Hello! I just wanna say thank you to the people that are following this story I cannot believe five people are reading this. In this chapter is the first real interaction between the protagonist of this story, I'm so excited and is already two in the morning so I need to calm down a little bit so I can sleep. Remember, English is not my first language.
First Impressions
"I don't know if you've ever noticed this, but first impressions are often entirely wrong."
After news of the courtship spread almost everyone in the Soul Society couldn't talk about anything else. No one could believe that Captain Kuchiki decided to get remarried after the death of his first wife, only thirty years have gone by since he became a widower. The fact it was with a Tokugawa didn't help either considering it was the wealthiest clan between the four noble families.
The pillars of Soul Society based themselves on three things politics, military, and economy to keep the balance between the houses they cannot control more than two of these pillars. While the government is influenced by the four of them including central 46 and the military is mostly controlled by the Kuchiki and the Shihōin. The economy goes to the Tokugawa alone, at the beginning thanks to their knowledge in agriculture and livestock only as a way to keep the military fed and clothed but as the society grew, so did the need for more than just food most souls don't need to eat in the afterlife, but they crave for other things.
If the two families joined by marriage, their union would mark one of the strongest alliances in all the history of Soul Society. Even if it wasn't the first marriage between different clans, it was uncommon between someone directly related to the main family and the head of another clan.
This marriage would greatly benefit both families, strengthening its position for the years to come. A great match if they learned how to nurture each other but, what would happen if they didn't?
•••
Harumi could feel the grass beneath her toes. The place where she was seemed familiar in a strange kind of way, anywhere she looked only trees surrounded her the disturbing feeling of being observed started to form at the bottom of her stomach, only to increase with the passage of time. She wasn't sure why, but she knew she had to leave that place as soon as possible she began moving only to realize someone was following her. But before she could turn around, someone grabbed her arm.
"Lady Tokugawa," Aikana called while grabbing her arm. She was back in her bed, how strange, I almost never have nightmares she thought. The beating of her heart started to slow down as soon as she was out of her bed. It was early in the morning, for what she could tell, even the sun had not risen yet.
Harumi's lady in waiting Aikana looked at her a little bit worried. Today was a very important day Lord Kuchiki, his personal attendant and three of the Kuchiki elders would be assisting a Chakai at the Tokugawa manor. Most servants at the Tokugawa manor were preparing the house for the event, and Aikana's job was helping Harumi Tokugawa look her best.
Even if Harumi looked vacant this morning she allows Aikana and the servants to dress her up, fix her makeup perfume her skin and hair put on her jewelry and style her hair in an elegant but simple style with minimal hair ornaments. She needed to look her best but without giving the impression of being desperate or trying too hard.
She looked at herself in the mirror trying to find something to fix or something he may not find pleasant the color of her lips or the pearls of her earrings feeling satisfied with the way she looked she started to make her way through the manor and supervised the separate works of the servants.
It was almost eight and, only seven hours remained before Lord Kuchiki arrived. Harumi was walking around the garden when Lord Tokugawa called for her presence Aikana gave her a sympathetic smile before following after her.
When they arrived, he was reading a letter and address them when he was finished reading it, he then asked, to be left alone with his sister."You look terrible or at least not well rested, Are you really that nervous for meeting Lord Kuchiki?" He asked without hiding the humor he found in the situation.
"I am a little bit nervous technically we have never exchanged more than polite words, and I know that today won't be the exception but, I have a bad feeling about today's meeting." Her brother was no longer smiling when she finished talking."Maybe, you have never talked with him, but I'm sure he will accept you once he realizes how much the Kuchiki elders approve the idea of you becoming the future Lady Kuchiki." She smiled at her brother for trying to calm her nerves, but even for her, it felt fake.
After telling her brother about the plan at the autumn festival at the Shihōin Clan residence last year, he was quite surprised to know what his twin had done to secure the courtship with Captain Kuchiki. It all started when she heard the rumor that the Kuchiki elders and Lord Kuchiki would be looking for the new Lady Kuchiki at the festival.
When Harumi investigated more, she learned that the decision was between her, the captain of the second division Suì-Fēng, and Yuriko Kuchiki. Before the festival, she evaluated her competitors and realized that her only real threat would be Yuriko taking into account that Captain Suì-Fēng was not interested in becoming the new Lady Kuchiki.
She explained to her brother that after realizing this she decided that the most effective strategy would be not to convince Captain Kuchiki but, the elders of her ability to be the perfect lady with thorough knowledge in music, manners, art, dancing, and with grace in her walking, whatever they were looking for Harumi would be.
When her brother questions her resolution to convince the elders instead of Lord Kuchiki she responded that if it were up to Lord Kuchiki he would never remarry but, he was pressured to do so by the Kuchiki elders so he would probably marry any woman they would choose.
Harumi could remember several things from the autumn festival, the first was how beautiful the Shihōin residence looked, the second was the way the Kuchiki elders talked to all the noblewomen present at the festival and her desired to appear superior to all of them. She exclusively talked to the Kuchiki elders present that night and only saw Lord Kuchiki from afar.
And from what she could tell the plan had worked out but now the flaws of her plan, including not talking to Lord Kuchiki came back to haunt her. The nightmare didn't helped at all to calm the nerves she was already feeling the night before, harassing her with questions she didn't want to answer.
Trying to distract herself with the preparations at the manor wasn't really helping either, and before she could talk to her brother more, their mother entered the room. When she saw Harumi, she started to scold her for the way she looked telling Harumi her eyes were a little bit red and her face to pale. After calling for Aikana, and instructing her to take Harumi to her room, put some herbs in her eyes and let her rest before Lord Kuchiki arrived.
One hour before Lord Kuchiki arrived Harumi's mother called for her to be ready at the main gate in half an hour enough time for her to take off the herbs and fix her makeup or so her mother thought cause Harumi arrived with only ten minutes left before Lord Kuchiki arrived. Her mother didn't waste time or words to let her know how disappointed she was for her carelessness.
But she stopped once she saw Lord Kuchiki enter through the main gate punctual as always. Looking at him so close for the first time in years reminded Harumi of the first time she saw him when she was just a little girl. He was undeniably handsome like the kind of man you dream about to be your husband when you are growing up almost like a handsome prince, but people are rarely what the seemed and first impressions are wrong.
And, Harumi was no longer that little girl and her dreams were no longer about weddings with handsome princes but something much more ambitious. When Lord Kuchiki and his companions were bowing in greetings and Harumi's family was doing the same, she started to analyze the guests, from the group of five, only one was unknown. She could clearly, recognize Lord Kuchiki and the three elders accompanying him so, she assumed the stranger was the personal attendant.
After the greetings were over and Harumi had offered some of her brightest smiles, the Kuchiki elders seemed delighted to be guided by her to the tea room where the Chakai would be taking place. The nerves she felt just hours before were finally starting to calm down, as she remembered her brother's words about the imminent approval of the elders towards her, she couldn't help but look at Lord Kuchiki only to find him staring at nothing in particular.
Harumi and Captain Kuchiki had met before at least looked at each other but talking was a different story, they had never exchanged more than three words and that fact, made her feel uneasy. She thought about the best strategies to charm him or at least break the ice a little bit while she was showing her extensive knowledge in poetry and the herbs used for the distinct selection of teas.
At one moment in particular during the Chakai, she looked up after faking her laughter at one of the elders jokes only to find him staring right at her. Harumi wondered if, through his eyes, he could see her true intentions or what laid under her exterior. Forgetting her nerves for a second as she remembered who she was, she couldn't help but smile in his direction one of her best smiles the one she reserved to grant when everything was going according to her plan.
But her efforts were only met with indifference, she didn't take it personally after all Lord Kuchiki seemed more like the reserved kind of person and she knew a smile back would be too much to ask.
The Chakai was about to conclude when Harumi realized she had barely talked to Lord Kuchiki and she needed to get time alone with him so he wouldn't be able to evade her anymore using other people as a distraction. "Lord Kuchiki I couldn't help but noticed your preference for the Gyokuro, a suitable choice of a man of your status if you allow me I can show you the specific plants where the herbs of your tea where produced." She asked with a soft smile.
Harumi knew she had him cornered, as a guest, it would be improper and rude of him to deny one of her attentions. Therefore, she wasn't surprised when he agreed to her request before leaving the room she called for Aikana to accompany them it wouldn't be suitable for the two of them to be alone given the circumstances.
As she was making her way through the gardens he stayed silent while she talked about some of the properties of the plants they encounter, Aikana was a few steps behind trying not to intrude in their interaction. Finally, both of them had to go back to the main gate, and Harumi was starting to feel she had wasted their time together, noticing the way he hadn't warmed up to her. The more she talked, the more annoyed he seemed to be getting only at times responding with the polite answers and ignoring her in others.
She wanted to assume it was due to Lord Kuchiki being shy, but Harumi knew better. He was going to be more work than what she initially thought, and before she could think things through, she stopped walking and turned around to face him. She wouldn't allow him to look down on her, so she didn't look away when he looked her in the eye.
"Lord Kuchiki, may I ask you why do you have this attitude towards me?" She asked softly trying to sound wounded so he would assume he had hurt her feelings and feel guilty for his actions through the day playing the victim always seemed to work in different degrees Harumi thought.
"Lady Tokugawa, I don't intend to offend you, but if you insist all this nonsense that we try to pass as a conversation is not of my interest even more if you are going to act fake." She tried to look into his face, to understand him, but she saw nothing in his eyes, and before Harumi could answer, he continued walking, leaving her standing alone.
Everything she expected suddenly collided with the reality of his words, and she took a breath she hadn't realize was holding.
Harumi didn't want him to know that his words had affected her. So she did what she had always done when things weren't going her way, she started to walk behind him pretending as if nothing had happened. His words had not exactly wounded her, Harumi didn't exactly care that much about his opinion of her but rather the consequences of his dislike of her.
The courtship was rather premature, and she didn't want to risk it, both of them were silent as they made their way to the main gate. When they finally reunited with her family and the other guests, Lord Kuchiki bowed farewell and thanked Lord Tokugawa and his family for the Chakai before leaving.
When Lord Kuchiki was gone Harumi excuse herself from her twin and mother presence explaining she had a headache and would rather go to sleep early.
While Aikana was helping her with the night routine Harumi could only think of how much she wanted to kick herself, now she knew the reason behind her nerves, she had been nervous cause at the moment she wasn't ready to meet her future husband face to face.
Even if she was good at enchanting some noblemen, she had assumed Lord Kuchiki would be the same, that had being a major mistake now and she was paying for her negligence.
As days went by, she couldn't stop thinking about their interactions, trying to find clues to understand him better. One day in particular, after her brother had received a visit from one of the Kuchiki elders for a business meeting, she was informed of how the courtship would unfold.
Instead of the six years of courtship and four years of engagement as the tradition indicated, the courtship between her and Lord Kuchiki would last three years and the engagement only two. The hurry still surprised Harumi a little bit, she was sure that the rush didn't come from Lord Kuchiki but from the elders and apparently they needed her more than what was let on.
These new revelations gave her more information to understand her situation and an idea of how to proceed. She only asked her brother when would be the next encounter between her and Lord Kuchiki, Lord Tokugawa told her that the next date wouldn't happen soon, but in six months time approximately.
For Harumi six months was enough time to decide how to act with him, she knew she had underestimated Lord Kuchiki mistaken him from one of the other noblemen Harumi had encountered, the ones a simple smile could convince them of anything even of being on their side.
However, she was almost sure that Lord Kuchiki thought the same about her. He probably thinks he had Harumi all figured out as other noblewomen before her, thankfully the element of surprised had always been one of her favorites she almost couldn't wait to see the reaction on his face.
But before Harumi could start planning her strategy, she required to gather information about her target. Lord Kuchiki was very mysterious and reserved, she knew about his first marriage and the adoption of his sister both situations quite the scandal at the time taking into account that both of them were commoners and from the lowest rank no less.
Some of the rumors about him that she gathered from other noblewomen talked about his accomplishments as the captain of the sixth division, and Harumi was impressed. Lord Kuchiki was almost highly proficient in all the areas, and she was not surprised to learn about his Zanpakutō just listening to the description of his Shikai send shivers down her spine and for a moment Harumi was glad the Tokugawa clan didn't take part in the military.
Another fact that caught her attention was that Lord Kuchiki didn't have any close blood relatives, his sister didn't count she was adopted, and he didn't have first cousins. It seemed that the only close relative with an emotional connection and a blood one was the one that raised him, his grandfather Lord Ginrei Kuchiki former head of the clan. How lonely she thought life would be so different without her brother at her side. Harumi almost felt bad for him, but she didn't allow herself to pity him.
The more information Harumi gathered, she nearly felt as she knew Lord Kuchiki in a strange kind of way. She knew about his cold demeanor first hand, and she wondered how many days would have passed by if she waited for him to reveal all this information. Harumi now understood him a little better at least from an outsider point of view.
Six months can feel like the blink of an eye when you live long enough before she knew it the time to meet eye to eye with Lord Kuchiki had come, and this time she would be ready. After considering several plans, she was sure the one she chose would be appropriate even if it was risky. The outcome of this plan could define the nature of their relationship for years to come.
Harumi felt sure of herself as she looked herself in the mirror, the soft yellow kimono with the orange flowers was one of her favorites, and it made her feel confident. The makeup, she wore was natural and soft, her hair only had one hair ornament made of lemon quartz. She wanted her natural beauty to shine, and that would only be possible if Harumi let a little bit of her mask behind.
As soon as her mother saw her a disapproving stare was directed towards her, but Harumi didn't care, it was all part, of the plan. When Lord Kuchiki arrived, she bowed in greeting but didn't smile, this time only two Kuchiki elders company him of higher ranking than the ones from the last visit. While her mother and brother accepted the traditional gifts, she stayed silent by the sidelines.
When the initial protocol was over, she directed her attention towards the Kuchiki elders, today according to tradition a walk through the gardens was due. The summer day was beautiful and so were the gardens halfway through the visit, she excused herself from the elders' company and made her way to her brother that talked with Lord Kuchiki after Harumi gave her twin one of their secret code glances he left the two of them alone.
Now that both of them were technically alone she could obtain the information she needed, specifically if Lord Kuchiki was easy to provoke, if he expected her to be the submissive kind of noblewomen and if he saw her as an equal. All Harumi had to do was wait for him to start a conversation.
"You look radiant Lady Tokugawa," said Lord Kuchiki his perfectly rehearsed compliment was obviously not sincere he didn't mean the words that got out of his mouth. Harumi just nodded before thanking him how ironic of him to accuse her of being fake.
"Are you enjoying the walk through the gardens Lord Kuchiki? It's considered an honor." She asked him as she noted the distance between the people that were present. What was about to unfold didn't need any unnecessary witnesses, not even her brother could hear, thankfully only Aikana seemed to be around, and still she was far enough.
"Most definitely, the gardens at the Tokugawa manor are famous for their beauty it's a shame they are so far away from the Seireitei given the Tokugawa's self-imposed exile." She smiled coolly at his words, must members of her family would take his last declaration as an insult. He probably thought so low of her already that he expected Harumi to accept his behavior. She needed to act and fast before this escalated.
"I'm glad," she said before proceeding, "I thought you were directing that disappointed and unimpressed look to the garden, but now I'm pleased to know it was towards our imminent marriage." Her face was serene as she delivered her statement, and before he could react to her words, she started to walk away.
In the blink of an eye he was in front of her, but Harumi wasn't intimidated she expected this kind of behavior from him, a satisfied smile spread on her face, "Oh Lord Kuchiki, I almost forgot I was in the presence of a captain of the Gotei 13, thanks for reminding me."
"What did you say back there?" He stated with cold a stare. Lord Kuchiki actually thought she would back away from her statement, he was very mistaken, and Harumi was about to let him know with her next words.
"If we take into consideration how your first marriage was for love, this one must be quite the disappointment," Harumi said as a matter of fact. "Last time we met I expected you to be a romantic."
His face remained emotionless after her statement, so Harumi continued her attack. "Life is full of surprises don't you think Lord Kuchiki, our character can be very misinterpreted if we are judged only by our actions and yours have been rather unusual for someone of our status."
"Our status? Lady Tokugawa, we are not on the same level." He stated with venom on every word.
"You are right Lord Kuchiki, we are not on the same level, if I had married a commoner my family would have banished me for breaking the law, not all of us have your privilege," Lady Tokugawa stated, the first real emotion passing his face but it faded so quickly she almost thought she had imagined it. Harumi felt satisfied for such an achievement a genuine smile tried to make its way in her face, but she suppressed it.
With the intention of having the last word, she turned around and started to search for her twin brother. This time Lord Kuchiki didn't stop her, but deep down, she knew this wouldn't be their last interaction of the day.
Her plan was almost complete, Harumi needed the last part to confirm if her involvement was essential, or her replacement wouldn't be a problem. She was glad Lord Kuchiki wasn't around this way she could organize her thoughts more clearly.
She found her brother speaking with the Kuchiki elders, but she didn't want to join the conversation, at the moment she wanted peace and quiet, so she turned around and sited down on a bench under a tree. Harumi was so distracted she didn't notice the tall figure approaching.
She only noticed him when she realized everyone was walking towards the main gate signalizing, that the second visit was about to conclude. Lord Kuchiki was standing next to her, but he wasn't looking in her direction, they had never been this close before Harumi felt she could almost touch him if she just stretched her arms towards him. She waited for him to say anything, but he remained quiet.
She was about to follow the others when suddenly he called her name when she turned around with a calm face, Lord Kuchiki didn't show emotions either. "May I have a word with you, Lady Tokugawa?" Before she could answer he continued, "I don't think is, very appropriate of a lady like yourself to talk so lightly about matters that are not of your concern so I would advise you to abstain from the topic altogether if you want to avoid unpleasant results." Even if his words were calm and polite to a degree, the threat was not.
She wanted to tell him where he could put that lovely advice, but more important matters were pressing at the moment. So she ignored him and began walking toward the main gate at a reasonably fast step not because she was running away from him, Harumi needed the Kuchiki elders close for what was about to happen.
The distance between her and the main gate was getting shorter when suddenly Lord Kuchiki appeared in front of her as the last time, the first time it was amusing the second time it was annoying. Thankfully the distance was perfect, so she just stood there looking at his face.
"Lord Kuchiki, I'm sure you are used to people shaking on your words or the consequences of your wrath, but I'm not afraid of you, and I suspect that even if you clearly don't consider me your equal, you need me more than you let on or at least the elders do," Harumi said calmly and with all the authority she could master.
Lord Kuchiki only furrowed his eyebrows, and if his expression was any indicator, he would rather be anywhere else at the moment. "Lady Tokugawa, you are being ridiculous, the Kuchiki family doesn't need you or your participation if anything you should be thankful you are even being considered."
He was closing his eyes in annoyance and walking towards the gate, but it was Harumi's turn to appear in front of him with an expressionless face, "I can prove it, if you don't believe me, just watch."
Before Lord Kuchiki could reply, Harumi felt the tears welling in her eyes. The sobbing came later at the beginning soft, but in an instant, it was so strong the Kuchiki elders started to turn around, her family too.
Lord Kuchiki seemed more annoyed if possible "What are you doing? Stop it."
If the rumors she had gathered were true this wasn't the first time a noblewoman cried in front of Lord Kuchiki, several sources told her he wasn't a stranger to make women burst into tears for his behavior, and he never seemed to care or even apologize for this.
Assuming that the Kuchiki elders needed her as much as she thought, they would do anything possible to make this alliance happen, even force Lord Kuchiki to apologize for his behavior for the first time in his life and she would enjoy every second of that apology.
When he noticed the Kuchiki elders looking at them disapprovingly, he started to understand the reason for her crying. Harumi knew she was making a scene a very dramatic one a crying lady always caused people to feel sorry for her, and most of the times be on her side of an argument. She looked at Lord Kuchiki and almost laughed at his dumbfounded and angry expression.
Harumi needed to dissipate the doubts of who was responsible for her crying, so she raised her voice enough for everyone to hear but not to be considered a scream."Lord Kuchiki, how dare you say things that unpleasant? Who do you take me for?"
She walked towards the Kuchiki elders leaving Lord Kuchiki alone and bowed deeply to them as she acted like trying to clean her tears and hide her face, "Thank you for your company, please excuse me."
She only then noticed her mother worried expression and her twin brother angry one. She bowed to them but didn't say anything.
Tears were still in her eyes while she was going to her room, all the servants looked at her surprised, but she knew this way the gossip would spread faster. Harumi finally arrived at her room and only then did she stop crying. Lord Kuchiki was probably in a bad situation, but honestly, it was all his fault, no one would believe him if he tried to deny anything. He could figure out a way to get out of that problem now she only needed to wait, probably a few days until it was considered proper.
Well, that was chapter one everybody please let me know what you think all the reviews you left in this story make me smile for days. If you find any mistakes in grammar or spelling, let me know. I hope you have a happy and healthy weekend.