Chikamatsu: Lover of the Floating World

by Lady Kagewaki

COMPLETE Before Hisana, Byakuya had another love. The Chikamatsu clan, the fourth noble family that specialized in the arts and culture, was atypical. The women of the Chikamatsu were mysterious and beyond reach of most outsiders who were their patrons. The next head of the Kuchiki family was proud to be engaged to the next head of the Chikamatsu family...or was he? Please R&R!

1. Chapter 1

Part 1

The Chikamatsu clan was the fourth noble house established by the Spirit King to be stewards of and to create art, beauty, and pleasures. While the Kuchikis upheld history and knowledge and at one time the Shiba were stewards of the transport to and from the Spirit King's realm, and the Shihouin were stewards of magical tools, the Chikamatsus were primarily artists and performers. They were stewards of intangibles. They were often secretly swept away to perform for the Spirit King himself. The Kuchikis we historians, and guarded archives that were often of use to the Chikamatsu writers and novelists. Manuals stored in the Kuchiki libraries were of value to Chikamatsu dancers, painters, and sculptors. The relationship between these two clans was complimentary. The Chikamatsus rewarded their Kuchiki brethren with performances, portraits, gifts, and more private pleasurable experiences. It was inevitable that the clans would become intertwined.

Ginrei Kuchiki stilled his mind to calmly contemplate the challenges facing his squad, his clan, and his family. When one thought became too overwhelming he would listen to the birds chirping, the faint trickling of a fountain outside, and the crinkling of the rice paper as it was sucked and pushed by a gentle breeze in the shoji frame. His mind drifted to a simpler time, a happy time. His late wife, and their pride and joy, Shojun. His son.

The images were shattered by the pounding of adolescent feet along the engawa. There was sliding and yelling between two boys and then the clack of wooden practice bokken.

Ginrei opened his eyes and signed. He watched the shadows of the two boys sparring across the rice paper. He stood and walked over to the door.

Outside Ginrei's room a young 12-year-old noble boy dressed in expensive, but simple gi and hakama pounded on his opponent relentlessly, forcing the poor kid into a submissive position on the floor. The opponent was a boy in simple homespun clothing of similar age. The victim was only the child of one of the servants who was in the unlucky position of entertaining the noble boy.

Ginrei slid open the door with a loud snap next to the dueling children and hollered "BYAKUYA!" The servant boy took advantage of Byakuya's momentary halt to run off.

Byakuya's youthful grey eyes widened in a mixture of awe and fear as he looked up at his grandfather wearing his captain's cloak and out of breath managed to say "Ji-sama!" He brought his sword down and spared a glance for his opponent who ran off to safety. The young man nodded his head and bit his lip before he said anything he would regret to his grandfather and bowed, respectfully.

"Byakuya, go clean yourself up. You have an important evening ahead. And do so quietly. Your mother isn't well again and is trying to rest" growled the old man.

Byakuya almost rebuked but thought the wiser. Ginrei was capable of kindness but unlike Byakuya's father, Ginrei was stern and authoritarian. "Yes, of course Ji-sama. I know." Byakuya hadn't known his grandfather had come home to the mansion, but was very happy to see him and when he was dismissed with a wordless nod from his grandfather a smile spread across his face as he ran back down the engawa towards his own rooms.

"And don't" Ginrei yelled after the boy who was gone before the elder man could finish his request "...run" he said quietly grimacing to himself.

The servant boy returned, his head hanging low in shame and defeat. Ginrei, somewhat familiar with the boy asked "Why do you allow him to press you that way?" The servant boy's mother was a housemaid, but he knew the child's father had been a strong soldier before he died.

The kid shrugged "I heard about his father dying and then I heard about his mother falling ill." He looked down searching his true feelings in earnest. "He feels poorly and needs to hit something." He looked up with surprise raising his brow and finished "I just didn't know he could hit so hard!"

Ginrei wanted to laugh and cry but allowed the laugh to pour forth. His son, his eldest and sole surviving child, Shojun had recently died in battle. Ginrei felt he failed his son, his squad, his family, and his clan. Shojun had only had one child, Byakuya, before he passed. After a respectable mourning period Byakuya was putting on a brave face but had many challenges ahead. Ginrei had many hopes for Byakuya and hoped to secure the Kuchiki line. The event they would attend together that evening would be one more step towards securing their lineage.

Byakuya stormed into his room and hollered "Shoichiiiii!"

"Right here, my young Lord" his head man servant appeared, kneeling at his mercy.

Byakuya had never lived without a group of people, young and old, at his beckon call. Lately the house had become quiet because of his father's passing and his mother falling ill yet again. Servants were always available but often left him on his own. He didn't understand why and he tried to convince himself he didn't care. "Is the bath filled as I had requested?"

The servant kneeled on the fresh tatami. "Yes, young Prince"

Byakuya stalked off towards his private bath and extended his arms. Two servants, another butler subservient to Shoichi, and a newer male face who replaced Byakuya's nursemaid undressed him and sprayed him down with a shower. They scrubbed him clean with bubbling suds from head to toe. They rinsed him off, and he dismissed them when he entered the hot bath.

Byakuya settled in and the servants filed out leaving him alone. The hot water soothed his muscles and he began to relax. When the tension from his shoulders drained away his shoulders began to quake. The boy tried to keep his weeping in, but he couldn't. He didn't make a sound, but the tears poured down his face. He sobbed quietly in the camouflage of steam and water. He only whispered "Father..."

Ninety-year-old Totuko Chikamatsu (only 9 by human standards) sat at a vanity preparing for her debut. She was a daughter of Chikamatsu and would be dancing in her first solo performance that evening in front of the remaining noble families and other distinguished guests. Not a drop of the anxiety she was feeling flitted to the surface. As a Chikamatsu she had been so thoroughly trained from birth she would never shake from nerves. Every fiber of her being was under her control. Her upbringing encouraged her to take advantage of every movement as a chance to practice grace. As the fire of anxiety burned through her body she reached out to her face powder and twirled her wrist, swirling her hand smoothly, fluidly, and unconsciously, before picking up the puff and applying it to her face.

Her debut tonight was not just a large venue full of Soul Society's most important residents, but an audition of sorts for true acceptance into her own clan. This performance would determine the direction of the rest of her life. She would not have another chance. If she succeeded she would shine brightly in the annals of history and perhaps have a chance to delight the Spirit King.

If her performance was judged a failure, however, she would be cast out of her home and stricken from the family records and forgotten. With no practical skills at their disposal, save for the culinary experts, being cast out of the Chikamatsu clan meant a long, undignified, exile leading to an early grave. During her grandparents time a new solution was implemented. Those who had been ejected had begun living longer but undignified lives and this resulted in shaming the clan name. This could not be allowed so now the penalty for failure was execution immediately following the failed performance.

A red silk clad servant-girl placed antique combs into Totuko's flawless shining momoware style up do. The young dancer squelched her fears of failure with mentally moving through each step of her dance. Instead of taking a safer route and performing any popular established dance from her family's ancient history, she chose to create her own. She did not waste any focus on chiding herself for taking a risky path, because she felt the risk would be worth it. She would rather die than be anything but the best. She created her own style of dance and prayed it would be accepted.

Tokuko sat patiently looking into her own brown eyes in the mirror while the twin of her first servant girl finished adjusting the bira kanzashi which dangled in her crown of black hair.

It was time.

She stood, raising up from the floor allowing the sleeves of her fiery red and gold furisode to unfurl and reveal its shimmering pattern of iridescent tree limbs.

Byakuya and much of the Kuchiki clan was in attendance. Other nobles, though minor, were in attendance along with the senior members of the Gotei 13. The leaders of the Chikamatsu clan lined up in the front row, along with her parents and siblings.

Byakuya fidgeted a bit in his seat, craning his neck to get a look at the small barren stage. "Why can't we sit closer?" asked Byakuya, not used to anything less than ideal. Ginrei sat next to his grandson and explained "It is more important for the Chikamatsu to be up front. They need a good view."

Byakuya sat back and asked "Don't they get to watch her dance any time?"

Ginrei glanced down at his descendent. "Byakuya, you know why. They are not here to be supportive but to judge, critique, and interpret. Please treat this performance with the respect and honor it deserves."

Byakuya nodded and settled back in his seat. His grandfather noted the boy's anxiety. It was written all over his face, and how he cracked his knuckles. "Boy!" he whispered "why do you fidget so much?"

Byakuya looked at him and with sad eyes said "You're right when you said I know why. I know what's at stake" he swallowed hard, furrowed his brow and more quietly added "and if I don't have a care for my future wife's wellbeing what kind of man would I be?"

"You need not worry about that until after the dance is complete." Ginrei wanted to say more, but the house lights we turned off and a small spotlight was shown in a small circle on the stage.

In the tiny circle was little Totuko posed bent over with arms twisted, reminding one of the shape of a beautiful red maple bent by the winds of time. She was ready to start the dance she had created. Her eyes were closed.

The highly stylized music began with the cracking of the woodblock and a man's wandering vocalization. Her hands held two tiny fans each, in a configuration so it appeared as though a butterfly were perched on both hands at her fingertips. One arm was slightly bent reaching far out to one side and the other was up and behind bent at what appeared an unusual angle.

One of the butterflies slowly began to move its wings as though just waking up, the other followed. The music tempo picked up and the butterflies awoke fully. They fluttered about the tree, the trunk of her body still as stone. The audience was entranced watching the two butterflies flit around the tree, exploring each other, learning about each other, and falling in love.

Totuko then began to move across the stage so slowly it was almost undetectable to the untrained non-Chikamatsu eye. She did so using tremendous strength and control in her legs, feet, and toes hidden beneath her kimono. It was so subtle, in fact, that it really looked like the spotlight had drifted and not that she had moved within it. She also began to turn her trunk to represent the passing of the seasons. The story of the butterfly lovers began in the spring. They two beautiful creatures began a playful happy infatuation. They flit about without a care in the world.

Her eyes were still closed. This increased the difficulty of the dance by forcing her to focus doubly hard on her balance, but also her proprioception. She chose to keep her eyes closed for mostly for artistic reasons, not so much to display her skill. She was not merely using her body as a way to tell a story, but she made the stars of the show the butterflies. Her eyes would signal to others where to look, and that she was a dancer telling them that story. Instead she wanted to remove that influence. She wanted the butterflies to perform. The effect of her closed eyes and the stillness of most of her body removed her from her own dance. She was both ever present as the narrator yet also not present at all, allowing the story to tell itself.

The butterflies moved into summer and fell deeply in love.

In the autumn, when the leaves turn color and fall from the trees, the butterflies turned away from each other. Their summer love had cooled and they flew apart. The charming bugs could have separated simply because of the passage of time, or the butterflies simply needed more time to mature. For what reason no one could pinpoint. Totuko's dance was strong enough to indicate to the audience that distance had formed between the lovers and only felt sadness when they were apart.

It was revolutionary. She had created a new form of dance whose sophistication and simplicity were no less than sublime. It made dancing as expression through movement seem hokey, obvious and almost vulgar. She could hear her clan mates weeping quiet tears of joy. She allowed her muscle memory to take over the steps, and began to enjoy her art.

Then she felt it.

One of her hair pins was loose and she realized that by the time she would finish her turn for winter, the end of the performance, her head would naturally Iand at an angle where the pin would fall loose to the ground, and ruin her performance. And she would die. The dance was specifically coordinated to play off the music and the intermittent silences so she could not change the tempo, nor change the steps nor story of the butterfly lovers.

Her life flashed before her mind's eye. Since she was so young it did not take long, and in a flash, she made a simple decision that only the mind of a child could make. She kept her head still and continued to move the rest of her body as planned.

As she progressed she realized that it was a great deal harder than she had anticipated. She had not practiced this and her body no longer had the muscle memory to guide her. It was practically a new dance. She became dizzy, and with her eyes closed she suddenly had no idea where her arms were in space. She felt unstable, the world was spinning, she became nauseous. The only thing she was certain of was the floor beneath her bare toes.

A haiku came to her mind:

Butterfly lovers

Now harbingers of winter

It shall fall tonight

The butterflies at her fingertips entered winter, and came together again. They slowed as they faded and aged. Her neck became stiff and the pain was near unbearable. She allowed nothing to show on her face. She was in a sacred place. To Chikamatsu the stage was as sacred as a temple or church was to other clans and people. Dance was her Mass.

Despite her expert handling the weight of the hair pin shifted free of her hair, slipped, but did not fall. Her heart felt as though it had dropped into her stomach and she could hardly breath from fright. The first twin had jammed so many flowers into the crown of her head the pin was tangled in the stems.

The music stopped, it was over, and she had survived. She blinked her eyes open. She slowly untwisted herself and stood straight, tapping the pin back along her scalp and realized it had only moved slightly. No one had seen the pin move.

The crowd cheered and called her name. She stood with tears streaming down her otherwise peaceful face relieved she would continue with life, successfully, her art touching hearts until old age. The clan heads each raised a fan with their names painted on to officially declare that she passed, instead of their wakazashi which would have signified her failure. The rest of the audience then raised their fans if they had them.

Byakuya cheered boisterously and whistled. "Grandfather!" he said "She was wonderful!" he exclaimed. Ginrei applauded in a more subdued manner, but he too was impressed.

An elderly woman stood from her cushion and with help of Totuko's twin servants climbed the short step onto the stage. Totuko immediately, but gracefully dropped to her knees and bowed deeply touching her forehead to the ground three times, sat back on her heels, and dropped her chin to her chest. The audience quieted down and respectfully waited for the woman to speak.

Byakuya whispered to his grandfather "Jii-san, is that the Mangetsu? That's the title of their clan's head, right?" Ginrei only nodded affirmative in response.

The old woman's voice was mature and her body fragile, and she knew how to use her presence and voice to hold the attention of everyone in the audience. "I am the Mangetsu. I have led my clan for many years. I have observed many debuts. But none" her voice began to shake. "None of which touched me so deeply as tonight. I have waited a long time for a successor and I commit to you now, tonight, to offer the Totei No Shingetsu to Chikamatsu Totuko."

The crowd applauded and yelped. She continued "This decision was a long time in the making. We have watched her for a long time and saw from her earliest days her natural inclination for the art of movement. Her performance tonight has sealed the decision. She will commence the honored apprenticeship, known as Totei No Shingetsu, upon the next new moon."

The crowd erupted feeling pleased that it was not just another delightful debut, but an historic moment for the Chikamatsus of which they can say they were a part.

As the Kuchikis rode their private palanquin home Byakuya looked out the window at the wide dark starry sky. He looked back at this grandfather and said "Grandfather, she'll be an honor to welcome into our family."

Ginrei simply said "The contracts have been draw and drafted, but there are no signatures, yet."

Byakuya nodded "After tonight's debut, I'm sure she'll have a lot of other offers, but our clan is the greatest. There's no way her father would turn our offer down."

Ginrei chuckled "Byakuya, she is a Chikamatsu. Their clan is also great."

"I did not mean to imply they weren't, but we're powerful, wealthy, and our lineage is ancient. She did a good job, and it would be an honor to have her, so…" Byakuya didn't finish his sentence as he thought the ending obvious.

"Where to start, boy" Ginrei shook his head. "The Chikamatsu's are an equitable clan, meaning the men and women have equal say. And it is very likely that Totuko will make the final decision or not to marry you. Not her father or mother."

Byakuya began to work through the idea on his own, but had questions. "Women and wives making decisions? The Mangetsu is the head of the Chikamatsu, but are they strong as well? Do they have soldiers? A standing army? I can't imagine that old woman leading an army. They're not like the Shihouins. Or like the women who can be Shinigami for that matter."

Ginrei answered with a measured voice "They do have squads of personal guards who have learned martial arts. Don't underestimate them. Just because their movements are beautiful makes them no less deadly. Old Hana. The Mangetsu was quite something in her day. I've never seen such grace and fire all wrapped up in a single soul. I have a memory of her swirling in silks of silver, her foes dropping like flies as she danced across the field. The Chikamatsu are formidable. Hana no Hagane (steel flower), we called her."

"Interesting" nodded Byakuya, mumbling to himself.

Ginrei added "They are also the favored noble clan. The Spirit King invites individuals to perform for him in his palace and thus some families in the clan enjoy the protection of the sacred Zero Squad."

Byakuya had discussed the Zero Squad with his grandfather at length. "Wow" was all he could think to say.

Ginrei patiently waited for his grandson to ask another question, one of many that he expected.

Byakuya asked "I know that money is no object to them, as you've explained. Is that because they have a lot of it?"

Ginrei chuckled at the garish question. "It's safe to say that the favorites of the Spirit King do not have concerns about money." He nodded and slid his hands into his heavy silk sleeves. "Yet, I think even if they did not have much their concerns would still be primarily with their art such as our primary duty is to maintain the historical records."

The boy's brow became knit and he thought harder. He nodded as he thought about what he knew "They're powerful, wealthy, and favored."

Ginrei grimaced and said "True."

"Why would she choose to marry me?"

"She will grow into a woman and may want to marry. Perhaps she will want children?" Ginrei shrugged. "A woman's heart is full of murky secrets."

"The Kuchiki's are the obvious choice! We could only serve to further both our families by marrying each other. I'm going to be the head of the family. Who better for the Mangetsu to marry other than another family head? Why would she not marry me? What is there to consider?"

Ginrei turned his body towards his grandson and looked at the young handsome kid. "Chikamatsu women do not always feel the need to marry. And to what is there for her to consider? She will likely consider, if she likes you or not."

At first Byakuya was very confused and he shook his head, knit his brow, then slowly accepted the idea. He had never had to consider if someone liked him or not before. He had always gotten what he wanted because of his family name, his wealth, and if someone dared refuse him he had a number of ways to forcefully take what he wanted. Insecurity began to seep into his gut. "Grandfather?" he asked, his voice suddenly filled with caution. "Am I…likeable?"

Ginrei softly chuckled and said "I'm terribly biased, Byakuya. You are a boy not done becoming the man you will be. You are disciplined, determined, energetic, and faithful to your family. You have the look of your father and the fiery spirit of your mother. Withstanding all these wonderful qualities, alas, you should be asking if she thinks you're likeable."

Byakuya did take note of the absence of his father's most celebrated qualities: Patience, kindness, and nobility in the true sense of the word. This would be a new challenge for him and it was one he wasn't sure how to tackle. "How do I make her like me?" he asked.

Ginrei sat back "You don't make a Chikamatsu woman do anything. You will need to learn about her interests and see if any overlap with your own." He shrugged and said "Become her friend." Byakuya's joy was tempered and his grandfather took pity. "Look, boy, you have several years to get to know her. I have arranged for Totuko and her mother to come and stay at the estate for the summer. You will have time to talk to her and she will have time to talk to you."

"When do we sign?" he asked, eager to get the business done.

Ginrei sighed. "You need not worry about the contracts, Byakuya. Just enjoy yourself. Totuko not only excels in dance, but many arts. I am looking forward to her mother's shamisen."

Byakuya became a bit fidgety and before Ginrei gently chided him about it they were home. They walked into the enormous maze of rooms that was the Kuchiki family home. Ginrei turned to face Byakuya before they parted to go to their private rooms for the night. "Keep in mind she may be anxious about meeting you as well. Our families have a relationship stretching back millennia. I'm sure she is feeling pressure as well to maintain that."

This appeared to relieve a bit of Byakuya's turmoil. He nodded "Yes, grandfather, I had not thought of that."

The captain of the 6th squad put his hand on Byakuya's shoulder and said "Don't think too hard on this. Just be in the moment and enjoy their company when they arrive in the coming weeks."

Byakuya smiled "Yes, Grandfather."

Totuko sat at a banquet that night, near the head of the table in the seat for the most honored guest, next to the Mangetsu. The Chikamatsus feasted, drank, and toasted to Totuko and she felt she was living her dream.

Totuko noted that there was a young man who stared and smiled at her all night. She didn't feel comfortable under his gaze, and was glad when her mother noted it. Her mother, a very tall, lean beauty leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Atsuchi-sama has noticed you." At the feast there were a smattering of patrons partaking. Atsuchi of the Fujiwaras was one of them.

Totuko's mother's long slender neck was decorated with chunky beads of ancient jade that matched her bright green eyes. Her given name was recorded somewhere, but once her mother became a grown woman everyone came to call her Swan after the graceful birds that inhabited their gardens. Totuko was not blessed with her mother's unusual coloring or her extreme exotic beauty. Her mother was a muse for many of the other Chikamatsu, and was the subject of many paintings, poems, and drawings. She had a respectable number of love affairs but decided against marriage. She was considered a great beauty who was admired not only during her living years, but celebrated for many years after her death. Her look was not traditionally what Soul Society thought ideal for women, but she embraced her differences and owned them. Her tall height for a woman of the time was not deemed attractive, but she draped herself in fine fabrics, and she learned to model her tall willowy form so she appeared as though the Spirit King had come down and painted her into existence. It was a distinct advantage over other ladies who wanted to be the subject of the various illustrations which filled the Chikumastu historical records. Her eyes were also spaced a bit too far apart, but she painted around them and made them stand out like jewels.

"Should I talk to him?" asked Totuko, knowing that she would now be expected to receive patrons for her art.

"No, sweetheart, he will send appropriate written requests" replied her striking mother.

"Then why does he stare?" she asked, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.

"He likes the look of you" giggled her mother. "You're very cute."

She looked up at her mother, incredulous, "Mother, anyone sitting next to you is but swine."

"Darling daughter, you are a child now and have your charms. He simply wants to make you smile because you're very cute. There will be different looks when you blossom into a woman in the coming years. Worry not. I will teach you how to receive these looks as they change from this innocuous type, to more adult ones. It can be fun!"

Totuko's father arrived and bowed to the Mangetsu and then to his daughter on her night of honor. He gave her his congratulations, expressed his pride, then took up conversation with Totuko's mother. He was another Chikamatsu who she saw frequently on the family estate. Her father was a high ranking soldier and celebrated sculptor. Both of Totuko's parents had developed a patron-relationship with the Kuchiki's and thought a marriage may appeal to their daughter. The groundwork was laid should she take interest in the idea.

A few weeks later Byakuya sat next to his grandfather's left, and to his grandfather's right was the family cleric in front of a large table with a few neatly stacked piles of documents.

Soon Totuko, Swan, and their family advisor would take a seat on the fine zabuton laid out for them on the other side of the table. Byakuya took the long moments to meditate. His grey eyes softened and he lost himself for an indeterminate amount of time with history lessons he had just read. He had recently read about the rebellions during his grandfather's day and imagined the elder man as a young brash warrior.

The images in Byakuya's mind were shattered with the tinkling of ancient Chikamatsu hairpins. He looked towards the shoji door with wide eager eyes.

His grandfather smirked at his grandson's eager reaction.

The door was slid open by a servant and the advisor appeared on her knees bowing in perfect posture, wearing the family's advisor uniform. The advisor wore a striking violet brocade kimono with the family mon embroidered in gold thread, lined with thick white fabrics milled and sewn on the Chikamatsu estate. Her black hair was unadorned and tied conservatively in a bun at the base of her neck. She entered first and took her seat across from the cleric.

Next, Swan appeared and Byakuya's jaw almost dropped wide open. He had seen the woman from a distance before, but never this close, and never this decadently adorned. She wore an opulent teal kimono of excess fabric and wide sleeves decorated with a copper fan motif. The bottom hem was three layers of red rolled silk, embroidered in gold geometric design. She dipped to the floor smoother than anyone Byakuya had ever seen, and despite the crown of tortoise shell and boxwood head combs, and flowers, and perfectly shaped grand loops of shining black hair, she bowed to her hosts. Her brilliant green eyes flashed as she came up again, a small flirtatious smirk curved the corner of her lips as she floated across the room to her seat in the middle. Byakuya couldn't help but allow his eyes to drift down her long slender neck to the folds of her luxurious kimono. Most striking was that she wore her obi backwards so the layers of extravagant silks of silver and copper could be displayed more prominently. She was a feast for the eyes and everyone was spellbound by her very presence. Her large bright eyes and thick lashes, masked with feathery black paint looked to the door where tiny Totuko had already arranged herself like a perfect lady.

The young girl did not wear the layers that her mother did, but the kimono of the Totei no Shingetsu. She wore a shimmering black kimono with a rich velvet crimson under-kimono. Her hair was also elaborately made in the large loops like her mother, adorned with mother of pearl combs, dangling golden pins, and strands encrusted with glittering jewels which had been handed down through the generations to the apprenticed leader. She bowed and floated across the room just as gracefully as her mother and Byakuya couldn't take his eyes off her. It may have been the mother of pearl, but she appeared to have a glowing halo and though a child, she was breathtaking and in his eyes, angelic. A beautiful little creature anyone could admire.

The future groom heard voices but no distinct words, as he could not bear to pull his eyes away from the brilliant shining girl before him. She did not look up, she did not speak except for the formal greetings.

After the discussion which dealt with the financial and material details of their marriage contract the Chikamatsu advisor collected the documents for further review. The negotiations would take years and this was only the first official day. The adults requested Byakuya show Totuko the estate and gardens. She had visited the archives before her debut, but she had not had the opportunity to see the gardens.

Totuko slipped into her tall geta and Byakuya walked her to a place he thought she would enjoy. The girl floated next to him, not bouncing like a commoner, while they moved. She floated as though she were standing on a boat in water. He had oft heard the Chikamatsu estate be called The Floating World but never understood the name until now.

Byakuya broke the silence with "I am going to take you to my mother's garden. I'm sorry she is not available to meet with you, she is still very ill."

Her voice was small and sweet, but somehow mature and wise beyond her limited years. "I'm sorry to hear. I wish her a swift recovery. I would love to meet her when the chance arises. I have heard many a great thing about her."

This made him smile because he knew she was sincere. Byakuya's mother was an honorable woman, but not exactly conventional. She was soft spoken but her words could carry barbs if necessary. In her youth, she had a bit of a temper, but this matched her well to his gentle father. Shojun blunted his wife's sharp edges. Byakuya further explained "It's a chrysanthemum garden."

They came to the gate and it was opened for them so they did not have to break their stride. Byakuya stood back at the gate and allowed Totuko to explore on her own first.

When she laid her eyes on the variety in the garden she lit up and began to giggle and laugh. She lifted her kimono and ran down the stone path. "Byakuya-sama, come with me!" she giggled. She passed the tall flowers that bloomed at her shoulder height, artfully arranged in precise order on either side of the path in rainbow order. Everything was perfectly shaded, perfectly ordered, and perfectly spaced.

Byakuya was concerned about the girl tripping on her high geta or on her long kimono or sleeves. She made it down the stairs and around to a courtyard of sorts where the largest of the chrysanthemum plants sat, manicured into an enormous tree of blossoms. She halted, looking up at the tree like plant, each individual blossom in full bloom creating a large dome of pure white blossoms. She was in awe of its perfection. Byakuya caught up and with pride said "It's the largest chrysanthemum plant in all of Soul Society. It has won many competitions and honors."

With wide eyed wonder she shook her head, some of her combs clinking. "It's simply breathtaking!" She reached out to touch one of the blossoms but a gardener nearby, as deferentially as he could, chided her and she realized she could not touch the flower. She said to him "I just wanted to pull it close so I could smell it. Not pluck it."

Byakuya said "You can't touch these flowers. They are all arranged perfectly."

Her eyes got a bit sad, but she nodded "Of course. There is much beauty for me to enjoy here." She turned to examine the flower from afar, but before she knew it she had been hoisted up so she could sniff the perfect blossoms. She laughed without care for decorum and Byakuya rested her gently on the ground again. She playfully scolded him "That was terribly indecorous of you Byakuya-sama" she giggled. He bowed in apology, about to say he was sorry for offending her until she whispered "I like that very much." He stood up straight, blushed unsure of what to make of this strange girlchild. She saved him by saying "It is truly beautiful, and I hope you take advantage of your height to take in that amazing aroma. Truly amazing."

Byakuya agreed. "Yes, it's the best."

She giggled and she looked at him confused. "I don't know about that, but it is quite beautiful." She pulled out a fan and she watched it fall open then admired how the late afternoon sun played against the nuanced embossed white fabric on its folds. She began to fan herself in one smooth artful piece of daily choreography.

"Of course it's the best! It's won every award possible!" he snapped, his face turning an angry shade of pink. "That can't be contested!"

Her face fell, she lifted her fan in front of her face, then turned fluidly, as though taking another step in a small dance away from him. It was his turn to be confused until her eyes flicked to his fist which he had balled up in his frustration.

She said "I only meant that there are a number of treasures in this garden which I have yet to see. It's beautiful, surely, impressive in its symmetry and precise placement of blossoms, but I prefer the patches over there." Before her sentence was over she had raised her arm, elegantly drawing her fan closed and ended up pointing it to a dark corner. The dirt had been piled up and a mishmash of various varieties of chrysanthemums were blooming in a messy pile of leaves and petals. It was where the gardeners threw the plants that didn't match. Some died creating soil, others took root and created its own unintentional garden.

"That's just the throw away pile" he said confused. "All the things that don't fit anywhere else. No one comes here to see that."

She floated past him "I think I did…" and she gracefully moved over to the pile. She approached the shady corner and laughed with delight. "Look at all of this! It's amazing!" She reached out, raising her arm, the long sleeve of her furisode sliding back revealing her forearm to touch a large messy pink blossom. Had she been a grown woman it would have been an erotic moment to show her arm, but as a child it was simply a charming accident. But every movement of a Chikamatsu was choreographed though Byakuya did not know this at the time. She hesitated and looked around but no one prohibited her from touching the garbage flowers. She stroked the petals with a finger then cupped it and brought it over to her nose. She inhaled deeply taking in the heady perfume of the castaway flower. "This, here, is divine! Taking in its sweet perfume. Delights, for just us." She smiled over her shoulder at her future groom.

"I don't know why you like the garbage so much-"

She blurted out, excited, "Look, Byakuya! How amazing!" There was a blossom deeper in the pile which was half black on one side and half white on the other. "It's simply astonishing!" She stroked the stalk of the very tall flower smiling with delight at its velvety green stiffness. "Byakuya" she reached back and brought his hand to the stalk. "Feel this" she whispered.

He leaned over her shoulder and they stood cheek to cheek feeling the softness of the plant. He was delightfully surprised. "When plants are velvety they're usually a bit sticky or otherwise a bit unpleasant. This is soft like fur."

She shamelessly pressed her cheek to his and continued her whisper "Your perfect award winners don't have this delightful imperfection."

He looked at her and back at the flower with new eyes. I guess this summer will be full of surprises he thought.

He was indeed correct. He grew more confident every day that she would be perfect for the Kuchiki' clan, but every day he realized how much he had to learn about being likeable. Byakuya was always a conscientious student and in the matter of learning to socialize he was no different. He wanted Totuko to like him and learned very quickly he needed to be kind to others, including the servants, and maybe to his rivals for her to like him.