Skeleneko's Note: This isn't my story. I have permission from Twilight Countess (Amy) to repost this. If you like this story be sure to look out for her book "Eris"!
Senbonzakura
(You can ignore the little bit below of you'd like,~ Skeleneko)
To lioness91
"By being a woman, I was ever more prone to thieves and almost got raped a few times." –Hisana, Chapter 21
She almost got raped, but was able to get away. Sorry for the confusion. I should have elaborated. On with the show!
Chapter Twenty-Five: Honor To Us All
Hisana's P.O.V.
"I don't know, there are so many to choose from," said Hisana. She was standing in her room in the East wing of the Kuchiki Estate. Nanao and Shiba Miyako were beside her, the three of them examining the many kimonos spread out over her bed.
"The red one would be nice, Hisana," said Miyako.
"I'm torn," said Hisana. "Part of me says to spice things up a bit, but then another part tells me to keep it simple. Maybe I should wear the traditional white. The elders are already pissed off at me. It might not be a wise idea to add insult to injury…"
"Don't say things like that!" scolded Rangiku from behind the dressing screen. "Your wedding will be your special day. If you want to show up in your Shinigami uniform, by George, you will!"
"I think this one is perfect for you, Nanao. Try it on," said Hisana. She handed Nanao a kimono, a pink and flowery kimono.
"I forgot to laugh," said Nanao before taking the kimono.
"I'm sure Kyōraku-taicho will love it," said Miyako.
"Well, what do you think?" Rangiku asked, stepping away from the screen. She was wearing a light blue kimono designed with swans and lilies.
It's beautiful," said Hisana, "You will make a fine maid of honor yet." Hisana turned back to the kimonos.
"Wait, what's that?" Hisana jumped onto her bed and scavenged for a kimono all the way at the bottom. It had several dragonfly designs on it. It was white like some of the others, but had longer, flowing sleeves. It was also crested with several clear stones, most likely diamonds. Hisana took it from the pile and held it to her front.
"What do you think, Kaien?" Hisana asked. There was no response. The 13th Division lieutenant had fallen asleep in the chair across the room. Hisana strode up to him, her mouth close to his ear.
"KAIEN!" she screamed. He jumped and landed flat on his back.
"I said what do you think?" Hisana showed him the kimono. He groaned.
"Listen, Sayuri," said Kaien, "I had to go through all of this crap for my own wedding. There is nothing on this earth that could make me do it again."
"That's a real shame," said Hisana. "Because we were going to move on to cake testing after I chose my dress."
"Cake?" Kaien stood up. "It's wonderful! You couldn't have picked a better color. It brings out your eyes. Let's face it, Sayuri. That dress is you!"
"Nice recovery," said Hisana.
Meanwhile…
"I assure you, Aunt Mameha, this really isn't necessary," said Byakuya as Mameha directed dozens of servants carrying flowers all over the place.
"Nonsense, Bya-kun," said Mameha. "I've been waiting to plan your wedding for decades." Mameha sat at a table, arranging a center piece of calla lilies.
"Is Uncle going to speak to me anytime soon?" asked Byakuya. Mameha sighed.
"I'm sorry, Bya-kun, but Hiroyasu has even started to give me the cold shoulder. He says I shouldn't be encouraging you."
"I don't understand," said Byakuya. "Hisana made a valid point. Uncle has nothing to gain or lose by my marriage. Why is he taking this so personally?"
Mameha twirled a calla lily in between her fingers. "Bya-kun, there's something you should know. Your mother wasn't of noble birth either."
Byakuya starred at his aunt. "What do you mean, Aunt Mameha? My mother came for the Okuma family, didn't she?"
"No," said Mameha. "You're mother was from the 36th District of South Rukongai. Her real name was Numajiri Chiyo. She met the real Okuma Yue in the 7th Division of the Gotei 13. Despite their statuses, Chiyo and Yue became the closest of friends. They were the mirror reflections of the other. Hardly anyone could tell them apart."
Byakuya listened with wrapped attention.
"When your mother saw your father for the first time, she knew she had no chance with him. But then something happened that changed Chiyo's life forever. Chiyo and Yue were sent on a mission together which eventually resulted in Yue's death. Yue knew how Chiyo felt about your father, so as her dying wish, Yue asked your mother to take on her identity so she could have a chance at happiness with the Kuchiki boy that Chiyo had dreamed about for so long."
"Chiyo returned to the Seireitei with the name of Okuma Yue, and proclaimed herself to be dead. By being her best friend, Chiyo was able to fool Yue's parents and everyone else around her. And the rest is history. Chiyo married your father, and they had a beautiful baby boy."
Byakuya sat there for a while. "Did my father ever know?"
"Know that she wasn't Yue?" asked Mameha. "Yes, he did, and loved her all the same. He canceled his own arranged marriage so he could be with her, but since everyone thought Chiyo was a noble, that didn't caused as much disruption as your engagement has.
Hiroyasu overheard Chiyo confess the truth of her identity to your father. But to his credit, Hiroyasu has kept his silence."
"But what does this entire story have to do with Uncle's disapproval of Hisana?" asked Byakuya.
Mameha gave another sigh. "As you know, Byakuya, you father died trying to save your mother when it was too late for her to be saved. Their deaths have made Hiroyasu believe that love between Shinigami is reckless and pointless. With the looming danger that Shinigami face each day, Hiroyasu thinks that such emotions as love and affection can only lead a Shinigami to his own destruction. He is afraid you will suffer the same fate as your father. That is the true reason of his objection, which he has chosen to hide behind Hisana's status."
"I see," said Byakuya.
Back to Hisana…
"Mmmm, I have died and gone to cake heaven!" said Rangiku, her mouth full of vanilla and chocolate swirl.
"I think we'll take this one," Hisana she to the chief.
"Of course, Hisana…" the chief sucked in a breath …sama."
Hisana noticed the obvious sneer of the title. She placed their fork down gently.
"Is there a problem between us, Chief Ajibana?" Hisana asked.
"Of course not, Hisana-sama," said the chief.
"Then why do you insist on slurring the 'sama' at the end of my name?," Hisana inquired.
"Since it is obvious that you think I am just some whore from Inuzuri, I give you permission to call me 'street rat', as long as you speak it with honesty."
Ajibana starred at her.
"You may go," said Hisana. The chief bowed and departed.
"That was interesting to watch," said Nanao. "Are they all like that?"
"Most of them," said Hisana. "All the nobles are. Half of the servants come from the first to tenth districts of Rukongai, so they don't think they should have to serve me."
"But surely they respect you as a lieutenant, if nothing else," said Miyako.
"Nope," said Hisana, "Its birth over ability in this world."
"Woo arf yai invein," said Kaien through a mouthful of cake.
"I beg your pardon," said Hisana. Kaien swallowed the dessert in one gulp.
"Who are you inviting?" he asked again.
"Well…" began Hisana, "There are a few people we have to invite out of tradition, like the heads of the other three Great Noble Families. And I assume Byakuya's family will attend, though I can't be sure because of Hiroyasu's attitude."
"Isn't it tradition that the other captains attend as well?" asked Nanao.
Hisana's eye twitched. "I asked Byakuya if we could skip that one tradition," she replied. Aizen was not going to come within five miles of her wedding.
"Why's that?" asked Rangiku.
Hisana thought fast. "Would you want the sadistic Kurotsuchi Mayuri at your wedding?"
Rangiku shivered. "Good point."
"The rest of the guests are up to me. Of course, you guys are coming. Then Ukitake-taicho, Susumu, Isane, Kiyone, I've invited Soi Fong-taicho, but I doubt she'll turn up."
"Anyone else?"
"Since Nanao is one of my bridesmaids, Kyōraku-taicho is inviting himself and..." Hisana lowered her voice. "I asked Ichimaru-taicho to come as well…"
Kaien sprayed the sake in his mouth all over the table.
"Kaien! That's disgusting!" yelled Miyako. Kaien ignored her.
"What the hell did you invite that smiling prick for?" Kaien demanded. "Kuchiki-taicho hates him!"
"Byakuya doesn't hate him," said Hisana. "And if he did, I would've invite Gin anyway.
He was my lieutenant and a good friend of mine."
Hisana looked at the clock. "Crap," she muttered. "I have to go see the Dragon Lady in fifteen minutes." She stood up and walked out of the kitchen. Rangiku followed her.
"Thanks, Hisana," said Rangiku.
"What for?" asked Hisana.
"For inviting Gin to the wedding," she said.
"Of course," said Hisana. "Gin was the one who taught me how to fight. Besides, I'm sure he would have crashed anyway just to annoy Byakuya.
Rangiku laughed. "He probably would have." They went back to Hisana's room and Hisana started to dress in a more formal kimono.
"So, who is this Dragon Lady that you speak of?" asked Rangiku.
"I unwittingly decided to humor the elders by seeing the matchmaker. She is supposed to teach me proper etiquette and all that crap."
"Have you ever met her?" asked Rangiku.
"No, and I'm sure she'll fail me from what I've heard about her," Hisana emerged in a lilac kimono with butterflies. She walked over to the desk and grabbed a writing brush.
"What are you doing?" asked Rangiku.
"Writing some notes for myself," said Hisana as she wrote on her forearm.
When she finished, they met up with Nanao, Kaien and Miyako and they walked together to the matchmaker's office.
Once they were there, Miyako tapped Hisana on the shoulder.
"Here, take this," said Miyako. She held a tiny cage in her hand.
"It's a cricket for good luck!" said Miyako, tying the cage to Hisana's obi. Then the doors of the office slammed open. An overweight woman with too much make up and a clipboard stood above them.
"Sayuri Hisana," she called.
"Present," Hisana's raised her hand.
"Speaking without permission," the woman chided, walking back into the building.
"Oops," said Hisana. She walked up toward the matchmaker.
"Who spit in her bean curd?" Hisana heard Kaien asked Miyako.
The door slammed shut behind her. The matchmaker turned Hisana around and made several 'hmm' noises.
"Too skinny," she declared, writing on her clipboard. "Not good for bearing sons." She turned away. Just then Hisana saw that Miyako's cricket had escaped and had landed on the matchmaker's shoulder. Hisana grabbed it and tried to put it back in its cage, but it jumped on her head. Hisana tried to catch it but was eventually forced to shove the cricket in her mouth.
"Recite the final admonition," ordered the matchmaker.
Hisana nodded silently.
"Well?"
Hisana opened and raised her fan above her mouth. She then spit the cricket out. Hisana waved her fan elegantly.
"Fulfill your duties calmly and…" Hisana raised her forearm a little, "…respectfully.
Reflect before you snack…act! Thus shepherding your honor and glory, phew."
The matchmaker grabbed Hisana's arm and took her fan. She looked at both sides of it, but Hisana just smiled sweetly.
"Hmmm," she said, snapping the fan shut. "This way," she said before dragging Hisana toward the table. When she let go Hisana saw the wet black ink all over her palm.
The matchmaker picked up the teapot and turned it over towards Hisana.
"Now," the matchmaker said, "…pour the tea…"
Hisana sat down, starring at the woman.
"To please your future in-laws, you must demonstrate a sense of dignity." The matchmaker ran her fingers along her face, leaving a black inky trail. Hisana continued to stare, not realizing that she was pouring tea on the table.
"…And refinement. You must also be poised." When Hisana corrected herself by pouring tea into the cup, she saw the cricket from earlier sitting in the teacup like a hot tub.
The matchmaker took the teacup in her hands.
"Umm…pardon me," said Hisana quietly.
"…And Silent!" the matchmaker said loudly. She sniffed the tea and gave a sigh of pleasure.
Hisana climbed onto the table.
"Could I just…" Hisana reached for the cup. "…take that back, for just one moment..."
They played tug-a-war with the cup until they both fell backward. The contents of the tea landed on the front of the matchmaker, soaking her kimono. Hisana let out a fearful gasp.
"Why you clumsy…"the matchmaker began, but then something started to move inside her robes, the cricket. The matchmaker struggled to find the source but tipped over the vase that had heated the tea, and landed on the hot coals.
"Ahhhhh!" the matchmaker started to run around, patting her burnt bottom. Hisana grabbed her fan and waved it at the scorch mark. It ignited into flames.
"Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Of course," thought Hisana, "One of my powers had to be wind…"
Rangiku and the others heard something porcelain smashed onto the floor from outside.
"I think it's going well, don't you?" said Kaien.
The doors opened, bringing both smoke and fire.
"Put it out! Put It Out! PUT IT OOOOUT!"
SPLASH!
Hisana threw the entire contents of the teapot at the matchmaker. The fire was neutralized. Make up and ink was running down the matchmaker's face. Hisana handed her the teapot and bowed before walking away.
She didn't get far when the matchmaker caught up with her. Rangiku and Nanao stood in front of Hisana protectively.
"YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" the matchmaker threw the teapot onto the ground. "You may look like a bride, but you will NEVER bring the Kuchiki family honor!" Then the matchmaker stormed away.
Hisana shut her eyes tightly.
"Hisana…" began Miyako. Hisana said nothing, but Sky stepped up and out of sight.
Author's Note: As you can see, I love Disney. I've been waiting to incorporate this Mulan scene for a while because it fits so perfectly with Hisana's situation.