DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. They belong to their respective owners. This storyline and original characters, however, do belong to me.

Juud: Aw, come on. Don't hate on the meanie cousin; she's not all bad, I promise. XD

thelovablechelsea: Yes, Kanaye's a nice old man. :D I'll go into more detail about Kanaye soon.

Fala-Li: Does this mean I've transformed you into a Byakuya fan? If so, hurray! If not... well... I'm glad you like my fic. :D

The House of Kuchiki

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Byakuya's ice-cold stare remained on the elder as the entire room went silent. No one moved, and eyes were focused on the clan leader.

"Who are you going to marry, Byakuya?" Arisu raised an eyebrow at Hisana with an 'I-told-you-so' type of smirk.

"That..." He looked at Arisu with the same cold gaze, causing her to look away. "Is none of your concern." Byakuya stood up slowly and went to leave the dining room, the inhabitants of the Kuchiki manor in state of shock as they followed him with their eyes.

"You have to tell us eventually, Byakuya."

"All in good time." He turned to face everyone, looking specifically at Hisana, the ice of his eyes seeming to melt. "Come, Hisana. You'll be late to academy."

Hisana nodded slowly and stood up, walking towards Byakuya and Kanaye, who was standing next to Byakuya at the entrance of the dining room. Bowing to Byakuya, she began to set off towards her room, or what she felt was the direction to her room, but stopped when Byakuya put a hand on her arm. "Kanaye, show her to the room, and then to the estate gates. I'll wait there."

Kanaye nodded and bowed. "Understood, Byakuya-sama."

Arisu, along with the rest of the clan members in the dining hall, had returned to quiet and tense chatter, most of them trying not to make their interest in Byakuya and Hisana's conversation too obvious.

Hisana looked up at Byakuya, whose hand was still resting on her arm. "Are you going to go with me to the academy, then...?" He responded with a slight nod.

Moving his hand to gently adjust the flower in Hisana's hair, he leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, which, of course, caused Hisana's face to return to its oh-so-common bright red and led to the instant silence of the dining hall.

Turning away from Hisana, he headed down the hall towards his own room, satisfied with the looks on the elders' faces he caught a glimpse of before he left.

---

"Kanaye-san."

Hisana and the old servant were walking slowly down the pathway towards the estate gates.

"Yes, Hisana-san?"

"Who... do you think Byakuya-sama meant...?" Hisana trailed off, trying not to frown.

"Meant by what?" Byakuya could be seen at the gates in his death god uniform.

"When he said he's found a wife..." Hisana looked down at the ground.

"Well, I know for certain who he meant, Hisana-san." Kanaye smiled at her warmly. "I'm just not sure it's my place to reveal such personal information. Byakuya-sama will tell you if he wishes to."

Hisana nodded slowly as they arrived at the estate gates, looking up at Byakuya and forcing a smile before turning to Kanaye and bowing. "Thank you for walking me here, Kanaye-san."

"Don't mention it, Hisana-san. Come back soon; we enjoy having you at the manor." Kanaye bowed to Byakuya and turned to leave, slowly heading back towards the manor.

"Hisana..." Byakuya began walking in the direction of the academy, Hisana walking next to him. "How many more classes do you have left before academy lets out for the year?"

"Um..." Pondering this for a moment, she counted and then recounted the days remaining. "One week not counting today, Byakuya-sama. Why?"

"No, I was just wondering."

They walked in silence for a while, Hisana attempting to gather her thoughts.

"Byakuya-sama, I have a question," she said finally, looking up at him. She waited for him to look at her before continuing. "What's the big deal with finding a wife?"

"Well..." Byakuya began, turning to look at the street ahead of them. "I'm expected to produce an heir of some sort, for one."

"But you're so young! You won't need an heir anytime soon..."

"Yes, but... death gods die often enough. That, and in the event that I get injured, sick, or die... my wife takes over my duties as head of the clan. And raises the child."

"Does she have to be a death god?"

"Usually... no. My mother did graduate from the academy, but she never went on missions... Father felt it too risky to have the two of them out on missions. This way, if my father died, my mother would still be there to teach me how to lead the clan."

"Oh, I see..." Hisana watched Byakuya's facial expression, which had remained blank until he spoke about his mother. There was a trace of sadness in his eyes, she noticed, and frowned.

"Is there any reason you wanted to know?"

"No, I was... just wondering." Hisana smiled up at him as they arrived at the academy gates. "I'll see you at lunch today, then?"

Byakuya nodded and forced a smile, "Of course." With that, Hisana gave Byakuya a quick hug, much to his surprise and ran off towards the building, turning to wave goodbye to him before entering the academy to start the last week of classes.

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So today was the last day of classes for me, so updates will be longer and a lot less blah once I get to start sleeping in and stuff. XD So tiredddd. Anyways. Poor Hisana still doesn't understand that SHE's the one he wants to marry. Silly girl. Sorry this one is short-ish. Next one'll be nice and long and yay-ful, I think.