You and I

In the darkness...lost of hope...awaiting the time of life's end...she sat alone. Eyes barely open...air barely entering her body...muscles unable to even twitch. A shadow comes before her and she knew, it was finally the end of her misery. The young girl, barely reached the age of 7, cries silently.

       "Byakuya-sama, it has been awhile since we went back to the Kuchiki Palace. I wonder how is the place now. The servants had better yet taken care of the palace properly." Hiroyuki Yohime said with a sweet yet loud voice.

       Hiroyuki Yohime is Byakuya's personal servant. They had already knew each other for more than hundreds of years. She is also known as his "adoptive sister and non-blood related beloved sister". He is her treasure, her absolute, her priority. Orders that come straight from his mouth are absolute and nothing can ever change how she feels; nothing is above him and nothing will. Her loyalty to him is absolute and everlasting. However, there is only one order that she will not take from him, that is to hurt him. Other than that...sacrificing her life or turning against others even those close to her heart just to protect him, is nothing to difficult for her to perform.

       Yohime is the newly appointed captain of the 9th Division after Kaname Tosen fled from Soul Society along with Aizen Sosuke., thus wearing a sleeveless haori over her regular shihakusho. In addition to her shinigami outfit, she also wears an oversleeve that cover her entire left hand and slightly pass her palm and a scarf that seem to be like Byakuya's ginpakukazahana no uzuginu. She also wears a pair of darkly tinted, rectangular frameless sunglasses. Instead of the usual sandals that goes with the shihakusho, Yohime wears a pair of 10cm tall black stiletto. Even then her stealth has proven her completely capable of balancing her body. Her left hand was never visible to anyone, except to Byakuya, leading them to think that she has no left arm. And it is more so to them as even Yohime moving vigorously, her left arm still doesn't seem to be visible, only leaving her sleeve to be hanging like as if her arm was hanging broken. 

       "There is nothing much to take care of, I'm sure they would've done their job to take care of the palace." Kuchiki Byakuya replied coolly. Listening to the tone of his voice, cool as always, Yohime smiles. "Yes, Byakuya-sama."

       They talked for a very long time as they take their time to walk home to the Kuchiki Palace. A small shadow emerges from an alley that they walked by. Yohime took a quick glance behind and yet there was nothing. She was very sure that there was something behind as there was a slight reiastu(spiritual pressure) that she sensed. "That person must be a fool to think that I can't sense him. No reiatsu can hide from me."

       "Yohime? What is the matter?" Byakuya asked Yohime a question which her answer was not heard. Byakuya turned to realise that Yohime wasn't actually listening.

       "Huh? Yes, Byakuya-sama. I'm listening," Yohime turned her attention back to Byakuya.

       "No, you were not listening. I asked you a question," Byakuya looked at Yohime with an eyebrow raised.

       "Ah..oh...I'm sorry," Yohime replied and laughed awkwardly. " So, what was is that you asked, Byakuya-sama?" Yohime added.

       "I......asked what's for dinner tonight," Byakuya looked at Yohime somehow or rather like a child hungry for good food. This is a side of Byakuya that no one else but Yohime will notice. Byakuya potrays this side of his character within his heart that's why no one sees it. Yohime laughed a little.

       "Well...what do you want to eat, Byakuya-sama?"

       "I want......" Byakuya paused. "??Byakuya-sama??"

       "...Bananas," Byakuya said to Yohime with a slight pleading tone in his voice.

       "Hah, okay okay. Bananas will be for dessert. I'll cook up something spicy. Specially for Byakuya-sama, okay?" Yohime smiled sweetly.

       "Mm," Byakuya replied as he returned to his cool self again, Yohime smiles.

The next morning...

       Yohime, as usual, wakes up insanely early in the morning. Even before the sun rises or anyone is awake, Yohime's room will be the first to be lighted up with a bright candle. She removes her night robe and wears on her shihakusho(garment for souls). Sitting infront of her dressing table, she slowly combs her waist long greenish-white hair with a wooden comb. She combs up her hair and bundles it up high into a ponytail. Taking up a silverish-white hairband, she rapped it around the base of her hair and tied it tight. From a beautifully crafted  box, Yohime brings out a single kenseikan with many black strings attached to it and a wide cureved clip. Looking to the inside of it was a clear craving with the words "Hiroyuki Yohime". Yohime smiles painfully and sorrowfully as if she saw a flashback of a horrible yet heart-touching sight but closes her eyes and slowly calmed herself. She clamps the kenseikan on the right side of her long flowing ponytailed hair and clamps the clip at the hairband. She looks into the mirror as she runs her fingers through her hair as she places them over her right shoulder. "Why?"

       She gets up from the small comfortable cushion that she had sat on at the dressing table and walks towards the large sliding plane of her room. She opens the sliding plane to allow the slow breezing wind to enter her room. She takes in a deep breathe to feel the chilly, refreshing breeze of the morning mist. She smiles, smiling in complete satisfaction while stretching both her hands high up in the air. "Good Morning!!! Another beautiful morning, another beautiful day. And it's time to prepare breakfast!"

       Yohime is a very wonderful cook. She can cook practically thousands of great dishes that which Byakuya enjoys eating. She shifts the pan and flips the food, looking completely like a professional master. She sccops the cooked food out of the pan and carefully pours them on a plate. She walks away to check on he rice that she cooked and see that it was good and so she closes the pot. Covering the food that she just cooked with a large wooden cover, Yohime smile with satisfaction. She goes on to takes out a clean teapot and pours some fresh tea leaves into it as she adds hot water and cover the teapot then placing tem on a tray accompanied by three tea cups.

       Yohime returns to her room and completes her shinigami outfit by wearing on her 9th Division haori, her white scarf and sunglasses. She walks back out from her room and slides the door shut. She looked at the rising sun from the eastern sky, admiring the beautiful sunlight, gazing at the gradually brightening blue skies above her head, watching the clouds floating so carefree, she smiles and says to herself, "Another clear-sky day."

       Yohime hums a soft tune as she waltz her way to the direction of another room. "Byakuya-sama. Are you ready? May I come in?"

       "Yes, please enter," a low, monotoned voice yet melodious as to what Yohime thinks, came from inside the room. Yohime carefully slides open the large rectangular plane and walks in silently.

       "Good morning, Byakuya-sama." Yohime smiles as she greets her master, Byakuya. "Breakfast is ready. Or would you like to have your hair done first?"

       "I'll have my hair done first," Byakuya replied as he sat down in front of the mirror on a soft, comfortable cushion.

       "Yes." Yohime nodded and walked towards Byakuya. She went and sat behind Byakuya, reaching for a fine and beautifully crafted box. Inside the box were hair accessories for men and a few wooden combs. She took the largest of the wooden comb and started to tenderly comb Byakuya's averagely long and black silky hair. She combed his hair, admiring its blackness and the good fragrance that emanates from his hair. As she combs his hair, she runs her fingers through the tips of his hair, smiling everytime she holds the tips of his hair with her fingers. "Doing this makes me know that Byakuya-sama is very much alive..." she thought to herself, smiling even more now.

       After combing his hair a few times, she begins to shape them and side-part them to the left side of Byakuya's face. She tucks the remaining hair on the right side of his head to the back of his ear. She starts styling his hair into the ways it always was in when he has the kenseikan on. Reaching for the pieces of kenseikan that was nicely arranged on the dressing table, Yohime clamps them neatly and carefully on Byakuya's hair. After doing the finishing touch to Byakuya's everyday hairstyle, she keeps all the equipment back nicely and places her hand on Byakuya's shoulder and smiles sweetly. "Okay, we're done, Byakuya-sama!"

       "Mm...Thank you, Yohime." Byakuya looks at Yohime from the mirror and gave a slight smile. "Most honoured, Byakuya-sama!"

       "Where is Rukia?" Byakuya asked as he rose from the cushion he sat on.

       "She's getting ready in her room. I'll go call her for breakfast," Yohime bowed her head as she exited Byakuya's room.

During breakfast...

       "Mmm~...Nee-sama, I don't know how much I missed your cooking! It's just so delicious!" The excited black-haired girl commented while chewing a spoon of meat-egg that she put into her mouth just a second ago. Her eyes sparkles in admiration as she chews the delicious food that Yohime cooked up. Yohime smiles in satisfaction at the black-haired girl, looking the girls large sparkling violet eyes. That sweet, warm smile of Yohime's made the girl's face blush a little. "Why thank you, Rukia."

       "Mmm...Rukia is correct. Your cooking is ever delicious and I would never want to have another prepare my meals, Yohime," Byakuya agreed, cooly.

       Eversince that Byakuya became more kind and soft with Rukia, she has, not once but many times, witness the sight of Byakuya that no one has ever been able to bring out from him except Yohime. Now, seeing him praise Yohime isn't anymore a "shocking revelation".

       "Thank you, Byakuya-sama. I'm very much honoured for your praise," Yohime's smile widens with even more satisfaction.

       "Nee-sama, may I learn how to cook from you?" Rukia carefully and cautiously proposed a question to Yohime.

       "Ofcourse, you can, Rukia! Why do you sound so cautious? You must feel free to ask me anything, okay?" Yohime said to Rukia. "Come eat some more, Rukia!"

       "This is just like a dream. A perfectly wonderful dream. Being able to sit here with them...the people I love. I hope this lasts forever, then...I can be with Byakuya-sama forever...and serve him forever...But..." Yohime thought to herself as she looks at Byakuya and Rukia and she grins a little.

       Yes, looking on like this, they really seem like one joyous family. It is as if nothing could break them apart. Not emotions, not people and certainly not even war could separate them. Yohime had no family to start with...she was abandoned as a child that barely knew the outside world...treated like a demon in the eyes of others. Hunted down but was unable to be assasinated. No ordinary person or soul for that matter could come close her and land a blade on her. But when she was brought back to the Kuchiki palace, she was nursed back to heal. The countless injuries have all healed and she was exeedingly grateful to Ginrei for that. She made up her mind and was determined from then onwards, she will forevermore devote her life solely to Byakuya and no other would ever replace him. They spent hours training together, training daily so they can one day be an outstanding shinigami. Yohime was taught by many as they saw great talents in her.

       One of her known sensei was Shihoin Yoruichi, the Shunshin, former captain of the Gotei 13's 2nd Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido. She was taught many things by Yoruichi and learnt many things from her. Ukitake Jushirou and Kyouraku Shunsui took part in teaching her the secrets and needs of fighting. She puts herself through intensive training, strengthening herself for the cause of protecting Byakuya. When deemed that she thinks Byakuya is incapable of protecting himself or saying that she thinks Byakuya is weak, she would simply reply to say that she doesn't think that Byakuya is weak or incapable of protecting himself, it is just that she wants to stay by him in battle and not be getting in his way but helping him. She goes on to object that she protects Byakuya and steps in his fights only when he is in critical situation, and unless he tells her to stay back, she will fight with him or continue the fight for him. Both Byakuya and Yohime are very syncronised in battle as they can swiftly perform techniques in taking turns and at the perfect timing. They share many things in common and Byakuya would never deny having share fighting techniques with her. Even far distance communication through their souls are granted as to show how much they sync. Having all these, Yohime will stop at nothing or no one to stay away from Byakuya. And her only one and longing wish is to have stay by his side forevermore.

       "OTOU-SAN!!!!!!!!!! Good morning!" Yohime greeted a man that was wearing a long sleeved captains haori and had a full head of white hair. That man turned around to face her and gave her with a warm, welcoming smile.

       "Good morning, Yohime," Jushirou greeted in return. "You seem rather lively today. Is there something special up?"

       "She is always this lively, don't you think, Ukitake?" Another man wearing a pink kimono over his haori said as he walk closer to where Yohime and Jushirou are.

       "Yeah, you're right, Kyouraku." Jushirou's smile broaden when he saw his old friend coming towards him while commenting on how the girl that calls him "otou-san" is always lively.

       "Good morning, oji-san!" Yohime greeted Kyouraku.

       "Huh??? OJI-SAN??? Now that's just too old. I thought I said that you can call me Onii-chan, didn't I??" Kyouraku said with his usual laid back and rather a pervert kind of tone.

       "HUH???? Onii-chan? Stop kidding! How could you be my onii-chan. You look like an uncle! Besides, you are otou-san's good friend, it's only natural that I call you oji-san, Oji-san," Yohime replied casually.