Skeleneko's Note: This isn't my story. I have permission from Twilight Countess (Amy) to repost this. If you like this story be sure to look out for her book "Eris"!
Senbonzakura
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Showdown
Hisana's P.O.V.
The news of Hisana's and Byakuya's engagement spread through the Seireitei like wildfire. It was met with many reactions. The elders were less than pleased, obviously and Hisana's started to get more dirty looks from the whole female population in general.
But some, like her friends and subordinates, were genuinely happy for Hisana.
"I love weddings!" said Fumiko. She, Susumu and Hisana were in the 6th Squad Office doing what else, paperwork.
"They're so exciting. Except I hate the part where the priest asks does anyone has any objections," Fumiko continued. "It makes me so tense. I'm always worried that someone might actually say something."
"I objected to a wedding once," said Susumu, looking up from the file on his desk.
"You didn't!" said Fumiko in horror. Hisana turned her head to Susumu.
"Oh, yes," said Susumu, "I told them that the groom was a drinker and a philanderer."
"Oh, no!" exclaimed Fumiko.
"And what did the groom say?" asked Hisana.
"I just told you," said Susumu. Hisana resisted the urge to bang her head on the table.
"It was the only way I could think of getting out of it," said Susumu.
"Maybe I should ask Taicho if we could skip that part of the ceremony," sighed Hisana.
"They can write all their complaints down and drop them in a basket on their way out."
"Don't worry, fukutaicho," said Fumiko. "The elders claimed to have more power than they really do. As head of the Kuchiki clan, no one can oppose the authority of Kuchiki-taicho's decision. They can disagree all they want, but Kuchiki-taicho's word is final.
They're probably not as furious with your status, but rather with the fact that they couldn't get one their daughters to marry Taicho.
"You are most likely correct in your assumption, 12th seat Sao," said Byakuya, who was standing behind her. Fumiko jumped.
"Taicho!" gasped Fumiko.
Byakuya looked at Hisana. "Have you packed all your things?" he asked.
"Almost," said Hisana, getting up from her desk. Today Hisana was moving into the Kuchiki Estate. She walked to her room with Byakuya. Once there, Hisana started to pack several items into her brown sack; gypsy skirt, blouse, sash, jewelry, money.
"You seem to have an uncanny addition to those," said Byakuya as Hisana dumped the entire bowl of green apples from her table into the bag.
"And this is new to you how? I've been at peace with this fact for a while." She offered one to Byakuya.
"Ever tried one?" asked Hisana. Byakuya nodded.
"Those sissy sliced ones that the butlers carry around at your estate don't count. Ever taken a bite from the real thing?" Hisana started to wave the apple in front of Byakuya's face.
"Come on," cooed Hisana. "You know you want to. Screw all the rules of proper etiquette and just take one big…sloppy…bite."
Byakuya shoved Hisana backward so she fell on her bed. He followed, crawling over her. His hands ran all over her body and he bit Hisana on the neck, hard.
"Mmmm, not what I meant," breathed Hisana, trying to push Byakuya off her. He pinned her wrists down with one hand. The other hand proceeded undo the white sash at her waist.
"No, Byakuya," said Hisana firmly.
Byakuya's P.O.V.
He froze. Never before had Hisana rejected his advances. He got off her quickly and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Oh, don't act all insulted," said Hisana, fixing her robe as she crawled over to him.
"We're engaged now, Byakuya, do you know what that means?" she asked when she was sitting in his lap.
"What?" inquired Byakuya.
"It means that we don't get to have any sex until the wedding night," Hisana said.
Byakuya's eyes widened comically. "And who made this rule?"
"I did," said Hisana as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Think about it, Byakuya…" she whispered in his ear. "Do you want me like this now, so soon before our wedding, so near you can almost touch it?"
"Yes," said Byakuya deeply.
Hisana sighed. "Think about how good it would feel if you wait. After all the hell the nobles will put you through, wouldn't it be nice if you had a reward?"
Byakuya thought. "I…suppose."
"Then…I can give myself to you without hesitation," Hisana licked his lips. "And be completely, unashamedly, and legally yours."
Byakuya looked at her. "That's a tough choice," he said.
Hisana gave him a brief kiss. "You're a tough guy."
There were many whispers from both nobles and servants at the Kuchiki Estate as Hisana walked alongside Byakuya.
"Kuchiki-sama," one of the servants bowed. "The elders wish to speak with you in the council chamber."
Byakuya sighed. "Please, excuse me, Hisana," he said, but Hisana caught his arm.
"I want to go with you," she said.
Byakuya looked at her. "I'm not sure that is a good idea."
"I'll have to face them sooner or later, Byakuya. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you will always be there to protect me from their scorn," Hisana said. "Their disgust will probably always remain hidden behind fake smiles and fans. But I don't care, because being with you is worth all their snide remarks. "
Byakuya gave her hand a squeeze. "I just wish I could protect you from it."
Hand in hand, Byakuya and Hisana entered the room with all the elders.
Yamoto narrowed his eyes at Hisana. "We had hoped to speak to you alone, Kuchiki-taicho."
"Anything you have to say can be said in the presence of my lieutenant," said Byakuya.
"Very well," said Yamoto. "We have summoned you in hopes that you will reconsider the preposterous suggestion of marrying a woman whose origins are more than questionably."
"There is a reason why the walls of the Seireitei separate us from those souls in Rukongai, Kuchiki-taicho," said Kaden.
"And as I have said, Hisana now resides on our side of the wall," said Byakuya.
"Kuchiki-taicho, you are acting most unreasonably," said Sao Feng. "You have upheld the rules without fail your whole life. What is the motivation for such rebellion?"
"I will marry Hisana because she loves me for who I am," said Byakuya. "This has nothing to do with a petty desire to spite the ways of the aristocracy."
"And how do you know that her feeling towards you are true?" asked Sao Feng. "How do you know that she isn't just some scarlet woman trying to milk you for what you're worth?"
"This is how," Byakuya took Hisana in his arms, dipped her, and kissed her right on the mouth. Hisana eyes shot open before closing again, bringing her hand to cup his cheek, oblivious to their audience.
"Enough of this!" said Yamoto. "This is a council chamber, not a brothel!"
Hisana and Byakuya broke apart.
"We refused to give our blessing to such a despicable union," Byakuya's uncle spoke for the first time. Hisana looked at Hiroyasu. Hisana didn't care about what the elders thought, but her future in-laws…
Hisana gave a sigh of exasperation. "One single commoner in this family does not jeopardize centuries of tradition," she said.
Hiroyasu pointed an accusatory finger at her. "But it only takes one weak link…" he said coldly, "…to break the chain of a prestigious clan." Hisana felt like she had been slapped.
"Kuchiki Hiroyasu…" began Hisana, "I am a lieutenant of the Gotei 13. I can assure you I am anything but weak. Didn't Byakuya tell you that the reason he made me his 2nd seat was because I defeated him in a shikai duel?"
"What is this rubbish you speak?" asked Hiroyasu. "No one can best my nephew." Hisana thought she detected some pride in his voice.
"She tells the truth, Uncle," said Byakuya. "The first release of Hisana's zanpakuto is hardly anything to sneer at. I learned this the hard way."
"I wouldn't care if she defeated the Commander General!" said Hiroyasu. "She is still the farthest thing from a noble lady and you, Byakuya, should not have forgotten it! Your father never dared to disobey the rules as you are doing now, Byakuya. The Kuchiki clan if one of the Four Great Noble Families, if we do not uphold the law, who will?"
Byakuya said nothing, so Hisana decided to step in.
"I can understand why the elders would despise our engagement," Hisana said to Hiroyasu. "They lose the great opportunity of marrying one of their own relatives to Byakuya and also lose the gain of power in the Kuchiki clan that would have resulted of such a marriage."
Several people gave a few gasps.
"But you are Byakuya's uncle, you neither gain nor lose anything from our union, so why are you so against it?"
"Why…Why?" Hiroyasu stood up, towering over Hisana. "Because I have watched over Byakuya ever since his parents passed away. I have always acted in his best interest; I've always wanted what was best for him and that, Sayuri-fukutaicho, is definitely not YOU!"
Hisana stood there for a moment.
"If you thought that Byakuya couldn't take care of himself, then why did you let him succeed you as head of the Kuchiki clan?" asked Hisana. "I'm confident that you could have pulled a few strings to make your own son, Ozai, the heir."
"Don't not speak of things you don't understand," said Hiroyasu. "Byakuya's father was my older brother. Byakuya is the legitimate heir."
"And since he is the legitimate heir, you, the simple regent that held power between Byakuya and his father, cannot forbid out marriage. If you don't give us your blessing, that is your choice. But as the head of the clan, Byakuya doesn't need it."
Hisana turned away from Hiroyasu, grabbed Byakuya's hand, and they walked out of the chamber together.
Author's Note: Go Hisana, go Hisana. It's your birthday, it's your birthday…