A/N: Please forgive me on taking so long. It's been a long time since I had the urge to write.
So without further ado, here is the first chapter to Closer. Thank you for reading!
"Love, like everything else in life, should be a discovery, an adventure, and like most adventures, you don't know you're having one until you're right in the middle of it." – E.A Bucchianeri
200 years ago...
Seiretei, Kuchiki compound
the Main Garden
Surrounded by golden chrysanthemums and red camellias, a small child grasped onto her yukata, stifling giggles. Careful not to rustle the flowers around her, the little girl slowly poked her head through a camellia bush—intense red hair blended with the camellias, aiding her disguise. Wide blue eyes scanned the garden, searching for her seeker, an equally small child with black hair. Her favorite part of this boy was his eyes; they reminded her of the smooth grey river stones lining the koi ponds near the west corner of the garden. Puffing her cheeks in impatience after a few minutes, the girl rolled onto her heels, rustling the camellia bush in the process. Patting her green yukata of pollen, the little red-haired girl stood up, a small frown on her face. Plucking a camellia and placing it in her hair, the child trotted towards the main house.
As she neared the main house, the girl heard a commotion between two people. She recognized one of the voices as her seeker; with a pout, she stomped over to the right side of the house. Rounding the corner, the red-haired girl narrowly missed a blur that raced passed her, but was pushed to the ground in an instant by another blur. With a grunt, the girl fell onto her rear, the camellia in her hair cascading onto the dirt. Tears welled in the girl's eyes, building up until spilling over her lashes and onto her yukata. Shuffling of feet came behind the girl, causing her to turn her head while wiping her tears with her sleeve. Behind her was a tall elderly man with long grey hair, a matching moustache, and the same grey eyes as her friend. With a sigh, he reached down and picked up the girl, wiping her tears with his thumb.
"Byakuya!" he called out, the boy stopping in his tracks with wide eyes. "Come here."
"Yes, grandfather?" Byakuya questioned, innocent. He wondered why his friend was held in his grandfather's arms.
"A man, especially a future clan leader, does not treat a lady with disrespect. You were careless of your surroundings and pushed Kazue to the ground," his grandfather explained, "You must apologize to Kazue." With that, Kazue was placed gently on her feet in front of Byakuya.
With small sniffles, Kazue looked at Byakuya expectantly. Her blue eyes glistened with remaining tears while Byakuya's lips formed a thin line. Byakuya looked to the side and mumbled, his grandfather cleared his throat in response. Facing Kazue and taking a deep breath, Byakuya spewed "I'm sorry" quickly.
With a deep sigh, Byakuya's grandfather patted Kazue's head gently. "That will do for now, Byakuya. Keep in mind, you are to act like a noble." Seeing a dark-skinned girl in the distance, "As for you, Yoruichi-hime, you will do well to stay out of trouble, or should I report your behavior to your family?" Yoruichi's gold eyes widened and bowed in apology.
"Now I must return to the barracks. I need not remind you to treat Kazue fairly, Byakuya. She is the granddaughter of a close friend of our family and Kazue is to be welcomed by our family, not ostracized. Kazue, your father is inside to take you home." With that, he took Kazue's hand and led her inside the main house.
With a frown, Byakuya picked up the camellia from the ground, its red petals dulled and wrinkled.