Byakuya arrived at the front gate of Ichigo and Rukia's home, but he did not immediately proceed inside. That would be to widen the distance between him and his office, the only place that felt appropriate to occupy.

The morning had been rough and the afternoon not much better. Everything that could possibly go wrong during drills went wrong, and as much as he had wanted to throw laps at the problem, unfortunately they could not fix the icy training field, the resulting three sprained ankles, the general snappiness hovering like steam around the Shinigami, or the fact that Tsukiko was officially leaving his squad.

Renji was the one to break the news after training as he set yet more poorly written reports and memos on Byakuya's clutter-free desk. He was quiet about it, but his silence only reminded Byakuya of the ringing space where Senbonzakura would have once commented. Byakuya didn't dare touch it lest he lengthen the spirit's absence, but someone must have spoken, because in the next few moments, Renji was excused, leaving Byakuya to what should have been peace but what felt more like solitary confinement.

All of twenty minutes later, Hisana's very first Hell Butterfly arrived to excitedly invite him to a last-minute tea in honor of Rukia's upcoming birthday.

Now, two hours later, Byakuya let himself in through the gate at last. He glanced once at the house; his shoulders relaxed when he didn't see Hisana peering through the window, as she was wont to do. He closed the gate behind him, but still he didn't continue toward the house. He really should be present for the tea, Rukia's birthday having completely slipped his mind in the chaos of the last month and a half. He could always offload the purchase of her gift to someone else, but that would mean reverting to the pre-Kurosaki years, and that was more guilt he didn't need. Really, what was a quick cup of tea and some conversation in the grand scheme of it all….

The question died within him: some conversation. Like when he had last contacted the Kuchiki-Kurosaki household, a quick call that for all its speed was not quick enough to avoid hearing Ichigo's uncouth "yikes" or Rukia's pounding silence, her rapid and overly cheerful recovery.

He looked up again at the house. Still not seeing Hisana, he turned back toward the gate—

—only to freeze when he heard the rattling of the front door. The fact that it wasn't opened in seconds told him that Hisana was to receive him after all, which sealed his fate.

Sighing quietly, Byakuya came to the door to wait for Hisana to unlock the deadbolt she still couldn't quite reach. He pretended not to hear a muffled curse through the wood that only Ichika could have taught her, but he let the thought go as Hisana opened the door at last.

"Oji-sama!" she said, bowing quickly before hugging him tight.

Byakuya rested a hand on her back as she clung to his waist. "Good afternoon, Hisana-chan," he said.

Hisana released the hug and took his hand, hardly letting a second pass without physical contact between them. "I made you something during tutoring today. Come inside!"

"You are kind," Byakuya said. He paused to remove his waraji in the entryway while Hisana chattered away, telling him that she'd spent her entire history lesson not listening to her tutor and making whatever gift she was about to present him with. Her pride was near palpable, and he caught himself before telling her to mind it lest it take her unexpected, less than ideal places. It might be his responsibility to remind her of the real world, but…not now.

As soon as he set his waraji on the floor, Hisana took his hand again and led him through to the sitting room, where Ichigo and Rukia rose from their new table to greet him; he chose to keep his opinion of their furniture selection to himself.

"Nii-sama, it's so good to see you!" Rukia said, beaming as she bowed. "I apologize for the short notice, but, well, work."

Byakuya tried not to acknowledge her false cheer. "The life of a captain is full of responsibilities," he said.

Ichigo snorted from behind his wife. "In any case, you don't have to be a stranger," he said with a smirk.

Byakuya frowned. "A stranger, no, but a captain and clan leader, yes."

"Oji-sama, look!" Hisana said. She pulled him over to the table and plopped down onto a cushion, yanking his arm down as she kept her grip on his hand.

"Watch your uncle's shoulder, Hisa," Ichigo said as he walked toward the kitchen. "If he sues us for injury, we're out on the streets."

"No, we'll just go live with him!" Hisana insisted as she pilfered through a stack of drawings on the table.

"And why would he do that if we were the ones to hurt him?" Ichigo smirked playfully.

Hisana gave him a look that reiterated just how much of her mother she took after. "Because, Tou-san," she said, as if that settled everything.

Ichigo was clearly struggling to hold back a laugh, though he sobered enough as he turned his gaze to Byakuya. "Tea?"

"If you please," Byakuya said. "My preference is—"

"The most expensive thing in the house, I know."

Byakuya scowled—he was going to say the most prestigious—but Hisana was tugging on his sleeve again, and he looked down at the paper she'd found among the others.

"Kaa-san told me you've been feeling a little sad lately," she said, "so I drew you and me kicking butt."

Something tugged at Byakuya's heartstrings, even if he would have used another phrase than "kicking butt." Indeed, it was he and Hisana—rendered as rabbits, naturally—with their Zanpaku-to released. Hisana's Aoitsuki was firing blue Getsuga Tensho attacks, while Senbonzakura was….

"I see you've learned about Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi," Byakuya said, pointing at the unmistakable representation of Senbonzakura's true form.

"We're a little bit obsessed right now," Rukia said, smiling at her youngest daughter. "We're especially curious about the fight Oji-sama had with Tou-san. Right, Hisana-chan?"

"Did you two really fight over Kaa-san?" Hisana asked, staring up at Byakuya with wide eyes. "Did Tou-san really almost kill you? Did he really tell you 'I told you so you arrogant frick' after?"

"One of those things is a lie, but yes, your father and I did fight," Byakuya said. "By some miracle—"

"Can I see Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi?" Hisana interjected. "Please?"

Byakuya stiffened but channeled the reaction into giving his niece a firm look. "That is not possible," he said. "Senkei is very large—"

"Please? Kaa-san can't use her Bankai at all, and Ichi-Tou-san's is so boring—"

"Ouch, Hisa," Ichigo said as he returned, carrying a tray of teacups and a large pot. "Next time just stab me in the gut."

Byakuya watched him fill the cups and distribute them. "She's certainly her father's daughter," he said as Hisana left the table to retrieve her box of colored pencils from her room.

"In what way?" Ichigo asked, moving Hisana's drawings to a corner of the table. "I've never insulted myself like that."

"Not like that, perhaps."

Ichigo scoffed and blew on his tea.

"Nii-sama, before Hisana comes back, I have a question," Rukia said, leaning forward. She lowered her voice. "How are things with Tsukiko?"

Whatever suspension Byakuya had been held in broke, and he fell hard into the pit in his stomach. "She's leaving Squad Six," he murmured after a pause. "It's not what I would have liked to have happened, but I must respect her wishes."

Ichigo and Rukia exchanged glances. Rukia's mouth was taut, and she looked away as Ichigo reached up to rub her shoulder.

Byakuya felt obliged to say more, but Hisana's fast approaching footsteps forced the thought away from him.

Ichigo and Rukia's serious exchange instantly morphed into wide grins as Hisana rejoined them, bearing blank drawing paper and a box of colored pencils.

"What're you gonna draw now, Hisa-chan?" Ichigo asked, peering over his wife's head at their daughter.

Hisana smiled at him. "Your fight with Oji-sama—before you went Hollow."

"Oh, great, so when I was dying," Ichigo said, rolling his eyes. "It's like the kid just wants me to suffer."

"Well, children do that," Rukia said with a meaningful look at Byakuya. "They test their parents, but once the smoke clears, they love each other all the more."

"In the meantime, we must all withstand the fire," Byakuya said, looking right back at her.

Rukia quieted.

"Wow, you Kuchiki people know how to suck the fun out of things," Ichigo said, raising his cup for a sip. "Once again, I am so happy I stayed a Kurosaki."

"You say that as if you didn't rewrite one of the most ancient laws of the Soul Society to keep it that way," Byakuya said coolly.

"I prefer 'blasted a hole in the middle of a backward rule nobody cares about anymore,' but hey, you're the guest, whatever makes you happy," Ichigo said.

Byakuya frowned. "Do you ever at least attempt to respect the ways of this world?"

"Haven't really had the chance to."

"Not every tradition requires your interference, Kurosaki."

"Not every tradition is worth keeping, Kuchiki."

"Okay, who wants snacks!" Rukia announced loudly. She stood from the table and gestured to Hisana. "Hisa, throw out some ideas."

"Wasabi peas!" was the answer, and despite himself, Byakuya felt more than a little pride in her choice.

"Maybe something we can all enjoy?" Rukia asked.

"Peas with wasabi on the side!" Hisana insisted.

"How about I make you that for dinner and we'll see—" Rukia abruptly cut off.

Byakuya met Ichigo's wide eyes.

Hisana leaned over the table. "We'll see what?" she asked.

Rukia ignored her and looked at the door leading to the entryway. Byakuya set a hand on Senbonzakura's hilt as two small thumps of waraji being thrown to the floor came through the door, which opened to reveal a frowning, then surprised Ichika.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

"…I wasn't expecting to see you two here," Ichika said at last, looking between Byakuya and Ichigo.

Byakuya held himself stiff. "I see you're back from Hokkaido."

Ichika swallowed. "Got back last night." She looked at Hisana and nodded. "Hey, Hisa. I got your Hell Butterfly."

"Hell Butterfly?" Rukia said, her tone sharp as she frowned at her youngest daughter. She had both hands planted on the tabletop, as if expecting to stand at any moment.

Hisana was shaking like a leaf. "I-I thought it would send tomorrow," she said quickly. "I thought I could pre-record the message, s-so I recorded it when I sent the one to Oji-sama…."

Rukia closed her eyes, a gesture Byakuya was far too familiar with. "Go to your room, Hisana," she said in a low voice.

Hisana frowned between her mother and sister, clearly uncertain.

"C'mon, let's both go," Ichigo said, standing up and holding his hand out to Hisana.

She looked nervously up at him, and he nodded. She took his hand and rose from the table.

"Actually, um, I kinda want to talk to Kurosaki," Ichika said, looking anywhere but at Ichigo.

Ichigo frowned. "Me?" he said.

Ichika nodded, still not looking at him. "I've been thinking and—well, I—look, happy birthday, Kaa-san, but can we have the room?"

Byakuya narrowed his eyes at Ichika before looking to Rukia. She looked conflicted, as she rightfully should. She met his gaze then, desperation coming through in minute waves.

Byakuya turned again to Ichika and frowned deeply at her. "You are asking for trust when there is little to give," he said.

Ichika rolled her eyes, but whatever response she had prepared, she swallowed down. "I know it's a lot to ask, but please let us talk," she said. "There's something I need to tell Kurosaki."

Senbon— Byakuya began to ask, but he cut himself off. He was on his own.

Whatever hesitation Byakuya and Rukia had, it was Ichigo who made the final decision. "We'll be fine," he said at last, waving his hand for them to leave. "It's just a little talk."

"If you insist," Byakuya said, rising from the table. He glanced back at Ichika, narrowing his eyes perhaps a shade too close to a glare. "We'll take Hisana-chan to her room. We're close at hand if need be."

In silence, Rukia took Hisana's hand and led her and Byakuya from the room, pausing only to look back at Ichigo, as if conveying something to him in the space between them. Whatever it was, Ichigo must have received it and nodded once.

The air in Hisana's room was distinctly, childishly lighter once they arrived, though Byakuya hoped the mood of the people within it wouldn't ruin the effect. The last time he'd been in this room, Ichika had been unconscious, her eye black and blue from her latest run-in with Ichigo, and that didn't seem to have any lasting impression on the room. But what was Ichika's passed out form compared to three worrying souls clustered together on the floor, staring back and forth between each other and the closed door?

Byakuya looked at Rukia and waited until she noticed. "Your birthday is in a few days," he said, keeping an ear out for raised voices from down the hall.

Mild exasperation grew on Rukia's face, which she recovered with a smile and tired laugh. "I suppose you're right, Nii-sama," she said. "I haven't thought about it much."

"Then might I ask you to forgive me for not asking for a gift list until now?" he said.

Rukia gave him a solemn smile and turned to Hisana, who had gone very still. Her eyes were wide and staring at the wall, but her gaze was unfocused.

Rukia set a gentle hand on her shoulder and looked at Byakuya. "Talking to Aoitsuki," she said quietly.

Byakuya nodded. "But your gift? Anything is—"

"I-I need to meditate," Hisana said, shifting away from Rukia and crawling to the opposite side of the room. She snatched her Zanpaku-to from where it rested on her desk, unsheathed it, and set the blade across her lap.

Frowning some, Byakuya looked back at Rukia, raising an eyebrow.

"Just nervous," Rukia whispered. "She says Aoitsuki helps her 'chase the clouds away,' and I'm sure there's plenty right now."

"Hm." Byakuya glanced at his waist, where Senbonzakura was still tied. Chase the clouds away, stop the rain, bring the moon back. It was all the same, until it wasn't.

His head just as well as Rukia's snapped toward the door when they heard Ichika's growling voice, but just as it rose, it died away. Even so, Byakuya gripped Senbonzakura's hilt again.

Inhaling quietly, Rukia whispered, "Can I ask you something about…." She glanced at Hisana and then back. "About your lieutenant?"

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "What about him?" he asked.

Rukia looked down at her torso, her eyes set on her lower abdomen. She opened her mouth once and then twice, but nothing came out until her third attempt. "What are you doing to punish him?" she said.

"Punish." Not "discipline."

Byakuya exhaled slowly. "He's been relegated to deskwork since…that day. I've been gradually reducing his office hours, though given the quality of his work, I'm contemplating releasing him soon."

Rukia frowned, then nodded slowly. "I see," she said. Her face was almost nondescript, but her chest was heaving slightly, and her hands were clenched into fists atop her knees.

"Are you alright?" Byakuya asked.

"I'm fine, Nii-sama," she said, taking a deep breath that managed to put her chest at ease. "Don't worry about me."

"I always worry about you," he said.

Rukia smiled humorlessly. "Well…I suppose you could say I'm…really, really shocked that of all the people in the world, it's Tsukiko."

"Then we understand each other quite well," Byakuya said. "I suppose that is part of the reason Ichika also felt the need to…involve herself."

Rukia scoffed, only for her face to fall into pure empathy as she looked at him. "Nii-sama, I am so sorry it happened like it did," she whispered. "But, if you will allow me to say so, maybe some distance will do you two some good."

Byakuya looked at the meditating Hisana and not once at her mother. "It would be nice for it to seem that way."

"Nii-sama.…"

He glanced at the closed door. "I must say, I am rather curious about what drove Ichika to act like a civilized person today."

Rukia did not let on any surprise in the change of subject. "I think she's trying something different," she said.

"Define 'different.'"

Rukia seemed to mull this over for a moment. "Believe it or not, Ichika and Ichigo got along just fine before…." She trailed off.

Byakuya nodded. "Before the divorces and such. Kurosaki said they were perhaps even friends."

Quirking an eyebrow upon learning of this exchange, Rukia nevertheless continued. "I can't speak for what exactly Ichika feels right now, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's connected to that in some way."

"I wouldn't know," Byakuya said. "The only thing of use she has conveyed to me recently is that distance is our friend."

Rukia's lips pursed for the briefest of moments. "I imagine it's probably weird figuring out who Ichigo is to her now. He's no longer just her boyfriend's father."

"Yes, well." Byakuya looked away. The relationships between the Kuchiki, Kurosaki, and Abarai families, while never…unnatural, certainly tended to push the boundaries of social acceptability. As an onlooker, and to save himself the headache, he gave this little consideration, but just because he was so immune to the issue didn't mean those inside it were. Especially Ichika, given how close she was to Renji—if that was even still the case. Her mission to Hokkaido really had been the best course of action over the last few months. It gave everyone time to process before regrouping…gave him time to grasp he was no longer an onlooker….

The sound of a muffled shout broke through the room, and Byakuya and Rukia sat upright. Byakuya listened closely as the shout repeated itself, only to glance at Rukia with narrowed eyes when he distinctly heard Ichigo calling "we're good, you can come back!"

Rukia raised an eyebrow, just as uncertain. "They've finished talking?"

"It would seem so," Byakuya said. He stood up from the floor, as did Rukia, and leaving Hisana to meditate, they both did their best not to make it seem as though they were rushing back to the sitting room.

As they walked into the room, an odd sight met them: Ichigo and Ichika, sitting side by side, without even glaring at each other. A new teacup and a box of tissues sat on the table, though they had not been in the room the last time Byakuya checked. Still, he made himself appear heavily interested in something else after noticing his niece's red, puffy eyes.

Ichika sniffed as Byakuya and Rukia sat back down. "We don't wanna kill each other anymore, hooray," she said in a sarcastic, nasally voice that for all its cynicism carried a genuine tone.

Rukia offered her oldest daughter a reserved smile. "Is that so," she said.

"Yeah, actually," Ichigo said, handing Ichika a fresh tissue when she continued to sniff. "Had ourselves a good little chat, you might say."

"No hidden bruises?" Byakuya asked.

"Not even a stinging cheek," Ichigo responded. "Just a little bit of a breakthrough."

Ichika scowled at him as she wiped her nose. "You promised to keep your mouth shut."

"And you'll notice that I'm not elaborating," Ichigo said calmly.

"Are we at least allowed to know what let you guys even sit here without killing each other?" Rukia asked carefully.

"Eh, basically came down to listening to what we both wanted—"

"Dammit, Kurosaki, shut up!" Ichika shouted, though for as much noise as she made, that was the extent of her outburst.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Anyone want more tea?" he asked, reaching for the kettle. "Ichika?"

She slid her cup forward.

As Ichigo refilled her cup, Byakuya and Rukia glanced at each other in shared astonishment. When Byakuya returned his gaze to Ichika, he was surprised to find her looking right back at him.

"I…look, I'm sorry," she said quietly. A blush was beginning to grow on her face, turning her entire head bright red. "I shouldn't have yelled at Tsukiko like I did. I was…upset."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes at her. "You made things very difficult for multiple people," he said.

Ichika looked away. "I know," she mumbled. "I'm guessing you want to know how I know?"

"You're so willing to offer this information?"

"Someone else might say I owe it to you." She rolled her eyes. "Basically, I overheard you and Kurosaki talking about Tsukiko the last time he and I beat each other up, when we broke the table. The spell Kaa-san cast must've been shoddy."

Byakuya glared at Ichigo, who returned the look, but they both looked away when Rukia scoffed. "Had I put anymore power into that spell, you'd still be unconscious," she retorted. "I had to water it down pretty good."

"You mean I'm weak?"

"That's not what she said," Ichigo said.

Ichika snorted. "Says the man who can't even cast a Kido—n-not that you can't compensate." She was suddenly very busy downing her tea.

Knowing better than to question how this family managed to function, Byakuya sipped more of his own tea. "Listening to what we wanted," Ichigo had said. Meaning two sides had come together to determine how to achieve some sort of peace that acknowledged where they were both coming from. The process was not without sacrifices now or in the future, but it was happening….

What was his want? What was Tsukiko's want? What were the opposites of those wants? How did they even get together to discuss them without triggering a repeat of the last time they spoke? Even if he couldn't see it, it had to be possible, especially if Ichigo and Ichika could do it…and how much he wished to hear Senbonzakura's voice again….

"Nii-sama?" Rukia asked.

Shaking his head, Byakuya looked around the table at the three curious faces watching him.

Ichigo smirked. "Lost in his own world."

"'Course he is," Ichika added. "He's above us all and doesn't think us worth listening to."

"Hey, Nii-sama listens plenty, even from his tower," Rukia said.

"Ch, still wouldn't kill him to come down from that tower every now and then."

It hit him with the force of a lightning strike.

Standing rapidly, Byakuya reached into his shihakusho and fished out his soul pager. Ignoring the alarmed looked on the others' faces, his thumb tapped the screen as necessary, and two rings later, Renji answered.

"Complete one last task and you're off desk duty," he said, cutting off Renji's greeting.

"Uh, thanks, Cap'n, but what do you need help with?" Renji asked.

"You and your child are going to help me sift through the mail until we find Tsukiko's transfer request. It's not going out."

Renji was silent for several seconds. "Captain, I'm not questioning your leadership, but I sent that thing in yesterday afternoon. I don't even know if it's still in our mailroom."

"Then we'll have to visit the postal annex."

"Captain—"

"If you meant your apology, you will help me."

"Do you know how much mail—"

"So you don't regret what you did to my daughter?"

"W-what the—?! Y-yes I do!"

"That's what I thought," Byakuya said, abruptly hanging up. He pinned his gaze on Ichika, who was staring at him nervously. "Must I repeat myself?"

Her eyes went wide. "You were serious? Oji-sama, I don't even know what you're—"

"I'd rather collect all repentance in one fell swoop."

Ichika opened her mouth to argue, but some invisible force silenced her, and she reluctantly nodded her assent.

Byakuya turned to his bewildered hosts. "Thank you both for the tea and conversation," he said. "Rukia, I will have your gift delivered to you on your birthday. Kurosaki, try to speak quieter from now on."

They both nodded in befuddlement.

Returning his gaze to Ichika, Byakuya stared until she got the message to move out before him.

It gave him enough time to accept just how stupid this plan was.

A/N: TL;DR Ohana means family, and family means Byakuya's gonna do stupid shit that may or may not pay off in the end. (I mean, it turned out alright in the Soul Society arc….)