The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Ch. 6
Byakuya actually felt happy, happy that he could do something for Hotaru. For the first time he understood how Renji felt when Renji thought that Rukia liked that orange haired kid instead of him. Even though he didn't know exactly how that whole thing was going, he was happy that Rukia and Renji seemed to be friends again. He also knew how it felt to be free. He hadn't known it at the time but focusing on trying to get Hotaru to love him had made him feel trapped. He also felt trapped by his responsibility as the head of the Kuchiki clan. He just had to find a way out of the whole marriage to Hotaru thing. Could the High Commander help him and Hotaru? He had to find a way, he just had to.
Byakuya then did something he hasn't done in years. He laughed. That's right he laughed a nice belly laugh. He would find the girl that was right for him or maybe he had already found her in Hisana. Why did she have to die and leave him all alone? He had Rukia but it wasn't the same. He wanted Hisana yet he had wanted Hotaru. What was going to happen to the happiness he once had at the thought of being married again, at the thought that he would have someone to love and someone to love him back? He needed to be loved. He deserved it, right?
2 Weeks past.
Shuuhei was in the middle of a large stack of paperwork when a very happy Renji walked in with another stack of paper. "What do you want Renji," Shuuhei asked sourly.
"Well this should be the happiest day of your life."
"Why's that?"
"Um because… seriously you haven't heard. It's all over the Soul Society. Byakuya and Hotaru they aren't getting married."
"Not getting married? Why not?"
"Well for one thing they don't love each other…"
"But Byakuya..."
"Yeah he thought so too but when he thought about it long enough he knew he didn't really love her. He looked so relieved when his family said that if he was sure she'd bare bad children with the way she ran off and worked at a bar. They were convinced that she wouldn't make a good wife for him either so she got the boot. She was happy too. Although she wasn't happy with the new reputation she got. Oh boy you should have seen her face… actually you probably wouldn't want that. She might scare you into second thoughts about dating her."
"Dating her? Me?"
"From the way Byakuya put it the other day you and Hotaru were meant for each other. The way you two kissed was something else according to him anyway.
"That was in a moment of emotional… confusion. She… She only did that because I… I told her that she needed to be free in order to live and be happy. That's all. It meant nothing."
"Uh huh and I'm the Easter bunny. Dude get off your lazy butt and go kiss the living daylights out of her like you mean it. You know you want to."
"What about you? Why don't you go kiss the living daylights out of Rukia like you want to? Huh?"
"Rukia is different. She'd kill me."
"You don't think Hotaru will kill me?"
"No way, man. She likes you. She might slap you but she wouldn't kill you."
"You sure about that?"
"Positively."
"I'll work on it… later."
"Aww come on. She's not going to wait forever ya know."
"I know but…"
"But what?"
"She doesn't love me."
"Yet. She doesn't love you yet but she will. I know her too well."
"If you know so much then why don't you fall in love with her?"
"Ew gross, man. She's like my little sister. I want to see her happy and I think she'll be happiest with you."
Shuuhei became sad and asked, "Do you know who Keiichiro is?"
"Yes," Renji replied sadly. "Do you?"
"He was her lover in the world of the living. He was there when she died. He was the only one who called her Taru. That's why she ran. Byakuya…"
"Yeah I know. She came in while he was telling me about it."
"What am I supposed to do about him?"
"Make her forget…Make her want to be with you and only you."
"How?"
"You'll have you figure that out yourself. That's what makes it fun."
"Fun huh? I'll just have to try it then won't I?" He grinned. Maybe he could make her forget about that other guy. Maybe Renji was right. He knew he had to at least try. He needed a plan and fast. "Renji?"
"Yeah?"
"I need your help. You know her pretty well don't you?"
"Yeah. What do you need?"
"I need help making her forget. You know her. You know what she likes and what she's like. Help me out, will you?"
"Yeah, the two heads are better than one."
"So what do I do first?"
"First, we need to steal her diary."
"Why steal her diary?"
"To see if she likes you or not and to see if she has written about Kei."
"You're gonna have to steal it, Renji. She'll be angry if she finds out I took it."
"True. I'll see you tomorrow after lunch. I'll have the dairy and then we can talk strategy."
"See you tomorrow."