Hours later… Soul Society…

Lady Arashi has recently been appointed as captain of four. She really hates the work but tries to make the best of it. She became the mentor of Isane and was in the process of teaching the young woman everything she knew so one day her fukutaisho would be skilled enough to be of captain rank and she would be able to take the tests and replace her. Jun already had enough responsibilities concerning her clan and being a captain just added to her stress.

At the same time she was trying to help the Kuchiki clan in securing their future. For the memories of her husband and his father she would insure the future of their blood. She would have to find the Kuchiki clan head a loving and trustworthy wife. Jun really hated spouse searching for her step son.

Normally noble parents would do such for their children. She felt like those mothers in historical fiction who were obsessed with finding rich spouses for their daughters. She did it behind his back. Like her own mother did to her and her sister. All she had to remember this was for the greater good. A future heir for the Kuchiki blood line.

She had recently been informed that her stubborn son Kohaku had been sent out to the living world on assignment. His mother hoped he wasn't getting himself into trouble. That was a fifty percent probability due to his immature behavior that he never grew up from... yet. The boy she had given birth to became an uncontrollable young man. She had gotten complaints from other noble parents about her 'tom cat' of a son. Who went around putting the moves on their precious daughters. She feared she didn't raise him correctly. At least his 'casanova' ways might lead him to an early marriage to some young noble women.

Lady Arashi looked through a whole list of young noble women and their qualities. She was brought back to the profile of a woman who she met in the market a few times in district one. She was kind, youthful, very open but exceedingly smart. Someone like her may help him reclaim the qualities that he had lost so long ago. His youthful and happy emotions.

Higurashi Machi.

She didn't want to present a clone of Hisana. That would disinterest him completely. Machi was one of a kind of woman. A strong but sensitive one.

She heard the door to her office open. It was Byakuya himself who entered. She greeted him and asked him to sit. She poured him some tea with leafs she had crushed herself. Lady Jun's tea was the best in soul society and his favorite. She hid the list in the top drawer of her desk.

The matron knew she had to confront him on this extremely important matter but she had doubts on how he would receive this situation.

"There is something I must speak to you about, Byakuya."

He sipped from the wooden cup and spoke, "Please tell,"

"This concerns the future of your blood line. The Kuchiki clan needs an heir." She spoke most earnestly.

He knew that to be true but was still reluctant, "This has been known to me... How does this concern the head of the Arashi?"

She scowled, "Our clans are family by fate, blood and circumstance… If one falls so shall the other."

He took her full attention but didn't speak.

"My son. I was there the day Hisana died. I treated and cared for her until her last breath." She had struck a blow. "She wanted you to be happy even after she was gone. Clearly you are not."

He solemnly glanced at her, Like Rukia he also knew she could be as forceful with words. She spoke the cold and hard truth. Both had the hardest of back bones. If he fought against her for word she would surely strike him down without much effort. "I still cannot go ahead with this."

Lady Arashi knew that embracing her anger would only make things worse, "You almost died several months ago. To your father and grandfather you were the future of the Kuchiki. Who will be yours?"

He turned from her and thought about this. He needed to think this through, He finalized before excusing himself from her office, "I will give you my answer by the end of the week."

The next to enter was Isane Kotetsu with a folder full of paper work. She watched as captain Kuchiki walked out. Once he was gone she took his seat and placed the work onto the desk top. She remarked knowing a bit of what the two had discussed, "I think you broke captain Kuchiki."

"He has been that way for a long time... Broken… scattered shards of shattered glass." Her captain replied looking through the reports.

A death butterfly landed on Isane's finger and she received a message, "Urgent alert: Captain Kurotsuchi's data files have been hacked!? Scouts will search for the ones responsible."

Her captain analysed with intuitive insight, "I thought that was impossible… Unless they were stolen by someone within."

Isane nodded, "You mean a shinigami?"

"Yes, But what really matters is what they were looking for… This so far is none of our concern... Only captain Kurotsuchi's." Arashi taishō signed the papers and gave them back to her fukutaisho. She suddenly stopped and puts her head in her palm, "What the hell am I doing? Byakuya is a grown man now… He should know the importance of this current dilemma." Through out all her later years of parenthood Jun had to remind herself to let them make their own mistakes.

"Maybe you should try being more laid back and stop worrying." Isane suggested taking back the stack of paper work.

Isane did have a point. Jun replied sitting back in her chair, "Once my part is done… I will just sit back and drink some tea. Leave it up to him for success or failure."

Isane jittered pouring a cup of Junko Arashi's tea, "Don't forget about squad work."