Advice

#03: Bleach (Byakuya & Rukia)
...xXx...

The night was quiet. Byakuya walked through the hallway in his cold manor as the waning moon became his guide in the darkness. He stopped before his adopted sister's chamber and closed his eyes briefly before sliding the door open. Silently, he walked towards her bed while keeping his gaze on her sleeping form.
Byakuya had never experienced fear and panic at the same time until today. Just like every morning, he would be waiting for Rukia to have breakfast together. They became quite close after the war with Aizen, so having breakfast together had become customary. Suddenly, he had a dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach when he heard several hurried footsteps. Rukia was late, which was so unlike her, so he had demanded a servant to go fetch her.
Soon, two servants fell on their knees as one of them spoke, "Byakuya-sama, something's wrong. Rukia-sama wouldn't wake up no matter how many times we called. So, we entered her chamber and…"
The servant's voice was quivering as if in the verge of tears.
He unconsciously held his breath.
"We found Rukia-sama on her bed covered in blood," she cried out tearfully.
His heart stopped beating for a moment before racing a mile a second. He had never flash-stepped so fast until now as he rushed to her chamber. Healers were already at her side as they did their work quickly to save her.
"Send for Unohana Taichou!" he barked without a second thought. He clenched his fists. How did this happen? He never detected something out of ordinary last night. After his usual nightly walk with Rukia, he had made sure she reached her chamber safely. What puzzled him the most was that there were no traces of reiatsu. Whoever attacked Rukia had the ability to hide their reiatsu completely.
Minutes felt like hours as he waited for Unohana Taichou to tell him Rukia's condition. As soon as Unohana Taichou emerged from Rukia's room, he looked at her expectantly.
"Kuchiki-san has already passed her critical point. She will probably wake up within a few days."
Yet…
Days became weeks.
"I don't understand. Her injuries are healed," Unohana said softly. After a moment of silence, she continued with a sigh, "It seems we will wait for a bit longer…"
And weeks became months.
"I already did my best, Kuchiki Taichou," she said gravely. "I can only say that Kuchiki-san's case is similar to Hinamori Fukutaichou's…"
Byakuya sat down at Rukia's bedside as he watched her with eyes filled with pain. Rukia had been asleep for three years now. No one could explain what happened to her. Kurotsuchi Taichou had wanted to do some research on Rukia, but he spurned the idea. If he would have to wait for another year, then so be it. He would not let that wicked man touch Rukia's body. When two years were over, he almost lost his sanity, but his grandfather Ginrei had asked him to remain calm. How could he remain calm? Rukia was his most important person. At first, it was just a duty, but it changed gradually when he saved her several times from danger. He often had nightmares of her torn body when he failed to protect her. Only after he saw her sleeping soundly at her chamber would he be able to sleep.
He quickened his steps in the silent night to Rukia's chamber after waking up from his recurring nightmare. Since it was late, he was quite sure she was already asleep, but he was wrong today. Rukia was wide awake in bed when he slid her door open. An awkward air settled around them as they stared at each other in surprise.
"Byakuya…"
It was only a soft whisper, but he heard her nonetheless.
However, he couldn't think about it further when she inquired, "Ehm… N-Nii-sama, is something the matter?"
"It's nothing," he replied after a long silence. To get away from her, he said something that was very unlike him, "Good night, Rukia."
Rukia might have noticed his unusual demeanor as he had never said good night to her before. She leaped from her bed and caught his hand before he could slide her chamber's door close. That night was the first night she touched him on her own accord even though it was unintentionally. He couldn't deny that he really loved Rukia's blushing face and secretly wished to see it more often. As soon as she realised what she had done, she pulled her hand back and muttered apologies. Honestly, he should have been the one to apologise for barging in her room.
"Walk with me," he requested. The words were uttered before he could stop himself.
Yet, he didn't regret it when a shy smile appeared on her lips as she agreed.
From that day onwards, a night walk before bed became part of their schedule. They rarely exchanged stories, but they were quite content with each other in a comfortable silence. Since their nightly routine started, he ceased to have those recurring nightmares. He wished that that day would be back soon as he caressed her cheek. A year after she entered her slumber, he couldn't deny the need to touch her so that he was sure that she was still alive.

...xXx...

Byakuya resisted the urge to growl when he saw the cat. What was she doing here in his manor? Didn't she know that he was not in the mood to deal with her? Of course, no one could detect the annoyance behind his indifferent mask.
"Bad mood?"
He was surprised. The cat didn't taunt him like usual.
"I came here to visit Rukia."
He was glad that he didn't have to bring himself to ask her why she was here.
"Byakuya, have you ever talked to Rukia?"
Byakuya remained silent.
"Try that. She might answer your call," she said before taking her leave.
I will do no such thing, he replied inwardly. However, Byakuya considered the idea for the next couple of days.

...xXx...

"Where am I?" Rukia murmured to herself. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw nothing but darkness. She didn't know how long she had been there, but she felt so lonely without Byakuya. Why was she surrounded by this darkness? What happened to her?
"Rukia…"
Rukia jerked her head up towards the sound. Steadily, the darkness around her filled with mist. Her breath caught in her throat as the mist formed someone who was none other than her older sister Hisana.
"Hello, Rukia." A gentle smile was on her face.
Rukia remained speechless. What should she say? She barely knew the person before her. For all her life, she had always known she was alone and had no relatives until Byakuya told her that she actually had an older sister.
"It's awkward, isn't?"
"… Yeah…" She finally remembered what happened that night. Upon returning to her chamber from her nightly walk with Byakuya, a spirit was already waiting for her. Yes, it was her sister's, the person before her now. Her vision blurred for a moment before she found herself on her bed. The last thing she remembered was pain shooting through her entire body. "Why?"
"We need to talk."
Rukia frowned. "We?"
"Well, it's more like a request from me."
"…"
Hisana smiled. "Byakuya-sama."
Rukia's lips went dry. Did her sister know that she…?
"I know," Hisana stated, answering Rukia's unspoken question with a knowing smile.
Rukia shifted uncomfortably.
"Both of you deserve each other."
She didn't bother to hide her surprise. "I don't understand."
"Please take care of Byakuya-sama, Rukia. I have seen enough to know the answer I was looking for."
Before Rukia could have the chance to answer, another voice cut in.
"Rukia…"
It was Byakuya's voice.
Hisana let out a smile as she cupped Rukia's cheek. "I pray for your happiness."
Once more, she didn't get the chance to reply as Byakuya called her again, "Please wake up… I need you…"
Then slowly, a soft, white light filled her darkness.
Byakuya felt slightly foolish for considering and following that cat's idea. While holding Rukia's small hand in one hand, he used the other to brush her bangs aside. Rukia looked so peaceful in her sleep, but he desperately longed for her warm purple-grey eyes and her smile, which often gave him a reason to return home early.
"Please come back to me…" he murmured softly.
And for the first time in his life, Byakuya thanked Yoruichi for her advice as Rukia finally opened her eyes.

...xXx...

Byakuya closed his eyes as he leaned against the Sakura tree with his wife who was lying down with her head in his lap. His fingers absentmindedly ran through her short hair. As he looked down at her round belly, he couldn't withhold the smile that appeared on his lips. Thanks to the real world technology, they knew the gender of his first child. His son would introduce himself to the world soon. Ready or not, he would become a father within days. Although his grandfather didn't say anything, he knew the older man was happy he could live to see his first great grandson.
Two years ago, when his wife woke up from her slumber, she told him about Hisana. Though he couldn't forgive his deceased wife for what she had done to Rukia, he was grateful as he finally realized something: he couldn't live without Rukia. After confessing his love for her, he couldn't be happier when he found out that she felt the same. His grandfather's approval was what surprised him the most. It seemed the former head of the Kuchiki Family was aware of his feelings and gave him and Rukia an immediate blessing. As for the elders, they gave their blessings, but he and Rukia would have to provide an heir for the Kuchiki Family before everything else.
Byakuya knew Rukia would become a great lady and raise their son until he came of age before returning to her duty as a Shinigami. As his wife, Rukia, didn't have to work for Gotei 13 anymore, but he knew she loved her job, and he wouldn't take that away from her. When she returned to her duty, danger would be unavoidable, but she had promised that she would try her best to avoid it as much as she could. It didn't really matter to him though. Whether or not she promised, he would always protect her and their son. Both of them were his pride, and he would protect his family as long as he lived.
Marriage didn't change his hectic schedule, but never again did he return home late like before. He wanted to spend his time with Rukia and their unborn child as much as possible. Yoruichi still came to the manor from time to time to tease him, but the cat stopped doing that when he thanked her for her ridiculous advice. He didn't want to do it, but as a head of the Kuchiki Family, he should display proper decorum. Moreover, Rukia had spilled the beans on how she woke up. To tell the truth, Byakuya didn't think there would be a day he would thank Yoruichi Shihōin. Still, as much as he hated to admit it, he was grateful to the cat.

The End

Thanks for reading.

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