Love is Long and Lost [Byakuya, Hisana]

Word travelled quickly around these parts. It was inevitable really that such rumours came to the ears of the Kuchiki and left its current head of many centuries ruminating, Hisana Kuchiki. So much to think about, after four-hundred years or so she resurfaces and to nothing good. The clan elders who had disapproved of the marriage and adoption of Rukia to fulfill that promise.

A scar on the man who was defined by upholding the pride of the Kuchiki and the laws of Soul Society. After listening to what felt like hours of debate, which he contributed nothing into it besides his ears committed to hearing every bit of the insight of them. Byakuya finally stirred, leaving to go and see the merit of these murmurs.

To go see a ghost of a past long gone.

He had already had to steel his mind and more importantly his heart on the way here, every step like another layer of reinforcement to his principles. On one hand could he forsake his deceased wife but could he once again break the rules that he upheld so heavily? To bring another scar onto his - and by proxy, his family's - pride.

By the time he saw her, it was almost enough to crack his stoic expression and damage his icy image if he had not the gall to uphold that same demeanour as he sentenced Rukia to death all those centuries ago. For a long moment he just regarded her, looking at her and taking in the details. Comparing them to the memories which were still crystal clear in his mind of their time together.

Yet they were that, memories. So was she.

"What name do you go by?"

She was no longer a plus, she was an arrancar and he was not a fool to let his heart lead him. It would be foolish of him to not remember that Espada.

He let out an heavy exhale at seeing the visage fade away and her true form. Could he call it disgusting? Is that appropriate to describe something that harmed his pride, the memory of his deceased wife so much? To see it distorted and given that shape and yet it was so earnest. He felt as though he were walking a tightrope only matched in peril by the time he had to decide upon Rukia's fate on execution.

"Even if you possess her memories, can you really be called Hisana?"

Byakuya let out another sigh as he asked it, poising a question which was admittedly more philosophical than he'd have liked in this situation. To question whether something that was in likeness to the original could be called the original itself? Ah, folly.

And yet he could not be sure this was not some ploy, some attempt at deceit by an Arrancar. Though, as he recalled from Rukia's report all that time ago. The Noveno Espada's ability was dissipated under the light, though that begged the question of how. Kaien's death made it clear as to how he ended up as a part of the Espada. Hisana had died naturally, of illness maybe but naturally nonetheless.

There was no intervention of a hollow. It didn't make sense and underneath his composed shell, it bewildered him.

This was a solemn thing, he had to close his eyes to think. The sight was just far to difficult to watch while he planned the best course of action. No, that was incorrect. There was no best or appropriate course of action here, the waters he floated in were muddy and tainted. He knew there was no way to escape this situation with his pride intact, for this woman was not his wife who had he painfully said goodbye to but she was the memory of the woman. On the other hand, his pride would be scarred as the 28th Head of the Kuchiki yet again if he acted rashly in this situation. The memory of his wife or the name of the Kuchiki.

There was no course of action where he left without destroying the tenets that he upheld with his very heart and soul. No course where he left without a burdened conscious.

"What is it that you want?"

Now that they had concluded, she was not Hisana. He could realistically have cut ties with her there. No, he should've ended this hear and left. There was no obligation to a hollow that wore her face, her very identity like this. Were he a stronger man he ought to have put her to death here, put her memory to rest now like it had been four-hundred years.

Ah but that was impossible wasn't it? Rukia would never forgive him, Hisana would never forgive him. Distant as their relationship had become, Byakuya could not condemn this weak and scared soul to death for the sake of his pride. He could only discern what it's purpose was for being here now, now that they had decided that she was not Hisana Kuchiki.

He understood, at least he assumed he understood the best that he could of this situation. She was clinging to what she had, all that she knew to accept the identity rather than attempt to run from it after it was challenged. Byakuya did not know what to think of that, and for the sake of himself he dared not to trespass into thinking too much on it.

"If that is what you wish then you are free to go, however..."

He paused while having to articulate this, the decision was set in stone before he came here by the family elders. He was merely the emissary and while he could go against them. He could not bring himself to throw away all that he was yet again. He was the Head of the Kuchiki and even though he was no longer a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen, Byakuya still upheld the laws of Soul Society as the paragon of justice he aspired to be.

If the nobles could not uphold the law, why would anyone else? It was the same principle he held in this moment. Were he to once again disobey, to make waves in the family as its Head then he was not the man that swore on his father's grave to uphold never break the rules after both times were because of this woman, everything that she represented. He could not do it a third time.

"You are not Hisana Kuchiki in the eyes of the Kuchiki Family and they are disinclined to recognise you as such, a hollow that flaunts a noblewoman's face and name. You have no place there, however... I was a Captain of the Gotei Thirteen and while I no longer bare that mantle I will respect the Captain Commander's authority on any matter pertaining to you, find your place with Rukia and be satisfied."

There was the subtle hint, the inkling of a recommendation to acquire the Captain Commander's sanctuary where his family could not reach her. He watched her die, he would rather not be her executioner this time around. Rukia was far enough from the family now, distant enough that they would cast a blind eye to her ongoings. Her romance with this Shiro had only further pushed her away out of their graces, for the best probably.

"That is all that I have to offer you."