"You will refuse."
He stared at his sister, his joy crumbling, his expression changing from excitement to irritation.
"Why?!"
"Because I won't allow for any Shiba to be in this prissy bastards squad." Her tone was concluding; she didn't want to talk about this issue anymore. And it would have been wise to stop talking about it then.
But Kaien wasn't in the mood to give in. Not this time. Not when his sister just hindered not only his career, but also the mere possibility to get closer to the certain black haired noble boy his sister had just called by a name that had made him twitch. He knew that his chances to become friends with Byakuya were nearly non existent; over the last months and years, he had been trying to get as much information as possible concerning the older shinigami, and it seemed that about no one liked the man. Neither did the man himself.
"I will." His tone copied hers, stating a fact rather than a wish.
She gasped, her eyes narrowing. This came unexpected; opposition was something she nearly never experienced, and she hadn't even once heard it from her brothers. It irritated her.
"You wont."
"I will! I wont reject this offer just because you aren't pleased with Ku- the taichou of this squad! I would be a ranked officer there! Why are you trying so desperately to crush all my chances to get a promotion?!" He definitely couldn't mention that he had been especially happy that it was the 5th division. Not in front of his sister, not to any other person he knew. They wouldn't understand anyway.
"You won't." Kuukaku had recovered from her puzzlement.
"I will!!!!"
Smack. His sisters fist had met his face straight on, causing him to reel back some steps. "You won't! Understood?!"
Outch. He had bitten his tongue, the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. But he kept staring her in the eyes recalcitrantly. He would have never considered fighting with his choleric sister. It was inevitable to get hurt in an argument if one did. But this was worth it. Most likely, he didn't stand any chance, but he at least had to try.
Angered himself now, he shook his head.
When his sister had left the room, he curled up into a fetal position, the head buried in his arms. He had given in in the end, knowing full well that Kuukaku wouldn't stop until he promised to refuse the promotion.
"Fuck... fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck..."
His cursing was rather a whisper. He would have loved to join the 6th squad... Had dreamed about being near the single person in his life that had ever given something to him without asking for anything in return. Being near him to, eventually, be able to repay the dept.
Hushed footsteps. A small hand touched his shoulder, pulled back when he winced from the pain the gentle touch sent trough his battered body.
"Kaien-nii?"
The older boy uncurled and sat up, ignoring the painfulness of his movements. Even smiling was hard, but he eventually managed.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
Useless to say. Ganju was worried, and if he looked like he felt, the younger was perfectly right. He would have to go to the doctors.
"But..." Kaien sighed. Him and Kuukaku arguing was a rare sight. About as rare as snow falling in Africa. Their younger brother had never before witnessed it happening. Being shocked wasn't a reaction he shouldn't have expected. He pulled the child into his arms, pressing him cautiously to his chest.
After a while, Ganjus trembling faded away and warm, wet tears soaked the fabric between them. Still comforting his brother, the elderson had to think of himself again. Caring for others always made him forget his own sorrow. But now... Rather then refusing the promotion, which he would have to reason...
How the freezing hell was he supposed to explain his devastated condition to his senior?
