"Zaraki-sama, Kuchiki-sama is here, as you have requested," Yumichika said, his forehead almost touching the floor, his hands resting on his knees. He heard the feint chime of the bells as he stared deeply into the floor.
"Thank you, Ayasegawa-san, you may show him in," the deep voice echoed. Yumichika walked backwards to the door.
Although he knew that his master, Zaraki Kenpachi, the First of the Yumearuku order, had a soft spot for him, Yumichika was still in great awe of the man, whose physical strength was paralleled by his spiritual energy. He often wondered whether the rules would be so blindly obeyed, by the servants and the priests alike, if Zaraki Kenpachi was not such a formidable man.
Byakuya bowed his head slightly as he faced the First. Being one of the high-priests, second only to Zaraki himself, he was allowed to remain on his own feet when greeting the First.
"Ah, Kuchiki-san. Have a seat, please," Zaraki said. The First's seat was elevated half a meter from the floor, as to physically signify the superiority of his status. It was a redundant architectural gesture, having in mind that the First's height loomed large over everyone in Fenore.
"I suppose you have called me to talk about the redhead?" Byakuya offered, as was usually a custom when talking to Kenpachi.
"Yes."
Byakuya ventured to give a detailed report on the entire ordeal. Of course, he left out his annoyance with having to do something so mundane and servant-like. Although he omitted his feelings from the report, Kenpachi was well aware that the noble blood flowing through Byakuya still made him chagrin from nurturing others.
"You do understand that I could not have a mere servant take care of this incident. We have not opened the gate to a stranger in years, and I think we were fortunate that of all people you were the one on call," Kenpachi said, trying to soothe Byakuya's wounded pride.
The dark-haired priest of royal stature was the one chosen to be Kenpachi's successor. The First recognized his resolve, his unrelenting adherence to the rules of the order, and the dispassionate way of dealing with the biggest of problems. However, before the Second takes over, his pride will have to be assuaged. Byakuya still seemed to put his pride before everything else, but he also seemed to have finally realized that this was something he must not advertise.
"Yes, Zaraki-sama. I understand, and I am glad that the man poses no threat."
Kenpachi tilted his head. The subtle sound of those little bells attached to his hair was always accompanied by an explanation that the chime seemed to demand.
"He is severely injured. He can hardly move, or talk, let along pose any threat."
"I see," Kenpachi replied curtly. "You do not think that you should take a walk and make sure?"
Byakuya winced at the suggestion although he anticipated it. He did not like the idea of entering the redhead's dream world after taking care of him for three days. Putting his aversion aside, he answered:
"I believe it would be a prudent course of action. We cannot wait for him to regain his strength in order to question his character." Byakuya stared at his hands for a few minutes, realizing that once again, his feelings lost to the objective logic of the situation. He liked that.
"I think I should take a walk before he regains his senses completely."
Kenpachi smiled. He always liked to watch sense battle against sensibility in Byakuya's eyes. When he first entered the order, Byakuya had the resolve of an ox to become a priest, but he was a hothead, with a terrible temper. Nothing more than a spoiled, noble brat. Most of the priests, including the Second at the time, thought it would be impossible to mould him into a temperate man of the cloth, but Kenpachi knew better.
"I agree. Report to me as soon as you wake up, and make sure to sort out the paperwork. It has been a long time since we performed dream-walking within the monastery."
"Zaraki-sama, the man is not a priest, nor is he a servant of the order. I do not believe that we should treat this occurrence as dissimilar to our usual dream-walking," Byakuya retorted. Kenpachi glared at his Second, making any comment unnecessary.
"Very well, I will make sure that all the paperwork is in order before I enter the redhead. If you'd excuse me, Zaraki-sama?"
"You may take your leave, Kuchiki-san."
Byakuya sighed inwardly at his own stupid insolence. He made a mental note to himself that he should never second-guess Zaraki Kenpachi. It was not what his title signified, quite the contrary. Being the Second meant obeying the rules and instructions, serving as an example to other priests and servants of the order.