Chapter 50
(Byakuya)
I was quietly working when I received the summons by the Elders. They had some nerve calling me so soon after what had transpired this afternoon between the Kuna women and the Kuchiki's. Still, I humored them and let the servant know that they could come to me if they wanted to speak.
Which is precisely what they did a couple minutes later. All nine of them hobbled into my office in the manor and bowed their heads. I folded my hands against my table and waited for them to speak. It clearly had something to do with Shizuko and I was curious what verdict they expected of me now.
What I had not expected was them to inform me that they had already relieved Shizuko of duty from Squad Six.
"You did what?" I asked just to be sure I had heard them right. But the tremble of the room as I began to lose control of my temper all but silenced them.
"We had to relieve her of duty," My great-great uncle spoke, "She is a disgrace to this family—"
"You relieved her of duty," I asked slowly, "From my Squad? Without my permission?"
They suddenly were realizing their mistakes. All of these wrinkly morons glanced at one another, unsure what to say to appease me. There was no appeasement though. I was furious beyond any belief.
I stood up and called for my assistant. He came through and looked at me expectantly, "Go to my Fourth-Seat and delay the retirement of Third-Seat Shizuko Kuna."
"Yes, Captain."
"Lord Byakuya—we ask that if you insist on keeping that girl a Shinigami, that she no longer remain a member of Squad Six. And that she is severed from all ties to the Kuchiki Clan."
I stared at them all. They were complete fools—blinded by their own arrogance and self-worth to accept defeat. They had been ousted but they would never accept it. They were determined to have Shizuko bow before them.
And if there was one thing I had come to appreciate of her, it was that Shizuko did not bow. She was delicate and quiet, but she was not fragile.
At least, not until the other night…when she had struck me. You keep hurting me. Her words were true…they had stung. I had failed to shield her once—I would not disappoint her again.
"Leave my presence," I sat down in my seat. They all began to leave, but froze as I added, "And do not bring up Shizuko Kuna up again. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Lord Byakuya."
Later in the night, when I had moved to my chambers, I sensed a presence in my room. I opened the door and found her kneeling next to my bed.
Her hair was pinned back in an intricate bun, a stark contrast to her Shihakusho. She tilted her face up to me and pierced me still with those water-colored eyes. Her lip trembled but she quickly swallowed down her weakness and spoke to me in that wonderful, melodious whisper.
"Byakuya," She lowered herself to the ground fully. Her forehead pressed to the wooden floor and her hands were gracefully held in front of her, "Please. Don't let them transfer me."
Seeing her prostrating herself to me had been a goal of this family for so long. But I had come to admire her defiance like I had come to admire her mother. I no longer wanted to see this woman before me tremble.
I wanted to be the one to hold her up, not crush her spirit.
She kept her spine erect even as I knelt before her. I had to gather her up in my arms for her to relax. She held onto my clothes tightly and buried her face into the crook of my neck.
"Please," She whispered, "Please find it in yourself to show me some kindne—"
"Hush," I shut my eyes and held her to me. How did I come to fail this woman that I yearned for? It was almost cruel how miserably I had messed up. "I have already spoken to the Elders. You won't lose your standing or rank in the Squad."
"But…how?" She pulled back and sniffed like a toddler.
"They have been allowed to make many calls for the sake of this Clan," I sat her on the edge of my bed, "But they don't get to tell me how to run my Squad. That is solely my domain."
I cupped her face and forced her to look at me. She gripped my wrists like she always did I held her like this. She stared at me with wide, glassy eyes and I sighed.
"I'm sorry."
(Shizuko)
"I'm sorry. I've failed you many times, Shizuko," His words surprised me, and I had expected him to not be looking at me. But he was. I nodded and he continued quietly, "But I won't anymore—you have my word."
"I want to believe you…" I glanced down at my hands wrapped around his forearms. So many emotions fleeted through me but I could focus on none of them when he was this close to me, "There were times that I needed you to take my side…but there were times where I wasn't what you needed either. I thought of myself—not of you, or my mother, or the family."
He shook my head, "We all make that mistake from time to time."
He sounded like he wanted to add more. I could almost read his mind—that this was one of the moments he was choosing his wants over his family's. He didn't want me to go…I could see it in his gaze.
I let go of his arms and moved to stand up. He let me but hovered close to me as I straightened my uniform. I shut my eyes as I accidentally bumped into him. My heart wouldn't settle when I was this close to him—when I was alone with him.
All I had wanted to be near him. But our destinies had chosen different routes for us to follow. He had chased me away so long ago…and yet here I was. Near him again.
"I…don't want be sent away," I admitted. His leg brushed against my hip. I felt the heat of his hand near mine. "Byakuya, I want to be by your side."
He was speechless, saying nothing as I entwined my fingers through his. His palm was so large and warm, smooth and soft against mine. My lips brushed against the pale, creamy skin of his wrist, shutting my eyes as I kissed his hand and then his knuckles.
He was frozen to the spot in shock, even as I let him go and walked away.
