Complications
byakuxhisa4eva
II. There's Always a Catch
"Kurosaki," said Byakuya after a moment of awkward silence (for Ichigo), "What makes you think that you are worthy enough to receive my sister's hand in marriage?"
"I love Rukia more than anything in the world. I'll protect her with my life. I swear," Ichigo said confidently. "Please Byakuya."
The Kuchiki head looked straight at the orange-haired shinigami, his eyes penetrating deep into the others', leaving Ichigo feeling extremely warm and uncomfortable.
"No. Rukia is a noble," Byakuya said, " A noble is expected to marry another noble and produce an heir. It is tradition. I will not have Rukia cause a scandal in the Four Noble families by marrying beneath her."
"But Byakuya," Ichigo protested, "I'm a captain! Isn't that on equal status with a noble?"
"You are on par with an average noble from one of the four families. But we Kuchiki are the head of the Four Noble families. We are above the other nobles. You may be a captain, and that is admirable, especially for one who originally started out as a substitute shinigami, but Rukia, as a Kuchiki, will be expected to follow the rules and marry another noble and bear an heir."
Ichigo's gaze hardened. He couldn't lose Rukia. No matter what.
"I'm sorry Kurosaki. The rules are the rules. You may have convinced my to go against the rules before, but this is a different situation. I can't allow the law to be broken again." Byakuya spoke finally. "That is all."
Byakuya stood up, and walked over to the closed door.
"You married Hisana-san even though she wasn't a noble!" Ichigo blurted out desperately, knowing that his late wife was the Kuchiki's soft spot, though it was a rather touchy subject, and he was risking a lot by going there.
Byakuya's stopped, frozen in mid-step at the mention of Hisana, and turned his head, his gaze piercing into hardened, honey-brown orbs.
"What did you say?"
"You married Rukia's sister Hisana-san even though she wasn't a noble and from one of the poorest districts in Rukongai," Ichigo repeated, hoping he had gotten through to the cold Kuchiki noble. "You married her out of love, not duty, even though it went against everything you believed in - all the rules and laws of nobility; you went against your own family to marry her, and tainted your family's reputation. And you're the head of your family, which makes it even worse."
Byakuya flinched at the memory that had risen in his mind of the time he had gone against everything he believed in to marry the one he loved.
"Imagine if you weren't the head of the Kuchiki. Then you wouldn't have been able to marry her because your family, and the head of the family would have never allowed it. What would you have done then?"
"I would have found a way," Byakuya replied, not quite sure why he was answering to the carrot-topped shinigami captain across from him,"I would have done whatever it took to marry her. Anything."
"Exactly," Ichigo said pointedly. "I'll do whatever it takes to get you to give me your sister's hand. Anything. Just give me a chance to prove myself."
Ichigo looked intently into cold, grey eyes, full of determination.
"Hisana would have wanted Rukia to be happy," Byakuya said finally, eyes softened at the though of his beloved wife. "I'll give you one chance to prove you are worthy to marry Rukia."
"Thank you, Byakuya." Ichigo said, relieved.
"You will come to the Kuchiki residence three times a week starting tomorrow, once you are finished your captain duties, to receive instructions on the laws and traditions of nobility. You will learn how to behave like a noble and should you get the approval of the Four Nobles families and myself, I will give you permission to ask for Rukia's hand."
"Er...Is that really necessary, Byakuya?"
The look in Byakuya's eyes clearly said 'I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself worthy enough to marry Rukia and you will do what I say or else you can forget about asking for Rukia's hand in marriage.'
"Of-of course, Byakuya!" Ichigo said, "I'll be here tomorrow!"
"Very well, I'll see you tomorrow then, Kurosaki," Byakuya said, "And I expect you to be here on time if you want to make a good first impression. Good day, Kurosaki."
The Sixth Division captain stepped over the threshold and softy slid the shoji screen closed behind him with a soft thump.
Ichigo grinned, letting his serious façade slip off.
"So?" Matsumoto said excitedly, "What the plan?"
"Alright," Nanao said, pushing her slipping glasses up, holding a long, pointed stick in her hand. "Rukia," she pointed at a chibi drawing of a bunny with Rukia's hairstyle on the black chalkboard behind her, "will go into the Kuchiki mansion, and ask Kuchiki-taicho if he will consent to posing for this years' photo book," Nanao finished, motioning towards the mini Kuchiki mansion and chibi Byakuya bunny drawn on the board.
"Ise-san," said Nemu, "Isn't that the plan every year? The one that always failed?"
"She right you know, Nanao," Matsumoto said, nodding her head.
"That true," Nanao admitted, "But this year it's Rukia-chan that's asking Kuchiki-taicho to agree, not one of us. There's a significantly higher chance of Kuchiki-taicho agreeing this year."
"When am I expected to do this?" Rukia asked absently, still admiring the cute little bunny drawings of her brother and herself.
"As soon as possible, Rukia-chan," Nanao said, "The photo books' release is booked for next month."
"Ok," the ebony-haired shinigami said, "I'll go right now then!"
"Yay! Rukia-chan! Do us proud!" Matsumoto cried, squashing a slightly flustered Rukia against her inhumanly large assets.
"Matsumoto-san...you're-you're crushing me..." Rukia said, muffled against her friends chest.
"Oh?" Matsumoto said, eyes widening comically. "I'm sorry Rukia-chan!"
Huge, watery crystal blue eyes gazed into violet ones, the latter who stared in disbelief at the glittering, pink background that had materialized out of nothingness.
"Err...it's ok?" Rukia said hesitantly.
"Yay! Rukia-chan!" The blond-haired woman cried, swinging the petite shinigami around and around in circles.
The rest of the females in the room sweat-dropped at the over enthusiastic scene.
After about five minutes of non-stop spinning Rukia was beginning to see stars.
"Rangiku," Nanao asked, "I think Rukia better get started on her job now..."
"Oh?" Matsumoto stopped suddenly, Rukia's body lifeless in her arms. "I suppose Rukia-chan should get started...RUKIA-CHAN?! RUKIA-CHAN!?"
"RUKIA-CHAN! RUKIA-CHAN!" They shook Rukia's body furiously.
"Eh?" Rukia said absently, eyes dreamy and unfocused, "Ichigo...we shouldn't...Ichigo...don't...don't...I said DON'T!" She kicked wildly and got Nanao in the stomach.
"Oof!" Nanao gasped, her frames slipping down to the bottom of her nose.
"Oh! I'm sorry Nanao-san." Rukia said, arms flapping wildly.
"Don't-don't worry Rukia-chan..."
"Oh, Nanao-chan!" A sing-song, deep male voice came floating through the open window. "Nanao-chan! Where are you?"
"Oh god..." Nanao moaned, though there was a subtle tone of happiness in her voice, "Not now...sorry guys, I have to go now...my Captain's looking for me."
"Going to have some fun Nanao-chan?" Matsumoto said suggestively, winking.
The usually stern and refined Vice Captain blushed and hurried out of the room.
Matsumoto giggled uncontrollably, then suddenly realized that the one she was hugging had a mission to complete.
"Come-on, Rukia-chan! Time to see Kuchiki-taicho!"
And the busty, blond shinigami ran out of the room, dragging a disheveled Rukia behind her, who was desperately trying to fix her hair.
Note: Thanks to nostalgic maiden for editing this chapter for me!
A/N: Well, I know that I'd have this chapter up a few days ago...but, as you should probably know, I'm a slacker. I tend to read more than I write. For about every 50 chapters I read, I write one chapter...what can I say? There's too many good stories here. Starting now, it could take a while to load the next chapter...cuz school's starting soon, and, as with most of you, school comes before I try to write in my spare time (when I'm not slacking off) so I can have the next chapter up ASAP.
Also, for those of you who are Harry Potter/Bleach fans, I'm beta'ing a HP/Bleach crossover story! Trust me, it has a VERY good plot all planned out. And you can expect a lot better updates. It's called 'When his world turns over' by Juud. I would put the link in this, but hyperlinks tend to mess up once you upload them. Anyway, check out the story! Byakuya/Hisana fans might like it too, but I won't give too much of it away. Lots of Action/Adventure too...Trust me... Hope you check it out!