Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Bleach characters.

Note: So here I go again...
If you have wondered, this is set between the Soul Society and the Hueco Mundo arc.
Now you get to know Shihana's parents, I hope you like them!

Chapter 3

"Men are April, when they woo,

December when they wed: maids are May

when they are maids, but the sky changes

when they are wives." (As you like it)

The next morning, Shihana awoke with a slight pounding between her temples. She would soon find out that the day could get much worse than that.

Just when she was about to leave for the 6th squad barracks, a servant blocked her way.

"Kuchiki Shihana-sama, your attendance is wished for in your parents quarters."

Shihana suppressed a sigh. Instead she simply nodded and turned around, heading off in the direction of her parents' guest rooms.

She hesitated at the door for a moment, a sense of foreboding washing over her. Now get it over with, she tried to motivate herself and knocked.

Stepping in, she bowed gracefully.

"Father, Mother, you wished for my presence?"

"We did, Shihana", said her father. "Please sit down."

While her mother poured her a cup of tea, Shihana sank down at the table and needlessly smoothened out her Kimono. It was bright red today, with a pattern of white flowers.

"We called you, because we have something very important to discuss", began her father. "We want you to meet someone."

At a sign from him, the servant disappeared and reappeared seconds later with a young man in his train.

No, thought Shihana, no, no, no!

"This is Shihoin Reki."

Shihana's eyes widened. "So you didnt' bring me here to see Byakuya-san again", she spat out bitterly. "But to...", her indifferent mask fell into place, hard, "...marry me?", she continued, now perfectly calm and expressionless.

"Yes, my child. You are now in an appropriate age and Shihoin Reki-kun is a formidable young man."

Shihana looked at her silent mother, but her eyes betrayed no emotion. She knew she could not count on her help.

"If you say so", she said dispassionate.

"How very impolite of you", said her father sharply. "Shihoin Reki-kun has been very gracious to come to get to know you. You should award him with the appropriate honor."

"Yes father", answered Shihana. "Welcome to Kuchiki house Shihoin Reki-kun. Please have a seat and some tea."

The following hour seemed endless to Shihana. She was bored to death by the conversation, which stayed on such a polite and shallow level that she tried passing time by guessing who would say what next. She lay right in 90 % of the cases.

It wasn't that Shihoin Reki wasn't nice to look at. He had smooth tanned skin and silky dark brown hair, barely reaching his shoulders. His face was cut out finely and perfectly... boring. She just couldn't imagine to have the slightest bit of fun with him.

Like the Kuchiki family, his clan gave a lot about appearances and his face was as stony as her parents'. She didn't want to marry him, absolutely not! Yet she knew that her parents would not accept a no, when they had their hands on such a good match for her. Struggling was useless.

So she just let the morning wash over her, leaving a polite remark here and there while her headache grew stronger every minute.

After it was over, she couldn't bring herself to go to the barracks. She just wanted to be alone.

Throwing herself on her bed, she began to sob uncontrollably. God, how jealous was she in that moment for Byakuya-san's ability to swallow down every sorrow and burden his family had laid on him.

Exhausted, she fell asleep, not waking until someone knocked on her door.

Quickly wiping her face, she turned to see who it was.

She let out a relieved breath when she saw Rukia standing in the door.

"Nii-sama told me to check in on you, because you haven't been to the office today", she said softly. "Are you alright, Shihana-san?"

"Come on in, Rukia-san", Shihana said, sitting up.

After Rukia had closed the door and settled down on the bed next to her, she felt like crying again.

"My parents", she forced out, "they're going to marry me." Burying her face in her hands, she began to sob anew.

Rukia's small hand patted her back soothingly.

"And is he so bad, your future husband, I mean?"

"Yes, No, I just don't want to marry!"

Rukia waited patiently until she could speak again.

"Those damn nobles. I don't want to be with such a cold fish. Hell, marrying a gravestone would be cheerier!"

"Perhaps he's not so bad, when you get to know him better."

Shihana sighed. "You might be right, Rukia. But what if he's just the boring stiff guy I think he is? It's too late, when I'm married already!"

"If you think he won't make you happy, don't marry him."

Shihana smiled through her tears. Rukia's wide eyes were looking at her softly. No, she was not mocking her, Rukia wouldn't do that.

"You make it sound so easy, Rukia-san", she sighed. "I am an only child. If I don't marry appropriately, our branch of the family will be ruined. I've brought them much distress already. They are still my parents and I love them. I can't just let them down."

"But this is your life", protested Rukia. "If they are your parents, they should want what is best for you."

"How should they know what's best for me, when they don't understand me? I just hope, there is still some time left to have fun before the marriage. Knowing them, they want it perfectly organized, so I should have a month at least."

Rukia eyed her new-found friend sadly. She wished she could do something to make this easier for her. Perhaps she could speak to Nii-sama about it. He always had a word of advice.

When Shihana had fallen asleep, Rukia soundlessly left her room. For a moment she wondered whether it was already too late to talk to Nii-sama. But a look on her watch told her it was not late in the evening.

Noone answered when she softly rapped on the door to Byakuya's quarters. She hesitated a moment before she slid the door open. The room was empty.

Rukia thought for a moment. Where could he be? At the office? Surely not though not unheard of. It was most likely he was in the garden, Nii-sama loved a walk in the night.

She found him outside, the moon reflecting on his scarf and the kenseikan. He was still in his work clothes though he didn't wear the white haori.

"What is it, Rukia?" he asked softly, without turning to look at her.

"It is about Shihana", Rukia answered, equally softly.

Byakuya turned to look at her. "Is she alright?", he asked.

When Rukia opened her mouth to explain, he raised a slender hand. "I have already heard she is going to marry. She bears it badly, right?"

Rukia just nodded.

"Let's go in and have some tea", said Byakuya, his voice and face still emotionless, but Rukia, knowing him long enough, knew he was worried.

Looking into her steaming cup, Rukia tried to work up the guts to ask what was on her mind.

She needn't have bothered. "You came to me for help", stated Byakuya as if reading her thoughts.

"I fear I have no say in the matter", he continued.

"But you're the head of the Kuchiki family, Nii-sama!", Rukia protested.

"Still, those are private matters, affecting the clan as a whole little. It would be impertinent to meddle." He took a long sip.

"But", said Rukia, not meeting his eyes, "my sister wasn't your parent's choice, either."

Byakuya regarded her for a long moment and she feared she had stepped too far. Then he sighed.

"It is alright. I will speak to my uncle about this. But I can't promise anything. It would help if she had someone she would like to marry instead."

Rukia blushed deeply and took a quick sip to hide her embarassment only resulting in burning her tongue.

"She's just been here three days, I don't really know..."

"Not even the slightest hint? I recall her being very openheartedly about things like this when we were younger."

Byakuya pondered his own thoughts. Those looks towards his fukutaichou? No, surely not.

"Well, she did say she liked someone better than someone else", said Rukia, embarassed even further.

"And?", Byakuya inquired, one brow slightly raised.

"Um, it was Renji", Rukia mumbled so low even Byakuya had problems unterstanding her. Surely he had misheard.

"Did you just say Abarai Renji?" he asked, baffled for once.

Rukia nodded.

"Great", said Byakuya, his tone indifferent, but his head in turmoil, "it will be Hisana all over again."

Now how was the Kuchiki-stiffness? Still one chapter to go till the guys plan their revenge and no reviews yet :(
Still, thanks to everyone who put this story on their favs, so please don't be shy and review!!!