C'est ennuyant.
Kudos to my french readers :)
You make me feel like a young colt who hasn't been broken in,
For the alien feeling you ignite with your presence makes me disappear.
"This is going too fast, way too fast," mutters Yoruichi as she steps in, slamming the screen door behind her. Promising to lash out her inner turmoils at the next hollow that showed up at Karakura town-or anywhere else-, Yoruichi burped. It was too bad the discussion between her and Ginrei-san hadn't been as good as the tea Nishimura-san's daughter had served.
Tatomi sure did things quickly. One of the side topics were that Nishimura's daughter would be retreating out of the employment position she had in the Kuchiki manor. The main topic however, was discussed much too long and was really not Yoruichi's...well, it hadn't been her place to make a decision. But she was, Ginrei argued, the head of the Shihoin clan.
She had to say something.
So she did.
Yawning, she drags out her futon and lays down, trying to settle down.
Chirp. Chirpchirp.
Darn crickets, go away. Yoruichi closes her eyes. Chirp. Chirpchirp. Yoruichi, I would like to ask- "Dammit-"
"Yoruichi-san!" says a cheerful voice from the foot of her bed, "How are you?" Yoruichi and opens one eye. "Hey, Yoruichi-san, you were so mean, leaving me behind watching Kuchiki and Tatomi cuddle-"
"Kisuke,"
"Hm?" says Urahara, an innocent look on his face.
"CAN'T YOU LET A GROWN WOMAN SLEEP?!"
"Yoruichi-san-"
"WHY?! IF YOU HAD LENT ME YOUR SPIRITUAL CLOAK THE HELL BUTTERFLY WOULDN'T HAVE FOUND ME AND AAAAAARGGG KISUKE WHY?! AND NOW EVEN THE CRICKETS WON'T SHUT THEIR MUSICAL CHIRPS FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND SAVE IT FOR WHEN I FALL ASLEEP-" Yoruichi blinks as she felt something shoved into her hand.
"Drink it," says Urahara with a serious expression, "You'll feel better." Yoruichi sighs, sits up, and empties the sake bottle in one gulp, then lets out a content burp. "What happened?"
She collaps onto the futon again, "Ginrei-dono asked me for approval. For the marriage. And I said yes. What else was I suppose to do."
"Ah, Tatomi and Byakuya are finally getting married?" Urahara smiles, "Isn't that a good thing? You were just saying a few days ago that they should make up already and invent a bunch of new styles of kis-"
"You said that. The second part."
"But it is them?"
"Of course it's them! Who else would it be?! But how in the name of Soul Society am I going to be able to tell Tatomi this? Do I say, 'hey, Tato-cat, you're getting married to Byakuya' or 'Tatomi Shihoine. You will hereby marry Byakuya Kuchiki; please be on your best behavior'...it should be special, just like when you, you know," Yoruichi frowns, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.
"Why don't you just leave it to Byakuya to tell Tatomi-there's no way he doesn't know they're getting married, right?" says Urahara.
"..." Yoruichi smiles and glomps Urahara around the waist, "Perfect! For once you show your less idiotic side!"
"I'm such a genius, aren't I , Yoruichi-san?" says Urahara with a big smile, "You're finally proud of me!"
3RD PERSON POV, SQUAD SIX OFFICE
'Get your mistress out of here before she causes my master to lose his dignity,' says Senbonzakura, glowering at Yokoso.
Yokoso stands calmly beside him, leaning against the wall with a mischievous look in her eyes, 'Why not let your master let loose for once, Senbonzakura? He's too uptight sometimes. Just look at them, your master seems to be resting peacefully.'
'Tch, just hurry up!'
'Why should I? They both look happy right now. You're such a spoilsport, Senbonzakura.'
'...' Senbonzakura straightens, his samurai armer making a series of clinking noises, 'If you don't do it, I'll do it myself.' He takes off without another word.
'Wha-' A sudden blur flashes by Yokoso, travels to where Byakuya was sleeping, and then out the door. 'Senbonzakura, you...' a series of tick marks appear on Yokoso, and she shunpos to the Kuchiki manor. 'Senbonzakura...' was tucking in HER mistress. That was HER mistress and that was the special way SHE tucked in HER MISTRESS...
Yokoso's reliatsu began to expand until there was a deadly shade of honey drifting around the room.
'Senbonzakura...' Yokoso shunpos until she was inches away from his ear, 'HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY MISTRESS! YOU CAN'T TOUCH HER. I DON'T CARE IF YOUR MASTER AND MY MISTRESS ARE GETTING M-' she paused, wait, I'm not suppose to reveal my secret eavesdropping techniques yet, 'ANYWAYS, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TOUCH MY MISTRESS IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE!'
'What were you going to say?'
'You can't touch her!'
'No, not that, before that. You said master and your mistress were getting-?'
'Uh..nothing.'
Senbonzakura grabbed her by her shoulders and shoved her against the wall, his own murderous aurora starting to appear, 'Stop acting like your mistress and TELL ME ALREADY!'
'My, my...I might be like my mistress but you lack the composure of your master, don't you?' Yokoso pauses, 'Anyways, you'll find out soon enough.'
'Tch,' Senbonzakura tightened his grip on Yokoso's shoulder and glared at her. She glared back.
*glare*
*glare*
*glare*
"...Yokoso..." says a voice from the ground, temporarily breaking the glare war. "Why..where.." Tatomi sat up and looked around, "Kuchiki manor? Yokoso!"
'What?' then Yokoso notices the early streams of light entering the slanted blinds, 'What do you know, Senbonzakura? You actually waited out until morning! Congrats! Never knew you were this determined before!' she gave him a big smile, which earned her a smack in the face, 'Hey, watch it!'
'This is new,' says Senbonzakura, pointing at the porcelain kitty bracelet on Yokoso's wrist, 'You never told me it-'
"It's back!" Tatomi gives Yokoso an accusing glare, "If it's back, why are you refusing to teach me-"
'Idiotic mistress and idiotic Senbonzakura!' says Yokoso quietly, glaring at them both, 'It healed last night. And there's still visible cracks in it.'
"Teach me!"
'No!'
"Come on! Why?"
'Why should I?'
"..."
'You don't even know why you want to have bankai!'
Senbonzakura twitched, and finally lost it. Grabbing hold of Yokoso by the petals that fanned around Yokoso's head and shoulders, Senbonzakura spun her around, 'TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY ALREADY! YOU SAID SOON! THIS IS SOON! THIS IS THE LIMIT OF SOON!'
Yokoso zipped her lips.
'YOU LITTLE-' Senbonzakura paused, as if listening to something. Then he vanished.
Yokoso glares at the spot where Senbonzakura vanished, "Hmph. Goes whenever his master summons him.." then she turns to Tatomi, "You just recovered. Let's talk about something cheerful."
"..."
3RD PERSON POV, KUCHIKI MANOR
"Grandfather," says Byakuya, kneeling by the entrance to the tea room where Ginrei Kuchiki sat.
"Yes, come in, Byakuya. I have something important to inform you about. It concerns your future, as well as the future of Tatomi Shihoine, and the Kuchiki clan," Ginrei Kuchiki pauses, takes a sip of tea and watches Byakuya's reaction as he said his next words, "You are currently engaged to Tatomi Shihoine." Ginrei ran his eyes over his little grandson, his eyes crinkling when he saw Byakuya's reaction. Some of the old spirited Byakuya was not fully hidden, and Ginrei could visibly see him struggle in vain to process the update.
"Grandfather..." Byakuya looks down, studying the floor, "You do not jest?"
"No."
"Since when~?"
"I have spoken to Yoruichi Shihoin, and she gives her approval," Ginrei looks at his grandson oddly, "Are you not happy, Byakuya?" seeing Byakuya's eyes widen, he continues, "Do not think that I cannot see the way you behave, even though I am a man of great age, I am a man of many experiences."
"Grandfather, I-"
"Give your thanks later, Byakuya," says Ginrei, taking another sip of tea, "Now, isn't there a captains' meeting you should be attending at the moment? Do not be more tardy than necessary."
3RD PERSON POV, CAPTAINS' GATHERING
I am Yoruichi Shihoin, eavesdropping on a meeting. Why? Because I have a bad feeling about it and now I suppose I get my punishment because nothing is happening, Yoruichi thought, sighing, This is useless: hiding in a corner, hidden by the shadow cast by the wall. Yoruichi propped up her chin with her hand and tried to pay attention.
"...now that we have come to an unanimous agreement on budget, I will now address the more important matter at hand," says Yamamoto Genryusai, "Kurotsuchi-taichou, will you elaborate?"
"Yes, yes," says Mayuri, adjusting his mask a little, "As you know, I have been working on a new technological device that has a display that provides instant feedback with graphic images in HD style and as a 460 degrees view-"
"Kurotsuchi-taichou," says Unohana with a kind smile, "Please get straight to it."
"Er, yes, of course," says Mayuri, looking quite peeved to be interrupted, "The phosphor white dots show shinigamis entering, and the phosphor green dots show hollows. These appear due to the cathode rays that scan areas. Turquoise dots, however, show-"
"Ahem," Yamamoto taps his cane, "It has been reported by Kurotsuchi-taichou and Soifon-taichou, who went to inspect the area, that two very popular senkei gates have been opened by undefined creatures in Karakura town. Ichigo Kurosaki will be securing one. I am sending Tatomi Shihoine to secure the other. Any objections?"
Yamamoto looks around the room, seeing looks of surprise that flashed through. No one said anything.
Then, "I wish to go in her place," says Soifon, looking angry, "I have seen the region, and it will be dangerous for Shihoine-sama to-"
"She knows the region well. I heard rumors that her zanpakuto abilities will be useful in bringing back the undefined creatures so that I can research more about them," says Mayuri, grinning. Soifon looked ready to argue when someone stepped out of the shadows.
"I know the far side just as well as Tatomi, Yamamoto-taichou. Please send me instead."
Just then, the screen door opened, revealing the captain of Squad Six. "My apologies for being late," Byakuya says rather absentmindedly for his usual self. Yoruchi notices this, and feels satisfied: Ginrei had told him. But what the hey, everything would be ruined if Tatomi was sent. They'd be separated again, and who knows what would happen to Tatomi, since she was obviously going alone.
Surely Yamamoto wouldn't refuse her wish of taking Tatomi's place and going instead. Yoruichi had more experience, and
"No," says Yamamoto, and Yoruichi saw from the corner of her eyes Byakuya's confused look and Ukitake leaning in to brief him on what had been happening, "I know Shihoine's shikai as well as you do. She will be more useful."
Yoruichi feels her hackles rise, "But-"
Yamamoto meets her squarely in the eyes, "That is my-"
"Excuse me," says Byakuya, and Yamamoto turns to him, "Tatomi Shihoine does not have a bankai. It will be rather troublesome to send her alone. It will be better if I accompany her."
Yamamoto nods, "Very well. It is settled then. Kuchiki-taichou will accompany Shihoine Tatomi to secure the senkei gate at the far side of Kakura town." His eyes drift briefly to Yoruichi, and she nods.
The captains rose to leave, and Yoruichi leaps in front of Byakuya, finding them two to be the last ones leaving the meeting room. Yoruichi gives Byakuya a hard look, "You better take good care of Tatomin, got it, Bya-bo?"
Byakuya's eyes narrow at the use of the nickname, "Did you think I would do anything but that?"
"I'm serious, if you don't, I'll-"
"Now now, Yoruichi-san," says Kisuke, appearing outta nowhere and putting a calming hand on Yoruichi's shoulder, "I'm sure Byakuya will take good care of his wife-to-be, won't you, Byakuya?"
Byakuya looks at them both, "Tatomi will be fine."
"That's right!" says a cheery voice from the back. Kyoraku taichou grins widely, "Kuchiki here won't let his kitten get hurt, don'tcha worry, Yorucihi!"
TATOMI'S POV
The hell butterfly flew off my finger, and I whirled to face Yokoso. "You'll teach me now, won't you? You have to!"
"No."
"Why? If I get killed then it will be your fault for not teaching me," I said, whining. Well, okay, yeah, I was whining but..
"So be it," says Yokoso.
"Yokoso! Why won't you listen?!"
"It's you who won't listen," says Yokoso, looking at me with a serious expression, "You can deny it all you want, but you cannot learn bankai for the sole reason of fearing you will lose the opportunity to learn it."
"You always say to catch opportunities before they fly off!"
"But you aren't doing that either, are you? Letting Byakuya float further and further away when all you want is for him to cuddle you and hold you dear? I hate seeing you unhappy, mistress," says Yokoso.
"Well, I-" I grasped at the last argument I could come up with, "What if I need it? How will I use it if I don't even know it?"
Yokoso shruggs, "My bankai is like my shikai. It is all instinct. That aside, you cannot solve most things by following your instincts, mistress."
"I know..I know that. I knew that all along, I think."
"Tatomi!" says a voice from door. I turn to see Rangiku who has a rather odd expression on her face. Her face is slightly flushed, "TDYEARKUCHOUSINAGEINRRIED!"
I frowned, "You're talking to fast, ne Rangiku-chan."
Rangiku takes a deep breath, "Tatomin, did you hear? Kuchiki-taichou is finally getting married!" What?