Author's notes: I've got several more chapters of Part One: The Betrothal to complete before going to Part Two: the Wedding. And while I've already started doing the research, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good web site that has a good background on Japanese Shinto weddings. If you know of any or if you yourself are a good source of information regarding the topic, please email me as I would very much appreciate it.
Substitute Affections — A Bleach Fanfiction
by Akane-Rei
Part One: The Betrothal
Chapter Four: Rules of Engagement
"Renji!" she said surprised, looking up at his angry face.
"Renji!" Ichigo exclaimed at the same time beside her, just as he jumped away and dropped her hand like a hot potato.
After giving Ichigo a curious look, Rukia stood up to approach her childhood friend, her arms crossed against her chest. "How could you?" she demanded as she continued to approach him despite his unfriendly greeting. "You called a fourth division seated officer to come treat me for drinking too much sake?" She uncrossed her arms and began poking him with her finger. "Are you insane? You know this is going to end up in Nii-sama's ears."
"As a matter of fact," he began coldly, "I've just been to see that brother of yours."
"Oh?" she asked. He just saw Nii-sama? Whatever for? And what did he say? She drew back and raised an eyebrow in question. "Why is that?" she asked suspiciously. Why would Renji see Nii-sama?
"I wanted to ask someone who wasn't falling down drunk about whether or not you were really getting married," he stated bluntly. "And wouldn't you know it, it seems that you are."
She winced at his reply. "Stop exaggerating," she gritted. "For the last time, I wasn't falling down drunk," she turned to glare at Ichigo, too, for that statement. She took a deep breath. "And as for getting married, you were the first two I've mentioned it to so what seems to be the problem?" She slapped her hand against her forehead. "I haven't even told Captain Ukitake, yet!"
"Oh, he knows," muttered Ichigo from the side.
She turned to him again with a look of askance. "What!" she almost screeched.
"Didn't you hear Hanatarou?" he asked. "Or were you still passed out at that time?"
"Argh!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Does everyone know?" she asked to no one in particular as she began pacing back and forth. "About the engagement, and not the fact that you two claim that I was passed out," she clarified.
"By the time morning comes," Renji stated, giving her a strange look, "most likely."
For a moment, a flash of panic zinged its way through her, freezing her on the spot. She didn't know what she was thinking. Of course everyone would eventually know. It was a Kuchiki wedding, for goodness' sake. What she wasn't expecting was the fast pace that the news seemed to be spreading. She had thought to have at least a week to get used to the idea without other people speculating. She had thought to only let Ichigo and Renji know because they were her closest friends. And because even Nii-sama had prompted her to do it soon.
"Surely you didn't expect this to be kept quiet," Renji's voice came again as he stood in front of her. "You're engaged to freaking Byakuya Kuchiki!" His hands went to her shoulders.
Looking at the hands before her, she was swept away by a sense of déjà vu. For a second, she was back in that room at the Shinigami Academy listening to the man who was more than her friend as he tells her what a great opportunity it was to be part of such a noble clan. She remembered the lump that rose from her throat and the tears that welled in her eyes. Was this going to be a repeat of that scene? She shook her head, unwilling to listen to whatever merits a Kuchiki wedding might have on her stand on Soul Society. She'd had enough of that this afternoon.
She took his hands away from her shoulders and stepped away only to look up and meet the eyes of a stoic Ichigo leaning against the wall behind Renji. What was he thinking?
"Rukia," Renji's voice was low as he held back her hand with his tightening fingers.
She looked back at him and his serious, serious eyes.
"We need to talk," he told her.
She tried to pull her hand back, but he held firm.
"Rukia," he said again.
She felt her breath catch at her throat. She didn't think she could. Talk, that is. At least not now. It was stupid, very stupid of her to come here in this state. She should have sent them a message to say that she wasn't going to make it or that she was going to be late. Very late. She should have stayed at home and given herself more time to think and reflect on her circumstances before she dropped such news to her friends.
She looked at both of them and took note of the uncharacteristic stillness they projected. Somehow, this was her doing. By coming here and sharing her news with them, she had burdened them with her own problems and concerns. The only good thing that came out of it was that at least her two friends heard the news from her instead of someone else.
"N-n-not now, Renji," she stammered, looking between him and Ichigo. "I think I need to go home," she finished quietly. And she did. She should not have been as selfish as to use her friends as a buffer against the reality of her situation. "It's been a trying day." Again, she tugged at her hand and met Renji's eyes. "We'll talk more later," she promised, seeing the doubt in his those depths. She covered his hand with her free one. "I'm just tired right now. I think I need to rest."
Slowly, she felt his grip of her hand slacken and his arms fell to his side.
"Whatever you say, Rukia," he said resignedly, looking at her intently. He looked away. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Of course," she assured him, although unsure herself whether that was possible. They all had their duties to keep them busy and it was often the case that they don't all see each other during those times. The three of them belonged to different divisions after all.
Giving him a worried glance, she walked to the door and held the handle. "Later," she said to both of them, unwilling to look back. She opened the door and let herself out.
Unbelievable as it might seem, the tension in the living room went up a notch more once she left. He looked at the silent man before him and almost spat. What the hell was he doing with her before he came in? The picture in his mind had been so cozy. The two of them sitting close together, hands touching and their faces merely inches apart. And what the hell was he doing now, just standing there like nothing happened?
"What the hell were you doing?" he asked, giving voice to his thoughts. He'd been spoiling for a fight even before he arrived. In fact, he'd been spoiling for one ever since he'd talked to Byakuya Kuchiki. Ichigo just might be the convenient outlet.
The current vice-captain of the first division gave him an impassive stare.
His eyes burned. "Ichigo," he said softly. "What—"
"I wasn't doing anything," he interrupted with a bland look on his face. "We weren't doing anything."
He gave him a look of disbelief. "Stop treating me like a fool," he gritted through his teeth. "I saw you. And her." No matter how much he wished he could forget seeing Ichigo's protective hover and the soft look on Rukia's face, he could remember the scene he came upon quite vividly.
"What exactly did you see?" Ichigo returned. "What exactly are you accusing us of?" he asked softly, his eyes piercing with an unnamed emotion as his body became even more still if that were at all possible.
Renji approached the shinigami purposefully before grabbing the front of his robes. "I'm not stupid," he hissed against his unresponsive friend as he held him against the wall. He could even remember the guilty look Ichigo had when he dropped Rukia's hand and jumped almost clear across the room.
"Let go, Renji," Ichigo's voice said edgily, his dark eyes finally showing a hint of the turmoil that was banked all this time.
There…there was the Ichigo he knew.
"We both know I'm not the one you want to fight," the orange-haired shinigami told him.
"We both don't know anything!" he growled, pushing him away and letting him go. "Not a damn thing!" He turned his back and walked across the room before looking back at Ichigo. "What—"
"You know we weren't doing anything," Ichigo said again. "At least nothing your dirty mind has come up with," he continued. "And I'm thinking that you didn't bloody your fist onto your captain's face like you wanted to either."
Renji looked away.
"What did Byakuya Kuchiki say?" Ichigo asked. "Besides confirm the upcoming marriage, that is."
"Nothing," he muttered. "I didn't get anything out of him besides the fact that Rukia is his betrothed." His mouth tasted the bitter bile that was those words. He looked back at Ichigo. "Now tell me what Rukia said," he demanded. "And don't give me that crap about nothing, because she must have said something for you two to be cozied up that way."
"I'm going to say this one last time before I begin trying to knock some sense into you," Ichigo responded quietly. "There was nothing inappropriate going on between me and Rukia in your freaking apartment. For God's sake, Inoue and Hanatarou were just here, not to mention the fact that she's now engaged. I'm not the sort of scum to take advantage of a friend who's in a vulnerable situation."
"You could have fooled me," he retorted, just before he felt his neck snap back at the force of Ichigo's well-aimed punch. He felt his body rock backwards against the floor as he turned to look up to his friend. Okay, so maybe pricking Ichigo's temper might not have been one of his brightest ideas. But damn! The stoic and calm Ichigo was just so unnatural. Not to mention that there was that little scene he interrupted. Thinking back to it, he reconsidered whether he should respond to Ichigo's punch in kind.
"You deserved that," Ichigo said coldly. "You insulted me, but that's nothing new. We've done that to each other since we first met. But are you really as stupid as to insult her honor?"
He felt a wave of shame wash over him like cold water over his hot rage. What had he been thinking? About the two closest friends he had in Soul Society? The metallic flavor of blood filled his mouth and he spat. He really was an idiot.
"She said," Ichigo began, still looking at him. "She said it was her choice."
He snorted. Was this why that fellow idiot friend of his was acting like a whipped puppy?
"That's a load of crap," he shouted, not bothering to get up. "Rukia would have given us some sort warning if she was thinking of marrying her brother."
"I think it was a surprise to her too," Ichigo continued, his voice wooden. "From what I understand, she didn't have an inkling about what her meeting with Byakuya was for."
"So she was ambushed!" he declared. "Those bastards!"
"She said she gave her consent and that she wasn't forced," Ichigo bit out. "Don't you think I asked her that? Don't you think I looked for whatever excuse I could to go over there and demand that they release her from this agreement?"
"For cripe's sake, this is Rukia we're talking about!" he exclaimed. "Of course they didn't have to force her! They probably wrapped the whole thing as some sort of family obligation or some stupid shit like that. And knowing her, she probably just lapped it up and agreed. Anything for the family!" This time he stood up. "Stupid Rukia!" he muttered, frustrated. And stupid Ichigo, for that matter! Granted, he probably had more time than his friend to think things through. Running to and fro between the Kuchiki residence and his apartment did give one time to think.
"That actually…makes sense," Ichigo finally stated. "Surprising coming from you, but then, this whole night has been one surprise after another."
And for the first time since they both heard the news, he saw Ichigo's face burn with something other than the mask he'd had on all evening.
"What the hell does that mean, 'it makes surprising sense coming from me' crap?" he demanded.
Ichigo smirked.
And finally, Renji saw the Ichigo he had expected to see upon hearing the news of Rukia's engagement. Gone was the shell-shocked and emotionless Ichigo he had first seen upon Rukia's departure. For the first time that night, he smiled. Maybe, just maybe, between him and Ichigo, they could convince Rukia what a colossal mistake she was making.
"Are we agreed then?" he asked, just to make sure.
Ichigo lifted a brow.
"Are we agreed then that this is not what Rukia really wants?" he clarified.
Slowly, Ichigo nodded. "Convincing Rukia might be another matter, though," he said thoughtfully before slapping his forehead.
"What is it?" Renji asked, panicked. Had they forgotten something?
"I'm an idiot!" Ichigo told him.
He grinned. "I know that, but tell me why anyway," he encouraged.
"I told her that the engagement was 'for the best,'" he explained, looking like he was about to get sick.
"That's nothing," Renji informed him. "I," he paused for effect, "congratulated Captain Kuchiki on his upcoming nuptials."
They both stared at each other in silence for a couple of seconds before simultaneously shaking their heads.
They were both idiots.
He had always liked the night.
Walking through the grounds of his home under the cover of moonlight had always been a pastime he had enjoyed even when he was a child. In the beginning, it had been something he used to get away and escape a day full of lessons and strictures. As time passed by, it became a way for him to clear his mind and unwind as much as he can before the next day came.
So tonight was no different. If he had come out later than usual, he took no note of it. The events of the day ran longer than expected, not to mention the surprise visit from his lieutenant. If he had seemed to linger outside a little longer, he thought no more of it. It was only expected that he should give more thought on the upcoming nuptials he had agreed to after all. And if, to an outsider, it had seemed like he was waiting for someone, he would have dismissed the very thought. For who could he be waiting for at this time of night?
And when he noticed the arrival of Rukia, he took no note of the easing of tension from his shoulders or the fact that he even approached her instead of observing her from a distance.
"Rukia," he said quietly, stepping away from the shadows.
He watched as she jumped at the sound of his voice and took note of the momentary panic that entered her eyes.
"N-N-Nii-sama!" she stuttered, her eyes widening.
He tried not grimace at the title. He'd had decades of her calling him 'brother,' so he understood how easily it was for her to forget its inappropriateness at this time. "Back from your gathering, I take it," he stated, stopping before her.
She nodded rapidly. "Yes, sir," she replied, her head bowed. "I…I'm sorry if I've disturbed your—"
"Hardly," he interrupted her. He looked behind her. "I usually walk these grounds at night," he informed her. "It is an excellent way to clear one's mind of the day's events."
"Of-of-of course," she replied, although it was quite clear from her tone that she was perplexed at being told this tidbit of information. "I could see how it would be," she continued. She shifted her weight from one foot to the next.
Mindful of her discomfort at his presence, his mind searched through different ways to alleviate her obvious unease. Unfortunately, none were forthcoming and he was at a loss when it came to having a normal conversation with Rukia. Contrary to popular belief, it had never been his intention to stifle Rukia under the mantle of the Kuchiki name. His actions had all been for her protection, a remnant of the deathbed promise he had made to Hisana.
He took a deep breath, quite bitterly aware of the fact that at this very moment, Rukia was desperately searching for a way to dismiss herself from his presence. He tried to comfort himself with the fact that at least he knew that it was possible for him and his future bride to live peacefully under the same roof. They've had decades of practice for that. Surely, there were other noble marriages with less auspicious beginnings.
"You have told your companions the news, I gather," he stated, breaking the long silence. He was quite curious about the deed itself. After all, what could she have said that made his lieutenant come here and question him regarding the matter?
"Yes, sir," she replied softly. And said nothing more.
"I take it they were quite surprised," he prompted her.
She nodded. "To say the least," she muttered. And she uttered it so lowly, that he wasn't sure she had meant for him to hear it.
He shrugged. It was to be expected. Ukitake himself had been left speechless when he had casually dropped the news of his impending marriage to his vice-captain. At that time, he had thought it prudent to inform Rukia's captain because he had been sure that she would not have had the time to do so before the rumor mill did its rounds.
"Renji came here this evening," he informed her, although he was sure that she was quite aware of that fact.
She looked up quickly, only to look away. "Yes, he mentioned that," she replied.
"He conveyed his well-wishes towards our upcoming union," he told her.
"Did he now?" she commented, avoiding his gaze.
"It seemed…strange, however," he continued.
"Oh?" she tilted her head curiously. "What seemed strange?"
He looked at her intently. "When he first came, Renji had seemed…unsure about the engagement altogether. I do believe he came here to…verify its existence." He watched for her reaction as he silently reprimanded himself. Was this why he had been out here? Was this the reason for his uncharacteristic greeting of her on this night? Had he been in fact waiting to ask her about this very matter?
"I'm sure that he meant no disrespect," she responded quickly, nervously, her hands smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles off her shinigami robes.
"It begs the question, Rukia, as to why he would doubt your word enough to approach me regarding the matter," he said softly.
Even with only the moon as his source of light, he could see the pallor of her face as she struggled for an appropriate response. In the end, she tried to laugh it off.
"He must have thought I was joking," she said weakly. "I…I am known for…teasing him a lot," she admitted.
"In matters as serious as this?" he questioned and at the same time he wondered why he was pressing the issue. What did it matter to him that Rukia had been unable to initially convince her friends of the validity of their engagement?
"No, of course not," she denied. "But, he…he had an errand to run before I was able to properly assure him of the matter. The…Kuchiki residence must have been on the way and he thought to offer his congratulations just in case."
"Is that so?" he stated, unconvinced.
She nodded, agitated.
"I trust then that there are no more misunderstandings regarding this matter?" he prodded. "Your friends do understand the seriousness of this union?"
She nodded again. "Yes, of course," she answered immediately.
"And I don't have to remind you that as my future bride, I expect the most circumspect of behaviors from you?"
"Nii-sama," she said, her voice carefully controlled, "if I have in any way behaved improperly in your eyes, please let me know immediately so that I may rectify the matter."
He clenched his jaw at the familiar response. How often had he heard those same words, especially in the beginning when she was first adopted? And why now did he choose to remind her of her duties as a Kuchiki? He stared at the bowed head before him.
This had not been his intention tonight. If anything, he had meant to reassure her of her choice and to let her know that it was still her choice despite Sanada's insistence. He had meant to alleviate the pressure on her shoulders instead of add to it. For some reason, however, the visit from his lieutenant had changed all that and he wondered why Renji's doubt had come to affect how this discussion turned out.
Unwilling to go further in depth at this time, he looked away from the small figure before him. "It is getting late," he stated. "Perhaps it is best that you turn in for the night." There, he had provided her with the escaped she had so longed for.
"Of course, Nii-sama," she said hurriedly, before making another quick bow. "Have a good evening," she said softly before departing.
Leaving him alone with his thoughts as he watched her rapidly retreating figure. Leaving him alone to wonder what just happened to the discussion he had planned.
Leaving him alone under the moonlight, a situation he was quite used to.
To be continued
More author's notes: thank you to everyone who has reviewed! i very much appreciated the encouragement you've given this somewhat unconventional pairing.