[ closed log ] Week Ten, Day Seven [ no matter what i do ]

[sakurabito]

Who: Kuchiki Hisana ( hisana_kuchiki ) and Kuchiki Byakuya ( sakurabito )
Status: Closed
Style: Prose
When: Week Ten, Day Seven, after this.
Where: Himorogi
Rating: PG
Warnings: Reuniting with his dead wife. This oozes angst.

Comments

[hisana_kuchiki]

Hisana stood as soon as she saw the figure exit the forest surrounding the large tree before she took a cautious step forward. "I didn't expect to see you in this place, Byakuya-sama." Her voice was quiet, her eyes lingering on his face briefly before she lowered them slightly. "I...have you been here long?" From their brief conversation over the odd device, she'd gathered that he was familiar with the area at least, which was a relief to her.

The last thing she remembered seeing was the roof of her room and then she'd woken up under this sky. Had she died or was this some sort of strangely vivid dream? At this point, she couldn't be sure of what was happening here but if anyone could answer her unspoken questions, it would be him. He seemed to know what she was thinking before she spoke many times, after all.

[sakurabito]

He could only watch her. How could he explain it without sounding insane? He wasn't even convinced it wasn't a dream, something created by his mind as everything else seemed to be. None of it could ever be considered real by any standard. Devices that broadcasted dreams? 'Gods'? The fifty year difference between them now? But it wouldn't matter. It was, most likely, a dream anyway, a dream that seemed to be his reality anymore. "I arrived in the winter months," he answered truthfully. "It is now late summer. Two months or seven, I cannot tell you."

He would be content to leave it at that, to walk away and lead her to safety, but he was not entirely convinced, yet, she could make the trip. And still, there were things she needed to know, things he needed to tell her before they returned to Hisato. "Nothing is as it seems here, Hisana. You must be careful in whatever you do."

[hisana_kuchiki]

"How is that..but you were with me before I fell asleep." Hisana looked confused for a moment before looking past him towards the forest. "So it's been months since that day for you?" The question slipped out before she could stop it and she lifted a hand, fingers twisting in the fabric of her yukata. "I am sorry, Byakuya-sama"

There was moment of silence as she listened to his warning before her gaze returned to his face as if it held the answers she sought. "I will be careful then, Byakuya-sama." She was silent again before she took another step forward, her hand dropping back to her side.

[sakurabito]

He could tell her that none of them were actually real, that they were just images, imprints and their real bodies were elsewhere, but something kept him from telling her that truth. It would only make the 'dream' scenario fit more perfectly and this, for them, was not a dream. He did not want it to be a dream. So he looked on as she spoke. "There's no need for you to apologize. You've done nothing." That, too was an automatic response, a defense mechanism as he sought out to take that burden, that sorrow from her in any way he could.

Months? No, it had been years. Fifty long, quiet, lonely years and never did he ever expect to see her again. He never thought he would want so much to let it all go, to allow himself what he used to. To enjoy her company with no attachments... it'd been his dream for many moons, now. And now that he had been given such a chance, he could not seem to do it. "Did you have any specific questions for me?"

...sorry for short tag.

[hisana_kuchiki]

Hisana lifted her head to look up at his face again. "...Have you been well, Byakuya-sama?" The question was quiet, although it betrayed nothing of the inner nervousness she felt. She'd never wanted to leave him, and from what he'd said, it'd been several months since he'd seen her.

No worries!

[sakurabito]

Hisana...

Always concerned about others. Not even the predicament she was in seemed to deter her from that side of her. Worried about the estate, what they would think, rather than if she was in trouble, if she should be frightened. And... she didn't ask about her sister, the question he was sure he would face the moment he came to retrieve her.

How could he do it? How could he separate himself from them if it was so easy to rip that door off and come inside? It took everything, everything not to give in to that struggling man who wanted nothing more than to be with her, whether she was striving to find her sister or she simply wished to have tea with him. He wasn't him anymore, despite that flicker behind the steel that threatened everything he'd worked for these past fifty years, a flicker he couldn't hide as well as he thought. "Don't concern yourself with me. You must be tired," Byakuya replied instead. "Come, I'll take you home."

Re: No worries!

[hisana_kuchiki]

Hisana had spoken briefly with Rukia on the network before his arrival and while she had more questions, they could wait until they spoke in person. There were some things better handled face to face after all. She turned to look at the tree again before she spoke, her voice still gentle.

"Byakuya-sama, is there a reason you think I should not ask about your own health? You seem..different from when we last met." Granted he had said time had passed for him since he'd seen her, but she hadn't realized he would change this much.

"...Of course, Byakuya-sama." She let the conversation drop for now, deciding it might be better to wait until he'd had a chance to adjust to being around her again.

[sakurabito]

He meant to turn away. He meant to leave, to run and forget she had ever spoken to him, but just as instinct was strong, so was that fear that had held him in place

[hisana_kuchiki]

"..She already contacted me over this device, Byakuya-sama." The words were quiet and her expression was carefully neutral before she spoke again. "...I didn't just go to sleep and wake up here, did I?" The question was quiet and she turned to look at him again, before moving to his side.

"...How long has it been, Byakuya-sama?"

[sakurabito]

There it was again, that tiresome urge to run away from the situation in any way necessary, whether he walk away or use his words to soothe her. There was his answer... so very clear for him. She didn't have to say it out loud--he'd changed enough, even if it wasn't physically obvious, for her to know more than her 'sleep' was a concern. The fact Rukia had already contacted her, something he'd have to look into later, probably helped her come to that conclusion.

Byakuya did not answer for a long moment. How did one handle knowing they had died? There wasn't any way to break it to them, it was not something he had ever wanted to handle. Lying to her, however, hadn't worked and continuing to do so would insult her intelligence. He had only wanted to protect her...

"... it has been fifty years." And to him, that statement said everything that needed to be said. He did not turn away. He didn't look away from her. He waited patiently, waited for her to speak, for her to act, for anything.

[hisana_kuchiki]

"Since I died." The statement was calm, her expression unchanging for a moment before she stepped forward, one hand rising to just brush against his cheek. "I am sorry for the pain that must have caused you, Byakuya-sama." There was a faint hint of sadness to her smile. Hurting him was the last thing she'd ever wanted to do, but her illness had taken that choice out of her hands.

Her hand dropped back to her side after a moment and she tilted her face up to look into his eyes. "I never wanted to hurt you like that."

[sakurabito]

How could she say it so calmly? So quietly? As if she had heard every day for years that she had died and before her stood the ghosts of the future, what remained after her body had long since faded? Her gentle touch, her careful manner, he'd missed these things so much. He'd even allowed himself to believe it was possible, but they gave her to him and took her away so fast, he never got to wake up from that dream

Ther3e was no Journal fail and ...finally fixed x.x sorry for multi-tags.

[hisana_kuchiki]

Hisana was silent for a few moments considering the question before she smiled slightly. "But that time has not yet passed for me, Byakuya-sama. I know it must have been hard on you, but I am here now and perhaps, things will...go differently this time.

I am still your wife, even though to you, I've been gone for many years. That is something I wouldn't change even if given the chance and I don't want to hurt you again." The words were spoken softly before she looked towards the forest again.

"Perhaps we could consider this a new start? I would like to see this house you have here and find out more about this place."

xD No worries

[sakurabito]

Kakashi had said that too. Their lives had nothing to do with the ones they previously lived, that there was nothing for them to do here but to make a life here, whether they agreed to the circumstances or not. Perhaps it was not in so many words, but the meaning had been clear. He'd always thought, forced himself to believe, there would be nothing here worthy of such attention. But that was not true, was it

Re: xD No worries

[hisana_kuchiki]

"A new start for all of us." The words were quiet and she smiled again a moment later. "I don't see how that will be a problem, a house should have people in it after all, as long as there's enough room for everyone, anyway." Her hands settled at her sides again.

"How far is it to the house?"

[sakurabito]

It sounded nice. A new start. A new place. Hisana will get her wish, Rukia will know her family and he... he hadn't decided, yet, what his place would be. He could say it so easily, staring into her smiling face, listening to her quiet voice, but he regressed so quickly when his 'teacher' let go of his hand.

As for room... he had realized it would be a problem. Initially, he hadn't intended to be here for so long and something small would suit him fine. No one would bother him for a place to stay and it seemed much more practical. Now... "Renji and I will be looking for more space. For now, I believe we can manage." Even if Renji had to sleep outside, or in the kitchen.

"The walk is approximately thirty minutes. Do you think you can make it that far?"