Skeleneko's Note: Riiiiight, I'm tired of posting that same message up here every chapter, but I think you get the message that I DID NOT WRITE THIS STORY. I'm not that much of a creative genius. :3 Look out for her book Eris!
I'm sad, no one commented about Byakuya's mom. I thought it was pretty clever. I've always wondered about Byakuya's relationship with his parents. They must have meant a lot to him if he vowed on their graves never to break the rules again. On with the show!
Chapter Twenty-Six: An Impasse with Shinsou
Hisana's P.O.V.
Hisana was sitting on a branch of one of the tallest trees in the forest. It had a marvelous view of the Seireitei. Hisana starred at all the white buildings.
"Do you see it, Renji?" Hisana pointed in front of her. From this height, you could see past the white walls and see all the buildings that made up the Seireitei.
"Yeah," said Renji quietly.
"That's the Seireitei," said Hisana. "That's where souls with strong reiatsu go." She turned to face him. "People like you."
Hisana liked the Gotei 13. Where you came from didn't matter. If you worked hard enough you could even become a captain. That's what Gin did. He came from beginnings very similar to her own, and now he was the 3rd Division Taicho.
Hisana believed that she belonged in the Gotei 13. She was a good Shinigami. Hell, she must be a really good Shinigami if Aizen could go from saying pathetic excuse for sorcery to praising her ability at nonverbal spells. But did she belong in the Kuchiki clan?
Would she ever find her place in that foreign world of champagne and caviar? The matchmaker's words played in her head. Dignified, refined, poised. Noble women were meant to be seen, not heard. Hisana's chest tightened. That was exactly why Hisana ran away from Aizen. She wanted to be more than a porcelain doll for her husband to show off.
Suddenly she felt Byakuya's spirit force enter the woods. Hisana jumped and Sky stepped away from the reiatsu. She didn't want to face Byakuya right now. She didn't want him to see how much the incident with the matchmaker had weakened her resolve.
Hisana would have to get out of the forest and into the open if she wanted to ditch Byakuya. As long as he had branches to land on, Byakuya could easily catch her with his Flash steps. But in the open, Byakuya would have to resort to Sky steps if he wanted to keep chase. And Hisana wasn't the Goddess of Air for nothing.
Hisana jumped higher above the trees. She saw a blur of a white haori ascend from branch to branch of a nearby tree. Hisana was at the top of the canopy of the forest when something grabbed her ankle.
Hisana turned to see Byakuya. He gripped her foot firmly.
"Do you really think I'm foolish enough to let you any where near the open sky?" he asked. Hisana scowled at him. She aimed a kick at his face; he blocked it, but was forced to shunpo to the safety of a nearby branch to keep from falling.
"Can't a girl just sit back and enjoy the scenery in peaceful solitude?" asked Hisana.
"Such lies are not very becoming of you, Hisana," said Byakuya. "Shiba-fukutaicho told me what happened. You and I both know you're beating yourself up over something you shouldn't. I won't permit it."
"You won't permit it," repeated Hisana. "Since when have you been able to tell me what to do?"
"Since you became my lieutenant," said Byakuya. Hisana frowned. She hated when Byakuya played the superior/subordinate card.
"Please, Hisana, talk to me," said Byakuya, his eyes pleading. Hisana softened and she jumped from her glowing square to the branch. She wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Sorry," she mumbled into his chest. "It's just, if you're not near…I sometimes forget why I should put up with them."
Byakuya stroked her hair. "I'll always be here to remind you," he said.
A servant tied a pure white obi around Hisana's waist. Another was adding and an elegant comb to her hair. Hisana looked at her reflection. The silver and white kimono clung to her body, enhancing each curve.
"You're ready, Hisana-sama," said the servant girl.
"No, I'm not," Hisana thought.
"I shall be there soon," said Hisana. The girls bowed and departed. Hisana walked over to the window and looked down. She could see Nanao in her pink kimono, storming away from her captain. Hisana sighed.
"Hello? Somebody's gonna be late for her own wedding," Takuaji materialized behind her. He now had brown hair and clear blue eyes with his normal raven wings. Hisana had given up on asking him why his appearance was always changing.
"I've still got twenty minutes," said Hisana.
"But that's not why you're stalling," said Takuaji. "Getting cold feet, Hisana?"
"No, Takuaji, it's just…" Hisana had slid the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. "I've always been a gypsy; dancing in the streets, running from the thugs." Hisana sighed again, "…living my life alone. I was alone in the 2nd and 5th Divisions," Hisana continued. "I'm taking a big step today. From now on I'm supposed to face everything in life with Byakuya at my side."
"You need to get that gypsy 'take care of yourself by yourself' mentality out of your brain," said Takuaji. "You see it as weakness to let Byakuya carry some of the weight on his shoulders, instead of carrying it all yourself. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you."
"You're right, as always," Hisana said.
Byakuya's P.O.V.
Meanwhile, Byakuya was greeting the guests that were chatting idly in the garden.
"Unohana-taicho," Byakuya gave a respectful nod. His face remained emotionless but the hand holding his champagne glass was shaking ever so slightly.
"3rd seat Susumu," said Byakuya. When Susumu went to pass him, Byakuya placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I trust there will be no objections during the ceremony…"
"Hehehe," Susumu gave a hesitant laugh. "Of course not, Taicho."
"Ya seem nervous, Kuchiki-san," Ichimaru Gin stood behind him, smiling as always.
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why, Hisana invited me," Gin showed Byakuya his invitation. Byakuya glared at Gin. Gin just smiled.
"Don't act so upset, Kuchiki-san, ya'll barely know I'm here, now if ya'll excuse me, I think I'll test out tha' buffet table over there." Gin swaggered away, leaving Byakuya to grind his teeth.
"Don't let him get to you, Kuchiki-taicho," said a warm voice.
"Aizen-taicho," Byakuya greeted.
"Gin can be a difficult man, he never lets anyone know what he's thinking," Aizen said.
"Although you two are quite similar, when it comes down to it."
"Excuse me?" Byakuya said.
Hisana's P.O.V.
Hisana gasped when she saw Byakuya talking to Aizen from her window. "You must have a lot of nerve, you little four-eyed…"
"Ty Lee," Hisana called. A servant with bubbly eyes came into the room.
"Yes, Hisana-sama?"
"Tell Ichimaru-taicho that I wish to speak with him, now."
"Of course, Hisana-sama,"
Hisana paced the floor impatiently. Five minutes later, Gin walked through the door.
"Oooo, lucky me! I get ta see the bride before ever'one else does." Hisana glared at him.
"You okay, Hisana-san?" asked Gin.
"I want to know!" said Hisana, glowering, "…what Aizen Sōsuke is doing here on my wedding day!"
Gin's smile lessened into a small grin. "He had an invitation…" But Hisana raised her hand to silence him.
"Forgive me, Ichimaru-taicho, I misstated myself. I meant to inquire as to why he is here. I don't really give a fuck how he faked an invitation or how he snuck in."
Gin raised an eyebrow. "Somehow swearin' seems ta clash wit' tha' sophisticated outfit, Hisana-san." Hisana gave him a very Nanao-like stare.
"So, are you going to tell me, Gin?" Hisana asked in a more gentle voice. Gin said nothing.
"Your resentful silence in very reassuring," said Hisana. "I should have expected such a response, you never liked to lie to me, so you just don't tell me the truth."
Gin turned and started to walk out the door.
"And that's another thing!" said Hisana. "You always leave without telling anyone where you're going. Rangiku hates it! Why don't you open up to anyone? Byakuya opens up to me. I know for a fact that you don't do the same to Rangiku. You and her…"
Gin shunpoed in front of Hisana with Shinsou rested against her neck. Hisana stood there, shocked.
"G-Gin?" stuttered Hisana.
"Ya best not be talkin' 'bout things ya don't understand," he said, pressing the blade to her throat. When he sheathed Shinsou, Hisana back away from him.
"I don't know you anymore," said Hisana sadly, "You've changed, Gin. I had hoped you would have removed yourself from Aizen's circle of influence when you became a captain, but I guess I was wrong. The promotion probably has only intensified your desire for power, hasn't it?"
Gin wasn't smiling.
"You said I shouldn't talk about things I do not comprehend," said Hisana as she opened the door.
"But I think what you mean to say is don't tell anyone the truth I understand too well."
Hisana looked at Gin. "I shouldn't have asked you to come. Lieutenant Shiba was against it, I should have listened to him. You're probably only here because Aizen-taicho made you tag along."
Gin's silence told her everything she needed to know. Hisana closed the door and walked down the hallway. When she reached the end several people were already waiting for her.
"There you are!" said Rangiku. "Okay, it'll be just like rehearsal. First Nanao and Miyako will walk down the aisle side by side, followed by the maid of honor, a.k.a, me, and finally with Hisana led by Ukitake-taicho!"
Hisana linked arms with her former captain and senpai.
"Are you ready?" asked Ukitake.
Hisana gave a genuine smile. "Hai, Jūshirō-dono…"
Author's Note: Gin, is he friend or foe? Hmmmm…
Do not fret, all shall be revealed.