OF PRIDE AND JAPANESE PASTRIES: ACT I

By Ayame213

Byakuya methodically worked his way through the large stacks of Gotei 13 surveillance reports that had been neatly divided across his desk. From his seat next to the open window, the warm sunshine rays of the late afternoon playfully reflected the light and danced on the antique mahogany wood.

Suddenly, the pen he is holding stops in the middle of writing a word as the sound of carefree laughter drifts up from the courtyard below.

Byakuya did not need to look up from his papers to know that part of the laughter belonged to Hisana, who was surely out there happily chatting away with a group of friends.

A small frown momentarily clouded his features.

"...it is quite disturbing the way I can pick her out of a crowd like that..."

It was also quite odd for him to be so easily distracted...but to be fair, on this particular day it seemed like the mere sound of her voice triggered memories he was already trying hard to repress.

"Last night...if it were not for that look of complete confusion in her eyes...a little more and I probably would have..."

He probably would have kissed her. Which was completely ridiculous because thiswas never supposed to be that kind of arrangement...

Ok sure, he had asked Hisana to be his wife...but as far as he was concerned, the said request had only been made in light of several highly extenuating circumstances...

"...she was leaving...and I was not ready to let her go"

The way he saw it, Hisana was hopelessly naïve and stubborn and would certainly cause him a fair amount of unnecessary hassle with the Clan...yet at the same time he had been forced to admit that he actually preferred her company over that of any other woman he had come in contact with.

Besides, she also happened to be beautiful, soft spoken, intriguing...in fact, she possessed most of the qualities that had been so painstakingly researched in all his other potential bridal choices...so why not spend the rest of his life with someone he could actually tolerate?

The only problem was that now his simple desire for a halfway decent companion by his side was maybe showing signs of developing into something else. Something that had not been in his plans.

"That girl...despite myself I was laughing so freely in her presence...when I (purposely) haven't so much as cracked a smile in almost fifteen years..."

A weary sigh escaped his lips.

"...there goes my image..."

Now absentmindedly gazing out the window, Byakuya saw that his earlier assertion had been right: Hisana was indeed in the courtyard surrounded by Karin and Co., talking and giggling about God knows what...

Leaning back slightly against his chair, he allowed himself to observe her for a few moments longer.

"Akira accused me of being in love with her..."

He had completely dismissed the idea at the time. After all, Akira was not a very reliable source in that department. Mariko had him wrapped around her little finger and did not hesitate to call it "love". Ironically, Kuchiki Akira was a ruthless and brilliant strategist in every other aspect of his life but whenever it came to his wife...the man clearly lost his edge.

A shudder of pity ran down Byakuya's spine as he recalled that just earlier that morning, he had caught a glimpse of his esteemed uncle using some highly advanced ninja techniques only to smuggle what looked like a bottle of whisky and a small case of cigars into his own home...

"...pathetic..."

And even now after several minutes of deep internal scrutiny Byakuya realized that he just wasn't (and never could be) anything like that.

"...no... I don't think that I could ever sink so low..."

Thereby reassured, the proud Captain of the 6th Division was finally able to redirect his full attention back to the stacks of paper still on his desk.

"...not a chance."

Whatever happened last night with Hisana was just a momentary lapse in judgment. He was still in control and that was the most important thing. In fact, that was the only thing that really mattered – because after almost two decades spent ruling over the most powerful Clan in Soul Society, Byakuya knew all too well that any loss of control, no matter how small, would mean putting his fate into the hands of others...

...and what could be more dangerous than that?

Hisana hastily closed her room door and dashed down the hall.

"I can't be late!"

Byakuya had suddenly asked her to accompany him to a formal reception thrown by a potential business partner and she needed to hurry to meet him there on time.

Despite the rush however, Hisana felt her confidence rise as she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the hallway mirrors: for once her hair was behaving, she had on a fabulous new kimono, her make-up was done to perfection, the perfume she wore was light and refreshing...in short, the girl was in "lovely" over-drive and she knew it.

"Ok! Tonight, I will definitely redeem myself!"

Indeed, after the whole chocolate cake fiasco, Hisana was determined that tonight would be her golden chance to prove once and for all to her new husband that she really was a cute, delicate young lady...and not an alien with extraordinary abilities to eat large amounts of sugary foods.

Though Byakuya had never mentioned the incident again, at mealtimes these past few days Hisana could almost swear she had caught him once or twice covertly staring at her plate...probably trying to calculate if her powers also applied to ordinary rice and fish or if they were solely restricted to all things chocolate.

"...so mean..."

White-hot feelings of embarrassment threatened to resurface but Hisana forced herself to take in a deep breath and rekindle the fire of determination in her eyes.

"Focus...all I need to do is focus. Tonight there is nothing that will put a damper on my mojo! "

She hopped into the fancy black carriage that was waiting for her at the front of the mansion and the driver quickly sped off to the appointed venue.

As they pulled into the driveway a few minutes later, Hisana was surprised to see Byakuya standing near the entrance of the house. As always, he looked perfect; the traditional Kuchiki formal attire he wore suited him flawlessly.

Hisana felt her pulse quicken as he helped her down from the carriage.

"Lately...whenever he's close to me I..."

She remembered the touch of his fingers against her lips that night in the kitchen...and now (right on cue) the heat quickly began rising to her cheeks.

"No! Pull it together!" she admonished herself. "Remember that tonight you are a suave, sophisticated woman of the world"

So Hisana anxiously searched for something to say that would sound witty and urbane, while Byakuya ushered her across the doorstep. Unfortunately, before she could come up with anything good, he glanced down at her and said the three killer words designed to wreak havoc on any woman's ears:

"You look...nice"

No sooner had the words come out his mouth that Hisana lost her balance and nearly fell face first on the marble floor.

Byakuya caught her just in time but the poor girl had already gone another shade of crimson;

"...oh...really...uhm...you think so?...I mean...th-thank you..." she mumbled in a daze.

"Are you alright?...if you are feeling unwell the driver can take you back home"

"Ah! No, really I'm fine! I mean...I'm fine thank you...I just...uhm...tripped...because of...the pull of gravity to-towards the earth..."

For a moment, Byakuya looked like he was considering sending her back home anyway (the blush still on her cheeks now looked suspiciously like a fever...) but in the end, he simply told her to be more careful and released her once he confirmed she was steady on her feet.

They walked the rest of the way towards the main reception hall in silence. Hisana could feel a dark cloud of depression slowly take shape above her head. Tonight was supposed to be her big chance to show off some of her good points and she blew it in less than 30 seconds of being in his presence...

"Why is my life always like this?...now he thinks I'm a klutz...but...I...he shouldn't say things so suddenly!...it's not fair!...and after all my hard work..."

A weary sigh escaped her lips.

"He's never going to take me seriously"

The reception was being held at the home of former death god-turned savvy politician, Matsukaze Jun.

Jun had become somewhat famous throughout Soul Society for having resigned his high-ranking position in the Special Corrections Unit in order to pursue a political career. The gamble surprisingly paid off when just a few years later he managed to successfully lobby his way onto a seat in the Office of the 46, Soul Society's all powerful ruling assembly.

The reception tonight was in honor of his impending retirement after more than 30 years of service. However, this event would by no means signal the end of his contacts within the Office. Byakuya had therefore accepted the invitation with the goal of creating a business opportunity; a successful alliance with this man would clearly go a long way in soothing the Kuchiki Elders' ongoing bitterness over losing the Miyamoto deal. He could only hope that this would also put an end to their incessant whining over his recent marriage...

In any case, Matsukaze Jun was also one of the most perverted men that Byakuya had ever met in his life. So hentai, that the baseness of his deeds even surpassed that of Kyouraku Taichou...and yet here he was now practically running towards them, arms wide open:

"Kuchiki-samaaaa!", a slim middle-aged man with a flamboyant shock of curly red hair called out in a loud voice.

He approached Byakuya – obviously with the intention of giving him a big warm hug – but one up close look at his face and Jun decided to settle instead for giving him a small pat on the shoulder.

"It's so wonderful to see you! So handsome, as usual! I'm so glad you decided to join us. I was afraid you wouldn't come after you declined all my previous invitations to go out and play...but no matter, I forgive you. Welcome! Welcome to my humble home"

Without missing a beat he then turned his attention to Hisana,

"Ooohh! And this must be your lovely new wife! I've heard so much about you...so cute! Just like a little doll! My, you do choose them well don't you? He he he..."

Jun reached out to playfully pinch her cheeks, but then suddenly felt Byakuya's death glare pierce through his back like a crooked dagger...so he decided to settle instead for giving her a vigorous handshake.

Fortunately, the man was ready to talk business almost immediately after introductions. That was the one good thing about him – he didn't beat around the bush.

"This will only take a few minutes..." Byakuya said to Hisana as he was about to leave.

"Okay...I'll just wait here", Hisana simply nodded and smiled up at him – she didn't really mind. Even if she did not know anyone else at the party, all the guests looked so glamorous that she was just happy to admire all the beautiful people.

After they left to speak in private, Hisana's gaze wandered slowly across the room and instantly became lost in the array of expensive kimonos and decadent jewelry that were shamelessly on display.

Suddenly, she felt someone approach her side. She turned and came face to face with a truly striking woman...tall, blond, with the most beautiful eyes Hisana had ever seen...up close she could tell they were colored an unusual shade of gray.

"So pretty..."

The woman smiled. "You must be Hisana..."

"Yes...have...have we met?", Hisana asked shyly.

The woman bowed gracefully and introduced herself:

"...Miyamoto Shizuka...pleased to meet you..."

A/N: Hello! Yaay, another chapter finally done! I've just made a slight name change: Byakuya's ex-fiancée (remember her?) Miyamoto Shizune is now called Shizuka. I think it sounds nicer and now there's no more confusion with Naruto XD. Thank you for reading!