Bleach ~
Well I started writing yesterday entire day and today as well.
It got longer than I thought
Thanks my loyal reviewers Teal Eyed Dragon and Snowkid.
Thank you my sister/twin/bff for being my inspiration and our days/weeks/months of rp kicked my inspiration to write back into me. Love you to death!
Unohana got up to make a cup of tea for her daughter.
It was clear Nanao was upset over something or someone but she didn't want to talk.
Ukitake took Nanao on his lap and rubbed her back soothing, waiting for her to calm down. He sang softly for her and kept stroking her hair loving.
Unohana arrived with a cup of tea which Nanao accepted gratefully.
"What happened dear?" Unohana questioned gently.
Nanao kept quiet and drank all her tea before rubbing her eyes and curling up against her father like a little girl. "I'm sorry daddy"
Ukitake wiped away a few strands of hair that fell into Nanao's face, shielding her eyes.
When she looked up, he felt as if his heart would break. The look in her huge blue eyes told him of the guilt and pain she held inside.
"You went to Kuchiki taichou for dinner right?" Unohana tried to get her talking.
Nanao nodded. "It was depressing" she whispered. "I didn't even know how to eat with tensed atmosphere there."
"Byakuya-kun was upset with you because of that?" Ukirake questioned.
She shook her head. "I am just upset with myself. Rukia-san was fantastic while she is not even raised as a noble"
Ukitake smiled reassuring at her. "It's okay dear, your mother and I never raised you and Toushirou to be like the Kuchiki and Shihouin families"
"I felt stupid, daddy" Nanao sobbed. "I nearly tripped over my own kimono and I spilled tea over it as well"
Unohana smiled at her daughter. "Nanao dear, I know you are a big girl already but I know a story from the world of the living that you need to know."
"What kind of story?" She asked while wiping her tears.
Ukitake knew where his wife was getting at and smiled at his daughter. "Just listen, princess" He let her snuggle into him and he held her tightly.
He hated when his precious girl was upset.
"Long time ago in China lived a family, a man who was a warrior and his beautiful wife who was the healer of that village. Together they had 2 kids. A daughter who was as beautiful as a princess and much later they got a son."
"Just like you and dad" Nanao commented with a faint smile.
"Exactly" Ukitake replied. "Continue dearest"
"The girl's name was Mulan and she was different from all other girls. She inherited her father's talents and he was proud of that. He even taught her how to handle a sword and how to fight." Unohana took a sip of her tea before continuing.
"Life was very good in the village, until one day, warriors came. They posted scrolls with a list of names. Faced with the threat of war, each family in the village had to send one man to strengthen the army. In Mulan's family, the man chosen to go was her father. The warriors were there to take the men listed away to fight. Mulan's father was a retired general. He was too old to fight, but too honorable not to go. Mulan had no older brother to send in his place. Her younger brother was a wonderful boy, brave and strong, but he was much too young to be selected. If only she were a boy, Mulan thought to herself, it would be so simple. But girls did not fight in wars. Oh why oh why had she not been born a boy, Mulan thought angrily to herself.
An idea grew in Mulan's mind. Could she do it? She had to. Mulan knew her father would die if he went to war again. That day, she bought a horse."
"Just like I'd do for dad" Nanao whispered and listened to her father's heartbeat. "I didn't expect any less from you, sunshine" Unohana smiled."
"The next morning, Mulan stole her father's armor and crept silently from home, disguised as a man. She reported for duty to the military leader. The leader had never met her father. Besides, he had his hands full, marching the men from all the villages to the camp.
Mulan fought for many years, some say as many as ten years. In all that time, no one knew she was not a man. When the war ended, Mulan was called before the emperor to receive a special award for her incredible courage. The emperor offered Mulan a job that would make her rich beyond her dreams. But Mulan wished to return home to her family. She asked for a good horse instead which was immediately granted."
Unohana paused and saw Nanao was still listening so she continued.
"Her family was so happy to see her. Her father was frail, but alive. Her brother had grown into a wonderful young man. Without regret, Mulan gave her warrior's clothes to her little brother, and dressed in the clothes of a woman. She wrapped her hair in the style of the day. She added rouge to her cheeks. When she joined her family to watch the sun set, the warrior Mulan had transformed into a beautiful young woman. Not long after, friends who had served with Mulan came to visit. Their eyes grew large when they saw the beautiful woman before them. "Who are you?" they demanded to know. They could hardly believe their eyes when Mulan answered."
Her story spread across China, to inspire young girls everywhere. If you love enough and have courage enough, you can accomplish anything, no matter how impossible it might seem to others."
Nanao had fully calmed down and smiled at her mother. "So I am like Mulan?"
Unohana nodded. "You are a warrior in the first place and then a lady."
"You are my warrior princess" Ukitake smiled. "Shunsui is full of praise about your talents and he means it. He is probably the best coach you can have" "And also the laziest" Nanao replied sleepy.
At the eight Shunsui was for once doing some paperwork when his 3th seat called him that a few men of the 10th were seeking shelter.
He got up and went to the group of men. "Good evening"
"taichou" one of the men went on his knees. "Please lend us shelter until our barracks are built again. We are willing to pay rent"
Another also went through his knees. "onegaishimasu! We are sent by young Ukitake-sama and he said if there were questions, you had to deal with him"
Shunsui rubbed his chin thoughtful and looked at the men…no boys…he corrected himself inwardly. They were still children no matter how you looked at it.
"Welcome at the eight" He grinned. "The place I can offer you is full of books though…if you can help me move them to my dorms…"
"At your service, Sir" The men saluted.
The boy, who took the lead, bowed his head for Shunsui. "We are grateful, Sir"
Shunsui waved it away. "Accidents happen" she shrugged. He was intrigued by how they met Toushirou though and decided to question the matter.
"Ukitake Toushirou has sent you?"
"Yes Sir" the boy spoke. "He helped us get our belongings that were not destroyed out of the ruins and he will help us rebuild the barracks."
"I see I see" Shunsui nodded. "You know that he is not an official shinigami yet right?"
"We are aware, Sir but he has been very good to us. No one really ever cared for us unseated members since we came other than Matsumoto-san who is also an unseated member until young Ukitake-sama came." The boy thought for a moment. "He is like a taichou for us…he treated us very well…he even gave us money to buy the necessary things that were destroyed"
"Jyuu buddy, you can be proud of your son" Shunsui thought as he helped the men remove all the books and scrolls he stored in the room.
A few hours later the room was cleaned and Shunsui had showed the men the way.
"Where is Matsumoto-san?" He questioned. "Only now he noticed she was not there"
"She went with the young Ukitake-sama" one of the boys replied. "She is the only girl at the 10th so he took her to his sister I think."
"Sensible boy" Shunsui smiled. "Well goodnight now and if you need anything just tell me okay?"
"Yes, Sir" they saluted. "Goodnight, Sir!"
Shunsui couldn't sleep so he went for a walk.
A few girls greeted him giggling before resuming their chattering.
"Hai Rin, I was meeting Hiro in the Kuchiki gardens when I saw and heard the taichou and the Ukitake princess"
Shunsui halted and suppressed his reiatsu while hiding in the shadows to listen.
"Kushina, don't keep me waiting!" Rin protested. "What happened?"
"The taichou proposed to the princess!" Kushina exclaimed. "I don't know what happened after that though. I saw them walking to the spot I was hiding so I ran away"
Shunsui felt as if a million zanpaktou pierced through his heart and lungs and as if an iron fist squeezed his stomach. "Kami-sama, what did I do wrong?" He prayed. He loved Nanao and even if he put that aside, he wouldn't wish anyone a life in the Kuchiki family. The captain was an arrogant young thing and the elders were as evil as Aizen.
He dragged himself to his dorms where he threw himself on the bed.
He tossed and turned but he couldn't sleep at all.
Only after quite a few bottles of sake he was knocked out.
Ukitake just tucked Nanao in when he got a hell butterfly from Kiyone that his presence at the 13th was required.
Sighing he took out his uniform and quickly dressed.
"It's okay, I will wait for you" Unohana smiled and kissed him gently.
He nodded and left.
At the 13th he raised an eyebrow when he saw a few boys in dirty shihakusho's.
"Taichou, they want to sleep here" Kiyone notified. "I was not sure about it but they said that young Ukitake-sama send them and told them that if I had questions I had to turn to my captain"
Ukitake nodded as he rubbed his temples. Kiyone's voice always managed to do that to him.
"Sir" the men all went on their knees. "Please help us with shelter, our barracks are ruined and we have no where to turn to. A part of us was send to the eight and we decided to go to the 13th as we were ordered"
"Toushirou send you?" Ukitake questioned.
"Yes, Sir" they replied.
"Kiyone, show them the old training rooms" Ukitake coughed as chilly air hit him.
"Hai taichou"
"Thank you, Sir" the men bowed their heads.
Ukitake waved it away. "Kiyone, ask Sentarou and Rukia to assist you. I am going home"
"Hai taichou"
Rangiku was snuggled up under the blankets and the same went for Nanao but Toushirou didn't even feel the cold and just sat on the edge of Nanao's bed.
"Nee-san, what went wrong? You look tensed and upset"
Rangiku nodded eying her best friend concerned. "Usually girls come back fawning and gushing over the beauty and wealth of the Kuchiki manor and about Kuchiki taichou himself"
Nanao closed her eyes and started to tell from start to end.
(flashback) Byakuya gave Nanao a small smile and offered her his arm, which she took a bit awkwardly.
"You look stunning, dear" Byakuya complimented her.
"Thank you" Nanao smiled hesitant.
Byakuya guided her to the dining room where she saw an impressive long table with him at the head. He pulled back her chair for her which was left from his seat.
Rukia sat opposite of her and smiled encouraging at her.
Dinner was served and Nanao started eating. She was never much of a talker but she liked listening while eating.
The silence was icy and tensed. Byakuya didn't even say thank you to the servants, just a small nod and indication of where to put the dishes they served.
Nanao got startled a few times by the soundless way of walking from the servants and accidently dropped her chopsticks.
The elders looked annoyed at her, which made her want to shrink more and more.
She was so used to the deep reassuring tones in her father's voice mingled with her mother's warm and gentle voice. She always compared those sounds to a warm and comforting blanket.
She missed them so much all of a sudden.
After dinner they moved to the salon where sake was served for the men and tea for the ladies.
Nanao was used to the big mugs of her mother which she filled with tea and chamomile leaves and sometimes mint leaves as well so she eyed the small cup and saucer hesitantly.
She tried to follow the example of Rukia but spilled some hot tea on her dress.
After what seemed eternity, Byakuya and Rukia got up and asked her if she'd like to see the gardens.
Nanao nodded relieved and walked next to Byakuya to the gardens.
There he excused himself for a moment, leaving Nanao and Rukia alone.
Rukia eyed Nanao with a hint of pity and concern.
"Nii-sama, it is all wrong" she screamed inwardly. "Don't do this to her!"
Nanao smiled hesitant at Rukia. "You are pretty much my dad's right hand ne?"
Rukia blushed lightly. "Ukitake taichou is the best taichou to work for. I love helping him out with anything he asks."
She saw her brother coming and quickly bowed lightly to Nanao. "I should leave before Kiyone and Sentarou break off the 13th"
Nanao laughed lightly and nodded. "Goodbye Rukia-san"
"You have a beautiful garden" she commented politely.
"Thank you" he replied. "My apologies for the looks the clan elders cast you"
"It's okay" Nanao replied softly.
They stared at the garden in silence for a while. Byakuya moved so he stood in front of Nanao. "Nanao-san, you know how I had such little time with Hisana right?"
She nodded. "Hisana-san was taken too quickly away"
"Well as the Ukitake heiress you know how important it is to produce and heir"
She nodded again. "Hisana-san was too sick to conceive a child?"
"We were just not that blessed" Byakuya replied. "My clan elders want me to marry again though simply to produce an heir. They want me to have a strong healthy wife from nobility this time"
"They make it sound as if you chose a sick wife on purpose" Nanao mumbled.
Byakuya chuckled lightly. "Biting as always, Nanao-san"
She shrugged slightly and gave him a small smile.
"Nanao-san, I know you are still young but you are strong and brave and healthy as well…my clan elders chose you as my bride…"
She looked shocked at him and saw the pain in his eyes. He still loved Hisana, she thought and she pitied him.
"Producing an heir is no reason or foundation for marriage" she replied.
"It's normal at nobility" Byakuya said emotionless.
Nanao shook her head. "I can't, my sincere apologies. I always seen you as an older brother and…I…I am not ready to commit myself any time soon"
She lifted the skirt of her dress a bit and flash-stepped away.
Toushirou was the first to break the silence. "Nee-san, you made the right decision. The kuchiki clan is no place for you"
"I feel bad that I couldn't help him" Nanao sobbed. "And the worse thing is, I failed in being a lady which means a bad name for mom and dad"
Rangiku jumped out of bed and went to sit next to Toushirou. She took Nanao's hand and squeezed it comforting. "Nanao, your parents are sweethearts and they raised you great. The Kuchiki clan is just a stuck up narrow minded old thing"
Toushirou nodded in agreement.
"What are you doing here, Rangiku?" Nanao questioned curious.
"Your brother took me home" the blond replied. "He even cooked for me"
Nanao raised an eyebrow. "You are becoming just like dad" she teased her brother.
He blushed and got up. "Goodnight you two"