Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters are Tite Kubo's, not mine.
Note: Thanks for the reviews and enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 34:
Was there any possibility that something could feel like an eternity and still pass by in a rush?
Renji felt like he had learned for ages and still time was far too short. His legs were sore from sitting so much in seiza. He couldn't get the ink off that seemed to have been tattooed into his fingers during hours and hours of calligraphy. His eyes swam and his ears rang from Ukitake-taichou's history lessons. His throat was on fire from the damn singing training with Byakuya at the Kuchiki grand piano, he was sure he'd be hoarse and mess up completely at the competition.
And what was worse, there was only one day left and he still hadn't learned how to ride.
"I guess", said Ukitake between two coughs, "you are as well prepared as possible, Abarai-fukutaichou."
"Yes, thank you, Ukitate-taichou", answered Renji. Then his face darkened. "But I still haven't even once sat on a horse."
This moment the door burst open and Kyouraku Shunsui strolled in. "Who doesn't know how to do a good ride?", he asked cheerfully.
"Um...we were talking about horseback riding, Kyouraku-taichou", said Renji, his cheeks reddening slightly.
"And what did your pervert little mind think I was talking about, Abarai-kun?", replied the taichou and gave him a twinkling glance from under his hat.
Renji's eyes widened. "R-really, Kyouraku-taichou? Can you teach me?" He sprang up excitedly.
"Yare, yare", drawled Kyouraku. "Such a bother. And I was thinking I could have a nice lazy chat with Juu-kun."
"Please, Kyouraku-taichou! This is a matter of life and death!"
"Young love", commented Ukitake and smiled benevolently.
"Ah, why didn't you say so!", exclaimed Kyouraku. "If love is part of the game sure I'll be helping you out, Abarai-kun. Who is the young lady you're trying to impress?" He gestured for Renji to follow him.
The red-head waved at the white-haired taichou and followed Kyouraku out of the room.
"Actually, its the old geezers of the Kuchiki family, I'm trying to impress", he said, scratching his head.
Kyouraku chuckled. "A hard audience, huh? Don't worry, I'll make an expert rider out of you in no time."
They flash stepped through half the Seireitei until they reached the wall separating it from Rukongai.
"We'll be going to my family's cottage", explained Kyouraku. "As much as I hate the lot. Perhaps we can sneak into the stables without anyone noticing."
The Kyouraku cottage was situated in a wide stretch of land surrounded by forests, fields and the occasional small stream.
The house seemed deserted when they approached it. And really, they didn't run into a single person until they finally stepped into the dim light of the stables.
It smelled like hay and horses and dust danced in the rays of light falling in.
"No use starting with a nice guy", mumbled Kyouraku while he walked over to the boxes. "Knowing them, chances are high you'll end up this the worst mare they have."
"Ah, this will do", he said after a while. "Name's K...something. Call him Grumpy, cause that he is."
Renji walked over to the appointed box. In it stood a snuffling and stomping black horse which seemed to eye him with hostility. He had never realized how big horses really were.
"Watch closely now while I saddle mine over here", called Kyouraku from his left.
Renji hurried over and tried to memorize all the movements needed to place the saddle on the horseback and fix it appropriately. The same thing was repeated with the harness.
"Now let's see you doing it with Grumpy-kun", Kyouraku said finally.
It was quite hard to do. The horse neighed and threw its head back when he tried to throw the harness over it. It bucked and kicked when he placed the saddle on.
Renji was already sweating profusely just from getting ready to ride. But finally, he had made it and they lead the horses outside.
The next hours where pure torture. Soon Renji was covered all over in small bruises and cuts and his back ached from having been thrown off so many times. And what was worse, Kyouraku-taichou was slowly losing patience with him.
"Yare, yare, Abarai-kun", he said. "I haven't seen anyone having such trouble staying on top even at a slow pace. There's no chance you will win a race like this." His usual smile had disappeared and he made a somewhat concerned face.
"Darn it!", cursed Renji and stood up again. Finally losing it, he grabbed the horse's head and stared it square in the eyes. "Listen up, fella", he growled. "I know you hate me and I assure you, it's mutual. But this is no fucking game! This is damn serious and more important than anything in the world. If I suck at riding, I'll lose. And if I lose, that asshole of a stuck-up noble will walk away with my girl! Got that? Now swallow your damn pride and run with all you've got!" With that he let go of the horse's head and vaulted up onto the saddle. Surprisingly, the horse stood perfectly still.
Kyouraku stared at them. Then he burst out laughing. "Impossible!", he cried, "there came along a blockhead even more stubborn than you, eh, Grumpy-kun?"
Things went better from then on. Still, Renji found it hard to stay on, steer the horse and keep an eye on the track during the hard gallop they were practising. He knew he could never beat someone who had done this his whole life.
They went back when the sun went down.
On the way, a hell butterfly fluttered over and seated itself on Renji's outstretched hand.
"You will have dinner with us tonight at the manor", said Byakuya's voice at bit tinny. "At 8 o'clock. Don't be late, Abarai-fukutaichou", it added.
"Fuck!", said Renji. "I have to hurry."
"Dismount, Abarai-kun and run along. I'll take care of the horses", said Kyouraku.
"Thanks, Kyouraku-taichou, I owe you!"
"Just make sure there's enough sake at the marriage", replied the taichou and jumped down from his own horse.
A moment later, Renji was already gone.
Panting slightly, he arrived a quarter to eight in front of Rukia's back door. He took a few hasty gulps of air, then knocked.
"Come on in!", came Rukia's voice from inside.
"Uh, Renji, you stink!", the small woman complained moments later. "Go have a shower!"
She shoved him unceremoniously into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. With no alternative, Renji started to strip.
He jumped, when Rukia ripped the door open again and stuck her head in.
"Do you have something formal to wear?", she asked. Renji shook his head.
Rukia shut the door again and he heard her mumbling and rummaging in the next room. He decided to let her take care of the problem and stepped under the blissful warm water.
When he emerged ten minutes later with a towel around his waist, Rukia was already waiting impatiently.
"Put this on", she said and shoved a black piece of cloth into his hands.
Renji quickly shrugged it on and tied the obi. It was a simple traditional kimono with small Kuchiki family crests in gold on it .
"Ouch!", he exclaimed when Rukia began attacking his hair with a comb. "What're ya doing?", he asked.
"Did you forget that this is the rehearsal for tomorrow's test of dinner etiquette?", lectured Rukia. "You not only have to behave impeccably, you also have to look presentable." She had finished making his hair into a long braid and now gave him another piece of cloth. It was black, too.
"Tie it over the tattoos, silly!", she said impatiently.
After Renji had done so, she pulled him out of the room and down the long corridors of Kuchiki manor after her.
"Hurry up, Renji", said Rukia. "Nii-sama hates it when someone is late."
Renji quickened his pace and soon they stood in front of a pair of doors that belonged to Byakuya's quarters.
"Enter", said Byakuya before they had even knocked.
Him and Shihana sat already at the table, their backs straight.
Shihana smiled up at him. "One minute to eight. Perfect", she said.
Rukia elbowed him in the side. He gave her a frown then remembered.
"Good evening, Byakuya-sama, Shihana-sama", he said bowing.
"Good evening, Abarai-fukutaichou and Rukia", replied Byakuya and gestured for them to sit.
"Good evening", smiled Shihana as Rukia sat down beside her and Renji took his place at Byakuya's side.
Byakuya made a sign and three servants soundlessly entered the room with bottles and the first dishes.
When it was served Renji made to pick up his chopsticks, but noticed Shihana slightly shaking her head and looking towards Byakuya.
Byakuya sat still for a moment, then he picked up his glass with a fluid motion. The others followed his example.
"To my hard-working fukutaichou", Byakuya said and the ghost of a smile flicked over his face.
"To Abarai-kun", replied Shihana and Rukia. Renji remained silent. And exhaled a silent breath when nobody scolded him. It was correct.
They all took a sip and then Byakuya finally picked up his chopsticks and they began to eat.
It took Renji, ravenous as he was after all the workout, all his self-control to eat at the same insanely slow pace as the others.
During the short time until the next dish was served, Byakuya remarked: "You two will surely be delighted to hear that Abarai-fukutaichou will give us the honour of performing a piece of music after dinner."
"Do I have to, taichou?", asked Renji pleadingly.
"This, too, is part of the rehearsal, Abarai", answered Byakuya.
The rest of dinner went all right, because Shihana and Rukia had had Renji learn every rule at the table by heart and mercilessly insisted on him practising it until it was more than perfect.
Several times he received a punch under the table from Rukia because he had slumped again. He was kind of relieved when it was over though the food had been delicious.
"We will be heading to the music room", stated Byakuya, when the table was cleared.
They stood up and walked over to the room where the grand piano stood.
Byakuya sat down gracefully, a very nervous Renji joining him at the instrument.
"Have you practised as I have commanded?", he inquired.
Renji grew pale. "N-no, taichou. I was out riding with Kyouraku-taichou the whole day, you see", he stuttered.
Byakuya closed his eyes exasperatedly. Then he opened his note sheet.
"We shall see", he commented calmly. He began to play.
A moment later, only the sound of the piano and Renji's voice were heard in the wide room.
Poor child,
Poor child,
Beautiful and bruised.
Poor child,
Pure child,
Virginal and used.
Her hair,
Her smile,
Her eyes,
So tender
Her heart,
Her soul,
Her life,
So broken.
How much more must she endure?
Poor child,
Poor child,
Sensitive and hard.
One more girl forever scarred.
Poor child,
Poor child,
Pure child
Her hair,
Her smile,
Her eyes,
So tender.
Her heart,
Her soul,
Her life,
So broken.
How much more
Must she endure?
Poor child.
Poor child.
Poor child!
Pure child!
Dangerous, divine.
She's a beautiful,
Virginal,
Sensitive,
Generous,
Poor child!
And I'll make
Her
Mine!
There was a long moment of silence. Then the soft rustle of fabric as Shihana stood up and walked over to Renji.
She placed a short but very tender kiss on his lips.
"Very beautiful", she smiled. "I cannot imagine Reki making my heart tremble like that."
"I never knew you had it in you", said Rukia grinning, a hint of wonder in her voice. "Victory is yours!"
"Do not be so hasty with praise", interjected Byakuya. "You were a bit off at the 5th line and I want a bit more passion in the last part. Please go through it again until tomorrow, Abarai-fukutaichou."
When he closed the note sheet and stood up, he added: "Still, you have exceeded my expectations. I wish you luck for tomorrow."
Since I don't know any traditional Japanese songs or other classical pieces, I chose "Poor child" from the musical "The Wild Party", because it is a rather demanding song and can be performed with only a piano to accompany it. Originally, it was written for four voices, but I think it might work for one, too. Strangely, the text fits rather well. I hope you liked it. Do tell me what you think.