Chapter 14 Tea With the Governess

Renji then emerged from the closet, his ponytail changed from the spunky spray of red hair tied tightly at the back to a loose sad side ponytail with sprigs of staticy hair sprouting from here and there. His face wore an un-amused expression. He said "That governess will be quite an enemy, but I think my captain is more suited to battle her." His face twitched from frustration and aggravation.

The sight of the static clung Shinigami was enough to break the tension and make all three girls fall over with laughter. Renji didn't think it was so funny and walked back over to the window. It was night time now and the stars lit the sky. He saw himself in a mirror and fixed his hair. Tashi walked over to him and thanked him for all the trouble. "Thank you Vice Captain Abarai. If you could, I would appreciate you passing on to Captain Ukitake that my family would not be too keen on me joining a Hollow-hunting party, but however, I am very interested in going."

"Yeah. Sure. Why him?"

"Isn't he in charge of it?" asked Tashi.

"No, he just wanted you to come. Captain Kuchiki will be heading this outing" said Renji.

"Damn" she said,

"What? I thought that'd be good" said Renji "Going from what your maids were sayin."

"Well, he would be less likely to color the truth" explained Tashi.

Atsumi interrupted and said "Then just have Ukitake come for tea. That old bat don't have to know he's not headin' it up."

"Perhaps..." said Tashi "…if I lived in a bubble and nobody spoke to anyone. It would come out eventually. Oh, I can't think about this right now!" said Tashi.

Eri said "You're pretty good at coming up with solutions Tashi. It was you who messaged Atsumi. It was you who figured out about the food poisoning, it was you who fooled the professor, and it was you who helped us avoid trouble that time we--" Eri looked at the Vice Captain in front of her and said "Well...you know. When we did that thing."

"But they were different!" said Tashi.

"Not really. The only difference was that it was for other people Tashi. You've got to think about yourself now. Go on Vice Captain, we'll take it from here. You go fill in Ukitake on what's happened and ask his advice. If we come up with a plan before tea tomorrow we'll let you know."

Renji put his foot up on the window sill and said goodnight. Before he left he said "That governess of yours seems to know the name Ukitake. Maybe that can help you, ah?"

"Maybe" said Tashi. "Thanks!"

Renji sped off and hid in the shadows of the night. He reported back to Ukitake and told him what took him so long. "I see" said the captain. "Well I am glad that Tashi was enthusiastic about the outing however I really can't go against her parents if they don't' want her to go."

Renji kneeled before the captain and said "Yes sir."

"I can't lie..." the captain tapped his chin "...but..."

"Sir?" said Renji feeling a bit of danger.

"I can simply not correct them" he smiled. "If they assume I'm in charge then all I have to do is make them comfortable with the idea of Tashi being in my care and divert the conversation to more benign subjects."

"Sir?" said Renji definitely feeling the danger now.

"Hm?"

"Captain Kuchiki is in charge. Won't he find out about this?"

"I'll take care of Kuchiki. I am his senior you know" said Ukitake with confidence. The willowy captain looked out a nearby window and said "Plus, I think he may be sympathetic to her."

"I don't know, sir, he prefers to stick to the letter of the law."

Ukitake frowned and said "You're right. We'll just have to keep any of this from reaching his ears."

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Atsumi, Eri, and Tashi lay in Tashi's large four post bed. "So guys, what do you think? Is it worth the risk?"

"You'll be un-chaperoned" said Eri.

"With a buncha hot guys" said Atsumi. "I hear the blondie Vice-Captain will be there."

"The blondie?" asked Eri.

"Yeah, Vice Captain Izuru" said Atsumi with a sigh.

Eri said "Do we have a crush on him Atsumi? Huh? A wittle bitty cwush, eh?"

"Shuddup!" snapped Atsumi.

"But is it worth it?" asked Tashi ignoring their side conversation. "I can lie to do it, but what if I'm caught. What if gets back to my parents that I was in danger never the less surrounded by young viral men? Will it have been worth it?"

"What would they do?" asked Eri.

"Probably pull me from the academy."

"NO WAY!" screamed Atsumi. "That's insane. Your family is fuckin' insane. Nuts."

"Not really. They're just different from yours" said Tashi.

Eri said "Why don't we worry about it tomorrow. Like you said we'll tell the governess and your mother it's a social outing meant to build repour with your fellow Shinigami and of course to teach you guys...uh...what was it?"

"Proper leadership etiquette separate from those who we will one day be leading" said Tashi.

"Hah!" laughed Atsumi. "I'll leave early and get the message to Abarai, but shit Tashi, you've done it again."

"No, I haven't done anything" said the noble. "It's up to Ukitake pull it off. Now, back to this crush you have on Vice Captain Izuru."

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The next day Ukitake approached Tashi's impressive dwelling along with Renji. "Oye, Captain, why did you ask em to come along?"

"Well, from what you told me I think the governess might be easily distracted by you."

Renji became fidgety at the memory of the governess barking. "Uuuuuh...I don't know about this...I do'nt know how I could be any help...I um...maybe..."

"I want you here Abarai" he said sternly. Ukitake looked over his shoulder and said "Tashi can't do this without you."

"Yes, sir" said Renji, accepting whatever fate lay before him.

The servants led them to the tea room where they took their seats. Renji was uncomfortable among the finery that surrounded him and the gilded furniture he sat in. Ukitake chuckled at Renji's obvious discomfiture. "Relax Renji, we're guests. Enjoy it. Not every gets to see the inside of a true noble's home."

"Yeah..." he said distracted by the decadence of the room. 'To think there are children living in huts in Rukongai, but here they are with gold furniture...'

Tashi's mother and the governess entered the room and gracefully greeted Ukitake and Renji. Renji bowed while Ukitake greeted them more casually. Renji's skin crawled as he felt the governess's eyes on him. She was disgusted, and aroused all at once. He could feel his blush and couldn't meet their eyes. Renji was impressed by Tashi's mother's spirit force, and it reminded him of when he first encountered Captain Kuchiki.

A few nameless servants quietly came into the room and poured some tea into the delicate cups. Renji noted how easily Ukitake adjusted to his surroundings. He complimented and charmed the women and the outing hadn't come up in conversation yet. The governess excused herself saying she was going to get Tashi and a servant asked to speak with Tashi's mother for a moment. She excused herself and whispered with a servant near the door.

Ukitake turned to Renji with a panicked look on his face and whispered "I know that governess! Her mother nursed my father when I was younger. If she recognizes me..."

Renji didn't quite understand his fear "What's the problem? Wouldn't that be good, a connection?"

"Yes...but...she..." Ukitake couldn't finish the sentence because Tashi's mother had rejoined them. Ukitake's fear seemingly evaporated from his features and Renji was left in the dark. When the governess returned Renji noticed she was eyeing Ukitake critically while he spoke to Tashi's mother.

The governess gasped and halted the conversation. "You! You're Shiro-chan! I knew I knew you! I knew it! You may have grown your hair long and outgrown your pudginess, but I remember you now!"

Ukitake tried to play dumb, but the governess smiled, and laughed. She pulled out a fan and demurely hid behind it. "don't you remember me Shiro-chan? Hmm?"

Ukitake looked away, scratching his head, trying not to remember. "Uuuuh...I'm sorry..."

"Umeko! We met when your father fell ill. My mother was a nurse to your father!"

"Oh..OH!" he pretended the memory came back to him. "Oh yes, how could I forget you, Umeko, yeaaaah."

"Oh Shiro-chan!" giggled the older woman. "I had it bad for you back then, eh?"

Ukitake tried to laugh it off and said "Yes, well, we were younger and all. Heh hehe." He nervously rubbed the back of his head and there was an awkward lull in the conversation.

Renji tried to distract the ladies attention away from Ukitake and asked "So, where's Tashi, I thought you were going to bring her here?"

Tashi's mother looked away as if she didn't even see Renji sitting there. The governess was directly addressed so it would have been rude for her to say nothing. "She's still preparing. She will be down momentarily." Renji regretted trying to distract the governess, because it worked all too well. The older woman's eyes quickly ran over him and he felt a bit of a chill down his spine.

Tashi then made her appearance in the doorway. She was dressed in a kimono Renji recalled being hidden behind. the light pastel shades were appropriate for the season and complimented her complexion and silky black hair. Renji closed his gaping mouth and took note of the unusual twist her hair was in. It was tied tightly back, which emphasized how shiny her hair was. Renji caught himself staring and stopped when Ukitake made a personable and appropriate comment on her appearance.

"Yeah" agreed Renji. "You look very different than you normally do in your uniform." He laughed. "I almost didn't recognize you!" Renji topped off his awkward statement with a goofy laugh.

Tashi's mother was clearly uncomfortable with Renji and smoothed over her own hair to distract herself from his presence. "Tashi dearest, please have a seat. Apparently Captain Ukitake and Governess Umeko know each other." She winked at Ukitake and said "And perhaps were sweet on each other at one point?" Tashi's mother and the governess giggled as if they were school girls, and Ukitake laughed nervously.

"I'm glad you came down, daughter" said Tashi's mother "I was just about to ask the Captain here about the outing." She looked at Ukitake and asked "What exactly would my daughter be doing, Captain?"

Ukitake smiled and said "Nothing out of the ordinary for a student."

Tashi sat down in her own chair and said to Ukitake. "I apologize, Captain, I didn't really get a chance to explain it properly to her, Captain." Renji noted how smooth and graceful Tashi's movements were. He now understood how different the world of the Shinigami Academy was compared to her own home and literally how she moved about within it.

Tashi continued looking at her mother. "From what I understand they will be taking only the elite students, and grooming our leadership potential."

Ukitake was delighted at Tashi's answer, for it was both a delicate way to describe the Hollow hunting expedition, but also true. "Yes, Tashi, well put" he said. Renji gruffly nodded his agreement.

"Oh, Mm, well" said Tashi's mother said "That sounds very nice. What kind of things will they learn?"

"Leadership is both a natural attribute and a learned behavior. Tashi is lucky enough to have been born into a family renowned for its leadership, as have some of her classmates. Yet, it never hurts to sharpen those skills."

"Yes, mother" said Tashi as she picked up her cup of tea. "You can think of this outing as one which will sharpen my leadership etiquette."

Ukitake was surprised at how well Tashi manipulated the words to make them more pleasing to her mother. Tashi's mother was easily won over, but the governess was sharper than that and knew Tashi better. The governess then began her questions. "What kinds of activities will sharpen your etiquette my dear?"

Renji saw both Ukitake and Tashi were about to be at a loss for words. Renji decided to intervene. 'I can play this game too!' He coughed. Drawing the governess' attention and that of Tashi's mother who backed away, as if she were afraid the stray dog of Rukongai had brought a host of communicable diseases into her home. It stopped the conversation, so he kept at it. Soon he stood up and took a few steps away, turning away and leaning on a table.

"Vice Captain Abarai!" said Tashi. She put her tea down, and was about to reach out to him, but the governess stood and gently grabbed a hold of her. Ukitake swallowed his irritation with the fussy women and approached Renji who was still hacking away. He winked at Ukitake who understood what was going on.

Renji swallowed and caught his breath. "My apologies" he said "I think it must've gone down the wrong pipe. Sorry." He topped off his performance with a few more coughs. Renji sat himself down in a chair away from the group. As Renji rapped his chest he saw the governess bravely step forward away from Tashi and her mother 'Good, good, splitting up the enemy is always a good way to start.'

"Are you...ill, Vice Captain Abarai?" asked the governess.

"No, no, no. I just choked on some tea" assured Renji.

Ukitake said with a flair of his charisma and seeing an opportunity for distraction "Renji is one of our healthiest Shinigami! He's the example health." Ukitake turned and gave Renji a look that said play along. "We wish more young men would be as dedicated to physical well being as Renji." He patted Renji on the back forcefully and said "You should roll up your sleeve and show them your biceps Renji!"

Renji's cheeks burned bright red from embarrassment. He also knew where Ukitake was going with this. 'Oh no!' "No, no, no...that wouldn't be...appropriate, Captain."

Tashi's mother heartily agreed. "Sorry if I offended you" said Ukitake "that wasn't my intention." He smiled and Tashi's mother relaxed.

Tashi's mother said "Let's move this out to the garden. The flowers are in full bloom today! Perhaps the fresh air will help Renji's tea drinking hahahaha." She was the only one who laughed at her attempt at a joke.

Tashi and her mother led the way, with Ukitake and the governess following and finally Renji taking up the rear. Ukitake caught up with Tashi and her mother and the governess winked at Renji saying "Now that Tashi is safely out of sight, let's take a look at those guns!" Renji wasn't quite sure what she was asking for and his confusion only made the governess want him more. "Let's see your arms, eh?"

Renji tried to refuse politely and to subtly put distance between them, but the governess was persistent. He put up his hands between them, ready to use kidou to defend himself if necessary. He tried to smile, but a certain uneasiness pulled the corners of his mouth downward creating a grim grin. The governess had a look in her eye that made Renji almost sure she was going to devour him. She crouched down a bit like a tiger ready to pounce. Renji heard himself let go an airy squeak from trying to hold back a yelp "Iiiiie..." 'This old woman is scary! Shit!'

She stepped closer and Renji took a step back. They repeated this dance until Renji found himself backed into a corner with a small round table and a plant. He backed into the slender sticks and held on to the wiry leaves. Then he heard Tashi's voice echo down the hallway searching for the two of them. "Governess? Vice Captain Abarai? Hello?"

Her voice sounded tiny, but it was enough to make the governess back off. She smoothed out her dress and addressed Tashi. "Over here my dear."

Tashi saw Renji with a harried look and trying to straighten out his gi. When he saw Tashi he cleared his throat and smiled at her as if nothing was going on. Tashi put two and two together and quietly tucked her rage away in a dark corner of her heart. "Ah, governess, vice-captain. There you are. Now, governess, I know you k now this house very well, were you giving Renji a tour? I don't think that's quite necessary." Tashi glared at her governess and said "I think he needs some fresh air now." She looked to Renji who was unsure of what to do next. "Come along Vice captain, your tea will get cold."

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Tashi wordlessly walked the Vice-Captain down a large breezy hallway out into a magnificent garden. The flowers he smelled were sweet and fragrant. They twined up trellises and were scattered in between finely manicured lawns and shaped shrubberies. They walked on a stone path that brought them over a small foot bridge and down into a sunken area which ended in a long staircase downward. At the end of the stairs lay a large white, iron gazebo that sat in the shade of a few large oak trees.

He saw Tashi's mother and Ukitake chatting with tea in hand. He was surprised how Ukitake fit in with these women and wondered about where the man had come from. He took additional note of his surroundings and said "Tashi?"

"Yes, Vice Captain?" responded Tashi as she caught up to him on her way down the stairs. The Governess trailed behind them monitoring Tashi's behavior.

"I noticed everything here, your house, and stuff is pretty different, unique" he said, trying to point out the differences, but not be insulting. He felt like everything he had said so far wasn't right somehow, and was trying to be careful with the words he chose.

"Yes, that's because my father is from the western portion of the Seireitei. Their customs differ from those of my mother's family and the rest of the Kuchiki's which you are probably more familiar with. The furniture, the food, the way they do their hair. It's all very different. Even the clothing is different. I'm wearing a kimono today in honor of our esteemed guests, but when my father's family visits I have different contraptions for that."

"Contraptions?" said Renji realizing he's not as conversational as he once thought he was. 'Why is finding something to talk about so difficult?'

"Yes. There's this one device called a corset, and there are these strings that lace up the back. I have to get my maids to--"

Just as Tashi began to illustrate the mechanics of a corset the governess intervened "Tashi! I am shocked! You should NEVER discuss your underclothing with a guest! What are they teaching you at that Academy? Why, if this is what you're learning at the school just what exactly are you going to learn on your own during an outing?!"

Renji felt his stomach twist as he realized what he had to do. He walked up back the steps towards the governess and took her arm in his like he had seen Ukitake do with Tashi's mother. "I'm glad to see you're concerned for Tashi, but don't worry. Ukitake is a fine gentleman, and my Captain Kuchiki will surely understand how special Tashi is." Renji braved it and looked her deeply in the eyes. He let his eyes wander down, trying to hide the gulp he took, and back up into the governess' eyes.

The governess put her hand on Renji's and the hungry look in her eye returned. She said "Yes, Vice Captain, I'm sure you're right." Then the governess, continuing her gaze at Renji, told Tashi "Go on darling, down to the gazebo and entertain Ukitake. He is our guest as well."

Tashi was too shocked at what she was seeing to say anything and continued down the steps.

"Well, how about those biceps?" said the governess.

Renji smirked and slowly raised his sleeve. Before he brought up his arm he tried to stall and said "Wait…"

The governess' grim smile faded. "What?"

Renji said "Tashi's mother was—"

"Oh, forget her. Touchi-sama's back is to us, and Tashi is focusing on the Captain. There's not harm in a peek."

Renji all of a sudden felt really dirty. 'For showing her my arm? These people and their propriety are like a virus!' Renji raised his arm, slid back his sleeve up to his shoulder and slowly flexed the muscles in his arm.

Ukitake glanced up at Tashi who was coming down the steps to the gazebo. Ukitake spied past her at the Renji reluctantly showing his arm to the governess and suppressed a laugh.

The governess reached out to touch Renji's arm and the Vice-captain pulled away and playfully said "uh-uh-uuuuh!" and waved a finger at the governess. "No touching! Heh heh" he laughed thinking he had dodged being molested by the governess.

Renji walked the governess arm in arm down to the gazebo. She dug her nails into his arm and he bit his bottom lip in order not to yelp.

They all seated themselves under the gazebo and had tea. The conversation never went back to the topic of the expedition and Renji found it easier to charm the governess than before. He felt a little bad for Tashi who had to witness it all, but he figured she should just get over it because he was the one who was really suffering, not her. This was for her benefit after all.

When the afternoon began to turn into evening Ukitake decided it was time to go. He said "Well I'm sorry ladies, but its time we headed back. He glanced at the governess who was totally distracted by Renji. "Is it safe to assume that you feel safe with Tashi in our care?"

Tashi's mother nodded saying "I see no reason not to let her go."

The governess batted her eyelashes at Renji and said "No objection here."

Ukitake smiled and sighed "Great." He looked at Tashi and said "I'll see you in a couple of days Tashi-san. Until then…" Ukitake looked at Renji and the governess. "I'm sorry milady, but I'm going to have to take back Renji for a while"