- Fatal Flaws - Chapter Four -
After Shina and Byakuya's first encounter, they ended up meeting numerous times. Since they were the only noble children close to their age they actually got along with, they spent much of their free time together. Hey, it was that or be forced to look for potential a fiancee. They always chose the former.
They argued constantly, but that's what their friendship was, just a simple alliance so they won't want to rip each others throats out when they got older. If that.
It was mainly because their families were well acquainted with one another as well. The Kuchiki, Miyasu, and the Shihouin were pretty close anyways. The Shibas and Kasumiojis stuck to themselves ninety percent of the time, and the Shihouins had no children Shina and Byakuya's ages. Yoruichi was an adult already, so she was out.
Though, she did come aound from time to time, stealing poor Byakuya's ribbon making him chase her saying it was for his future 'Training' as a Shinigami. Of course, he never even came close to catching her, so it was obvious she just liked pestering the poor kid. And that was one of the reasons why Shina snuck over to the Kuchiki manor, she absolutely LOVED seeing that kid pissed off. It was the highlight of her day.
That was basically their routine for the first few years, until both of their parents started trying to set them up with every available noble in the entire Soul Society. Shina and Byakuya wanted nothing to do with getting hitched. They only looked, and acted, like human kids of ten years old.
Shina's parents didn't really think too much on where their daughter went; they assumed she was always doing etiquette lessons elsewhere or shopping in the Rukongai. Oh, how wrong they were.
Somehow, Shina managed to obtain a katana, which she secretly practiced with. Nobody knew, well, except Yoruichi, but she knew just about everything regarding Shina and Byakuya. At first, Shina could barely lift it, from what Yoruichi saw.
Then after only a few days Shina managed to get used to the weight of the Katana. Yoruichi, being nosy, often watched the girl try practicing. Yes, try, for Shina Miyasu, heir to the noble Miyasu linage had absolutely no idea how to wield a sword.
Though, Shina was clever with which areas across the estates she chose to practice in. She never got caught by any guards or nobles, a few close calls, but nothing to fret over. One time, when Yoruichi watched her train, Shina was sparring with a tree. The tree, sadly, won. Yoruichi sighed. Shunpoing from her perch in the trees, she stopped behind Shina.
"No, no, no. Shina, your stance completely sucks." Shina jumped, startled by Yoruichi's sudden appearance.
"Lady Yoruichi! Please don't tell anyone! Please!" Shina begged, Yoruichi simply laughed.
"Hun, I've been watching you since you got that piece of junk." Shina's eyes widened, she looked at her Katana, it kind of was a piece of junk. The metal was slightly loose, it was completely rusty, and the hilt was worn almost to the metal from years of hard use.
"All that time, huh?" Yoruichi nodded. Shina's brow twitched. Yoruichi had been watching this entire time! How cruel can she be, Shina seethed, Little Kuchiki was right! she really IS messed up on top.
"Yes, and I've noticed, that you completely stink with sword-play." Shina snorted. "But, you have some great potential! Have you ever thought about becoming a Shinigami?" Yoruichi said merrily.
Shina's eyes instantly lit up. "Yes! Every day since, well, a long time." Shina twitched her toes nervously.
Yoruichi smirked, "Well, do you want my help training?" Shina nodded eagerly. "Well, we can start with adjusting your stance then." Shina's stance really was terrible. She looked like she had a mega-wedgie, her legs were too far apart, her sword was even held badly. Upside down, sadly.
Yoruichi stepped closer to Shina, taking her Katana from Shina's rather bad grip. Shina furrowed her eye brows, giving Yoruichi a 'what-the-fuck' look. Tossing it aside, seemingly out of nowhere, Yoruichi handed Shina a wooden practice sword.
From that day on for the next several years Yoruichi helped Shina practice every style of fighting, though she still sucked with weapons. Except daggers.
A few years later, the high noble families were having one of their meetings when Yoruichi came for one of her routine visits. Byakuya and Shina were practicing their hand-to-hand combat. They were surprisingly equally matched. Attack-block attack-block. Then Shina slid her foot under Byakuya's, making him fall and loose the fight.
"That was a cheap trick! I demand a reach!" Shina smiled lightly, holding her hand out for him. He pretended to reach for it, but instead quickly kicked her feet out from under her. Of course she fell on him.
"Get your fat butt off me!" - "You shouldn't have knocked me down then!" - "You did it first!" - "Well, hollows don't fight fair, I was just preparing you for any situation." then, amazingly, they both burst out laughing.
Yoruichi chose the moment they got off the ground to reveal herself, "Having a lovers spat, are we?" she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. They both turned bright red, from anger and embarrassment.
"What? NO! You know that! Our agreement is we only have an alliance to be allied in the future and keep away suitors, sheesh!" Shina ranted.
"Uh-huh. Enough excuses already. Just admit it, you like him." Yoruichi pressed.
"As a friend. Nothing more. Stop bothering us about it."Shina then smirked."What about you and Kisuke Urahara? Are you two together? Huh?" Byakuya snickered. She had Yoruichi there.
"No, of course not. Its strictly business with us. Besides, we were childhood friends."
"See? Same with me and Byakuya!" Shina said. Yoruichi rolled her eyes, then shunpoed to Byakuya, snatched his ribbon from his hair, and back to her perch on top of the building.
"Looky looky~ your Shunpo still sucks!" she disappeared. Byakuya and Shina exchanged looks, then disappeared in Shunpo.
'Let the Games Begin!' they all thought simultaneously.
Yoruichi quickly noticed Byakuya trailing her, still a ways back, sadly. She figured Shina stayed behind like she usually does, so she didn't expect something to run into her.
"Oof! What the hell!" Shina snatched Byakuya's ribbon back and shunpoed to where he stood.
"That was fun! I think I like tackling her." she handed him the delicate white ribbon that had been stolen as much as worn.
"Tch. Cheap trick. Shina, when you enter the Gotei Thirteen, you can be my fifth seat." Yoruichi quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, regretting saying it.
Byakuya looked stunned, before asking,"So, you're going to enter the Gotei thirteen as well?"
Shina nodded."I'm going to try anyways. Please don't tell anyone, my parents will never let me leave the manor again of they find out." she pleaded.
"Fine, as long as you'll be my sparring partner." he smirked, taking up a fighting pose.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." she smirked as well, then attacked.
Ah, Yoruichi thought, young love~ I just gotta get them to realize it before their idiot parents marry them off.
Haha, they're so cute. Its kind of a love-hate thing. It'll be at least another few chapters before they go through the drama of the Shino academy. Then the Several more before the Gotei 13 then back to the present time.
Started-6-27-11
Finished-7-1-11
Posted-7-4-11
I finished this 1:38 AM on the night of 6-30-11. But its technically July 1st.
Thanks yuuz, anyone who is still reading this even tho I'm a pain in the ass~ and if anyone doesn't know what 69means, I suggest u never know. I'm a shuuhei fan, so of course I looked it up. and regret it. -Shudders-
This is chapter 4, sorry for sending u so much shit at once. Take ur time.
