Shinobu's long wet hair was tied up in a very, very, tight bun. Tight enough to give her a head ache. She was sore, but that was nothing compared to what was to come. She'd been stabbed by at least twenty needles in the last hour. As it would turn out, Byakuya's lie had been a partial truth. He had sent them over here, thinking she'd be safer from someone accidentally opening the door on her here. But his true intentions remain unknown. Meanwhile, kimono makers had been fussing over Shinobu for an hour now, getting all their measurements, and trying to design something. One of them had recommended acupuncture, because she was really tense, and it was making the pricks hurt more, but Shinobu feared that her reflexes may cause her to smack, or even worse, punch whatever pour soul got charged with her. Suddenly, Yoruichi came in the room, bursting in on the half naked Shinobu, who wore white leggings and her tube top, to give her the most form fitting without being naked appearance. Yoruichi leaned over the designers, and mulled over the current designs.
"That one. It shows off her figure, without making it too pronounced, and it isn't so white that she looks unnaturally tanned. Also, it's nice and simple."
"You're completely right, Shihoin-sama!" they all squealed, then set to work. Shinobu sighed as they pricked her again.
"Ow!"
"Sorry. Loosen up."
"I'm make you a deal. Show me the damn kimono, and I'll loosen up." Yoruichi grabbed the picture and held it up. It was a nicely, but not overly so, form fitting dress, with a top that rises up to the base of her neck, in a collared fashion, but with an open back. It was floor length, and flowy, but again, not overly so, with a long train. The more she looked at it, the more she could see the details. It was cream coloured, complimenting her skin, with golden lace at the bottom, and an obi around her waist. All in all, it was a damn good decision.
"You guys shoulda asked me first. This would have been chosen, like, half an hour ago."
"Hush. We can't ask you. You're the bride." but, as she promised, she tried to loosen up, and found that the pricks hurt less and less, until she barely felt them. Another half an hour later, they had the basic part done, and pulled it off her.
"Alright. We'll have the final dress done in four days." they left, and she collapsed on the floor.
"Can I go home now?"
"Don't be such a child, Shinobu." she smacked her mother.
"Coming from the woman who thought me having one tattoo was too much?"
"It is."
"You have two, huge ones. No critisizing." Yoruichi laughed.
"Good point. But, I don't like staring up at the ceiling. Let's go down to the beach." Yoruichi stood up, and grabbed her daughter's wrist.
"W-w-wait!" but Yoruichi had already broken into a shunpo. She let go of Shinobu halfway down the beach, and she did a somersault, then laid flat, laughing.
"I hate you."
"I love you too." Yoruichi laid down beside her. They laid in silence, for lord knows how long, before Kisuke showed up.
"Oh? And what are my two favourite women doing, laying in the sand?"
"Sun bathing. Or tanning. Either works."
"I don't think Yoruichi can tan anymore." Kisuke commented. She smacked his leg, and he laid down on Shinobu's other side.
"You know, despite the fact that I'm, like, old now, this is actually kind of nice. Family time."
"Even though you're almost a hundred and thirty."
"You're ruining it, Mom." Yoruichi shushed, and before she knew it, Shinobu drifted off to sleep. For how long, only a few people know, as Yoruichi shook her awake before long.
"What? Is something on fire?" Yoruichi laughed.
"No. I think your fiance is looking for you." she noticed the colour in the sky, then judged her sleep to be a thirty minute nap. And now, she was increasingly tired. Yoruichi helped her up, and they both looked at the sleeping Kisuke.
"Wanna leave him?"
"Yeah." they grinned, then parted ways, each going to a different manor. Shinobu slid the door open quietly, as there were very few lights on. She judged it to be seven, eight at night, and wondered why everyone was asleep. In her sneaking around, she wasn't looking particularly in front of her, just to the sides, so she ran straight into Byakuya, then fell over, managing to snuff out the sounds of her fall. She looked up at him, and gave him a crooked smile.
"Where is everyone?" she whispered.
"I let them off early. I think they all went to sleep." she grinned, then yawned.
"Doesn't sound like a bad idea." he shook his head and helped her up.
"Go get some food first."
"Do I have to?" one look, and she plodded away towards the kitchen, rummaging up something small, quietly and quickly. She scarfed it down, only then finding how hungry she was. Ignoring her stomach, she found her way back to his room after running into a few walls and doors on the way. He stood in front of his room, almost smirking.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Trying not to." she faked a gasp, then they headed inside, and she curled up under the sheets.
When she woke up in the morning, she could feel Byakuya's arms around her waist, actually trapping her, keeping her from getting up. She sighed, and tried not to shift. Maybe she could get up without waking him? Her chances of that were unlikely. But she needed to get up. She had a squad to attend to. Hoping he was a deeper sleeper than she thought he was, she slowly inched out of his arms, then smirking triumphantly, shunpoed off to her squad. People milled around, generally ignoring her, and she slipped into her office, to find a small amount of paperwork. She sat down and started reading, marking her paper when someone came in. Around noon, a group of people came in.
"Captain Kuchiki."
"I'm still a Shihoin." she didn't bother looking up yet.
"Captain Shihoin, we wanted to know if you could maybe... train with us." she looked up, marking her spot.
"Now, that, I can do." she stood up and they watched her.
"Really? Like, you'll help us?"
"What do you want help with? I've got nothing to do other than that." she gestured towards her paperwork.
"We need to work on skills."
"I get it. Alright, let's go." she followed them out to the training area.
"Alright, let me see you fight first."
The three Squad members bowed to her, hot and sweaty, but much improved from earlier. She shook out her hair, and they left.
"Shihoin-sama!" she turned around, and her jaw fell as the kimono maker raced towards her.
"Let's go let's go! It's time for you to get dressed for the wedding! Invitations went out forever ago, but you need to get dressed."
"But but-"
"We got the dress finished early. Much, earlier, than we'd thought we would. Let's go!" Sighing, she grabbed the girls arm, and shunpoed back to the Shihoin Manor. The kimono maker forced her into a scalding bath, then forced her into her dress. It was a little tight, but other than that, it was perfect. They dried her hair, then brushed it flat and placed several pins in place to keep it out of her eyes. She scowled a little bit as they adjusted her hair again.
"Mom, who are my bride's maids?"
"Me and Nanami."
"Oh. This oughta be fun." she rolled her eyes and they finished with her hair, then checked the time.
"Right on schedule! Go get in your carriage." they pushed her out and she stumbled, then Yoruichi help her straighten up. They walked outside, and got into the carriage, only to find Nanami already inside. The younger girl gasped.
"You're beautiful! Oh my gosh, I think all the men are going to be jealous." Shinobu laughed.
"Hardly. You might outshine me, my little sister." she turned to her mother.
"So who planned all this?" Yoruichi grinned evilly.
"Byakuya got pissed while you were comatose. He was tired of you getting hurt, and him never knowing if you're going to wake up. So, I helped him plan the wedding so you'd be his, finally."
"So where are we going?"
"Same place as my wedding. But a little more jazzed up. Byakuya is already going to be there when we get there, so, we're going to have to sneak you to the side, then head in. I believe Kisuke is walking you in." Shinobu laughed. That would only go horribly. A few minutes later, they passed the Kuchiki Manor, and she hid when the carriage stopped.
"What's going on?" she whispered.
"Switch sides with me." she switched with Nanami, so Nanami was sitting alone, and Shinobu was next to Yoruichi. The door opened, and Yoshiro hauled himself in. She gaped.
"You two tell me nothing!" the two other women laughed, and the ride started back up.
"I hate you all."
"Don't hate. It's your wedding day. Be happy, Kuchiki-san. Happy, god damn it!" Shinobu laughed, then paused.
"Hey, Mom. Can you talk to the Elders for me?"
"About what?"
"Adopting someone."
"Who?"
"Nanami." Nanami gasped.
"No! I can't accept that."
"It's my wedding present for you, whenever you two get married." she grinned evilly, and Nanami hid her left hand.
"Which is when, exactly, my dear sister?" Nanami turned red.
"I...uh...we...uh..." Yoshiro laughed.
"Not planned yet, sorry to disappoint, Kuchiki-san."
"Well then, I'm going to make all the food!" they all started laughing, then the carriage came to a stop, and the door opened again.
"Who all is in here?" the person paused.
"Oh, the bride. Continue on!" the door shut and they moved on again, then five minutes later, the door opened again, and the group helped slip Shinobu around the side of the building without her being seen, then they abandon her. Minutes later, Kisuke came up, and hugged her.
"You look stunning. More stunning than your mother, I might add. I think they down dressed her to make you shine." she shook her head.
"Nope. Is it time yet?" he checked a watch.
"Yepperz." he took her elbow and they walked around the to entrance. She could hear music, but couldn't tell where it came from, and frankly, wasn't too worried about it. Of course, she could see just about nothing, because there were pink flower petals floating down from everywhere, so Kisuke had to lead her to the front, and when he let go, she was sure she'd trip on a stair. She actually got to the top, then looked at Byakuya, who was actually smiling in public. The priest started speaking and they both went through their vows.
"You may kiss the bride." he placed his hand on the back of her neck and their lips met. Energy coursed through her body, and she smiled slightly. He pulled away, then they started down the aisle, people cheering, clapping, and all sorts. He helped her into the carriage, then climbed in. As soon as the door was shut, the sounds were muffled, and she looked at Byakuya.
"You look handsome." he chuckled.
"Anyway, what's for lunner?"
"Lunner?"
"Dinch?"
"What?"
"Lunch slash dinner." he chuckled.
"You'll see." she laughed.
"Keeping secrets isn't nice mister! Not nice at all!" he shook his head.
"You're energetic."
"I feel like I took a Five Hour Energy pill, or drank some drink full of sugar." she looked out the window as they went.
"I remember when we went on this path the first time. Then we got there, and you proposed." she kept the other things that happened silent, like Sasake attacking them on the way. And Yamasaki attacking her. Good times. Byakuya seemed to be thinking about the same things, so when they got there, they both jumped when the door opened.
"Hurry, it looks like it's about to rain." she looked out at the clouds.
"Oh yeah." she could feel her uneasiness.
"I give it five minutes." she got out, and Byakuya followed, then they walked inside and sat side by side at a long table.
"Hm... this seems familiar..."
"Just a little bit." she laughed as people started arriving. And making their own jokes about being here recently. Yoruichi and Nanami sat on Shinobu's other side, and Kisuke and Yoshiro sat on Byakuya's other side.
"It's raining outside." Yoruichi whined.
"This is why we're inside." Nanami laughed, and so the night progressed. At the end, after every guest had left, Shinobu turned to Nanami and Yoshiro.
"Your turn, Nanami and Yoshiro."
I know it's short, but I think it's kind of fitting. Before you say I could've described the wedding more, I couldn't because it was kind of a generic wedding, ya know? So anyway, there'll be a epilogue after I post this.
Yours truly, OldBlueRiver