~*Chapter 10: Restraint*~
"The two of you had an altercation, didn't you?"
It was early morning and the Lord Kuchiki had been enduring Hisana's depressed sighs and sullen temperament all night and most of that morning. He first intended to stay out of the matter, but when the two Kuchiki women refused to speak to one another at breakfast and upon further noticing neither woman eating; one staring stonily at her plate and the other staring resignedly out the window, the Lord Kuchiki decided that enough was enough.
"...a small one, yes." replied Hisana reluctantly from her seat in front of the large bureau that was against the far wall. She had taken it upon herself to style her hair that day; not planning on doing any traveling, she did not see a need to have her maids add any of her usual decorative ornaments.
"And how long are you intending for things to stay this way?" he asked, coming to stand behind her and straightening his captain's haori in the mirror. "Hisana..."
She glanced up and met her husband's eyes; there was something in them...
"Yes?" she asked. She watched as her turned from her and walked towards the door, turning back just before exiting.
"I do not believe Rukia likes to be ignored."
With that, the Lord Kuchiki crossed the threshold and left.
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It was always like this when they were alone together; quiet, peaceful and serene. It amazed Rukia how she could sometimes be more comfortable in the still presence of her Nii-sama than anywhere else. There was something about his stoic and calm nature that seemed to put her at ease.
But this particular morning, something was off.
They usually rode into the center of Seireitei together. The carriage would stop at the Thirteenth Squad barracks first for Rukia and then continue into the Sixth for the Lord Kuchiki.
As Rukia gazed down at the sword that lay across her lap, she tried her hardest to pinpoint what was different about her Nii-sama's demeanor this morning. She did not dare ask. It would be rude. If he had any desire for her to know, he would tell her himself.
"Rukia." came his calm voice, seeming to float on the tense air between the two.
"Yes, Nii-sama?" She let her violet eyes rest on the noble before her.
"It is none of my affair, but it displeases me to see you and Hisana at such odds with one another."
It was a fairly simple statement considering the speaker, but Rukia caught the well hidden and delicately versed command.
Fix this.
"Yes, Nii-sama..." replied Rukia softly.
Just then the carriage came to a stop and through the small window Rukia could see her barracks. She waited for the coachman to open the door and when he did so she stepped unassisted from the carriage.
"Good Day, Nii-sama." She said, turning back towards the Lord Kuchiki.
He simply inclined his head in acknowledgement as the door shut between the two of them.
Rukia watched as the carriage pulled away, causing dust to rise behind it in its wake. She released a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding.
I suppose I should start working on my apology...
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It wasn't long before Lieutenant Abarai heard a knock on his office door. Letting out a sigh, he answered.
"Who is it?"
"It's Rikichi, sir", a faint voice called.
"Come in."
A slight man with jet black hair entered the room.
"I just wanted to inform you that it is the lunch hour, Lieutenant."
Renji sat back and stretched his long arms over his head. "Already? Well, I should be going then", he stated as he rose from his desk, grabbing his katana.
"A-Ano, sir..." called Rikichi from behind.
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement." Rikichi said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I could never hope to marry into a family like the Kuchiki, but I think it's great that you are."
Renji let a small smirk cross his face.
"Thanks, Rikichi."
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"Rukia!"
She knew that voice and she also knew that it would be extremely rude to disregard it; but as she walked through the corridor of the Thirteenth Squad barracks, and with the front entrance already in sight, it was beyond tempting to continue with her brisk pace as though she heard nothing.
So she did just that.
And surely she had good enough reason; after all, he did insult her, made light of her duties as a noblewoman and member of the prestigious Kuchiki Estate. He had the audacity to mock her situation. She had no reason to heed his call.
Even if he was her Lieutenant.
"Rukia, I know you hear me!" Lieutenant Kaien Shiba called again, his voice rising above the din of squad members that bustled through the halls all eager for a much needed rest from training.
Swallowing her hurt pride, Rukia stopped in her tracks and turned towards the approaching Lieutenant; she felt an odd twist in her gut, still unable to gauge how she felt exactly for him. Even though she was fully aware that nothing was going to happen between the two of them, a small part of her still yearned for what might have been.
I should be ashamed of myself, I have Renji...he has, Miyako-san..
"I didn't think you were going to stop, Kuchiki", came Kaien's voice, somewhat breathlessly.
"I almost didn't." was her curt reply, her violet eyes flashing with anger.
"Right..." Kaien rubbed the back of his head, ruffling his dark. "Look, Kuchiki...about what I said the other day, I-"
"It's quite alright, Kaien-dono." Rukia cut in swiftly, not wanting his pity.
"No, let me finish. I shouldn't have insulted what you're doing for your family. I'm sure it's a fine match and I apologize for offending you." He said looking her in the eye. "It takes guts to marry a stranger. Truth is, I don't think that's something I could do for my family, even if I am the heir."
Rukia paused for a moment, she so wanted to remain at odds, but his apology was so sincere that she had to concede.
"Thank you Kaien-dono, both for your apology and for the kindness of the compliment, but I really must be going now." She turned to make her way towards the front entrance again, but Kaien's hand on her shoulder stayed her.
"Wait a moment, why don't you join Miyako and I for lunch today, my treat."
"Well, I... that is-"
"Don't tell me you have other plans?" He said with a chuckle, but stopped abruptly upon noticing Rukia's serious face. "Oh, you do?"
"Yes." replied Rukia, as she straightened the collar of her uniform. "I... I am having lunch with a friend."
"A friend? What friend? I know for a fact that all your friends are going to have lunch with me today."
"Well, you don't know him."
"Him?" questioned Kaien arching a dark eyebrow. Suddenly his blue eyes flashed and he gave Rukia a knowing smirk.
"Wh-what?" stammered Rukia as she felt her face heat up in a delicate flush.
"You have a date!" exclaimed Kaien loudly, pointing a long lean finger at her. "You have a date and you were trying to hide it!"
"So what if I was?!" huffed Rukia as she turned from Kaien and strutted haughtily towards the entrance. "I knew you were going to get all loud and annoying about it!"
"Oh, come on Kuchiki, don't be like that!" called Kaien as he followed her out of the entrance. "Let me come with you! I could be your chaperon!"
"Don't be ridiculous Kaien-dono, and besides, we have no need for a chaperon!"
And with that, she disappeared into the throng of people.
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They had not decided where to go exactly, but as they sat in companionable silence on one of the many benches that lined the training grounds of the sixth squad barracks, it suddenly did not matter. A soft breeze ruffled the leaves of the the trees around them and Rukia could smell the searing meat of a nearby food cart.
"Renji…" came Rukia's soft voice.
"Yeah?"
"Why did you tell me not to fall in love with you yesterday?" she asked, turning her dark orbs away from the tall man next to her. She had not really planned on talking about such a serious topic again, but it was out of her mouth before she could think better of it. In truth, she really did want to know, but she was not sure if it was the right time; what with her Nee-sama still keeping secrets from her.
"Oh that…" began Renji, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just didn't want you to feel pressured is all, I mean, I know how these things work…"
"What things?"
"These… marriages." finished Renji somewhat reluctantly.
"I see." came Rukia's reply.
Renji did not like the tone of her voice, he had the sneaking suspicion that something else was bothering her; she seemed so much more detached than she had the previous day.
"Rukia, look at me."
There was something in the tone of his voice that make her look over, a soft caring tone that pierced her heart.
That was new.
"What is it?" she asked curtly. The way his gaze was searching her face was starting to make her feel disconcerted. She was trying desperately to hide how his voice was affecting her.
"What happened yesterday after I left the Kuchiki Estate?"
"Nothing of any consequence, I assure you." replied Rukia as she straightened the collar of her uniform.
Her statement was delivered with such an air of confidence that the red hair Lieutenant almost believed her carefully worded response, but when she let her violet eyes drop from his face and settle on the scenery before them, he knew that there was no truth in it. It was moments like these where Renji could clearly see how the behaviors of the stoic Lord Kuchiki had influenced his soon-to-be bride in the most frustrating of ways.
She may be a noble in title,but if Lieutenant Abarai knew anything about Rukia Kuchiki, it was how to get the truth out of her. Regardless of her rank, she was still the same hot-tempered girl on the inside.
"Tch!" he snorted as he set his plate down to rest on the bench beside. "You're such a liar."
"Excuse me?!" Rukia said, shrill with agitation.
"You heard me." responded Renji smugly, folding his arms over his chest. "You're a liar, because that's what liars do, they lie, like you're lying right now."
Renji peeked at her from the corner of his eye, waiting for the explosion that he knew was coming. Her face was red with indignation and he could see that she was about to give way. He watched and waited for her to cave under the weight of his gaze.
But it never came.
She blinked at him as the color receded from her face, and the sides of her mouth quirked up in the barest hint of a smile.
"Thanks, Renji."
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"Captain Kuchiki, Kuchiki-sama… what a pleasant surprise! Oh! And Captain Unohana, you're here too! To what do I owe the pleasure of such esteemed company?"
The Lord Kuchiki scowled internally. They were only two steps into the dark, eerie lab and already Captain Kurotsuchi was up to his usual eccentricities.
"Now, please do not be difficult, Captain." came the calm voice of Captain Unohana as she bowed and straightened before the head of the 12th division. "Surely you remember my request to share my patient with you. I do not doubt that your expertise will only enhance our mutual understanding.
"Ah yes! Such a tantalizing offer you presented to me just this morning!" The Captain turned his golden gaze from the huge monitor before him to the leader of the 4th division. It was marked with unmistakable disdain and annoyance.
"I thought I told you no."
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I'm back.