Secret Memo Number Eight – Desert Cape

Memo to self: I have by now given Renji two articles of clothing – the windflower silk scarf, and the desert cape for his expedition to Hueco Mundo to recover the silly ningen female. While the fate of the scarf remains uncertain, I know he has worn the desert cape. Going by traditional European courtship customs, that means he has consented to be mine. Such customs dictate that one does not wear a gift of clothing unless one is agreeable to accepting the giver as a lover.

It is true that neither of us is European.

It is also true that I gave him the cape through Rukia, and he is thus unaware that it came from my wardrobe.

Neither does he know that it forms part of an elaborate and highly personalised Kuchiki courtship ritual which I am making up as we go along.

But those are minor inconveniences. They do not alter his acceptance of me, nor will they prevent me from exercising my claim at an appropriate time.

Alas, Rukia had her own cape. I was therefore unable to give her one, although she accepted the other on behalf of Renji, who had lost the similar article previously issued by the squad. So it is that I shall have to woo her using an alternative method. Perhaps I should research Inuit wedding customs next.

In the meantime, I must ask Renji how he feels about traditional European courtship rituals. I can arrange to have the question included on our next squad quiz night down at the tavern.

Additional note: It matters not that the cape was shredded in the delectable fool's duel with Szayel-Aporro Grantz. That he wore it at all signifies his desire for me, conscious or not. The only disturbing note in all of this is that the shredder of the cape was sorted out by Kurotsuchi, the sadistic creep. It had better not mean that I owe that mad scientist anything. If he tries staking a claim on my redhead for "defending his honour" or whatever other absurdities he loves to spew, I will smash every test tube in his filthy lab.