?" Hisana made a miserable attempt to change the subject. Byakuya, understanding that the previous subject upset her, simply went along with it.
Turning a corner to head back in a box towards Hisana's house, he replied, "Kenpachi complained that the weapons were childish... and that his partner complained about her chest size too much...Toshiro was hit in the face by his partner and was complaining that it would bruise by the morning... Generally... a lot of complaints all around."
"And what did you think...?" Hisana blushed slightly.
"I had no complaints." They turned another corner.
At this, Hisana smiled. "I see." Her voice was different, Byakuya noticed, and glanced down to catch a glimpse of her smile.
After turning another corner, Hisana stopped in front of her house. "You know these streets far better than I do... I would have never known how to get back here other than turning around and retracing steps..."
Byakuya smiled at this. "I have a good sense of direction, that's all." He watched her as she stepped up to the door.
She slowly slid her door open and stepped inside, turning towards him again. Just like the night before, she bowed. "Thank you for allowing me to walk with you again, Kuchiki-sama."
Byakuya bowed slightly in response. "No, thank you for keeping me company, Hisana-san. Good night."
Hisana smiled once more, and began closing the door. "Good night, Kuchiki-sama."
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Wow this chapter was long-ish... o-o... Anyways. Chapter six should be up within the next two days if I'm not swamped with work. R&R, please!