It's been a long time, but I didn't abandon this. It's even the longest chapter I've written for this story so far. Hope you enjoy and leave me some reviews.

You reach your hand and drive away my nightmares

I hear you saying that your encounter is the result favored by Heaven.

You are always in my eyes

I miss you every minute.

I want to control myself and forget you

Unwilling to fall in the trap of love.

Lai GuaLin "First Love." A Little Thing Called First Love OST.

...

Chapter 11. The Quest for Love.

She almost drops the kettle she's carrying when she sees who's entering the clinic.

"Welcome, sir. How can I help you?"

"I'm not 'sir', doctor." He laughs. "You are really polite."

For a shinigami, they all want to say but never do.

"You might call me Sakura, what's your name?"

"Itachi."

"Last name?"

"No last name."

Then he probably does not remember, and in his case it's for the better.

"I see" She pulls a chair to sit next to him. "So, what can I do for you Itachi?"

"Lately, my eyes have been hurting. I cannot see very well."

It's like a joke, she thinks, a very bad one.

"Does the back of your head hurt too? When did it start?"

She listens to him, and then proceeds to use prepare the medicine. She had never really met Uchiha Itachi before, but she feels deeply for this man who suffered so much because of the village. For him, at least, it is all in the past, but she can remember that lifetime, so it's good that there's a way to return some good to him now.

"How is it now?"

He feels the soft reiatsu on his eyes, and slowly his vision becomes clearer.

"I can see perfectly."

She smiles.

"Come here next week for a check up, and don't forget to take it every 6 hours. The pain should also disappear."

Only when Itachi leaves does she ask the other invisible guest to come in, and he just enters through the window.

"You are as rude as always, Sasuke."

"Is he going to be alright?"

"We'll see. Maybe he's going to need glasses in the future, but besides that, I believe he's going to be okay."

He sighs, relieved. Has Sasuke discovered his brother a long time ago? If so, Sakura still has to give him credit for not trying to approach him. She knows how difficult it is to separate the past life from the current one, at least for them who remember too well.

"How long have you been stalking him?"

"Only the past couple of days. I was worried."

"Of course you were."

She looks outside to see if any other patients are waiting, but looks like Itachi was the last one, and she has to go back to the hospital of the 4th Division.

"Ok, then. You can calm down, and I can go back to the Seireitei."

She signals him to step out and after taking everything she needs, both of them walk back towards the Seireitei, not saying a word. It's a bit uncomfortable, but what else can be said? She wishes for them to be civil towards each other, but they are no longer friends.

Yet they are walking side by side, and that's how Toshiro sees them when they run into each other.

…...

"My Lady, the steward is here with the books, as you requested."

"Thank you, Shizuka-san. Oh, can you please go to the kitchen and tell Yukiko-san to include Miso Soup in the dinner?"

"Of course, my lady."

There are still things she isn't familiarized with the household, which is the reason for her meeting with the steward. However, even when there are things to learn and it is a lot to take in such a short time, she manages with grace all her new responsibilities. It's something strange, as if this is what her life was supposed to be, how easily she 's taken upon the role of Lady Kuchiki.

However, the person who is most important for Hinata would not share her feelings.

"Mother, do I really have to study so much?"

"Aren't you supposed to be in you writing lessons now? What happened with Sanae?"

He looks away for a second, as if he doesn't know what she was talking about. Poor Sanae is probably looking for Haruki all around the manor.

"But it's so boooring." He complains again "Mother, I want to go back home."

"This is home now, Haruki. We are part of the Kuchiki, you will get used to it."

He frowns.

"It's not fair. And he isn't even here."

Is that man supposed to be his father now? He knows, because his mother and even uncle Neji explained it. But Uncle Neji also said that he had to care for her mother's best interests above all, and since coming to the manor she's been always too busy.

"Haruki, if you go to your writing lessons, it will make me very happy." She tells him, caressing his head. "Tomorrow, I'll have more time and we can both go to play together, what do you say?"

"Really?" He asks "You promise?"

"I promise."

"My Lady, I'm sorry" Sanae looks down and seems to have been running around for a while "I was really looking for the little Lord, but I..."

"Sanae, don't worry. It was Haruki who did wrong." Hinata looks at her child "Isn't it, Haruki?"

"I'm sorry, Sanae-san. I won't do it again."

The girl looks surprised, but thanks the kindness of this new lady. She never knew noblewomen to be so good natured or forgiving.

"Please take Haruki to continue his lesson, I'll pick him up later."

"Yes, my lady."

When they are both gone, Hinata goes to the tea room and takes a moment to sit down and rest. There are still many accounting books she has to read, the ones the steward brought to her, but she hopes to have things figured it out this week. It's true that Byakuya and even the elders do not expect her to dedicate herself to the house, not when she is already a respected and talented shinigami in the Gotei 13, but once she establishes herself into her position, she can go back to be the lieutenant of the 6th Division feeling more assured.

It's something she learned as a child: if she's respected in the house, she can protect her loved ones. If everyone inside truly sees her as Lady Kuchiki, then Haruki will benefit from that, and it is the most important, since he is not a clan heir.

"Are you feeling well, Hinata?"

She opens her eyes, realizing her head is resting on the tea table (very unladylike) and quickly stands up.

"Byakuya. I'm sorry, I was… I am just a bit tired."

He looks at the accounting books laid on the table, and realizes she's probably been overworking. It's in her nature, and he should have helped more.

"You are wasting your time and energy with this, when you could be back at work."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." He didn't mean to reprimand her, but seeing her like that makes him feel frustrated. "Sit down."

She's a bit confused, is he mad at her for this? Because he could be, as her boss, but he is also her husband and the reason she's in this situation in first place, it's unfair..

"Instead of reading all this, just tell me, what do you need to know?"

"Excuse me?"

"I know everything better than whatever these books can tell you, so just ask me. I'll help you."

A small appears in her face.

"Thank you."

He sighs.

"But I rather not have you doing all of this. You know it's not necessary." He says, not for the first time in the last days. Hinata should not be doing all this, but it is also his fault since he knew she'd try to do everything, and still asked her to carry the burden of being the Lady Kuchiki. "Hinata, you knowing the household isn't as important as having you as my Lieutenant. I am grateful for everything you are doing, but I would like things between us to stay as before, my trusted partner."

This time her smile becomes bigger. If he knew how to flatter at all, it would be better to say that he needed her by his side. But Byakuya is not that kind of romantic person, or at least he will never be to her.

...

Sakura wonders how Hinata is doing. It's only been a few days but she's already missing her friend. Before entering the Kuchiki household, she and Neji would be home at this time to play with Haruki and eat together, but suddenly their five person family changed. She sighs.

At this, she feels the cool reiatsu of the Toshiro approaching, and her mood brightens up a little as she tidies up her desk, the work day is already over after all.

The 10th Division Captain enters to find her almost in the door too, with a smile in her face.

"Taichou."

Usually, he always surprises her working but unexpectedly this time she seems very happy to see him, even greeting him as soon as he enters the office. Then he remembers that earlier she was walking around with Uchiha, and his mood turns sour. Is she actually happy because of that?

"How are you doing, Haruno?"

"I'm fine, I just finished writing my reports. Do you want to go for dinner?"

"Okay."

Sakura is used to the seriousness and formality that Toshiro usually projects, but there's something off with him today. There's no even one of his usually witty remarks, nor the small ghost of a smile that's always under the surface.

"Did something happen today? You seem to be in a bad mood."

"It's nothing."

They just quietly walk to the restaurant, but she still thinks that there's something wrong. Perhaps just becomes she is used to the captain to be a bit more talkative and friendly when it's her, so why is he so cold now?

"I miss Hinata and Haruki already. This week I didn't have time to visit them, and I think she's very busy too."

"..."

"Did Matsumoto give you any trouble today?"

"Just as she always does."

If he was going to be like this, why does he come to see her at all? Sakura wants to say that, but instead bites her tongue. Well, if he wants a monologue she can continue chatting.

"Today I had an unexpected patient." She says "Sasuke's older brother. It's quite sad, he doesn't remember anything, not even his brother probably. But it is also good, since he lived a very tragic life."

So she was treating a patient related to the Uchiha?

"That's why he was accompanying you back to the Seireitei?"

It's just the way he says it, the tone he uses, and something clicks in Sakura's mind. She smiles.

"You went to look for me in the Rukongai?" She asks "So why didn't you join us if you saw us leaving?"

He just looks away, and although in Sakura's mind he always appears more like an Ice Prince, in that moment he looks just very, very cute. She remembers Hinata's words when they talked about her marriage, and her friend had mentioned that Toshiro's behavior towards her was something different from friendship.

She had promised she would not be one to pursue others, but now… she really wants Toshiro to say it first. She would just help him a bit.

"Taichou..."

"..."

"Taichou..."

"..."

"You were jealous, weren't you?"

They stop walking and stare for what feels like too long.

Here, he can just deny it and that will be it. After all, even if Sakura with all her fears and insecurities from the past wants him to reassure her that her feelings this time are fine, that it's not an unrequited fantasy, perhaps that would be asking too much from him.

"Yes, I was jealous. When I think your feelings belong to another, I feel uncomfortable. After all, you loved him, do you still feel that way?"

Her heart beats faster, and she shakes her head.

"That's something that stayed behind. Now I..."

"I like you, Haruno Sakura."

She smiles. All her anxiety and fears disappear like that, just hearing his words.

"I like you too, Hitsugaya Toshiro."

When they lips meet halfway in a still shy, but sweet kiss, Sakura discovers that liking someone actually doesn't bring any pain, just a heart-warming feeling that stays with her until later when she remembers their talk and their kiss, unable to sleep because of the happiness she's feeling.

...

"I knew he felt something for you. I'm very happy for you, Sakura."

Hinata saw this coming a long time ago, and she's delighted to know that her friend finally gets the chance for the love she deserves. Captain Hitsugaya is a reliable person, someone who will take care of her, when Sakura is too busy taking care of others.

"I really wanted to tell you yesterday, but you still didn't come. Is it that hard, being Lady Kuchiki?"

Hinata sighs.

"The Kuchiki Household is not really that different from the Hyuga Clan. There were many things I had to do because I need to make myself familiar with the people there, so it took some time."

"But you're already a Lieutenant here, surely you will not give it up now, right?"

"I'm doing it for Haruki. Even if he's been adopted by Byakuya, he will not be a Heir in the clan, I need to establish his position through mine."

Sakura wonders how it makes a difference, after all Captain Kuchiki's word surely is law, but then again she doesn't understand these ancient clan politics as Hinata and Neji do.

"Now he's Byakuya, eh?" She remarks, raising an eyebrow. This makes Hinata blush in return.

"Shhh."

Sakura knows what Hinata thinks, that she can live with her one-sided love, happy to give without receiving the same in return. Perhaps she once could do it, but it was that dense Naruto and circumstances were different, they lived at war. Surely Kuchiki Byakuya is smart enough to see his wife, really see her.

Just as they talk about him, the man comes to Hinata's office.

"I didn't know you had company."

Sakura stood up quickly.

"Kuchiki-taichou, I just came to say hello. Hinata is a sister to me, please take good care of her."

Hinata would like to disappear under the ground as her pink-haired friend abandons her after saying this, because now she feels weird being alone with her captain. Her husband.

"Do you need anything?"

He shakes his head.

"It's late, let's go home together."

A smile brightens up her face then.

"Ok. Let's go home."