-Translations-
Akina (name): Spring Flower
Kiyoshi (name): Quiet
Nami (name): Wave
Nii-san: Brother
Okaa-san: Mother
Baka: Fool
Zanpakuto speaking will be italicized.
~The next day~
Akina was sitting in her room at a small table drinking some tea and staring out the window. She saw Kiyoshi running around outside playing. She giggled as she watched him swing his wooden sword through the air fighting pretend monsters.
"He really admires Captain Kuchiki and he's really become attached to lieutenant's Kuchiki and Abarai too." She said in her head.
"Yes Mistress, it appears so." Nami replied.
"He's never had this so many people giving him this much attention. It was so thoughtful of Lieutenant Kuchiki and Lieutenant Abarai to give him that wooden sword to play with while their out doing their duties. Even Captain Kuchiki was kind enough to show Kiyoshi how to make a proper strike. It will break his heart when we leave soon." Akina said with a sigh.
"Must we leave already?" Nami whined.
"Captain Kuchiki has been gracious in letting us stay but we are only guests and not relatives. It wouldn't be proper for us to stay longer and I do not wish to out stay our welcome." Akina stated.
"Yes Mistress, when do we leave?" Nami asked unhappily.
"I will talk to Captain Kuchiki today and we will leave tomorrow morning. Please don't argue about it anymore, Nami. It's better for us to go now, before we become even more attached to them." Akina stated, closing the conversation.
A nock at the door made her jump almost spilling her tea. Calming herself she quickly said, "Come it."
The door slid open and Rukia stepped in with a wide grin on her face.
"Lieutenant Kuchiki, come sit with me." Akina said sweetly.
"Please call me Rukia and my I call you Akina?" Rukia asked sitting on a cushion next to Akina.
"Of course, now what can I do for you Rukia?" Akina asked with a smile.
"I need some personal advice." Rukia paused nervously, and then said sadly, "I would ask my Nii-san but he isn't home right now. I wouldn't want to bother him with this anyway."
"Uhm, if I may ask why hasn't he spent any time with you since you came back? It seems like he avoids you, why is that?" Akina asked.
"Oh no, it's not like that! He's just very busy these days, he has a lot of responsibility and pressure as a Captain." Rukia quickly defended him. Then added, "This is more of a woman to woman question anyway." Rukia stated.
"Okay, I will try to help then." Akina said nodding her head.
Rukia cleared her throat and timidly said, "My Nii-san told me that you were once a noble woman, like me and he also said that I should act more like a lady; the way you do."
"Wait what! Captain Kuchiki wants you to act more like me?" Akina asked shocked.
"Yes, he spoke very highly of you saying that you were a perfect example for me to learn from. You see, I don't have any noble friends to talk to and I would like for us to become close friends, Akina." Rukia said her eyes lager with excitement.
Akina surprised by the girl's statement quickly replied, "Yes, that would be nice. What is your problem?"
"Well you see… I uhm… I like this guy and… I... I'm not sure what to do." She stuttered.
"Oh, now I understand why you wanted to talk to me and not you're Nii-san." Akina said with a knowing smile.
"Yeah, he would probably kill the guy and lock me away." Rukia said with a serious and scared expression.
"I'm sure that's what all Nii-san's would do." Akina assured then asked, "So who is this special guy?"
"Oh, I couldn't say." Rukia said shyly.
"Will you tell me if I guess?" Akina asked with a big smile.
"Okay, but only of you guess right." Rukia hesitantly agreed.
"Let me think." Akina paused tapping a finger on her chin, then asked, "Is it that orange haired boy you were with, in the real world?"
"No!" Rukia quickly denied then explained, "Ichigo likes his friend Orihime."
"Okay, who else could it be?" Akina wondered out loud. Suddenly she exclaimed, "I know! You like Lieutenant Abarai, don't you?"
Rukia blushed and giggled saying, "Yeah, his name is Renji. Please don't tell anyone I like him."
"I won't but you should tell him, I'm sure he likes too." Akina said with a wink.
"Really!" Rukia asked her eyes big with hope.
"He would be a Baka if he didn't!" Akina assured.
"What should I do now?" Rukia asked, resting her head in her hand with her elbows on the table.
"Well first, you shouldn't put your elbows on the table. It's not very lady like and you won't get any respectable man that way." Akina lightly scolded.
"Yes ma'am." Rukia said giggling as she moved her elbows.
"My advice would be to follow your heart and see where it leads with Renji. But I must warn you, the heart is a dangerous thing to play with and it can be broken quickly." Akina paused seeing a sad look on Rukia's face. She placed her hand over Rukia's and said, "I'm not trying to deter you, I just don't want to see you to get hurt. If it helps, why don't you have him come over and play with Kiyoshi." Akina suggested.
"You think so?" Rukia asked
"Yes, Kiyoshi will be thrilled. He adores both of you and this way you can spend some extra time Renji." Akina said with a wink.
"I'll go send him a hell butterfly,right now!" Rukia said enthusiastically as she stood up and ran to the door.
"Oh, Rukia!" Akina called stopping her.
"Yes Akina." Rukia said as he slid open the door.
"Could you tell Captain Byakuya, I wish to speak with him when he gets back." Akina said with a small smile.
"I will and thank you for talking with me." Rukia said happily, as she slid the door shut.
~Later~
Akina leaned against the door frame, looking out into the back yard and viewing the sun setting. She watched Renji running with an ecstatic Kiyoshi on his shoulders and Rukia running close behind, playful chasing them. Their laughter could her heard all around the property and it gave a light happiness to the evening.
'This is the happiest I've seen him in years. It kills me to pull him away from this but we need to be back in the real world were its safe. The sooner I tell everyone the better' she thought with a sigh.
A loud heavy nocking echoed through her room breaking the silence and ending her thoughts.
"Come in." she called turning back into the room.
The door slid open to reveal Byakuya in his Captains uniform. Just the sight of him made her pulse quickened and she felt as if she had butterflies in her stomach.
"Captain Kuchiki." She said bowing her head respectfully as she tried to calm herself.
"You wanted to speak with me." He stated as he stepped into the room but not looking at her.
"Yes, I wanted to thank you for your hospitality and all you have done for us." She said politely then paused before saying, "Tomorrow morning Kiyoshi and I, will be leaving to go back to the real world. You not long need to concern yourself with us."
His slate gray eyes shot to her and he sternly said, "You are not fully recovered yet and are in no condition to leave."
"I have recovered enough!" She stated with annoyance as she briskly walked toward him. The quick movements suddenly made her feel dizzy and her vision blurred. Her footing unsteady she stumbled forward and fell into his strong arms. She could feel a light blush on her cheeks as she looked up at him and mumbled an apology to him.
"As I said, you have not recovered and you are not leaving!" He insisted. Placing his hands on her hips, he forcefully guided her to sit down on the futon.
"I'm just a little dizzy that's all." She said stubbornly as she tried to stand up.
"Rest!" He instructed walking away.
"Fine." She huffed in defeat as she laid back. She glanced over at him and barely caught the smirk on his face as he turned to slide the door shut.
"Ugh!" she moaned rolling on to her side and closing her eyes.
'Why is it so hard to challenge him? Just looking into his deep gray eyes makes me lose all my determination.' She thought.
"Are you sleeping?" a small voice whispered, taking her away from her thoughts.
Akina opened her eyes to the dimly light room and saw Kiyoshi's little face, looking at her curiously. Smiling, she grabbed him and pulled him down on the futon with her.
"Is Okaa-san okay?" he asked as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Okaa-san is just tired and missed you a lot." She answered resting her chin on the top of his head.
"Me too! Can I sleep with you tonight like I used to, when I was little?" he whispered before yawning.
"Of course you can Kiyoshi." She said draping a blanket over them.
"You don't have to stay awake anymore, were safe here." He stated, then hugged her arms around him and said, "Love you, Okaa-san."
Silently tears trickled down her face as she said, "Love you too, Kiyoshi. Good night."
His breathing evened, indicating he was had fallen asleep in her arms. Smoothing back his short and spiky dark hair, she kissed the top of his head lovingly. Before closing her eyes she whispered, "I will always be here to protect you, my little Kiyoshi."
That all for now... Chapter 3 is done! I'm not going to upload another chapter until I get some reviews. I want to know that people are actually reading this or if it sucks. I'm not going to wast my time putting more chapters here if no one is reading them...