Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters. I am merely playing with them for the enjoyment of myself and other fans. The only characters I own are the original ones I have created to interact in this world.

Author's Note: This is the Fourth story in a series that starts with Sakura Dejavu then goes on to Another Door Opens and then Pathways. If you have not done so, I strongly suggest reading them in order so that you can follow the progression of the story. I hope everyone will enjoy this story. Please bear with me as I write it. Yes there will actually start to be real interaction between Erisia and Byakuya at long last but he has a very clear idea of how things will proceed if he is to allow it to happen at all, so please be patient with us is all I ask. For now, simply read and enjoy! Thank you.

Of all the squads, it was probably easiest to settle in at the 13th. The very nature of Captain Ukitake created a very friendly atmosphere. Rukia was present to welcome the new recruits - she was after all their Lieutenant. Due to her testing, Erisia was actually granted a seated position within the squad. It wasn't very high up, but it was still better than being an unseated member.

Currently, she was in the small butterfly garden tending to the hell butterflies. She had volunteered for the job and didn't mind doing it. She was in training daily and tried to keep up with the rest of the squad's duties to the best of her abilities. She also alternated between having lunch with her Captain and having lunch at the 6th. It was a little strange being invited to lunch with her Captain but his stories were always amusing and she didn't see a reason to not acquiesce to such a simple request.

She tried to hang out with her friends after the formal work day was over as often as possible. It wasn't always easy after all sometimes they all had other obligations. This was still war time after all and though they were not necessarily highly ranked within their squads every able bodied shinigami was going to be needed. Despite how busy thing seemed, it was nice to be back in Seireitei.

She was seated on a small bench in the small butterfly garden, surrounded by the flowers that had been planted here as well as many of the small black winged insects. She was in her own shihakusho now… and it fit her much better than Rukia's old borrowed ones had. Her hair was in a simple plait down her back, a few locks framing her face. It was peaceful here…

She took in the beauty as a few of the butterflies flitted around her. They relied mostly on reishi but they still seemed to enjoy flowers like their living world counterparts. She watered the flowers and tended to things as she'd been instructed and then simply sat there in the garden to enjoy the peace it had to offer. Sometimes one needed a small respite from the day.

Though she'd settled in well enough and things did not feel as difficult as they had while at the Academy, she could not deny how busy she was now. She was also thinking on how strange the interaction with Byakuya had been upon her returning to the Estate after graduating. Something had changed but she was not sure what it was or to what end. It was all so confusing…

But she remembered the way he had reached out a hand to tuck the errant locks of hair back behind her ear. The way he'd apologized and then withdrawn. Then there was the way he had said welcome home upon their return to the manor. It was all so strange and while part of her hoped that it might mean something, she wasn't sure she should hope. Surely she was imagining things or at the very least making more out of it than there truly was but she had no way of knowing and she didn't dare ask him. She really didn't feel that there was anyone she could talk to about this and that only made it harder still. She found herself wishing that her mother was there - at least then she could perhaps get the advice she needed.

Ukitake was a perceptive man. Time had tempered him into such for a myriad of reasons. Being sick with something even Unohana could not cure sometimes forced him to be more wary and thereby more aware. He had sensed a disquiet with the newest member of his squad though he knew not its source. At first he dismissed it as simply being the difference between being at the Academy and being a part of a working squad.

Yet it had been a few weeks now and she had taken to her duties very well. Still her disquiet remained. Checking the time, he realized that Erisia would be in the butterfly garden at this time and made his way there. He found her sitting on the bench, looking contemplative. "What is troubling you, Erisia-san?" He inquires as he makes his way over to join her.

"Oh… it is nothing Sir…just thinking." She says softly, offering a smile.

"I appreciate your attempt to placate me but I have sensed a disquiet nearly since you arrived at the Thirteenth… Please, what troubles you? I promise that what you say to me will be held in utmost confidence." He assures her.

She sighs… of course he would not simply just let things be - it was not his way. She respected Captain Ukitake a great deal and did not want to bother him with something that was likely quite trivial in nature. She felt silly and foolish despite the fact that Kumori said she was never foolish. "It is probably nothing more than a silly girl's misunderstanding." She begins quietly.

Color Ukitake curious now… "Well, I promise I will not think you silly and speaking about it with someone, even your Captain may help you work through it."

She nods… "It happened while journeying back to the Kuchiki Estate from the Academy. Byakuya was actually there. Usually there were servants or guards sent but he came… While we were being brought back to the Estate… He and I spoke some… and there was a point where though he said nothing… out of line, the small half smile he gave, I could not help the blush and I tried to hide it… He reached out and tucked the hair that fell across my face back behind my ear - it startled me. He withdrew his hand and apologized… The rest of the ride was nothing interesting. Then when we arrived back home, he helped me out of the vehicle and offered his arm to me and did not stop until we were actually within the house…. Then he said Welcome Home to me… I am probably being very silly and misreading these things but…" She trails off shaking her head. She was blushing again and she wished she could help it.

Ukitake was quiet as he listened to her regale him with what was troubling her. He could not help the smile that curled his lips as she tried to explain without giving too much of her own emotions away in the process. It was very clear however that Erisia had a crush at the very least on Byakuya. He took in the information he was given and could not help but think that the feeling may very well be mutual.

"I have known Byakuya for a very long time, Erisia. He was once a member of my squad and I once personally trained him. When he was younger, he was a very fiery young man. Time and the weight of his responsibilities have tempered that fire. The losses life has dealt him have cooled it further. You worry that you misinterpret his words and actions - am I correct?" Ukitake inquires.

"Yes, Sir."

"While I am not entirely certain what is meant by them myself, I can at least offer you this. If he did not feel something for you Erisia-san, he would not behave in this manner at all. You would see the same face he presents to everyone else. You would see the Captain and Noble and nothing beyond that. It will take time for this to develop if it is going to. Since Hisana's death, he has become far more withdrawn and far more reluctant to show any emotion. So I will ask you to be patient with him and to quiet your own worries and fears and lend him the quiet strength he may need in order to allow those old wounds to heal. Have patience if you are able and withhold judging him or yourself until more time has passed. You have been allowed behind the mask even if only briefly. Keep watch for those moments Erisia-san, for they will not come often but only those moments will be able to tell you what is truly on his mind." Ukitake explains.

Byakuya would probably be fairly upset with him if he could hear what was divulged, but Ukitake felt it was his duty to see to it that these two children found whatever was trying to develop between them. Since Erisia first arrived in Soul Society there had been a number of little things that had happened that Ukitake had been keeping track of. Little signs that pointed to Byakuya falling for the young woman. But he also knew that he could never say such things to his former student. He would have to instead trust Erisia to do what might be necessary if this small seed of feelings was to ever blossom into more.

Erisia took in her Captain's advice. She still felt silly for burdening him with this but he seemed to have some good advice in the matter regardless of how silly she felt she was being. "Do you really think he might have feelings for me beyond the connection that our circumstance of meeting obligated him to have?" She inquires, her voice timid and uncertain. She still believed that Byakuya felt perhaps a friendship with her but nothing more.

"I do believe so. You have not known him as long as I have. I was fortunate enough to watch him grow from a boy into a man and to watch that man become a respected Captain. He keeps everyone at arm's length. Few are ever allowed to see beyond the mask he wears. It is perhaps even more validation that despite having known each other for so short a time, you are already being allowed to see beyond it. I do not know when things might prove themselves more to you Erisia and I wish I could offer you more comfort than this… But life dealt him a few painful losses and because of having to take up the mantle of Head of the Kuchiki Clan and becoming a Captain, I do not believe he ever had the time to allow them to properly heal. It will be up to him to speak to those things with you but try to be patient with him, Erisia-san. Pushing him will only make him close off again. Just be there for him, let your presence be felt and be patient and I am almost certain that your patience will be rewarded." He says with a reassuring smile.

"I will try to be patient then Sir. I am sorry that I bothered you with such a silly thing…" Erisia says in a quiet, embarrassed tone.

Ukitake smiled and put a hand upon her shoulder. "Do not be sorry, Erisia-san. I am glad that you felt comfortable enough to speak with me. I know this can't have been easy for you. I do not believe that it is silly. I would very much like to see you and Byakuya both happy. And if listening to you now, and offering what small bit of advice I have may help to bring that about, I am more than happy to do so. I know that because I am your Captain you may feel it is awkward, but I want you to know that you can always come to me if something is troubling you. No matter how trivial you believe it to be. I want each member of my squad to feel comfortable in coming to me. Sometimes we need advice and do not know who else to turn to. But know this, no matter what you need to speak about, I will never turn you away - alright?" He asks, looking in to her eyes.

"Alright, Sir… and thank you." Erisia says with a smile.

"You are most welcome. Now come on, I believe I have some files that need returned to the tenth division if you do not mind the errand." He says as he rises.

"Of course I do not mind sir." She says with a chuckle as she too gets to her feet and follows her Captain back to the office.

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