Author: Melina Hites
Story: Yet to be named? (got a suggestion; PM me plz or review)
Chapter: Parties and Sunrises
Pages: 7
Total story pages: 15
Disclaimer: Bleach isn't mine!
Word Count: 2630
Total Story Word Count: 5412
Summery: Post winter war. Byakuya Kuchiki is given an ultimatum. Find a wife and produce an heir all in two years time.
Authors Note: just saying this now to clear up any confusion before it begins.
This is normal speaking. this is a thought. this is a Zanpakuto. this is Ichigo's hollow (but he isn't in this chapter so not to worry)[he comes around later]
Its a long one to compensate for the short second chapter!
Parties and Sunrises
They milled about waiting for the new head of the Shingo family from what would surely be hours of preparation. He stared. This gathering was part of the ultimatum that the elders of his family had given him. He thought back "There will be many young, available ladies there that would be more then willing to become a Kuchiki lady." they had told him. He narrowed his eyes he would never consider any of these women.
He looked up as a servant stood atop the stairs leading into the house. He cleared his throat. "It is my honor to present our Mistress, And the head of the Shingo Family, Lady Kimiko Shingo." The man bowed and stepped aside to reveal a women garbed in expensive kimono, flanked by several other women.
Byakuya looked to the woman who stood at the top of the stairs. She looked nothing like the Lieutenant who he had seen leaving the office yesterday evening. Features were posed into the perfect emotionless noble expression. In her hand was her Zanpakuto, the golden dragon. "My ladies and I wish to give you all a performance" she told them as she descended the stairs carefully. She released her Zanpakuto and brought the fan up in front of her face face. Musicians began to play and the women behind Kimiko began to dance spinning and moving their fans around.
Byakuya watched. He knew this was a tradition in the Shingo family. It had occurred many times before now but never, in recent memory, had the head of house participated. Much less had a Zanpakuto used during it. The other women stopped as Kimiko began to move gracefully. Soon after the woman behind her to twist and turn again. The dance finished soon after with the women kneeling with their fans in front of their faces. Two of the ladies came forward and helped the head of house up. She whispered a quiet thank you to the women, and turned back to the crowd. "Please," she said quietly, "enjoy yourselves."
She sighed as everyone turned away and visibly relaxed a bit. Byakuya watched as an older man came to her and began talking hurriedly to her as she nodded her head and closed her eyes. She nodded a final time and walked away and began personally greeting everyone at the party, the old man following closely behind always with one of the ladies from before just a few steps behind him. Gracefully She moved threw the crowd speaking to everyone shaking hands.
"Your such a creeper Byakuya-bo" said Yoruichi. Off to his left.
He shot her a deadly look. "Don't call me that"
Kimiko walked up to Byakuya and Yoruichi.
"Hey Kid" said Yoruichi, "You got old!"
Kimiko's emotionless mask broke as she smiled and quietly laughed. "Your still older then me Yoruichi-sama."
Yoruichi feigned mock hurt and laughed "You should respect your elders, Kimiko-Chan!"
"Yes, you should Kimiko." said the the man behind her.
Kimiko turned to him, "Last I checked Ganji-san, I am the head of this family, Not you! Keep your nose matters that no longer concern you." she told him coldly.
"Kim-"
"And, furthermore, you in public, will address me as Lady Shingo, or and the very least Kimiko-sama. Do I make myself clear?"
The old man stood a little taller, "Crystal, Kimiko-sama." He said threw clenched teeth
"Good," she said nodding, "leave. Arianna you too."
The girl bowed, "yes, my lady."
The old man narrowed his eyes. And turned away from her.
"Your a bit of a bitch, aren't you Kimmy-chan?" Yoruichi said to her.
She looked skyward. "Only to Ganji, he needs to get out my life, hes been interfering for most of it. I've been wanting to do that since my father died." She shook her head smiling "No matter, Are you enjoying yourselves?" She asked looking between them.
"Oh yes. But I'll be heading back shortly. I cant leave Kisuke and Tessai alone for very long. We'd have crisis on us if I left for more then a few hours."
Kimiko nodded. "I imagine keeping track of those to mischief makers would be especially difficult, that is if I remember any of my youth."
Yoruichi hugged her. "You look good kiddo, keep up the good work." She told her ruffling her hair and turning away.
"And yourself, sir?" she said looking at Byakuya.
"Yes" he said.
"I am glad." She tilted her head to her side smiling. She narrowed her eyes as she saw something behind him. "Excuse me I have an uncle to murder." She sidestepped him and he raised an eyebrow. As she went up to the man she had earlier called Ganji. He could see her face grow more angry with each word that came out of his mouth. He turned away and scanned crowd.
Maybe I should mingle.
You just want to talk to the girl his Zanpakuto said to him.
No. Not entirely. He thought back.
Don't try to get one by me. I am a part of you after all. I can see your innermost desires.
Oh. he though. And what wou-
His thought was caught off guard by a slight tap on his shoulder. It was Kimiko. "Hey Lord Kuchiki, Wanna help me disappear?" Kimiko asked. It seems I've made my uncle a little upset with me!
"And disappearing will make it better?"
She nodded and flashed a trademark Kimiko smile. "Ah yup!" she said.
"Where do you suggest we go?" He asked her. "There are people everywhere?"
"Can you keep up?" She asked flash stepping away.
He inwardly smirked. Of course I can.
He followed her to another garden on the other side of the estate. She stopped on veranda. Byakuya stopped slightly behind her.
"We here." she said looking over her shoulder too him. "Airainna, Tea." She commanded to the air As the woman appeared from seemingly know where.
"Of course Kimiko-sama."
She walked down the steps. Toward a pond. "You coming?" She asked turning back at him.
He descended the stairs. "Where are we?"
"Whatever do you mean? We are in the Shingo head of house garden AKA Kimiko's personal garden"
"You aren't really hiding then."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh yes it is. I hardly ever come here. Not since- "she stopped. "I'm usually in the forest when I am hiding. Not out here. But seeing as I am in this," she gestured to her kimono "I'd rather not destroy it. I think Ganji would have my head if I did." she looked around the garden "They have kept it up though. Not that I like it."
"Why?" He asked looking around. "Its beautiful."
She nodded "It is, yes. It just brings memories I'm not particularly fond of. Oh," she said pointing at him "And if Ganji-san asks, I kidnapped you."
Arianna brought the tea pot and set it on the tray between them. And pored each of them a cup. "Ganji-sama says that you are to go back to the party. And that it is rude for you too leave your guests like that."
She closed her eyes. "Ganji-san can entertain the guests. Its not me who organized this whole charade."
"He's just concerned for your future Kimiko-sama."
She closed her eyes. "I know Arianna. I just wish he'd be concerned with someone else for once his life. He has his own children after all"
"May I leave?" The girl asked.
Kimiko opened her eyes and looked at her. "Yes. go."
Worried about her future? He though.
Seeming to read his mind she spoke, "My uncle is trying to set me up with an ' Available Lord' its starting to get on my nerves." She took a sip of her tea. "In case you were wondering."
"Not at all." he lied, "So, Why did you bring me here?"
She cracked a smile. "I trust you." she said swirling her tea in the cup "And I felt like I was being a pack of wolves. Hungry ones." She added Her eyes going wide. She looked up at him. "Think of something work related to talk about please."
He gave her a slightly confused look.
"Ganji's coming here," she explained.
"Captain Kyokora's and Captain Ukatake's inccencent need to get rid of our sake budget?" he offered.
"It is quite grotesque. Actually. I always thought Captain Ukatake shouldn't drink because it agrivates his illness." She turned and stood "Oh! Ganji-san to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
The old man fumed. "YOU SHOULD BE AT THE GATHERING WITH YOUR GUESTS" he screamed as he surged forward. He raised his hand to strike Kimiko and she flinched away. but Byakuya stood and flash stepped to stop him before he could
"Would you really strike a woman?" He asked quietly.
"Lord Kuchiki! I didn't see you there."
"It is wrong to strike a woman. No matter what the circumstances." he said looking down a kimono shaking. "Moreover she is the head of your family and has power over you. I suggest you apologize!" he commanded his eyes narrowing.
Her eyes went wide as she stared up at her captain. Shit she thought.
Byakuya stepped aside From in front of her. As her uncle bowed "I am very sorry Kimiko-sama. My anger got the better of me. Please accept my apology."
She nodded. "Yes, I accept it." She said in a shaky voice.
The three of them went back to the party together. And Kimiko resumed her talking to the guests.
Byakuya watched from afar, Concerned, that when he left that evening her uncle would strike her.
He was among the last to leave. And Kimiko personally walked him out. "Thank you" she told him quietly. He looked down at her and nodded. "Good night, Captain," she said as reached the gates. She was looking down as though she was ashamed of something.
"Goodnight." he said turning. He stopped and turned around as an uncontrollable urge overtook him. He leaned down and pecked her on the cheek Before flash stepping away.
She stood perfectly still. As she brought her hand up to her cheek still unable to believe that her captain had just done that. She blushed and turned to walk back to her rooms.
Byakuya turned into the gates of the Kuchiki estate. What possessed me to do that? he thought.
You have feelings for her? His Zanpakuto offered.
But why.
This comes back to earlier. Your deepest darkest desires Master.
Shut up, he said pulling open the shino door to his room. I need to think.
She was undressed as quickly as the maids could get the expensive kimono off and folded away. She dressed in her shinigame uniform and packed a small bag of possessions that she would take to her quartets at the sixth division.
"Kimiko-sama wont you stay here?" Airanna asked.
She shook her head. "You know my uncle is more then capable of looking after the family affairs. He has, after all always done it. Ill be back on the weekend."
"Of course. We will keep your room ready then."
She nodded. "Thats fine with me. Thanks girls!" she said pulling the bag over her shoulder and flash stepping away.
When she got to the division she sighed. She was tiered but could not bring herself to go to bed. She walked into her bedroom. As a vice captain she had be afforded the luxury of an apartment as opposed to the single rooms the rest of the shinigami were given. And having an apartment meant also having a bathroom that was all her own. She turned in that direction turned the taps on letting the hot water fill the tub up.
Byakuya himself had not moved in many hours and though he had tried to sleep he could not manage to make the thoughts swirling in his head subside. Why did I do that? he thought again.
He got up out of bed just as the sky had began to turn pink. He dressed and got ready for the day and slipped out of the grounds heading toward the sixth division.
She submerged herself allowing the water to take the day away, allowed the hot Work the kinks out. She sat in the tub until the water went ice cold And the sky had turned pink. She got out toweling herself dry and dressing in the white under ukaka. She went out to the window. The sunrise was beautiful.
No sleep tonight hey Kimiko? Came the voice of her Zanpakuto.
"Apparently not," she said aloud.
The roof would be a better place to watch.
Kimiko nodded going to her room and grabbing a kimono to wrap herself in. she went out onto the veranda and flash stepped to the roof.
Byakuya stopped in front of the office of the sixth division noticing his vice captain perched precariously on the edge of the roof with her back to him.
He flash stepped to stand on the peak of the roof. "Something, vice captain Shingo, about your appearance, would suggest that you have not yet gone to bed yet."
She whipped her head around. "Captain!" she said, adjusting her kimono. "No, I haven't." she admitted staring up at him.
He could tell she was exhausted. She had purple bags under her blue eyes. Her skin was a sallow color. But she spoke again. "But, judging by you own appearance, sir, neither have you."
He raised an eyebrow and sat down beside her. "Shingo go to bed."
Does Master wish to join the lady? His Zanpakuto whispered to ignored it.
She turned back to the sunrise. "I just want to see the sun come up then I will sleep."
He nodded, "Fine."
As the sun came up her eyes drifted shut and her head lolled. She was soon breathing rhythmically.
Mistress, her Zanpakuto said to her. She got no response. Hmm. KIMIKO! Oh maybe its better this way.
Byakuya looked over at her sleeping form. The sun hadn't even finished its ascent. She sure watched the sunrise alright, but only from behind her eyelids. He reached over to her and lightly touched her shoulder. "Shingo," he said softly. "Kimiko."
She only sighed in her sleep.
He shook his head as he reached over and picked the tiny woman up. He flash stepped to her quarters and slid open the shijo screan. He looked around it was sparse but very neat and tidy.
"Captain?" Came the words in a sleepy haze.
He looked down at the woman in his arms. Her eyes were partially open. "I'm putting you in your room so you can sleep more comfortably."
"Oh," she nodded nuzzling into his chest "OK."
He stared down at her. He put her carefully on the futon and leaned over to pull the blanket over her.
As he did this she leaned up and pecked him on the cheek. "Have a good day captain"she said as she rolled over so that her back was too him.
I think she likes you master. Came the self satisfied voice of Senbonzakura.
He stood and watched her sleep for a few more moments before turning and leaving for his office.
Maybe.
A/n: Have you got a Question? Thought? Comment? A concer (IE an error or somesort)? Flame? Random outburst? Leave a review. I take them all! All you have to do is press the little buttont that says 'REVIEW'!
On a slightly related note. If you see any errors just point them out. If anything doesnt make sense point it out. Before I reach the final edit that I post I will read the chapter about twenty times. And thats enough to make anyone miss things. SO be kind and point it out.
Some people will argue that there are enough characters to play with in the bleach universe, and while yes Tite Kubo is a terrible troll, I like to be able to manpliat the characters more. Hence I write oc's. If it turns mary-sue. Stop me. Please. Just say HEY MEL SOSO is a total mary sue. Ahhh but I digress. I dont want to any characters seriously out of canno. I hate that. I hate reading AU fic. But once again I digress.
Im tiered its 11:58 pm. Ive been awake since seven. Bed time... I think so!
Melina!
edit: i fixed some stuff. but if you see anything just drop me a line. ill listen promise!