Hey, my wonderful readers! Thank you sooo much for reading and reviewing my story! You guys made me want to post my new chapter extra early, but unfortunately I am really really sick, which is probably where I got the idea to make Byakuya sick, too. I think me and him have the same thing. lol. Anyway, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Su Kuchiki, specifically: Thanks so much for your wonderful review and all the inspiration you have given me! :) I really appreciate it. But back to the story...this chapter has a lot of angst. So if you are looking for a comic relief chapter, this is not one of them. Please read and review! If you do…you get a special prize! Nah, just kidding. But I will love you forever! Also, no flames! Flames shall be used to heat up my chicken noodle soup!
~The Meeting~
"We, the Kuchiki Elders, call this meeting forth today to discuss the matter of Kuchiki Rukia."
"Me? Did I do something to displease you?" said Rukia shakily. She was racking her memory trying to find some reason why the Elders would possibly be mad at her.
"See, there she goes with that absolutely disdainful and crude language of hers! I can't believe we allowed this mutt into our prestigious clan…" said one of the old women. You could sense the arrogance and snobbish attitude of the woman just by standing next to her.
"Ha! It was that stubborn little brat! Speaking of which…where is our 'Head of Family, Clan Leader' that we love so much?" said another wrinkly Elder with twinge of sarcasm in her voice.
"Kuchiki Byakuya-sama is at home. He will not be attending the meeting today. He is very ill and he has asking me to represent both of us." said Rukia.
"Byakuya let YOU represent HIM?" about 3 Elders all said in unison.
"Yes, he did. Now, if it pleases you, may we please get down to business?" Rukia was feeling a lot braver today. She decided that she was going to stand up to these old hags like Byakuya usually did, considering that she is representing him in this meeting.
"Fine then. We want Kuchiki Rukia out of the family."
"WHAT?" Rukia yelled out in shock.
"You heard us! We want you out! We will no longer let you disgrace our clan." One of the Elders said, crossing his old, frail arms and looking at Rukia sternly.
"But-", Rukia tried to plead.
"Ha! Afraid? Good. You should be. Without us, you are simply Rukongai trash. We don't care what Byakuya thinks he will do to us. Byakuya is powerless as well, without us. We are the law here, not that spoiled brat!"
"Silence!" Ginrei Kuchiki had had enough. He was not going to standby and listen to a bunch of old farts insult Rukia AND his grandson. He was also not happy about the amount of power the Elders were holding at this moment. When Byakuya was there, they were respectful and submissive. But with him gone, who knows what they will dare to do. Ginrei leaned into the table where they were all sitting. They were in a well-lit room with a huge table that could easy seat 100 people. The most noticeable thing about the room was the difference in style compared to the rest of the Kuchiki Manor. The meeting room was fairly westernized compared to the more traditional setting of the rest of the house.
Then, Ginrei spoke into the ears of one of the newest elders, "It would be nice…If you would allow us to take our leave now, sir." He said through gritted teeth. The Elder was shaking in fear before he spoke up.
"Rukia Kuchiki. You have 5 days left as a Kuchiki member. If you have any business to tend to, take care of it immediately. We will visit you often to see if you are preparing yourself. Do not disgrace yourself with the last days that you have here."
Rukia looked down at the ground, holding back her many tears that threatened to fall from her sad violet eyes. She said nothing as she quietly stepped out of the room and started walking down the halls of the Kuchiki Manor. She walked for about 2 minutes before stopping at the doors that lead out to the garden closest to Byakuya's room. Still holding her head down in shame, she opened the doors and stepped outside.
Rukia loved the gardens. They were her favorite part of being a Kuchiki. Of course, it was nice to have money, but if she had some of her own she would simply buy a garden just like the one she is now sitting in. Rukia was perched at a little bench under the Sakura tree. She held herself in her own arms as she let the tears stream down her pale face. As she sat there whimpering, she did not hear the door of the Garden open, nor did she hear someone walk up behind her. She didn't even notice that that person was looking at her with the gentlest eyes.
"Rukia?" Byakuya asked, concerned.
Rukia whipped her head around to see Byakuya standing behind her. "Ni-Nii-sama?"
"Rukia, what is wrong? What did the Elders say to you? It has been a long time since I have seen you this upset."
"Oh. I-it was nothing." Rukia lied.
"Rukia", Byakuya didn't believe a word of it, "did they insult you?"
"Yeah, they did." She wanted to be at least somewhat honest with him. But she couldn't help but to be afraid of telling him the whole truth about it. She thought it would make him sicker from the stress of it all.
"ACHOO!"
"Gomen, Rukia. I had hoped that they would not berate you, like they do with everyone else." Byakuya said before politely turning to blow his nose.
"Nii-sama?" Now it was Rukia's turn to be concerned.
"Yes, Rukia?"
"I believe you said that you would let me take care of you after the Elders meeting." She reminded him.
"Oh, yes. I believe I did." Byakuya said, coughing.
"Well then. Come now, you must get back to bed." Rukia left the garden with Byakuya following shortly behind her and walked down the hall where Byakuya's bedroom was. Rukia waited for Byakuya to step in front of her and lead the way, while she bowed showing respect for his authority. Byakuya stepped in front of her and opened his bedroom door and walked over to his bed. Byakuya was still in a casual black kimono, that was just slightly too big for him. Showing Rukia that he had lost weight.
"Nii-sama, we must get weight back on you. You have lost about 10 pounds from what I can see. Let me go get the maid."
"Wait, Rukia." A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. She looked at him and he said, "Rukia, you have promised to take care of me. So, no maids. Also, I am eating very much. Look, I still have soup sitting here from lunch."
After some hesitation, Rukia said, "Alright then. But you have to stay in bed."
"Yes, dear." Byakuya said tiredly, giving up on the war with his body to stay awake.
'Dear? He just called me dear! As if…we were a couple or…married! He must have a fever! I should call Unohana Taichou.'
"Nii-sama, I believe you are running a fever, please allow me to call Unohana Taichou." Rukia asked.
"No." Byakuya said bluntly.
"No? But Nii-"
Byakuya interrupted her swiftly, "I said no, Rukia. That means no."
Rukia could do nothing but sigh and say, "Hai, Nii-sama."
Byakuya laid down in bed with his head faced away from Rukia, who was sitting in a comfortable chair beside his bed. Rukia looked at Byakuya softly, as he finally fell asleep.
'I was really lucky to be taken in by such a person. Even if I have to leave, I am grateful for all that he has done for me. He makes up my life. There is no other family I have. Now that Kaien is dead, and I never see Renji, he is the only family I have left. I hope that after I leave I will still be able to see him…What are you thinking, Rukia. Of course not. To Byakuya you are just an obligation that he has to take care of. With you gone, he might be able to move on in his life….and if that is the way it is, if he will be better off without me. I will leave willingly, without regrets.'
Thanks for reading! :) Please remember to review! I love reviews, they make me want to post early *wink wink nudge nudge*. Lol. Actually, I had this chapter typed up earlier, but I accidently deleted it. Gasp! I was angry, too. I was in a hurry to type this. Its 4AM!
Next Chapter: "Ambulance"