Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters.

Note: Sorry for the late update, hanging out with my friends simply seemed more important^^. Anyway, thank you all for your nice reviews and everyone who added the story to his/her favourites: you're really charming!
Now I hope you like the newest chapter, though it is a bit short. I'll try to update soon.

Chapter 9:

The next day dawned bright and clear. Shihana woke up early, stretched and yawned, when she noticed that nobody was around. Yawning was considered very ill-mannered in the Kuchiki-family. You didn't yawn even if you had to listen to the most boring of conversations after a week of bad sleep.

Shihana smiled and stood up. Her smile immediately faded when she saw the piece of paper on her desk. She had nearly forgotten her appointment with Reki today.

Perhaps she could eat dinner together with Rukia to make up for the loss of fun. This idea immediately lightened her mood and she entered the bathroom smiling again.

Shihana and Byakuya were working in perfect harmony when ten minutes after they had begun, suddenly the door slid open and Abarai Renji walked in.

"You are late, Abarai", Byakuya declared.

Shihana's pulse had quickened at his entry. Was now the moment? She had to get over with it, better sooner than later.

She inhaled silently and stood up apruptly.

"May I have a word with you, Abarai-fukutaichou?", she asked formally.

Renji regarded her a moment through narrowed eyes. Nah, he wasn't that angry anymore. Still, she was not his favourite person at the moment.

He felt Byakuya-taichou's eyes in his back and nodded quickly.

They stepped into the archive, which was empty at this time of the day. The light that filtered through the small windows caught in dancing dust, lending the room a diffuse, milky light.

"Well", said Renji, perhaps a bit rougher, than he had intended, "What was it you wanted?"

"I wanted to say I'm sorry", said Shihana softly, her eyes fixed on the ground. No, she thought, a Kuchiki does not cast her gaze down, she stares all her fears in the face, proudly. She raised her eyes to Renji's and continued.

"It was very rude of me to approach you thus. I should not have acted upon my feelings. I have disregarded my duties as a daughter of Kuchiki house and as a friend. Your scorn at me is rightful, but please forgive me, for I honour your friendship a great deal and would hate to lose it."

There, it is out, Shihana thought. Now the rest is entirely up to him.

'...have acted upon my feelings' what the heck is that supposed to mean?, Renji asked himself. Who says 'thus' anyway?

"You could have told me, ya know", he said.

"To be honest", confessed Shihana, "I didn't know how to say it. Like 'By the way, I'm going to get married, but let's just overlook the fact'? That sounds pretty stupid, huh?"

"Yeah", agreed Renji, but he smiled. "I can't say I'm not angry anymore, but you can count on me not to rip your head off. That enough?"

"Thank you", she said and smiled gratefully. A speck of dust had caught in her hair leaving her looking suddenly very young and vulnerable. Renji swallowed. It seemed unfair that they had gone through such trouble for a kiss they hadn't even shared.

He turned around quickly and left the room.

Shihana exhaled silently. Now, that didn't go that bad, did it?

Now to the paperwork...

She went rigid, when she heard Byakuya talk in the office.

"Yes she's in the archive room, she should be back in a minute, Shihoin-kun."

Shihana counted to ten under her breath, then she stepped out into the office, a polite smile on her face.

"Reki-san, how nice you've made it so early. Well then, Byakuya-san, Abarai-kun, I'll see you tomorrow."

Taking her fiancé's arm and a light kiss to the cheek, she turned to leave.

"You look lovely, Shihana-san", said Reki.

"Thank you, Reki-san", replied Shihana, bowing her head. "Now where are we headed?", she continued after a moment of silent walking.

"The dress maker to have our clothes measured. Then I would like you to accompany me to my family's estate. You haven't met my family yet."

"It will be an honour", said Shihana.

The dress maker Reki was referring to owned a shop in the outer rings of Seireitei, near the white wall. It was quite some way to walk, but it was a nice autumn day and the sun was still warm.

Shihana thought she saw heads turn when they walked by. Sure, people were talking about this. Noble families tended to marry amongst each other, but there hadn't been a union between the Kuchiki and the Shihoin family for several hundred years or so. Also, women's heads might be turning because Reki could be considered more handsome than the average man.

Shihana stifled a scoff. She should be happy not to marry some fat old geezer with money, but somehow... she just wasn't. She was determined to try liking him, though.

"So what do you enjoy in your free time, Reki-san?", she asked.

"Oh, I like to study history. At our landhouse, I enjoy going on a ride across the fields."

"That sounds nice. Would you teach me how to ride a horse sometime?"

"I can't believe a noble girl such as you hasn't been trained in it!", he exclaimed indignantly.

Shihana glared at him for a second. She didn't expect an excuse for this open insult of her family. Obviously he expected impeccable behaviour from her while he could do what ever he wanted.

Don't jump to conclusions, Shihana, she scolded herself. He doesn't know better.

"My parents focused their social education on other skills such as music and art", she said.

"Hm, they may have been right. I always thought women on horses looked a bit improper. They should indulge in more delicate hobbies."

Shihana tried not to sigh. He had agreed, yet, agreeing he had insulted her again.

She was almost relieved, when the dressmaker's shop came into view and the conversation bent on other matters.

The shopkeeper bowed deep at their entry.

"Shihoin-sama, Kuchiki-sama, it is an honour to welcome you to my shop."

"Have you laid out the pieces I have asked for?", drawled Reki a clear air of arrogance in his voice.

"Sure, sure", agreed the small woman and hurried to another room, fetching the wanted clothing.

Reappearing a second later, she gestured them to follow her.

They stepped into a small working room with a platform and several dress dolls. At the far end, rolled cloth lay on a spacious table.

"Do step up, please, Kuchiki-sama", said the woman.

Shihana complied and stood still as a statue while the woman fuzzed around her, taking measures.

"So will you go to live at the Shihoin estate?"

"Of course we will", replied Reki without the slightest hesitation.

It took quite a lot of willpower not to roll her eyes. Shihana was slowly losing patience with him.

The material that had been chosen for her dress looked perfect, yet felt dreadful on the skin. It was too stiff and Shihana had the feeling that she should wish for a cool day or else she would sweat profusely.

A week ago, she would have protested and insisted on choosing her dress herself. But now she had already grown accustomed to Reki's obsession with being in control.

Yeah, Shihana sighed silently, she had known it from the beginning: he was a control-freak.

Wasn't there even a tiny part of him that truly cared about her? She was determined to find out.

"Um, has the guest list already been made, Reki-san?" she asked innocently.

"Of course it has", stated her fiancé.

"I hope you have included Abarai Renji-kun? I like him quite a lot." Shihana smirked when Reki's face grew pale.

"Surely not", he hissed. "Rukongai-scum won't come near you by the honour of my family!"

Shihana was slightly surprised by the violence of his reaction. Was he even balling his fists?

But then her heart sank again. 'By the honour of my family', huh? It could just be that. She couldn't really deduct whether he was jealous or only worried for her honour.

To worsen things, she felt a sharp stab of pain upon remembering Renji's half-smile today. She had made him hate her for something she could never have.

Shihana forced back her thoughts and concentrated on the task ahead. She would have to make nice conversation with Reki's parents. She wondered what they would be like.

It's really fun how impolite Reki's being^^. Now, in the next chapter you'll find out whether this is a treat that runs in the family or not. Oh, and please don't forget to review!