I do not own Bleach okay? I am glad to see people do like this story so far and I just don't see enough of these types of stories here. So anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
2. Life
Byakuya looked on as Ichika stared at the paper, dripping ink onto it. He had wanted to spend time with his niece as much as he could. One thing he had missed with his wife Hisana was the chance to have a family of his own. However, he had to admit that Ichika was not a very proper young lady. Having seeing that she liked to draw like her mother did, with a slight affinity for rabbits (much to her father's dismay) Byakuya found a good chance to bond via calligraphy.
"What's wrong Ichika?" Byakuya asked looking at the dripping ink on her paper.
"This is so boring." Ichika said. "Can you show me how to do something more fun? Like with your Zanpakto?" She said, eyes glowing at the sight of it.
"You're still young yet. I know when you get older you will be an apprentice, yet now you will be taught other things." Byakuya said.
"But Uncle Byakuya..." Ichika pleaded.
"No, and if you want to be a good apprentice you will learn more about discipline. Calligraphy is a good way to learn discipline and use your interest in art." Byakuya said.
"But the Kanji for cherry blossom?" Ichika moaned. "Can we do bunny?"
Byakuya smiled. Ichika was indeed a headstrong child and wanted to do what she wanted to do, but she did know she had to give into the instruction of those who were teaching her if she wanted to apprentice to be a shinigami. "Fine. I can show you the kanji for rabbit. I think your father is tired of you and your mother's love of rabbits."
"Yeah. Chappy is so cute." Ichika smiled.
"Fine. Now follow the strokes I do." Byakuya said as he made the first horizontal stroke and Ichika stared intently. "Now you."
Ichika picked up the brush, looked at Byakuya's stroke and made an imitation of it, holding it up for him. "See?"
"I see." He said smiling. The stroke was very wavy and thin but he knew that Ichika was young and just doing this to prove she would be good for her future goals. "You will need practice, but you're getting there. Would you believe I wasn't as fluid as you were when I was younger?"
"Really?" Ichika said. "You seem to be good at everything Uncle Byakuya. Daddy speaks so highly of your skills."
Well Renji, I wouldn't expect that out of you, but it's good you're teaching your daughter proper respect in some way. Byakuya thought as he began to go through each of the strokes and Ichika began to imitate them as well. She followed each one intently but it wasn't quite perfect. She was new to this after all, but the time he was spending with her meant so much to him that he was willing to overlook the messed up strokes. "Well that's good to hear from your father."
"Let me show you how to draw Chappy Uncle Byakuya." Ichika said as she sat down beside him, grabbing a roll of parchment and a crayon and drew the circle.
"You're certainly going to teach me aren't you?" Byakuya said.
"Yes." Ichika said. "You see Chappy's head is a circle, then we have two ovals for the ears and you do two smaller ones to make the inner ears and then draw a smiley face on it. There! Chappy!"
"Reminds me of what your mother draws." Byakuya said. "Let me show you my favorite character." He said as he took Ichika's parchment and crayon and drew a cloud like figure with legs and arms and a smile on its face. "It's my own character Wakame Ambassador." Byakuya said.
"Huh." Ichika said looking at the character. "Not cool."
"What do you mean?" Byakuya asked.
"What do you think she means?" Renji said as he opened the door from behind them. "That your imaginary friend is stupid. Very Stupid."
"Why do you have to be so insubordinate?" Byakuya said.
"Oh this has nothing to do with work." Renji said. "But thanks for watching Ichika. The 13th Division is busy or Rukia would have kept an eye on Ichika today."
"No matter." Byakuya said. "I've been teaching discipline to your daughter. She is very brash but promising."
"So that's what drawing Chappy and Wakame Ambassador is?" Renji said noticing the drawings on the floor.
"Oh look at this one!" Ichika said. "I may not have done Rabbit as well as I'd like but Uncle Byakuya tried to show me this one!"
"Life" Renji said looking at the kanji. "You sure you did this, and not made it look like you did it while really Uncle Byakuya did?"
"That's Captain Uncle Byakuya to you Renji." Byakuya said with a smile and wink at Ichika who giggled.
"Ha ha ha ha..." Renji said. "But this is very good." He said, giving his daughter an affectionate rustle of her hair. You may be better than Uncle Byakuya in more ways than one as you get older." with this he scooped up Ichika who held onto Renji's shoulders and waved at her uncle.
"I know you wanted to insult my pride with that comment but if Ichika does surpass me, I would feel greatly honored." Byakuya said waving to Ichika.
"I will Uncle Byakuya!" Ichika smiled as they left his study.
Once they had left, Byakuya picked up the kanji work done by Ichika and smiled. "I have a special place for this work." He said as he placed it beside his portrait of Hisana and bowed in respect. " You would love Ichika my dear beloved. She's full of life and ambition. Just like her mother. I feel more alive around her. I miss you so."
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. Like I said these are are little fluff ficlets. I don't have much else to say here so remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm
