Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters…huhuhu
Author's Notes: Another one-shot…sort of fluff…I don't know…just a new waste product of my brain cells… had to dispose it… quick! Please let me know what you think. Read and review!
Summary: Bachelors from all over Seireitei presented themselves before a noble family and will be evaluated to see if they're worthy enough to be a member of the nobility… by law or by marriage.
The Prince and the Pea
It's that time of the year. When elite bachelors from all over Seireitei presented themselves before a noble family and will be evaluated through series of test to see if they're worthy enough to be a member of the nobility… by law or by marriage.
And this is where Byakuya Kuchiki, the 6th division captain and a noble from the Kuchiki clan, enters as the critic. Hosting some small quiet tea party is just like manipulating millions of swords without lifting a finger… judging a person on different views and aspects is just a hassle, he could have spent those hours signing a stack of papers and having Renji to proceed with the remaining. But of course, he's a Kuchiki. He can do and will do anything if it's all according to the law.
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Rukia Kuchiki, also known as the "adopted princess from Rukongai", fidgets while she's sitting in Indian style on a tatami mat. In front of her was none other than her best friend, Renji Abarai, who had this scariest scowl pasted on his face. Of course, who wouldn't when all you could do was lay still with mouth falling wide open for a lizard to get in, while his best friend was about to be given away just like what those prying people back in their place in Rukongai district do to make a living… an example is by auctioning some of their belongings for a few shillings.
Byakuya just informed them. That Rukia is already on the right age to get married and the elders of the Kuchiki clan preferred the traditional selection of groom among those who are of nobility or… in sympathy to those who weren't born a noble, felt worthy enough to become the Lady Kuchiki's husband.
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The sixth division captain walked briskly along the hallway… something he could do when he felt the urge to dwell on certain things regarding the upcoming event. As he passed by his sister's room, he caught a glimpse of a book; its cover's facing flat on the table. He suddenly had this notion not to let his interest get the best of him. He has never been a curious man. But that doesn't stop him from moving a couple of steps in the room. Soon he neared the table, a hand hovering above the book. A small peek won't hurt now, will it?
He scanned the pages of the book. As he turned on the last page, a name was what he could decipher from a very unpleasant scribble. Kurosaki, Yuzu.
"Figures." He allowed himself a small smile. A reminder of good old memories.
He placed the book back in its place, not really bothering to arrange it on how it was before he lifted it up to examine it.
He exited where he entered. He looked back to where the book was lying and left. He just had to propose this new idea he had in mind… albeit insanity is its nature. But who knows? Maybe it'll provide his sister her rightful husband.
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Ichigo just had a déjà vu. He thought he saw a hell butterfly entered his classroom. It's already noon, and he arrived a little earlier from his habitual rooftop lunch with his male companions. Déjà vu is a bit exaggerating. Anyway, he just saw the black butterfly and then he took off. He just had to skip his next class now, hadn't he? His friends were wondering about his behavior. Ever since Rukia left three days ago, Ichigo had been acting really stuck-up and edgy for his own taste. Even he despises this behavior of his, yet he always comes across it several times whenever a certain midget is the issue.
He followed the Hell butterfly and stopped dead short behind the school gym. Looking around, he's quite content that the place seemed deserted. He'll probably have a hard time explaining to anyone the hell he's doing behind the gym, of all places. And why is he talking to himself… if he ever allowed himself to talk.
"Mic test! Mic test! Is this thing on? Oi baldy I'm talking to you! Oh hoho okay so I'm on air. Ehem. ATTENTION!"
The voice boomed out like someone's using a speaker to deliver their message and reach a thousand ears instead of a pair. Hang on, that sounded just like Rangiku-san.
"To all soul reapers who are interested, regardless of your status… well, preferably elite or whoever's worthy enough, a notice was posted recently that your presence is required on the Kuchiki mansion, tomorrow at noon. Please look for Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, who will personally host the event in search of Rukia Kuchiki's groom, two days from now. This is Rangiku Matsumoto, signing off!"
"WHAATTT?!!!"
No one has to hear him right now… or he'll punch the daylights out of their miserable faces.
"Kurosaki-kun?" Inoue? Whew! I thought it's Keigo…sheesh!
"Uh… I had to go Inoue. Duty calls!" He smiled sheepishly, ignoring how the voluptuous girl flustered at him.
"Duty? Oh! That! Well good luck Kurosaki-kun!" She smiled sadly and walked past him. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she thought out loud. "I heard everything, saw how you reacted. Rukia Kuchiki… She has been and will always be the one you wanted, Kurosaki-kun."
Now all alone while pondering more on the midget issue… He smiled. He just heard a few lines Orihime Inoue just imparted. She has been and will always be the one you wanted. With that he left to pick his bag and headed straight home. Now, where's my soul reaper substitute badge?
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"Oi bastard! What the hell's about that search for Rukia's fucking groom? Whose idea was it? It's full proof bullshit!" Ichigo stormed in Renji's office. The red-headed man growled at the guest's impatience. Oh he had to see and check some of his own… he's running out of it, pretty fast.
"Damn it! Couldn't you at least knock! Humans these days!" He held his hands up in defeat as he paused for a break. That's a lot of paper work!
A fist slammed on top of his desk creating a shocking wave that sent those neatly stack of papers flying around… the one who did the labor seemed generally pissed.
"Fuck off Ichigo! Who gave you the right to abolish this month's check? I'm getting paid with all my hard work you dimwitted fool!" Renji exasperatedly exclaimed before leaning down picking and piling each sheet on top of the other.
"Sorry about that." Ichigo muttered apologetically, kneeling down while handing his friend's files.
"Why don't you try it out?" Renji broke the suspending silence. With all of the papers in his hands, he then stood up; placing them in one of the boxes he produced for safekeeping.
"Try what?" Summing it all up, Ichigo's still annoyed by the whole ordeal. Rubbing his nape, he stood up in front of Renji. "You mean--"
"Yeah. Be a candidate yourself. That way, when you win and bring her back to your human world, you could always consider divorce. Then she'll be free." Renji smirked, overwhelmed by his well-formed plan.
"The words from a shinigami? Ha! Just as I thought, you're a natural law breaker."
Ichigo paced gingerly around the room, letting his eyes roam around random objects, he settled on glaring at a pink looking cushion… pink?!
"Oi stupid pseudo-monkey! What's with the pink?!" Ichigo closed the distance between him and the small pink cushion-looking material… and poked it with his foot.
"Itai!!! Waaaaa! That hurts!!" A bubbly pink cushion- looking popped out and become the youngest looking vice captain, Yachiru… wait…. Yachiru?!
"Oh it's you." Ichigo muttered nonchalantly. Same as always…
"Ichi!" The little girl seems unfazed by his lack of enthusiasm and comes perching herself on Ichigo's shoulder.
"Aside from these papers, I was also assigned by Zaraki- taichou to baby-sit his little vice captain…" Renji sufficed the lingering question in air. Unknown to him, his other companion engaged himself in a battle; getting rid of the already slumbering pink-haired kid, who attached herself by clamping her jaws on his gi.
"I ughh… I guess I should leave you guys alone so that you could baby-sit her… while you…" lowering his voice a little while pointing his index finger on Yachiru… "Let him baby-sit you, got that?" So stupid!
With that all said, he successfully ripped himself from the chewing little pink devil, accidentally dropped the vice captain on the floor, earned a yelp, forced himself to ignore it and scurried to the Kuchiki's mansion.
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To be continued
Notes: Gomen ne… originally, I was planning to have it as a one shot ficcie but since it'll probably give you a headache, I'll settle for I guess up to 3 chapters. Anyway I hope I get to hear from you soon and let me know what you think. Although there are a lot of fanfics with an arranged marriage plot, I'll try my best to make it sort of different just for fun. Hope you guys enjoy!