Hi there everybody!
I know it's been a long time...and i've been only and rarely updating "A frozen ocean of rain". But i thought of coming back for a while on this one, since you all asked me to update it.
Now i don't want to promise anything...but if i'll receive some feedback from you and if you really want to see it complete l'll keep updating, if not i suppose i will abandon it since i don't so much free time as i used to.
Otherwise, thank you the reviews during the last year! I read each and one of them because they're the ones to motivate me finishing this story.
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13. Operation tea and poetry: succes
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Rukia laid on her bed, but as she couldn't get any sleep she turned from one side to another. Even if the she knew that Renji's hug ruined the mood and that sooner or later she will have to clear that out with Ichigo, at that late hour she had more important things to worry about.
The meetings with the Elders!
What would Ichigo actually do tomorrow when he will be facing four stiffed old men, among which two were leaving from the presumption that he's a bug that needs to be squashed?!
Ichigo needed to be outstanding in order to not give them any reason to turn him down as her suitor. He ought to be silent, respectful, graceful and last but not least skilful with all the noble inurnments. He wasn't any of the up mentioned. On the contrary he was hot-tempered, impatient, noisy... and above all these, so deeply convinced that being a noble it's a waste of time, that he wasn't even willing to please the Elders. Put it short, Ichigo was obviously planning to be himself tomorrow during the meeting...
Consequently, Katsuya won't even need to came up with arguments in order to chase him away from the Kuchiki clan, Saito who didn't state his position yet would be spared from the trouble of making a hard decision, while The Ryoing and Nanakuma brothers who already gave their written agreement will be put in a situation to regret their haste in making decisions.
As she was picturing this plausible scheme, the memory of Ichigo pouring vinegar in the tea came back vivid to her mind. Her orange haired nakama stand no chance! Moreoverhe will make a fool out of himself. She knew he had dozens of qualities... but this whole nobility thing, just wasn't for him.
'So the wedding is doomed'
She didn't even know why she felt so sorry. Was it because all the hard efforts in order to get used with the idea of spending the rest of her life with Ichigo were in vain? Or was it because after getting used with she had to give up on him?
'No, No...No! This is going too far!'
She didn't like this situation either. Of course she preferred for things to stay as they were so that she could enjoy both her celibacy and her friendship with Ichigo, but from the perspective her Nii-sama evaluated the situation, she had no other choice but to get married with someone... anyone! Otherwise she will have to bear her brother's child!
'NO WAY!'
Only the thought was making her brains twist so she will definitely go with the 'marrying someone else' option. Ok! Wedding... Family...Matrimony...but weren't all these related to 'love'?
Never before she had someone to be in love with and yet, if rationally, she was to think of someone to be by her side, Ichigo would have been the easiest choice, because being with him was just... natural. Therefore between anyone else and Ichigo, of course she would chose Ichigo. Besides, she was not the one to do a half assed job or worse to drop something in the middle.
Therefore as long as both agreed to it, they had to save this wedding!
As if she suddenly went on fire, she got off bed and shunpo-ed to the other side of the mansion, right to Ichigo's room. Without even bothering to check the late hour or even to try to be silent she burst in. Guiding herself by the snoring sound, she headed directly to the bed.
"Oi! Ichigo! Wake up!"
Nothing. He just waved his hand as if he was chasing away a fly that was bothering him.
"ICHIGO!" she snapped and this time he jumped on the edge of an heart attack:
"No! It wasn't me! I didn't put vinegar! It was Byakuya!"
Rukia cocked an eyebrow.
"Wo-how...Ichigo, calm down! It's just me, Rukia!"
"Wh-what?" he mumbled looking around confused.
"Don't 'what' me! Tomorrow it's a big day! We can't leave things like this."
Without listening to her and still half asleep he took his face in his palms and began to rub it.
"Rukia, what are you doing here? Go back to sleep. I'm tired."
"No, Ichigo. There's no time to sleep now. We still have a few hours. You have to learn how to perform the tea ceremony, otherwise the entire plan will go down. There will be no wedding!"
Hearing those last words, Ichigo put his head back on the pillow.
"So what?"
Rukia starred back at him puzzled.
"I don't get it."
" Maybe it's better this way..." he added with a deep voice.
"What do you mean, that it would be better for me to marry Nii-sama instead of you?" she snapped astonished.
"I didn't say that! But Byakuya gave more options. You don't have necessarily to marry me! He also mentioned Renji... or..."
Rukia suddenly cocked an eyebrow.
"Is this about what happened earlier with Renji?..."
"I don't care about Renji!" he snapped.
She gasped.
"So it is about Renji, after all. I already told you. It was a friendly hug, that's all. It's not like i have to marry him because of that!"
"I don't know, Rukia, what you should or shouldn't do, but it would be better if you will marry someone that you actually love. I couldn't care less if that person it's Renji or even Byakuya!"
"But what if that person would be you. Wouldn't you care about it then?"
On that question he slowly raised his head from the pillow and looked for her eyes to check if she was dead serious or if she was just teasing him. His eyes widened confused: there's was no trace of irony on her face.
"Now, will you give me some credit?"
He didn't answer. He was still trying to put the pieces together.
"Now are you willing to prepare yourself for tomorrow?" she added.
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05.45 A.M.
Byakuya was sitting on the porch starring at the perfect designed garden. He was up for an hour now and he was mentally preparing himself for the day that was about to come. Around him only silence and morning freshness, as the sun was slowly raising. By now he already knew that successfully going through the Elders meeting was impossible. Every time he was slightly hoping for it, he remembered the vinegar taste of Ichigo's so-called tea. Therefore, in order to avoid a disaster, he had no other choice, but to receive himself the guests- which was obviously impolite giving that they came to see Ichigo and not him.
He sighed.
Maybe Renji wasn't such a bad idea after all, since Ichigo will absolutely be rejected. Renji knew at least how to attend a tea ceremony. He taught him himself how to do it and he felt so proud of his skills of turning that savage into a civilised person. Maybe it was the time to look at Renji as a long time investment.
But then he sighed again.
Worrying was useless. He'd better use this time doing something more productive... such as poetry.
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"I see the sunrise before my eye
It's red and pure as my shikai
So please Ichigo don't get upset
For i shall always surpass the orange sunset."
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Byakuya smiled pleased. "The orange sunset" metaphor refereeing to Ichigo was sublime! His poetry sense never failed him. Maybe he should make this a farewell gift for Ichigo. Just a reminder of the fact that no matter how strong he gets physically, the Kuchiki refinement and class will always be unreachable.
He should try one more poem... this time something more personal.
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'My sister and family, beautiful as a Chappy
To whoever you'll go, make sure to be happy
Like cherry flowers mildly bloom and scatter
Surpass, amaze and bring pride in any matter.
But no matter where you will go, don't forget your dream:
Chappy and Seaweed Ambassador still make the best team!'
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Byakuya smiled again self impressed with his talent. He could already see Rukya's tears after hearing it. Maybe he should do this more often. As a matter a fact, after the whole wedding episode will come to an end, he will definitely organize at the mansion some poetry evenings. Maybe he will even publish a short volume, which he will obviously dedicate to Hisana. After that, maybe another one for Rukia, since she was the only one to have enough sensibility and actually feel his words.
"Lord Kuchiki, i'm sorry to disturb you..."
Suddenly one of his servants made his presence acknowledged on the porch.
"Is it already breakfast time?"
"No, my lord. It isn't yet. What i want is to show you something. I am positive that you would like to know about it."
Since his personal servant was never mistaken, he got up and followed him. Surprisingly he was led to Ichigo's room. There, in front of the shut door he found two other servants who were eavesdropping. They both froze at his side. He frowned suspiciously and approach the door. Then his eyes suddenly widened.
"Do it again! It's too sour." Rukia's voice was heard.
"I think it's good enough!" Ichigo's voice snapped.
"Baka! We're talking about the Elders here! It doesn't have to be good enough, it has to be perfect!"
"Rukia i think it's nearly sufficient that i got to learn how to perform this silly ceremony tea in only two hours."
"Yes, Ichigo... i'll admit that... but let's make a great impression! So don't forget, put more jasmine in the composition so that it won't be too sour. Serving tea it's like introducing yourself. If it's too sweet they'll think you're a sissy. If it's sour they'll think that you have no refinement."
"Ok, ok... got it! Now can we move to the choosing my ceremony clothes part, please?"
"Yes, Ichigo, but let's do the tea once more before that."
"I'm tired Rukia... let's pick up the damn clothes!"
So they were practicing the entire night. He was astonished. From what he could hear, Ichigo actually managed to create a drinkable tea. Maybe hope wasn't lost yet! He raised his hand in order to knock on the door, since he was dying to see Ichigo's progress, but in the end he chose to act in conformity to its status and do not let anyone know that he ever eavesdropped. He just turned to his servants:
"Get the ceremony clothes prepared for Rukia and Ichigo! Purple for Rukia and golden for Ichigo."
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So what about the artistic side of Byakuya? What about Ichigo's jalous side? Review and you'll see more of it~