Author's note: many thanks to Haritori for beta support.


Substitute Affections — A Bleach Fanfiction

by Akane-Rei

Part One: The Betrothal

Chapter Eight: The Alternative Engagements

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Byakuya Kuchiki was more than aware of the rumors that ran rampant, not just within his division but within all the halls of Seireitei itself, regarding his somewhat startling betrothal to one Rukia Kuchiki. He knew when he agreed to the engagement yesterday that the news would have already traveled far and wide by the time morning came. He also knew that due to the nature of his position, as both the head of his clan and the sixth division captain, the gossipmongers would have a field day speculating on the reasons and wherefores of such an event. Fortunately, his position also entailed that none but the boldest of shinigamis would even dare approach him with their conjectures. As a result, he knew that he could go about his day with fairly little to no interruptions from his routine.

What he did not expect was for his first appointment of the day to be late. Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai, the General-Commander of the Gotei 13 was known, not only for his strength as a shinigami, but also for his punctuality and readiness. This trait stemmed from his own obsessive need to have a society of order and rules. So, to be made to wait in the tearoom by the Commander-General of the Gotei 13 was mildly surprising.

Surprise turned to slight irritation, however, when Byakuya realized just how busy the hallway outside the said tearoom was. Why the first division captain chose this tearoom to meet in instead of his office was beyond Byakuya's understanding. However, as the minutes ticked by, he began to wonder if the semi-public meeting place was deliberate. While the normal comings and goings of other shinigamis hardly concerned him, their topic of discussion as they unknowingly passed by him outside the tearoom was the very subject he had hoped to avoid, if at all possible, for the whole day.

"They say that the Kuchiki family advisors decreed it!"

He tilted his head and almost nodded at the accuracy of that statement. It was almost surprising really as he had expected quite worse.

"I heard the wedding is soon."

He let his mind wander, with the constant chatter outside serving as background noise. He didn't really care for their topic and saw no reason to pay attention.

"They're all scrambling about with the preparations. Heard that Sanada Kuchiki himself was in charge of the whole affair."

He sipped his tea and wished the voices outside would speak lower so as not carry all the way to his ears. It was unfortunate that the art of discretion was lost on so many youths. As hard as he tried to listen, the voices were so loud, he was sure even people on the other floors could hear.

"I think she must have trapped him."

He frowned. The new set of decidedly female voices outside were ones he did not recognize. He wasn't sure whether to be offended for Rukia at being thought of as some sort of mercenary huntress or whether he should take exception to the fact they thought Byakuya Kuchiki could be trapped by such a being.

"Well, in a way, they do sort of fit."

"Oh?"

"She has an ice-type zanpakutou. He has an ice-type blood running through his veins."

He closed his eyes and massaged his temples. On that one, he was quite sure that he was the one being insulted.

Where was the Commander-General?

"Lieutenant Abarai …"

"Lieutenant Kurosaki …"

"…Must be soo pissed."

He would have to agree with that one, if Renji's somewhat forced felicitations last night were of any indication…

"Maybe they were having an affair from the beginning."

He coughed and almost turned to glare at the new offending voice beyond the curtains that served as the entrance to the tearoom. That they would even think such disgraceful thoughts—

"She could be pregnant."

This time he stood up. Perhaps he should search for the Commander-General instead of waiting for him patiently in here. After all, he had waited long enough and the captain of the first division was not known for being late.

With that thought in mind, he stepped out of the tearoom—

And directly into the path of three obviously new recruits from divisions not his own.

"Captain Kuchiki!" they all saluted, all of them with identical sickly expressions on their faces.

He gave them an icy look that would have been worthy of the ice that supposedly ran through his veins, according to the earlier comments by a different set of shinigamis. "Was there something you wished to say?" he asked coldly, looking down on them from his taller height.

He watched with faint amusement as they gasped and struggled and gurgled before finding the words to say that they were just passing through, that they were just leaving and that they were on their way elsewhere. He watched as they bowed before tripping all over themselves in their haste to get away from his vicinity. He watched as they ventured to look back, most notably to stare at his right hand, which happened to clutch the hilt of his sword.

He wondered if Senbonzakura would forgive him for that slight tease.

He looked across the courtyard and to the streets of Seireitei below. On a more imminent level, he wondered if his vice-captain led him astray by directing him to this tearoom. He was about to pursue the matter when a hell moth approached him.

He paused and listened to the message delivered. Had he any less discipline, he might have given an exasperated sigh. It seemed that Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai had decided on yet another change of venue.

Retsu Unohana smiled inwardly at the slight increase in her heart rate as she encountered the stern looking sixth division captain during her daily walk in these halls.

"Captain Kuchiki," she greeted, noting his perturbed expression.

"Captain Unohana," he returned, all the while still looking at the hell moth that had just departed.

"Not bad news, I hope?" she queried as he fell in step beside her, an accident, she was sure, rather than any attempt on his part to spend more time with her.

"No," he replied, his face impassive as usual.

She sighed. A man of few words, Byakuya Kuchiki was.

"It seems congratulations are in order," she ventured as she found herself walking in the same general direction that he seemed to be going. At his sideways glance, she added, "Captain Ukitake has informed me of your impending marriage to his vice-captain."

"Ah," he confirmed. "That is so."

"I will be seeing your bride-to-be this morning," she stated quietly. She didn't know if he knew yet, and at his startled look, she told him, "Captain Ukitake has asked for my help and advice in regards to Vice-Captain Kuchiki for the next few weeks." She paused, wondering what the suddenly still captain thought of her involvement. "He and I have taken it upon ourselves to help prepare her for all the duties and responsibilities she might have before and after this union."

"I see," he replied, his eyes looking at her closely. After much thought, he seemed to come to a decision. "I thank you in advance for your time then," he told her gravely. "I'm sure I speak for Rukia also when I say that we both very much appreciate your services."

"Captain Kuchiki," she chided gently, "it is no hardship to do this small thing for Vice-Captain Kuchiki, who is a good and dear friend to several of my subordinates. As I am certain that your family is not only busy for your end of the engagement, they also have the responsibility of seeing through this event without incident. It makes perfect sense to have others help look after your fiancée's interest." She peered closely at her fellow captain. "It is why you have asked for Captain Ukitake's support, is it not?"

And that more than anything had surprised her. Not that she thought Byakuya Kuchiki to be an uncaring man. Nor did she think him incapable of acts of thoughtfulness. She, more than anyone, knew what lay behind the mask of the sixth division captain. No. What surprised her was the fact that he had actually asked Captain Ukitake to help support Rukia Kuchiki-san for the upcoming event. The Captain Kuchiki she knew rarely, if ever, asked outsiders for any favors, let alone invite them to his family's concerns.

"Ah," he replied, after another quick glance her way. "You might not see it as an imposition, but we thank you nonetheless." He paused, as if to consider his next words. "It seems that you shall once again be drawn into my family affairs," he said in an almost nonchalant manner.

Retsu nodded slowly, surprised for a second time that day. Of all the discussions she had expected to have this morning, what she had not expected was for Byakuya Kuchiki to even broach the subject of her last role with his family. In all her dealings with him since then, she had been given the impression that the subject was quite off limits.

"I don't believe I have ever thanked you," he continued, "for that last time."

She almost, but not quite, gaped at the man. Only years of discipline and meditation prevented her from such undignified behavior. At a loss for words, however, she struggled for an appropriate response. Why was it that this man always seemed to have the ability to render her speechless at the most inopportune moments?

"It was…remiss of me," he said, all the while staring at the horizon.

"I…I wasn't able to do much," she said softly, for lack of anything else to say. And it was true. She hadn't been able to do much that time.

"You were given a hopeless cause by a member of a noble family," he stated. "You were dragged into a situation which had no happy ending in sight." He looked at her then. "I knew that even as I asked for your help then."

She winced at the memory. She had also known then that all her efforts would be in vain. She had known the moment she had stepped into the Kuchiki main house that night decades and decades into the past; she had known that death would follow her on her way out. And yet despite that, despite the fact that she had known that all her skills would be useless, she had tried so hard to bring about that miracle. She had pulled out all the stops, and even made herself sick, in the process of attempting to heal a woman intent on dying.

In the end, she knew she had wanted to save Hisana for him. For all his efforts in bringing her to his clan. For all the objections and hurdles he had to overcome. For all the sacrifices to his family honor he had to make. But most of all, she had wanted to save her for the strength of love she had seen burning in his eyes back in those days when he first brought Hisana to the Kuchiki clan.

She had wanted a happy ending for him.

"And so…I would like to express my thanks for your hard work and effort on my behalf. Late as it is."

She nodded. For what else could she say? What could she say to the man who had appeared before her door late one evening that time long ago, begging for her help? What could she say to the man who now gave her his thanks despite the fact that he was also the same man whose wife she had been unable to save?

"And you have my gratitude for any future aid you will no doubt give to my betrothed," he finished.

She looked at him closely as she tucked an imaginary stray strand of her hair behind her ear. For some reason, she had not expected the word 'betrothed' to fall so smoothly from his lips either. She gave him a smile. "There's no need," she said softly. "I am glad to be a part of a more joyous occasion for your family this time."

And it was true. Back then, she had hoped that the next involvement she had with the Kuchiki family would be under better circumstances. Given her role as a healer, however, she knew how unlikely that would have been, as the only time people ever sought her out usually entailed an illness of sorts.

Now, years later, she was being given another chance.

He nodded, looking at her with his coal black eyes. "If there is anything you need of me," he offered, "please do not hesitate to ask."

At her slight nod of acknowledgement, he took his leave, while she found herself staring at the slowly retreating figure before her. She bit her lip. This might just be the single most conversation she'd had with him in a very long time. They had been friends once, a long time ago. Before he was even a captain, before he even met Hisana. It was a tenuous friendship, not surprising given the wary nature of Kuchikis in general, but she had thought him her friend nonetheless.

She wondered…she wondered if he ever knew why his clan—most especially Sanada Kuchiki—had objected so vehemently to his marrying Hisana. Shaking her head over what-could-have-beens, she tried not to dwell on that night when Sanada Kuchiki had first approached her with a possibility of an alliance with the Kuchiki clan over a century ago.

Byakuya was more than tempted to glare at the man before him, a man he respected since his days in the Shinigami Academy and even to this day.

"Am I to understand then that you had already approached the Shiba clan regarding this now defunct plan of yours?" he asked, carefully controlling the intonation of his voice.

"That is correct," Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai replied, as he sat down behind his desk and glared at him.

Byakuya took a deep breath. Obviously, the Commander-General had no such restraint when showing his displeasure of him and the Kuchikis in general.

When the hell moth had informed him that the he was to meet the first division captain in his office instead, he had been mildly curious at the inconvenience. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai was not a man known for changing his mind or being caught unawares. Arriving at the first division headquarters just moments after Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai had piqued his curiosity enough for him to inquire as to the nature of his lateness.

Now, he wasn't quite sure whether he should have kept his mouth shut instead.

"Why was I not informed of this sooner?" he asked steadily, and congratulated himself of that fact.

"To be completely honest, I foresaw no objection on your part," Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai said in a somewhat tired voice. "You have always followed the rules, have always done what was right for Soul Society." He looked up from his sitting position. "I didn't want to insult you, in case the Shiba clan unequivocally refused."

"So our meeting today was supposed to be—"

"The finalization of the alliance," he answered. "I was going to approach you with the proposition today, along with Kukaku Shiba's consent."

"I see," he stated tonelessly.

"Instead, I had to go to Rukongai early this morning to let her know—just in case she didn't—that a betrothal between Rukia Kuchiki and Ganju Shiba was now impossible."

"Ganju Shiba," he repeated.

"Well, I hardly thought an engagement between you and Kukaku would have any chance of happening without one of you killing the other," Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai said wryly. "If I was going to unite the Kuchiki clan with the Shiba clan, the best candidates were both your siblings."

"I see," he said again in an attempt to stem the flow of questions that rushed through his mind. Instead he asked, "Is there a reason for this seemingly sudden desire to ally the two clans?" while he recovered from the near shock of the possibility of having Ganju Shiba as his brother-in-law.

"I thought it would strengthen Soul Society to have the noble family of Shiba back into the fold," he replied. "One of the best ways to do that would be through an alliance with another noble family."

"And you chose mine," Byakuya said flatly.

He took a deep breath. "They're a strong clan, Byakuya. And it's a waste to have none of them as part of the Gotei 13."

"I think they've had enough of us shinigamis after Kaien," he said. "It was their choice to move to Rukongai and away from Seireitei and the rest of the shinigami."

"A choice done in the height of grief," Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai returned. "Kaien Shiba loved being a shinigami. That prodigy wouldn't have wanted his family to exile themselves because of his death."

"Be that as it may, I am sure that there are other ways to officially have the Shiba clan back as one of the noble families," he reasoned.

"Not one quite as convenient as a marriage between Rukia Kuchiki and Ganju Shiba," the General-Commander muttered. He peered up at Byakuya. "I don't suppose there's any use for me to hold onto hope that this betrothal of yours is nothing more than a product of someone's fervid imagination?"

He almost smiled. "Not unless you want accuse Sanada Kuchiki of having a fervid imagination," he replied.

Yamamoto frowned. "And that's another thing," he said thoughtfully. "I find it strange that Rukia Kuchiki suddenly finds herself betrothed—to you, for that matter—only days after I've informed Sanada Kuchiki of my plans with the Shiba clan." He raised a brow. "Quite coincidental, isn't it?"

"You've discussed this with Sanada-san?" he asked, surprised. Why that old dog…

"Not too much of the particulars," he replied. "Just the possibility of uniting the two clans. I had not mentioned the individuals I had in mind."

"I see," he said again. He seemed to say that a lot in this conversation. Still, this shed new light on the actions of the Kuchiki advisor. Sanada Kuchiki never did approve of Kukaku Shiba, much less her younger brother despite their noble connections.

"Well, none of it matters now," he all but growled. "I've spoken to Kukaku Shiba. She seemed disbelieving at first, I must admit. It seems that she and Rukia see each other often enough that she had found it strange not to have any prior warning."

Byakuya nodded. He knew that Rukia visited Kaien's sister when she found the chance. From what he could gather, the two seem to enjoy reminiscing about the eldest Shiba sibling. Thinking about it, that was probably why Kukaku Shiba had even agreed to the arrangement. Despite everything that happened between Rukia and Kaien, Kukaku Shiba liked Rukia and wouldn't have minded her for a sister-in-law.

"She has known Rukia for a long time," was the only thing he said. "I believe they met officially right after Rukia's near execution by the Soukyoku."

"Ah," he said in response.

And silence reigned for awhile. Byakuya knew that like him, the first division captain carried his share of guilt over that incident in Soul Society.

"Well then," the General-Commander finally said, "that's all I have for today." He paused. "And of course, I wish you well on your betrothal," he added, almost as an afterthought.

"I thank you," he replied, before giving a slight bow and turning his back to leave.

"You will, of course, keep me updated on its progress," Captain Yamamoto-Genryusai threw out.

This time, Byakuya indulged himself with a chuckle. Trust the General-Commander not to give up until everything was actually finalized.

"Not to worry," he replied, "I will."

And with that, he took his leave and exited the office. There were things he needed to do today, not to mention an impromptu appointment he wanted to have with the current Kuchiki advisor. Thinking about it, he wondered whether he should be thanking Sanada or reprimanding him for his interfering ways.

Deep in thought, he barely noticed the orange-haired shinigami until he was almost upon him.

"Byakuya," he heard his name called out tersely.

He looked up to find the burning gaze of one Ichigo Kurosaki.

He should have expected to run into the vice-captain of the first division, especially since he was in the first division headquarters. For some reason, however, he really hadn't thought of it much. He closed his eyes and began to rub his temple once again. The day only needed this.

To be continued.
more author's notes: another update from my continuing Bleach craze. I'd like to take this time to thank all the reviewers! It's a total rush to hear from you guys. I hope this chapter answered some of the questions you've had from the beginning. As I've mentioned to some of you, this story is progressing slower (plot wise, not update wise) than I had anticipated. Hopefully, you stick with me to the very end.