Returning to Kuchiki Manor, Hajime was happy to be back in the place that she called 'home.'
"Ah, Kisumoto-San, welcome back," Mikasa greeted, "Akihiko-Sama has requested your presence immediately upon your return. I would not keep her waiting."
"Right… Uh," Hajime had only just returned so she was still holding on to her belongings.
"Don't worry, Kisumoto-San. I'll bring your belongings to your room."
Handing over her bags to Mikasa and thanking her, Hajime quickly made her way to Akane's room to be greeted by Akihiko who was sitting silently in her chair, holding a cane.
Eying the cane she was continuously tapping against her hand, Hajime gave a deep bow and greeted her, "Akihiko-Sama, how may I serve you today?"
Without saying a word, Akihiko stood from her seat and furiously lashed Hajime's back with the cane. Catching her off guard and off balance, Hajime fell to her knees on the floor.
"Aki-Akihiko-Sama, did I do something to offend you?" Hajime asked through pained breaths.
Hitting her once more, Hajime was in agony. She flashed back to the time she was a child and her father whipped her with a broom.
"Did I say you could speak?" Hitting her two more times, Hajime tried her best to stay quiet. After all, when she was younger, if her father heard so much as a whimper from her, he whipped her harder and for much longer. "I've done some research on you, Kisumoto Hajime." She fiercely hit the cane against her hand to make Hajime flinch. Chuckling to herself, she bent over and spoke in Hajime's ear, "You think I wouldn't find out about your little 'date' with Byakuya-Sama?!" She hit Hajime three times in a row with more force in each swing.
Kneeling beside her and lifting Hajime's chin so that her gaze met Akihiko's she fiercely spoke, "You would do well to learn your place here. You are nothing, no one. And to think you would have the guts to interfere with the life of a married man." She pushed her against the wall in disgust, "You have no claim over Byakuya-Sama, he is Akane's and forever will be."
Just as if right on cue, the door to the bedroom opened, and in walked Akane. Akane was in the ballroom with the decorator as she was preparing for her anniversary ball with Byakuya in September. Looking over to see the cane in her mother's hand and at Hajime who quickly composed herself and bowed to greet Akane, she already knew what transpired.
"Akane-Sama, I have returned. I understand a classmate of mine took over my duties while I was away. I can happily resume our regular routine tonight if you wish."
"I don't need you today," Akane spoke, noticing her pain, "You are dismissed."
Bowing, Hajime looked over to Akihiko who wore a proud smile as she exited the room.
Sighing deeply as she closed the door, her back was in excruciating pain. This clearly wasn't Akihiko's first time punishing someone. Keeping herself balanced by sliding her hand against the wall, she slowly made her way back to her room.
"Kisumoto-San?"
Byakuya, who was on his way to his quarters, spotted the stumbling Hajime and made his way over to her.
Turning over to the sound of his voice, Hajime tried her best to hide her back from Byakuya for fear that blood may have seeped through her kimono. Putting on a smile as best as she could, she gave a slight bow to Byakuya.
"Kisumoto-San," he greeted, "Welcome back." His tone was gentle. In the past month that Hajime has been away, Byakuya realized that he had missed her presence more than he thought he would.
"I'm back," she responded with a smile.
The two stood there for a moment and gazed into each other's eyes until a maidservant walked by with a cart full of laundry. Apologizing for the interruption, the maidservant squeezed the cart in between Hajime and Byakuya, pushing Hajime further against the wall which only triggered the pain in her back and sent sharp shivers through her body. Losing her balance and keeling over, Byakuya noticed the rips on the back of her Shihakusho and blood seeping underneath. Helping her up, he held on to her waist and brought her to the Manor physician.
As the physician cut open the back of Hajime's kimono, Byakuya's heart churned at the sight. While her back currently possesses fresh slash marks and splotches of blood, there are also old, raised scars in various locations throughout her back.
"Is it as bad as it feels?" Hajime asked with a small giggle to try and cut through the quiet atmosphere.
"I have a salve I can make that should help with the pain and scarring. Since I am not skilled in Healing Kido, if you wish to have this fully healed, it would be wise to see Unohana Retsu of Squad Four."
"Are you all right, Kisumoto-San? How did this happen?"
Not wanting to disclose the truth, Hajime fibbed, "I asked Unohana Taichou to leave these wounds be. Not everything needs to be healed… Some scars are important reminders of who we are and what we've been through."
"In that case," the physician spoke, "Kuchiki-Sama, would you help clean her wounds? Many of the ingredients I will have to fetch from the kitchen and garden." Grabbing some cotton balls, tweezers, and alcohol, the physician left the two alone as she went to gather the ingredients for the salve.
You fool, Byakuya thought to himself as he observed the wounds on her back, anyone can tell how fresh these wounds are… Narrowing his eyes at her previous scars, Byakuya thought back to what Renji told him about Hajime's family. "I understand," he spoke, "However, if you're in pain, please remember that you also have access to the Manor physician." Preparing the cotton ball to sterilize her wounds, he remarked, "This will sting a bit, Kisumoto-San."
As soon as the cotton ball made contact, Hajime flinched and clenched her fists in anguish. Reacting to her pain, Byakuya briefly paused to give her a chance to breathe. "I'm okay," Hajime spoke with a smile as she turned her head over to look into Byakuya's eyes, "You can keep going."
Continuing to clean her wounds, Hajime lay with her forehead resting against her arm as she tightly clenched onto the bed sheet. Softly sighing, she thought back to Akihiko's words. She's right… What am I doing? Even though I know it's wrong, my heart craves him. His touch, his voice, his gaze… I can't escape it.
"I'm proud of you, Kisumoto-San."
"Eh?" His voice broke through her thoughts and as she looked over at him, he had on the gentlest expression—it almost broke her heart.
"You've gotten so much stronger, I'm proud of how far you've come." Taken aback by the sudden compliment and the sincere tone of his voice, Hajime's cheeks turned pink. "Renji told me what happened in the World of the Living and I apologize for not visiting you when you were injured, I-"
Quickly sitting up and furiously shaking her head, she reassured him that he had no need to apologize.
"I am your sponsor; it is also my duty to ensure your safety throughout the Academy."
"You've already done so much," she explained, "You don't have to worry about me."
"I will always worry about you." At that moment, he realized how that could have sounded but he didn't care. It was the truth and he wanted her to know that.
With his sudden proclamation, Hajime's cheeks turned redder. Noticing the warmth on her face, Byakuya unconsciously took his hand to her forehead in worry, "You look warm Kisumoto-San, are you feeling all right?"
You can't do this, she thought to herself as her eyes locked with his, my heart can't bear falling deeper in love with you... "I-I'm fine," her voice cracked, "the pain got to me a little bit…"
As the two sat in brief silence, the physician returned to the room with the salve ingredients in tow. Quickly turning away from each other, she was able to notice a stirring in the air. Thanking Byakuya for his time, the salve was completed, and the physician took over. Savoring in the warmth that still lingered in his hands, Byakuya returned to his quarters with a conflicted expression.
. . .
"Why did you punish her so severely?" Akane asked, "What if Byakuya-Sama heard her? What would you have done then?"
"How could you be so foolish!" Akihiko lashed out, "That girl, she's stealing your husband from right under your nose. Do you continue to play dumb?"
"You think I don't know how he looks at her?! I am doing everything I can to please you-!"
"Well, you're not doing enough!" Akihiko threw her cane against the wall and took a deep breath. Composing herself, she walked over to Akane and put her hand on her cheek, "I have always wanted what's best for you. Time is running out and if we wish to keep our status, you need to win Byakuya-Sama's heart and birth an heir. We've done things your way, it's time to do things my way."
"And what does that entail? How do you expect us to have a child when he doesn't even love me?"
"That herbalist I bought that fertility elixir from, I'm sure she has other remedies to offer, something to make him fall in love with you or to heighten his desires!" Akihiko reveled, "Our fortune tellers are never wrong, and you both had a child in your future, what if this is the way? If not out of love, then out of duty to our Clan."
"Fine," Akane surrendered, "We'll do things your way."
"That's my girl," Akihiko spoke proudly as she held her daughter in her arms and deeply embraced her.
August 26th
On the outskirts of Rukongai, near the mountain pass, a disguised Akihiko decided to make a trip to the herbalist she met once before.
Recognizing Akihiko, the cloaked woman greeted her, "My lady, back again so soon? What can I help you with today?"
Making sure she wasn't followed, Akihiko covered herself with her cloak and whispered to the woman, "I need something to make my daughter's husband fall in love with her. An heir to our clans is in their future and it needs to happen soon."
"If you're looking for a love potion, you're at the wrong place. However, if all you need is for a child to be conceived, I have just the thing," Taking out a small chest from underneath the table, the woman took out a vial that contained a shimmering pink elixir. Handing it to Akihiko she explained that the elixir heightens an individual's lust and burning desire. "One drop is all you need. Even if he does not love her, when the two of them are alone, their bodies will crave one another and erupt in a burning passion."
Smirking, this was exactly what Akihiko was looking for. Paying for the vial with her lavish necklace, the woman bid her farewell.
"Though, I would be careful," the woman whispered as Akihiko was almost out of sight, "it's not easy to sway a heart already full of desire."
. . .
It's the start of the new term and word has been spreading around the accelerated group about Hajime's released Shikai and her fight against a Vasto Lorde. While some of her classmates changed their opinions of her, there are others who didn't.
"Hajime-Chan~" Kisume greeted with a wink as he took his usual seat next to her.
"Kisume!" Hajime smiled, "How was your summer?"
"Eh, I didn't get the recommendation from my group," he frowned, "but… I heard you did," he said playfully.
"A lot happened during the internships," Hajime explained.
"Well," Kisume spoke as he laid his chin on his hand and leaned in closer to Hajime over the desk, "I'm listening."
Hajime told Kisume everything that happened during her internships at Squad Nine's Barracks, well, almost everything. She decided it was best to not disclose the part about her parents becoming hollows. In fact, Rei, who was interning at Squad Ten at the time, reached out to Hajime as the internships were ending and reassured her that her secret was safe with him.
"Whaa Hajime, I think I've just fallen deeper in love with you," Kisume winked playfully.
"Quit it," Hajime giggled as she gave him a playful shove.
As the bell rang, it marked the official start of the term and Hajime made her way to her new class, Healing Kido 1 for Beginners. Surprisingly, there were only a handful of students that signed up for the class, so the classroom was quite small. Taking a seat in the middle row, Hajime didn't recognize anyone she knew. Thank goodness, she thought to herself, at least I don't have to worry about distractions.
Stumbling into the room with her hands full of textbooks was a seated officer from Squad Four. As she dropped her books on her desk and gave a heavy sigh, she greeted her new students, "All right class, welcome to Healing Kido 1!"
. . .
Back at Kuchiki Manor, Akane requested weekly facial sessions to keep her skin smooth and supple for the upcoming ball. Ever since the Akihiko caning incident, Hajime grew weary every time she was summoned to Akane's room. Luckily, Akihiko was currently away as she was at the tailor's creating her custom kimono for the ball.
"How are the preparations going for the ball?" Akane asked as Hajime was applying a face mask for her.
"Everything is going as planned," Hajime explained, "Your kimono is expected to arrive next week, and the jewelers have prepared accessories they believe would complement your kimono beautifully."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but, I trust you to make sure everything runs smoothly. If all goes well, an heir to the Kuchiki Clan should be conceived."
"Of course, I will make sure everything goes according to your wishes."
Hajime doesn't know if it's because she was away for about a month but ever since her return, she noticed a different air about Akane. While she is still her overconfident, straightforward self, Hajime sensed sadness hidden in her eyes and tone of voice.
Finishing the facial for the night, Hajime dressed Akane for bed and prepared a tray of tea by her side. As she was about to leave, Akane stopped her.
Opening a drawer from her vanity, Akane pulled out a small ornately decorated container and tossed it to Hajime. "That should help with the scarring," she said as she made her way to her bed.
Opening the container, it was a balm meant to heal old and new scars. Looking toward Akane who didn't care to give her any attention, Hajime realized something about Akane. Of course, she thought to herself, if this is how she punished a maidservant, I can only imagine how she punished her own daughter…
"Akane-Sama-"
"You're dismissed." She said firmly, as she was not in the mood for small talk.
Sighing, Hajime gave a bow and left the room, "Thank you, Akane-Sama."