Chapter 4- Maturity in Annoyance
Minata's POV
"Master! Master . . . It's time to wake up Ms. Sleeping Beauty!"
As soon as I heard the sound of her voice, I wanted to slap my hand over my zanpakuto's mouth to shut her up. She sounded way too eager for my liking, and I wasn't ready to put up with that right now.
However, I didn't want to be rude and start my day on a bad note, so I opened my eyes to find Mizukiri staring at me from the other side of the room, still dressed in her light blue nightgown. Most of the time she slept in her sword form, but on the nights she didn't want to do that, she pulled out a spare futon and slept in another part of the room.
It was weird to see her so wide awake so early in the day, since she was less of a morning person than I was. However, there had to be a reason for it.
There's always one for everything, right?
"Mizukiri, you do know we have the day off today right? You can sleep in if you want to, and trust me, I want to." I tell her as I scratch at the itch on the back of my neck.
"I know, I know, but you remember what a day off means for you right? It's 'Visit Your Aunt, Nana, and All Your Relatives Day!'." she announces, walking over to the vanity to fix her bed head. "Now get up and get ready! We have quite a day ahead of ourselves!"
"You're such an eager beaver. Granted, it's justified since it's always nice to visit the family, but to tell you the truth, it honestly slipped my mind this time around."
"Considering what's been going on these past few days with Rukia, I can't blame you."
"Yeah, I can't blame myself either. . . Do you want to use the bathroom first Kiri?" I offer as I finally manage to get myself up into a sitting position.
"You can go on ahead of me. I don't mind waiting for a bit." she mumbles, her face a mask of precise focus as she pinned her hair into its usual low ponytail. I watch her reflection to see her eyes move to the blue teardrop amulet hanging around her neck. It was the same shade as her eyes, and she's had it since she first manifested years ago.
I had an amulet of my own, but it was shaped to look like a flower with four petals with pointed edges facing each cardinal direction. It was the same shade of purple as my eyes, and I had received it when I was younger.
It was another one of my clan's traditions. Everyone, even the men - who wore their amulets on wristbands made out of corded leather - received one, getting them in a ceremony a few years after their birth. They weren't just stylish, they acted as inhibitor seals, stabilizing our reiatsu as we went through our development years.
They were necessary deterrents. Sometimes the reiatsu in my family could get a little haywire.
When my grandmother gave me my amulet when I was the equivalent of a two-year-old, it was placed around my neck, and I have never spent more than a day without it on my person.
"Did you speak with Byakuya during the night?" she suddenly asks, her eyes implying that she knew, but was just waiting for me to confirm it for her.
"Indeed, I did." I answer in return. "We spoke over tea . . . He's very confused Mizukiri."
"Figures. Senbonzakura mentioned it to me when he stopped by on the way to his chambers. Apparently, his confusion and inner despair is creating quite the fog in his Inner World . . . He can barely see his sakura trees anymore."
"Ooh, that's not good . . . For fifty years, Byakuya has maintained his promise to protect Rukia, a promise he made to dear Hisana right on her deathbed in fact . . . However, not even he can protect her from the law, no matter how much he tries to." I tell her.
"If he is even willing to . . . Look, on one hand, I understand that he wants to keep his promise to his dear dead wife, and yes, he has his flaws as a brother - namely he doesn't really go out of his way to know the poor girl, but in his defense, Rukia does look a lot like Hisana. She's pretty much a younger clone . . ."
"What's your point Kiri?" I ask, hoping that what she was saying was actually going to lead somewhere.
"My point is despite the family connection, the law is the law, no matter how much we don't like it. Rukia has done what she has done, and now she has to face the consequences of her actions. Consequently, as someone who's tasked with upholding the law and being an overall good, law-abiding citizen, Byakuya is going to abide by the law over anything else. It's been practically drilled into him since birth, and that's something that's hard to change, even if the accused is family."
"His duty to Soul Society's laws and his continuing upkeep of the promise he made to Hisana are now in conflict with each other. It's a battle that he may not win, either way . . . A conflict of the heart verses a conflict of the mind. I really hate those kinds of fights," I mumble as I flop back down to my pillow. "Mizukiri, is Byakuya still here by any chance?"
"No, he and Senbonzakura left for work about an hour ago I believe. He did come by to wish you good morning and a good day before he left, but you were asleep, so I offered to take a message." she tells me, leaving the room to go off to who knows where.
After a quick shower and a good teeth cleaning, I picked out one of my simpler yukatas from my closet and got dressed. Walking out of my room, my 'sixth' sense instantly picks up on the spiritual pressure of two beings that were close to my current position.
So close that I couldn't mistake it, even if I tried.
"Good morning Lady Fukudome."
I turn as soon as I heard the slightly shrill voice, my eyes finding the two beings I sensed walking toward me from a side hallway. The two - a man and a woman - were a couple of Byakuya's many elders that lived within these halls, usually only appearing when they wanted to, not because they had to. The man was one of Byakuya's great uncles, while the slightly younger woman happened to be one of his second cousins.
Twice or third removed, I couldn't remember for the life of me.
"Oh, good morning Elder Kairu, Elder Hirira." I say in return greeting. "How are you today?"
"Very well. Thank you for asking." says the male elder, watching me with his ever-present stern gaze. It's a default look for most in this family, including some in the younger generations. "And you milady?"
"I'm doing very well." I answer, and despite all the etiquette training from my younger years, the little child in me wanted to ditch this conversation before it could get any worse. Talking with elders wasn't always the best experience. "I was just about to head to the dining room for breakfast when you walked over."
"Oh, we won't keep you long my dear. We were just hoping to ask you a quick question." says Hirara, her eyes studying me through the black-rimmed glasses she wore on her wrinkled face.
"And what would that be Lady Hirara?"
"At the moment, do you think Byakuya is ready to remarry?"
The question stops me dead in my tracks. It was out of the blue, but not really unexpected. The question of Byakuya's marriage eligibility has always been a hot topic in the social circles. Many ladies have wondered how long it will be before Byakuya announces that he was seeking out a wife, well, if he ever will again.
"Byakuya? Ready to marry again?" I ask, stunned by such a question. "And may I ask, what has brought this on?"
"My dear, I'm sure you know the reason just as much as we know it ourselves. It has been fifty years since Byakuya's first marriage, and forty-five since it ended in heartbreak. . . We have left him to mourn for his late wife for the allotted time needed of course. However, this clan still needs an heir to lead its next generation, and unfortunately, he's a long way from delivering on that particular front." says Kairu, his voice gruff as he crossed his arms over his chest. He was definitely not one for beating around the bush. "How long does he expect this family to wait until he does his duty?"
"He expects you to wait as long as it's needed." I tell him, my voice blunt as I stared the older man down. I was so not going to take his brand of bullshit, especially this early in the morning. "Quite frankly, what you need to do is give Byakuya his space. He's been quite unmoved on the whole baby making front for good reason, and you and the other elders hounding him on that issue isn't going to make him move any quicker. Truthfully, it might make him even less likely to go through with it. . ."
"Considering the recent events, finding a new Lady Kuchiki and fathering the future 29th heir of the clan must be a long way from his mind . . . He needs the time to think, and you and the rest of the elders breathing down his neck will not help him or you if you continue on this endeavor."
"I see that you are as blunt as ever, but I understand." Hirara answers, her eyes sincere, yet the rest of her face appeared highly amused. Hirara was known as one of the more sympathetic members of the Elder Council, so I knew I wouldn't have to worry about her hounding Byakuya too much. She was much more respective of a person's boundaries.
Elder Kairu was an entirely different story.
"I do not." his reply was blunt, but it didn't deter his fellow elder in the slightest. She ended up slapping him in his shoulder, hard.
Did I forget to mention that Hirara was one of the more physically imposing elders?
She wasn't imposing in actual size. She was imposing in the way she wouldn't hesitate to slap you when she thought you were getting out of hand.
"OUCH! Was that really necessary Hirara?!"
"Oh, don't act like a petulant child with me! If Byakuya still needs time to himself, then we'll give him what he needs. Besides, Lady Minata is right. We wouldn't be doing him, or ourselves for that matter, any favors if we endlessly bring up the issue anyway." says Hirara as she gives me an apologetic look.
"Thank you Elder Hirara." I say, sincerely grateful for her understanding.
"You're welcome my dear. Now come along Kairu; you promised that you would help me decide which new flowers should be planted in the eastern gardens today." says the woman as she started walking past me, a small smirk playing at her lips.
"Oh joy." he replies, sounding almost like a petulant child as he followed her down the hall.
After having that interesting encounter, I continued to the dining room, well, the main one. The manor had at least three, the largest was used for family dinners that included the entire clan and other special events, which meant that it was rarely used these days. The other two were much more used, plus their smaller size led to a much more comfortable atmosphere, even when you're dining alone.
When I entered the western dining room, Mizukiri was already there eating a muffin, already dressed for the day as she sat at the main table, a large dish of freshly baked muffins awaiting anyone that wanted one. She was in her usual outfit: long sleeved, royal blue kimono shirt, a long black skirt with a slit on its left side that gave everyone a view of her legs, which were covered in matching blue tights, and heeled sandals similar to my own. The only other notable thing about her appearance were the black rings that surrounded her eyes, like natural eye shadow.
She was a lovely maiden dressed in simple clothes, but to those that really knew her, she was as deadly as she was beautiful.
"I see you're ready to go." I say as I pick out a muffin from the plate. "How'd you get ready so quick?"
"I have my ways."
Leaving it at that, we were silent as we enjoyed our muffins, the cherry blossom trees we could see out the window being our only other company. Byakuya was always fond of those trees, going as far add a new one to the premises once another one dies.
Some might consider it a mild obsession of his, especially since his zanpakuto was practically a walking analogy to them, but I saw it as a healthy hobby that added some color to his life.
"I hear the court is supposed to be making their ruling on Rukia's case today."
I stared at Kiri wide eyed at the admission, but she just continued eating her muffin as if she hadn't shocked me with her sudden news. "Really? Already? Well that was quick, and how do you know that?"
"A couple of the elders mentioned it while they were walking past the room earlier. . . They even mentioned that Byakuya is supposed to tell Rukia the verdict himself."
So, they left the task of telling the sister her punishment to her own older brother? Central 46, you have no tact.
"Yeah, that does not sound like fun. Quite the insult to injury if you ask me . . . Despite her status, the court will not be that merciful to the poor girl."
"Considering the charges and what the punishment for each one is, I highly doubt it. The Central 46 isn't known for being the most merciful of institutions . . . If you want to learn more, you're going to have to ask Byakuya what happened. He's not much of a talker, but I'm sure he'll make an exception for you. . . So, shall we be on our way then?"
"Let's go Mizukiri, I would hate to keep my family waiting any longer than they already have to." I say as I move to the door, the blonde already following at my heels.
"Here's to hoping that Byakuya will even be in a talking mood once this day's over."
Byakuya's POV
"Rukia Kuchiki, the Central 46 has found you guilty of all the charges that have been leveled against you. You have been sentenced to death, and you will be formally executed on Sokyoku Hill in a matter of days."
If I had been talking to a known criminal, one whose record was so long that not even a blind man could deny it, what I just said would have been trivial to my ears. It would have been just another day.
However, I wasn't lucky enough to be talking to a career criminal.
I was telling these words to my own sister.
I never thought I would find myself as the one tasked to say these condemning statements to her, but fate works in mysterious, terrible ways.
"I see. So, that's my fate." she says, finally turning her head to face me after staring at the wall for so long.
When I finally get a glimpse of her violet eyes, I don't see fear, sadness, defeat, or any other dramatic emotion that should afflict a person once they're condemned to death. The ones that would make a person scream and shout in denial or hysteria, not ready to leave this world.
Instead, I see the one thing I feared to see most.
I saw acceptance.
Undeniable, unmistakable acceptance.
She was going to accept her fate, and she wouldn't even try to put up a fight.
It's frustrating and gut wrenching all in one.
"Is that it? No big reaction?" Renji asks, having been silent up to this point. He was now making his presence known, and it was obvious that he was not happy about the results. "No plans to fight this?! You're just going to accept the court's decision? Just like that?!"
"That's it. I am accepting the court's decision . . . I broke the law; there's no mistaking that. I need to pay for what I have done, and if my punishment is supposed to be death, then so be it." she tells us, conviction laced in her voice.
This was not what I expected from her. I thought there would be a little more fight to her, but to see her accept her fate so easily . . . It's quite conflicting to say the least.
"Tch, whatever!" Renji grumbles, walking out the room without another word. He wanted to sound like he didn't care, but the hint of despair and sadness within his voice proved his downfall on that front.
"Are you still thinking about that boy from the Living World?"
I didn't mean to ask the question, but Rukia had been quite silent on him ever since she was brought back. Her silence was telling, likely for his protection. She turns to me with not a hint of emotion on her face, but her eyes were a different story, suddenly full of sadness and misery.
"You shouldn't bother trying to protect him. It's not like he's coming for you . . ." I state, my tone holding no emotion. "What led you to do what you did? To lead you here, in a position that will, in the end, cost you your life?"
"You're right; he's not coming for me, and I've accepted that . . . And as for your question, let's just say he was able to open my eyes to things that were closed off to me before."
The words are sudden and sincere, not from a scared, timid girl, but from a woman who has grown with time and experience. She has grown in the time she has been away, and I never got to see any of it with my own two eyes . . .
Her sentence will make sure I never will.
"I see." is all I say before leaving the room, leaving the last conversation I will likely have with her before her execution day comes around.
In the few years I have known her, Rukia has went from being an orphan from the Rukongai to being my little sister, but even I know that it has only been in name. I know that I swore to Hisana that I would protect Rukia and let her call me brother but letting her have the family name and giving her a roof over her head wasn't enough.
I've never bothered to try to be close to her, partly because of something that even she couldn't help. Rukia was years younger than Hisana, but she could very much be her twin. They looked so close that it was almost uncanny, and I was reminded of her so much in that first year that it was sometimes a struggle to separate them from each other.
Thank kami for Minata. She was able to fill the role that I couldn't, acting as Rukia's guide to all things noble in society. Rukia wasn't quick to warm up to her like she had hoped, but their relationship was very much a good one, better than the one I've barely made with her, at least.
"Well, well, well, look what we got here! It's the Kuchiki princess!"
"Oh, not today . . ."
Somehow, someway, I managed to hold off the scowl that was threatening to appear on my face as soon as I heard that barbarian's voice. Turning my head, I see 11th Division captain Kenpachi Zaraki standing on top of a nearby building, a large, bloodthirsty grin already plastered on that scarred face of his.
"How's it going Byakuya?!" he asks, not putting any meaning into his asking. "Visiting your sister huh?!"
"That is none of your business."
"Oh, come now Captain Kuchiki. We're all friends here! Aren't we?" calls a mischievous new voice that I knew all too well.
"Captain Zaraki and I are not friends, Captain Ichimaru." I say as the white-haired captain, who always seemed to have a smile on his face, even at the worst of times, emerged from behind the taller man.
"You seem to be tenser than usual. The issue with your sister has really got you down huh?" he asks, never letting his grin falter.
"It must be! A girl from that high class of a family, now a criminal scheduled to be executed?! That must be disappointing, not to mention a black eye on the good ol' family name, right?!" exclaims Kenpachi, his voice unnecessarily loud. "I'm sure your elders are really loving this kind of spotlight for the clan huh?!"
"Hmm, I didn't you would care. I never knew that lower class people like you two could understand the feelings of a noble." I say, turning my back on them as I made my exit.
"What's that supposed to fucking mean, huh Kuchiki!? You want to fight, because I'll give you a fight!" I hear him yell, his spiritual pressure unmistakable as it begins to rise.
"Uh oh." I hear Gin say, right before the sounds of a quick struggle hit my ears. When I finally turned back around, I couldn't help but feel a little amused at the sight of Kenpachi tied up in white fabric, the Third Division captain holding one end of it in his hands.
"We don't need you rampaging and damaging the area, again." says Gin as he starts dragging Kenpachi away. "I don't want to do paperwork all because you couldn't hold yourself together now."
"I DON'T CARE! LET ME GO SO I CAN FIGHT THE PINK LOVING BASTARD!" he continues to yell, becoming more frantic as I started moving toward my office. Maybe then I can finally have some peace and quiet . . .
"ONE MORE THING BYAKUYA!"
Against my better judgement, I turned my head.
"TELL MINATA I SAID HI!" Kenpachi yells, his sleazy smile being the last thing I see before Gin flash stepped away with him in tow.
The very thought of my eldest friend even standing next to that barbaric fiend with was something that I never want to think about, so, pushing those thoughts aside, I brace myself for another day of paperwork and training sessions.
As for Kenpachi, let's just say that Minata will not be receiving his message anytime soon.
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!
