Author's note:
This is AU, set in England, the firsts decades of the 19th century (18-). I'll try to keep most things in character, but sometimes it will not be possible. I think that, given the conditions of the project itself, it understandable.
I'd also like to emphazise that English is not my first language, and mistakes might come in the way.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Bleach characters.
Stormy nights - Chapter 1
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
XXX
"So, Abarai, how was it?"
This was a familiar thing to the young Mr. Renji Abarai. His friend, Lord Kuchiki, would always make this question, every time they visited a new place.
"Oh, it was fine.", he answered, "The people are very interesting, and seem very refined. The ladies are really pretty."
"And what about the couple?" His cold voice asked.
"Oh... They were really nice.", Renji said. " The man is a little eccentric, you know, but his lady is really a thing. They are very amusing."
Byakuya Kuchiki knew them well. Lord Kisuke Urahara and his wife, Lady Yoruichi. They were an odd couple, Urahara being a Lord, but with little money and the woman being very rich, but with no status.
Yoruichi Shihoin was a friend of his late grandfather, Lord Ginrei Kuchiki. Actually, she was his administrator's daugther. She had had a very nice education, but no money. Until the day she became the nurse of a very old woman, who was very rich, but had no family. Before that woman died, she decided to appoint Yoruichi as her heir. A few months after the old woman's death, Yoruichi met Urahara in a ball. They married three weeks after that.
That had happened nineteen years ago. After that, he had few news of the couple. Only that they lived in a very grand and comfortable estate near Karakura Town, and had a daugther, named Soi Fong.
"How's the daughter?", he asked, abruptly.
Renji laughed. "Very pretty. But too serious. She was very nice to me, tough."
"Any other interesting young lady?"
"Well... yes and no.", he wore a reflective expression. "Most of the young women there are already married, or in ways to be so. But they talked about one that was not present. Lady Yoruichi said wonders about her. Everybody did." He paused for a minute, and then added "But she won't be there for a couple of days."
Byakuya didn't say anything about that. He was decided to find a new wife, but the search was being really challenging. Most women he found were greedy, or futile, or just stupid. Most couldn't even be considered plain. And most lacked the class and refinment he was looking for.
This is very frustrating.
That was the main reason he always brought Renji along with him. His young companion was a distant relative, a very handsome and rich man, and had an excellent taste in women. So, before he came into a place, Renji went first, to see if there were some lady worth courting.
So far... none of them were.
He was not desperate, tough. Despite his lack of luck, he was not in a haste to be married. Certainly, thirty-two years of age was not exactly young, but he still had plenty of time.
The real reason he wanted to marry... was that he was tired of being alone.
Byakuya was an only child, and his parents had died when he was only an infant. His grandfather, his only close relative, was a very busy man, and did not have the time to spare with his only grandson. He grew up alone, with the company of servants and tutors.
He was at the age of twenty-two when he got married for the first time. She was a gorgeous woman, beautiful, refined, and very, very rich. She was a second child of a Baron, and her dowry could have been sufficient to buy a state of a reasonable size. But, to his great disappointment, she was very vain. All she could think was about her beauty, and her dresses, and her perfect figure. She died, after losing their child.
The young lord did not like to think about that woman, or her death. He did not love her, as his marriage had been arranged, but thinking about his lost child bring him a deep feeling of sadness, of loneliness, that he sometimes couldn't put up with.
And for that, he wanted a change.
He turned his attention to Renji, who was sitting at the table, reading a book. The younger man was accustomed to this. Byakuya often let himself get lost in his own thoughts. He looked out of the window, to the sea.
Perhaps, coming to this place had been a good idea.
The state he had rented for the season was not very big, but was very beautiful, and refined. Some servants needed to be hired, but the housekeeper seemed to be quite efficient in this aspect. Renji (because Byakuya himself rarely got involved in choosing the place to stay) had done a great job. The view from the window was magnificent. The rooms had very elegant furnishings, the dining hall had a great size, and the room he was in was a kind of drawing room, but it was so big that could be easily converted to a dance room, if needed. Next to this one, there was another room, which must have been used for teaching kids, as it had a chalkboard and a globe. Maybe this was a residence of a family, that had moved, or died, and the state turned out to be empty. He didn't know. He didn't care.
He looked at his young friend. Renji Abarai was a very lucky man, he thought. A very kind person, very easy to like. Renji could make friends almost instantly. And he was an attention catcher, with his very tall and muscular figure, his tanned skin and long, red hair. The women loved him. And it was a little surprising that he was still a bachelor, since many young (and older, must be said) ladies had showed interest in him. Renji was so different from him that some people wondered how they could be friends.
He was cold, and had a sour mood. He had a bad tendency to isolate himself and was self-centered to a point that even Renji sometimes had a hard time dealing with him. He was judgmental and prejudicial. He was not a good person. And he knew that. That was one of the reasons his late wife hated him. The main reason he had only one friend. The only reason he hadn't succeeded in finding a wife yet.
But he would find one. He knew he would. He may not be the best of all the men around, but he had things that attracted most women: money, status and looks. Some women wouldn't care about his bad personality. They'd just ignore it, and deal with it when necessary. It was what had happened to his first wife, anyway.
Before he left the room, Renji addressed to him, in a bored tone, which Byakuya knew well.
"Lady Yoruichi has invited us for the day tomorrow. I could no reject."
"Very well" He said, and left.
XXX
The day started a little gray, some clouds blocking the sun, but the wind told him this was going to be a sunny day. Early enough, Byakuya and Renji started their way to Shihoin House.
"It is a strange name for a house, is it not?" Renji commented, when both men could see the well-constructed building. Byakuya, however, was not surprised by this. Yoruichi liked to show off her richness, her class. Thank Heavens the woman has a very good taste. On its exterior, the house was impeccable.
The gardens were grand, well-tended and full of exotic plants. Many of them might have come from the tropical colonies, some from India. How she could make them resist to the climate of England was a mystery, but the composition of the front yard was perfect.
The house itself was beautiful, but not outstanding. It was a three-story house, with wide windows and doors. The overall aspect was bright, and this suited its owners very well.
Without understanding why, Byakuya felt himself growing nervous as they approached their destination for the day. He was amused by it. He had no reason for nervousness, yet the felling of anticipation, the knowledge that this day represented a change in his so monotonous life made something inside him flutter.
I might find her here, he thought. And he knew it was true. His nervousness, he thought, was a part of a new feeling, the feeling of change. This was change for good.
He almost felt optimistic. Almost. But the sight of the Lady of the house, and her mischievous smile made all the good feelings starting to bloom inside him wither. That woman was so annoying. No wonder he had avoided her for so long.
XXX
Renji was smiling happily. He had liked Miss Soi-fong, and wanted to know her better. Of course, he had also to help his old friend Byakuya, but he knew this time that his stoic partner would find what he was looking for.
-Mr. Abarai! Lord Kuchiki! It's a pleasure to have you here! - Lord Urahara, greeted them.
He was a tall, handsome man in his early forties. His shoulder length, sand blond hair was hidden by a green and white stripped hat that cast a shadow on his gray eyes. Eccentric to the extreme, he usually wore a brown coat all the time. It showed marks of intense use, but the inventor didn't mind them.
-Byakuya! Renji! Glad to see you this early! We are going to have such a funny day! - Yoruichi's voiced greeted them from the entrance hall. It was, as the exterior of the house, elegant and exotic. - Come here, let's eat!
They arrived at the house in time for the morning meal. Delicious cakes and all kinds of cookies were served, in a small dining room in the ground floor. There was another, bigger dining hall, but it was used only on parties. The room they were was cozy and intimate.
-So... Byakuya... - Yoruichi started - You are looking for a wife, huh? It's time!
-Yes! You came to the right place! We have the most adorable girls here in Karakura! - Urahara said. - Our precious Soi-Fong is a fine example of that. I am sure your good friend Renji can say wonders about her!
-Indeed I can! She's a most lovely young lady! - Renji was so excited, it Byakuya couldn't help but smile. - By the way, will she join us for the meal?
Byakuya was silent, only observing their conversation. He knew that Yoruichi would start teasing him at any moment. So, he was enjoying the calm before the storm.
-Oh, no, my dear! - Was her answer - My daughter went out really early today, to find a gift for her best friend, Miss Rukia.
-Miss Rukia? Who's that? - Renji was really curious.
-Oh! She is the lovely girl we talked about last night! Do you remember Mr. Kurosaki, and his family, from yesterday's dinner? - Renji nodded his answer and Yoruichi proceeded. - She's his niece. An amazing young lady.
-Oh yes! The jewel of the county, I must say. - Of course, Miss Rukia and our Soi-Fong are the most accomplished ladies around, are they not, my love?
-Yes, they are! Byakuya, I am sure that you will like the ladies here. Specially my baby and Miss Rukia.
Byakuya didn't like the intimate way Yoruichi talked to him. Sure, she knew him since he was a kid, but times changed. Also, he couldn't understand her remarks about this Miss Rukia. Any other woman would be praising her own daughter, in hopes to get a Lord as rich as he as husband. But, instead, she was putting her praise in another girl.
"Lady Yoruichi," he asked," What's your relation to this Miss Rukia? You seem to be very fond of her. "
The woman looked at him, a knowing look in her face. He knew what he must be thinking. He was suspicious about her praise of Miss Rukia. But Yoruichi knew better. If Byakuya Kuchiki personality had not changed since he was a child, there was no way he and her daughter would fit. Soi-Fong was a good girl, but was spoiled. She would always want things her way. Byakuya needed a softer woman. And Rukia was just it.
"Miss Rukia is a friend of our family. She's a beautiful young lady, with class and an excellent lineage. She has an excellent temper, is highly intelligent and accomplished. She's a very sweet girl, very dear to everyone here."
"Does this wonderful miss have a last name?" Byakuya asked, not humored by her answer.
"Of course she does." Yoruichi said. But not added the information Byakuya had required.
The Kuchiki thought that that was strange. This lady was loved, but Yoruichi wouldn't give him any important information, besides her most attractive personality. She had called her beautiful, but no detail was provided on that.
"Well, well... As soon as my daughter is back, we can head out for a walk. What do you think, Renji?" Urahara said, a smile on his lips.
"Sure! I would love that"
XXX
Miss Soi-Fong Urahara arrived a little past noon. She had gone for a present, but Byakuya had not spotted any packages with her, which was odd. Yoruichi still wanted to have her walk, so they decided to have a picnic.
As they walked, Byakuya took his time in observing Miss Urahara's appearance and personality. She was beautiful, he must say. Sun-kissed skin, straight, black hair styled in a simple manner. Bangs covered her gray eyes, which were sharp and intelligent. Her figure was petite, a stark contrast to her mother's voluptuous form. She had an elegant posture, but was a little stiff. Her movements lacked grace. She seemed cold and spoiled, but smart. She had a dry sense of humor, and was as mischievous as her parents. He didn't like it.
After some time, Yoruichi approached him.
"You see, Byakuya, my daughter is not a good match for you. She's amazing, of course, but her personality is very peculiar. She needs a sweet man, with a good sense of humor, like your dear friend Renji." she stated, wisely. "You need a different type of girl."
"What do you think I need?" he asked, coldly.
"You need someone sweet and caring, and determinate enough to break your barriers. A woman that won't fear you, or give up on you when you present her with your bad behavior." She laughed. "In short, you need a saint."
"And you happen to know a woman like that."
"Yes", she smiled, slyly. "And you'll meet her tomorrow night".
Author's note:
This is the beginning of this small project. It won't be long (something between 6 and 10 chapters, of about 3000 words each) but will be done with love, to the best of my abilities.
I hope you had enjoyed the chapter, and I'm looking forward to know your opinion about it. Reviews are love, and help a lot in writing a story!
See you soon!
