Miya transformed back into her human form, and quickly changed into a black tank top, black basketball shorts, and black tennis shoes.
"You're wearing that?"
"I've got to! It's the best outfit I've got."
"Then take this." Yoruichi, her mother, handed her a navy blue ribbon.
"Tie your hair up with it."
"What? Why?"
"Because. If you ever have to transform, I'm sure that a certain person will find this."
"Okay," she took the ribbon and tied up her hair with it, then put more than a few hairbands on her wrist.
"I think I'll be good with only this."
"Be careful."
"I will be. You've trained me well, Mom." she hugged Yoruichi, blonde hair spilling down her back in a long ponytail.
"Go see your father, and have him brief you again."
"Alright alright." Miya slid past her mother and walked through the house, calling out for her father. Finally, after checking every room in the house, she returned to the kitchen and moved the wooden table that covered the removable planks that led down to the training grounds. She pulled up the planks and dropped down, landing softly on the ground. She called out for her father again, finally finding him by the hot springs.
"Dad! I'm leaving in like, ten minutes!"
"I know. Come here." she sat down by his head.
"I know that ribbon. Is that the game Yoruichi is playing? Two can play at that."
"I've no idea what you're talking about."
"Take this, and never take it off." he handed her a black ribbon. The tied it around her neck.
"We totally just murdered your appearance. Ready to go?"
"As ever. Now can we please go?" he ruffled her hair and stood up.
"Ugh! Dad!" a piece of her hair fell into her face as she shielded her eyes.
"You know, no one there will ever know who's child you are."
"Oh really? I've got your hair and Mom's eyes. I think that's enough, plus whatever these ribbons are. Anyway, let's get going." she stood up from her crouching position.
"And puh-lease get dressed." she jogged away towards the entrance to the Training Grounds. Yoruichi stood there, and looked at Miya.
"Try not to get caught."
"Okay."
"If you do, well, you can figure it out." Urahara, her father, walked towards them, wearing only pants.
"Really?" she grinned and hugged him.
"Aren't you guys sad that your 125 year-old daughter is going to a potentially dangerous place?"
"You'll be fine. Okay, so you go there, and you're supposed to make your way to the Shihoin Manor. Go into Yoruichi's room, and grab the knife hidden under her pillow."
"Check. Then what?"
"Go to Squad Six's prison cells and get Suzu out."
"Alright. Then go to Squad Two and find Soifon and tell her that Yoruichi says, 'Aizen was the beginning.' and then haul ass."
"That's it." Urahara moved over to the large purple things and turned them on. It ripped open the air.
"Ciao." she hugged both of her parents and shunpoed through. She stopped on the other side and watched the gap close. She looked around.
"Where am I?" She spun in a circle, and spotted a gravel path. She jogged over and ran down the path until she found a sign.
"Shihoin Manor, to the left." she read. A voice boomed overhead.
"Intruder in Seireitei! Intruder in Seireitei! Squad Six investigate near the Shihoin Mansion."
"Shit." she started sprinting towards the Manor, and paused when she found the door. She took deep breaths, then opened the door. A few maids stared at her blankly.
"The Intruder is in the Manor!" someone screamed. The maids' eyes grew even larger and Miya sighed.
"My name is Miya Shihoin. I'm Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara's daughter. I'm getting something, and I'll be gone in a jiffy." she dashed to her mother's room and threw open the door. She could tell the house was surrounded now.
"I'll have to take to the trees." she threw the pillows off the bed and grabbed the plain dagger and holster and slipped it around her waist.
"Soul Reapers are fast, damn it."
"Where'd is the intruder?" a calm, placid voice asked. She froze.
"Master Yoruichi's room."
"I don't wanna break through the ceiling though."
If you have to transform, I'm sure that a certain person will find this.
"I didn't wanna have to transform so soon." she muttered, but did. She quickly dragged her clothes out of view, and grabbed the black ribbon and the navy one, then sat down on Yoruichi's bed, ribbon's spread before her. The door slid open and she flicked her tail. The man before her looked her age, about thirty in appearance, which meant his was probably 130. His skin was pale, but in stark contrast, his hair was black as a raven's feathers, and his eyes were a slate gray, relaying no feeling except indifference. He stepped towards her, looked bored. He knelt down and looked her square in the eyes.
"Captain Kuchiki! Find anything?"
"No, Abarai." he looked down at the ribbons, and a spark of recognition passed across his face. He picked up the blue one, and she read the words on it.
"Belongs to Byakuya Kuchiki." she read out loud, then shut her mouth and looked at the man, who looked at her. She stood up and grabbed the black ribbon, and hissed at him.
"Yoruichi's child." he muttered.
"What Captain?" a man with blinding red hair and deep brown eyes peered in the room and looked at Miya.
"What's a cat doing in here? That's a strange looking cat. Pail blonde fur and amber eyes..." she hissed at the man and the man named Byakuya looked back.
"Abarai, look elsewhere. It's just a cat." the red head, Abarai, nodded and left. Byakuya looked at her again and she hissed again, then dropped the black ribbon.
"No!" he picked it up and she prepared herself to jump at him.
"Give it back. I'm not here to cause any harm."
"How did you get here?"
"My father sent me."
"Change back and get dressed."
"Why should I listen to you? From what I've heard from Mom, you have always been a bratty person. You don't look it now though, so you must be deceiving me."
"Change." he turned around and left the room. The black ribbon slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor. He shut the door and she changed back and quickly got dressed. She picked up the black ribbon and tied her hair up again. She turned to the window and silently pushed it open. She crouched on the sill as the door opened. She turned back and looked at Byakuya, who moved the catch her. She jumped out and up. Hanging off a tree branch, she quickly pulled herself up and jumped to the next branch. Clueless Soul Reapers on the ground looked up at the rustling of leaves, but by then she'd passed on. Byakuya watched her go.
"Captain?"
"It escaped."
"The cat?"
"Go round up the squad. Tell them to search the premises."
"Hai!" Abarai dashed away and Byakuya looked at the navy ribbon in his hand.
"Yoruichi, do you care for this child that much?" he closed his hand into a fist. Abarai gathered the squad and told them to watch the premises. Afterwords, on the way back to the room, he muttered, "Captain let the cat escape. If the cat was special, which it obviously was, it couldn't have escaped. He must've let it go. Why would he do that?" Meanwhile, Miya dropped down from a tree, at least a mile away. She looked around after she dropped and took off running, looking for somewhere to stay. She skidded to a stop as she passed a large cave.
"No doubt I can stay there, right?" she slipped inside the cave, and every step she took echoed throughout the cave. She softened her footsteps and looked around. As she neared the back, she could tell the pathway widened into a circular cave that was at least twenty feet in diameter. She gingerly walked into the back and leaned against the wall.
"Alright. Mom would be so disappointed at how I carried that out, but I got the knife, so I'm not unarmed anymore. Next is to get Suzu out. I know where I am now." she cracked her knuckles and looked around the dark cave.
"Sorry Mom, I'm a disappointment. Byakuya, the teen you used to torment is on to me." she pulled out the device in her pocket and stuck it in her ear. The mic stuck out and led down near her mouth. She clicked a button and waited for the static to clear.
"Oi! Mom!"
"Miya? Do you have the knife?"
"Yeah. I'm in a cave. Sorry I didn't do a good job. Seconds after I arrived, they knew I was here. I sprinted towards the Manor and got the knife, but Squad Six had surrounded the house by then. Byakuya Kuchiki found me, but I'd transformed. He found the blue ribbon and figured out I was your kid, then he let me go."
"He let you go?" she winced at the feedback.
"Yeah. I'm not sure what's up though."
"Miya, listen to me. Do NOT stop moving. He's going to be following you. You're not going to know. Start moving now. You cannot stop moving until you're positive you've shaken him off."
"Alright." she stood up and ran forward out of the cave.
"Oh shit." she shunpoed away and he followed.
"What's going on Miya?"
"He's was outside the cave. I'll contact you later."
"Miya, in an hour. If you're still shunpoing then, you need to find somewhere to stop, or you'll collapse and he'll get you for sure. Byakuya-bo won't give up. Now that he knows you're related to me, he will hunt you down."
"I've got it! Bye Mom!" she clicked off and shoved it in her pocket. She looked back over her shoulder, and he was gone. As she turned again, she rushed up to meet him. Quickly, she braced her feet on his him and pushed off, sending herself backwards. She skidded as she landed, and he was grimacing at her.
"Sorry 'bout the dirt." she started off in a new direction this time, then quickly came to a stop at a gorge's edge. She balanced precariously on the edge, then tipped forward and scrabbled for a purchase on the rocks. She found one and held on, kicking down other rocks below her. She looked up and spotted the Captain above her, but he didn't look down. Maybe it's good I can't live up to his expectations. That way I get more leeway to screw up. He opened his fist and she saw the ends of the navy ribbon. Suddenly, the rock her left hand was on broke off and she let out a small shriek. He closed his hand and looked down. She brought her hand over so both hands were on the same small rock and she could feel it breaking loose. Can't get caught. She looked around for another hold and quickly moved over to a ledge. She crouched down, one hand on the rock. Suddenly, he was beside her. She stood up, but her grabbed her wrist before she could shunpo off.
"Miya?"
"Damn it!" he pulled out her transceiver out of her pocket.
"Yoruichi-dono."
"Byakuya, where is Miya?" Thinking fast, Miya yanked her hand out of his grasp, and shunpoed away to the other side of the river.
"She's not here."
"Where is she? Tell me Byakuya!"
"Safe." she glared at him as he dropped it into the river, then shunpoed next to her. She instinctively stepped away from him.
"What do you want?"
"Why are you here?"
"Answer my question first."
"I believe I have." Miya paused, narrowed her eyes, and took a few more steps back.
"Stop following me. You're not going to find anything out." she took a few more steps, then shunpoed off, towards Sokyoku Hill. She skidded to a halt near a hot spring. Mist hung in the air, and soaked her through, quickly, but she was shielded from the eye. She backed up against the hill and knelt down. She watched Byakuya appear and look around, but he didn't see or sense her. Quickly, she shunpoed away again. He moved around the side of the spring to where she'd been and looked down at the dirt.
"Kuchiki-san, don't bother looking for me." he looked back up and around. Miya watched from the tip of Sokyoku Hill, then shunpoed away into the forest.
"I've gotta go to his division. And for sure, Mom'll be coming soon because he dropped my thing into the water." she quickly ran through the woods in the general direction of Squad Six. She skidded to a halt when she neared the edge of the forest.
"Shit." she braced herself, then shunpoed out and towards the barracks. She cleared the walls surrounding in one jump, then landed softly. Good for her that the barracks were empty. She ran around towards the center and threw the doors open.
"Suzu-chan?" she called.
"Miya you didn't."
"I did. Now we've got to hurry. They can't kill you, and Captain Kuchiki is hot on my tail."
"Miya, it's too dangerous!"
"No it's not, just come on!" Miya grabbed the key ring off a wall and unlocked the door, letting the petite brunette out of her cell. She brushed off her uniform.
"Miya, we're breaking all the rules."
"I don't care. You're not the right person, and we all know that." she turned around at the sound of footsteps.
"Go back in!" she hissed, shoving Suzu back inside. Miya followed and shut the door behind her, then curled up in the dark corner of the room. She put a hand on the dagger at her side.
"Inbijiburu." she whispered, and felt herself cloaked. She watched Byakuya you walk into the room. He looked around.
"Suzumaki, have you seen anyone today?"
"No sir!" Miya quietly got up and stalked over to right in front of the Captain, who clearly didn't see her. She aimed, and then struck out with her fist. The Captain ducked down and inspected something on the floor, dodging her fist. Damn. She slid herself through the bars and knelt next to him, then placed her finger in the dirt and dust.
"Hey Captain." she wrote, then backed up as he looked at where she would have been. She moved to his other side.
"You can't stop me." she backed up again.
"Who is the girl, Suzumaki?"
"What girl?" Byakuya stood up and looked at her. Miya took her chance and dragged a finger down his back. He struck back with his elbow. She ducked and blinked, only to find his fist heading towards her nose. He struck and she fell backwards, holding her hands over her nose. He looked at the blood on his hand.
"Oh, that girl. Her name is Shinobu Shihoin. She's Yoruichi-sama's daughter. Actually, I think you two are the same age. But we all call her Miya." Miya got up and let go of her nose and felt the blood flowing down her face.
"Suzu, I hate you. You're not supposed to tell him." she ducked away as Byakuya turned her direction.
"Shinobu, show yourself."
"So you can arrest me? No chance. I'm trying to free an innocent person." Miya ducked again and walked over towards Suzu. She pulled out the dagger and Suzu put a hand on the hilt.
"Don't let go of it." she whispered, then let go. She yanked the door open and Suzu ran, but no one saw. Byakuya looked at Miya, and she wiped away the blood flowing from her nose, then plugged her nose. He took a step towards her and she backed up, then jumped over him and he turned.
"See ya Captain. I can't get caught." she shunpoed away, and he followed, right on her heels. She ran back to the gorge from before, but tripped as she neared the edge. She did a somersault, then grabbed onto a tree root before she fell over the edge. She hung onto the root for dear life. She could almost hear her conscience fighting with itself. I can't get captured! Let go! No! Don't! I'd rather live! Duty before all else! She shook off the thoughts.
"I think like a petty sixteen year old." She turned herself around and tried to get a grip on solid ground. She found a hand, and looked up. Byakuya knelt there, hand out stretched. She sighed and took his hand. He pulled her up and she laid on the grass for a second before jumping to her feet.
"Thanks for the help and all, but seeing as you're still chasing me, I think I've gotta run. Yoruichi will be coming soon since she lost contact. She treats me like a kid." she gave a small wave to the Captain, then turned on her heel. He grabbed her wrist and she turned around.
"Sit."
"No. You're not the boss of me." she pulled out of his grip and walked away, leaving a feeling of accomplishment behind.
"Yoruichi always told me never to defy a Captain. I will do whatever the hell I want to." she walked down the edge of the gorge, and could hear Byakuya catching up.
"Can't you damn Soul Reapers give it a rest?" she started running. As she started getting a bit away, her foot slipped on the edge and she slipped off the side. He made a grab for her wrist again, but only succeeded in sending himself in after her. It took Miya only a few seconds to figure out where'd she land, and how to make her entrance. She shifted herself into a diving position and made a clean cut through the water. Damn, these were my favourite shoes too. She surfaced and looked around as the river swept her along. The Captain wasn't on the edge of the gorge, but being swept along nearby. Miya cursed under her breath and forced herself back under. She opened her eyes, a little too late on her part, as she slammed into a rock that was jutting out of the rapids. Her head banged against the surface and she floated past, unconscious. Mere seconds later, she washed up on a beach, Byakuya soon following suit, only he retained his consciousness. He shook himself out and stood up. Upon finding Miya unconscious, he grimaced. He looked down at her. She seems innocent when she's unconscious. He thought bitterly, then lifted her up and shunpoed back to the Kuchiki Manor.
"Lord Kuchiki!"
"Call a doctor, and prepare a room."
"Yes sir!" several lady maids scurried away to do as he wish, and he set her down on the floor. Another maid came up to him.
"Lord Kuchiki?" he looked up at her."
"Would you like me to find some dry clothes for her?" he nodded and the singular maid ran away. Several minutes later, two maids came back.
"Her room is ready,"
"And the doctor is on his way. He should arrive shortly."
"Would you like us to change her and put her to bed?" he nodded and the two women picked Miya up and dragged her away.
"Did you notice how he seemed softer?"
"He didn't look like he was about to fire us at any second, if that's what you mean." the maids nervously scurried away to the room, and the first singular maid came back with a deep green kimono.
"Change her and put her to bed. Doctor should be here momentarily." the eldest maid said. The younger maids did as told, and undressed Miya from her sopping clothes while the lord of the Kuchiki Manor changed on his own. He adjusted his kenseikan(hair pieces), then paused.
"What is it?" he called, seeming to be addressing air.
"Sir, the doctor has arrived."
"Alright." the maid left and he stood up, then walked calmly to Miya's room. She lay under the covers, and looked like she was asleep, peacefully dreaming, instead of simply unconscious. A doctor, clad in white dress, stood over her, listening to her heart and taking in her vital signs. Suddenly, he put his hands, one over the other, on her chest and pushed. He repeated until she sat up suddenly, coughing up water. After the episode, she fell back into the former position.
"She should be fine now. Keep her warm, and don't let her get up for the next three days." Byakuya nodded, showing indifference to the fact that he was harbouring an intruder in his house. As they maids whispered nervously, only one really got straight to the point, but quietly.
"Does he have feelings for her?" she whispered to her best friend. All maids stopped and looked at her.
"Exactly!" she hissed.
"I'll be taking my leave, Lord Kuchiki. If you need me, I'm of your service." the doctor left, and so did the maids, still whispering in packs, drifting to whichever pack was using a rationale that they agreed with. The head of the Kuchiki family stayed, hovering over the bed. The maids had taken Miya's hair down, and she looked like neither of her parents, still.
"Why did Yoruichi-dono send her child? Why not herself?" the lord pondered, then left back to his division.
Miya(hereby to be referred to as Shinobu, as that is her true name) sat up with a start, scaring the maid that was arranging flowers by her bed post.
"Where am I?" the question was directed at the maid, but the younger girl seemed frozen with fear.
"Hello~?" she waved a hand in front of the maid's face.
"Oh! Sorry, Miss. You're in the Kuchiki Manor."
"What? I've gotta leave-" the maid pushed her down.
"You cannot get out of bed. The doctor has forbidden it, and Lord Kuchiki has ordered all the maids to make sure we make sure that happens."
"What's your name?"
"N-n-nanami."
"Well, Nanami, why did the doctor say I couldn't get out of bed?"
"Because you almost drowned, and your body probably wouldn't be able to handle the stress. Also, you have a slight concussion."
"Great. I'm trapped in the Kuchiki Manor and Yoruichi is going to flip."
"Y-yoruichi-sama? Who is she to you, if you don't mind me prying?"
"Not at all. She's my mom." the maid fainted on the spot and Shinobu stared at the body on the floor.
"Oh my god. What do I do?" she slipped out of the bed and kneeled next to the woman. She shook Nanami's shoulders, but to no avail.
"Uh, uh..." she stood up and opened the door, only to scare the bejesus out of the nearby maids and workers.
"I need some help! Nanami fainted." the nearest person, a tall, gray haired servant, came inside and picked her up.
"I'll deal with her. You better sit back down. We don't want Lord Kuchiki to get mad because you're up." Shinobu was about to come back with a smart ass retort, but restrained herself. As long as she was here, she was safe and wouldn't have to deal with people searching for her. She nodded in agreement, and slid her door shut, then fell to her knees, overcome by a sudden lightness of head. Her vision swam with colours, and the door slid open again. She closed her eyes and grabbed the sides of her head as strong hands lifted her up and put her back under the covers. It took a minute for the colours and lightness to go away, but soon she was able to comprehend speech and such sounds.
"Who allowed her to get up?"
"It was Nanami sir. She... fainted and Miss called out for help." Shinobu considered sitting up, but discarded the thought, knowing it was only cause more problems for her. Instead, she flipped over and looked out the door. Now all pairs of eyes were on her except one.
"Lord Kuchiki, she's alright." someone whispered. Byakuya turned around, and she quickly closed her eyes in pain at the sudden loud ringing in her ears.
"Close the blinds in there, and no one is to go in there until supper." he commanded. Somebody did as he commanded, and the last thing Shinobu saw before pitch blackness was the slight concern in the eyes of the emotionless noble. In the black, she could think clearly without running into issues. Why does he care? When will Yoruichi finally snap and come looking for me? Who's clothes am I wearing? Where are my clothes? She groaned at the sudden groups of thoughts in her head.
"No thinking." she whispered, then allowed herself to relax and drift into sleep.
Shinobu opened her eyes as light streamed through the slightly ajar door onto her face. She squinted and sat up as the door opened more and Nanami stepped through, carrying a tray with soup on it.
"Oh, good! You're awake. I was afraid I'd have to wake you up, and that's always slightly awkward with me."
"Nanami, what time is it?"
"Dinner."
"Same day?"
"Yes. Oh, and sorry, Miss, about my episode earlier. I do that when I get extremely nervous or overwhelmed."
"It's quite alright. And please don't call me Miss. Call me Shinobu or if you must, Shihoin-dono."
"Okay, Shihoin-dono. Well, here we have some rice curry and a bit of special soup. Eat up, and get some rest."
"Nanami, thanks for taking care of me. I was a little, rude earlier. I should be happy to even be alive, I guess." Nanami smiled in the faint light, looking a bit like an angel. Shinobu crossed her legs under the tray and tasted the soup.
"This is amazing!" she winced.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little above volume tolerance." she quickly downed the whole bowl, and finished off the curry.
"Thanks."
"That was fast. Ah! I'm sorry Shihoin-dono! I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"Nanami! Stop apologizing for every little thing. You don't need to keep everything to yourself. A normal person would make that remark."
"Ahhhhh! I'll try Shihoin-dono!"
"Ouch." she probed her temples at the volume.
"S-"
"Don't. Just take this stuff, alright?"
"Alright." Nanami quickly left and Shinobu was left with only a little light.
"Alright, I can't stand this." she pulled the covers back and stood up. Waiting a few minutes until she moved, she silently walked into the hall and looked up and down the passage.
"Empty." she sighed.
"Hardly." she shrieked, then grabbed her head and squinted back up at the head of the clan.
"Thank you very much." he didn't dignify that with a response.
"Actually, thanks for making me stay here. I'd probably be in jail, passed out, if you hadn't brought me here. So thanks." she winced as colours covered her vision again, and he caught her before she fell over in the spot.
"Lay down."
"Good idea." she whimpered. He set her back down on the bed.
"Don't push yourself." she nodded, the only physical movement she was sure she could tolerate at the moment. He sighed.
"Just get better." Byakuya left with that, leaving a very bewildered Shinobu to agonize over her head. He headed down the hall and turned into the dining room where a raven haired girl sat, her violet eyes wide and staring at the food in front of her.
"This is amazing, nii-sama!" she cried.
"Yes it is. Rukia."
"Yes Nii-sama?"
"Don't go down that hall."
"Yes Nii-sama!" Rukia bit back her question, but her eyes betrayed her curiosity. The young lord sat down next to Rukia.
"This is the new cook's food, is it not?"
"It is." It would kill him to talk more. She thought.
"I think I'm going to have to give him my thanks." they ate in silence for a few minutes, before the head of the family excused himself and left his food half untouched. Rukia stared at his plate.
"Nii-sama seems distracted recently." Rukia watched Nanami come out of the Forbidden Hall.
"Nanami-chan!"
"Eh! Rukia-sama!" the maid instinctively lowered her voice, for reasons unknown to Rukia.
"What's back there?"
"I can't tell. Sorry Rukia-sama. Lord Kuchiki has deemed everything in that hall to be kept secret."
"Did he? Alright, you can go." Nanami scurried away. Now, Rukia was not one to disobey her brother, but now she really was dying of curiosity. Byakuya had been acting nicer recently, more lenient, and if the source of this change was in the hall, she really wanted to find out. She finished her food and the servants came and took the dishes away.
"Nii-sama will be honoring Nee-san right now." she whispered, "Which means I can go for a quick peak." she slid silently into the hall and down to where there wasn't dust collecting from disuse at the base of the door. She slid the door open, and was surprised to find a girl about Byakuya's age laying in the bed, her back turned to Rukia.
"Hello?" the girl didn't respond, obviously asleep. Rukia slid into the room and closed the door. She went around to the other side of the room and looked at the girl's face.
"She looks like Urahara-sama and Yoruichi-sama. And she's beautiful." she gasped. The girl's eyes snapped open and Rukia vanished, quickly returning to her own room.
"Why does Nii-sama have a girl hidden in the Forbidden Hall?"
Shinobu snapped her eyes open. Light streamed through two large windows, and through the shades covering them. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, chasing sleepiness away.
"I wanna go explore, but I might get kicked out." the door slid open and Nanami stepped inside with a plate of eggs and french toast.
"Breakfast?"
"Yes. I must warn you though. A, this food is hot. B, your mother is here, and severely pissed."
"Good to know." at the stricken look on Nanami's face, Shinobu corrected the misunderstanding.
"I mean about the food. That my mom is here and not happy is probably a really bad thing. When she gets mad, you better clear the surrounding area." Nanami's face grew worse.
"Sorry! It was a joke." Shinobu tasted the food, swallowed, then stuck her tongue out.
"Hot hot hot hot hot!" Nanami laughed.
"Water?"
"Please!" Shinobu fanned her tongue, then took a long swig of water. Both girls froze at the shouting voice.
"Byakuya, let me in there now. She's my daughter. I have a right to see her."
"You're only going to make her feel worse. How about tomorrow?"
"KUCHIKI!"
"Ow..." Shinobu grabbed her temples, and Nanami opened the door and stuck her head out.
"Yoruichi-sama, Shihoin-dono isn't feeling good, and your shouting isn't helping."
"Sorry, sorry." Yoruichi took a deep breath.
"Tomorrow after lunch, Kuchiki." and with that Yoruichi left. Nanami sighed in relief, then pulled her head back in.
"Thanks, Nanami-chan." Nanami's eyes widened and she fell backwards.
"Not again!" she winced at the volume level, then slid out of bed and crouched beside the unconscious girl. The door slid open and Byakuya peered inside. Shinobu looked up.
"I'll send someone for her."
"No! She can stay in here. I don't need the bed, anyway." Byakuya nodded, then shut the door again. Shinobu picked the girl up and put her under the covers, then laid back across the foot of the bed. Minutes later, Nanami sat up.
"Shihoin-dono?"
"You're awake? Okay, right of the bat, don't worry about your 'episode'. It happens. And two, you're staying in here."
"Why?"
"You've been taking care of me. My turn to return the favour."
"N-n-no!"
"I insist. Sit back and relax. I can take care of my self for a little bit. Gosh, you act like I'm not as old as your almighty lord."
"You're as old as Lord Kuchiki?"
"Wow. You're going to get older and have an inferiority complex."
"A what?"
"And Kuchiki-san is going to have a superiority complex. Oh wait! He already has that."
"Don't speak meanly of Lord Kuchiki! He'll no doubt find out and blame me."
"Something tells me that if he does, he'll loose a few teeth if he tries to blame you." Nanami looked absolutely aghast at the suggestion and Shinobu sighed.
"I'm going to have to break you into this little thing called humor."
"I know what humor is! It's like jokes and stuff. Like, why did the chicken cross the road?"
"Nanami?"
"Yes?"
"That's ancient. Time to break into the new style." Nanami sighed.
"I know. My mom always said I was old fashioned. That's why I work here."
"Because you're old fashioned?"
"And someone who acts old fashioned needs to work someplace old fashioned."
"Puh-lease. As if. I'm moderately modern, and I work at a candy shop that looks ancient. Like, dinosaur old." Nanami's jaw dropped.
"To do list? Humor, and exaggerations."
"You're making a to do list?"
"No. I'm making a grocery list."
"Really? Then maybe you should add chee-"
"To do list. Humor, exaggerations, and sarcasm. Anything else?"
"Well-"
"Never mind. Let's start with humor." and so they day went, Shinobu trying to get Nanami to get a grasp on the modern world, little did they know that Byakuya would pass by frequently and listen. And Rukia did the same, watching her brother as he entered the hall, and left, each time seeing him leave with a small smile. Around dinner time, a maid threw open the door.
"Nanami! So this is where you've been all day! Neglecting your duties and hiding out, annoying our guest! Come, we must punish you." one look at Nanami's face told Shinobu all she needed to know. She stood up and walked up to the elderly maid.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
"No disrespect to you, ma'am, but Nanami cannot neglect her duties."
"She wasn't neglecting them. She was with me the whole time. I asked her to stay with me."
"All do respect, ma'am, but that is no excuse for that horrid child bugging you with her graces."
"Horrid child? Nanami is an amazing person! You haven't gotten to know her."
"What's going on?" Byakuya walked down the hall, and could almost see the sparks flying between the maid and Shinobu.
"This, elderly maid," Shinobu struggled to not call the woman a hag, "is accusing Nanami of neglecting her duties when I asked her to stay with me. She's insisting on inflicting punishment. If you're going to do anything to Nanami, you'll have to do it to me first, since I'm the one to blame." everyone was astounded at her willingness to give her pride up for another, but Byakuya, of course, showed no such feelings.
"Do you have anything to say, Oorudo Misu(Old Maid)?"
"Only that Nanami deserves punishment." Shinobu looked like she was about to start yelling again, but one pleading look from Nanami stopped the outburst. Shinobu bit her lip, waiting for Byakuya to pass judgment.
"Nanami will stay with Shihoin-dono whenever she is needed." Shinobu kept her inner cheering to herself. The old maid agreed, bowed, and shuffled away, mumbling incoherently about Shinobu and her bad influences. Shinobu looked at Byakuya.
"Thank you, Kuchiki-sama." she bowed. After a few seconds of silence, she moved to shut the door.
"Would you care to join me for dinner?" she blinked.
"She would love to!" Nanami dragged Shinobu back inside and shut the door.
"What is up with you? You just got invited to dine-" Shinobu shook her head and gave Nanami a stern look at the formal word, "eat dinner with Lord Kuchiki. You can't just freeze up like that."
"Uh, sorry, but it's not everyday you get invited to eat dinner with one of the four great noble families."
"Uhm, Shihoin-dono..."
"Right right, I am of one of those houses, but still. I grew up for fifteen years here, then the rest of my life has been spent in a candy shop where all forms of manners have been lost to my dad's stupidity." Nanami laughed at the obscenely long explanation.
"Alright. We've got about twenty minutes until dinner. Let's make you even prettier."
"Huh? What?" Nanami forced Shinobu to face a mirror, then pulled out a large hairclip and pulled back the sides of her hair into the clip, bringing Shinobu's face out of hiding.
"Wow. You're eyes are a lot brighter than I thought."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." she looked at herself in the mirror.
"I looked like a female Urahara." she laughed, and Nanami pulled her hair down, brushed it out flat, then pulled it back up.
"I feel overdressed for dinner. Can I leave my hair down?"
"Fine. You were only a bit overdone."
"Whatever! Anyway, try not to leave the room. If that hag comes around, I don't want her dragging you away."
"I'll try my best."
"Time to go?"
"Best to be earlier than Lord Kuchiki."
"It's going to be super awkward, isn't it."
"Probably. But just go with the flow."
"Alright. Ciao." she gave Nanami a small, sisterly hug, then stood up and opened her door. She walked to the end of the hall and stepped out, peering around the room. An unaware Rukia sat at the table.
"You must be Rukia!" Rukia looked up.
"Yoruichi and Urahara tell me all kinds of things about you. All good though. I promise."
"May I ask who you are?" Shinobu came down and sat on the left of Rukia.
"Oh. Right. I'm, well... I guess I get called Shihoin-dono here, but Shinobu or Miya are okay too."
"Alright, Shinobu-san. So what is your relation to Yoruichi-sama?"
"Oh. Well, she's my mom. But I'm a little old to call her that, so don't."
"You're Yoruichi-sama's child?"
"Yes?"
"I'm so sorry, senpai!" Rukia bowed and Shinobu's eyes widened. She started laughing nervously.
"Rukia-chan, please don't! I didn't grow up in that kind of environment, so that's not normal for me."
"Okay! Has Nii-sama been treating you well?"
"Eh, yeah." a faint smile hinted at Shinobu's lips. Suddenly, Rukia's excitement was dulled to a buzz as her brother entered the room. He seems to douse all happiness. Hm. Maybe I need to act like a noble now? Servants brought out giant dishes with fish and despite her will, her mouth fell open.
"Holy cow! That is a ton of food! Do you seriously eat this all on your own?" Rukia openly laughed at Shinobu, so neither women noted the faint smile on Byakuya's usually expressionless face. But an old maid sure didn't miss it.
"Seriously! This fish must be on something, 'cause it's like, super size. What kinda fish is this?"
"Salmon."
"HOLY COW." Rukia laughed again. Shinobu looked at the rest of the fish on the other two's plates.
"Yours are even bigger! Oh my god!" the maids silently disapproved as they watched Shinobu freaking out over the size of the fish.
"She's of nobility, yet she acts like a mere peasant. And I dare say she's affecting Lord Kuchiki."
"So what do recommend?"
"Hm. Maybe try and make him see the bad side of her. Everyone has a bad side."
"I think he's already seen it, and admires it." the eldest maid refrained from smacking the other.
"Let us go get Nanami and inflict punishment while they're too busy. Afterall, Lord Kuchiki didn't say that we couldn't punish her, and he didn't say we couldn't do it while the Mistress is away."
"But it was implied."
"Implications could be anything. It could be implied that he doesn't like sweets from him rejecting a pickle."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Exactly. Now, we go." they stayed in the shadows and dragged Nanami away, while Shinobu finally started eating. As she neared the finish of dinner. A scream rang through the house.
"What was that?" she looked around and wiped her mouth off. Apparently, Rukia nor Byakuya knew either.
"If I may be excused." Shinobu narrowed her eyes as she stood up, and walked in the direction of the scream.
"Stop! Please stop!" she opened a door and peered inside, aghast at what scene met her eyes. Nanami was kneeled on the floor, hands tied behind her, and almost bare as the maids whipped her.
"Such harsh punishment." she gasped. Just as the old maid was about to crack the whip again, Shinobu slid through the door and stood in front of Nanami. The whip slashed across her face and she gripped the mark as she doubled over in pain.
"Shihoin-dono!" the old maid, not paying attention while talking to another old maid, cracked the whip again, slashing Shinobu's neck. She dropped to her knees, panting.
"Oorudo Misu..." the old maid with the whip turned her attention back to who she was whipping, then caught her breath.
"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no."
"Shihoin-dono..."
"Nanami, are you alright?"
"Shihoin-dono, you're bleeding!"
"Are you alright?"
"Y—y-yes, b-b-but you're not!"
"I'm fine. Trust me." Shinobu took a deep breath and rose back up to her feet and looked at the maid.
"Whipping? For being with me? I never knew I was so unwanted."
"You're not, for sure, Shihoin-sama."
"Then why, why whipping? If you absolutely had to punish her, how about scrubbing the floor in the kitchen or something?"
"Whipping is a personal favourite of the eldest maid... so whatever she says, we do."
"She's just a young girl. Maybe you should think for yourselves. It's common sense."
"Shihoin-dono, we need to get your face cleaned up..."
"Nanami. Just Shinobu."
"Whatever I call you, we still need to get your face treated." Shinobu took a deep breath, then unbounded Nanami's wrists and found her clothes.
"Get yourself dressed first." Nanami did as told, then Shinobu ushered her out of the room, where Rukia stopped the duo, Byakuya not far behind.
"Shinobu-san! Your face!" Shinobu shook her head.
"But your bleeding!"
"Everybody bleeds. Besides, it doesn't hurt much."
"What happened?"
"They were whipping me, and-"
"And I got in front of her to keep her from getting hit again." she managed a feeble smile at her stupidity.
"I didn't stop to think that the one maid wasn't paying attention and I should've taken another approach." Rukia ran into the room and started shouting at the maids, while Byakuya inspected the marks. She flinched when he touched the edge, then forced herself to stay still.
"We should call the doctor again."
"It's not really that serious, is it?" she reached up to touch the one on her face, only to rest her hand on Byakuya's. She quickly pulled away, and he did the same.
"Sorry." they both said. She grinned, but he just didn't react. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"If you really need to call the doctor at this hour, go ahead, but I think I'll be fine." the lord nodded and disappeared. She sighed.
"Rukia, stop yelling at people, it won't get anything done."
"But-"
"Just stop, please."
"Alright, but lets get you back to your room."
"But what about dinner! I feel bad for making you guys leave."
"Oh, we finished. The servants have got the dishes."
"Ahh..." she wailed.
"Don't worry about it, Shinobu-san. Let's just get you back to your room." Rukia led Shinobu back and forced her to sit on her bed. Nanami sat beside her.
"I'm so sorry, Shinobu. I should've protected you."
"You make it sound like I live here on a regular basis. And you sound like it's your fault. It's not. I chose to get in front of you."
"But if I'd stayed in here and resisted the maids..."
"Nanami, you can trace back as far as you want, and it's still my fault. I'm the one who fell off a cliff and took Kuchiki-san with me."
"Oh my!"
"Nanami..."
"Get over it. How is your cheek and neck?"
"They sting like fire, but I'm fine."
"Shinobu that's serious!"
"No, it really isn't. And if you obsess like this, I'm going to kick you out of my room."
"Alright, I'll stop." Nanami smiled meekly and Shinobu shook her head. The door slid open again and the same white clad doctor stepped inside and set his medical kit down.
"What happened?" Shinobu opened her mouth to explain, but he put a finger on her lips.
"Not you."
"Shinobu was eating dinner with the Kuchiki's, and I was being beaten for neglecting-" she froze at the look Shinobu gave her, "I mean, for being with her and not doing my work. I'm guessing she heard me scream and came to find out what was going on, then got in front of me, and the old maid didn't pay attention and whipped her twice." the doctor pressed an alcohol soaked cloth on her skin and she winced at the pain, and the smell. He cleaned up the blood, then bandaged her cheek and moved onto her neck.
"You're going to be plenty sore in the morning, Miss Shinobu. And why were you up?"
"It's been two days! Besides, I was only walking around this room at first." he grimaced.
"Well, if you didn't have any problems today, then I guess you can get up. But take it easy, and no more getting hurt, please."
"I'll try my best." he finished with her neck and she sighed as he left.
"I really should try, shouldn't I?"
"Yeah, you should." Nanami grinned, then Shinobu yawned.
"Oh! Get some sleep, Shinobu. You being tired tomorrow will make your mom even more mad."
"Oh my god I forgot she was coming! Where are my clothes I came here in?"
"They should be dried. Want me to get them?"
"Yes. Mom always thought that I shouldn't grow up like a noble, and this kimono looks really expensive. I love it and all, but she'll freak if I look like a purebred noble."
"Well, you do look like a purebred noble, that's for sure."
"I'll need a hairbrush too."
"Okay. I'll go get them now."
"I'm changing before I go to bed, so I'll look like I've been wearing them. I've got a non-noble image to keep up." she sighed. Most people in Soul Society would love to just be here, and be taking advantage of everything, and all she wanted was her life to remain semi normal. Nanami dashed away and came back soon with the clothes. Shinobu quickly changed and pulled her hair up into a ponytail with the black ribbon beside her bed.
"Is that ribbon special?"
"My dad told me to never take it off. And my mom gave me another ribbon, but I lost that one."
"You don't seem like a ribbon girl."
"Don't deny the parents." she shrugged and laid down in her bed.
"Take it easy tonight, and I'll-"
"Don't wake me up tomorrow. I'll wake up on my own, alright?"
"Okay." Nanami left, only to run into the lord of the house.
"Oh! Shinobu is going to sleep, but you're welcome to talk to her if you need." she bowed, then walked the other direction, fleeing for her life. Byakuya looked at the door. He hadn't really planned on going inside, he'd just been listening, but now he didn't know what to do. Going with the normal facade, he continued past the room with indifference. Shinobu sighed when he left, secretly hoping he'd come in.
"But what would I say?" she mumbled, curling up under the sheets.
When she woke up, she could easily tell it was after noon.
"Kuchiki, let me see her!"
"She's not awake yet." she rubbed the sleep away from her eyes and stood up. She looked at herself in the mirror, then adjusted her hair and opened the door.
"Hey Kuchiki-san. Hey Yoruichi."
"Miya!"
"Wow this is really confusing." Yoruichi almost strangled her daughter in the attempt to hug her. Shinobu tried, in vain, to push Yoruichi off. When the darker skinned woman finally let go, Shinobu coughed and backed up a step.
"Do not do that again."
"I thought you were dead or dying."
"Uh, hello. You can't kill me. People have tried before, remember?"
"Still."
"Yoruichi-dono, be careful." Byakuya warned as he slipped closer.
"What happened to your face?" Yoruichi turned on Byakuya.
"Was this you?"
"No, for god's sake Mom calm down before I smack you!"
"How long have you kept her here?"
"Mom, if I'd have wanted to leave, I would have. It's not like a prison. There's just a few rules. I actually kinda like it here." Both Yoruichi and Byakuya seemed shocked by the last statement.
"What? I grew up as a noble for fifteen years, then you whisked me away. It's not my fault if I like this style of living. And also, they have the biggest fish! You should have seen them! They were like, two feet long! It was ginormous." Byakuya watched as Shinobu told Yoruichi about all of her adventures and discoveries in the house, a slight smile hinting at his lips at her enthusiasm. The old maid watched in secret.
"We must do something."
"How about that something is nothing? Lord Kuchiki told us not to meddle in his personal affairs."
"This is hardly personal."
"It's personal if it's his decision. Now let's get out of here."