WHEN THE SNOW FALLS
by Yih

Chapter Twenty-One
The Ultimatum

"Ukitake-taichou," Rukia said as she knelt down in front of him after having completed her first mission as a commanding officer, "the mission was a success and there were no casualties and only a few minor injuries, nothing that would require a visit to Squad 4."

"Very good," Ukitake remarked. "You have done well."

"Thank you."

"Is there anything else?" he inquired in a manner that made Rukia wonder how he knew that she had more to say than just a simple report that was expected.

It was like he could read her, even though she didn't think her face gave anything about how concern she had been during the mission. She had felt in her guts that something wasn't right before they had even encountered the Hollows and her intuition – her instinct had been correct.

"There were an abnormally large amount of Hollows, more than normal," Rukia reported. "I remembered you told me you were researching Menos Grande and how there seemed to be more of them then there had been before. I think it's the same with the lesser Hollows too. I'm not sure what all this means, though…"

"Neither am I," Ukitake finished for her in his encouraging voice. "Thank you for letting me know about this. That was extremely considerate of you."

"It's not a problem!" Rukia exclaimed, then suddenly dropping her gaze to the floor in embarrassment for blurting out like that.

It was something that Kaien would do to Ukitake, but she wasn't his fukutaichou. She was literally a nobody in the squad, despite the responsibilities that she had been entrusted with by her taichou.

"That's all I have to report," she said in a much more contained and respectful voice.

Ukitake smiled kindly at her. "I may be your taichou, Rukia, but that doesn't mean I'm not also your friend as well."

Rukia looked up, staring into Ukitake's grave and sincere eyes, stunned. It wasn't that she didn't want to be her taichou's friend, but she couldn't imagine Byakuya ever being friends with his subordinates. She supposed that is where Ukitake and Byakuya differed. It wasn't a bad difference.

Byakuya commanded overwhelming respect and that was just the way he was – except with her. Rukia managed to hold back the blush that was threatening to creep onto her face. Ukitake was more approachable. It was an entirely different method and yet even though she knew this in the back of her mind, she still couldn't imagine being chummy with him the way Kaien was and Miyako had been.

But she could be friends with her taichou in her own way, especially when he was offering such friendship to her in such a kind, kind way. Rukia smiled back at him and nodded.

"Thank you, Ukitake-taichou."

Was it her imagination or did his smile get a little wider?

"Now go home, Rukia and get some rest. You and the rest deserve it after such a successful mission."

-

Byakuya took his time heading toward the main building that was in the center of Kuchiki lands because he didn't like Elder meetings, especially ones that were sudden and unexpected. The monthly meetings he was forced to attend as the Head of the Kuchiki clan was more than enough. Why he was being made to go to this particular meeting, he didn't understand. He was busy enough with his duties as Taichou of the 6th Squad.

When he arrived at the meeting location, several guards were waiting outside of the doors. They all went to their knees and bowed to him before two of them rose to their feet to open the double doors leading into the building. Byakuya walked past them and stood still at the foot of the entrance as all the Elders in the Great Hall turned around to look at him – the Head of the Kuchiki Clan.

Byakuya inclined his head to them as acknowledgement and they all bowed to him in respect, but not in subservience as the guards outside were. Byakuya waited until they had straightened up before proceeding down the center walkway to his customary spot at the very forefront of the hall, where Takahiro, the Head Elder was waiting for him.

"Good evening, Kuchiki-sama," Takahiro said before his eyes flickered to the elders gathered before them. "Let the meeting begin."

Byakuya sat at the chiseled rosewood chair that had been where his grandfather, his great-grandfather, and his forefathers before them had sat in these incessant meetings. He kept his face blank, stoic, so that they wouldn't know how utterly bored he was. He was glad that his duties as a Taichou in the Gotei 13 were not as tedious as this. Indeed, they were marvelously enjoyable compared to these meetings. Maybe because they felt more important and he felt like he was needed.

He didn't have to be here for these meetings – not when he was just a bystander to listen to them prattle without an opinion to vocalize. Too bad this was tradition and duty, things he had been taught to uphold by Ginrei.

"I would like to bring up an issue," one of the elders said. "It is in regard to Kuchiki Rukia."

At the mention of her name, Byakuya's attention was seized. Byakuya focused in on this particular elder, recognizing his face vaguely, but he didn't really know the man. What was the issue with Rukia? Was this why Takahiro had demanded he attend this meeting? Did he know? Did they know?

"What about her?" Byakuya said, the first time he had ever spoken in a meeting without being addressed directly. He typically didn't interefere with the elders' discussions.

The elder that had spoken looked up to meet his gaze directly. "It is time that she be engaged."

Byakuya quickly glanced sideways to Takahiro and caught something in the Head Elder's expression that made him think that he knew that this was going to happen. Before anyone could detect that Byakuya had looked away from the elder, his gaze had returned.

"Rukia-sama," Byakuya remarked, "is quite young."

"To be married, perhaps," the elder conceded, "but hardly for an engagement or even an understanding. We are even late to consider something like that, for someone of such a high status as Kuchiki Rukia is, being a daughter of one of the Four Great Noble Clans. Some are affianced since infancy and most in childhood. It would be a dishonor if she is not engaged by the time she has reached adulthood and some would say she already has since she is a full-fledge shinigami. At the least, she is still young and a Kuchiki.

"I am certain she will marry very well despite the fact she doesn't carry a drop of Kuchiki blood, she is adopted into our clan and carries the weight of our alliance. She is also a shinigami of some talent and certainly that will own make her a more attractive prospect. And she carries a significant dowry, as is only proper, and that combined with a connection to our family will make her irresistible."

Byakuya held back the insistent urge to clench his fist, to show any sign that this was not a conversation he wanted to listen or to partake in. What could he say without bringing his interest in Rukia to the forefront? She was adopted into the clan; she was as good as his sister. Their relationship was incest, regardless of the blood connection. What he was doing went against everything he was taught… but he couldn't go back and he wouldn't.

"How can you be certain?" Byakuya inquired coldly. "As you have already mentioned, she was adopted into our clan, and as such is not truly a Kuchiki. I am sure no matter how you try to sell it, that fact will be hard to deny."

"It is fortunate then," Takahiro spoke softly, yet with that commanding voice that drew even Byakuya's attention immediately, "that those outside the Kuchiki clan do not agree with you and instead think Rukia-sama a fine prize."

"What?" Byakuya said in a voice louder and more surprised than he would have liked as he turned to glare at the Head Elder.

"There have been several offers already, despite the fact we have not officially even announced that she was eligible. It was leaked, as such things do occur when you have less than adequate servants, but it pleased me to know that once we do start searching for a husband for Rukia-sama – she will be well received."

"She is my sister," Byakuya said grimly, "I do not give my permission for her to be affianced, much less married."

"Your approval in this matter," Takahiro remarked, "is unnecessary. The Elders have more sway in upholding the clan honor and dignity and respect with decisions such as these and we unanimously agree that Kuchiki Rukia will be engaged now and married sometime in the future whether you agree or not."

-

A/N: Sorry for being gone for so long! I got caught up with the start of my 2nd semester of 2nd year and just feel overwhelmed (since I have to start studying for my Step 1 – which is the most important test of my med school career ^-^;;)! I probably won't be releasing as often, but please don't give up on this story! I'll write as much as I can whenever I can spare the time and when I have the inspiration. The reviews certainly help! I hope this chapter is enjoyable, I really did like writing this and this has been at the back of my mind since midway through the story. Thanks for reading and please review!

P.S. I plan on writing a fictional story that is kind of similar to the Bleach world (it's set in an alternate reality/wuxia-ish setting and also the present world with characters that fight with weapons like swords and other stuff), would anyone be interested in reading it and giving me feedback as I write it? It wouldn't be a fast write by any means (as I'll primarily be writing this fanfic), but just wondering if anyone's interested. If so, let me know in the review or shoot me an email.

Released: 1/17/2009