Chapter Text
It was a lazy day at the Kuchiki house, and Hisana was slowly but surely regaining some of her former strength. Dressed in white robes and the haori given to her by her husband, she stepped lightly into the gardens. She was careful – so terribly careful as not to make a sound and alert one of the servants… Cautiously, she treaded down the icy pathway.
Eyeing her surroundings, Hisana's lips sloped into a frown. Everything was dead. The trees were but mere skeletons of their former selves; the bushes were barren. Even the fish swimming in the pond looked like they had seen better days.
She sighed softly to herself, wrapping her arms around her in a vain attempt at generating warmth. 'Rukongai is terribly harsh during winter,' she thought somberly.
She had yet to find her sister, and the thought alone pained her. Every day she was in fair health and even days when she was feeling faint, she prowled the 78th District in search of her sister. And, every day she returned empty-handed.
Hisana shut her eyes briefly; her expression soured. 'I was lucky… So very lucky, too. I was given an opportunity and I threw it away. How very careless of me – how very ungrateful of me. Most are separated from their loved ones upon arrival to Soul Society. And, I… I willingly gave her up…'
"Lady Kuchiki!" It was Murasaki's crisp voice that wafted over the garden. "Come in, milady! It is very cold out here, and you are still not well."
Hisana opened her eyes and briefly gazed into the icy pond. For a moment she glimpsed her reflection. She looked worn, pale, and depressed.
Shaking her head imperceptivity, she turned to face her handmaiden. With all of the strength she could muster, she offered Murasaki a cheerful smile and chuckled.
"Indeed, it is very cold out here. I do not know what madness has possessed me."
Murasaki smiled at her mistress – a soft, perceptive smile.
When Hisana reached the door, Murasaki threw a heavy blanket over her. "Here, milady," she said, politely ushering her back into the warmth and safety of the residence.
Hisana paused mid-step and buckled against her servant's efforts. When Murasaki lifted her gaze to see what had captivated her mistress, she noted that Hisana's attention had returned to the garden.
"Murasaki," she began, softly, "What are those edifices for?"
"Hugh?" was the only intelligible sound Murasaki could make in response. "Oh, those?" she asked, following her mistress's gaze. Instantly, her nerve had been shaken as she comprehended the question more fully. "Surely, you know what their purposes are, milady," she choked out between nervous laughs.
"No, actually, I don't."
Murasaki could have fainted. Her eyes widened and her complexion reddened. "Ugh…"
Furrowing a brow, Hisana laughed at her handmaiden's expression. "What could possibly be their purpose to get you so rattled?"
Realizing that Lady Kuchiki was perfectly earnest in her inquiry, Murasaki felt every muscle in her body tightened as she parted her lips to explain. "One is the birthing hut, and the other…"she paused, lowering her eyes. "The other is the consummation hut," she managed in one quick breath. Her brown eyes flicked up to view her mistress's expression.
"Oh," Hisana murmured, clearly taken aback.
"You did not know?" Murasaki sounded incredulous. "Surely, you must have known, right?"
Hisana glanced up at her handmaiden. "Of course." Judging by Murasaki's expression, she had no choice but to feign honesty.
"Of course," the handmaiden replied, appearing a little apprehensive about the matter.
The moment the two women slipped inside the house, Murasaki slid the door shut behind them. "Today is Lord Kuchiki's birthday. You must be excited, no? Considering this is the first one the two of you will spend together as man and wife."
Any trace of color drained from Hisana's face. "Indeed," she answered hollowly.
"Oh, no, please don't tell me that no one has informed you!"
Hisana looked up wearily at the woman. "No, in fact. Not even Lord Kuchiki himself."
"Oh, dear, this is most unfortunate. Although, I really don't think the Lord likes the attention. That's probably why he failed to mention it to you."
"What usually happens on such an occasion?"
Murasaki lifted a brow; her face contorted in disbelief. "Of course," she mused, "you wouldn't know would you, coming from Rukongai? Well, typically he receives gifts. But, he mostly sends them back if he can discern the sender. Parties have been attempted, all in vain, I might add. I think by now that Lord Kuchiki just enjoys his solitude."
Hisana smiled politely. "Thank you, Murasaki. I will be sure to honor his wish…"
When Byakuya arrived at the estate, his reception was a quiet one.
"How is the Lady?" he asked, quickening his step as he traveled down one of the corridors.
"She is well, milord," Sugii answered, stopping short of one of the windows looking out onto the garden. 'Funny, she was just here, I could swear…' When he turned his gaze back to Byakuya, he found himself suddenly very alone.
"Damnit," Sugii swore under his breath. "I had yet to tell him about the points of interests for the next meeting of the noble families…"
Byakuya wearily slid back the door to his room. Unnecessarily exhausted from "training" the new recruits, his only desire was to finish the remaining paperwork and turn into bed. This desire, however, changed rather quickly the moment he opened the door and was greeted by the aroma of incense and food. His tired senses immediately awoke with newfound vigor.
"Hisana…" he murmured, lifting his brows imperceptibly at his finding.
She offered him a smooth smile and bowed her head in response. "Milord."
He stood static – still processing what was transpiring in front of him. "A service?" he asked, blinking as if it were a mirage.
She laughed. "You forgot to tell me today was your birthday."
He blinked again.
"Murasaki was kind enough to notify me of this. She also informed me that you preferred going about the day rather unceremoniously," Hisana continued, straightening her posture and setting her hands in her lap. Her large eyes probed his. Byakuya, she had to admit, did look quite shocked by all of this.
"She was correct."
Hisana smiled in response, lowering her head as she did.
Byakuya took seiza position in front of his wife, who carefully served him his meal. When they were done, she prepared the tea for the evening. With graceful movements, she served him the small cup. Their hands brushed momentarily as he took the tea from her.
She bowed her head and was about to move away when she felt his fingers wrap around her wrist. Immediately, she inclined her head and gazed into his face. "Is the tea not to your satisfaction?" She had barely gotten the words out before being silenced by the heat of his mouth against hers.
She laughed, pulling away momentarily. "This is not part of the service."
"Modification," he retorted, his lips bathing her skin with kisses.
Hisana giggled. It was rare indeed for her husband to behave so passionately… 'Perhaps I gave him a bit too much sake,' she mused wryly.
"You were not supposed to seduce me, Lord Kuchiki. My intentions had been quite the contrary."
"But, you admit that seduction was to be involved?" he stated drily as he tugged her down to the floor.
Hisana smiled as she gazed up into his face. Her hand absently traced the contours of his face as he leaned over her. He no longer looked haggard and worn, she mused. "I have yet to even lay out the futons," she chuckled.
Never in her life did she think she'd see the day when she was the more pragmatic of two…
"I'm sure we won't be the first…" he replied.
'But I had this so well planned out,' she mused, indulging in an inward smile.
Hisana closed her eyes, acquiescing to the surge of pleasure raking across her skin and churning inside her. His heat, touch, and fragrance possessed her, teased her, and proved to be utterly intoxicating.
'Plans be damned…'