- Fatal Flaws - Chapter 3 -
- 140 years prior -
The Kuchiki manor was in an uproar today, maids and servants scrambling here and there, trying to make the entire manor even more perfect than it already is. They were expecting important guests to arrive at any time. To be specific, they were visiting to discuss trivial things like the order of the Seireitei, expenses, profits for the years to come and such, like every year before then.
Young Byakuya, who looked around eight years old if he were human, had no idea what the hustle was about. He figured it was merely spring cleaning of some sort. Though he realized it wasn't when a guard rushed in, alerting his grandfather and a few other relatives that their highly anticipated(and unknown to him) guests had arrived. The guard was then given orders to invite their guests inside the Kuchiki manor walls.
Several minutes later, four people strode in. Two adults, a teenage boy, and most surprisingly, a young child. And a girl child at that.
Byakuya's grandfather bowed slightly before them,"Welcome lord Miyasu, lady Miyasu, prince Miyasu and princess Miyasu." they bowed back. Byakuya's grandfather, Genrei Kuchiki, motioned for them to follow, and they did. Well, most of them anyway. The girl did not follow, she stood at the entrance, face expressionless as her families.
Suddenly she turned her head, looking straight at him. In her stoic golden-brown eyes, a flash of mischief and curiosity emanated. Still keeping her stoic face, she walked to him, stopping a few feet away.
With her standing so near, he notices something. She was taller than him! Though she was younger, from what he'd heard, she managed to outgrow him. He was pretty averaged height, for his age, but she was tall. About five inches taller.
She seemed to notice this as well, stifling a laugh. She changed from stoic, to completely acting like an over-emotional commoner within a second. How disturbing, he thought.
The Miyasu princess smiled, holding her hand out instead of bowing. What bad manners. "Hey, little Kuchiki, I'm Shina Miyasu." He just stared at her hand, like it had the black plague or something. Shina scowled, an expression rarely seen on the face of any noble. "Little Kuchiki, you're supposed to shake my hand, then tell me your name. Or... Maybe you like being called 'Little Kuchiki', because you certainly are little." she smirked, which made himself scowl. He did NOT like the nickname at all. And he was not going to let her have the satisfaction of annoying him for long.
"Well, at least I don't act like a commoner like yourself." she again scowled. Byakuya sneered, happy to have hit a nerve.
"And this is why I absolutely HATE nobles children! Just because you are lucky, unlike ninety-nine percent of souls in the entire Soul Society, to be born to a wealthy family that feeds you, clothes you, and spoils you completely rotten, you think that you're better than everyone else!" The Miyasu princess was beet red, about to loose her temper even further. Byakuya lost his smirk a while back. Half way through the first sentence. "You all disgust me. Those 'commoners' as you say, have much more dignity than people like you, Byakuya Kuchiki." she sneered his name. Shina exhaled, returning to her cool demeanor. And how would she even know this?
Byakuya was insulted. How DARE she lecture him, raise her voice to him, and then compare him to commoners? It was his turn to let lose the steam. "How dare you! How dare you disrespect me in my own home!" he ranted in his childish voice. Shina just looked at him like he was a complete nutter.
"I'm sorry? But until you get those tacky Kenseikan from you're grandpa, and the title as head of you're family, we're equals. no matter how much you raise you're status. Until one of us die, that is." Shina stated, her face expression showing she was slightly amused.
Byakuya glared,"I highly disagree with that that." even though she was right.
She smiled sweetly, too sweetly to be real."Think what you want, Little Kuchiki. I admire your fire, its a good trait in any potential Shinigami. You'll not give up easily, have a strong enough will to kill Hollows, though I doubt your compassion and mercy. Things also required in a good Shinigami." Byakuya simply grunted, how would she know what a good Shinigami's traits are? She's a girl anyway, the only Shinigami women he knew were that most despised Shihouin Were-cat in charge of squad two. The though made him mentally shudder.
At his response, Shina sighed. This noble in front of her is just too stubborn, but that's good in some cases. "I'll tell you what, how about we make an alliance."
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. An alliance? What good would that do him? "What's in it for you? And how would that benefit me?" His quick mind calculated the pros and cons.
Shina thought, but only for a few seconds. "Hmm... Well for one, an alliance between two future heads out of five of the great noble clans would give anyone a second thought about screwing with us. And later on in life, plenty of other political advantages as well." Shina held her hand out like she had earlier.
"I don't want to marry you." he said.
Shina's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? I wasn't asking you to marry me. I have no interest whatsoever in that department." she laughed, "No, this is an alliance between us mainly so no one will bother us about that. I'm not sure about you, but mine are reeeally getting annoying. They cause me to loose my temper constantly. I have a reputation, see? So its likely you just being acquainted with me will scare some of yours off. Though, I guess you're family isn't trying to get you to tie the knot yet. But anyways, is it a deal?" she held her hand back out.
For a few seconds Byakuya thought, until he reached out and grasped her hand, finalizing their secret alliance. Now that I think of it, she has an older brother, he thought, how is SHE the future Miyasu head? he asked the question.
"About that... I can't believe you haven't been told, but were actually cousins. His father was my dad's younger brother." her face then lost its joy, "He was killed by a hollow a few years back, and my aunt died during child birth. Were all he has." Byakuya immediately felt guilty for asking.
The shoji door of the room where their families were having their meeting at chose to open then. Shina looked from the door back to Byakuya. "Well, I'm happy to have met you, this definitely wont be the last of our encounters." she then bowed, resuming her stoic, lifeless facade. He wondered how she managed to completely change her demeanor so quickly. And it made her look like a doll, he thought, a very creepy one.
Shina and her family left, but like she had said, it certainly wasn't their last encounter. Nope. The first, but very far from last.
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-Well, that was sooooo much better than the previous(The old chapter 3) chapter. I forgot who suggested to do flashbacks, but i am like totally indebted to them(Not really, but they have my uber maximum so-dang-happy thanks). And i am terribly sorry for being such a slow asshole, but.. Whatever no one wants to hear my excuses. And the 'marriage proposal' was a second thought. I figured it would be funny. XD
Thank you again, Old Blue River, for putting up with my self-criticism(or is it just i critique my stories 10x harder than everyone else?)THANKS!
And thanks Xlilim, HitsugayaTaichoda, and i think two or 3other ppl who reviewed. I am incredibly sorry for forgetting your names, but i do think im going senile. Its sad, because im younger than like, all the main characters on Bleach.-And I changed her eye colour from green to brown. Cuz damn, she looked like Rurichiyo Kasumioji now that I think of it. Scary.
And damn, whens he last time i remembered a Disclaimer? Well, DISCLAIMER: i dont own bleach. any1 even know why ppl gotta write that shit anyway? i'd really love to know.
Started-6-24-11
Finished-6-26-11
Posted-7-4-11
