26:Gestures of Benevolence
"One should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope."
-Steven Dietz
The ivory haired captain Ukitake was blinking in surprise. Hazel eyes considering the captain standing opposite him at his desk with a mix of shock and curiosity at being approached for advice. He had been resting in his room when his lieutenants had torn inside to tell him that Captain Kuchiki was requesting his presence. He's managed to calm the argument that always followed the two of them speaking to him and then came to his office to face the younger nobleman.
"Please, take a seat Byakuya." He offered informally, smiling gently to him. Trying to be patient despite his curiosity as to why he was here. "What can I do for you?'
Byakuya though seemed to hesitate a moment before taking a seat, his posture perfect after he did so…ever the image of propriety. He did hate to ask for help, but he had to remember that this wasn't for himself. "You were a professor for many years at the academy. What would you think of a mishap if a low level non-aggressive spell was to become suddenly destructive?"
"Is this about the fire that Shunsui mentioned helping with?" He remembered that his more flamboyant friend had mentioned something about it when they spoke the day before. "He said he wanted to tell me more about it but Lieutenant Ise needed to pull him away to make him do his paperwork."
"Yes." No reason trying to be coy, Byakuya continued to describe the circumstances. "Kagome has attempted to cast a light spell twice and the incantations as well as the motions were correct. The spell even formed on both occasions, however also in both instances the spell went wildly destructive when she lost concentration."
Ukitake listened to the explanation, frowning some by it's end. "Well, normally I would say that it might deal with some mistake on the casters part but you say that the light spell succeeds and then warps to something else? Are you certain?"
"I watched it with my own eyes Captain Ukitake." He replied, his tone offering the implication that he didn't appreciate repeating himself. "I wouldn't trust her eyes to know what they were seeing, however I saw it change myself."
"Well, that's not really a mishap in casting then." Ukitake continued, patient despite the attitude he was receiving. "I would recommend that all of her practice have someone of captain level as an escort. I could step in at some time if you need to deal with your responsibilities to the courts and your family. Actually, in all honesty, I could probably make a better judgment if I were to watch her myself."
"Your offer is appreciated but such a thing will not be possible." Byakuya replied coolly, continuing to watch the other Captain. "What would you recommend as to a way to resolve this issue?"
"Well…" He seemed to hesitate a moment and sighed to himself. "It was never well known, and it was before your time as Captain, but years ago when I was still a lieutenant myself there was research done into a program called Mental Instruction. The idea was to help those struggling with magic by showing them in a more direct way. From what I understood of it was a way to temporarily connect two minds so that teaching could continue at a quicker rate."
"Why was this program cancelled?" Byakuya knew it was the most important question, if it involved any risk to his student it was not an applicable answer to the problem.
"It was impossible to continue the use at the academy, the effects of the herbs and spells used would last for several days after the sessions ended. They connected too well, people that were in the program were still in the academy and during physical training if they took a hard hit there would be instructors falling over in the middle of class from bizarre remainders of the mental training." Ukitake explained. "However, as she isn't taking any physical training it shouldn't be an issue. It just became to difficult for the testing to continue so the project fell apart. You would need to speak to Captain Kurotsuchi if you wanted to gain access to the prior research however."
"Or just ask the old man Yama for orders to have it given to him." Shunsui commented cheerfully as he came into the office without knocking or being invited, waving to the two. "Hello Byakuya, Jushiro, I couldn't help overhearing when I was waiting outside the door."
"With what is happening with Captain Kurotsuchi it shouldn't be difficult to get such an order." Ukitake agreed with a nod. "He is likely busy in preparation for the coming battle with this outsider."
"Then I will take your advice into consideration." Byakuya announced, rising to leave after the rude arrival of the eighth division captain. "Thank you for the information Captain Ukitake."
Byakuya began to leave but found his way interrupted by Captain Kyoraku.
"Hey, Byakuya." The other captain didn't meet his eyes, his usual straw hat over his face as he scratched at his chin. "I'm not trying to tell you how to run things…but have you told the girl about the engagement?"
"I didn't realize that my personal life was such a subject of conversation." Byakuya raised a dark brow sharply, bothered by the fact that other people already knew. "Nothing official has been released, you would do well to keep rumors to yourself in the meantime. Would you step free of the doorway please?"
"Sure." The flamboyant captain shrugged in his laid-back way. "I don't wanna fight you…just saying, with all these rumors…it would probably be better if she heard it from you. But hey, I'm just a dirty old man according to Naneo-chan, what do I know."
Byakuya didn't reply, heading out the door the moment the other captain was clear of his path. His scarf waving innocently behind him as he walked, an odd but graceful mark of his station. He would look into what difficulties were had by this project before he would agree to any such thing…it sounded more dangerous than Ukitake originally lead on.
He moved to the twelfth squad building without bothering to stop to say anything to the General, he would get the information without brining in his superior. The general was busy enough with the current war they were still a part of…just because things had calmed didn't mean they weren't simply in the calm of a storm.
Byakuya swept up to the first member of the squad he saw, not reacting when they cowered at his presence, he expected reverence for his position…something he didn't quite receive from the young lady taking up most of his time as of late.
"Cap…Captain Kuchi…chiki…" the smaller man stammered, backing a few steps and adjusting a ridiculously large set of glasses. "…what can I do fo…for you?"
"I require a copy of all research and records of the Mental Instruction Project." He replied as he considered the alien-like hallways of the twelfth squadron. He'd always considered Kurotsuchi a poor excuse for a Captain, lower even than that wretch Zaraki. His décor only added to Byakuya's distaste for the madman.
"Um, all old projects need to be approved by Captain Kurotsuchi…" He broke off in any other protests as Byakuya narrowed his gaze, the silent threat more than enough to send the man stammering again. "But uh, lets go see if maybe the information isn't classified."
He walked away with a jump to his step that wasn't happiness, taking Byakuya through several hallways before moving into a larger room with the soul society equivalent of a computer. The nervous dorky man took a seat, glancing back to the captain. "Mental Instruction Project?"
"Yes." Byakuya replied coldly, dark eyes scanning the area before settling back on the easily frightened lesser member of soul society as he entered information into the machine, waiting a few moments as he looked over files.
"Well um…captain. It's here…but the information is classified…I can't just give it out." He seemed ready to jump into a corner if Byakuya reacted to the comment poorly.
"Are you not a level capable of getting me a copy of the data?" He asked instead, still eyeing the coward before him.
"I…uh…well I can access it yeah….but uh…wait…" He fell over when Byakuya took a step closer to him. "Don't hurt me…I'll pull it up…just don't tell Captain Kurotsuchi."
"Do it then." Byakuya replied, disgusted by the show of fear of one of the court's defenders…he should turn in the fellow for the betrayal but for now he wasn't sure if he would need further information. It was better not to burn bridges.
He waited for a time as the man entered a bunch of information and flickered through several files before hitting a few more buttons. Then one of the connecting bulbous machines began to push out parchment with a printed version of the information that had been in the files. The soul society version of a printer - albeit much less ascetically pleasing than the mortal world version of technology.
It took nearly an hour before it finished, the nerd servant rolling up the scrolls as they came out…by the time it was all finished Byakuya was left with a satchel full of about a dozen of the cases holding the information.
"Um…" The smaller guy seemed ready to run away but gripped his hands on his kimono, as if to hold himself in place. "There was also mention of needed equipment for the Project if you plan to use it…but I can't access that in my position."
"Unnecessary at this time." Byakuya replied, lifting the bag of information he needed to sift through. Disappearing before even announcing that he'd planned to go, leaving the cowardly twelfth squad member to be paranoid about who else might suddenly appear.
He certainly had his work cut out for him. At the moment he had Kagome studying a series of books on the basics and general history of soul society, it would make it easier for her to have even simple conversations if she learned the names for what things were called here and their uses. As well as if she knew the names of the higher ranking members of the court guard and the nobility. It wasn't nearly as fascinating as studying magic but he was hesitant when their practice had turned into him pulling her free of the same problem each time that it occurred.
He didn't like the idea of connecting his mind to anyone but if this research could allow him to teach her more safely then it was his duty to pursue it.
The sixth squad captain had just landed back down in front of his building when he noted the feel of Kagome's energy nearby, she was out again when he'd specifically asked her to remain indoors… "Can she not even listen to such a simple request?"
He sighed, putting the satchel in his personal room before moving off toward where he felt the gentle glow of her reaitsu, it was different than soul reapers. Much more faint when it wasn't actively being used, despite that he'd been around her such a long time now that he had learned to recognize it.
He turned a corner and raised a brow when he saw her settled on a blanket over the grass in part of the garden area, a basket with sweet rolls nearby, a pillow behind her and her nose in one of the books he'd given her. She hadn't even noticed him, brown eyes intently scanning the lines of text. Raven black hair pulled back out of her face by a traditional bun, held with a pair of sticks colored to match her kimono. Today she'd been dressed in light silver silk, painted with pale green's and yellows, the artful piece of clothing depicting lily pads on a pond's shimmering surface.
"She is quite pretty." Byakuya admitted to himself as he let his irritation slide away at the sight of her stuck in the books. Though his short moment of weakness faded as he added to himself. "When she's not burning down my estate and is behaving herself."
He watched her read for a time, considering himself the situation they were in. He'd been given more time to tell her of their engagement thanks to the battle of Captain Kurotsuchi oncoming. Though once that event passed it would not likely be long before the soul society would want to set up a specific date for the wedding and throw a celebration in beginning the traditional year and a day engagement.
"I won't be able to keep it from her for much longer." Though the thought did nothing to drive him to move forward and confess his deception.
"It would probably be better if she heard it from you."
He hadn't forgotten the advice, in all honesty he agreed completely…it would seem so much worse of a deception if she heard the news from someone else.
When Kagome shivered a bit he frowned again, it was getting more chilly in the late autumn. Nearly all the leaves would be off the trees within a week, two at most. The temperature once noon had passed tended to drop quickly these days. Most soul reapers were resistant to such things as even severe weather but she wouldn't hold the same resistances to the elements they possessed.
He moved closer to her, taking off the piece of clothing over his kimono that marked his station as captain of the sixth squad and settled it around her as he sat near where she was studying, considering her as he joined her on the blanket. "You should take better care of yourself Kagome, you must be cold."
The sudden arrival of Byakuya, along with his heartwarming gesture made her smile as she tugged the clothing closer around her appreciatively. She'd been so entrapped by her reading she hadn't even noticed that she was cold. "I didn't notice…thank you Byakuya."
"How can he be so emotionless sometimes and then do such nice things at others?" She thought idly as she watched him, thankfully she could push off the red in her cheeks as a result of the chilly weather. "It's completely not fair that all these men from other dimensions are so hot, why can't I just find a normal nice guy that's cute in my world. Impassive, detached people shouldn't be allowed to be so cute."
"We should go inside…you can make use of my study while we wait for dinner to be prepared if you'd like." He offered, through the way he was already gathering her texts she didn't think she actually had much of a choice.
"You actually going to eat with me this time?" Kagome smiled teasingly. "You keep making plans and then ditching me. I'm starting to feel like you standing me up all the time is suppose to be a message."
"Have I left you waiting on me that often?" He was curious, offering a hand to help her to her feet and carrying many of the books as she gathered the blanket and pillow.
"Hmmm…three times now I think…maybe four." she answered with her usual smile. "Usually you just tell me to eat alone because you are busy. I would like to cook again for you sometime…that was nice."
He began to lead the way when she seemed ready. "You'll definitely have the option…"
Keeping a slow enough pace that she wasn't dashing to keep up he lead her back to the room connected to his personal quarters. The study was warm and well lit by several glass enclosed torches lining the walls as well as a fireplace that doubled in this room and extended into his bedroom. Unlike many places in the courts, plush expensive carpeting covered the floors instead of the usual mats. There were many bookshelves as well as a desk and some other furniture. It was much like the study in his estate in the mortal realm, that thought making Kagome giggle a bit. "Leave it to mystical creatures to be predictable."
He offered a raised brow at the giggle but didn't ask any questions, moving to pick up the satchel he'd left in his room and then closing the doors between his sleeping area and the study. "Oh, is this your room?"
"This area functions as my personal quarters, the other room is my bedroom yes but this is still a study. Unless you would rather go somewhere else." He considered himself his openness, he knew that soon enough he would have to learn to be open with the girl…once the royal family had married them off they would expect them to produce an heir…
"It's fine." She laughed in her usual innocent way, waving it off. "I'm just surprised is all. I figured you would be very hesitant to bring me to someplace so…well…personal as this."
"Yeah, I'm clever." Kagome deadpanned in her brain. "Way to think of words, great vocabulary you have there…"
"It seemed the place least likely to get prying ears." Byakuya replied honestly, he was looking out the one window in the study at the gardens outside, considering the spot on the grass where they had just been sitting together. "I need to speak to you about something serious."
"I knew he was up to something!" Kagome cheered mentally. "After the odd comments the last few days and then that girl beaming at me about sharing a meal with him…finally…getting to some answers!"
"Okay." Was all she said, she was still nervous as to what exactly 'it' was that he was up to. Her exceptional investigative skill had ended at 'something'.
"Please…have a seat." He commented without looking back from the window, still not sure himself how he could broach the subject.
"Oo-kaay." She drew the letters out a little more when she repeated it, sitting on the edge of the couch and watching him more seriously then. "What's wrong? People only tell people to sit down when something is wrong. They can't get my homework here from the mortal world can they? I knew it…I hadn't gotten any yet and I figured that something was wrong…"
"Kagome." He interrupted her before her tirade could get too far, the simple act of saying her name letting her know that she had guessed incorrectly. He turned around then, it wouldn't do him well to not face her, he wasn't that weak. "I want you to know before I tell you that I was against this order, but there is nothing that I can do."
"What is it?" Her voice, moments prior getting angry at the thought of failing her classes had calmed back down, frowning at the seriousness with which he was approaching her. "I swear if this isn't something serious I'm going to throw a pillow at him."
"The royalty of soul society is specifically interested in you and your powers. It has been many years sense a priest or priestess has been seen, and your powers are beyond even those that I read of when I was a child." He explained, though she'd heard a good majority of what he was saying before. "They want you to be a permanent part of our society, not that you wouldn't still be allowed to pursuit your life in the mortal realm eventually…but they wish for you to marry." It wasn't the whole story, not just yet.
A variety of emotions flickered over Kagome's face as he spoke; anger, frustration, annoyance, sadness, betrayal, then anger again, and finally she spoke up in broken protests. "What do you mean? They can't control who I marry…I've never even met them. I don't know anyone here. You said that if I agreed to help you develop my powers that that would be it…I…who the hell do they think they are? What, they want me to just say yes and agree to be some quiet perfect bride to some stuffy rude spoiled little brat of a prince or something? Oh I don't think so." She was absolutely livid. "Who the hell do these people think they are? They aren't going to make me do a damn thing…"
"I wasn't finished." He commented, interrupting her after the comments that afflicted his character. She could tell that it was hard for him to be telling her all this and she caught up just as he was saying it. "They wish for you to be my bride."
End Chapter
So, yeah, Kagome gets to be all pissy again. I like writing Kagome as bitchy I think…it's more fun. I had to get the crack in there about the spoiled brat. Poor Byakuya, so misunderstood. I think I described the scenes in 12th squad abysmally. I might go back and edit at least that part of this chapter in the future…and this chapter is 1000 words over my usual length…whew! Oh, major battle next chapter!
-Aura
P.S. Thank you for the continued support. Reviews make me all happy and I'd certainly love some more of them ;)