(About a month later)
Sao gave the unfortunate news that Yoruichi was not allowed to the banquet. The family elders were firm in the belief that this was their time, not their handlers.
Yoruichi wanted to know everything that happened though. Sao promised to tell her.
In the past few weeks Sao had gotten along much better with Kukaku, though she still teased him. Sao; however, still did not trust Kisuke.
It was three days after the official new years that Sao came back. Yoruichi was excited to see him. Kukaku snickered at that.
He had bags full of goods and treats from home.
Kukaku showed high interest in the pipe he gave her. Unlike her old one, this one was brand new with polished wood and gold.
Yoruichi loved all the foods he had with him. She found the toys to be of high fascination. She said she had never been allowed to have any.
Sao smiled and happily gave her the other toys.
"Your family makes all this?" Kukaku asked curiously as she fingered the smooth cloth in her hands.
"Yep." Sao smiled proudly. His family could do damn near anything, not one person who knew the Feng family well could say otherwise.
"Wow…wish my family made stuff like this." Sao said she could keep it if she wanted. She thanked him with an odd kindness.
She had to leave a few minutes later due to Ganju. (I think that's how it's spelled)
Sao and Yoruichi sat across from each other cross legged in her office. "I don't understand." The goddess spoke up finally.
"Understand what ma'am?"
"How can you be richer than me and I'm in one of the four royal families?"
"There are many kinds of richness Lady Yoruichi."
The goddess shuffled over to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Explain them to me."
"Well…there's the richness of family care and love."
"What do you mean?"
"While you may be a royal, you lack the love and care of real familiness."
"Can you teach me?"
Sao laughed at that. "I think that would take far to much time ma'am."
"Well can you at least be my friend?" Yoruichi looked up at him. She noticed he had changed quite a bit.
He had grown taller and had more muscle than when she first met him.
"How old are you Sao?"
"Eighteen ma'am soon to be nineteen in another month. What about yourself?"
"A woman never tells her true age!" Yoruichi pulled back. She hid her mouth behind her hand and gave a mad laugh.
Sao chuckled at her display. The goddess calmed down and lowered her hands. "Well? Will you promise to be my friend?"
"Mm…I can try I suppose." he jumped at a sudden squeal, Yoruichi threw her arms around his shoulders and gave him a tight squeeze.
He laughed. "Does it matter that much?"
"Yes!" Yoruichi squeezed tighter.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
( Three weeks later)
Sao sighed. It had been a boring few days. Yoruichi was being called on by her family more and more lately.
He thought it odd but kept quiet, that did not stop him from asking Kukaku though.
"Marriage." She said simply.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah…I can't tell her age cause I can't tell my own. But she's at the age when her father will want to marry her off."
"What about you Miss. Kukaku?"
"Hmm? Nah, I ain't getting married. My folks are cool unlike Yoruichi's uptight ones. She's a good exception to her family."
Sao looked down thoughtfully. "But to who?"
"The Kuchiki clan boy Byakuya. Or someone else of high standing. She teases him all the time so he pretty much hates her."
Sao nodded. Kukaku gave him an analyzing look. "You like her don't you?"
"What!?' Of course not! It's just…why would she marry someone she didn't like?"
"Because this isn't about her."
"What do you mean?"
"Yoruichi is still technically a child. Her father still has high standing, so this isn't about her and what she wants."
"It's about her father and what will make him look good."
"Exactly."
"That's wrong" Sao's brow furrowed.
"Nothing we can do about it. But the meeting is over. You can go ahead. She'll be expecting you I bet."
Sao stood and bowed to Kukaku before running out of the Shiba home to meet Yoruichi.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Yoruichi walked out of her house. Byakuya and his grandfather walked off in another direction.
"Lady Yoruichi!" The woman looked up to see a small black speck run around a corner and become Sao the closer it got.
"Sao…" The boy stopped to catch his breath many yards away. The girl stared at him for a moment and charged at him.
The boy panicked slightly. He almost fell over when she knocked into him, her hands clutching the front of his shirt.
"I don't wanna to get married! I don't wanna stay here! I don't wanna have to listen to my father! I don't wanna!" She cried into his uniform front.
Sao stared down at her. 'Was she always this way?' He gripped her shoulders. He couldn't think of anything to say.
But maybe silence was the best answer he could give.
The sun was gone many hours later, and Yoruichi was still crying.
Sao had never felt so useless.
BLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACHBLEACH
Hope you enjoyed it! XD sorry if there are any errors! Reviews please!