I signed the paper with a flourish quickly, trying to hide my shaking. I wrote a quick number five next to my name, and then pushed the paper to Byakuya. I nodded at him and he tilted his head slightly back at me. I tried to smile, and retreated back to stand behind my mother.

Something this stupid wasn't worth all the drama.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. All of it was stupid. Byakuya acting like such a jerk. Me acting so meek and timid.

That's not the me I know! I thought angrily. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Even if I could acknowledge how mad I was and how sick and tired I was of this bullshit, I wouldn't be able to find the right words to phrase it… politely.

Fuck politeness! I'm a captain! I opened my mouth again.

"And then nothing came out!" I explained to Abarai, Hisagi and Matsumoto that night. I sighed and rested my chin on my arm, hand grasping the sake cup. Abarai laughed.

"You need to stand up to him if he's being a prick!" he said, patting my shoulder and laughing some more. Matsumoto pursed her full, pink lips.

"Show him who's boss," she said, winking.

"It's not like you ever show anyone 'who's boss' Rangiku-chan. Your breasts do it for you!" I teased. She pouted, but Abarai and Shuhei laughed. She rolled her eyes.

"A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, Mayumi-taichou!" she said matter-of-factly. I laughed and sat up straight again, taking a sip of my sake. She shrugged at me and downed a glass.

Kyouraku stormed into the bar.

"I'm ready to get wasted!" he sang. I smiled and patted the seat next to me, and he flopped onto it.

We drank for a while, I tried to forget my worries. Irresponsible for a captain, I know. But oh well.

I would stand up to him (or talk to him, at least) eventually.

The next day I asked Momo to send any leftover paperwork to my apartment after she went home and made my way to my parents' house.

That day, a young servant girl led me to my mother's private chambers. She quietly asked me to sit on a ridiculously gaudy bench with fancy, painted screens on either side. I sighed and shook my head as she bowed and left the room. My mother swept into the room, wearing a bright pink kimono. I stood up and bowed, and she just clasped her hands then pulled me into a stifling hug. I hesitantly returned it.

"You're getting married, you're finally getting married," she said, her voice muffled by my shoulder.

My mother, Fujiwara Sayuri, was a member of the Ukitake clan, and her marriage to my father was arranged. She was a short, plump woman with a jolly face. She was skinnier when I was a little girl but that doesn't matter.

"Yep," I replied uncomfortably. She released me and I tried not to loudly suck in air. I forced another smile.

"The wedding is tomorrow!" she announced. I nodded, biting my lip.

Tomorrow.

"Everyone in the Court Guards is invited, and the leaders of the… other groups are invited too!" she said happily. I nodded again. "And your sisters and their husbands too, and your brother and his wife!"

So I can be embarrassed in front of everyone I know, serve, and command.

The day dragged on, planning the last details of the wedding. My mother had already planned most of it. I went home that night a tossed and turned. Finally, I fell into a fitful sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I was exhausted.

"Alright, let's do this," I said aloud.

A/N: short chapter! Anyway, I decided to just do a quickie on the wedding and get to the good part. (: haha, not like that. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing so far!