Merry Christmas everyone! Here you go, another chapter.
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"I don't care about that Tsukiko. What I am mad about is the fact that you lied to me. You kept something this big hidden from me and I am very angered at your childish behavior." Byakuya sat down in a chair and then sighed. "You have not only disgraced the family name by hiding this but you have also lost my trust in you. I thought that if we couldn't be husband and wife intimately, then we could stay friends, but you treated me like I was an outsider. I am very disgraced by this." Byakuya put his head back and then started to figure out a plan. "What to do now?"
"They are already married. There is nothing we can do Byakuya-sama." Disappointment was filling her heart. She didn't know why she was still defending her sister in law when it was Rukia who put her in this predicament.
"A marriage is important. They are still children Tsukiko-chan!" The stoic Byakuya turned over to his wife as he stood up. "There is no way this can last in the eyes of the public. They expect me to marry of Rukia to a family of higher standing. Someone who is worthy of a Kuchiki daughter." Byakuya started to pace back and forth. "She has been betrothed since I found her. She knew that!" Tsukiko's eyes widened. Betrothed? The young girl had been betrothed?
"Byakuya-sama, isn't this unfair. Where you not also betrothed? And you still chose to marry Hisana-sama." Tsukiko decided that today, she would ask him all the questions she had in her heart, and that she would defend the ones in true love with all her heart.
"That was different!" He walked up to Tsukiko which caused the young girl to take a step back.
"How so?" She was a bit scared now but she knew the truth had to come out.
"I made a mistake bringing Hisana into the Kuchiki house. Not only politically, but emotionally as well." Byakuya walked forward. "You wouldn't understand something like that. You don't know anything about my life so stop intruding. Just because you are my wife does not mean you have the right to invade my privacy. What I do inside my home is my understanding. Do not forget that I am the leader of the Kuchiki household and that whatever I do, whatever I say, whatever I want, must be accomplished. Do you understand?" The anger in his eyes chilled Tsukiko to the bone. Tsukiko placed her hands close to her hear t and looked away. He seemed to getting closer but she had already hit the wall. "Tsukiko-chan, do you understand what I am saying."
"You cannot simply separate them. In the eyes of kami-sama, they are married. It is a sin to separate them. A sin." She whispered.
"And I also believe it is a sin to marry without love. Yet I committed the sin anyways. I did it for the Kuchiki house. And I will do what I feel best for Rukia and the Kuchiki name." Byakuya looked down at the girl. Her eyes were clear and blue. A hidden fire within the translucent eyes surprised him.
"The Kuchiki name? If that is all you think about then all you are going to spread is hate. Rukia and Renji will never separate." Tsukiko stood firm on her belief.
"Of course they can. It is called divorce." Tsukiko, angered pulled away but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. He leaned his mouth down to her ear and whispered. "Do not think for a minute that you have position in my life. If I wanted to, I will chuck you away and make sure you disappear. But, I am only doing this for the Kuchiki name. And I will have an heir." Tsukiko did not understand what that meant but the second she was dragged to the room, she fully understood. All she was needed for was childbirth.
Pulling herself away, she did the only thing she could. Her hand rose and she slapped him. Tears streamed down her eyes as she looked at her husband in hate. "How dare you?" Her voice was thick with anger. "How dare you touch me without my consent. You may be my husband, but you are not my lover or my friend." She pulled her arms around herself as she looked at him. "I do not want you touching me Byakuya-sama. If you want to throw me away, that is fine, but do not think for a second that I won't leave you. The only reason I am staying married to this day was because I thought you were a descent man. Respectable, and warm. But you have shown me otherwise."
Byakuya cleared his head. What had he been doing? He was so pressured by what had happened so far that he was not thinking with a clear mine. "I'm sorry." He whispered as he looked away. "It's not the best day ever for me."
"What do you mean?" Tsukiko asked as she watched her husband sit down on the bed. He looked stressed as he laid down. Tsukiko had never seen him this open with her. Why was he relaxing all of a sudden? "You can tell me. I still consider myself your friend."
"Did you not just say you weren't?" He asked, closing his eyes. Tsukiko felt guilty.
"I didn't mean it. I was just, anger." She sat down next to him.
"I had no right to, I am sorry Tsukiko."
"Byakuya-sama, it's okay. But please, tell me what is wrong?"
"There are many things you have yet to learn Tsukiko. How the world works. What dangers there are present. I never knew that I was going to adopt Rukia and when I did, I didn't love her as sister. She was nothing to me. And just when...just when I started to know her. To understand her, she runs away. I tried my hardest to do everything Hisana asked me to and I failed. I even failed at only calling her a wife. And this isn't the only thing that is going wrong." Byakuya suddenly lifted himself up. "The things that have happened back in Soul Society, I was not able to keep a close eye on my clan. But I expected you to do so Tsukiko. The reason I married so quickly was also because I thought you could take care of the home."
Tsukiko fell silent. She didn't think arguing would help but then again, the second she arrived at the house, how was she supposed to know that Rukia and Renji had a relationship. Tsukiko closed her eyes and instantly, a view of Renji and Rukia holding hands as they walked through a door surprised her. Her eyes flashed open as she realized that she did know of the love. Tsukiko looked down at her hands. "I thought you knew about the relationship. I did not know she was betrothed."
"There is nothing I can do. I cannot undo a marriage let alone a baby." Tsukiko looked over at her husband. He was smiling as he looked down at his hands. "Ha, Byakuya-ojisan." Byakuya started laughing as he thought about that. Tsukiko smiled as she saw him laugh. The smile on his face was warming.
"If you do not mind my asking, how did you know?" Tsukiko asked.
"Don't peg me as stupid woman." He looked over at her and smiled. "I noticed the signs. Rukia, she, I have granted her everything. I have never denied her anything. If she had come to me asking to marry Renji then I would have given him to her. I would her sent her off in a beautiful kimono and made sure she was happy that day. The only reason she did this was because she made a mistake, and I do not take mistakes lightheartedly. She knows this. She did it because she wanted to make sure I wasn't angered in any way." His face looked down again. "I am disappointed in her but, what is done is done. All this means is that she now is not a Kuchiki, but an Abarai. Which also means that my sister is gone. And I couldn't even make up for the hostility I had shown her."
Tsukiko looked at her feet, and idea, swarm in her head. "Byakuya-sama, I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition for what?" He looked up at her.
"When my father did not want to let my first niece leave the household, he had someone marry into the family." Tsukiko smiled. "You can ask Renji if he wants to be adopted into the family!" Tsukiko stood up. "I mean, if you do, that means you can keep Rukia in the house, have another member, and Renji, he is in debt to you as well, but why would he give up the chance to be closer to his wife, and his captain. And he is an orphan as well, it may mean something to him?"
Byakuya stood up and then looked out the window. Tsukiko was right, Renji would join the family...if Rukia asked, and Rukia, she, she was his only connection to Hisana. She didn't have to leave the house that way. She wasn't just a sister to him, but more of a daughter. He loved his little sister more than anything. It was hard to let her go. He turned around and then looked down at his wife. She was standing there, a smile trying to break through her lips. Tsukiko felt that if Rukia were in the house, she would have someone other than the older lady to talk to, and the prospect of a child, it would only lighten the mood...and maybe lighten her husband's mood.
"That is a good idea." He smiled. "I will talk to them tomorrow." Byakuya stated officially. Tsukiko squealed in delight and then threw her arms around her husband. Instantly Byakuya went rigid. Tsukiko's eyes shot in surprise and then slowly started to pull away. They caught each other's eyes and stared deeply into each other's souls. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of each other's breaths.
"Tsukiko." Byakuya spoke as he looked at her. Her eyes, clear blue, her soul pure. There was something about this woman that he liked. He just didn't know. There was a comfortable essence from her that made it easy for him to be around her. It was something he hadn't felt in a long time. A strand of hair fell into her eyes. He lifted his hand to move it to the side. Tsukiko watched his hand as he moved it from the front of her face and then around her ear. Looking down, her heart started to beat rapidly.
"Byakuya-sama?"
"Tsukiko...I, we, need to sleep. There is a meeting tomorrow and—" Tsukiko quieted him by kissing him on the lips. She didn't even realize she had kissed him until he had put his arms around her. Embracing her he continued to kiss but pulled away "Tsukiko. I can't."
"I know." Tsukiko presumed kissing him. "And I don't care." She started to unbutton his shirt, and for some reason, he let her. The shirt came off quickly as did his will to stop her. He didn't care tonight. He would submit to pleasure, even if it wasn't from his Hisana. Tsukiko was the next best thing.
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Tsukiko was asked to attend the meeting with her husband. Neither had spoken since what had happened last night but both did. They wanted to know what the other thought. How the other felt. It was an unusual feeling. They knew it wasn't love. It was mutual understand of each other.
No, it couldn't be love. It was just...
Just...
Friendship.
As they walked in, Tsukiko noticed Rukia and Renji off to the side. Byakuya, separating from his wife, walked over to them, expecting her to follow. She did, wanting to see if he was about to break the news now, or later. She smiled at them to let them know that they were off the hook.
"Renji, Rukia, Tsukiko and I have invited you to dinner tonight. I expect you will be there." He stated, without emotion on his face. Walking away, he entered a small room with all of the captains and Urahara sitting. Turning around, he closed the door, blocking Tsukiko from entering.
"Our captains will inform us tonight about what is going on." Matsumoto muttered from the back. "We have been asked to leave." Tsukiko turned around to see Matsumoto, Ichigo, Chad, and the Quincy sitting, waiting for the meeting to end. "They are going to be told by Urahara. And we're going to be told by our captains. We have been asked to stay here for the next hour and then take Orihime home."
"Orihime is in there?" Tsukiko asked pointing to the door.
"As is Ulquiorra." Ichigo spoke, angered.
"Ulquiorra!? What do you mean Ulquiorra?" Tsukiko asked
"We do not know anything that is going on. Like Matsumoto-san said, we all find out from our captains." Renji spoke, leaning against the wall.
"Then once we take Orihime home, what is our job?" Tsukiko asked, looking over at everyone.
"Go back home, wait for everything." Rukia spoke up. "But apparently, we are meeting up at your place." Rukia looked over at her sister in law. "Can I speak to you for a second?" Tsukiko nodded and both girls walked over to side to speak in secrecy. "I am so sorry to put that on you. Was Byakuya-niisama mad?" Tsukiko smiled and then shook her head no. "Good, I am so sorry, I didn't know what to say. Here on earth, a girl doesn't need consent from her clan or family for her marriage. I just said your name because I was scared."
"Getting married was a rash decision but, it was a necessity. Your brother was mad but he understands now. Everything is all right. Nothing will happen now. Actually, something will, but there is nothing to fear."
A few seconds later, a shocked Inoue walked out of the door. She then turned over to Ichigo and then at her feet. "I've been asked to return to Hueco Mundo. I will be leaving in an hour." She then turned over to Rukia and Renji. "Will you please escort me home so I can pack?"
"Yes." Renji said as he walked up to her. Rukia looked at Tsukiko and then back at Inoue. Walking forward, all three left the room, closely followed by a man with a sweatshirt hood covering his head. Tsukiko instantly knew who it was. Ulquiorra Schiffer. Ichigo looked over at the elders as they filed out of the room.
"What the hell is going on?" He asked in anger. "Why is Inoue returning to Hueco Mundo!"
"Urahara is waiting for you in the room to explain what is going on. Tsukiko, let us head home." Byakuya spoke stoically. He started to walk out of the shop. Tsukiko looked over at the rest of the group and then her husband. Following him, she followed him near the ocean as he walked.
"What is going on Byakuya-sama? Why is Inoue being taken to Hueco Mundo?"
"Tsukiko, have a seat." He pointed at a bench that was sitting facing the lake. He sat down after she did, and then sighed. "We have been banned from Soul Society."
"What!?"
"We let free Ulquiorra Schiffer."
"Why?"
"He was not to blame for everything, and we made him understand. Back in Hueco Mundo, Grimmjow was creating a faction and he was going to bring it down to earth."
"Why?" Tsukiko asked.
"Because he loves Orihime Inoue."
"AND THE SMARTEST THING TO DO WAS TO SEND HER TO HUECO MUNDO!?"
"No, change your tone." Byakuya spoke in anger. "Ulquiorra, was sent to reestablish Hueco Mundo. To bring the Arrancar together, and rule Hueco Mundo peacefully. The captains thought it was excellent plan. It was pure, and we trusted Ulquiorra. But the old man, he didn't want an alliance with Hueco Mundo. He said that it was a stupid idea and condemned it. Earth has become more unstable since then. More hollows are ending up on earth, we aren't fighting as many hollow as we should because the old captain thinks we need to reestablish Soul Society first, what he doesn't understand is that Soul Society will disappear if earth becomes non existant or if the number of souls lessens because of the number of people turning into hollows."
"So you executed the plans."
"Yes, now, nothing will stop us from making sure Soul Society and Earth are safe."
"But why send Inoue there?"
"As a sign of...alliance, she is to become his bride. He is marrying her in Hueco Mundo and that way, it will be a strong alliance."
"Has she agreed to this?"
"She was the one who suggested it." Byakuya spoke.
"Why, she, didn't she love Ichigo?"
"He's dating her best friend. And also, I believe she has fallen for the Espada."
"Fallen for the Espada?" Tsukiko was amazed.
"She did spend over a month with him. It was Inoue that stopped the fight between Ichigo and Ulquiorra. That fight would have destroyed the entire world along with Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. The willpower she had. She visited Ulquiorra every time she was in Soul Society. She has made the best move for everyone."
"She's brave."
"Far braver than any of us." Byakuya sama sighed.
"What does this mean for us? For all the captains and their ...families?" Tsukiko was worried about her grandmother-in-law. All alone by herself.
""You and Rukia have been sent to stay with me. As for my grandmother, I have explained to her everything and she will pretend to grieve for the Kuchiki family."
"Byakuya-sama, when do we go home?"
"Once we change the world, and Soul Society."
"Then may I request something?"
Byakuya looked over at his wife and nodded.
"Can we change the ways of Soul Society. Heaven should not separate loved ones from each other. Let us make it so family can be reunited. So that happiness could evolve. That is the only way to change Soul Society. Change the hierarchy, change the way people live." Byakuya stared at the woman. How could she know his secret dream? His wish? He too wanted to make a world that didn't involve hurt. And pain. A world that strived away from hurt. He wanted a Heaven in Soul Society.
He looked at Tsukiko. Her eyes looking out into the sea.
"We will win."
"I know." Tsukiko smiled as she looked at her husband. "Because we have the will to change for the better on our sides."