Prideful Beings
By Spunky0ne
(When Ichigo's cousin, Kurushimi, plays a trick on Byakuya and Ichigo, the prank goes horribly awry, leaving their souls in the wrong bodies. Ichigo/Byakuya main pairing with Kurushimi/Tetsuya sub pairing. Yaoi, mpreg...My thanks goes out to Eumenida for requesting this storyline, which I know you are going to enjoy! And also to Shima-taicho31 for the use of the OC Shima Kurushimi! Enjoy the story!)
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Chapter 1: Walls
"Nii-sama?"
Byakuya blinked and turned his head slightly to meet his sister's violet eyes questioningly.
"What is it, Rukia?"
Rukia looked out onto the dance floor near the tables where they sat observing the members of the wedding party and their guests.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," Byakuya answered, "What is it you wish to ask me?"
Rukia looked down at her hands for a moment, then back at her elder brother.
"Nii-sama, is it...really okay with you that Tetsuya is marrying Ichigo's cousin? I mean, I know you gave them your consent and a blessing, but..."
Byakuya's eyes scanned the dancers and focused on his handsomely white-clad cousin, where he pressed up against his new husband and the two danced slowly together.
"Shima Kurushimi is a clan leader and while his clan is more unconventional, he is an honorable person...usually. But what earned them my blessing is that Kurushimi is very passionately in love with Tetsuya, and for the first time since his liberation and the loss of his husband, Naoki, Tetsuya is very much in love as well. I may have my doubts about some of Kurushimi's actions, but I do think they make an acceptable match."
"I guess we have Ichigo to thank for introducing his cousin to Tetsuya."
Byakuya's eye traveled to where Ichigo was dancing with Abarai Renji.
"I suppose," he said, his tone becoming slightly clipped.
Rukia followed the path of his gaze and she shook her head and sighed.
"Nii-sama, forgive me for saying so, but I think you should just admit that you like Ichigo. Go and ask him to dance. I know you want to."
Byakuya's eyes darkened warningly.
"Ichigo looks quite content dancing with Renji," the Kuchiki leader observed, taking a sip of his wine, "Besides, he has had a partner for nearly every dance when he was not eating or mingling. If he was interested in dancing with me, he knows where to find me."
"Huh..." the young woman huffed softly, crossing her arms and scowling.
"Is there a problem?" Byakuya asked with narrowed eyes.
"You and Ichigo are the problem," Rukia complained, "Nii-sama, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you and Ichigo are being ridiculous!"
"Oh? How so?" Byakuya inquired, the tension in his voice increasing and his reiatsu flickering softly.
Rukia flinched, but stubbornly continued.
"It's obvious that you like each other," she stated, matter-of-factly, "It's not a secret. Renji and I are not the only ones who have noticed."
"What have you noticed?" asked the Kuchiki heir.
"Well, first, when Ichigo went to save Orihime, you were ordered to bring us back to Soul Society so that we wouldn't follow."
"And so I did," Byakuya said coolly.
"But you gave us the cloaks and, well..."
"I did not tell you what to do. I only reminded you that I was only ordered to bring you to Soul Society, not to do anything with you upon our return."
"But when I was healing Renji and you were talking to Kurotsuchi taichou about believing Ichigo would end the war, and that he would win!"
"I only pointed out an observation about Kurotsuchi taichou's behavior. No one said anything about what I thought," Byakuya reminded her.
"Um...I guess not," the violet-eyed girl sighed, beginning to look frustrated, "But then, when Ichigo fought that Bount, you did not interfere, even when it looked as though the crest would blow up part of the Seireitei. You let Ichigo handle it."
"It was his mess to clean up," Byakuya said calmly, "And it would have served him right if it had blown up and he would have had to fix that situation himself too."
"Argh!" Rukia huffed, "But when Ichigo fought Ginjou..."
"I was only there to observe and report back what happened."
"You fought Tsukishima."
"I had no choice as I was locked in that other place with him and he was trying to kill me."
"You asked Ichigo to help you by protecting Soul Society when..."
"How did you know about that?" Byakuya asked, frowning.
"Ichigo told me, of course."
"He should learn to keep private things private."
"Nii-sama, you must at least admit to yourself what you feel. And then you will know that it's only right to say something to him!"
"I understand that you want what is best for me," Byakuya said quietly, taking a longer sip of his wine, "but it would not be acceptable for me to go and lower myself to asking for that young man's attention. Why would he want to be with me? We have nothing in common, but that we both protect Soul Society. That is where it begins and ends, Rukia."
"But you like him, Nii-sama!"
"I like him?"
"You know what I mean," the young woman insisted, "You are interested in him...romantically."
"Preposterous."
"Oh really? Then why have you been sitting here, drinking too much wine and watching him every second?" Rukia asked pointedly.
"I have nothing else to do. I do not enjoy loud music and carousing over bottles of tequila as Lord Shima likes to do. I don't dance the types of dances they do. Aside from giving Tetsuya away, I have little to do here at all, but sit and drink wine. And with hair that bright, who can look away from him?"
"Ooh!" Rukia snapped heatedly, standing, "Nii-sama, you are impossible!"
She stomped away, heading for the snack table.
"And you are very kind to concern yourself with your brother's longtime loneliness, Rukia," he whispered when he was sure she was out of hearing.
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"You know," Renji chuckled, "If you keep staring at Taichou while you're dancing with me, you're going to make me jealous."
"What? I'm not staring!" Ichigo objected, "I'm just...enjoying the scenery. Sheesh!"
"Yeah, right," Renji laughed, "That's why you keep turning me so I have my back to him."
"I can't help it if I turn this way or that. I'm just dancing, stupid!"
"All right, fine. You're dancing. But, I've noticed that you've danced with just about everyone here but him. You can't take your eyes off him..."
"Shut up! I can too!"
"So, why don't you just go over there and ask him to dance with you?" the redhead suggested.
"I don't think he likes this kind of dancing," Ichigo answered, "He's really more of the ballroom dancing type. Kuri-kuri likes more modern stuff."
"You can request something else," Renji countered, "The band can play lots of different types of music, you know."
"Well, since I don't do ballroom dance, it wouldn't help anyway," complained the Shiba heir, "Renji, look, I get that you're trying to help, but Byakuya and I are just...really different people."
"But you're attracted to him, right?"
"Huh, who wouldn't be attracted to him?" Ichigo said, rolling his eyes, "He's gorgeous. But he's also stuffy, arrogant and probably not interested in me at all!"
"Hmmm, I don't think so."
"What? Really?" Ichigo asked, looking surprised, "Did he say he liked me?"
"Come on, baka!" Renji chided him, "That guy's never going to embarrass himself just saying stuff like that."
"Then, how do you know he's attracted to me?" Ichigo asked skeptically.
"Because he's drinking way more than usual, and he keeps watching you."
"Maybe he's watching you," Ichigo posited.
"Naw, he knows I like Shuuhei. He's watching you, Ichigo."
"You're dreaming!"
"And you are stupid if you let him get away. I wouldn't...but, he's not interested in me."
"Yeah? Well, maybe I'm not interested in making a fool of myself, asking him to dance and having him enjoy turning me down in front of everyone," Ichigo said sourly.
"How do you know he would turn you down if you don't ask him?"
"Shut up, I'm not going to ask him!" Ichigo snapped.
"Who are you not going to ask what?" asked Kurushimi, his turquoise eyes observing his cousin over Tetsuya's shoulder as they slow danced together.
"I wasn't talking to you!" Ichigo said irritably, "Could everyone just get off my back, please? I'm not going to ask Byakuya to dance!"
Tetsuya turned so that he and Kurushimi were both looking as the Shiba heir.
"Why not, Ichibun?" Kurushimi went on, "He is a good dancer. He's a lovely man. And I can have the band play something I know he likes."
"I am sure if you ask Byakuya-sama, he will dance with you," Tetsuya added, "He is fond of you, Ichigo-sama."
"Oh, don't you start with me too!" Ichigo complained, "Guys, just...forget it, okay? Byakuya and I are too different."
"What do you mean, different, Ichibun?" asked Kuri, "You are both noble sons. He is a leader. You will be a leader someday."
"Yeah, but his family's at the top of the noble food chain. Mine's just coming back from being banished, you know."
"Don't fret the details," Kuri insisted, releasing Tetsuya and placing an arm around Ichigo's shoulders, "You are both proud men, good fighters. You want many of the same things. He is just reserved about what he says and you are too stubborn to go and say something."
"Which is why nothing's ever gonna happen!" Ichigo exclaimed hotly, "I've had enough. I'm going."
"But you cannot leave yet, Ichigo!" Tetsuya said urgently, "You are one of our 'best persons."
"I gave my speech. So did Byakuya. We did that whole thing!"
"Eh, well, there is a tradition in my family that the best persons will share a final toast to the new couple before we end the festivities and Tetsu-hana and I go to our bed to consummate our marriage."
"Kuri-kuri!" Tetsuya protested, blushing, "Do you have to say it that way?"
The Shima leader quieted his new clan wife with a powerful kiss.
"My apologies for my rudeness. But, getting to the point..."
"I'm not going to..."
"But it is part of the tradition!" Tetsuya objected.
"You really believe that crap?" Ichigo fumed, "Kuri-kuri just wants to make me embarrass myself."
"It is a tradition!" Kuri insisted.
"Yeah? Since when?" Ichigo challenged him.
"Since right now. I started it. It will go on forever now. You see? That's one of the privileges of being a leader."
"Kuri-kuri, I know you're trying to help here, but I am not going to go and ask Byakuya to do this."
"You want me to bring him?" Kuri offered.
"No! I want you to leave me alone!"
"Pardon me," Byakuya said, startling the group and making their collective jaws drop, "but I think I heard Kurushimi say that it was traditional for us to share a final toast. If that is the case, then we need to do that now, as I am leaving shortly to return home."
"Great!" Kurushimi said, smiling widely and grabbing Ichigo and Byakuya by the arm, "Come with me."
He led them to the center of the dance floor and took a microphone from the stage, then motioned for the music to stop.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said proudly, "My lovely bride and I will be leaving you soon to..."
He grunted as Tetsuya's elbow impacted with his side and the younger man gave him a scathing look of warning.
"Eh...to...enjoy our wedding night," he continued carefully, "Before we part with you, I want to thank Mamà and Deripie for this wickedly beautiful celebration."
He paused as applause sounded all around them.
"We have one last tradition to honor, and that is to have our two best persons share a final toast to our grand future. Attendants are coming around to fill your glasses, so as soon as all is ready, we will have that toast."
He handed the microphone back to Byakuya.
"I will go and get our drinks," he offered, "Renren-nii, would you mind giving me a hand?"
"Sure thing!" Renji said, falling in with him.
As the two moved into the bar area, Kuri touched Renji's arm and spoke quietly into his ear.
"Renren-nii, I have to ask you, do you remember that joke gift you showed me that you were going to use on one of your friends?" he asked.
"What? You mean the one that...?"
"Yes," Kuri purred, smiling devilishly, "I think I have a better use for it."
Renji glanced back at where Byakuya and Ichigo stood waiting with Tetsuya and Rukia.
"No way!" Renji giggled, "You're drunk out of your mind! They would kill you!"
"They won't know who did it...unless you told someone else about the prank you were planning."
"Nope, not yet," Renji laughed.
"Good then," Kuri said, taking two of the champagne glasses that had arrived and turning so the others couldn't see, "Here, give the packet to me."
Renji snickered.
"It's gotta be we're both drunk off our asses. I would be way too scared to do something like this to Taichou when I was sober!" the redhead chuckled.
He removed a packet from his pocket, then watched as Kuri opened it and emptied the powder it held into Byakuya's and Ichigo's glasses. He carried the two drinks back to their intended victims, smiling widely as he handed them over. He returned to Tetsuya's side and curled an arm around his bride as Byakuya began the toast.
"We would like to thank all of you for attending this blessed event. Ichigo and I wish all of the best to the wedding couple, a long and happy future, to be blessed with children and many enjoyable adventures."
He handed the microphone to Ichigo.
"Like Byakuya said, we want the best for both of you in the future. We know that with the love you have for each other, you are going to be very happy together."
"That and pretty damned productive!" Renji snorted under his breath.
"The wedding couple must say goodnight now," Ichigo went on, but after we send them off with a wedding lullaby, you are all welcome to stay and continue to enjoy the after-reception party! Goodnight everyone!"
Byakuya and Ichigo raised their glasses and took a drink, prompting everyone else to do so as well.
"Goodnight and thank you both for everything!" Kuri said, smirking as he hugged his cousin and then the more reserved, Byakuya.
"Thank you so much, Byakuya-sama!" Tetsuya said, hugging his cousin, "I am going to miss living at Kuchiki Manor, but I know this is the right thing."
"Yes," Byakuya answered, giving him a surprisingly warm hug in return, "You look very happy, watashi no itoko. But...if that man ever breaks your heart, he will answer to me."
Tetsuya blushed and the others broke into hearty laughter.
"Goodnight everyone," Kuri said, turning Tetsuya towards the master's quarters.
"Kuri-kuri?" Tetsuya inquired softly as they walked away, "Are you up to something? You seemed a bit...overly happy back there."
Kuri smiled and kissed the younger man on the cheek.
"The only thing I am up to right now is taking you to bed and showing you how much I love you, my bride!"
"R-really! Kuri-kuri, did you...?"
Tetsuya broke off as his protests were ended with a bout of powerful kisses.
"Come, Tetsu-hana," he said, tugging his new clan wife along, "It is time for the consummation."