Chapter 3:
Soutaichou's Birthday?
The office door slammed open as Renji ran through the door. He was late yet again. Byakuya looked up at him and shook his head disapprovingly. Renji just stood at the entrance as he closed the door.
"Abarai, you're late again." Byakuya said as he looked back down at the report he was working on.
"I know Taichou. I'm sorry, it won't happen again." The red head knew what was coming next.
"You say that every time Renji. Just sit down and get to work." The noble said in a cold tone as he pointed at Renji's desk that was in front and off to the right of his own without looking up.
"Hai." Renji walked over to his desk and sat down. He noticed a hell butterfly flutter in a few moments later as he picked up a file from the huge stack on his desk. His eyes traveled to where it flew past the bookshelf across the room, then his Taichou's private quarter's door, then past Byakuya all the way to his nose where it had landed.
"What the-" He just stared crossed eyed at the intruding insect for a few moments until Byakuya broke the silence in the room.
"Are you going to see what it has to say, or are you just going to stare at it all day?"
"Yeah, sorry…" He said as he channeled his reiatsu into the insect so that the hell butterfly would speak its message.
"Private message for: Kuchiki Byakuya Taichou." It spoke.
"Then why the hell did you come over here to me?" He asked mostly to himself than to anyone else. He didn't notice Byakuya was standing in front of his desk until he looked up. "Whoa!" He almost jumped out of his skin he was so startled. The butterfly fluttered off his nose and on to the desk.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He said with a little bit of concern in his voice.
"N-no Taichou, its fine." The crimson haired man said. "But the hell butterfly is for you." He added.
"I see." Byakuya turned his attention to the insect on his Fukutaichou's desk. "Let's see what it wants then." He said as he touched the small black butterfly.
"Kuchiki Taichou, we request your presence at the first division immediately. Please bring Abarai Fukutaichou with you. He is also required here as well." The hell butterfly then flew off leaving the two shinigamis looking at each other in confusion.
"Why would they want to see us?" Renji mused.
"I do not know. Come. We are needed elsewhere. Assign the third and the fourth seats to see to the paper work here while we are gone."
"Yes sir." Renji then sent a hell butterfly for the third and fourth seats to do the paper work. They then flash stepped to first division.
They walked inside and saw Fukutaichou Sasakibe waiting for them in front of Soutaichou's office.
"I don't know if I like this Taichou." Renji whispered behind Byakuya.
"Just keep calm Abarai." Byakuya said calmly.
"Ah… Kuchiki Taichou, Abarai Fukutaichou, you came in time." The silver haired shinigami said smoothly.
"In time? In time for what?" The red head asked.
Fukutaichou Sasakibe looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" He asked. They stared at each other for a long time until Byakuya broke the silence.
"It's Soutaichou's birthday." Byakuya finally said.
"Oh?" Renji mused. "And how come I didn't know about this until last minute Taichou?" he asked looking irritated.
"I thought I did tell you." He answered. "Also, I forgot until just now." He admitted.
"No, I don't remember you saying a thing. And you usually wouldn't forget something like that." Renji crossed his arms and turned to look at his Taichou who was still looking ahead of him. "Also, why was it such an emergency and why couldn't I take the message if I needed to be present as well?" He asked.
"I don't know why you couldn't take the message, but it was such an emergency I suppose because we need to act quickly before Soutaichou comes back to his office." Byakuya replied.
"Anyway, Abarai you know now and I need your help with something while Kuchiki Taichou goes to the Taichous meeting." Sasakibe said as he looked a little as if he didn't belong there listening to them argue.
Renji sighed and uncrossed his arms and turned back to look at Sasakibe. "Fine. I'm guessing all of the Fukutaichous are decorating while the Taichous distracting Soutaichou."
"Hai, we are decorating his office for the party. Kuchiki Fukutaichou is already inside getting started while the others are getting more supplies."
"Rukia is inside? Wait, whose idea was this?"
"My sister's and mine." Byakuya interrupted.
"Nani?" Renji's eyes went wide and his mouth flung open.
"It's true." Rukia smirked from the door.
Renji turned his head to see Rukia walking towards them. She was smiling and had a streamer in her hand.
"Fool!" She slapped the back of Renji's head. "Don't just stand there! You're not a koi, close your mouth baka! Come help me!" shouted the short raven haired shinigami. "Nii-sama needs to go anyway. The Taichous meeting is about to start in a few minutes." She added calmly.
"Hai, I will see you later on." Byakuya said calmly then flash stepped away leaving the three Fukutaichous looking after him. Sasakibe took his leave soon after to make sure Soutaichou wasn't coming to his office for something.
Rukia shook her head. "Nii-sama has been unusually fidgety ever since we defeated Aizen."
"I noticed that too. But he's even more so since we helped give Ichigo back his powers." Renji said as they walked towards Soutaichous office.
"That's true." The short shinigami replied.
"Why do you think that is?"
"I don't know." She said as she stopped for a moment to think. Then it hit her. "Ah!" She turned. "He told me that the council has been putting pressure on him to marry someone and make heirs. And since everything its calmed down now. They think now is the best time. But he doesn't think that the person whom he has feelings for feels the same for him or if they want to marry yet. So he told the council he was going to make them wait until he didn't feel so conflicted about the situation." Rukia explained as she remembered.
"Wow! He told you all that?"
"Yes, Nii-sama and I have grown comfortable talking to each other now." Rukia smiled.
"That's nice." Renji smiled back. "That's how brother and sister should be."
"We are that way too, Renji."
A wider smile tugged on Renji's lips. "That's true."
"But I don't know how I can help Nii-sama." She frowned as she turned into the room.
Renji followed and saw Rukia had the room filled with balloons and streamers. He saw a small pile of cards from everyone for Soutaichou. "I don't know either. But I do know that you did more than enough to this office. It looks perfect."
"Really?" Rukia's smile returned.
"Hai, I don't think we need to anything else here."
"Oh wait! You have to sign the Fukutaichou's card yet." She ran over to the desk to retrieve the card and the calligraphy brush. She walked back. "Here, sign it."
Renji shrugged. "Okay." He took the card and saw Rukia had poorly drawn a bunny looking Soutaichou on the front. He chuckled at it then signed the card. "There, it's signed now go put this back on the desk. We don't want to get burned by Soutaichous zanpakuto." He shivered at his words. "That would be… unpleasant."
Rukia rolled her eyes and flash stepped to the desk to put the card and brush away. She then flash stepped back to Renji's side admiring her work as all the other Fukutaichous stepped in with other supplies and food.
"Damn! You guys went all out!" The red head yelled.
"Yeah, well with no help from you." Hisagi said playfully.
"It's cold out here! Hurry up!" Ikkaku yelled from outside in the hall where the outside door was open.
"Here, let me help now." Renji said as he took a box from Hisagi's hands. "Taichou didn't tell me. So how was I supposed to know?"
"You didn't know Soutaichou's birthday was today; let alone in January?" Hinamori asked as she squeezed through Hisagi and Renji with two boxes of food in her arms to set them down.
"No." Renji answered sheepishly.
"Oh well," Kira said from behind him. "You know now and you can help by helping us unpack all this food." He said reassuringly.
The crimson haired shinigami chuckled and nodded. They all finally got the food unpacked and were now waiting for the Taichous to arrive with Soutaichou.
Mina's note: Sorry about the slight cliffy. But chapter 4 is coming up in a little while. And I'm thinking that's when I'm going to take it a little step further. ;) Again, reviews are appreciated greatly! ^_^ Hope you enjoy the chapter! :)
*Yes yes I know, welcome back Sasakibe! Yes he died in the manga but not here he didn't! So enjoy!*
-Love, Mina! ^_^
