Chapter 12 Shift in the tide

The semester went by quickly and Tashi studied hard to excel at her academics. Her kidou skills improved and she was soon at the top of her class. Renji did not spend all his time following her, but on the few occasions he was asked to check in on her he saw the Yukimaru fellow close by.

'What a punk' thought Renji laughing at the boy's persistence. 'She's turning into someone new and he's following her around like a puppy. How pathetic.' He crossed his arms confident in his own strength and masculinity. He then spotted Rukia across the lawn and flash stepped to her side. "Hey! Rukia! What are you doing here?" he blurted, excited to see her.

"Renji?" she said surprised that he so suddenly appeared. "Oh, I was here with Nii-sama. As you know the Captains and Vice-Captains are on campus for the graduation ceremony."

"Right right" said Renji realizing he ran over to Rukia just as Yukimaru ran over to Tashi. 'Gods, I'm pathetic.' His face fell at the realization.

"Renji? What's wrong?" she asked.

Renji plastered a smile on his face and said "Oh nothing nothing. This class looks promising, eh?"

As Renji and Rukia chatted Tashi walked with Eri across the campus and wanted to head back to their house. They were joking about something Atsumi did when Yukimaru ran up behind them. "Hey! Tashi!"

Tashi groaned to Eri who said "Better get used to it he's going to be your man someday, right?"

"Right" said Tashi unenthusiastic.

Yukimaru said hello to Eri and Tashi then asked "Where are you guys headed?"

Eri and Tashi looked at each other and said "We're going home."

"Why? The Captains are going to be on campus! We should stick around!"

Tashi looked at Eri and said "Maybe I should find Captain Hitsugaya and thank him. I think he's the one who recommended me. I should thank him properly."

"Oh yeah! That's right!" said Eri.

Yukimaru made a comment which the girls pretty much just ignored. Eri then said "Oh no! What if…what if that Captain Ichimaru is around?"

"And why would that be a problem?" said a fourth voice.

Tashi felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she said "No reason, Captain Ichimaru. You're here for graduation, I take it?"

"Yes little lady, I am" he said. Tashi turned around to face him and he came a little too close for her comfort. "I'm checkin' in on our new graduates. I've come to see if they're as great as everyone keeps tellin' me." He smiled and Tashi felt like he was going to eat her alive.

"Wow, Captain Ichimaru!" said Yukimaru oblivious to the tension in the air. "It's an honor to meet you sir, I'm Yukimaru Satsuma. I'm going into my second year here."

Ichimaru kept his eye contact with Tashi a little longer then finally dragged his eyes away to talk with Yukimaru. Tashi and Eri made their excuses and left Yuki and Ichimaru to talk on their own.

Tashi looked over her shoulder and saw that Ichimaru was still watching her. She spoke quietly, but uneasily with Eri. "Let's go. I don't want to bump into him again. He gives me the chills."

All of a sudden the path was blocked by the 6th squad Captain. Tashi bowed deeply to Byakuya and said "Kuchiki-sama! What a surprise, sire."

"Is there trouble, Tashi?" asked Byakuya.

Eri was still trying to figure out where he came from. 'Do captains always sneak up on their subordinates?'

Tashi didn't want to make any trouble for Kuchiki-sama, nor did she want to be the cause of tension between the divisions. She bowed her head and said "Nothing for you to be concerned about, sire. Eri and I were just headed home."

"Mm" he said. "I think I recall the way. Our ceremonies are over here. I will escort you" he said.

Eri and Tashi who were both bowing looked at each other with surprise. Tashi stood first and said "Yes, sire. Whatever you like, sire."

It wasn't a long walk, but it was a quiet one. The girls weren't sure what to say to Byakuya and Byakuya didn't really have much to say to the girls. They reached the modest house and saw a palanquin in front being attended to by familiar servants.

Tashi said "My parents are here? But why? I'm headed home today for break."

Tashi and Eri invited Byakuya in and he accepted, curious about Tashi's parents. Tashi went in first, and poked her head around the corner into the living room where Atsumi was entertaining, quite civilly, Tashi's parents.

Her father sat in his wheelchair and Tashi's mother sat comfortably on top of the pillows. Both were dressed for their rank and stuck out within the modest house. Tashi's mother spoke first. "Sweetie, it's nice to see you, but what are you doing living here? You said it was appropriate housing. This hardly befits you or your status."

Tashi responded "It's nice to see you too mother."

"Hahahaha! Don't mind her cutie, come here, and give your father a kiss hello!"

"Father!" said Tashi, genuinely excited about seeing her dad. She ran over and kissed him on the cheek and gave him a big hug. "Atsumi is telling us all about what you've been up to at school. Impressive. I knew you could do it. I knew you had it in you!"

Eri stood in the doorway and looked back at Byakuya-sama who didn't feel quite ready to make his entrance yet. Tashi finished greeting her parents and walked over towards the door. "Mother, father, let me introduce you to Eri, who is my other roommate and " Tashi poked her head through the door again and smiled at Byakuya who then felt appropriate to enter. "The Captain of the 6th squad, Kuchiki-sama."

Her parents fell completely dumb-silent. Her mother reacted first by kneeling, as Tashi had done, and introduced herself and her lineage. Tashi's father introduced himself and his lineage as well, then said "Excuse me for not bowing properly" and he gestured to the chair.

The couple was older than Byakuya had assumed they would be and was a bit surprised himself. He said to Tashi's father "No need to apologize. I have heard of your sacrifice, and the house of Kuchiki honors that sacrifice."

Atsumi felt she needed to be formal, along with Eri and the two of them awkwardly curtsied. There was a bang at the door and Atsumi ran over to answer it. Before she had her hand on the knob Renji opened it up and stomped in. "Oye! Captain! There's an issue that came up and your presence is—uh" he saw a couple who looked to be more dignified royals and immediately felt out of place. More quietly he said "Uh…you're needed, Captain."

Byakuya nodded at the woman who did not hide her discomfort of the man who was heavily tattooed, even on his face, but the man in the wheel chair only laughed at the woman's discomfort. Byakuya nodded at Renji and the Vice-Captain ran back out the door glad to be out of the stuffy atmosphere.

The captain acknowledged his Vice Captain's news and excused himself. Tashi's mother burst into tears the moment Kuchiki-sama left. "Mother!" said Tashi as she ran over to her. "What's the matter? What's…" Tashi looked at her father who also was holding back tears. "Father? Papa…?"

"It's your brother sweetie. He's taken the final step to the afterlife."

Tashi couldn't believe her ears. "But…he can't die. That's just not possible…"

Tashi's mother wailed.

Outside as Byakuya and Renji walked away, they could both feel the pain of Tashi's mother reverberate through her reiatsu. She was a royal, and her power, though unused was great.

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