A/N: So now, we really see the plot rolling eh? Sorry for taking so long, school and real life ate into me. So let's do a slight little recall!
Renji is being chased after by Aizen, and Byakuya wants Renji to help with the plan, but so as to not endanger him, he puts his two personal bodyguards also in-charge of Renji. They will work together to find out the crimes that Aizen has done: is it really only just being in the black market and bribing, or could there be worse crimes? Hisagi, as we can see, is starting to feel for Renji, even more so after the red-head gave him a protection lucky charm. Byakuya is still preparing the money to hand to Renji for Ichigo's university fees, and Renji still is curious to find out more about Hisana, except the chaos right now involving Aizen makes it an inappropriate time to ask.
For questions which are future plot-related, please do not ask them. I am afraid I will not answer those questions especially because they concern the plot, and I will not give it away. It only spoils the reading! Otherwise, if you have questions about the events that have happened and are unsure, please do ask.
As for those wondering why is it that the shamisen is carried around only, it's because the shamisen is much lighter, obviously. The koto is long, and needs a box to secure it. I don't know how heavy it is, but the casing for my guzheng itself is quite a few kilograms, and it's 1.2 or 1.3 meters long. It's a hassle to carry, and I believe koto is about the same.
Enjoy! And Bleach is not mine.
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Secrets – what compels one to give it away?
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Kuchiki Byakuya strode purposefully past the karesanui garden and towards the meeting room. The Kuchiki council had called for a meeting with Byakuya only, and all twelve of them were seated by the oval table again. He bowed as he entered and kneeled down, sitting formally with his hands placed on his thighs.
"Byakuya. Let us cut this short," rang Kuchiki Gondou's rough voice at the opposite end of the table. "I have already thought this over with the council, and we decide for you what is the best. We only hope you will follow the rules laid out by us, and not defy us once again. You have done that before, and we do not wish to see history repeat itself."
Byakuya allowed the slightest crease of his eyebrows and the clenching of his fists as he forced out, "What is it that you are suggesting this time around?"
"We hope that you will bring the ties of Kuchiki and Shihouin closer by marrying their head."
The frown only deepened and Byakuya resisted protesting physically as he said, "I have already made it clear to you all, that the Shihouin and Kuchiki family have already established an excellent relationship. It is needless to carry out this suggestion."
"Byakuya." The old man across looked strictly at the current head and continued, "I wish that you will defy us no more. Our noble house has its own rules to obey, and as a part of it, we are to abide them. You, more than anyone else, know full well about the strict rules of being nobility."
"Whatever you say shall not change my mind," stated the black-haired man as he stood up. "Besides, someone else will be here to protest this suggestion. It is only a matter of time before it reaches her ears."
Without so much as looking back at their appalled expressions, he turned and walked away swiftly in the direction of his work room, not even bothering to bow.
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Renji sat about casually in the study room of Byakuya's, this time in a normal light grey yukata with a black obi instead. He decided that going down and donning in a furisode was too much of a hassle, and besides his boss gave him another day off in preparation for the performance next day. He was told that Aizen Sousuke would be dropping by again, so he had planned to talk to the Kuchiki today regarding the billionaire and the plan.
However, now, as the cooling gentle breeze blew into the room, the red-head imagined himself back in those days when he was young, with his friends sitting by the hill. They sat about usually during the evenings, watching the beautiful sunset and forgetting the troubles and problems that envoloped them. He held his shamisen up and, using the plectrum, strung very lightly over the strings, a slow continuous beat that rang clearly within the room. He recalled how they had all laid on the grass and just smiled at the only thing that they thought was beautiful in the dilapidated land of District Seventy Eight, Inuzuri: the breathtaking view of the sunset from a tiny hill they frequented. It was strange that he would be feeling so relaxed thinking about his friends, and how they spent their time together was such an unforgettable experience.
His thoughts and playing came to a halt as he heard footsteps approaching the room.
"Ah, Kuchiki-san. I came to look for you today without your permission though, sorry 'bout that!" Renji smiled sheepishly as he set his shamisen back down.
"It's alright." The noble nodded as he took off his shoes and sat down at the table with Renji and continued, "I heard your playing, so I knew you came. What is it that you wished to talk to me about?"
The red-head poured hot tea for the other as he began explaining, "Regarding Aizen though. I've got a public performance tomorrow, and he's made it a point to drop over and have a...chat with me. I don't know how or what to do." Renji looked lost at this moment. He wondered if he should be the 'seducing' kind or the more 'innocent' kind towards a man like Aizen. "But...Kuchiki-san, I'm not going to...er, you know that...to get the information from him."
It took a short while for Byakuya to realize what Renji was talking about. "Of course not. Just be natural. As long as you do not reveal yourself, everything should procced smoothly. You did mention about that soft expression he made. If it was true, perhaps he would wish to talk to you more, but with caution too. Do be careful tomorrow. I shall have Hisagi to be on standby."
"I will, Kuchiki-san...Ah!" Renji suddenly remembered as he took out from his sleeve a purple lucky charm.
"That is...?"
"It wishes 'happiness'. I got it for you, Kuchiki-san. Hopefully, you can gain true happiness," smiled Renji as he handed the lucky charm to Byakuya, who received it with both hands.
The noble looked at it for a little while and said softly, "Thank you."
Oh...Now this is awkward! Renji thought as he ran out of things to say. He had never felt so strange in his life when he gave something to someone. He had always been giving lucky charms to everyone else out of habit every year, but this one he gave felt particularly important to him, and he wished with sincerity that the noble could obtain true happiness. He felt more than happy when the Kuchiki received it with both hands, and even though that man's lips did not visibly curve up, he could tell that the grey eyes were smiling. To Renji, just seeing that glimmer within the grey eyes was more than enough. Right now, the red-head only hoped that Byakuya could achieve his goals in the end.
Suddenly, there were shouts coming from the garden not far from the study.
"Ah! I'm sorry but-!"
"Argh! Kuchiki Byakuya! Come out now!" A female voice boomed, loud and clear.
Where...have I heard this voice from...? Renji wondered where he had heard that crisp voice from...
"Kuchiki Bya-! There you are. Your damned council had better get their asses here because I'm going to kick them to oblivion!"
"Y-Y-Yoruichi-san?!" Renji was beyond surprised. The impudence that Yoruichi had so elaborately displayed within the Kuchiki land and directly in front of the head of the family was beyond rude. Moreover, she addressed the noble with no honorifics whatsoever, and by his full name nonetheless!
Yoruichi, finally realizing the presence of another person, questioned, "Oh, Renji, what're you doing here?" She raised an eyebrow curiously at him, but remembered her initial target, "Forget that, I'll chat with you in a short while. You, Kuchiki Byakuya! What has your council been doing? If I hadn't gone back and had a meeting with my council, I wouldn't even have known. Which side's the culprit?"
Byakuya looked like he was resisting ripping something into pieces right now. "If you have received the news, it does not matter who started it. It only means that both sides have simultaneously agreed to it. We should, however, get out of this ourselves by strongly opposing it. This is two heads of the family we are talking about."
Two heads of the family...?
"Byakuya, do you really think your council will let this off? Not just yours, the Shihouin council is more than happy to accept this marriage proposal!"
"Shi-Shihouin...? Marriage? Wha-?" Renji sputtered rather incoherently as he was getting terribly confused at the situation before him. What was it about him getting all messed up with the higher-ups of the society? He would have cursed himself for getting so involved in their matters, but resisted as he thought of the delicious food that he had at the Kuchiki manor. And the taiyaki.
"I shall explain, Renji. Come in now, Yoruichi. Stop making a fuss of it outside. You are disturbing the peace of the Kuchiki residence," deadpanned the black-haired aristocrat as he shifted a little closer to Renji, making more space for a huffing Yoruichi.
The purple-head made a sound of discontent as she removed her shoes and plopped down rather angrily, folding her arms in exasperation.
"So, how are you going to dissuade your council from approving this? Or rather, removing the marriage proposal. I don't want to have anything to do with this you know. I'm going to try my best to reason with my side and we both don't want this."
Byakuya frowned, a sign of annoyance. "Does it seem like I wish for it to happen too?"
Renji could only look befuddled between the two as they seemed to be making a silent conversation. This isn't fair! I don't even know what's happening exactly! Marriage proposal between two heads? Yoruichi-san is involved?
"Er, I know it's rude to interrupt but...what is going on here?"
"More like I'd ask you, Renji, what are you doing in the residence of the Kuchikis?"
"Ah, I'm..." ...here to fulfill my part of the contract, to be 'lovers' with Kuchiki Byakuya, Renji silently finished.
The Kuchiki quickly filled in, "Do not worry, Yoruichi. I am already opposing my family. It will take time, however, for this to take effect."
Yoruichi looked back and forth at the red-head who was looking away rather embarrassed, and Byakuya whose eyes and meaningful look seemed to be suggesting something. She then smiled slyly, "Hah, Byakuya! I didn't know you were into guys!"
Renji only winced and blushed red like his hair, feeling rather uncomfortable directly beside Byakuya and watched by the laughing eyes of the lady opposite him. He tried to reason, albeit weakly, "I-I-It's not like that, Yoruichi-san!"
"I am merely suggesting a contract with him, and he will be paid accordingly. I had already expected that this day would arrive, sooner or later," explained the head of the Kuchiki.
"You are such a conniving person, you know that?" She paused as she turned to Renji, "By the way, you knew me through Kisuke, which is the reason why you wouldn't know that I am the current head of the Shihouin family, Shihouin Yoruichi. He doesn't expose his customers at all, so it's possible that you might have already met other people like me over there."
The red-head looked surprised at the casual lady in front of him. "You're...Shihouin Yoruichi? I...never expected that. Urahara-san always called you by your first name, so I assumed you're just a close friend of his..."
"I am a close friend of Kisuke. I don't usually care too much about the family rules, since I'm always about training people in their dojos. I'm only back in the family during the important and essential meetings that a head can never miss. But it always bores me out," explained the head of Shihouin as she rolled her eyes. She then frowned and continued, "But you see, my side of the council has suggested something absurd in order to keep me in place as a proper head, and that is for the two heads of both families to get married."
"We both do not wish it to happen," continued Byakuya. "I had made it clear from the start during the meeting, which was with you, Renji, that you are my lover, and that will not change."
Renji was trying very hard not to blush. "So, you're going to 'borrow' me to push this marriage suggestion away, and Yoruichi- er, Shihouin-san-"
"Hah. I don't mind the first name calling. You're used to that anyway. I don't like being referred to as only a part of the family. I have an identity, you know." The woman grinned insouciantly as she drank her tea and munched on her snack.
"Okay...So, Yoruichi-san, are you going to...borrow Urahara-san?"
Yoruichi stopped chewing and looked deep in thought for a moment, before answering, "Ah, good suggestion Renji! Why not?"
Renji rose an eyebrow at her. "Hah?! So it means you've never thought about it...?"
"No, of course not. Kisuke's only my good friend. Besides, I thought both councils could understand that Byakuya and I are only childhood friends, and nothing more than that."
That made Renji wonder how Byakuya was when he was a child. Perhaps a rather small and pissy kid, probably rather pretty too considering his looks...
"Oh, did you know of Byakuya's past as a child?!" The grin only got wider as she leaned forward excitedly and said, "He was such a brat! He was a temperamental, spoiled kid! And you know whenever he lost to me in a game of tag, he'd complain to-!"
Byakuya cut her off immediately with a hard glare and a commanding tone, "Shihouin Yoruichi. I believe it is unnecessary to go on any further."
Yoruichi had the grin of a devil as she responded, "But why? I was getting to all the good parts!"
The crease between the black-haired man's eyebrows only deepened as the grey eyes glared daggers at the head of the Shihouin. "Do not make me do something that you shall regret, Yoruichi."
"Oh, really? Like what, for once beating me in a game of tag?" Laughter resonated in the room as the black-haired man narrowed his eyes angrily and went towards his desk and began sifting through his documents, effectively ignoring the laughing Yoruichi. Renji could only smile weakly at Yoruichi for incurring the wrath of Kuchiki Byakuya, but thought otherwise as he remembered those two were childhood friends.
The woman finally stopped laughing and got up, facial features becoming more serious. "Well, I have to leave now. Don't forget Byakuya," she paused as she wore her shoes, "Drill the council and make them believe what you believe in."
She then left swiftly and quickly.
As Renji watched her retreating back, he questioned, "Kuchiki-san, she knows about your want to change the views of your family?"
"Yes. She is highly aware of that, and supports my beliefs. As much as she seems to be a willful and easy-going person, she still has her serious side," commented Byakuya as he picked his brush up and began signing office documents that needed confirmation. He paused in his writing as he asked, "How did you know Yoruichi?"
"Eh? Oh, through that entrepreneur, Urahara Kisuke, like I said earlier on. He's kinda close to her, and I see her often at the shop. When Hisagi-san got hurt, I brought him there and saw Yoruichi-san. She was getting some brown envelope from Urahara-san."
"That probably held the information about Aizen Sousuke, which she had only just relayed. I had wondered where she had obtained the valuable information from," he looked thoughtful for a moment before commenting softly, "So it was from that Urahara man."
So it's true that Urahara-san only does businesses with the aristocrats. Even Kuchiki-san knows about him...
"Don't worry, Kuchiki-san!" Renji smiled as the other turned over, "I'll try to make sure that this goes as planned!"
Byakuya looked outside at the garden as he said, "Thank you, Renji. Do stay safe. Although, I feel that perhaps I have been selfish on my part to put you through something you are not entirely involved in."
Renji felt pleasantly surprised as he stared at the apologetic and grateful man before him.
"To compensate, perhaps I shall let you on why I have decided to go against the rules and traditional views of my family." Byakuya dropped the signing of his documents and turned his attention towards the peaceful garden outside instead.
Renji's eyebrows rose and his attention was directed towards the noble upon hearing Byakuya mention something about the plan. Never had he thought that the noble would be speaking openly to him, and telling a stranger personal matters. He always thought the noble as someone very closed in, and hardly shared anything with anybody. To Renji, this kind of personality only resulted in loneliness and solitude, and it was not something that he could endure. How the noble remained this way was a mystery to him.
Byakuya set his brush back down. "I had studied overseas for about three years during my university years, and had planned to study well and return to build up on our family business. However, little did I know, staying overseas had changed some of my views. Slowly, I realized that statuses did not matter. This was even more so when I married Hisana."
"So...Hisana-san is...a commoner?" Renji could not contain his surprise. From the way Hisagi had previously described of Hisana, she did not seem to be of a simple background, yet now Renji only just knew that she was a commoner. Thoughts of how Hisana met with Byakuya flooded his mind as he thought perhaps she met the noble by chance, or by fate. Perhaps Hisana was someone meant to change the fate of Kuchiki Byakuya.
The aristocrat nodded as he continued, "She is the first commoner whom I came into contact with. She was...different, and unconsciously both of us began to spend time with each other." His tone changed to a bitter tone instead, "However, the council was greatly against the decision of me choosing to marry Hisana. Because of this, she suffered tremendously under the discriminating eyes of my family."
The red-head looked sadly at his cup of his tea as he thought, so she...also suffered under those intense glares that the council had shot at me too. It felt so suffocating, I don't even know how she survived.
"In the end, her health failed her, and died after five years into our marriage."
As the musician observed Byakuya, he felt grief and sorrow emanating from the other and the pair of lonely gray eyes that seemed to have kept everything up until now only softening a little upon thoughts of Hisana. Distant gray eyes seemed to be searching for something. The stiff form that Byakuya took upon clearly showed how uncomfortable he was, yet his frame suddenly seemed so forlorn and fragile, that it felt like there was a need to be telling this to someone at least. Renji was never really good at comforting someone, yet the red-head felt obliged to reassure the noble.
"Whatever it is, Kuchiki-san, I'll help you to the end, and to the best that I can! So, I won't give up, and I'll fulfill this contract," smiled Renji determinedly as he looked at Byakuya purposefully. "I won't make empty promises, just so you know."
At this, Byakuya allowed one of his rare gentle smiles to grace his face as he turned back to his work and began writing again. The handsome smile that caught Renji's eye had him turning a little red as he looked back down at his cup of tea again.
He vaguely wondered why his heart was thumping a little faster than normal.
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Heavy make-up was applied and intricate pieces of kanzashi were picked and looked over. Renji chose to bun up his hair again, leaving bangs on both sides of his face, and having the hairpin of a crane through the bun. Flower petals shimmer in the pearly white background of the furisode he chose as blossoms of lavender and violet are accented with shades of mauve on the surface. Folding fans of gold added extra shine to his furisode as he slipped it on, being very careful not to cause creases or folds. An indigo colored obi was tied securely around his waist as he checked himself once over in the mirror.
Today, his performance was going to be on his shamisen with other shamisen players, and the famous shakuhachi player, Ayasegawa Yumichika, who was also the best friend of the bald owner of 'Lucky Shop', Madarame Ikkaku. This would be the first time his shamisen was showcased in front of the general public. He felt rather proud of himself that this day finally came, and it was also full-house for his performance today.
Heading toward the stage, he saw the other players and Yumichika getting ready for the performance. He widened his eyes at how...flamboyant the shakuhachi player looked. Everything the other screamed of was elaborate glamor and voluptuous figure. If anything, that man looked like a mature woman instead. He could see the glimmer and sparkles that began to encircle the man reaching out to any target that was in the vicinity, and reinforcing their purpose on unsuspecting victims. When the eyes of said beauty landed on Renji, the red-head turned his whole body immediately without much of a look and walked quickly in the opposite direction, taking the long way around to the stage. He did not wish to be listening to the long and never-ending talk of 'beauty' once more.
Passing by the corridor that was connected towards the stage, he came face to face with someone he had not expected to see at the very moment.
Surprise crept its way into his voice as he managed, "Aizen-san..."
"Ah, Abarai-kun. I was hoping to catch you here. Let us celebrate your first official performance of the shamisen after this, shall we?" The man smiled kindly.
Renji pretended to consider it, since he knew that Aizen would not buy his story if he said 'yes' immediately. Truthfully, he had wanted to know about Aizen's works and business deals and what they involved. He was aware that the billionaire's main industry was food production, and that man's company was currently the biggest of all food producers in Japan. If Aizen ended up wielding so much power that could influence even the government officials, Renji would not like to imagine what future Japan held.
He looked up again at Aizen and nodded in silent agreement. The billionaire then smiled, looking relieved as he patted Renji on the shoulder and left.
Pushing thoughts of the previous message that was uttered purposefully by Aizen away, he calmly proceeded on to the stage, the rest of the members already gathered on both of the sides of the stage. Upon seeing the Red Player, they presented themselves on the stage uniformly, taking their respectful seats: the three shamisen players in a row behind the seat that was center of the stage, and the shakuhachi player at the left side of the stage. Applause began, and became even louder as Renji got on the stage and took the seat in the center of the stage. As all attention settled on him, he began to feel the pressure building up inside of him, and feeling the need to release it all in the fast paced song he was going to play.
He began with the song, 'Blooming'. A fast, sudden start ignited the fiery tension and the want to finish the music. Strong and quick movement of his right hand created the imagery of how fast things zoomed past him without his knowing. Before he realized it, he had already moved to the adult phase, working as a young budding musician at first without much knowledge of the first instrument he came into contact with. Gradually, he and his career bloomed magnificently as his boss took great care of him. He felt his career move along as interestingly as with this music: the fiery and abrupt start, the unprecedented and surprising turn of events. With every slap of the plectrum against the shamisen, his heart raced at the same pace as the music as he imagined how the events would play out in the end. He wondered if things would end like a blast, with a satisfactory conclusion, or with a decisive open-ended solution.
A final powerful, hard slap of the plectrum against his shamisen concluded the piece, and all at once, the tension was relieved of him. The audience clapped loudly as they patiently waited for the second piece, this time involving the shakuhachi player.
He had specifically chosen two contrasting pieces to show how versatile the shamisen was, and this time, a much gentler piece titled 'Cherry Blossoms in Winter' was selected, another excellent piece composed by Kyouraku Shunsui, but edited to bring out his own flavor.
As he began, soft and slow yet firm, he felt peace and calmness filling him as the other shamisen players joined him in harmony. The harmonious melody that was brought out then reminded him of how his childhood friends were together as one, and moved together as a whole family, supporting one another through hard times. The flute joined in, softly and slowly in a different yet complementary tune, like the newest and last member added to their family, his best friend whom he had entirely lost contact with. As the piece proceeded on, he saw in his mind cherry blossoms blooming, ironically, in the winter. Despite the extreme temperature, the tree was blossoming resplendently, just like the smile of that girl that brightened all of them in their hardships. Her encouraging words and the formidable strength was the pillar of support for them, as they held on desperately to that and each other. Those meaningful words that she had said to him once again rang in his head, and served as a reminder to press on even more than before. The way that those words bloomed like the cherry blossoms made him believe again once more in the future, that perhaps what was to come may not be the worst thing. After all, he had a mission and promise to fulfill towards Kuchiki Byakuya, someone whom he would be indebted to.
All at once, all instruments came together in perfect harmony, peaking and signaling its end, yet gently fading, as if the piece had left an open conclusion. The whole Grand Hall was silent as Renji slowly raised his head, eyes distant and mind full of memories of his friends. Then, applause once again sounded loudly as he stood up and bowed to them, and specifically to Aizen.
He then left back to his room as the performances continued on. He thought of how he should approach the situation later when he would be speaking to Aizen. Being cautious was one thing, but preventing things happening was another. If he got into a situation, how was he going to get out of it easily? For one, he definitely was not glib-tongued, so he had to think about how he should retaliate if Aizen tried something later on. Right now, he only prayed that the other would not try anything, so as to save himself the trouble of getting out of it. After all, he had shown Aizen some hostility during the encounter at the bridge, so the bespectacled man should be more mindful of his own actions than before.
He slid open the door to his room and almost jumped out of his skin when he saw someone sitting by his table, clad in black. When he realized it was only Hisagi, he visibly relaxed and the irregular beating of his heart slowed down to normal as he frowned at the bodyguard before him.
"Could you please announce your arrival next time or something? You scared the shit out of me when you just barged in like that!" Renji complained as he slid the door close.
"I'm sorry. I was told to watch over you if possible, especially when you'll be meeting with Aizen later. Well, when the situation gets really bad, I'll have to charge in. Just...scream or something, I guess."
Renji looked rather miffed at the man who just politely asked him to 'scream' for help. "For your information, I'm not a woman, Hisagi-san. I think I should be able to get out of this myself." He sat down by the mirror on his table as he began to remove the make-up, trying to gather himself once more to prepare for the meeting later on.
"Well, I'll just be 'round the corner, just in case," said Hisagi rather distractedly as he watched the hands of the red-head move about, removing the make-up. He chewed his lips as his eyes remained fixated on the hands that moved to release the tight bun and smoothing out the seemingly soft red hair.
Catching the stare that was clearly reflected on the mirror, Renji raised an eyebrow in question. "What?"
Hisagi turned away immediately as he propped his head up with the palm of his hand on his chin and his elbow on the table, he had his mouth partially covered up. He muttered, "Nothing."
The red-head looked skeptically at the image of Hisagi reflected on the mirror. He had noticed something off of Hisagi today since he entered the room, but did not feel like asking any further, less he distracted himself and the other from their respective jobs. He vaguely wondered what seemed to be on the mind of the bodyguard as he realized that the time of the performance was over.
"I'll be going now. I guess you can follow, but well, keep yourself out of sight. And if possible, if you see the silver-haired bastard, don't engage in a battle! I don't want to bring you to Urahara-san with even more wounds." Renji warned Hisagi and the other only nodded in response.
Upon arriving at the door, he nodded to Hisagi, who shifted to an inconspicuous corner that was more detached from the main corridor. He knocked lightly on the door and went in.
"Abarai-kun." The man greeted, once again all smiles at the red-head who bowed politely. "Come have a seat. Your performance today was splendid, just as I had expected of you."
Instead of attempting to force a smile, Renji just sat down wordlessly and poured a new cup of tea for the billionaire. Key is to be convincing...!
"Although, I must apologize for my actions in this very room a few weeks ago. I was not myself, and I ask for your forgiveness." Aizen spoke in an apologetic tone as he looked rather expectantly at Renji.
At this, Renji quelled his anger a little as he tried to look a little more relaxed, thinking of what he should say as to not raise suspicions. "It's alright. I won't say anything about that anyway. I'm not that petty to bear grudges either. I just don't want that to happen again."
A charming smile graced the handsome features of the bespectacled man. "That is great. I shall bring some fruits next time; our company has been cultivating the finest and freshest fruits."
A short pause ensued as Renji's mind was running rather quickly, contemplating on how to carry on talking. However, Aizen spoke first. "By the way, have you caught wind of the recently arranged marriage between Kuchiki Byakuya and Shihouin Yoruichi?"
The subtlety of the question did not go unnoticed by Renji. "Not really. What's happening?"
"This perhaps you should understand, Abarai-kun. Kuchiki-san has been without a wife for some time, and the Kuchiki family is anxious to have another heir to continue their line." He paused to sip his tea. "In addition, the better candidate would be none other than his childhood friend, Shihouin Yoruichi who understands him well."
It's true that she understands him...Renji thought as he pretended to listen attentively.
"Besides, the Kuchiki family absolutely does not accept a commoner into their noble lineage. Kuchiki-san used to have a commoner for a wife, and this caused an uproar within the family, and it was frowned upon by many other noble families when he had publicly announced his decision. The debate of his marriage with his first wife still exists until now."
Something flashed in Aizen's eyes. "Commoners and nobles. This does not and will never exist, does it?"
Renji could not resist as he responded, "Doesn't the same go for you as well?"
Aizen shook his head. "For my case, things are very different. People will have to accept what I believe in no matter what, because I stand at the very top."
A crease etched its way towards Renji's forehead as he saw the arrogant look appear on the billionaire's face.
"Do not furrow your eyebrows, Renji," said Aizen, purposefully using his first name. "It makes me worried that you do so. You make me think I'm the one in the wrong here."
You are the one in the wrong! The red-head screamed mentally in his head. He hated having to try to stay in the same room and listen to the bullshit that came from the high and mighty man before him.
"No, I was just kinda considering what you said."
Behind the spectacles, the eyebrows rose in surprise and elation. "So, you are willing to consider?"
"Just...your words. Though I have a question."
"Please do ask."
His questioning black eyes stared right into Aizen's seemingly delusive brown ones, searching for an answer, as eyes were the representation of the soul. "What you said to me on the bridge last time, that you needed no one else but me. What's the meaning of that?"
"It simply means what you just relayed to me."
"What do you mean?"
"You will come to understand one day." There it was again, the meaningful yet seemingly deceitful smile. "Shall we change the topic?"
Renji was beginning to think that Aizen was hiding something.
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A/N: So this concludes chapter 6, and I doubt I'm even halfway through this thing. We shall see if the plan to expose Aizen works, or would it all go down the drain because Aizen's such an omnipotent ass?
Aha! Hisagi's distracted! Distracted by the expert hands of Renji...Maybe I shall make Renji naked so he can be so distracted by Renji's tattoos!
And now, we finally know that Hisana is really a mere commoner, and this marriage, even though it was some time ago, was greatly frowned upon by all nobility. Will that hinder Renji's decision to help Byakuya, or will it only spur on his determination? Wait to find out~!
Shakuhachi: Japanese flute traditionally made of bamboo, about 55 cm. The soulful sound it produces became popular in the western culture in pop music in the 1980s.
Search up Yoshida Brothers again, I urge you, and listen to 'Blooming' and 'Cherry Blossoms in Winter'. They are both awesome pieces, and if you listen to CBiW, you should realize that there are more than just shamisen and a flute in it. The reason why I did not wish to include say, drums was because it is difficult to identify which drums are used, because it isn't just one set of drums alone. The Japanese have taiko, kakko, shime-daiko etc all classified properly. I did not want to choose the wrong type of drums, so I just left that out.
Review please! Let me know what went well, and what seemed screwed up.