Unbinding Embrace
Chapter Two – Preparation for Altercation
"We Zanpakuto are nothing but weapons used for fighting. I think there's something in our hearts that we're lacking. I was proud of my powers. So I thought it would be nice to move about as I please and Muramasa took advantage of that weakness in my heart. Back then, I truly believed that I could do anything on my own. But this incident has made me realize otherwise. There's nothing a weapon such as myself can do...Without you there to serve as my heart, I am merely a weapon of destruction."
Sode no Shirayuki's long pale lavender hair shimmered with the shine of the moon behind her. Something was amiss. Her dark blue eyes were full of sadness and despair; she appeared to be close to tears. Her cheeks were a ghostly white, stained. And her lips were trembling softly; her pain was evident through her constant sobs that could be interpreted as perpetual mumbling. Her brows were knitted together with anguish, her breath was short.
The snow glittered as it fell down upon Soul Society, almost covering it in a blanket of white mist. The towns were silent and still. The usual sound of rolling carts had seized earlier on, but there was a constant whispering plaguing the corners of the streets.
Then the ground beneath the land of the sleeping souls began to scorch like fire.
With a long silent breath Sode no Shirayuki pulled her Zanpakuto from her left palm. Tears cascaded down her face as she wept louder and louder. Her usual sophisticated and stoic presence had been shattered by all of the negative emotion clouding her aura. It blazed.
Rukia watched on, paralyzed with fear. She was unable to move, speak or cry for any help but her mind screamed out in utmost fear. Her fingertips began to burn. Sode no Shirayuki screwed her eyes shut and cried. Then she drove her sword towards Rukia at a speed she'd only ever witnessed Yoruichi use, her eyes widened in surprise. The sword pierced her heart and followed through to her back. Now the world around her was crumbling, literally.
The sky was falling. The walls of Soul Society began to shudder and violently shook before they all suddenly burst in a mass of pink light. Petals fluttered down onto the land Rukia could recognize as Seireitei, and fell into a puddle of red residue. Rukia violently awoke and clutched her heart. The heart… She breathed deeply, feeling around her chest for the pierce of the blade. She was sweating profusely; her sheets were wet and sticky. The ache in her chest was abominable and her eyes watered in turn as she desperately tried to catch her short breath.
She searched her room with her teary eyes and slowed her irregular breathing pattern. She looked to her Zanpakuto in the corner of the room, in its usual slumber. She frowned at it and then launched towards it like a rocket missile.
She grabbed the long sword and opened her wardrobe, threw it inside and shut the door quickly. She looked around the room with shifty eyes; her brow collected the sweat pouring down her pearly skin. Slowly her legs gave way and she slid her back against the wardrobe and fell to the ground with a soft and tired thud. The pain in her heart gradually reseeded. She breathed silently and once again fell into a sleep only for it to be an empty rest.
Rukia's violet coloured eyes rapidly moved as she tried to watch what the women in the room were doing around her, but her vision was mostly obscured by the veil in front of her face. She desperately tried to calm her quickly shortening breaths of air as she stood on the high platform. Who knew a dress could be so uncomfortable?
"You must relax Kuchiki-san or your kimono will be stitched incorrectly." Said the seamstress at Rukia's feet. Rukia bit her lip and did her best to listen to the woman's words although in the pit of her stomach, both hunger and tiredness resided.
The seamstress took a few large steps back to observe Rukia then shook her head and sighed almost angrily, "You are awfully petite, the kimono must be taken up more." She explained in a slightly annoyed tone, Rukia sighed impatiently. Her feet were beginning to ache, more so than when she had been trying on footwear for the wedding and rough hands of the women pinch and tired at her skin.
Nearly straight after the thought, a woman with long brown hair spoke. "When you're finished we can try on the shoes again," she said motioning the large crate in her arms up towards Rukia." The order has arrived." She said courteously, her tone was sweet as she looked at the prized seamstress tending to Rukia's dress.
She was ushered away quickly by another old woman who mumbled something angrily about her 'getting in the way'. She was very large and had a bad habit of constantly barging everyone she walked past.
"Byakuya will probably be very busy during this time." The seamstress mentioned suddenly, her old wrinkled face grew into a smile as she gently pinched at Rukia's cheek. The other women in the room murmured and chuckled in agreement. "But this is for the best." She whispered moving away to collect more dress samples. Only just hearing the comment, Rukia frowned, not sure if the statement was directed at her or something else entirely. She felt almost angry, mostly due to her tiredness and it was only her will power keeping her awake whilst the women in the room continued to pick at her.
Sensing the presence of someone she was more acquainted, Rukia looked off to her side, approaching her was an orange blob which she instantly recognised. Instantly throwing back the veil of her headpiece she smiled.
"Orihime?" Rukia said astonished. Orihime's eyes trailed from the train of Rukia's long dress up to her face and then a huge smile rose upon her face.
In delight she clasped her hands together and amiably exclaimed, "Rukia-chan! Oh wow, you look adorable!" Orihime stood in a pretty spring dress with little flowers to decorate it; her hair was long and wavy as it curved her back, Rukia smiled at her although she wondered how she was even inside of the building. In the early hours of the morning she had been rushed into the back of a dress shop she'd later found out to be a wedding inspired establishment.
Rukia watched as her friend moved from the shoji door way and up to examine the kimono, and then she realised that her human friend was not alone. A busty and tired looking Rangiku made her way through the room behind Orihime, tip-toeing gingerly as not to stand on anything upon the heavily cluttered floor. Isane followed behind in the same fashion to ogle the small Shinigami as she passed multiple stacks on boxes which she identified to be full of expensive clothing.
Rukia smiled again. "Wait a second; I need to take this off." Rukia said grabbing the bottom of her dress and raising it, she stepped off of the platform gingerly yet quickly and walked away into a private changing cubicle located at the farer side of the room to have her dress removed.
Patiently waiting as Rukia came back the other girls chatted amongst each other quietly.
"I am never trying that on again." Rukia grumbled quietly as she returned. A frown plastered her face.
"I thought…" Orihime said pointing to the dress. "Isn't that your wedding dress?" Orihime pointed coyly as a woman carefully zipped up the expensive looking dress Rukia had been wearing in a transparent plastic sleeve. Rukia sighed slightly, maybe for a second she hoped she wasn't going to be reminded of her upcoming nuptials.
"No, they just keep making me try on things." Rukia said quietly walking around the tea coloured tatami flooring. Women sitting quietly on the ground continued sowing dresses on their laps, Rukia had never witnessed so many highly expensive clothing – even in the presence of the few nobles she had met.
"Could you help me?" Rukia asked shortly, Orihime raised an orange eyebrow and pursed her lips I thought, "I don't know much about dresses and kimonos," she scratched her head a moment. "And I've been allowed to pick some of the things for the wedding, including parts of the dress."
"Oh Rukia-chan! I'd love to!" Orihime cried as she grabbed Rukia into a large and friendly hug. Rukia calmly softened against her and smiled also. The other girls walked over to the two younger ones.
"Well that depends, what types of dress do you like?" Orihime asked. Rukia raised an eyebrow and looked away to think, distantly.
"I'm…not sure." She spoke gently. "I don't really wear dresses, the most I ever have is when you and Ichigo bought me some in the real world when I was staying there." She explained and then sadly thought back to how they had all be confiscated upon her return to the Kuchiki mansion. She really should have known better to think they would have allowed her keep them. Byakuya already showed complete distain for allowing any real world merchandise in his home to which now there was none. Orihime nodded in understanding and tightened her lips showing Rukia that she was deep in thought.
"Any ideas Rangiku?" Orihime said looking up to the heavy chested lady.
Rangiku suddenly snapped back to reality from her sudden daydream. "Huh? Oh..." Rangiku walked around Orihime to get to Rukia who had found a seat on the sofa in the corner of the room, she eyed her closely for a moment, squinting slightly. Rukia frowned at the attention but didn't do anything as she waited for the tenth division lieutenant's judgement.
"Well, I think you should wear something that lets Byakuya know what he's in for." She said in a devilish smile. Rukia dropped a brow and shifted her gaze to Orihime who was smiling nervously and shaking her head at the comment.
"Oh no." said Isane. "Don't listen to Rangiku, Rukia. Just wear something you feel nice and comfortable in." Isane said with a kind and slightly nervous tone, she giggled softly and Rukia found it hard to understand the reason why and looked back over to Rangiku whose tell-tail smile said it all.
"Pfft." Rangiku laughed loudly, Isane shot her a glare from the corner of her warm grey eyes, "Something that will make that man sing." She said leaning over at Rukia, her ample bosom just inches from the pixie faced girl. Rukia moved backwards uneasily and Rangiku laughed loudly in return, her mind filled with salacious thoughts.
Orihime suddenly had a moment of inspiration and slyly added; "Something low cut?" she probed, naively estimating what could be floating around in Rangiku's clouded mine. Rukia's violet eyes widened.
"Low cut? Ha." Rangiku snorted. "She hasn't got much there you know." Rangiku said poking her large breasts with a single finger. Orihime shyly smacked her palm over her eyes in embarrassment. Rukia didn't seem fazed and continued to keep very quiet, watching the girls chatter and argue.
"Rangiku! That's mean!" Isane said giving the lieutenant of the tenth division a good telling off, "She's got more than what she used to! She's still a growing girl!" she observed politely, coyly looking over to Rukia's covered chest. Again, Rukia didn't say anything whilst she waited for Orihime to speak up.
"Does it have to be something traditional Rukia?" Orihime asked, unaware of most traditions in Soul Society. "Is there anything you would have to wear traditionally over here?" she asked. And by 'over here' Rukia grasped that Orihime meant other than in the real world wear in modern times, mostly anything was appropriate for a wedding.
"I, well, I've never been to a wedding. I wouldn't know." Rukia said simply.
"Never been to a wedding?" they all chorused in shock. Rukia ogled them all strangely and shrugged her shoulders lazily. Isane looked over to Orihime and Rangiku obviously and gave them an odd look Rukia seemed to be annoyed by.
"There are more important things in the world." She replied gruffly and then cleared her throat before turning to the human girl by her side. "And I don't think it has to be very traditional," she said thinking back to the many comments of the women previously, it was strange to see them all fussing over her when they never before had showed her so much attention, and using more relaxed kimonos she had seen nobles wear for her to try on, "Just appropriate…whatever that means." She said whispering the last part in an audible sigh. Isane nodded.
"Maybe so but you can't say that now that it's your wedding we're talking about." Rangiku stressed.
Rukia's thoughts drifted away as the others continued spewing their golden ideas. She looked around the large room, women were still scurrying about holding boxes upon boxes of clothing and a few were in the next room speaking about the arrangements and multiple gatherings that were soon to be arranged. I wonder if they were all like this for his last marriage, she thought sighing. Had everyone been so involved and frantic for Hisana? When she was marrying Byakuya? Maybe she shouldn't ask as the inhabitants of the mansion rarely ever mentioned her let alone her name. She wondered why that was but not enough to risk getting into trouble.
"I have an idea!" Orihime exclaimed positively. This loud exclamation brought Rukia's thoughts back to the conversation. All of the girls were once again staring at her intensely, looking her up and down and thinking deeply. What were they up to now?
"What's your favourite colour?" Orihime suddenly asked. Rukia sucked in her bottom look and a deep breath.
"I don't have one." She replied, looking down nervously.
Orihime's smile slowly diminished, then rebuilt with yet another thought in her overtly cheery mind. "Uh…well, what colours wouldn't you mind the dress or kimono to be?"
In a long thought Rukia decided to give it a go, and imagine herself in a dress, a kimono to be exact. But the thought didn't come and she couldn't see herself in one. Eyeing the girls from the corner of her eyes she realised they were still awaiting her answer.
"I don't mind." She said politely, the girls continued to stare at her. And suddenly she felt uncomfortable again, Rukia added, "Black is nice, it's sophisticated, right?"
"Something that doesn't make you look like you are going to a funeral Rukia." Rangiku replied.
"Red or orange are nice." Rukia added, sighing.
"Uh huh." Orihime said as she jotted down quickly on a notepad that had seemingly appeared from nowhere. "Anything other?" she queried looking up to Rukia and tapping the pen against her upper teeth.
"Violet and pink are okay I guess." She continued looking away.
"Oh, you'd look just gorgeous in any one of those colours!" Orihime said joyfully, holding the notepad to her chest dreamily as she looked up. Rukia looked at her funnily but couldn't help but show her gratitude for her company by smiling slightly. Stop being so miserable, she thought to herself reverently.
"Maybe you should wear white." Rangiku suddenly added. She was met with a series of strange stares.
"You're a virgin right?" Rangiku asked Rukia bluntly. Again, Isane told her off for making such a crude comment.
"For heaven's sake Rangiku! You don't go around asking peoples business like that, it's private." She said at the same time as clear blush made its way around her cheeks, reddening her face. She apologised to Rukia who didn't reply. Ignoring the two women who began to bicker, she noticed Orihime scribbling on the pad and peered over to watch what she was doing. And not long after she began watching, Rangiku hastily took the pen from Orihime and began adding more details to the page.
"Rangiku-san, I'm sure Rukia won't be allowed to have a slit dress." Orihime interjected, quietly as she saw the changed sketch. Isane agreed and Rangiku defended her post.
"It looks great, shows a bit of leg and a bit of what Byakuya can expect when he gets home at night." she said in a seductive tone, raising her eyebrows in a flirtatiously. Rukia's eyes were fixated on the pad; her eyes shiftily watched the paper. They were drawing her future dress, Rukia stared curiously.
"The train is a bit long." Isane clarified taking the pad from Rangiku and giving it back to Orihime who agreed and crossed out a portion of the train.
"It seems flat, add some volume to it." Rangiku said in addition to the changes made.
"Volume?" Orihime said curelessly, her eyes bulged.
"Pass it here." The curvaceous woman sighed. But the grin glued to her face gave away the fact she was desperately enjoying this partaking.
Rangiku sketched more material, adding to the hip of the dress and made the rest of it poof out almost resembling a dress of a princess.
"Fit for royalty." She said cheerfully with a great smile. Rukia continued watching the pad as it passed from person to person and each design changed and morphed.
"What do you think Rukia?" after much debate, Orihime kindly turned the notebook over to Rukia who had been patiently waiting to see a finished product without it being removed from her sight continuously. And although it had taken a while to get Rangiku from making sudden, revealing adjustments to the modest dress they'd started with, the girls seemed quite content with what they had done.
"Wow…" she breathed. Rukia's eyes followed every line of the finished product. The dress was beautiful, and not very traditional but still suitable for its future purpose. The top of the dress was heart shaped with lacy long sleeves that opened widely at the ends. The waist was slim; and where it would be tightly wrapped with a more traditional obi, it was the shape of a large bow resting where Rukia's lower back would be. Up to midway down the back, the material was cut out. The dress then frayed out creating the illusion of larger hips whilst the train was rectangular shaped, sourced from the bow on the back of the dress and down to the ground, medium sized.
"Are you sure?" Orihime asked. "Because it's your wedding, if you don't like it we have to change it until you do!" she said nervously biting her lip, waiting for Rukia's affirmed approval.
"No…I really do love it." She said, her eyes were glittering with happiness as she looked up at her friends. "Thank you, all of you." She said looking to all of the girls, Orihime, Isane and even Rangiku.
"They'll probably make you wear a veil with it." Isane added thinking back to the few weddings she'd seen take place between Shinigami, smiling.
"You know, I guess it didn't have to be so showy to be glamorous." Rangiku agreed finally. Isane nodded smiling.
"But a wonder bra wouldn't hurt." She whispered cheekily. Orihime blushed pink.
"Alright, out!" Isane said shoving Rangiku towards the doorway despite the shorter woman's protests her statement had just been a joke.
"See you gals later!" she laughed as she left. Rukia shook her head smiling.
"Oh, Ishida-kun could make you the dress!" Orihime said thoughtfully.
"I don't want to bother him, I'm sure he has better things to do." Rukia said in reply.
"I'm sure that's not true, he'd want to come to the wedding, I'll ask him later!" she said happily. And that was that, Rukia nodded.
"Oh, wait. Am I even allowed to be there?" Orihime asked, her voice was quieter this time. Like a frightened mouse being caught in the night. Rukia raised an eyebrow then spoke up.
"It's my wedding," Rukia repeated like all of the girls had continuously reminded her. "If I want you there, you will be. And I do." She somewhat smiled as Orihime began to beam once more.
"Really?" she screamed. "Really!" she jumped towards Rukia and another bear hug proceeded. With a hand Rukia petted the ginger girl with a chuckled. I don't even know if she can come but she's been here with me through so much, I have to invite her at least. Same with Ichigo and Sado too.
"You can be my…maid of honour? Is that what it's called in the real world?" Rukia asked to make sure. Her terms were becoming stronger but of course needed to be corrected every now and then because of her remaining naivety of the human world.
Orihime looked short of breath, and another hug proceeded. "Yes! Thank you so much Rukia-chan!" She cried, "Are you sure?" then pulled back momentarily. Rukia nodded kindly.
I didn't even ask if I could have a 'maid of honour', whatever they even do...but it's my wedding and I've been given the freedom to make some decisions on my own, as I should. I'm not a child anymore. Rukia sighed. I'm forgetting my place. She shook her head and closed her eyes.
"Orihime, why are you doing all of this for me?" Rukia asked.
"Why?" Orihime repeated, her vibrant smile slowly dimmed but grew softer and then stilled. "You're my friend Rukia-chan, why wouldn't I?" she placed a hand on Rukia's shoulder and smiled happily.
"Smiling comes so easy to you, how do you do it?" Rukia asked obliviously.
"How?" she chuckled. "Well, I don't know. Everyone's different. Why do you ask?" she asked inquiringly, her eyes widened bewilderedly.
"I don't want everyone thinking I'm being ungrateful when I marry Nii-sama." She said sadly looking down to her feet. "I want them to know I'm accepting and that I will do whatever it takes to make this clan proud of me."
"Rukia, you shouldn't try and be someone you're not just to please other people," she said more seriously, "But I do think you're beautiful when you smile." she continued grinned.
"See?" Orihime giggled. "Just beautiful. Byakuya will be really lucky to have you."
The smile from Rukia's face slowly faded away, she looked down to the ground. "Are you…happy about this? Rukia-chan?" Orihime asked, doe-eyed like.
"Yes, this is the greatest honour the elders have ever trusted with me. I won't disappoint them." She put it simply; there was no need to bore Orihime with a readied speech. She stood and walked to the shoji, Orihime jumped up to follow after her.
When Orihime had waved goodbye to Rukia, she was taken back to the Kuchiki compound and a maid came running towards her. She dropped to her feet nervously and bowed humbly. "Miss Rukia-sama, Obaa-san needs to speak with you right away!" she exclaimed loudly. It was the girl who all of the old women had been bullying around whilst dressing her. She was a very pretty girl with bright blue eyes and long brown hair kept up in a tight formal bun. It was obvious for Rukia to realise the girl was defiantly related to the head maid of the household as she looked like a more youthful and active version of her with the same beautiful eyes.
Bending down to the girl's level, Rukia nudged her shoulder with a hand. "Could you show me where she is please?" Rukia asked kindly, her tone was inviting as if to calm the frantic girl down. She wasn't like the others who lived in the mansion of course, because their blood did not run through her veins.
The girl sat up and nodded vigorously and began walking towards the room in which Rukia had first seen wedding kimonos as she was ushered out to the bridal shop.
Rukia was quickly shuffled into a room before the girl turned and left. Sitting in the centre of the room with a basket of what seemed to be silks was the old woman Rukia had come to see. With her old fingers she teased and tugged gently at the soft materials, sorting them into piles. Category by colour and then design.
Walking up to the woman, Rukia kneeled by her politely and tilted her head down. She waited patiently for the woman to acknowledge her presence.
"I'm sure no one has already told you what is expected of you?" the old woman said suddenly, not even turning to glance at the young Shinigami. Rukia peaked a glance at the woman before shaking her head, what does she mean by that? The woman smiled. "Good, good." She said happily, using the ground for grip, she swivelled herself to face Rukia.
"Relax dear." Hesitantly Rukia tilted her head back up, she quietly placed her palms on her knees and waited. The woman continued to sort the silks by her side. Rukia stared at the numbly, she was tired and had to fight not falling asleep from the little rest she had had the night before.
"After we dress you, we will lead you up to the shrine where Byakuya-sama will be too." the woman explained, Rukia nodded slowly to let the woman know she was listening intently; she realised she was speaking of the wedding. "You don't speak or make any noise, understood? Good, you only talk when you're directed to. You should only have to say a few things and they will repeat those words for you so there will be no problems with you remembering it all." Rukia could breathe more easily now although her mind compelled her to sigh at the thought of the arrangement.
"Byakuya-sama will do the same." Her attention came back to the woman at the sound of her brother's name. "The decision on your attire has not been finalised as of yet but you may end up getting changed a total of three times," she said. Rukia's mouth opened at this but the woman did not stop talking although it was clear she had noticed. "The wedding will not be too far away so make sure you are ready at any moment. Even though we allowed you chose some of your clothing, you will wear the traditional kimono at least once as a part of the ceremony." Rukia nodded.
The woman did not make any eye contact with her, Rukia felt lucky not to have the persistent piercing eyes staring her in the face, "There are a few other things you and Byakuya-sama will be expected to do together but those are simple enough for even you not to get wrong." She added, Rukia nodded again. She was feeling even more tired as the one-sided conversation proceeded. And she was used to the manner in which the woman spoke to her. She was forceful and stern though Rukia could accept that she was never openly rude.
Rukia nodded again without reason and dropped her gaze just as the woman began to talk to her again. "You needn't be so worried, Rukia dear." The woman spoke calmly; Rukia was surprised to hear her voice in this manner but didn't say anything. "We will be here with you throughout the whole day making sure everything goes the way it is supposed to go." Suddenly a million questions ran through Rukia's mind. She bit her lip and thought better than to ask a question she knew would be dismissed and so settled for a question she believed would have better chance of being answered.
"Will there be any entertainment?" Rukia asked and mentally cursed herself. What kind of question was that? The woman cackled a little and bared a grin showing off her grey and brown stained teeth.
"Yes dear, years ago you would have had to do the entertainment yourself and dance for the elders but they don't expect that much of you for this occasion, don't you worry. I'm sure there will be some dancers or singers, something to add to this festive occasion. And then the main house, which now means you, Byakuya-sama and his grandfather will attend an after celebration."
"Oh." Rukia replied. Relief ran through her but there were so many more questions she wished to ask.
"I will inform you and the others when the decisions have been finalised as to what the daily routine will be." She said quickly.
"Alright now, you may leave. I don't want to get complaints from anyone about keeping you here too long." She said. "Go on, off you go!"
And Rukia did just that, shuffling off and out of the room.
In the horizon Rukia spotted a few stoic guards all dressed in purple from head to toe. They wouldn't look her way as long as she kept her distance. Rukia walked into the gardens quietly just as she slipped past the side entrance to the kitchens. She breathed out in relief, she was alone and the garden was all hers. The whole garden was speckled with giant Sakura trees, their leaves rustling ever so gently in the cool breeze. The only garden Rukia was remotely allowed to set foot in, she would at least make the most of it. Looking about once more she walked over to one of the few ponds and then stared into it, she closed her eyes and listened to the soft drips and drops of the water. Bending down to their level, she watched golden koi fish were swirling round in patterns, the vividly coloured scales shined through the clear water.
On the edge of the large pool she sat down to find that the slate ground was quite cool, sheltered by a tree to her left side. She crossed her legs and managed to slow down her breathing from creeping about the house calculatedly. Then her eyes snapped open, and dulled.
Reaching behind her with a hand she grabbed the scabbard sitting snug around her waist and forced its way onto her lap keeping it in its casing. Her fingers were automatically drawn to the sword as she calculatedly observed the case. Then like a hot fire she pulled back, realising what she was doing and again relaxed her breathing to begin the trance.
Rukia trod around on the freezing cold snow, her toes curled against the frosty surface. She was shocked to find herself shivering at the cold, usually it didn't bother her at all but it was almost as if she wasn't supposed to be there. As if it wasn't her soul's world.
She walked around, searching for Sode no Shirayuki. She was going to take her taichou's advice and speak with her Zanpakuto and maybe it would sort out whatever was wrong in their relationship because Sode no Shirayuki was acting stranger and stranger as the days passed. And as much as the nightmares she was having were disturbing her, there wasn't a person she could ask for help, all of this had to be done on her own.
And then she found her. Sode no Shirayuki was sitting by a frozen pond, hunched over and sobbing loudly. Rukia ran over to her Zanpakuto, and now standing behind her she tapped on her back. "Sode no…" she whispered. Sode no Shirayuki did not respond but continued crying her eyes out and her body stiffened. Rukia frowned, could she not sense her master's presence?
"No please…" the spirit suddenly whispered, she was sniffling and whimpering. Reaching out to the pond with her fingertips. They were covered with icicles. Rukia frowned.
"Sode no Shirayuki it's me!" Rukia said more fiercely, why was her Zanpakuto ignoring her? She bent down behind her and tapped her again. "It's me, it's Rukia." She whispered. Sode no Shirayuki's sobbing instantly came to a halt and her body softened at the touch of her master. Rukia wanted to apologise and make everything better, what had she done for her soul to act like this?
Rukia then tried to move around her Zanpakuto and pull her long lavender hair away from her face so she could talk to her but the spirit suddenly turned on her angrily making Rukia fall back against the hard ice covered ground. She groaned in pain and held her side in pain.
"Go away!" Sode no Shirayuki screeched, her voice was not like the usual soft expression on her face. It was loud and eerie like a banshee. Rukia couldn't fathom the look on her Zanpakuto's face; her once beautiful features were that of something she had never seen before. Soul Society's most beautiful Zanpakuto was a monster. Her hair was a horrible mess; her eyes were red and angry and her teeth were as sharp as senbon.
Rukia shifted back to get away from the spirit as Sode no Shirayuki approached her. The spirit drew her sword and Rukia screamed for help. Aimed at her heart, Sode no Shirayuki forced her way forwards. Rukia screwed her eyes shut and then everything went black.
Rukia woke from the meditation with shock. Holding her heart in pain she hyperventilated, sweat ran down her forehead and her hair stuck to her face. She looked down to her sheathed sword and reached down to graze her fingers across the cool metal. She pulled back with shock as she inspected its surface; it was hot – burning like a fire. She dropped it and ran.
Meanwhile in the captain assembly hall, a meeting was in progress. "Kuchiki Rukia's name has been mentioned multiple times after this announcement was made." The old man's eyes shifted down the table towards the other Kuchiki. He was a passive statue.
"I'm sure she can take on the mission." Shunsui said pleasantly. The pink kimono around his shoulders complimented the bold and happy smile on his face; he radiated positivity whereas Byakuya seemed to be unimpressed with the elder Shinigami. Especially as was obvious when he came to voice his opinions on his adoptive sister. He made no indication that anything in his life had recently changed although a few captains seemingly knew of his upcoming arrangement by the looks they had given him when he entered the hall.
He began, "As Rukia is my responsibility, I can that from her last battle she is unable to take the current task. Someone else would be more suitable at this time; she is still recovering from her injuries." He interjected. Everyone looked at him long and hard, and then to Yamamoto. The old man nodded.
"Alright, if you're certain?" he said tiredly, his tone suggested he was giving Byakuya another chance to change his mind. Though it was a clear the man would not by his indifferent appearance.
The meeting progressed and Kira Izuru was chosen for the deed. Many of the captains and lieutenants stayed to chat with each other informally, Yamamoto retired from the room and then Jushiro followed after him.
"Yamamoto-sama, are you sure of this?" Jushiro asked him, there was a sense of urgency to the white haired man's tone. The older Shinigami raised a long white eyebrow at him and thought about his next words wisely before he spoke. He looked up to the ceiling, almost inspecting it. Jushiro peered up to see what Yamamoto could be watching, but he looked to see nothing.
"I believe that Byakuya has Rukia's best interests at heart. He does, as he said, see her regularly. And if she isn't ready, it would best not force her into something that could very well kill her. There are other suitable Shinigami for this mission, her time will come." He said wisely, he walked away. Jushiro nodded although it was apparent on his face that his opinion was not exactly the same. He could feel that he was missing something.
Byakuya cautiously walked through the mansion towards his second meeting of the day. Sighing, he entered the meeting hall and made way to his seat as he was met with daring stares from the elders spotted around the room.
"Byakuya-sama? Why have you called for this meeting?" a female elder asked demandingly, what set her apart from her brothers sitting by her side were the piercing cerulean blue eyes laid on her wrinkly face. She was a stubborn woman that Byakuya knew well as did his grandfather who couldn't imagine why Byakuya was even here. He never called meetings unless it was an emergency and never seemed to want to add much to the decisions of the elders in current gatherings.
"If it is about your marriage then the decision is already final, you said so yourself!" one of the elder's brothers interjected quickly. Byakuya turned his fearsome gaze in the direction of the man who instantly sunk in his seat. His grandfather stared at him, Byakuya glanced his way.
"I said nothing of the sort." He replied coldly turning away from his grandfather, he continued, "If I recall correctly, I said 'whatever you feel is best', that however was not an agreement to marriage of any kind." He explained. The mouths of many men in the room dropped, but before they could speak Byakuya continued.
"It is not Rukia's burden to marry for the next line of this family." He said simply. "I am not remarrying. Nor is she." He said finally.
"You have escaped your duties far too long Byakuya!" an elder shouted loudly across the table, his hand digging into the wood in front of him. "And that is not your decision to make, we have been lenient with you even when you decided to lower yourself with that…girl. We all stood by you even though we knew nothing good was to come out of that, sham marriage!"
"The girl was never any good to any of us," one of the quietest elders said calmly. "Five years. Five years you wasted married to that girl when you could have been producing heirs. We have given you all the opportunity in the world, with all the finest women from across the Soul Borders and still you are stubborn and defiant." He said.
"You wanted to marry the Rukongai trash and you did; now it is our say – we are the elders of the great Kuchiki clan, true Seireitei nobles and we declare you will marry Rukia or face punishment of stripping you of your title." He continued, still level-headedly.
"Our clan is looked upon with mockery now! After your foolishness!" Hiroko shouted angrily. "And you give us that look as if to ask why? Why the Rukongai trash's sister? Because at least she has some decency, how small it is, to make something of herself and become a Shinigami. She is almost as much a shame to us as your wife was. But now we are desperate, forced to lower our standards - you will not live forever and we need the heirs. Our clan will be thrown into turmoil if there isn't a clear heir to take your place when your time is done. If you weren't so valuable to this clan then you would have been made to pack your bags and leave already!" the anger in his being getting the better of the man, his face was hot and red.
Byakuya stared at the elders who had raised their voices to him and then looked to Ginrei who was in the process of shouting back at them, defending him. He was angry too, hot with frustration and redness.
Then Byakuya found himself finally doing what no one had seen coming, he stood abruptly. His chair made an eerie screech against the ground, the room fell silence as everyone gazed at him, wondering what he would do. He turned, his long Captain's haori swished over the stable flashing remembrance of the sixth division into their minds.
Byakuya stood at the entrance to his garden and sighed at the noticeable reiatsu fluctuating by his Sakura trees. He breathed slowly, inhaling the deep scent of Sakura blossoms fluttering around the area. His cold grey eyes detached from any focus as he swiftly turned on his heel and made his way back inside of the mansion.
He walked through the multiple levels of the huge building then stopped at one of the rooms and slid open the doors, stepped inside and shut them quietly behind him. Walking over to the centre of the room he inhaled the fragrance his senses had come to remember, even after so long. It occupied the space before him and he closed his eyes softly and breathed. Peppermint.
Byakuya gently bent his knees onto a large rectangular pillow in front of the shrine in the centre of the room. Slowly he brought his gaze up to meet the face of his lost wife. She stared at him with that same expression. "I have failed you again, Hisana." He spoke sincerely. "I promise you it was not intentional…much like the other times I have broken my promises to you." He cursed angrily, he frowned irritably at his failures and then his face began to soften at the remembrance of his reason to be there.
"I promised you I would protect Rukia and now the elders ask me to take her hand in marriage. I promised there would be no one else after you but I have denied marriage for over fifty years now in honour of your life and I have not produced a single heir in all the years I have been leader of this clan… If I choose not to go through with this I am positive that the elders will once again propose Rukia's removal from our family and it was your wish for me to look over her, what else can I do? If I refuse them I will keep your promise to keep her from harm but at the cost she may face another marriage suggestion with someone who would not treat her the way you wish. I cannot predict how much longer I can hold off the elders. I need you to give me a sign Hisana, please…"
The room was still. The candles flickered lightly, radiating soft rays of light upon Byakuya's ghostly and pale unmarred face.
Byakuya's eyes dulled and he bowed to the shrine quickly before standing and swiftly leaving the room and shutting the shoji doors once more. Returning to the ground level of the mansion, he stepped outside, still sheltered by the tall pillars that were speckled amongst his property. As he walked down the corridors towards his office he felt the presence of multiple workers in the kitchens and a few seconds later the shoji doors leading to the back of the preparation room opened. A large cloud of steam exited into the cold night air and the smell of rice wafted through the sky, rising up into the night.
"Byakuya-sama?" he turned to see his servant Naoki standing with a questioning look upon his face. Behind him were lots of kitchen workers all busily preparing meals for the household. Byakuya's servant Naoki was a well-respected worker towards the family and had been around since the time Byakuya was a child. He had a plain expression on his youthful face and deep set wrinkles around his which mouth gave the illusion that he was slightly older than he actually was.
"Naoki, please inform everyone that I will not be joining them for dinner." Byakuya said quietly. Naoki nodded quietly, the questioning look still spread across his face.
"Dinner alone again, master?" he asked. Byakuya nodded before proceeding to walk away. Loyally the servant bowed. He was dutiful. "Very good sir."
"Rukia, dear?" Samira knocked upon Rukia's bedroom door a few times with her free hand, a tray in the other.
Rukia shuffled towards the door at the sound and opened it. "Oh, Samira I was just coming down for dinner." Rukia said quickly straightening out her clothes. She had changed into a long purple top and black trousers, Samira scrutinised them routinely making Rukia swallow slightly nervously. Then she looked back to the young girl's face.
"There is no need, both Master Kuchiki and his grandfather will be absent from dinner so I brought it up for you." She said holding up the tray Rukia had failed to notice. Rukia frowned a little; everything was there, her tea, starter, main course and dessert.
"Oh, is Nii-sama working or something?" she found herself curiously asking. Samira nodded as she passed Rukia and set the tray onto her bed. Walking back towards her she once again she inspected Rukia's clothes; an unimpressed expression was obvious on her face.
"If there is anything else you will need?" she prompted flickering her gaze back to Rukia's. Rukia shook her head swiftly and Samira nodded.
As the maid turned to leave Rukia in peace she quickly spoke up and the woman turned to her with a questioning look upon her face. Although the lady was strict, she was caring and Rukia found it easy to talk to her about small problems since she had known her from the day she became a Kuchiki. If Samira hadn't known Rukia so well she would have expected her order she draw her bath or brush her hair like other noble women requested before they slept, but more and more recently Rukia rarely requested anything.
"Um," she began, the maid patiently eyed Rukia. "Samira-san, can I ask you something?" she asked. Samira nodded straight away and walked over to sit by Rukia's bedside.
"Yes Rukia, what is it?" she probed gently. Rukia braced herself and sat letting out a deep breath.
"Why did the elders pick me to marry Nii-sama?" she squeaked. Samira stared at her a moment before sighing, Rukia then began to think of Samira and if she had anticipated the question.
"I'm sorry Rukia but I don't think it's my place to say." She said honestly, it was clear that she was not surprised Rukia didn't know the answer herself as her facial expressions remained the same.
"You may be better off asking them yourself." She continued whilst Rukia looked away sadly, she had realised by now that in all the years she had been a Kuchiki, most if not all of the members still did not approve her – asking them a seemingly simple question would not warrant an answer.
Rukia looked over to the tray Samira had brought her – her job was not to inform her of elder choices, and so she should not have asked. It was times like this that Rukia regretted having the ability to speak, as she usually came to regret it later.
Samira looked to Rukia and observed her sadness. She reached over towards her face and caringly brushed the single clump of hair from the middle of her face and tucked it behind her ear. Rukia didn't move and in turn Samira sighed and looked towards the door. "Alright, but don't you go telling them I told you." She whispered silently.
Rukia's head bolted up and a smile graced her face, it was difficult to repress the impulsive emotion but she managed to keep her mouth shut firmly. "Rukia?" Samira said sternly. Rukia nodded, and if anyone would ask her questions about this, Samira had not been the one to fill her in on the details.
"They said it's because they don't want to risk bringing some unknown suitors to live in the mansion." She explained quietly.
"Huh?" Rukia replied, the usual clump of dark hair set itself back in the middle of Rukia's face. She ignored it, too used to the feeling of the lock of hair setting itself in-between her eyes.
Samira nodded and continued quietly, "It's what they used to do when picking a bride for the clan leader; they would bring loads of girls, sometimes even hundreds to live in multiple mansions with the clan leader in the engagement period. And over a period of time they had to make themselves stick out from amongst all of the girls to impress the elders, you know? So that they may be picked eventually as his wife, but the process takes so long and the elders have expressed that there are better ways of finding a suitor in modern days. Also, the elders seem to want Master Kuchiki married as soon as possible." Rukia turned quickly to her and raised her eyebrows in shock.
"I don't understand. For the past few years they've stopped pressuring him so much and now all of a sudden they want him married again? Everyone's been telling me we're getting married in a matter of weeks! Why so soon?" she exclaimed perplexed. The thoughts of marriage had barely even seeped through her brained before she'd had time to register that she was only going to be a single Shinigami for a few weeks more. Didn't that mean she could never date? She thought suddenly, the words had never come across her mind before now. As she conferenced with herself Samira continued to speak.
Samira shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "I'm sure that the wedding will not take place until preparations have been finalised," she continued in a quiet tone reminding Rukia that she shouldn't be so loud. "And I don't know Rukia, the elders work in many different ways. I think they might be up to something, I don't know it's not my place to make accusations…it's just Master Kuchiki has been without a wife for so long since she died." She said, almost sadly and looked away from Rukia. Rukia stared at her and her jaw innately clenched tight.
Rukia sighed; she really was stupid to think that her deceased sister wouldn't ever come up when marriage was being proposed involving Byakuya. It didn't annoy her so much to hear the elders whispering about marrying him off to someone as they both knew it was his lifelong, unfulfilled duty, but when Hisana was mentioned it reminded her of her place and that Byakuya merely kept her around to keep the dead happy.
"What was she like?" she managed to stutter out, her once curious tone was filled with grey melancholy. Truthfully it would have been easier if she had made her question clearer, she wasn't asking what her sister was like, more what her sister did within her marriage to Byakuya. From her knowledge they hadn't been married very long before she eventually died.
"I thought he spoke to you about her?" Samira asked, practically in shock. Rukia shook her head and sighed. For a while after the revelation that Hisana, Byakuya's late wife was in fact her sister, the two had become slightly more civil towards each other. Byakuya began showing up to dinner a lot more and started showing concerns for Rukia's wellbeing in his strange cold way, but soon history came to repeat itself and Byakuya fell back into his old ways. Avoiding her at all costs, and rarely ever acknowledging her presence. She almost felt invisible but understood it wouldn't hurt nearly as much if she actually were as much.
"Let's just say she was nothing like you and you will never be anything like her." Samira suddenly said, her tone was very bitter and forceful. Rukia was taken back. Was it meant to be an insult? She frowned and her body slowly leaned away from her maid in confusion. Blinking, she looked away from her maid's direction.
Samira looked at the girl by her side and upon seeing the look on her face she instantly spoke again. "I didn't…oh I've said too much anyway." She stood quickly. "I'm terribly sorry Rukia, I will return when you have finished eating." She said, leaving the room before Rukia could even think to speak again.
Although her earlier confrontation with Sode no Shirayuki had certainly raised her appetite she didn't feel too hungry anymore and pushed her tray of food away from her as she stood. She walked around her room aimlessly, trying to think of something to do, maybe it would get her mind off things. In the past when she needed some time alone she would train but the thought of being stuck with Sode no Shirayuki's unpredictable ways made her think of less.
Rukia looked to the mirror in her room, it was slightly taller than she was and so showed her, her whole figure. She glanced at her reflection and sighed. Was it mad to think of being with Orihime and the others again? They didn't have to worry about being cooped up in the mansion all the time and their annoying company was strangely comforting. As was the nervous laugh of Isane and her taichou Ukitake, whom she both cared for deeply although she rarely showed it.
She remembered how all of the girls, the ones at the academy who had despised her so much from the beginning of her course had suddenly become her best friends when they knew that the Kuchiki had visited her with plans of adoption. And then she thought of Renji and how in past decades they had barely spoken until Ichigo had impacted their lives. How much different would it all be if Byakuya had never found her to fulfil Hisana's dying wish? She couldn't say she felt smothered in Kuchiki love, more like Kuchiki coldness. At the very least all of the maids and servants were civil to her and provided her with company when she wasn't allowed outside of the compound but living in the mansion was like an unsuspecting rollercoaster ride.
One minute she spent every waking hour of the day talking with maids and servants, the next and they were all quiet. Keeping her stuffed in the pits of her room, insisting they were all busy, her only company in the form of Sode no Shirayuki. It really had been a dream to go to the human world for the first time, even if her mission had been dangerous and ultimately life changing. A few months of forgetting all her worries was a refreshing feeling, that was until the news of her execution came trailing back to her. She squeezed her eyes shut at the memory, she didn't want to think about it all again.
Maybe things would change once she was married to Byakuya. She cringed suddenly, what would marriage entail for her? Here she had been designing a dress with Orihime and the others and yet this occasion was not a joyous one, or should it be? She hadn't given it much thought as she decided that maybe she would just wait until those days of marriage came. She may be better at just preparing herself now. She was surprised with the fact that Byakuya had even accepted after every possible suitor before her had been turned down. Damn.
Samira hadn't even really answered the question she had asked. She really wanted to know, why her? And why so sudden the decision? Wouldn't this mean even less freedom than she already had? She shuddered at the thoughts and again blocked them out into the depths of her mind. She really didn't want another nightmare tonight.
The next day, Renji and Ichigo walked through the town. Bombarded with salesman trying to sell them the most expensive gifts and kimonos for the wedding, Ichigo couldn't help but stress his dislike for the sudden proposal. "Can't we just talk her out of it?" he asked Renji.
Renji didn't respond. And with Ichigo taking his silence as rudeness, he smacked him roughly to wake him from his daze. "Ow!" he yelled. "I was thinking you asshole!" Renji shouted, rubbing his neck roughly. Ichigo chuckled at his friend.
"Where are we going again?" he asked for the hundredth time that hour. Renji pretended to ignore his question by looking away into the distance and quickening his pace towards the sixth division office. "I think you should stay here." He said turning back to Ichigo as he stood up onto the step just in front of the entrance. Then he suddenly froze, noticing the change of aura in his friend, Ichigo raised an eyebrow and then waved a hand in front of the redhead's face. Noticing Renji's gaze was on something behind him, he turned.
"Ohayo taichou, congratulations." Renji said uneasily. Byakuya walked up to the two and eyed them both suspiciously with his cold grey eyes. Remembering his reason for being there, he reached into the depths of his Shinigami pocket and pulled out a small bundle of letters. Thrusting his hand out towards Byakuya he said, "I came to give you this, it was dropped off early this morning for you but I didn't know where you were." He said almost timidly.
Byakuya silently took the bundle from Renji and nodded before walking past him, up the step and into the building. "You are relieved of your duties for now, please do not bother me." He said walking inside. He shut the door behind him and Ichigo gave Renji a look asking for a word of comfort. Renji shook his head as he moved from the step to lead Ichigo away.
"Not here…" he whispered. Ichigo followed him close behind, and when Renji was sure that even Byakuya's hawk-like hearing could not reach them he finally spoke, "I knew he wouldn't…I'm so dumb…" he said smacking himself in the face with his palm.
"What's up?" Ichigo asked.
"I was gonna ask him 'bout the marriage arrangement." He said. "But I forgot." He sighed audibly.
"Yeah but he said he didn't want you to bother him, and for once he didn't insult me at first sight." Ichigo remark remarkably. His face showing utter surprise and shock. He scratched his head.
"I can never tell with him anyway, whether he's in a good mood or a bad one. They're pretty much the same." Renji commented plainly, Ichigo remembered Renji saying something of the sort earlier. The rest of the journey was quiet, Ichigo occasionally turned to Renji to ask him something before thinking better of it and shutting his mouth quietly.
"Renji, we can't let her do this, she's making the biggest mistake ever!" he finally said, seeing Sentaro and Kiyone walking in the distance and reminding him of Rukia. "He's going to ruin her life!" he said sounding very nearly angry.
"He's an unemotional asshole and he doesn't even care about her! All he cares about is how others perceive his so precious noble clan." He said mockingly. "I know he helped and everything but he only does it because he knows it's expected of him. He's such a prick." He spat heatedly.
Ichigo looked over at Renji and frowned. "If anything, you should be just as much upset as I am. You don't want her to marry him, do you?" he said annoyed. Renji gave him a hurt stare.
"Are you serious? Of course I don't. For God's sake, why can't she just stand up for herself?" Renji yelled indignantly.
"Rukia?" Renji said. Ichigo looked into the clearing; Rukia was standing by a market stall in her Shinigami robes. She was looking about nervously, as if she were hiding. Locking his sight onto his target Ichigo shot towards her leaving Renji stunned.
"Rukia!" Ichigo screamed. He ran as fast as he could to catch up with the short girl, she looked up at him with huge eyes. She knew that he knew and he was not happy. "Rukia please, please don't do this. I know you don't want to really; I'll get all the captains to disapprove and complain. I'll do anything!" he said childishly, Rukia's eyes narrowed on him. She sighed loudly and closed her eyes as she shook her head.
"No? What do you-" Ichigo began, Rukia grabbed his arm and pulled him to bend down closer to eye level with her. His breath hitched.
"Ichigo," she breathed slowly, her gaze pierced his making him shudder in her hold. "I am so grateful for everything that you have done for the Seireitei, for the Gotei thirteen and for me…" she explained, trailing off slightly when she noticed Renji approaching the two of them. When he stood by Ichigo, she knew she needed to make her words heard. It seemed Renji rarely listened to her unless she used a threatening tone she was well used to using now.
"You two listen to me now," Rukia said, her tone was deadly quiet and serious, "If you ruin this one opportunity for me. Opportunity for me to be accepted and respected I will never, ever speak to either of you ever again, that I can promise you." She growled flickering her stare between the two guys. Renji and Ichigo swallowed loudly and held their breaths in fear of the small Shinigami.
"Do I make myself clear?" she demanded. Ichigo's eyes shifted down to the ground, he was frowning furiously. He nodded eventually. Renji just gawked at the girl before him, Rukia's eyes flickered his way briefly and then she turned and walked away. They both watched as she scurried back to the mansion.
There was a distant stare in Renji's eyes. He couldn't let this happen.
A/N: Got any requests? Leave me a review or a pm.