Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo and I don't make any money with it.

Note: The next chapter is up! We meet Shihana's parents again. As always, thank you very much for the reviews and your concern for Renji.
Yeah, lillithaffect, I do have a thing for Renji^^, so he'll appear again soon.
Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 17:

The sun had already begun to set, spilling rosy light into the room, when the door opened again.

Byakuya looked up and was surprised to see Shihana's parents standing there.

Shimaru nodded at him gravely then sat down, barely looking at his daughter. But Ayasi walked up to the bed, her eyes never leaving the pale face in the cushions. She reached out a shaking hand to lightly stroke her daughter's cheek. A drop fell into the black hair and Byakuya realized she was crying.

"I am so sorry, dear", she whispered, her voice cracking. Then, to the men's discomfort, she buried her head in the covers and hugging a limp hand to her chest, began to sob miserably.

Byakuya was shocked to see her in such disarray and glancing over to her husband, he saw him cover his eyes with one hand. He suddenly felt bad, because he hadn't really expected them to care that much.

Finally, Shimaru spoke, his deep voice barely audible above Ayasi's sobs.

"I am sorry for having caused you this much trouble, Byakuya-sama", he said. "We were heading straight here the moment we heard, but urgent matters forced us to wait."

"Urgent matters?", asked Byakuya and arched a brow.

Shimaru sighed and his sharp features looked suddenly very old. He glanced at his wife, then stood up.

"Can we speak somewhere else?"

"Of course", Byakuya nodded and guided him to the small storage room he had used with Unohana-taichou.

"I take it has to do with the upcoming wedding?", he ventured after they had settled down.

Shihana's father nodded. "You are a sharp thinker, Byakuya-sama. A message from the Shihoin family reached us when we left Kuchiki manor. I went to talk with Shihoin Reki. He wants to negate the engagement."

"I thought as much", said Byakuya. When he continued, his voice was sharp and clear. "This will not improve relations between Kuchiki and Shihoin house."

Shimaru gazed at the young man in front of him. For once, he looked every ounce like his head of house: the scarf draped elegantly around his neck, the kenseikan shimmering dully in the faint light, the back straight and his face alive with pride and indignity.

"I will have a word with Shihoin Yoruichi", said Byakuya. "But only after Shihana has gotten better", he added.

They both stood soundlessly and returned to the treatment room.

Shimaru went over to his wife and talked to her in a low voice. Byakuya saw her shake her head and hug her daughter's hand more tightly to her chest.

Eventually, Shimaru looked up and spoke again. "Ayasi wants to stay for a while, so I will return to the manor alone. Is there something you want me to tell the elders, Byakuya-sama?"

"Inform them that I will hold a family council meeting in due time", Byakuya responded. "And tell one of the healers to set up another chair for Ayasi-san, please."

"Thank you very much for taking care of Shihana, Byakuya-sama", said Ayasi when they had been left alone. Byakuya couldn't recall having her ever heard speaking. She had a lovely bell-like voice.

He inclined his head. "It is nothing, Ayasi-san. That is what family is for, after all."

They sat in silence while darkness crept into the room.

Lost in his own thoughts, it took Byakuya several minutes to notice that Ayasi had fallen asleep in her chair, her daughter's hand escaping her grip.

He stood up silently and moved to the door, careful not to wake her.

A second bed was brought in instead of the chair and she was put under the covers, now fast asleep.

After a while, Unohana-taichou entered to check on her patient.

"She might wake up every moment", she whispered. "Do you want someone to fill in for you, Kuchiki Byakuya?"

Byakuya shook his head. "I will not be able to sleep, anyway."

Soon, he was left alone again. He watched Shihana's motionless wrists, each covered with a circular scar that looked like a bracelet of thorns, lighter still against her fair skin.

Byakuya jumped, when one hand suddenly twitched. His eyes snapped over to her head and saw that his cousin was stirring.

Should he call for the healers now? No, when he left now she might wake up alone, without someone familiar by her side.

Shihana opened her eyes to a wooden ceiling. It wasn't white. Did that mean she wasn't in Hueco Mundo anymore?

With much effort, she turned her head. Her heart leaped when she saw Byakuya gazing down on her, his face serious as always. She was safe.

Then, with a sharp pang she remembered all that had happened. She began to shake in fear. Surely murder wouldn't go unheeded in Soul Society.

"Do you hate me now, Byakuya-san?", she whispered. Having cast down her eyes, she couldn't see the grey eyes widen in surprise.

"Why would I do that?", said his gentle voice.

"Because I killed your fukutaichou", she said and her eyes were filled with immeasurable terror when she looked at her cousin.

"You...", began Byakuya and for once felt at a loss of words. He quickly recovered from his astonishment. "You did not kill Abarai-fukutaichou."

"Yet it was my fault", she breathed. "He said so himself..." Her voice trailed away and before Byakuya could say more, her eyes had closed again.

He practically flew out of the room in search for Unohana-taichou.

"She has woken up", he only said.

Unohana hurried back with him and started applying a quick and complex series of healing kido.

When she was finally content, they walked to the storage room again.

"Now tell me exactly what happened", demanded the healer.

"First her left hand twitched. Then she moved her head. Her eyes opened. She seemed to immediately recognize me. But then she started talking and it made little sense to me."

"What was she saying?"

"First she asked me whether I hated her. When I asked for the reason she said that she had killed Abarai Renji-fukutaichou. I denied that. Then she said that it had been her fault and that he himself had said so. She lost consciousness immediately after."

"How did her reiatsu feel during this?"

"First calm, then greatly disturbed."

Unohana-taichou closed her eyes for a moment, thinking. Then she looked the young man in the eye again.

"I am sure, you have already a theory about what might have passed, Kuchiki Byakuya. Would you mind sharing it?"

Byakuya nodded gravely. "I think she has been somehow convinced of having observed the death of Abarai Renji. The fact that she thinks she herself has played a role in it, has imbalanced her."

"I thought along the same lines", agreed Unohana. "She might wake up more often now. I suggest we closely observe her behaviour and try to find evidence for our theory. It isn't advisable at the moment to confront her directly with it, for it might do more damage. Are you still willing to sit by her?"

"Of course", responded Byakuya.

Are Shihana's parents out of character? I thought it likely that they hold up the facade towards the family but do really love her dearly.
Please tell me, what you think! Stay tuned for the next chapter.