If only by Ichimaru
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
It's a Byakuya/Renji fic so if this isn't your cup of tea, just skip this.
Third year university student, Abarai Renji grinned to himself. Finally the day he has been waiting for has arrived. It was Vassal Week! He has never really been interested in activities organized by the university or the various clubs littering the university but this particular activity planned by the Student Council was something else.
Students who which to participate, will 'purchase' a student/vassal of their choice for 3,500 Yen. This is of course provided that the student that is about to be purchased agrees. The 3,500 yen is for charity and hence saying no is not very nice. The student will be a vassal for a week and the student who purchases the vassal has to adhere to a list of rules. Some of the rules are not to abuse the vassal, both master and vassal were to respect each other, this Vassal Week is suppose to be fun and etc.
Since it was first come, first serve, a week ago found Renji hurrying to the Student Council office to register his name. When he got there, he found that there were already two names ahead of his. The first was Hinamori.
Renji grinned to himself. He and pretty much anyone who knows Hinamori would know who her vassal would be. Hitsugaya Toushirou! Who else? As he read the second name, his grin widened. It was Hisage Sguuhei!
This was going to interesting! It was one of those boring afternoons when Hisage confessed to him that he has a huge crush on Matsumoto Rangiku (I like this pairing!). Matsumoto can be feisty at times and although Hisage wasn't exactly the quiet sort, he gets tongue tied whenever he's around Matsumoto!
Still grinning, Renji grabbed a pen and scribbled his name. No competition for his vassal. The only thing he was afraid of was if his vassal of choice refused to be a vassal. Charity or not, you can't force people.
"Well, well, well… who do we have here?" A female voice drawled behind him. Abarai Renji didn't even bother to turn around. Instead he recapped the pen and prepared to leave the room. A small hand reached out and tugged his sleeve.
"Abarai-kun! What's the hurry?" Soi Fong asked as she glanced at the sheet of paper on the table.
"Oh! You've registered! Looks like I came too late. I was hoping to get here first so I can purchase you as my vessel!"
Renji just shrugged off her hand. He didn't hate the girl but she was just too bold for his liking. She made her interest in him clear a few months ago and has been pursuing him since. At first Renji was flattered but after a while it got tiresome. The girl tailed him everywhere and even arranged that she was in all his classes!
"Abarai-kun…." Soi Fong flashed a look of hurt and dismay at Renji's action and ignorance towards her.
Renji took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Soi Fong but I'm late for class." He gave her a curt nod and left.
Soi Fong looked at the list again and was considering of tearing it up when another student came in
to register. It's okay, Abarai-kun. Soi Fong said to herself. Next time I'll get you!
Present time, Friday 12:30pm. Rec Center.
Kurosaki Ichigo, president of the student council looked at the sea of students about him. There were quite a number of students this year. Good! Much better than last year! "Everyone listen up." The students piped down and focused their attention to the orange haired student president who was standing on a bench. "Thanks for coming. We really appreciate this and the charities we'll be donating your contributions appreciates this too! Shall we get started?" His question was greeted by a loud positive cheer.
"Right, …." Ichigo read the first name on the list. "Hinamori! Come on up Hinamori!"
A beaming Hinamori made her way to Ichigo. "And who did you choose as your vassal?"
Giggling and cheeks reddening slightly, Hinamori said, "Hitsugaya."
"Hitsugaya! Will you please made your way up here? Is Hitsugaya here?" Ichigo asked loudly.
A moment later, a white haired guy with sparkling emerald green eyes stood next to Ichigo. Ichigo was standing in between Hinamori and Hitsugaya asked, "Hitsugaya, Hinamori has selected you as her vassal, do you accept?"
Smiling broadly, Hitsugaya replied even before Ichigo finished his question. "Hai, hai!"
Turning to Hinamori, Ichigo asked her. "You're aware of the rules?" She nodded. "And that you'll adhere to them?" She nodded again.
"Even if she decided to bend them, I don't think Hitsugaya will mind!" someone yelled from the crowd.
The colour of Hinamori cheeks deepened another shade. She grabbed Hitsugaya's hand and quickly left the Rec Center. Ichigo grinned and consulted his list again. "Next, we've Hisage Shuuhei. Right, Hisage. Your vassal is?"
Hisage Shuuhei looked damned nervous. Renji knew exactly what he was feeling at that moment. Unlike Hinamori and Hitsugaya, who are the willing master and vassal, Hisage has never really spoken to Matsumoto and admired her from afar. Just like him and the person he has chosen as his vassal.
Running his finger nervously through his short dark hair, Hisage said, "Matsumoto Rangiku."
A hush fell across the room. Matsumoto Rangiku! Hisage Shuuhei has chosen Matsumoto! Renji felt a sudden panic attack. What if the person he chose refused? Or worse, he wasn't here? Renji scanned the room.
Why didn't he scan the room earlier on? What was he going to do if that person wasn't here? He didn't want anyone else!
"Abarai Renji?" Ichigo looked at him questioningly.
"Huh?"
"You're next!" Ichigo beckoned Renji forward.
Renji mentally kicked himself. He had made an ass of himself even before things got underway. He was so busy looking and worrying that he didn't notice that the Hisage and Matsumoto transaction was over.
"And who have you chosen as your vassal?" Ichigo asked as soon as Renji was next to him on the bench.
Too late to back down now! Besides this was a great chance to get to know that person. For a week
that person will be his! Well, not exactly but…. Abarai Renji took a deep breath, "Kuchiki Byakuya."
All this while, even when Hisage announced Matsumoto as his chosen vassal, Ichigo remained cool but upon hearing the name, even he raised a slight eyebrow. It wasn't because this time around both 'master' and potential vassal were men but because who the people were. Abarai Renji played football (some people say soccer but I prefer football) for the university and had quite a legion of fans. Surely he would have chosen someone from his circle of friends or fans? As president, Kurosaki Ichigo made it a point to know as many students as he could.
Kuchiki Byakuya was considered a loner. He wasn't part of the in crowd like Abarai. He like Renji, represented the university in kendo. As captain of the kendo team, he should have been included in the
'in crowd' but Kuchiki Byakuya avoided all that and kept mostly to himself.
Clearing his throat, Ichigo asked. "Is Kuchiki Byakuya here?"
He was indeed. Originally Kuchiki Byakuya thought of just skipping the entire event but he was on the way to the cafeteria which was just nearby, so he just decided to have a look. In fact, he was about to leave when he heard his name. His initial reaction was to get out of there fast but that damned Kurosaki had spotted him and was waving frantically at him.
"There you are, Kuchiki! Come on up and do your bit to charity!"
Byakuya cursed. That fool Kurosaki had to say the key word! Charity! There was no way he could refuse now! Besides as vassal he didn't have to fork out a cent. So if he said no, …..
"Kuchiki! Do you agree to be Abarai Renji's vassal for a week?"
Just get this done and over with! Byakuya looked straight at Ichigo and replied in an expressionless tone. "Yes."
Renji's head shot up. He said yes! He could hardly hear what Ichigo was saying. All he heard was that Byakuya had said yes!
As soon as Renji made a cheque to the student council, he and Renji left the gathering. Renji wasn't sure what to say or what to do. He has finally gotten his vassal, so now what? He wasn't going to ask Byakuya to do anything. All Renji wanted was to spend time with Byakuya, get to know him.
"Ano…."
Renji turned and face to face with a pair of bored black eyes. "Yeah….?"
"What do you want me to do?" Byakuya hoped whatever it was, what was this guy's name? Abarai?
Well whatever Abarai wanted, Byakuya hoped it wasn't something tiresome.
"Do?" Renji asked back stupidly.
"Yes." Byakuya fought to keep the irritation from his voice. "I'm …. supposed to be your vassal. So can we just get on with this?"
"Oh! What do you usually do at this time?"
More questions! "Usually I would eat. It's lunch time."
"Yeah! Well, let's eat. Where do you usually eat?"
"The cafeteria…."
"Okay, let's go!" Renji started to head towards the cafeteria but stopped when he realized Byakuya
wasn't following. "Nani?"
"You eat at the cafeteria?" Byakuya asked. Although he didn't know Renji that well but his clothes
and things all indicated that Renji was one of those well to do students. Students like him rarely eat at the cafeteria.
Renji shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, why not? Food is food. Is it not?"
They made it to the cafeteria without incident and got their food. Renji poked his food around his plate as he watched Byakuya eat. Byakuya could feel Renji watching him but decided to ignore him and continued to eat as if Renji wasn't there.
Spearing a pea, Renji said. "Tell me about yourself."
Byakuya nearly choked on his food. What did Abarai just say? Tell him about myself!
Renji saw that Byakuya had stopped eating. Is he choking? "Are you alright? Here take a sip of water."
Renji handed a cup of water to Byakuya.
"What's that for?" Byakuya looked at the cup suspiciously.
"You stopped eating, I thought maybe you choked or something…." Renji was feeling a bit embarrassed now.
He just assumed Byakuya was choking.
"I'm fine thanks." Byakuya said coldly and resumed eating once again.
"Oh okay, …. so tell me about yourself." Renji tried again.
"Look, I'm late. It's 1:15 now and my shift starts at 2:00pm."
"Where do you work? Maybe I can give you a ride or something." Renji offered.
"Rain Café and I can walk from here." With that Byakuya picked up his fork. Renji did the same and lunch
resumed in silence.
Kuchiki Byakuya didn't mean to be rude but he had a lot to do. He had to finish his lunch, send his assignments and get to café before 2:00pm and this guy was asking him to say something about himself! Damn why did he agree to this Vassal Week!
End of part 1. Review please, arigatou!