Hello Reader,
Here's Chapter 10! And i realized, with great shame, that I did not intend for this story to be this long. But then it was a long dinner. teehee
Anyway, next chapter's the last one, I swear on Dumbledore. So what exactly is the matter at hand? hhhmmm (stokes imaginary beard)
Kudos to Tite Kubo
"We have to address the matter at hand."
Rukia's steely voice left the room silent. Everyone looked at her seriously, even Isshin stopped gushing about choosing baby names to listen to what would transpire next.
Byakuya set his fork down. "You mean, my approval…"
"Yes."
Byakuya was silent for a few minutes. Ichigo's hands were getting clammy; relief surged through him when Rukia reached for his hand and grasped it tightly.
Finally, Byakuya spoke. "What if I say no?"
Ichigo's head snapped up, his eyes widening. Yuzu flinched while Karin tensed up. Isshin picked his teeth with his fork.
But Rukia met her brotehr's eyes with unwavering defiance. "There's no reason for you to say so."
Byakuya raised his eyebrow. "Have you been asleep the entire evening, Rukia?" he said, voice dangerously low, "You ask me for reasons? Let me give you a list, Rukia. And a long one at that."
Byakuya cleared his throat before he continued, lifting his hands and counting off with his fingers. "Kurosaki makes you sleep in his closet. What's next, Rukia? Will he let you pee in his desk drawer?"
"Hey! I let her use the bathroom!" Ichigo cried out.
Karin's head snapped towards him. "Really? When? I never recalled ever seeing Rukia use our bathroom."
"Ixnay on the athroom bay."
"What?"
Ichigo facepalmed.
Byakua cleared his throat and raised a second finger. "His clear disregard of our clan and the nobility our Kuchiki name entails. Has he called me with a proper title, even once? I don't think so." A third finger. "He's bad company. You never raised your voice before, not until this ruffian taught you how."
"WHAT?"
"See what I mean?" A fourth finger. "He's sullied your mind with perverse things such as fornication."
"Um..brother, you do realize that I'm a hundred and fifty years old? Sex is not a taboo to me."
"Ahem." Karin raised her hand, "This conversation is getting awkward. May I and Yuzu be excused?"
"You'd think after all these years living with dad we'd get used to hearing things like this," Yuzu muttered glumly.
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?!" Isshin piped in.
Fifth finger. "Kurosaki and his family live like barn animals." Turning to Yuzu and Karin, Byakuya continued, "No offense. In my opinion, you two are quite well-mannered. I mostly meant that towards your brother and your father."
Karin shrugged. "We don't blame you. I honestly think Ichigo was dropped on the head as a baby."
"Hey! You're my sister you're supposed to be backing me up here! And why are you so nice to my sister's, but horrible towards me?" Ichigo asked, turning to face Byakuya.
"These respectful little girls are your sisters, Kurosaki? Well, that proves it then."
"Proves what?"
"You're adopted."
"I am not!"
"He is not!" Isshin cried, slamming his hand down on the table, "I was right there when Masaki gave birth, and when the nurse handed me my little orange haired baby boy."
"Thanks dad."
"Although, the nurse was pretty old and with really bad eyesight. And had a hard time reading the name tags on the babies when she handed you to me…"
"NOT FUCKING HELPING!"
Sixth finger. "You're a Shinigami, Rukia. A Shinigami of noble blood, who's also a respected lieutenant of the Gotei 13. No matter how much Kurosaki has contributed to Soul Society, or how many ridiculous powers he insanely gains everyday, it still remains that he's only human."
"Human-hollow-quincy hybrid. Cough. Cough."
"You're supposed to cough WHILE you say it, stupid." Karin said, rolling her eyes.
Seventh finger. "Apparently, he plans to have unprotected sex with you-"
"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF, BYAKUYA?"
"Do you mean to tell me you have all those condoms for display? Or do you simply collect contraceptives?"
"THEY'RE NOT EVEN MINE!"
"Not YET, they're not!" Isshin said, giving Ichigo a thumbs up.
"Nevertheless," Byakuya turned back to his sister,"are you ready to conceive and raise an orange-haired little rascal? I don't think so, Rukia. Trust me, that hair color is a dominant gene. Are you ready to face the pain of having to deal with your child getting bullied at school for having such a weird hair color?"
"Now you're just being a bully," Ichigo muttered, crossing his arms, "For crying out loud, Byakuya, we just want your approval. It's not like we're planning for a family already."
"Touché, ryoka."
"Touché my behind! The whole night all you've been is one negative spaz!"
"I don't spaz, Kurosaki. I'm much too noble for that."
"Can I speak now?"
Rukia's voice silenced Byakuya and Ichigo. Everyone in the table was suddenly attentive.
Rukia looked at her brother straight in the eye. She took a deep breath before finally speaking.
"I am happy, brother."
Byakuya blinked. It took a few minutes for him to let that sink in.
"I am happy." Rukia repeated more firmly, a smile forming on her lips.