A/N: I am adding this chapter because I completely forgot that I mentioned something that should have happened and I never got around to writing it. Enjoy!
Festive music played across the entire manor as nobles, shinigami, and friends alike walked up through the mountain pass. The fog was washed away for such a rare night and the light glowed like dim fairies in the dark night. Servants with glowing smiles greeted each new arrival in delight shocking most of the guests greatly. They were dressed in beautifully designed outfits embroidered with the Shiba Clan crest. Children, all miniature Shibas, ran around the freshly manicured gardens and entrance enticing others into their joyful frolicking as their mothers chased after them in wonderfully made up kimonos. The lights of the manor were lit but it appeared that only several people were present inside the walls. The most looked at set of windows housed a room bustling with activity where the young Clan Head was preparing for such a large ceremony. Surely the only ceremonies matching such a level would be his wedding.
"Has Shaolin arrived yet?" Mai looks up from where she is fixing the last minute details of her young master's outfit to smile softly at him. He turns slightly but instantly turns straight once more when she pokes him in the butt with a pin on purpose.
"Fon-sama should be finished dressing in a few moments. Do not be so impatient Ichigo-dono. I am sure she will look lovely and perhaps outshine any young thing that graces our courts. Do not worry so much over her." Ichigo chuckles as she tightens his sash around his waist and assesses his outfit one finally time. The newest Clan Head wore a black haori designed to look as if it were burnt away at the sleeves to reveal a small amount of the red under haori that was tucked neatly into his black tekkou. His black hakama were form fitting and gave him the defined shape of a Shiba. His pants were tucked into black boots and his long hair was left to hang down around his face. Over the years she had seen it grow out to brush along his shoulders as it does now. The front was much shorter and fell across the bridge of his nose but in a little less than an hour those piece of hair would be pulled slightly away from his face for the head piece to be secured.
Ichigo whirls around as the doors to his room are opened but deflates upon seeing that it is just his father. As per tradition, Isshin is wearing a red haori, black hakama, and a white sash. The sash bore the insignia of the Shiba Clan at each of its ends in black. His boots were also black. His blue eyes study his son and he smiles warmly at the man that had once been such a little boy. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but your fiancée will be meeting you at the doors. If you're finished we will walk there together." Ichigo grins widely and rushes past his father before pausing at the end of the hallway to wait for the older Shiba.
They walk in silence for most of the journey and Isshin trails to a stop allowing his son to continue walking down the hallway and into the entrance of the manor. Ichigo can feel his whole body stiffen upon seeing his fiancée. She had not noticed him yet but in profile she looks stunning. The petite woman practically glowed with radiant beauty. Her grey eyes stood like proud jewels upon her tanned cheeks and her red lips did little more than accents the brilliant irises. Her neck was thin and slender, displayed elegantly in the back where her long ebony hair was pinned up in a loose bun with two black bamboo hair pins decorated with gold and rubies. Her kimono consisted of three layers with the first being white silk, the second black tattered silk, like his haori, and the last being a beautifully designed red silk kimono with black and white lotus flowers covering it. Her obi was made of black fabric and a slender white sash bearing the insignia of the Fon Clan. She looked like the picture of divinity.
Finally…finally her grey eyes turn and catch sight of him. She watches with baited breath as he steps forward until they are nearly touching and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her lips part in a shuddering breath as his lips cover hers in a shallow but tantalizing kiss that wouldn't dare to ruin her delicately painted features, compliments of one of the Shiba servants who was actually very talented. "You look extraordinary, Lin. My eyes will never see another after this night…though I much prefer your natural beauty above all else." A small blush graces her high cheeks and she chuckles lightly at his playful grin. Her lips cover his once more before she pats his cheek with a tender hand. His fingers find hers and lace through them before he kisses her knuckles. "Shall we make our entrance now?"
"We shall Shiba-dono." Her playful and sarcastic tone is a refreshing sense of normalcy for the young male and he grins dazzlingly at her before motioning for the doors to be opened. As they open crowds part for them and the guest try desperately to see who was exiting the manor and if it was the new Head of the Clan. Gracefully, Ichigo proceeds out of the manor with the same easy countenance and poise he had been unusually blessed with in life. Soi-fon smiles up at him for a long moment as he leads her through the crowds as if she were the most glorious things to have ever graced him with its presence. Her heart flutters in glee as her eyes connect with several women who had grown up in the court with her. Their eyes drink in her fiancé until they fall on the dazzling gold band wrapped around her ring finger. The large ruby surrounded by several diamonds and onyx stones glares with the dim light and reflects every possible source of light. The women's' eyes narrow in anger and distaste as he bows to her and then proceeds to lead her in a wide and formal dance that is a custom of the beginning of court events.
As the dance ends she is brought close to his chest and his lips find perch on her temple before he leads her by the hand toward his grandfather who is sitting at a table raised slightly above all the rest. She blushes and mumbles a low thank-you as he pulls out her chair before settling down beside her. Everyone finds their own seats with Byakuya joining them at the Shiba tables instead of the Kuchiki Clan's. Isao clears his throat and the drifting vices of the alrge crowd dull into silence. "It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the familial home of the Shiba Clan for the celebration of the forty-eight Head of the Shiba Clan, Shiba Ichigo." Isao stands and several of the elders bow their heads to the dark haired man as he motions for a servant to bring a silken pillow to him. "It has been a custom in the Shiba clan for centuries that three items be given to the newest Clan Head. One is to be given by the former Clan Head, another by their oldest relative, and the third by their sire. It is with great pride that I passed on the sash of the Clan Shiba to my magomusuko. It is with honor that Shiba Kukaku, former Clan Head, presented Shiba Ichigo with the tekkou signifying the leader of our Clan. So, in following the traditions of our family, my musuko, Shiba Isshin, will present and place the final piece of representation on his musuko."
Isshin steps up with a low bow and reaches with steady hands to the silk pillow to retrieve a black silk piece of fabric. Silently he weaves the fabric with ease into his son's orange hair and fastens it into place signifying Ichigo's full acceptance into the clan and the position of their leader. "Do you Shiba Ichigo accept full responsibility of the welfare, honor, and integrity of the Clan Shiba and all that reside within its control? Do you Shiba Ichigo understand the sacrifices to be made and the burdens to be held by such a position as this? Do you Shiba Ichigo invite us to see you are our pillar of strength, wisdom, and guidance in both times of peace and times of war? Do you Shiba Ichigo refuse any actions that will present our clan in a false light and refuse all prejudice toward those of your blood and those of you clan in order to fully protect all titled with our name and those connected?" Isshin's face is grave but his eyes are caring and warm as they gaze down upon his son.
Ichigo stands slowly and bows low at the waist to his father and then his grandfather before straightening and washing the entire group of guests with his steadfast gaze. "I, Shiba Ichigo Forty-Eighth Head of the Shiba Clan, do so accept, understand, invite, and refuse such terms and will honor what I have given my word for so long as I shall be of position and until my death. I shall pass on my knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to those I sire or those I deem my heir when the time arises and uphold the noble name Shiba." Applause and shouts ring through the clearing as a new head is formally accepted by both the courts and the family.
Isao motions for silence once again and gradually the noise level deafens until he can be heard once again. Isao, with long perfected refinement, steps up to the low white arm chair that the petite woman accompanying Ichigo is sitting in. Her grey eyes flicker to meet his gaze respectfully from where she had been staring at her lover. "Upon normal circumstances this celebration would have been short and in front of the Chuo Shijuroku however we have called you all here to celebrate something much more radiant and wonderful. The Shiba clan is honored to announce the upcoming induction of a new member through matrimony. We are overjoyed to welcome Fon Shaolin into our family as the fiancée and future wife of my magomusuko, Shiba Ichigo." Soi-fon places her hands in his outstretched fingers and allows him to guide her into a standing position. Eyes widen when the women of the court finally realize that the dazzling beauty accompanying their childhood crush was actually the tom boy that they had bullied growing up. She was positively glowing as she approached the grinning orange haired male and laced her fingers through his.
~~CxB~~
Dark blue eyes, a trait special to the Shiba clan, train lightly on the violet eyed woman standing with a group of giggling women of the court. Her almighty gaze, nothing reminiscent of the cute school girl act she had tried to play in the gense, was level in distaste on the petite nibantai taicho and her Ichi-nii. Her twin stops gently at her side and follows her line of sight only to sneer in dismay at the woman. "What a waste of flesh…my stomach churns at the very sight of that slag." Yuzu's eyes filter away from the Kuchiki girl for a moment to take in her sibling who is sporting noticeably kiss swollen lips with very little gloss left on them. If she searched hard enough she was such the white haired taicho of the jubantai would surely be wiping the gloss from his mouth. Her twin wore a red kimono, decorated with white and black flowers, with a black under kimono and a white obi. Her obiage was black and the obijime was a brilliant red color. Her long curling strands of black hair were swept back in intricate knots, interwoven with ruby beads work, and then tumbled down her back and over her shoulders. Her lips were glossed and soft red shadows made her eyes even more dazzling.
"I certainly hope she does nothing to anger Ichi-nii…I wouldn't want her ruining her day." Karin's eyes train on Yuzu and she grins softly at the young girl. Her twin was dressed a lot like her but under kimono was white and while her outer kimono was the same dazzling red the designs were purely white with groups of three lines decorating the fabric. Her obi was slate grey and the obiage was black. The obijime was the same brilliant scarlet. Yuzu's long locks were left to hang down her back and over her shoulders with only the front pined away with a ruby encrusted hair comb.
Karin's eyes flicker to the Kuchiki woman again as she fakes laughter at what one of the women says. "Perhaps we should ensure such a thing does not happen, Yu." Karin flicks her black fan open and walks quietly toward the lavender colored woman. She wore all shades of purples and creams with her hair pinned back only slightly as it was too short to do much else. "Ohayo Hanae-san, Noemi-san, Mineko-san, Kuchiki…" Her lips form the surname with soft yet oddly patronizing syllables that fall from her glossy lips in a speed much slower than what the first three names had fallen.
Rukia's eyes widen as she stares in surprise at the two girls she had yet to see in the last seven years. They were lovely and truly looked like women. "Ohayo Yuzu-chan and Karin-chan...Ichigo-dono looks positively glowing. We had never expected him to fall in love with Soi-chan nor did we expect her to look so lovely. Does she always look like that?" Hanae smiles beautifully at the pair of twins as their eyes flicker to their brother and Soi-fon. Hanae's long hair was so black that it was almost blue and her unusual green eyes never left her without at least one member of the male population drooling after her.
"Lin-nee is a very beautiful woman…wouldn't you agree Kuchiki?" Karin's eyes flick toward the violet eyed woman who is growing steadily more agitated with the young woman's blatant disrespect.
Her fingers clench into tight fists as she forces a fake smile onto her face. "Her looks are truly lovely. It seems your brother prefers small dark haired women Karin-chan." Karin's face doesn't betray her emotions and Rukia sneers inwardly at her inability to rile the sarcastic girl up. "Then again I cannot fault him for such choices as I would be a hypocrite."
Yuzu pulls a face behind her fan and Karin watches in awe as a ferocious snarl pulls at her dainty lips. "Yes well, appearances have little meaning for Ichi-nii. He much prefers women who are loyal and have an impeccable sense of honor much like Lin-nee. You wouldn't know much of that would you Kuchiki-san." Karin flicks her fan in fornt of her face to hide the humorous turn of her lips but her blue eyes give away her amusement and her twin does little to hide the sneer of aversion that has formed on her lips and reflects in her dark blue eyes.
Rukia gasps in insult before her lips form a snarl and her teeth clench together as she hisses in anger. "I'll have you know-" Karin's fan snapping closed and her lithe step to face the young woman is not what stops her from spouting off at them. It just happens that the dark demonic reiatsu flickering out across the dark haired Shiba's skin and eyes is enough to scare to fukutaicho of the jusanbantai.
Karin's lips are held in perfect countenance as she stares deep into the depths of her opponent's eyes as if she would kill the young woman. The three ladies of the court look on in amusement at the stuck-up adopted Kuchiki getting put in her place finally. "Just what will you have us know Kuchiki? Perhaps you wish us to know that you used our dear Ichi-nii for sex while fucking his best friend? No, that cannot possibly be it because of that we are already aware. It must be that you are simply displeased with the fact that you have yet again lost out to another woman the heart of a Shiba and the power of the Shiba clan." Rukia's mouth falls open and she glares heatedly at the young woman. Karin steps away from the woman and turns her back to walk away. She pauses and stares at Rukia over her shoulder. "Ahh, it appears I have hit the nail on the head Yu. Then again the slag always was easy to read. She would have never made a good Shiba she's far too transparent. Let's go Yu, I think I've spotted our company for the night."
Karin walks away with Yuzu following swiftly in tow. Rukia watches in awe as they gracefully approach the white haired jubantai taicho and none other than the red haired rokubantai fukutaicho. Her jaw drops open as Renji presses a tender kiss to the young orange haired girl's forehead before wrapping a secure arm around her petite shoulders. "I had never expected to be referred to as hospitable…she has more of Misaki in her than I thought possible." Rukia whirls and stares in stunned pain at her nii-sama. His grey eyes are trained on the two twins and his lips have a small curl to them that disheartens the young woman. "Do close your mouth Rukia; you have tarnished our family name enough for one lifetime I need not have to deal with you doing any more damage."
Byakuya walks away from his sister and toward Ichigo and Soi-fon who are laughing at something Toshiro had just told them. Ichigo's head is titled back and his loud boisterous laughter rings heavily across the clearing making several people pause and smile softly in his direction. It had been a long many years since they heard that young man's particular brand of joyous laughter flowing around them. He can only imagine what both Ichigo and Kaien would sound like together right now and then after they were finished laughing they would wrap an arm around one another and call out to him to join them.
~~CxB~~
Soi-fon slips gingerly away from her fiancé as he laughs at some ridiculous comment made by his cousin toward the man's fukutaicho. Renji's face had darkened to a lovely shade of cheery red and he hid his face in Yuzu's curled hair making her slap at him for messing it up. Ichigo had merely pressed a ginger kiss to her temple and allowed her to leave the group with relative ease. She glides through the open gates of the darkened gardens and walks along the lantern lit paths of the beautiful flowers. Her gaze lands on the young woman she had followed. Her shoulders were hunched as she sat on a bamboo bench with her fingers curled in the expensive fabric of her kimono. Those relaxed shoulders only tense when she gently flares her reiatsu allowing the woman to know she was there. "What have you come to gloat or yell at me for my stupidity?" Her voice catches in her throat and irrationally Soi-fon finds that she feels sympathy for the young misguided woman. Soi-fon knows in her heart that had the girl grown up with her sibling she would have been a much different, much gentler, woman.
"No I haven't come to gloat you should know I don't stoop to such frivolities." A snort is the only thing Soi-fon receives in return for her comment. Sighing softly she steps up to a particularly beautiful bush of flowers. Her fingers glide over one and she watches as it glows with her reiatsu. "I understand the difficulties of being a young woman in a world of nobility where they have no definite reference of decorum to follow. It can tend to be a juggling act where should one ball fall the entirety of your failure with loom over your head like a torrential down pour. The world can seem to be at your back waiting upon your failure prepared to pluck you from you position of honor." Soi-fon sighs softly thinking of her own struggles after Yoruichi left her and she had no female to look to for guidance as she took control of her family. She had been through several unhappy moments that were not particularly enjoyable for both her and her family. "I can tell you that Byakuya, for all he is, will not ever turn his back on you. His love for Hisana as well as you, his sister in everything but blood, is far too strong to allow such a thing. Hard times are like the rain they may seem unbearable but they will pass with time and patience. If you wish for this problem to change or cease it must be you who changes for the better, Kuchiki-san. You may never retrieve what you have lost but not all has yet to be lost foolish girl."
Soi-fon turns and stare at the young girl for a long moment before walking back the way she came. "Arigato gozaimasu…" The soft words stall her retreat and she smiles softly at the thoughtful tone to the young woman's voice.
"Ieie, Kuchiki-san…"
