Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

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A/N:Please excuse any mistakes, English isn'tmy first language. In the point of this story, Haha means mother, this is when you are addressing your own mother, Okaasan is when addressing some else's mother.

Castigation

I

Written by Dragenruler

It was a gloomy night; the clouds surged against the picturesque nightfall. The dark crimson, aurulent-colours embellished the sky into perfection, gleaming with the light cerulean of daylight. The daylight would soon fade further into the nightlight, with only the glittering stars and the tainted moon bearing as an only witness.

The voices of the day soon became hushed, and then fell silent. It was eerily quiet, and a lonesome house stood with a high wooden fence that curled in spikes at the very top. The landscape was hidden by flowery bushes that held various clusters of Snow Willows, Amaryllis, Azalea, Blue Bells, Roses and Tulips. An isolated Cherry Blossom tree stood covered from sight, slightly arching towards the back of the house, its bark twisting against each other as it dived into different branches. The roseate blossoms fluttered with the breeze.

A cold crystal path led with a spiral curve towards the traditional house, shielding it from prying eyes. The house had a thatched, slanted and slightly curved roof. Dark tawny timber forming the walls in blocks that framed the thin paper (white as snow in colour) that made the house look more like a classic Japanese Manor. A shoji-door sat on top of a few stairs, leading towards the genkan.

The house looked almost like a mansion; with a wide spread terrace and a high-levelled house. It only had a one-levelled floor, covered in the finest wood of Japan. The house stretched over the landscape, the back of the house held the famous garden known by a powerful name. An ample koi pond rested between the various bushes, flowers and Sakura trees. The pond held a small bridge of cherry wood, its railings twisting and curling upwards only to be bounded by cherry wood that ran along the top of the railings.

A small light could be seen from the closed shoji-door, as if the vivid light was waiting for someone to come home. The shadow of a petite figure could be seen walking pass the paper, the light illuminating the faint darkness that went further out of the genkan into a gloomy room.

A feeble woman stood before a little girl who was clutching onto a baby's chubby hands. The baby murmured a few foreign sounds, before it started to hiccup. The little girl slowly let her sister hands go, before clutching on her dark hair trying to get the annoying ribbon out of her dark locks; a small pout framed her face as she tugged on her hair.

"Keiko, please don't tug at your hair." The small woman smiled at her eldest daughter, picking the small infant up from the crib. The little girl, Keiko, instantly started crying when she saw her mother holding her sister.

The fragile looking woman smiled sadly when she saw her daughter crying. Her soft features contracted into a small frown as the small infant in her hands started to cry along with her sister. She lulled the small baby as she tried to shush her youngest daughter to sleep.

"Kieko, Haha is trying to calm Hisa." Her voice was soft, almost as fragile as her visage. She closed her eyes as Keiko only cried harder, trying to soothe Hisa by caressing her head. The small string of hair that fell over her face, separating at her thin nose fraying at the end, fell onto her eldest daughters face as she kissed her forehead.

"Keiko, hush now for Haha." She pulled her face away from her crying daughter, her attempt of soothing the older girl failed, making the girl cry harder. She started panicking when her daughter started to throw hers arms around screaming for her imouto.

The young girl's azure-coloured eyes paused on a figure that stood behind her mother before she started to whimper again. Her cries along with her younger sisters drifted throughout the room making their mother sigh as she tried to soothe her children's cries again.

"Hisana-koibito." The petite woman quickly turned towards the familiar voice, smiling softly as she looked at her husband. The man's gaze turned towards his eldest daughter, a small smile adorning his face as he saw her watering face.

His soft footfalls filled the room, walking gracefully over to his daughter knowing that once she was in her father's arms she'd be calm. He picked his daughter up, holding her crying face against his chest, not caring if his elegant suit would be ruined.

Hisana bowed respectfully at her husband, still clutching onto their now cooing baby. "Byakuya-sama, I apologize for the noise." Her soft voice drifted throughout the now silent room. She slowly lifted herself up again; kissing her younger daughters head as she glanced at her husband's calmed face.

He only clutched his daughter closer towards his warm body, striding towards his wife. His long arm curled around her small waist, kissing her forehead affectionately and murmuring against her ear. "No need to apologize for something you could not control, it was a refreshing scene."

He swiftly left his wife's side, trying to stop his daughter from tugging at his hair who was trying to reach his kenseikan that sat on the back of his head. He shifted is head slightly, making it her only option to play with his dark tresses. His kenseikan was one of his pride possessions, showing his nobility and his family's strength through wearing it.

His scarf was made from the silver-white, windflower light silk was also within the family's honour. It has been handed down from generation to generation and is given to each head of the Kuchiki family. He knew that one day he'd have to pass it down to his children, but being at such a young age and not knowing values in family heirlooms, he would wait for them to get older.

"Keiko, behave." He said sternly as she tugged on his kenseikan. Keiko paused in her place, carefully looking at her father and seeing his strict facial expression made her move cautiously back into his arms.

He glanced back at his wife, feeling her beautiful amethyst eyes fixed on him, smiling as he ran his hand through her hair. "I will get Keiko ready for dinner; you can take care of Hisa." He swiftly bended towards his wife, pecking her softly on her lips before making his way towards Keiko's room.

Hisana smiled gracefully at her daughter, taking her towards the changing table that her husband brought back from England on a business trip last year. It had three shelves with loads of storage trays underneath for towels and nappies. On the top was a comfy padded changing mattress with a blossom pattern. On the second tray it had a bath with a practical drainage tube.

She hastily placed the small infant on the comfy mattress while grabbing for a new diaper and a simple dress to place on her little daughter. She placed the items next to her wiggling child who was cooing while sucking at her thumb.

Hisana giggled at her daughters antics. She quickly pulled her sleeping clothes from her frail body, laughing as Hisa started giggling as her mother trailed her fingers over her skin, trying to spread the baby powder over her small body.

"Only three months old and my Hisa is already laughing." Hisana said, before she kissed Hisa on her lips, the baby softly gurgled as her mother's lips touched hers making Hisana smile softly as she pulled away. "We should get you dressed." She murmured, letting her tiny daughter grip onto her fingers.

She struggled to get Hisa dressed, with her little girl swinging her arms and feet around trying to kick her mother hands away. She desperately wanted her mother to stop tickling her with the new piece of clothing that she did not like.

When Hisana finally got her dressed, she quickly picked her up letting her daughter play with the small black locks that drooped behind her neck. She pulled a small pink blanket with Hisa's name embed at the bottom of the blanket, swiftly covering the small infant with the blanket not wanting her to catch a cold.

Hisana turned towards the shijo-door; surprised to see her husband standing there silently holding onto Keiko's little hand, a small smile on his face. Keiko's other hand reached out towards her mother, slowly urging the older woman to walk towards her family.

Nightfall was already upon them, the harsh winds whistling as it weaved against the trees. The weather was deathly bitter and the only heat that the young woman had was the wrapped arms around her, shielding the icy sting of the air from embracing her short and petite body. Her short hair drooped loosely around her neck, a short bob-type of style that made her violet-coloured eyes more striking.

The robust arms around her tiny body grew tighter and she knew that he was reassuring her but still being careful enough not to hurt her abdomen. It had been growing bigger by the weeks, it was apparently not normal at three months but she was so small compared to other woman.

He knew that she was not weak or fragile, that she would not break easily. Her past was rough on her, making her hide her true feelings from the people closest to her. She has been through a lot and it showed, her features were hard almost just like her attitude, but he'd never say such a thing to her.

"Chibi Usagi, why don't we go in?" He murmured seductively in her ear, making her shiver from his body heat. She laid her head sluggishly against his chest, her head placed neatly underneath his heart as she stared at the glimmering stars.

She shook her head against him, burying her face against his chest as she lifted her feet from the ground, standing on her toes as she tried to place her arms around his neck. Her head was barely reaching his heart, trying to hear his slow heartbeat needing it to soothe her like always.

"Still a midget?" He laughed, picking her up that she could be within eye-level. She scowled, her eyes glared dangerously as he held his grin, his grip on her tightening. She hastily lifted her arm, punching him on the side of his face. His arms loosened around her giving her the option to jump away from him before kicking him against his shin.

She folded her arms against her chest as he cradled his new injuries. "Damare! A strawberry should not talk." Her glare only deepened when he glanced down at her, his robust body drooping over her. She did not falter when he approached.

He glared at her, he was already use to her hitting him but at a peaceful moment like that was not necessary. "Baka Ie, I can talk when I want to!" He pulled her into his arms, her back facing him and lulled her stomach and whispered. "Besides, why should I talk when I can kiss you?"

The woman shrieked when she felt him kissing her ears and moving towards her cheek, trying to calm her. He could feel her body was tense, she's been tense for a few hours now and he was wondering what would be able to bother her this much. Whatever was bothering her must've been bad.

"Rukia, what's the matter?" He whispered against her skin, slowly rubbing soothing twirls around her stomach. He needed her to relax; the tension could be really bad for her and the baby especially in the first trimester. "You need to relax if not for yourself then for the baby."

Rukia smiled softly, her hands slowly moving to cover his soothing twirls. "I know Ichigo. I just have this feeling." She turned around in his arms and lifted her head up as she tried to look him in his eyes. He was too tall, she wasn't a midget he was the abnormal one.

"What feeling?" He pecked her cheek, trying to get her to open up to him. They've been together for so long and she still couldn't open herself up to him freely. He always had to soothe her into giving him hints or force it out of her, but it was rare that he'd have to force it out of her.

"A feeling of something big…" She compelled herself to say what was bothering her. "That something big is going to happen to me." Rukia breathed in, trying to push that feeling away. It was not an awful feeling, but uncomfortable.

"Don't worry, l will protect you. Aishiteru." His words were soothing and calm. She knew that he was trying to help with his words, because he never worded affection and only showed it. She smiled sadly, knowing how much she meant to him.

She kissed him softly. "Thank you."

It was late in the night; the eerie silence enveloped the Manor. The starlight gleamed through the shoji-windows of the bedroom; a faint light glowed throughout the room. A petite woman laid on top of the bed, the silky black and white sheets embraced her small body. She supported her head with her hand as she cradled the small infant in-front of her.

She wrapped the pink blanket around the baby's small body tighter. Smiling at the young girl whose violet-coloured eyes where wide opened as she suckled onto her mother's breast, the sounds of her swallowing echoing throughout the room. Hisa slowly curled her fingers against her mother's chest, clutching on the soft shirt.

Her eyes sluggishly drooped, only to open up again as she cooed against her mother's breast, still trying to find the nourishment that she desperately needed. Hisana slowly caressed her daughter's ebony-coloured locks, her hands slowly swirling circles against the small infants head.

Her mind slowly drifted away from her little baby, fading further into the past as she frowned softly. Her thoughts raced through everything that has happened to her, the birth of both her daughters, her elegant wedding and the Kuchiki elders that shunned their relationship.

As her thoughts drifted further into her past, her face contracted into agony as she was reminded of her harsh and poor life before meeting Byakuya-sama, the dead of her parents and how she had to struggle to be able to live each day.

A tear fell down her face as she was reminded of a specific memory. One memory that has haunted her for years, it is the reason for her nightmares and the reason why she loathes herself. She was not worthy enough to have such a life with someone as Byakuya-sama. She was a terrible person and when she had time to think about her life, it only showed what a horrendous act she did.

Her baby sister was a young infant then, not older than her little Hisa, who she had abandoned in the middle of the road. A small baby who she had deserted to fend for herself, such a disgraceful act she had done. She was a horrible person for doing something like that.

She should've been stronger; she was unworthy to be called upon the name of sister. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done and regretted it deeply, and as soon as she left Rukia to care for herself the guilt had settled in. She ran hastily back towards her sister, hoping that nothing had happened to her baby sister for the few moments that she was alone but when Hisana stumbled upon the road, Rukia was nowhere to be seen.

After her parent's death, she ran away from the social services not wanting to leave her sister alone and without her, yet she was the one that separated them. From the moment she abandoned her sister, came the urge to find her and to hold her again.

She wanted to apologize and scream, and prayed that Rukia would not hate her if she ever found her again. Rukia has no reason to accept such an awful sister, knowing that if she tried a little harder when she was with her sister, she would not have deserted her. If she only tried a little harder than maybe her sister would not hate her.

Inuzuri was one of the most repulsive and gruesome places in Japan. The terror that she saw on those streets plagued her memories. At that time in her life, she thought she had no choice but to leave her sister because they could not survive if they were to stay together. She was a horrible sister to desert her sister in such a place, a place where they'd rather kill a small infant to stop its cries than to help it.

She had a doleful look on her face, as tears silently rolled down her face and dropped on her shirt. Her heart felt broken when her sisters came to her thoughts, knowing that what she did made her unworthy to be called human.

The sorrow spread throughout her whole body, making her whole body quiver with sadness. She was a bad person, leaving Rukia to defend herself when she was so young, depending on Byakuya-sama to help find Rukia and not being able to love him as much as he loves her. She really cared deeply for her husband, but with Rukia missing in her life she could not commit herself to him properly, not in the way he deserved.

She knew from their friendship that he'd be there for her and when he promised that he'd go looking for her sister, she knew then that he'd never leave her. He always acted in an aristocratic manner, seeming serene and empathetic when he is deeply conflicted. It was like when they met, he had no reason to want to help her or marry her, when he was conflicted about obeying the rules of his family.

He was a man who believed in law and order, to follow the rules and those who did not obey those set of rules, should be punished even if it was against his wishes. He was a noble man, his family the most powerful clan in Japan, and he believed if he did not follow the rules than no one else would follow, for if a noble man can not obey orders then who can?

He was an icy man with a royal manner, but he broke every rule he believed in for her. He disobeyed the Kuchiki laws and forgot about his nobility for her, all the things his personality went against. He betrayed everything he believed in just to be able to be with her, and she could not give him the love that he was bestowing upon her.

He, as well as Rukia, deserved much more than what she could ever give. She left her sister alone to die and can't even love a man because of her guilt for abandoning her sister. She tried to handle everything, the guilt and the resentment, but she was not strong enough.

It's been twenty years since she left her sister to her own demise and something inside of her told her that she'd never find her little sister. Years of searching had been hard on her, and that flicker of hope never seemed to end yet her mind knows the truth that her heart and guilt couldn't admit.

Hisana was very tired, her body felt heavy and her chest tightened in spasms. Her cheeks felt wet and she couldn't control her tears anymore, everything just seemed to crash around her. It hurt, it hurt so much and she tried to force herself to stop the tears that seemed endless. She wanted to stop, for herself and for her little baby who was still suckling on her breast.

She slowly breathed in, trying to stop her sobs. These emotions were not needed, not at such a moment when her husband could walk in any time and her baby who was probably wet with the tears of her mother.

The soft sounds of footfalls hastily filled the atmosphere. The shoji-door sliding open in such a fast manner that Hisana had no time to try and compose herself for her husband. She tried to keep her guilt underneath the surface, knowing that her children were more important than her guilt and finding her sister, who might be dead.

A sob escaped her again, cutting off her breath as she felt a hefty hand on her shoulder and she could barely hear her name being called over the sounds of her wailing. She tried to wipe away the tears, but there only came more. She slowly shifted towards the hand, her small breast jerked away from the now sleeping infant.

"Byakuya-sama…" She whimpered out as he pulled himself against her body, lulling her softly as she sprawled over his chest. Her tears wetting his neck as he caressed her head softly, trying to get her under control.

Byakuya could feel himself become more watery as her sobs grew heavier. He could feel his chest getting sticky and he knew she'd be ashamed of it when she found out, but it did not matter, her crying was what worried him. He hated it when he found her crying, everything would work out and that her tears were unnecessary.

He looked over at Hisa, content that she was sleeping silently. "Hisana, what is the matter?" He whispered in her hair, hoping that she'd be able to hear him through her crying. He pulled her closer, tightening his grip around her. "Hisana-koibito."

Her small hands clutched onto his suit firmly, nodding her head against his neck as he slowly lifted her head up towards him. Her tears were dried but her eyes were watery, looking like glass amethyst orbs. A few more tears rolled down her face, but he quickly wiped them away before they could pass her rosy cheeks.

Her petite frame shook violently as she laid her head back against his neck, she could finally compose herself. She wanted to be at peace with her husband, making her forget everything. His aroma enchanted her emotions, making her feel as if she was in utopia.

He nudged her face towards his side, forcing her to look at him. His grey-coloured eyes searched her beautiful orbs, trying to find her pain. Lost in his gaze she subconsciously placed her hand on top of the wet spot of his shirt.

Her eyes widen as she felt the slippery fabric against her fingers, she swiftly sat up clutching her arm tightly against her open breast, feeling the wetness flowing out of her breast. She shyly looked down, a small blush gracing her face and neck. "Byakuya-sama, I…" She stammered out an apology.

She stood up slowly, still clutching onto her breast trying to search for the bathroom door where her nursing bras and pads were placed. Her soft footfalls could be heard trying to leave the room before she embarrassed herself further but before she could reach the shoji-door leading towards the bathroom something stopped her in mid-step.

Her head sunk down further, hiding the redness that embraced her whole face as she turned towards her husband, a small frown adorned her face as he pulled her towards him. A small smile was enriching his face as he cradled her head, chuckling softly. "It's natural, only breast milk, you need to feed Hisa some way."

She shook her head against his chest, the small of her palms pushing against him trying to escape his grasp. He was too robust and she too fragile, he could easily overthrow her. His hands were big and before she could protest and they quickly enveloped her shaking form. Small kisses were placed over her head.

Hisana closed her eyes and snaked her arms around her husband, pulling him closer towards her. She wanted him to feel her affection, she may not have been able to love him properly but she cared for him. He was her best friend, the only one she could lean on and know he would not allow her to fall into her guilt.

Her body began to quiver again at the thought that he'd leave her alone, that she'd be alone again drowning herself in the resentment she had for herself. She composed herself by taking in big gulps of air, needing herself to relax.

She felt his head turn and she quickly pulled away from his warmth. A soft smile adorned her face when she saw her husband smiling at their daughter who was cooing in her sleep. She let her hands fall at her sides, exposing her small breast. Her small hands caressed her husband's arm as she closed her eyes contently.

She was lost in her thoughts that she almost did not hear her husband's profound and alluring voice, calling towards her. "I'll put Hisa to bed, you get ready for bed." He glanced at her, bending down to peck her on her plum lips before striding over towards their daughter and picked her up in his arms smoothly.

He left the room, heading towards the shoji-door next to their room. His daughter strong grip fixed onto the wet soft of his suit, trying to pull the warmth of her father closer. He grinned as his dark tresses tickled her face, making her pull her face before she kicked out her legs.

When he faced the shoji-door, he swiftly opened it. The darkness embraced him as he walked towards the crib, hoping that Hisa would have a quiet night and sleep soundly. He carefully placed Hisa onto the small mattress of the crib, placing the pink blanket over the infant not wanting to icy air to wake her.

He slowly caressed her head; a soft good-night escaped him as he turned the baby monitor on. He kissed his daughters forehead before turning towards the shoji-door, leaving a small gap open for the infant.

When he entered his bedroom, he scanned around for his wife but she was nowhere to be found in the room. He saw a lone shadow through the shoji-door that led towards their bathroom. His footfalls echoed throughout the room, reaching towards his wife whose figure was drooping above an object and her harsh coughs screamed at him to hurry.

He hastily slid the door open and his eyes widened. Her petite body trembled as she drooped over the sink, trying to cover up her sharp coughs; her palm was tainted with specks of blood. A few tears rolled down her face as her chest heaved with exert.

His hands pushed her against his chest, patting her small back trying to relieve the pain that was racking though her body. "Hisana, what is wrong?" His beautiful voice seemed pained as her coughing become uneven and sharper. "Take deep breaths."

She did what she was told, taking in big gasps of breath trying to stop the coughing that tormented her recently. The coughing had started a few weeks back and she did not want to worry her husband by telling him unimportant things. She knew she had to tell him someday, but he was already under so much pressure.

Her small hands clawed onto the sink as panic sunk in and her body trembled become worse. She could not breathe but her coughing has begun to stop, her eyes widened as she tried to take in air but only a hoarse sound of choking escaped her throat. She felt the patting on her back getting harder and someone whispering at her to breathe.

She could feel the pain retracting, it's sting on her lungs becoming faint and almost if it was not there but she knew it would come again. Her lungs filled with air again, a hushed cough escaped throughout the air.

She felt rough hands cover hers, and it tugged her quivering hands towards his face. His grey-coloured eyes scanning the blood as a small frown adorned his face, he glanced back at his wife silently pleading to tell him what was going on. What was happening to her and why would she keep it from him.

"Byakuya-sama…" Her soft voice halted as she tried to look away from him, to hide her shame of being caught at something she'd been hiding from him. She stared at her bloody hands still shaking before meeting his enchanting eyes, her eyes glowed with fear.

"I do not know, Byakuya-sama." Her voice shook as she said those words; she did not know what was happening. Maybe it was her punishment for leaving Rukia in such a horrendous place and not being able to love her husband as much as he loves her.

But she knew that it was her cross to bear, her punishment alone.

Aurulent – Yellow.

Chibi Usagi – Little Rabbit.

Damare – Shut up.

Baka Ie - Nonsense

Shoji - A door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which hold it together.

Genkan – An entryway where arriving people remove their shoes with the gen box where they place their shoes in. Slippers to wear in your house are also placed there.

Keiko – Adored one or Blessed Child.

Hisa – Long lasting or Enduring or Sustaining.

Haha – Mother.

Koibito – Sweetheart.

Imouto – Younger sister.

I did my research, and if you do not think my Japanese words aren't right I'll direct you to the most reliable site I've ever gotten about Japanese people, culture and their language. I'd be happy to give you the link and discuss about it.

This is a seven-chapter story; it might be six depends on how the second one goes? I've never liked how people who wrote stories about having babies on here and never making breastfeeding seem real, especially that is just stops when she finished breast feeding which is very untrue. I hope this one is a little more realistic.

R&R

Dragenruler

Happy New Year!