This is it..!
Thank you very much for reading!
I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed writing it!
"Eternity"
Is a first deceiving word
We wish for the sakura in spring
To be eternal
But their cherry petals wither
And slip between our fingers
"Wishful"
Is a second
A small whimper cast through the door's frame. The air was thick, heavy with secrets, no longer secrets... Belonging to a foolish girl… The lord sneered; timing could not be grander. A quick swift revealed the very girl, turning on her heal immediately, and letting the white gauntlets with aspirations to be return simply fall before she fled. Flustered, hurt and disgraceful. Leading the shinigami into a chase along the lifeless garden. Her tiny feet with broken sandals carried her clumsily, vision elusive and absentminded. It was not a difficult task, Byakuya appearing before her within a single step… Grasping her, without question to answer, to explain or to flee from. Carrying her indoors and away from the pity of the snowy night, within the blink of an eye…
Hisana without delay stepped away, her heart rising into her throat. As Byakuya stood painfully still, his mind racing over each detail revealed to him about the girl that stood before him…
Moonlight alone filled the room, snow passing before the circular windows. Her sandals kicked off, in between another awkward step.
"I told you… I didn't deserve any of what I now have…"
Byakuya's expression was amiss, between hurt and disbelief… among, other emotions.
"Including how Kuchiki-sama has treated me, meanwhile I deceived him…"
He didn't like it when she used his title; it annoyed him as he grew to like the sound of his name being pronounced by only her lips. Silence murdered moments as they past; the shinigami became a part of the frozen ocean Hisana once described… For he is a part of Seireitei, becoming more and more distant, as she was torn apart by waves.
"It is perhaps unfortunate…" Hisana's eyes lowered in shame, tears catching at its corners… "Hurt, swindle and disgust are emotions easy to read…"
"I'm not disgusted..." He stated in turn, although his tone failed to be truly convincing…
Hisana did not raise her eyes, keeping her head lowered like the lowly being she recalled she was should… No girl from the low likes of tattered tatami mats, sandal less feet and thin wheat broth should have even dared to meddle with ranks of nobility...
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" Warm tendrils finally broke from Hisana's eyes "I had no right; I knew I had no right…"
Within the dimming darkness, his arms reached with yen towards her trembling frame. Hisana stepped back from his grasp, bringing her hands to her center, folding into herself between faint snivels and sobs… Muttering softly, small whips of hair dangling as she shook her head gently…
"You can't… You can't." Pressed against the wall, step after step as Byakuya pursued. Finally catching her, Hisana guilty submitted as she always did… Falling to pieces within his arms.
"Lie to me, it makes no difference… If gold filled your pockets, if silver decorated your hair, it would not matter… Lie to me, if that's what it takes for you to stay…"
Nearly collapsed upon her, the lieutenant embraced the girl against him, tightly as if he feared she might flee…
"I would be happily lied to…"
Her fingertips clenched at the black fabric, her whimpers continuing simply within the silence…
"It… It isn't that easy." Hisana choked softly, Byakuya's expression saddening…
"Winter will soon end…"
Byakuya understood, already hearing each tale of the girl formerly from the lowest of places, as they still buzzed through his mind... She would not allow herself to stay until the wake of spring, already holding herself selfish for her choices… He understood, and perhaps found himself equally selfish. Because she had become the only thing he wanted for himself…
"Stay with me…"
It had become the only thing he could speak. Pleading and wishing, holding her against him as if he would have to give her up in the preceding moments. Clinging to any last moments he could desperately gather…
-
As the morning broke, Byakuya found himself alone. Cursing under his breath, he scattered quickly towards the door. Recurring laughter followed him as his hand reached for the handle. With very little patience, a deep frown already proclaimed his mood.
"I cannot remove you from the Kuchiki family, but…" Byakuya arranged the silverykenseikan a top his head "The next time Hisana enters this house, you are barred from it/"
A particular smirk crossed his lips, mocking the former lord's fading grin. Byakuya left with a swift movement, picking up his forgotten gauntlets and leaving the elderly man stunned and seething. With no option of argue, the young shinigami already placed at the head of the household…
-
Her sandals tapped against the frozen cobblestone, slowly and endlessly, step after step. Torii gates towered over her, rows of red divided the sky. Absentmindedly, hoping to clear her mind…
Tap, Tap, Tap…
The fourth step did not ensue. Pause at the brink of the shine, catching black fabric and eyes grey like the sky. He panted softly, trying to catch his composure.
"I was looking… for you." Stated Byakuya, dumbly…
Hisana only nodded, looking away as Byakuya approached.
"Your eyes carry sadness…"
Hisana, peeking up at his, coyly …
"We must share the same eyes…"
Winter had not yet faded away, subtle winds carrying powdered snow on its tail. The pine trees surrounding the shrine brought color, reflecting deep green into their surroundings. Whistling along with the breeze…Carrying a winter song.
"Listen… Once winter weakens, I will not stand in your way. Although…"
It could have been perhaps the first time Hisana had ever seen Byakuya lost for words. With a pensive expression, he thought carefully, he features becoming even seemingly younger…
"If the warmth of spring convinces you other wise, cherry trees blossom near my door. I would be happy to have you stay… With me."
Hisana smiled timidly. A few stray tears gathering, dismissing them with a soft giggle, she leaned her head against Byakuya's chest. His hands resting meekly along her back, a smile pulling at his lips.
The gentle taste of snow flakes did not fade from the morning air, lucid light fluttering softly. Grey clouds lined upon silver, wilting stars hidden in between. A life of luxury was not one she deserved; she was no queen, no empress… Her promises still dangled like strings, broken and hollow but soft whispers in her ear subdued the aching cold. Straw hats and tattered hakama would never be returned; the smell of frost and tobacco flower no longer lingered, replaced by sandalwood and dried cheery blossoms. Sweetly, like the smile she continually wore, like girlish charms, hair pins and new sandals she had wished for at new years.
And of course, granted the most sweetly foolish wish of all…
The sound of pinwheels and evening rain, the taste of tea and sweets, details painted with simplistic charm. Warmth of paper lanterns, the luck of omamori, never faded like the blackening sky. At the shadow of torii gates, at the taste of seven-herb soup, at the feathers of futon covers, at the sound of shrine bells, at the blossoming of tsubaki, it had become easy.
To keep kisses just as sweet,
Like winter's first, and final snow.
Tsubaki: "Japanese for camellia, a flower."