"I'm sorry."

Yuki's eyes were immediately on Byakuya who is still standing at the doorway.

"M-master Byakuya?" Yuki stuttered

"I'm sorry... for putting you where you are right now. It's all my fault." Byakuya said with his ever so passive face but you can hear a slitter of guilt in his voice

Yuki tried to get out of her bed and walk to Byakuya to reprimand him of his assumptions but as she did, her knees gave way and she can feel herself falling towards the floor. She closed her eyes and braced herself for impact but instead of hard floor and pain, what she felt is warmness and security when Byakuya caught her in his arms.

"Are you okay? Don't push yourself." Byakuya said to her

Yuki quickly flailed to get out of his grip but Byakuya has a good grip on her. Yuki looked at her other master and quickly blushed at their close proximity. But even though she feels slightly embarrassed, she can't help but stare directly at his eyes.

Those mesmerizing silver pools that seem to draw you in the longer you look into them. The nobility his aura is emitting is enough to put you on your knees and pledge your loyalty to him. A true noble as they say.

Yuki's cheeks tinted a slight pink and it quickly evolved to red when Byakuya carried her back to her bed. Even for a short moment, Yuki felt herself be a princess while being carried like that by none other than the heir of the Kuchiki household. Shaking her head as a way of straightening out her thoughts, Yuki immediately spoke.

"You shouldn't be sorry, Master Byakuya. None of these is your fault. Moreover, I should be the one apologizing for causing all these troubles and nearly putting Master Rukia's life on the line." Yuki said avoiding eye contact with her master

"What happened to me is just a fitting punishment for my insolence and curiosity. An act no ser-"

"Stop saying that!"

Yuki wasn't able to finish her sentence when Byakuya screamed at her. Yuki looked down at her sheets like it was the most interesting thing in the whole world.

She felt her bed dip and then a hand on her head.

"You do not have to justify what you did. I realized that I too was at the wrong and I let my duty cloud my judgment. My eyes were opened after Rukia suddenly screamed at me when you were in a coma. So to atone for my misdoings to you. I apologize." Byakuya said and it sounds a little out of character for Yuki

Nevertheless, Yuki looked up at Byakuya only to see that he- surprisingly, has genuine concern painted in his eyes. Yuki's eye widen a fraction but it went back to their normal size.

"And as I said, Master Byakuya, you do not have to apologize. I'm fine now. If that makes you feel better." Yuki said and smiled

Even If Byakuya wanted to smile as well, he can't bring himself to. Not because he is some cold-hearted person, but because of Yuki's eye. Her icy blue eye that seems to sparkle with the sky whenever she smile sis now gone and Byakuya feels bad that because of his pride and devotion to always follow the law, Yuki lost one of the things that he loved about her.

Yeah. Byakuya, after everything that had happened, managed to fall for the snow feline. He admitted to himself that the moment he saw her dancing ever so gracefully under his cherry tree, he was smitten. When Yuki managed to get herself lost in the World of the Living, one of the most worried people is himself but he didn't openly announce it just like Toshiro did.

He knew. He knew that Toshiro also has his eyes on the feline but being the proud noble that he is, he cannot openly admit it since he has a reputation to uphold. Also, Yuki just sees him as a master figure and nothing else.

Although after all this talk about love to himself for the girl, he still managed to bring Yuki where she is now. He blames his prideful demeanor and also himself as a whole. One other thing that makes him think twice is Hisana. Will his dead wife approve of this?

But the moment Yuki stood up for Rukia and announced that she will take her punishment, that's the time Byakuya promised to make Yuki his. All reason left him and all he can see is how wholesome and big Yuki's heart is. Not a taint of anything bad in the world.

Byakuya, though hesitantly, brushed his hands through Yuki's white hair and also scratched Yuki's ears. Yuki's cheeks blossomed a color pink, similar to her left eye. She never had someone pet her head like this. Not that she remembered anyway. She looked up at the noble and she was quite surprised to see him a lot closer than she thought. Almost brushing their noses together, the two can't help but be entranced by the sight of each other's visible eyes.

Yuki's cherry pink eye clashed and was mirrored through Byakuya's slate gray ones. They were having a stare down but no awkwardness or apprehension was felt. Yuki's heart suddenly skipped a bit as she saw the gray in his eyes diminish, the black pushing them to the side and a swirl of something unfamiliar glistened in them.

"His eyes."

Yuki held in a gasp as she found something in them. Just as she was about to voice it out, when they suddenly heard a thump on the window. Yuki jumped out of her skin and Byakuya was quick to get up on his feet and pull out his zanpakuto pointing it the window.

"Hold it! Hold it! We come in peace!" A small paw then waved as if saying it meant no harm

Yuki gave a huge sigh of relief and collapsed on her bed.

"REMILIA!!!"

An explosion followed the screaming voice then a burnt Remilia was thrown inside the room by a seething Flandre with her one button eye missing and a her zipper open causing her stuffings to fall out of her stomach.

"I'm gonna fucking murder you, you stupid excuse of a sister." Then Flandre charged causing havoc in the room

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Once the room is all cleaned up and the two demons have calmed down, Yuki was discharged from the Squad 4 barracks. Captain Commander was there to fetch Yuki together with Ukitake. Yuki quickly jumped into Ukitake's awaiting arms before jumping towards Captain Commander's shoulders.

"Seems like Yuki doesn't need an additional day to stay here. With her zanpakuto's help, she is in full health now and completely recovered." Unohana said with a smile.

"See, Yama-jii? I told you I don't need to stay here longer." Yuki said with a smug grin

Captain Commander chuckled and placed down on Ukitake's arms.

"It seems so. Now, come. Tomorrow, you meet with your new squad."

"Meet with them? But I thought I get to choose?" Yuki asked with a pout

"You lost that privilege when you got yourself lost in the World of the Living. I chose a squad for you." Captain Commander said and walked away

Yuki pouted cutely and crossed her arms. Ukitake chuckled lightly and patted Yuki's head.

"Don't worry, Yuki. I'm sure wherever you are placed, you will like it there." Ukitake said and the two demons landed on Yuki's shoulders

"I hope so, Chichiue." Yuki said and sighed.