Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Note: New chapter is up! Thank you again for reading, your reviews make me truly happy!
As I'm at my parent's during the easter weekend there won't be an update until next Sunday/Monday. I'll promise to do it as soon as possible. Now enjoy.

Chapter 21:

Byakuya insisted on her being well enough to be moved to Kuchiki manor. Unohana-taichou gave him a very severe gaze that said it was his responsibility should something happen, but let him get on with it.

So Shihana was carried through the streets in the morning and set down on her own bed at the Kuchiki house.

As soon as the healers had vanished, family members began to stream in to convince themselves of her well-being.

She felt already tired, when all except her parents had left.

"Now that we have a moment alone", began her father, "we need to tell you how very sorry we are."

"Sorry?" asked Shihana. "Sorry for what?"

"That we pressured you to marry Shihoin Reki even though we knew you did not approve of him, just for our own sake."

"It is alright", said Shihana gently. "I will marry him for your sake. Do not worry for me."

"No, you won't marry him", said Shimaru. "Even if he changed his mind now, his actions have convinced us, that he is not worthy of you."

"If he changed his mind?", whispered Shihana. "He didn't... did he cancel the engagement?"

"Don't worry, dear", cried her mother hastily. Shihana stared at her in astonishment. She hadn't heard her mother's voice for quite some time. "We do not want you to be unhappy. You can marry anyone you like, even if it is..."

"Abarai Renji-fukutaichou", finished Shimaru.

Shihana gazed at her parents, her eyes wide. Her heart ached. Did they love her so much that they would give up everything for her happiness?

"And we brought you this", said Shimaru and took a small wrapped up parcel from his sleeve. "Byakuya-sama had it remade for you."

Shihana took the parcel in her hands and unwrapped it carefully. She had already wondered what had happened to her hairpin. There it lay on the dark velvet, gleaming white and silver and untainted as if nothing had happened at all.

"Thank you", she whispered. She felt like crying, but willed her eyes to stay dry. This was all too much.

Her parents rose to leave.

"Unohana-taichou said you still needed a lot of rest. Please call for us, if you want our help", said Shimaru. Her mother kissed her forehead affectionately and smiled at her silently, when she closed the door.

Shihana sat in bed, the hairpin still gathered in her hands, unmoving.

Her parents had looked very tired and thin. So had Byakuya and Rukia, her eyes rimmed in red. And Renji, who was still alive.

What would have happened, if she hadn't been returned to Soul Society? Would not her nightmare have come true? Would they not always hurry to her side, weak as she was, to protect her? She did not want them to get hurt. Shihoin Reki had taken no damage at all. Because he did not care for her, she couldn't be the reason for him to be damaged.

Shihana looked down herself. Her kimono had fallen open, revealing the flower-shaped scar on her chest. Ichimaru Gin had once pressed his hand on it and said 'You, who bear my seal are now bound to me forever. You are my precious possession. You will always be mine.'

His laughter resounded in her head and his cruel smile burned the inside of her closed eyelids. She felt sure that he would come for her and everyone who stood in his way might die or be damaged beyond repair. She couldn't let that happen.

I must make them forget me, Shihana thought. I must make them hate me.

Shakily, she stood. The hairpin fell from her hands, when she looked around for her geki. It would only be a hindrance where she was going.

Like a shadow, she vanished in the darkness outside.

It was easy to pass through the gate after a patrolling shinigami. Her reiatsu carefully suppressed, she hurried through the Rukongai districts until the streets grew dustier and the houses shabbier.

She traded her fine kimono for the dull brown worn clothing of an older woman. Now she was standing out less.

Shihana had considered escaping to the living world, but quickly discarded the idea. She had no clue how to behave in these strange surroundings and it seemed far more difficult to make a living there.

Rukongai she knew and she was fast enough to steal her share of food.

There were so many souls here and every day they got more. They would never find her here.

Living was easy for a grown up like her in Rukongai. Yet, not letting anyone close enough to care had proven quite difficult. Every child she shared her food with wanted to follow her around and be her friend.

Each time before, she had been able to slip away sooner or later. But the little girl standing before her now had proven to be extremely skilled at spotting her even in the tightest masses.

"Why d'you always run away?", asked the little one, pouting.

"I don't like you, stay away!", hissed Shihana.

"Don't care. I like you!" Without letting her time to turn around, the girl had thrown her arms around her legs.

Shihana desperately tried to think of something to scare her away.

"I'm a shinigami, you know."

"Liar! Shinigami wear black shiny robes", chimed the child.

Shihana sighed. She bowed down to the girl and tried to pry her off her legs.
"If you let go, I'll prove it."

The girl's face lit up. "Really? You only kiddin' right?"

"No", said Shihana and looked around. They were in a small court behind two houses. All windows were barred and nobody seemed to be near enough to see.

She held out her arm and threw an apple in the air with the other hand.

"Hadou #4 Byakurai!"

The ray of lightening shot right through the apple and burned a hole in it. The little girl went to retrieve it.

"Wow", she said. Then her eyes went wide. "Shinigami!", she cried and shot away.

Shihana breathed deeply. Finally, she had made it.

Then suddenly a hand closed around her left arm.

Sorry it's a little cliffhanger, but I'm sure you can guess whose hand that is ;) As always, please tell me what you think!