The fate between the two of them seemed to have been set from the moment they first met.
About ten years ago, around the time Rukia was just born into this world, the terminally ill Hisana grew weaker and weaker.
Fearing she couldn’t support her younger sister, she painfully abandoned her by the roadside, hoping a kind family would adopt her.
She herself lived in a constant state of hunger and cold, and the harsh environment combined with her own physical ailments caused her body to gradually fall into ruin.
Until three years later, she met Kuchiki Byakuya.
That perennial iceberg face became the warmest thing in the world at that moment.
For Hisana, perhaps those days were the most brilliant time of her life, even if endless darkness followed after the light faded, just like the sorrowful wilting after the brightness of cherry blossoms.
At that time, Hisana was attacked by a Hollow.
Just as she was about to be hit, Byakuya stepped in and saved her.
Hisana encountered what she felt was the most beautiful thing in her life.
The cherry blossom petals of Senbonzakura flying in all directions were beautiful yet lethal, and the cherry-colored torrent of blades easily blocked the Hollow’s attack.
But at the last moment, the Hollow’s dying counterattack left Byakuya seriously injured, and he eventually fainted.
“Where is this?” Byakuya slowly woke up.
What met his eyes was no longer the clean white ceiling of the Kuchiki house, but instead a roof made of rows of straw mats.
The gray quilt also had many large and small patches; though dilapidated, it emitted a faint fragrance.
The Shinigami-exclusive shihakusho had been replaced with coarse linen clothes.
At this time, waves of pain came from his wound.
Pulling back his clothes, he found the wound on his abdomen had been wrapped in gauze.
Just as Byakuya was about to get up, a female voice came from beside him.
“Oh, you’re awake.
Quickly drink the medicine.
You were badly injured.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have money to hire a doctor, so I could only go into the mountains to pick some herbs to make do.” Seeing Byakuya wake up, Hisana was also very happy.
After all, the person in front of her was her savior.
She then said with a smile:
“This is my residence.
Do you remember what happened before?
You fought a Hollow to save me and ended up unconscious with serious injuries.”
“Is that so?
Then how many days was I unconscious?”
“It’s been seven days.
It was truly terrifying.
If you hadn’t still been breathing, I would have thought you were going to die.”
Upon hearing this news, Byakuya immediately wanted to get up and return to the Kuchiki house.
After all, the disappearance of the next head of the Kuchiki Family, one of the Four Noble Families, was no small matter.
But his body was pressed down by a pair of soft, delicate hands.
“Hey, you’re seriously injured right now.
Put everything else aside for now; recovering is the most important thing,” Hisana said somewhat angrily.
“By the way, my name is Hisana.
What’s your name?”
For some reason, seeing this slightly angry expression, Byakuya’s heart calmed down.
Although he didn’t know where this reassuring feeling came from, it was impossible to refuse.
“Kuchiki Byakuya”
During this recovery period, Byakuya felt as if he had developed an emotion he had never had before, neither friendship nor kinship.
This feeling was wonderful, like the sweet taste of honey.
Byakuya felt that at this moment, he had laid down all his burdens.
He was no longer the heir to the head of the Kuchiki Family, one of the Four Noble Families, and didn’t need to follow those rigid rules.
During this time, he saw his truest self.
Hisana was the same.
Though the “hero saving the beauty” trope was old-fashioned, it was effective.
She found herself constantly looking at him involuntarily, her heart feeling like it had eaten honey every day.
She understood that she had likely fallen in love with this man.
But she knew the other party was from the Kuchiki Family, and the chances of them being together were very small.
In the Soul Society, it was almost impossible for a noble disciple to marry a commoner, let alone someone from the Kuchiki Family, one of the Four Noble Families.
Furthermore, she was a sickly person; without a strong spiritual pressure as a foundation, she wouldn’t live long.
So, on a night when Byakuya’s injuries were almost healed, Hisana left a letter and secretly slipped away.
After Hisana left, the sleeping Byakuya opened his eyes.
How could someone as powerful as Byakuya not notice Hisana’s small movements?
He silently opened the letter left on the table, which read:
Byakuya, I must go.
Although I’m very reluctant, I have no choice.
I found that I’ve fallen in love with you and want to be with you, but I can’t.
You are the Legitimate Son of the Kuchiki Family, the head of the Four Noble Families, while I am just a commoner.
In the Soul Society, it is almost impossible for nobles and commoners to unite; no one will look favorably upon us, and your family will not agree.
So, forget me.
The days spent with you were truly happy.
I hope you can meet a better girl in the future.
Don’t miss me.
From Hisana
“Hisana…” Byakuya murmured.
At this point, Byakuya tremblingly clenched his hands.
At this moment, he felt how much of a hindrance his noble status was, preventing him from even being with the woman he loved.
What “genius,” what “honor of the Kuchiki Family”—at this moment, it all seemed so pale and powerless.
He was a member of the Kuchiki Family and had to uphold its honor.
Since there were no cases of nobles and commoners uniting in the Soul Society, he would be the first!
He then quickly changed his clothes and sprinted back to the Kuchiki house.
In fact, his injuries had long since mostly healed; he had only slowed down his recovery because he wanted to stay with Hisana a little longer.
Early the next morning, news spread throughout the entire Seireitei: Kuchiki Byakuya, who had been missing for three months, had returned.
In the same year, Kuchiki Byakuya defeated the Manifestation of Senbonzakura and achieved Bankai, becoming the Captain of the Sixth Division.
The following year, Kuchiki Ginrei abdicated, and Kuchiki Byakuya became the twenty-eighth head of the Kuchiki Family, using all his power to search for Hisana.
This was the second year after Hisana left Kuchiki Byakuya.
Walking on the street, Hisana once again saw the man she dreamed of.
Although she was very excited, she still pretended not to know him and tried to pass by.
Unexpectedly, Byakuya grabbed her right hand.
“Last time you ran away, this time I won’t let go again.
Come back to the Kuchiki Family with me.” Byakuya’s tone was still so flat, as if nothing could make his emotions fluctuate.
But this time, the flat tone was filled with determination and mixed with a sense of relief.
“Mm.”
Hisana lowered her head, her face blushing, and responded softly.
Hand in hand, the two arrived at the Kuchiki house.
Seeing Byakuya walking with a commoner, the people around looked at them as if they had seen a ghost.
Seeing this, Hisana’s face grew even redder, while Byakuya ignored the gazes of those around him and went straight back to his room.
The next day, a shocking piece of news swept through the entire Soul Society: the current head of the Kuchiki Family, Kuchiki Byakuya, had overcome all opposition to marry the commoner Hisana.
This news was like a bomb that shattered the still waters of the Soul Society.