When one opens a dictionary, as well as generally any book, there are blank pages in the front and back of it where certain signatures were not completely filled during printing. In a normal book, they serve no purpose except to grow stained over the years or hold notes from attentive, studious readers who wish to save their revelations for a later date. With a dictionary, however, any blank pages are symbolic of those words which have not yet been given expression. They are not even truly words, rather sensations and phenomena without specificity. They are the unknown waiting for definition.

It was somewhere within these blank dictionary pages that Captain Kuchiki Byakuya was currently existing. Mortified, livid, exasperated—nothing came close to defining the stream of emotions pounding through his veins as he looked at the guilty expression on his brother-in-law's face. He could not even reassure himself Kurosaki had heard only a little because Kurosaki had asked for verification as an uncle. The very first thing Byakuya had told Rukia was she was an aunt, and it was only logical for Kurosaki as her husband to be an uncle. Which in turn meant Kurosaki had heard his confession, and his confusion, and his refusal to believe in his confession, and now here they all were, tangled up in yet another rotten mess caused by Kuchiki Byakuya.

Daring to speak, Rukia carefully positioned herself between her brother and husband. "Nii-sama," she said slowly, "why don't we all just sit down and clear up everything? Would that work?"

Byakuya's jaw stiffened. "There isn't anything to clarify," he said.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "I disagree. It sounded like you were backing out of your plan there, Byakuya. I didn't think you were that weak."

Swallowing the very strong desire to maul him, Byakuya affixed Ichigo with a classic Kuchiki Death Stare. "You act as though this is an easy fix, Kurosaki."

Kurosaki ignored the Death Stare as only he could. "Aaaand it would be, except you're being Byakuya about it and dragging it out in the name of pride."

"When have I ever extended a problem out of self-preservation?"

"Are you actually serious, you prick?"

"Watch your words, boy—"

"You almost let Rukia die!"

"The scar on my chest and I would like to remind you she did not actually die."

"Yeah, because that forgives everything else you did—!"

"Enough!" shouted Rukia, holding her hands up abruptly. "Nii-sama, Ichigo, I invite you two yet again to sit down so we can handle the issue civilly and professionally." Though her hard look was aimed at Ichigo, Rukia did let it pass over Byakuya for a moment. Once the two got the message and were seated in opposite chairs, Rukia closed the door to her office and sat behind her desk.

"All right," she began. "So we're all aware of the situation and what can be done about it. Nii-sama, what do you wish to do?"

Byakuya sat up straighter. "I stand by my decision to not personally train Hokutan Tsukiko."

"Bullshit!" yelled Ichigo. "You can't just back out like that! She's your daughter!"

"Ichigo," warned Rukia.

Byakuya's eyes narrowed at his brother-in-law. "Kurosaki, it has been established your opinion does not matter here. Now quiet yourself."

Ichigo shot out of his seat, an indignant fist raised in protest, but Rukia immediately reached over her desk and forced him back down.

She then turned to her brother. "Nii-sama, I understand that you feel this is a situation you should handle alone, but I think it would be wise to hear another opinion. You don't have to agree with it," she said quickly when Byakuya began to scowl, "but it will at least give you a chance to hear another side of things."

Byakuya continued to scowl but said nothing in response. He hated to admit it, but Rukia was right, and while Kurosaki could act like a child and shout his thoughts left and right, Byakuya could behave like an actual adult—even if he really didn't want to.

"Ichigo, go ahead, but please try to be considerate."

Kurosaki rolled his eyes but did as told. "Byakuya, I get why you're hesitant, but I don't think this is the way to go. She's your kid, and she's come back to you for a reason. This is an opportunity. For all you know, she has questions she's dying to have answered, but now they'll never be because her old man refuses to give her the time of day!"

"Ichigo, calm down," Rukia warned.

Despite disagreeing with Kurosaki on general principle, Byakuya was listening. To a degree, he fully agreed that he owed Tsukiko an explanation. But what about his dream, where Hisana's voice, great and booming, warned against any move he might make to bring Tsukiko closer? What of his prayers, where Hisana gave him a clear middle ground that permitted his connection to Tsukiko? Was he really willing to risk hurting the daughter he gave up to avoid just that, hurting her?

This was why she was better off without knowing. Riddled with holes though her story may be, he steadfastly believed that she was happier where she was. She didn't need him tearing down the rest of her life while he filled in those holes.

Byakuya was about to deliver his verdict when Ichigo began to speak, but this time his voice was quieter. "Can I tell you something about me and Hisa-chan?" he asked.

Byakuya looked from Ichigo to Rukia. Ichigo's eyes were serious and sad, Rukia's wide and wary.

He nodded.

Ichigo sighed and lifted a hand to the back of his head. "I know I, unlike you, had no idea she existed," he said, "but I wish I had known Hisana was my daughter the moment she was born. Hell, even before that." He extended his free hand to Rukia without looking and squeezed her arm. "I fully understand why that didn't happen, and I'm not bitter about it, but I regret losing time with her. Now, even though we're still playing catch up and our lives are being rewritten and all that, I treasure every single moment I have with my daughter as her father." This time he looked right at Rukia, whose face had fallen. "Rukia, I don't blame you for what happened. But this is something that crosses my mind a lot."

Rukia swallowed. "I'm sorry…," she whispered.

Byakuya politely left the couple to their reflections. So Kurosaki regretted not being there for Hisana from the beginning. Did he feel the same way about Tsukiko? The answer was a resounding yes. Did he regret having to put her in a position where her life was to be "rewritten," as Kurosaki put it? Another solid yes. More importantly, he also knew what his niece continued to go through, learning that Renji was not actually her father. Every time she visited him at work, Byakuya could see her gazing longingly at Renji and Renji longingly back at her. They clearly wanted to restore their relationship, but neither knew how or if it was allowed. And then with Ichigo, though he was Hisana's real father, neither was ever one hundred percent certain how to proceed with the other. They knew to be respectful, and heaven knew they could have fun together, but they'd lost just enough time that comfort together was not theirs. Was he willing to accept that his relationship with Tsukiko might be the same, or worse?

Comfort together is not theirs yet, Byakuya, Senbonzakura said, breaking his reverie.

You're not here to scold me again? Byakuya answered.

We'll return to that later, but wasn't it almost immediately that Kurosaki and Hisana-chan learned how to train together? That paved the way to the relationship they have now, and it's only been two years. They have more time to get to know each other, and Hisana and Renji also have time to get to re-know one another.

But have Tsukiko and I lost too much time?

Only time will tell. Ch, if I were Yoruichi, I'd say you're always in such a rush, Byaku-bo….

Don't even start with me—

"Nii-sama?"

"Byakuya? You still with us?"

Byakuya's tired eyes pulled dryly as he rapidly blinked them back into focus, and both Ichigo and Rukia looked concerned.

"Nii-sama?" Rukia asked again.

Byakuya waved a hand at her concern. Yes, he wanted to move forward as fast as he could, if only to do away with this nonsense just that much sooner, but maybe it was time to admit that speed wasn't everything. His relationship with Tsukiko would play out as it would, at a speed he might not be able to control. Not everything in life was intended to be fast.

And wouldn't it be a dishonor to Hisana, Tsukiko's mother and the one who first taught him to slow down at all, if he didn't give himself the chance to do so?

Byakuya sighed. "All right," he said. "I've reconsidered."

Ichigo smiled triumphantly. "I win. Again."

Byakuya decidedly let the comment go. "I see no harm in training Hokutan Tsukiko for the genuine abilities she does have," he continued. "If I feel along the way that she can handle knowing the truth of her heritage, I will tell her. If I feel that withholding it would be the better option, there's no harm in giving her extra instruction as a Shinigami. Do you two agree that's fair?"

Ichigo and Rukia both nodded, now smiling in full support.

"Then let that be that." Byakuya rose from his chair. "I would request that neither of you raise this topic again unless I do so first. And Kurosaki." He turned to Ichigo and glared something fierce. "You learned of this thanks to no less than your unusually large ears and penchant for mischief. May your mouth prove to be significantly smaller, lest I hear you've been informing others…."

"I'll only tell Ichika-san," Ichigo said, attempting and, as Byakuya saw it, failing at humor; the last time Ichigo and Ichika "spoke," they'd both needed stitches afterward.

Moving past Ichigo's comment, Byakuya turned his eyes on Rukia. "I take my leave," he said. "May your new recruits prove significantly less worrisome than mine."

Rukia nodded. "Good luck, Nii-sama. With everything."

Without another word, Byakuya left his sister's office and immediately made for the Kuchiki manor, where he may finally sleep and leave reality, if only for a few hours.

A/N: TL;DR Byakuya's really bad at just doing things.