AN: Have no fear... Kahnartis is here! ... I just wanted to say that! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Steam rose from the hot cups of tea on the wooden table. On each side of the table sat two figures looking perfectly at peace in the calm environment.
"This is not what we agreed upon, Kuchiki." said the bright eyed male as he lifted his cup to take a drink.
"Our agreement was that you would be allowed to wear a taicho haori, and the rest of your uniform would be upgraded to be more… ceremonial piece of clothing." came the smooth reply.
"And I am willing to go along with it for Rukia's sake. But what you just showed me. Is. Not. What. We agreed upon." defended the the bright eyed male.
"I do not see how it is not, Hitsugaya-taicho. It is a taicho haori, just as we agreed upon."
Hitsugaya wanted to wipe the smirk that appeared on Kuchiki Byakuya's face when he said that. "The standard taicho haori is white with a black insignia designating the division. It also has that specific division's color on the inside. While your… mockery does have the division color correct, it is not a haori!"
"Come now, Hitsugaya-taicho. You said it yourself. The standard haoris are as you described. However, this is not a standard haori. As a part of this uniform, which you insist on wearing to your own wedding and reception, it too would have been upgraded to be more ceremonial, as you put it." If possible, the smirk on the older man's face got a bit bigger, and a lot more smug.
"That does not mean that you can just change the entire concept around!" argued Hitsugaya. "With that haori, what was once black is now white, and what was once white is now black!" Toshiro paused for a bit, "And the fact daffodil that is the official insignia of my division—is my family crest? Rukia will... love that." The white haired male couldn't help but huff. "Can't you just see it?"
"Toshiro, why is your family crest the same as your division's insignia?" asked Rukia in that special way that foretold of pain if not answered to her liking.
Her left eyebrow was twitching, and her smile had disappeared once she saw the outfit.
Toshiro had not seen her like this since Kurosaki and Abarai decided to steal her prized Chappy and send it to Urahara while claiming that there was something "weird" about the doll.
Hitsugaya was trying to come up with an explanation that she would accept.
Suddenly, Matusmoto appeared next to Rukia. "Oh, you know why, Rukia-chan! It's because he is married to work! And he practically has no life! His position is his life! It has become his new family!"
Then, the SWA appeared to help the little Kuchiki get through this ordeal.
Hitsugaya shakes his head to clear it of that horrific vision. "She will kill me if I wear that." He couldn't stop the thought that even his subconscious mind had good reasons that were true, even if it strengthened Kuchiki's argument. His division had become like a second family. Not an extremely close family, but a family nonetheless.
"You are scared that my sister will kill you because of your fashion choices?" asked the white haired male's future brother-in-law.
"I worry that she will kill because of the reasons behind the choice. And that it will be different than what I already told her we agreed upon."
"I do not think she will care that we had a change in plans. As long as you are present on the day of the wedding, she will think that it is perfect." he said casually.
"So let me get this straight, I am going to be wearing all black with both insignias for my division in white." stated Hitsugaya.
"Yes."
"I'm going to be wearing black on my wedding day?"
"It is not that uncommon, Hitsugaya-taicho."
"So, I do not get wear my white haori?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"And who said that you could tell me what I can and cannot wear to my own wedding?" asked Hitsugaya.
"You."
"When?"
"When we made that agreement. I told you that I would be willing to compromise so that you would still be able to wear a haori, did I not? You said that you did not want to change your look and become something that you are not."
"Then what are you trying to do? Because that does not look like a compromise."
"How so?" asked Kuchiki Byakuya.
"It's BLACK!"
The older man let out a silent sigh before he looked at the man that his sister had come to love. "Hitsugaya-taicho. I assure you that this is more of a compromise that you think. As a matter of fact, it is more closely to what you wanted than a meet-in-the-middle piece."
"How?"
"The whole design is based around the standard taicho uniform. I know that you prefer that sleeveless version, but that just simply cannot be done. In a sense, it is like Ukitake's old haori, only yours has the colors reversed. Then, you are wearing the standard shinigami outfit, only it is made out of finer material. So tell me, Hitsugaya-taicho, how is that not a compromise?"
"I understand what you are saying."
"Then what is the problem?"
"It's black."
"Again, not that uncommon."
"What if Rukia doesn't like it?"
"I do not think she will be focused on the clothing. Just on you."
"I'm doing this for Rukia."
"So am I."
"That's the only reason I am not arguing too much on this. Because this is all for Rukia. "
"Indeed. But, it is also your wedding. And one should take pride in their appearance." said Kuchiki Byakuya. "Besides, if you wore a white haori, then you would be competing for the spotlight."
"What are you talking about?"
"Rukia's wedding kimono is white. So, that would be white against white. However, with you in black, it will not take away from Rukia, but add to look of the two of you together. Two young souls who complete and compliment each other effortlessly. Only when the two of you are together does that truly show."
As much as he wanted to argue with that logic, Hitsugaya could not.
Kuchiki Byakuya was right.
Again.
Damn it.
AN: I want to thank Nightrxy for helping me out with this chapter!