Note: A short interlude into Byakuya's thoughts.
SPRING RAIN WASHED OVER THE SUN
by Yih
||||| A Quiet Evening |||||
Dinner was always a formal affair, even when it was just the two of them.
There were more than a few times Byakuya wished that it did not have to be this way, but he was watched at every moment. There was hardly a second he wasn't watched. He had been under observation since he was born and he could hardly step out of line before an Elder found out and reprimanded him. When his grandfather, Ginrei-sama was here, he had been allowed more leeway to be a child, an adolescent prone to rash behavior that was unseemly for the Kuchiki heir.
Now there was no one to make excuses for him, no one to tell the Elders that he was young and that he would learn. He dearly missed his grandfather.
"Byakuya-sama," Rukia said softly, "how was your day?"
Her speech was exceedingly polite and if anyone heard it and did not know any better, they would think she and he were perfect strangers. But he could hardly encourage her to be informal with him, not when she was not part of the family. He had not broached the topic of adopting her, even though he had heard some of the Elders whispering amongst themselves trying to guess what he'd do next.
Rukia as his sister? Never.
"Byakuya-sama?"
Her voice broke into his thoughts, reminding him that he had forgotten to respond to her polite inquiry. "My day was fine," he responded. "How was yours?"
"I had my last day of classes," she said. "I have technically graduated."
Byakuya looked up from his food to study her face across the long table. He had fallen into the habit of never looking at her during dinner, only paying attention to his food. After all, for years he had eaten without company here. Her presence was unnecessary.
"Was there a celebration?" he asked.
Rukia nodded. "There was an informal one, just the students graduating. There will be an official ceremony later this week." She paused. "If you can spare the time, it would please me if you were present at the occasion."
Only he and the Elders knew the truth – that Rukia was not part of the Kuchiki clan. Byakuya had heard the rumors of her supposed relations to his noble house and from all that he could tell, in her manner and in her speech, she was a Kuchiki. But inside, he hoped, she was still that tough, stubborn little bird inside ready at a moment's notice to fly free from her cage.
She would get that opportunity, he thought, because one day he would release her.
"Will you be able to make it?" Rukia inquired.
Byakuya averted his eyes deliberately away from her penetrating violet gaze. "We will see," was all he said because that was all the Kuchiki in him would allow.
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A/N: This was intended to be longer, but what I wanted to tell decided to be told in a more succint fashion and what I meant to tell changed in the end. Byakuya would never be verbose in speech or thought, and thus I was limited. I especially like the interaction here, for all it's tense, awkward terseness.
If you are reading, please review as they encourage me to write even more! Thanks to those that have reviewed! I appreciate your continuing support!
Released on January 19, 2010.
