New Characters Introduced:
1: Akira Fukudome: Lady Seiren's daughter, Minata's cousin, and third in line to be the next head of the Fukudome Clan. Currently serving as the Third Seat of the Second Division, her zanpakuto is Kage Mai, and her special ability is to control/manipulate shadows.
2: Kage Mai: Akira's zanpakuto. Her name literally means shadow dance (Kage = shadow, Mai = dance). Her humanoid form is that of two girls, a teenager and a young child, and look pretty normal save for their serpentine features, including long tails that are reminiscent of a viper's. They are usually connected by a chain around their wrists and they share their master's knack for shadow manipulation.
Chapter 17 -A New Bond
Byakuya's POV
"Master, I can feel that you're troubled. . ."
"How can I not feel troubled, Senbonzakura?" I asked as I looked up from my cup of tea. "Those fools from the Eleventh Division have been making a ruckus in the eastern wing since breakfast."
"That would have been a plausible argument, if it wasn't for the fact that Captain Unohana was quick to set Zaraki's subordinate's straight once their disruptions reached her ears."
When I was brought to the Fourth Division barracks, Unohana had placed me in my own room in the central ward, close to where the main building was connected to its eastern wing. My stay had been relatively peaceful until this morning's breakfast, when some members of the Eleventh decided to make their presence known.
I do not know why exactly they were brought to the Fourth, or why they were being so vocal in the first place. They were simply nuisances that I chose to tune out.
It seems I tuned them out a little too well, because I never noticed the change till Senbonzakura brought it up, and breakfast was hours ago.
"Okay, I will admit it," I conceded as I placed my cup on the nearby nightstand. "I have had a lot on my mind recently."
"I've certainly noticed . . . Your Inner World has been quite breezy for a while now," He tells me as he walks over to the windowsill. "And that only happens when you are conflicted over something, and for the first time in a while, it does not involve Rukia."
"Of course it doesn't involve Rukia. She and I managed to reach an understanding after yesterday's events."
And we certainly did. After finally telling her the truth about her sister and apologizing for my past behavior towards her back on Sokyoku Hill, Rukia visited me after getting checked over by Lieutenant Kotetsu, wasting no time in wanting to hear more about Hisana.
I obliged her, telling her everything I remembered about her, from the moment we first met, till her last moments. All her likes, all her dislikes. I told her everything I could.
At first, I did have some reservations over recalling so much of my past, but as the discussion wore on, I found that I felt much better about it than I previously thought.
It didn't hurt to talk about Hisana anymore. It didn't pain me to look back on all the memories I had of her, and it pleased me greatly to see how in awe Rukia was of her sister as I spoke of her strength and fortitude. It was the closest we've been since I first adopted her into the clan, and, hopefully, last night really does prove to be a turning point in our relationship going forward.
"So if Rukia is not what troubles your thoughts, I wonder who it could be," I hear my zanpakuto say, taking a seat along the open window, an embodiment of relaxed ease.
"Do not try to play dumb with me Senbonzakura. It is not your specialty," I say, my eyes narrowing slightly.
"I can feel that you're annoyed with me . . . Is it because of what I just said, or was it because of what I implied yesterday?"
"Why can it not be both?" I ask in return. "And speaking of yesterday, did you have to speak so out of turn, and so publicly at that?"
"I will admit that I could have done things a little more tactfully back on Sokyoku Hill, but I do not regret my actions," He says, his tone firm. "I can feel - no, I know - your emotions master. They've always been steady, but over the course of these last few weeks, I have felt the shift in your feelings in regards to Minata, and it all came to a head yesterday in that standoff with Aizen."
"And what exactly do I feel for Mina now?"
"You two have always been friends. You consider her your closest friend, but now, you are starting to see her as more than that," He tells me, sounding pleased with himself. "You don't think I haven't noticed how you've been thinking about Minata more in a romantic light recently?"
"Well, I . . . Okay, so I may have been paying more attention to her looks in recent days," I slowly say, ignoring the pleased feeling that was rolling into me through our connection. ". . . And her feelings too."
"And then you told her to stand down against Aizen. . ."
"It was her against three traitorous captains. How could I not tell her to stand down when the situation was not in her favor? All the other people available in the vicinity were too injured to help her, including me." I bit back, my anger flaring slightly as I remembered the way Aizen dared to stare at Mina, like a predator looking down on their prey.
It was as if Aizen wanted Mina to do something against him and his allies, as if he was eager to kill her just for the amusement of it all. . .
. . . As if he knew how personally it would affect me.
That vile man needed to be stopped, but unfortunately, that was for another day.
"And don't get me started on how your emotions were fluctuating so much when you were talking with Rukia last night."
"Humor me," I insist. "How exactly did my emotions fluctuate when I was talking with Rukia?"
"Wasn't it obvious?" He asks. "I'm sure that even you will admit that you have had some. . . trouble talking about Lady Hisana in the past. I would always feel that stab of pain go through you whenever she was mentioned, especially in the first year after her passing."
"The first year was definitely the hardest," I slowly admit, not too keen on remembering my behavior during that time. "But I got better . . . over time."
"Indeed you did . . . The stab lessened, but the discomfort remained," Senbonzakura reminds me, his tone soft. "Until yesterday that is. Over the past few weeks, your discomfort was merely a pinprick when Lady Hisana's name was mentioned, but yesterday, there was nothing. No pain, no distress, nothing to hint that her passing still affected you on an emotional level . . . To me, it appears you have finally come to fully accept her passing."
"Hmm, maybe I have . . . and it only took me over fifty years." I say as I look off to the side.
"It did, but everyone mourns differently. You just happen to mourn for a longer time than others, years longer."
"Do I really have a tendency to do that? Mourn for people for years at a time?"
"Only for the ones that are truly close to you, like your father for example . . . You were in mourning for a good five years before you finally found peace with it," He answers me, almost sounding smug.
"Yes, it hurt me deeply when Grandfather told me of Father's passing, but at the same time, it was easier to accept," I admit. "Father was sick for as long as I could remember. . . There were times where he would have bouts of perfect health, but his illness would not stay away forever. When it eventually took him away, yes, I mourned, but at the same time, I managed to find some solace in the fact that he would not have to suffer anymore."
"He did, technically, live a full life, don't you think? He ignored his detractors to become a shinigami, rose to the rank of lieutenant, and lived long enough to marry a woman he grew to love and have a child, that child being you of course. . . All that, despite his bad health," Senbonzakura muses as he crosses his arms over his armored chest. "Quite a life indeed."
"I guess you can say that . . . And despite his health, he would always try to offer his help and assistance whenever he could," I say fondly. "Lady Satsuki was always annoyed whenever she saw him push himself too much. It's rumored that she even personally dragged him back to his room when she deemed him too sick when they were teenagers."
"I would have loved to have seen that for myself, and speaking of love . . ."
I can feel the samurai's amusement grow with every word he spoke, and if he were to take off his mask right now, a matching grin would be there on his face to greet me. It likely was there already, and it was not hard to imagine why. Senbonzakura had been feeling mighty pleased with himself since we last saw Mina the previous day, which reminds me . . .
"You are feeling way too pleased with yourself," I say, keeping my tone leveled despite the fact that Senbonzakura already knew what I was currently feeling.
"Hey! What did I do that you feel was wrong?" He asks in return. "All I said was that you had something to say to Lady Mina, and that was it. . . You're the one that didn't want to speak up."
"Senbonzakura can be quite childish sometimes . . ."
"And whose fault is that?" He asks in return, having obviously heard my thoughts. "Zanpakuto spirits are reflections of our masters' spirits, including the traits that our masters are not too fond of, and in our case, it's your long-buried childishness. . . So, again, whose fault is that?"
"Hmm . . ." I mumbled to myself. I could argue back, but with the points he just made, I knew it would simply be a losing effort. Zanpakutos were indeed our reflections, even the parts we try to hide and forget.
Still, his actions from yesterday were not helpful to me at the moment.
"Yes, I will admit that you are right in saying that I had something to say to Mina, but it was not the right situation to say it in."
"You mean, there were too many people around?" Senbonzakura asks, and I simply nod my head. ". . . I see your point, but still, I felt the hesitation you had in that moment, so I decided to, uh, throw the first stone if you will."
"You mean, get her curious as to what I have to say to her?" I ask, and he immediately nods. ". . . You definitely made it obvious."
"And for that, I will apologize," He concedes, nodding his head my way. "But I'm sure you can't deny that your feelings for her have certainly changed. I could feel it when you were talking with Rukia last night. Every time you mentioned her, your feelings felt elevated. In the past, they were stable, more platonic, but now, they've changed . . . They definitely changed. I know it. You know it, and soon enough, Minata will know it as well . . . I can feel her spiritual pressure coming this way, so it won't be long now."
"I can feel it too. . ." I say as I look out the window, the sun now high in the sky as I feel Mina's presence slowly growing closer. ". . . I guess it is time to see what this day will really bring after all."
Minata's POV
"Well long time, no see cousin!"
". . . It's been a while, but I can never forget that voice," I say as Mizukiri turns to me with a smirk. Smirking in return, we turn around to see three familiar faces walking toward us.
Familiar, because they were family.
The tallest of the three was dressed in the exact same shihakusho that Soi Fon wears - which likely came as a shock to the more conservative members of our family - but she wore hers with heeled sandals that were similar to my own. Part of her raven hair was twisted into a top knot held together by a clip that served as her clan head piece; the rest of it falling freely down her back, stopping at her hips.
Of the remaining two, the elder, Shika, who appeared as a teenage girl, had her silver hair weaved into a braid that wrapped around her head like a crown, with only a few strands staying loose to frame her pale face. She was almost as tall as my cousin, with dark purple eyes and a forked tongue that slid out of her mouth before retreating back. A violet-colored snake tail protruded from the back of her silver and black samue, coiled slightly toward the end.
Maru, the younger of the duo, who appeared as a small child, looked and was dressed the same way as her elder counterpart, except she wore a skirt instead of pants, and her silver hair was in a simple ponytail that ran down her back. She was also wearing a black bracelet on her right wrist, which was connected to the matching bracelet on Shika's left wrist by a long silver chain.
To be honest, it made them look like escaped convicts more than anything else.
"Akira! Kage Mai! You two look well!" I say in greeting as my cousin and her zanpakuto finally reach us.
"We feel well, though we would feel even better if the events of yesterday never happened to begin with," says Akira, her smile lessening as she crosses her arms over her chest. Her zanpakuto spirits nod in agreement, but remain silent, keeping their actual thoughts to themselves.
"Trust me, you're not the only one to think that," I say, smirking. "So, how are things in the Second Division?"
"Same old, same old. . . However, I couldn't help but notice that my captain's been feeling a little different after yesterday, but in a good way for once."
"I wonder why. . ." I muse, remembering how close the woman was to a certain werecat's side back on Sokyoku Hill after Aizen and his cronies made their escape. "With Yoruichi back, and their misunderstanding seemingly put to bed, maybe Soi Fon will lighten up a little more now . . . Though, knowing her, that's probably asking too much."
"You think?!" My cousin stresses out the word, making sure she got every ounce of enunciation that she could possibly muster from it. "Anyway, where are you and Mizukiri going on this fine afternoon huh?"
"We're going to the Fourth to visit Captain Kuchiki," Mizukiri answers for the both of us as we continue walking. "Senbonzakura made it pretty obvious that his master wanted to tell Mina something yesterday, but he never got around to doing it. . ."
"Because the current situation was not a good setting for whatever he had to say to me," I add, shooting a look at my zanpakuto's smirking face. "With things a little quieter now, I'm sure Byakuya will be much more willing to speak up. . . What about you?"
"We're actually heading to the Fourth as well," says Shika. "We have to check on a few guys that checked into their care earlier in the day."
"What happened to them?"
"A training exercise gone bad!" Maru helpfully pipes up, her tone markedly more cheerful than her sister's.
"I see. . . Well, let's not keep them waiting then."
We ended up chatting about our respective divisions and family business for the rest of the walk to the Fourth Division. As soon as we stepped into the main building, Lieutenant Kotetsu spotted us as she was stepping out from a side hallway, her face showing a grin for once instead of the nervous glances I was so used to seeing from her.
Following behind her was her zanpakuto Itegumo, a small childlike being dressed in a white oversized parka, black boots, and a silver mask that covered the lower half of their face. The parka was so large that it practically enveloped the spirit, hiding so much of their physical body that most weren't even sure what gender Itegumo was, not even Isane herself. . . I think?
It also didn't help that Itegumo was so silent that no one could remember the last time the spirit even talked to someone. Judging from its name, Itegumo had to be an ice or snow type, but since Isane has never really had to use them in battle, no one was really sure.
"Afternoon Isane, Itegumo," I say in greeting as the two approach. "You look like you've been having a decent day so far."
"It's been better than usual, believe it or not," She tells us, relief evident on her face as Itegumo silently nods in agreement. "Even the patients from the Eleventh haven't been putting up much of a fuss today, well, except during breakfast, but Captain Unohana handled them well enough."
"Actively disturbing the barracks is a known pet peeve of hers, one that the Eleventh seems to poke at anytime someone from that squad gets checked in here," Akira mumbles. "Captain Unohana has the patience of a saint to put up with all their crap for so long."
"Indeed, but even she has her moments sometimes, and they are quite the sight to witness," Isane admits, looking almost fearful herself before shaking herself back into the focus. ". . . So, what can I do for you two?"
"We're here to check on some of my division's men," Akira answers first, sneaking a look my way before continuing. "And my cousin here was hoping to talk to Captain Kuchiki, if that's alright with you."
"Of course Akira. . . My captain is currently checking over your subordinates right now. Their rooms are down that way!"
My cousin simply nods in gratitude before she and Kage Mai walk down the hallway she just came from. As for Mizukiri and myself, we followed the lieutenant down a second, larger hallway until we reached its end, where she pointed toward the door on our direct left. . .
. . . A door that had Byakuya's name printed on the nameplate beside it.
"Thank you Isane," I say as she walks off down the intersecting corridor, the slight sway of her head the only indication that she even heard me. "Byakuya's reiatsu feels much better compared to yesterday, and why does Senbonzakura's feel so light? It's as if he's quite amused by something."
"Well, there is one way to find out, master," Kiri chides me as she nudges my arm, her smirk growing bigger as she gestures to the door. ". . . After you."
"How nice of you . . ." I say, taking a deep breath. Stepping forward, I knock three times as I mentally prepare myself to face my best friend, flaring my reiatsu just enough that Byakuya would definitely know who he was about to see.
The reiatsu inside spiked slightly before settling down, and before Mizukiri and I could even question it, our ears perked up at the sound of footsteps approaching from the other side. Seconds later, the door was open, and a familiar mask wearing samurai was looking directly at us.
"We were expecting you."
"Good to know that we lived up to your expectations then," I say as he moves aside so that we could step into the room.
Byakuya was watching us from his hospital bed, his face mostly emotionless save for his eyes, which held an emotion that I wasn't completely able to pinpoint. It was a little similar to the look he gave me yesterday when he told me to stand down against Aizen, but I guess it'll just have to be one of the many things we discuss in our upcoming talk.
"It's good to see you well Mina," He says in greeting as he gestures to the empty chair on his left, inviting me to sit as our zanpakuto move over to the open window.
"I should be saying that to you old friend," I say in return as I slide into the seat. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine, but I do wish to be discharged soon."
"In a rush already?" I teased as I leaned back. "I know the current situation in the Seireitei is not the best right now, but that's no excuse to risk your health, even if you are feeling fine . . . Besides, there's no way in hell you're leaving here without Unohana's approval in any case."
"Yes, that last part has crossed my mind," He concedes, his tone sounding distracted as he looks off to nowhere in particular.
We fall into a silence that lasts for the next five minutes or so, each one feeling more suffocating than the last as we fail to get to the real reasons this visit is occurring in the first place.
It's not like I don't want to talk. I just have no idea how to start things off.
Thankfully, Byakuya finally decides to be the one to break the ice.
"Senbonzakura, Mizukiri, can you leave us alone for a moment? Mina and I have some matters to discuss."
"Indeed, you two do. . ." Senbonzakura is quick to say, his remark earning him a scowl from his master. He ignores it as he escorts Kiri to the exit, the two of them sparing us one last glance before walking out the door.
"So, where should we begin?" I ask as he turns back to me, his grey eyes watching me with full attention.
"I believe it's best if we start with why I told you to stand down against Aizen, Tosen, and Gin." He offers, though there was a slight hitch to his voice that I almost didn't notice. The hitch. . . it was almost like a crack.
Was he. . . nervous?
"Hmm, your order has crossed my mind a few times." I say, crossing my arms. "I never expected that to come from you. . . What was going on in your head at that moment?"
"Well, I could say that it was because you were outnumbered by three captain class fighters and leave it at that, but it wouldn't be the entire truth."
"I see . . . I'll admit it. What you just said is a perfectly plausible reason, but if that's not it, what's the actual truth?"
"I couldn't stand to lose you."
"Oh my goodness, Mizukiri was right."
My zanpakuto was obviously listening in, the amusement and smugness I felt through our bond being indication enough as I looked off to the side, as Byakuya's shocking words slowly sank into my consciousness as I felt his gaze remain on me.
"Please do not take what I say negatively. I am not undermining your abilities Minata, and I never will," Byakuya almost hastily adds as soon as I finally look up at him, his bandaged hand taking hold of my own. Despite the wrappings, I could still feel the warmth in his fingers, a comfort that I couldn't help but appreciate, even if I didn't visibly show it.
"I know you don't Byakuya. . ." I whisper in return. "Kami help you if you ever do."
"Consider me warned," He days in return; his eyes widening slightly at my sudden change in tone before relaxing seconds later. "It's just . . . It's just that after everything that has happened with Rukia, after almost losing her in part because of my own ineptitude, I could not bear the thought of losing you as well, especially not to that deluded lunatic Aizen."
"Hmm, fair enough, and I wouldn't say that you were completely inept yesterday." I concede as I weave our fingers together. "I believe the more proper phrasing would be emotionally and legally compromised."
"Emotionally and legally compromised?" He asks, his right eyebrow going up slightly. "Well isn't that just an apt way of describing things?"
"I try my best," I say, a thought suddenly coming to my head. "You know. . . I could have disobeyed your orders, now that I think about it."
". . . You could have," He concedes, though he does not look happy with the thought. "And why didn't you?"
"Well, it definitely wasn't because you hold the higher rank," I say, shooting him a pointed look. "It's just that. . . that look in your eyes back on Sokyoku Hill. I could tell that you were pleading for me to stay back with your gaze, and pleading is something that's definitely not in your repertoire."
"I see," he mumbles as he looks down at our combined hands. "And you're right, pleading, let alone any form of desperation, is not a quality that most would associate with myself, now is it?"
"Not in the slightest," I say in vehement agreement. "So. . . you cannot bear the thought of losing me huh?"
"Not in the slightest," He says in return, throwing my own words right back at me. "Mina, on one hand, I understand that you had a right to face off against those that betrayed the Seireitei."
"It would have been the dutiful thing to do," I say, my feelings mixed on the subject.
"But it wouldn't be the smartest thing to do, now would it?" He says in return. "You were in a situation where you were outnumbered in both numbers and power. Everyone else that was on the scene were either unconscious or incapacitated. . . If you had faced them alone, you would have died, and I couldn't bear to watch my best friend die. I care about you too much to allow that to happen."
". . . From your words, I can tell that you've been giving recent events a lot of thought," I say, amazed by this . . . emotional side of Byakuya that was quietly rising to the surface.
"I have done quite a lot of thinking recently. There are some thoughts I do regret," He admits, and at this moment, I knew he was talking about his attitude and actions toward Rukia. "But there are others that I'm very certain of."
"And what exactly are you certain of Byakuya?"
"I'm certain that I no longer care for you as just my best friend," He tells me, his tone amazingly sincere. "I care for you much more strongly, more deeply than that. . . Much more romantically than that."
"But, but what about your mourning period," I blurted out, a little too flustered by his words. "You've been mourning Hisana for over 50 years now!"
"I have, but I cannot linger in the past forever Mina, despite the good memories it holds," He tells me, watching my face with a look that was starting to send my heart fluttering. "As you just said, I have mourned Hisana for a long time now, but something that she said came back to me during the standoff on Sokyoku Hill, something I've been lingering on for quite a while."
"And what exactly did she say that has stuck with you for so long?"
"She told me that I shouldn't continue to dwell in the past, or else I will miss what's here in the present."
"Hmm, yes, that definitely sounds like her," I concede, shaking my head.
Hisana came from one of the worst parts of the Rukongai, living a strained life that led to her making the fateful choice to leave her own baby sister behind, a decision that she regretted up to the end of her life, even with the good that entered it since then. Even after she became Lady of the Kuchiki Clan and fulfilled her duties better than anyone could have ever expected, Hisana still lingered in the past when it came to Rukia, even to the detriment of her own health.
At the very least, her spirit can rest easy now that Byakuya fulfilled his promise to her, though the treating Rukia like an actual sibling part still needs work.
"I miss Hisana, I really do . . . but I believe it is time that I start living by her words and look toward the future, and I want you to be a part of that future Mina," he tells me, his free hand finding its way to my cheek. ". . . If you will have me, of course."
He's courting me.
Oh kami, he's actually courting me!
My best friend wants to pursue a romantic relationship. . . with me!
"Yes, I believe that's what he's implying."
"Stop listening in Mizukiri!"
"Sorry! I couldn't help myself."
"Mina?"
My face, which was already starting to flush once Mizukiri spoke up in my head, likely turned a few shades deeper as soon as Byakuya's voice pierced through my thoughts, his face now looking concerned as he carefully watched me.
"Are you well?" He asks, leaning forward slightly. "You look a little red."
"That tends to happen when your best friend is basically admitting that he wants to court you."
"I never said that explicitly, but yes, that is what I am intending," He admits with a perfectly serious face, though his gray eyes looked noticeably amused as the hand on my cheek moved toward my chin.
"If I will have you. . ." I say, throwing his words right back at him as I started to slowly close the gap between us.
"If you will have me of course," He says again, his face softening slightly as our foreheads nearly touch. "Mina, I-"
"Shh," I cut in before doing one of the most daring things I've ever done in my life. . . I kissed him.
I kissed Byakuya Kuchiki. I kissed my best friend.
. . . And for my first ever kiss no less.
Sure, it was only a quick peck, but those few seconds I spent pressing my lips to his felt like the longest few seconds of my life. . .
. . . In a very good, tingling sensation racing up and down my spine kind of way.
When I pulled back, Byakuya's face was still, save for his lips, which were partly open, giving him a look that could be best described as dignified shock. When he looked at me, his eyes were a mixture of awe, relief, and. . .
. . . Is that desire I see?
"Did that answer your question?" I ask, finding my voice as I inclined my head slightly.
". . . Yes, I believe it does," He finally says, the desire still there in his eyes as he took my hands in his. Sensing what he planned to do next, I couldn't help but smile as he leaned forward, claiming my lips for a kiss that was undoubtedly longer than our first quick peck, sending shivers through my body that were so scintillating that I didn't want it to stop, especially when he started deepening it.
"HOLY SOUL SOCIETY!"
Unfortunately, fate didn't smile kindly on us at this moment. Byakuya was the one to end things, pulling away with an apologetic look in his eyes before he turned his glare on his lieutenant, who was halfway in the room, clinging on to the doorknob as Chimpette and Snakey stood behind him, the former looking smug while the latter looked as shocked as his master.
"Huh, I always had a feeling that this would happen. . ." Chimpette admits, looking completely unapologetic as she looks on with glee. ". . . Took you two long enough though."
Ignoring the comment, Byakuya turned to Renji, who was still watching us with shock in his gaze and his mouth wide open.
"Abarai, I suggest you close your mouth. You'll catch flies if you keep it open for too long . . . You too Snakey," Byakuya suggests, the multiple emotions he was likely feeling seconds ago now replaced with his signature stoicism. Renji and Snakey instantly do what they're told, and all Chimpette could do was quietly laugh as they did so.
"Sounds like something interesting is going on over here!"
Renji, Chimpette, and Snakey turn their heads, and I couldn't help but smirk as a noticeable blush appeared across the redhead's face. The reason for it quickly appeared, my cousin and Kage Mai stepping into view to see us, and our still conjoined hands. "Ooh, what did we miss?!"
"Nothing much really cousin. . ." I admit as Renji gives her a very noticeable once over, now realizing that she stood close to his own height. "Renji here simply forgot how to knock."
"Hmm, I see . . ." She tells him, turning to the flustered looking redhead. "Nice to meet you Lieutenant Abarai."
"Nice, uh, nice to meet you too, uh, miss. . ." Renji managed to say, trailing off when he realized that he had no idea what my cousin's name actually was, which was likely making him blush harder.
"This is quite the sight. . ." I hear Byakuya whisper in my ear, the sudden sound of his deep voice being so close almost startling me.
"It is, but it's kinda cute, in an embarrassing, awkwardly silent kinda way, " I had to admit, feeling a little pity for the redhead as he continues his sudden silence.
Akira didn't seem to be too put off by it though, but Kage Mai was a different story, watching him with unsure glances as Chimpette snapped her fingers in front of her master's face to try to snap him out of his self-induced silence.
Snakey was no help. He was just as frozen as Renji.
"Um, does he always get like this?" Akira finally asks, breaking the silence as she turns to us, her eyes more on Byakuya than me.
"No," Byakuya admits, blunt with his delivery. "I've never seen him like this before."
"That's because he's usually not like this, not even in regard to other women,'' Chimpette grumbled, though the smirk on her face told us that she wasn't really annoyed by her master's behavior. ". . . Congrats, my master officially has a crush on you!"
"CHIMPETTE!"
Renji's yell was so loud that the entire wing likely heard it. The man was quick to glare at the woman - who didn't look the least bit repentant of her words - only to stop when he noticed that Akira was chuckling at their interaction.
I figured Renji would have said something about it, but he only started blushing again.
Yep, the redhead was smitten alright.
"Oh yes. . . Renji has it bad," I say, barely noticing the subtle nod Byakuya did at my words as Abarai shook his head, probably knocking his senses back into focus.
"Um, sorry, I usually don't act like this," The redhead manages to say, his voice sounding a tad lighter despite his words.
"It's fine; when you're a member of the Second Division, you learn to not let weird, out of character reactions get to you," Akira says, speaking in a way that I recognized as her trying to get Renji at ease. "Anyway, I'm Third Seat Akira Fukudome. The two ladies behind me are my zanpakuto, Kage Mai."
"You can just call me Shika." The older half adds, her face finally breaking into a smirk.
"And I'm Maru." says the younger one, almost cheekily as she shot Snakey a quick wink, making him blush as well.
"Anyway, I'd love to stay and continue this lovely chat, but I gotta get going. Captain Soi Fon expects a report as soon as I return to the barracks," Akira admits before nodding her head in our direction. "Have a good day everyone. . . Oh, and before I forget, Grandma wants to know when you'll be stopping by for your next visit."
"Tell her I'll stop by tomorrow afternoon."
"Good! I'm sure she'll appreciate hearing the latest development in your relationship with Captain Kuchiki from your mouth rather than mine!"
"Oh yes . . . That," I say, watching her sneak one more glance at our conjoined hands before shunpoing away, Kage Mai quickly following suit.
"Abarai, did you need something?" Byakuya asks his lieutenant, and now that I think about it, Renji never did state why he was visiting in the first place.
"Uh, no Captain!" Abarai spits out. "Well, I was just coming in to see how you were doing, and well, it seems you're doing much better than I expected."
"Don't you have a division to oversee while I'm still on injury leave?" Byakuya coldly asks, spooking his subordinate so much that he scrambles to grab the doorknob before closing the door with a loud thud.
"Oh don't be so hard on him," I chide as he continues to watch the door. "I'm sure he was just being curious."
"He was being cheeky," He tells me matter-of-factly, his face softening as he turned to me. "So, you plan to visit your grandmother soon."
"Indeed, and . . . Well, Akira is right. Nana would probably appreciate me telling her of our good news rather than hearing it secondhand," I say, knowing how big her reaction was going to be, as well as some of the more emotional members of my family once they find out. "What about you?"
"My family will know eventually, and I plan to tell Rukia and Grandfather first, but that is for a later time . . ." He concedes, his gray eyes looking deep into mine. "I just want to enjoy the time we have now."
"I have no problems agreeing to that . . ."
A/N - A samue is a traditional Japanese garment that's usually made from cotton or linen, typically dyed in blue or brown, and popular among many sectors of society
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