Chapter 6 Royal Visit

Atsumi, Eri and Tashi had finished their first eventful week at the Spiritual Technique Institute and expected a quiet evening alone. The rest of the week went more quietly and the three young women felt more relaxed.

On the last evening of the week Eri and Tashi had a simple dinner together and were finishing up their dishes joking around and laughing to try and dispel Tashi's anxieties over the events which occurred earlier in the week. Tashi still felt uneasy and was trying to shake it off. Eri didn't want her friend to be expelled or disciplined for insubordination either. "Pushing Captains, injuring Vice Captains, sheesh Tashi, put it that way and yeah it looks pretty grim. If they do ask you to leave they're crazy."

"Hm?"

"You're way strong" said Eri.

"I don't think that's enough, Eri"

Eri started laughing and said "Hahahha, I can just see it now. They'll call you into a meeting to tell you you're getting special treatment because of your power. And they'll all be standing around covering their crotches or wearing cups or something! HAhahaha"

"Hahaha" Tashi laughed realizing her fears were probably baseless. "You're crazy" giggled Tashi and the door bell rang.

They were both surprised at a visitor at that time in the evening. Tashi held on to the towel in her hand and wiped her hands as she walked. She called over her shoulder saying "I bet Atsumi is too drunk to use her key!" The girls laughed again and Tashi opened the door. She immediately gasped at who stood in her doorway.

She dropped her towel and said "Captain Kuchiki!" then she noticed the wild red haired man next to him "Vice-Captain Abarai!"

Eri came up behind Tashi and stopped her laughing. Tashi noticed her rudeness and invited them in. She found the best floor cushions she had but still felt they were inadequate for such esteemed guests.

Tashi made sure they were comfortable and rushed to the kitchen to make some tea leaving a very very nervous Eri behind to entertain them. Byakuya-sama sat saying nothing and Renji could feel Eri's discomfort. The Vice-Captain said "So, have you given thought to what squad you might favor if the opportunity arose?"

Eri knew it wasn't their squad and wasn't sure how to answer politely. She felt the steely eyes of Byakuya on her and was relieved when she heard Tashi ask for her help in the kitchen. "Excuse me!" she bowed and ran out of the room.

Byakuya smiled very slightly and closed his eyes. "Hmf"

"Eh?" said Renji, confused by his reaction. He also understood the girl's nervousness around Byakuya. Aside from him being a Captain he was a handsome and powerful head of a royal family. On top of his enormous fame, he was a man of few words.

Eri joined Tashi in the kitchen and whispered "What the hell are they doing here?" She was excited but anxious all at once. She then noticed Tashi's anxiousness. Tashi was hysterically searching the cabinets over the counter for a special box of tea she had been saving for a special occasion. "Tashi? Tashi? I know we should make a good impression, but don't get yourself so upset"

"You don't understand Eri! It's over. It's all over. It's back to my parent's home for me! The shame of it all! Harakiri! That's it! I'll just slit my belly and end it all!" Tashi's shaking hands reached deep into an empty cabinet and she stopped. She hid her tears in her arm and slowly got off the counter. She then recounted the words that Captain Kuchiki told her about not being aggressive with superiors and expulsion. "Maybe after what I did do Vice Captain Abarai and maybe Ichimaru told them what I said to him! I'm going to be expelled! What am I going to tell my parents!"

Eri then became more serious. 'Tashi has a point. It is possible that's why there here. The Gotei 13 does run on a very strict system of hierarchical power.' There was nothing Eri could say to change the situation, but she said "Then I guess they're here to see you?"

Tashi nodded, having come to the same conclusion.

Eri said "Okay, I'll go find something to talk about with them. Use my tea. I think Atsumi drank your tea the other night.

"What! That—"

"That" interrupted Eri "is the last thing that should be on your mind. I'll go into the living room and speak with them until you are ready."

Eri was walking away and Tashi called after her "No!" She grabbed Eri's sleeve and said "I'll go. They've come to speak with me after all." Eri agreed to finish up the snacks and make the tea.

Tashi took a deep breath and went into the living room. She smiled at her visitors and sat up straight on her folded legs. She asked, reluctantly, "To what do I owe the honor of your visit to, gentlemen?"

Tashi noticed the Captain Kuchiki's mere glance towards his subordinate who said with seriousness "Earlier in the week…" Then Tashi was taken aback when she saw the legendary Vice Captain Abarai fidget a little. Her heart was pounding at the anticipation of his next words.

She thought 'This is it. I'm done. They've come to tell me to pack up my things and leave. Why is he having such a hard time? He's Renji! Freakin' Renji Aburai! I'm a peon!' She thought about looking up at him when he walked her home and his profile in the moonlight.

When it was obvious the Vice-Captain was just going to stutter his way through to the end Captain Kuchiki said "We have come to follow up on your progress with Captain Ichimaru. You expressed discomfort earlier in the week."

"Yeah" said the Vice Captain.

Eri entered with a plate of food and rested it on the table. She looked at Tashi who seemed slack jawed with shock. 'I guess they told her.'

Tashi was speechless. Then sputtered "I-I-I'm fine. I haven't seen him all week."

Eri waited a moment and when she saw Tashi smile she said "I'll bring the tea out" and left for the kitchen.

Tashi bowed, and the Captain took note of how perfectly she rested her fingers up on the floor; genteel and poised. He had missed it the other day because he had been seated behind a desk. Abarai felt uncomfortable with such formalities and smiled nervously when Tashi said "Thank you for your concern, but such important men shouldn't waste their thoughts on me."

Byakuya Kuchiki's mysterious eyes looked to the door first. Then everyone else heard it too.

Tashi began to panic when she heard Atsumi singing at the top of her lungs. Tashi bolted upright, knowing that a typhoon of destruction and bad manners was headed their way. It was getting louder and louder and soon it would be there. Atsumi burst in the door singing and laughing and making a general racket. She knocked over the coat rack when she put her bag on it and stumbled into the living room knocking over a tiny vase.

She saw the two officers and couldn't believe what was happening. Tashi swallowed hard and thought about what she could do to smooth things over. The last thing she wanted was Atsumi and her drunkenness to bother their esteemed guests…especially Kuchiki-sama.

Abarai spoke before Tashi could excuse the rudeness of her friend "Hey! Where's the party?"

Atsumi laughed, obviously intoxicated and said "It's wherever I am! So right now the party is right here!" Atsumi pulled a bottle of sake seemingly out of nowhere and said "So let's start!"

Tashi was afraid that her good fortune was about to be reversed. 'Does she not see that—'

"He-ey! You're the 6th squad guys, right?" said Atsumi as she poured Kuchiki and Abarai some drinks.

"Yeah, that's us." said the Vice Captain enjoying the less formal atmosphere and the free sake. Eri came in from the kitchen with the tea and had heard Atsumi come in the door.

"Hi Eri! Go call Tetsuo and our party would be complete!" slurred Atsumi. Atsumi poured Eri a cup of sake and another for herself.

Tashi was embarrassed by Atsumi's behavior and couldn't help exclaim "What!?"

Tashi was sorry she did when Atsumi turned and winked at her. "You know. Three guys, three girls! It would be even and more fun. No one would go home alone! HAhahaha!"

Tashi was mortified. 'How could Atsumi be so foolish! How could she even imply – in Byakuya's presence no less – that …that…THAT!' Abarai laughed and broke Tashi's nightmarish circle of thoughts.

When Eri heard Vice Captain's laugh she smiled and felt a bit relieved. Then she said "You know, Atsumi, maybe you're right. I'll go call Tetsuo."

Tashi let out a nervous laugh "He…heh…" but her worried eyes caught the attention of only one person there. Atsumi knelt down next to where the Vice Captain was sitting and poured him another drink.

"Tashi Touichi, you haven't even finished your first cup!" yelled Atsumi.

Tashi wasn't known to hold her liqueur well, and didn't want to get drunk in front of her superiors. Tashi sighed and then smiled. She said to Atsumi "You know I never fold under peer pressure." She stood gracefully and picked up the empty snack tray. She then said "I'll get you more to eat, gentlemen. You'll need it before Atsumi is through with you."

Then Tetsuo, came over and started to tease Tashi relentlessly. He too came from a party and was not sober. "Heeeeeey!" said the black haired boy. "Tashi, Tashi, Tashi. No drinks tonight? C'mon! It's time to celebrate! Don't be such a prude."

Tashi tried to ignore him, but he was persistent.

"We've got some important guests, Tashiiiii. Isn't the Kuchiki family the one your people worship? Haha, this must be weird for you, eh? Your overloard is in your living room! Hahahahaha! I think your king would like to have a dancing girl for the night!" he then playfully shoved Tashi in Byakuya's direction. Her feet fumbled, but she did not fall. Atsumi and Tetsuo laughed, but the other's felt they took the joking a bit too far by roping in Kuchiki-sama who didn't react at all.

Just as Renji was about to tell Tetsuo to put a sock in it , Tashi up and ran out the front door. She stood on her porch uncomfortable and unsure of what this was going to accomplish. She took another step forward thinking about the first time she saw Byakuya Kuchiki.

She was a little girl, one of many people who lined the streets that day. The Kuchiki family was holding a procession for the new head of the family. Byakuya's father had passed away after a very long reign and now Byakuya was going to the temple for his coronation.

Tashi remembered looking up at him as he was carried past on the palanquin. Tashi was allowed to walk down closer to the procession with her personal servant keeping the sun off of her with a paper parasol. She was a very little girl and the violet chrysanthymum her mother asked her to wear seemed enormous to her.

Byakuya appeared like a true god draped in the ceremonial garb of his family and his unbound hair flowed gently on the warm breeze. The Kuchiki family watched over the people within Tashi's lands for generations. Prince Byakuya had been rumored to be even more powerful than his father, however less charismatic.

Tashi couldn't imagine why people said that. She was enamored by the dark haired prince and his stoic demeanor. She scurried back to her mother and father who were seated, as nobility were supposed to be, in their own palanquins.

Her mother spoke to her and told her "See the prince? Today he will go into that building and come out a true lord. Then he will reign over all the people who you see here today. That is why we cheer for him, because we want him to know he has our total support, respect, and faith. The Kuchiki family has always had a great deal of power. Their reiatsu is enormous and they have used that power throughout history to keep the peace of this realm. He deserves nothing less than your total loyalty."

Tashi didn't need her mother to tell her. She knew she would follow him until her dying day. The procession ceased while the priests purified the path in front of the procession. Tashi stood next to the still palanquin while a servant held a parasol over her head and shielded her from the strong sun. Byakuya's eyes scanned the crowd that gathered for him. He looked over the crowd and Tashi swore he spared a glance at her.

Tashi thought he had left her alone, but he had come this evening to check on her. 'Maybe he didn't want me running to him for help every time something happened?' This visit confirmed her hopes that he did care about his subjects.

She stood remembering Kuchiki-sama draped in red silk, with determined eyes, protected by the shade of the palanquin. She compared him to the man presently sitting in her living room. His eyes seemed to carry more sorrow than she remembered.

"Hey, Touichi-san. Come back inside."

Tashi turned around and saw the Vice Captain calling her back. "Vice-Captain, I whoop!—"

Renji didn't let her finish her sentence and just grabbed her by the wrist and literally dragged her back towards the house. "Come on" he said. "Don't worry. That punk, Tetsuo won't be saying anything else that stupid tonight." He looked over his shoulder at her then back at their destination. "He isn't just your lord, he's my Captain."

"Uh…he's not so bad." When Tashi came back inside she saw Atsumi pouring Captain Kuchiki more sake.

The rest of the evening went by smoothly enough. Atsumi left for another party and invited everyone else along. Tetsuo convinced Eri to go and they tried to get the other three to leave with them.

Tashi declined, but encouraged her guests to join them if they pleased. They too declined, turning a blind eye to the blatant rule breaking of the evening and bade her a goodnight.