Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to Tite Kubo not me.
Note: Sorry for the long wait, it's been a busy week and I was a bit ill though much better now.
Thanks everyone for reviewing, you really keep me going!
Now in this chapter you finally get to know Reki's parents, I'm curious to find out what you think of them. Enjoy!
Chapter 10:
It had taken about two hours to have all their clothes measured correctly and Shihana had grown weary of ignoring the tiny pricks of the needles, yet knew that as a Kuchiki she could never show that she was affected.
Thus she breathed a sigh of relief when they finally left the shop.
In front of the door, a coach was waiting for them.
"Oh, how nice of you, Reki-san!", Shihana exclaimed.
"Well, I can't have my precious Shihana-san walk all the way, can I?", replied Reki and actually smiled at her.
The ride was smooth and enjoyable. Shihana had always liked coach rides, because it gave her the opportunity to stare out of the window and get lost in her own thoughts.
All too soon the vehicle came to a halt and Reki stepped out.
He held out a hand to help her down. There were moments Shihana had to admit, when he wasn't that bad after all.
Shihoin estate was a very impressing home. It was perhaps a bit smaller than Kuchiki manor, but looked far more reinforced and forbidding. To both sides of the door stood guards clad in the simple black uniforms and masks of the second squad.
They bowed deep when Reki and her passed them and entered the house.
The surroundings and hastily bowing servants reminded Shihana very much of home and she felt at the same time secure and uncomfortable.
"Here it is", said Reki finally and stopped in front of a big door. "Follow me", he ordered her and slid the door open.
"Mother, father, this is Kuchiki Shihana-san, my future wife."
Shihana bowed properly and gave her soon to be parents-in-law a warm smile. Both of them acknowledged her with a slight nod and stoic faces.
"How very lovely to finally meet you, Shihana dear", said Reki's mother with a honey-sweet voice.
"Your mother certainly has not lied when she said you have grown up well."
Shihana gritted her teeth. The second sentence and already insulting her family? This would prove to be a tiresome day.
"Oh thank you, Shihoin-sama", she trilled and forced another smile.
"Yet", rumbled Reki's father, "it has come to our ears that you are a rather wild young woman."
"How so?", asked Shihana, feigning ignorance.
"The improper incident with this Abashin-person", said Reki's mother.
"Oh, you mean that", replied Shihana. "There was never anything between me and Abarai Renji. Nothing happened at all. Just some mean gossip."
She nearly jumped in surprise, when Reki whispered "well done" into her ear.
There was a short pause when tea was served.
Sipping carefully, Shihana tried to make light conversation.
"Reki-san told me you had a country house. Where is it situated?"
"West of Rukongai", answered Reki's mother. "It is a wonderful place, but the voyage through these dirty streets is always an imposition." She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Shihana tried to laugh. It sounded very false in her ears.
"I heard you delight in calligraphy?", asked Reki's father.
"Yes", answered Shihana. "I've done it since I could hold a brush."
"Then you certainly won't mind showing us your skill, will you?" He waved a lazy hand and a servant brought a sheet of paper, brush and ink.
Shihana sat still while a small table was set down before her. She felt degraded. They were testing her like a breeding horse. She wondered whether it would be alright to refuse because of wounded pride. No, it wouldn't. She was doing this for her parents, she must be strong.
"What would you like me to write?"
"Anything you like, dear. How about a nice poem or saying?"
Shihana nodded. Then she dipped the brush in the ink and began writing with slow, graceful motions.
She was half-aware that Reki and his parents were talking among themselves, but she was too focused on her work to understand a word they said.
About half an hour later she was finished.
"It is a piece of wisdom by Kung-Fu-Tse", Shihana explained.
"Learning without thinking is vain, thinking without learning dangerous", read Reki's father. His deep voice spoke the words slowly, as if testing them. Shihana thought for a moment she had seen the ghost of a smile on his lips.
"Very gracefully done", commented his wife. Then she looked expectantly at Reki.
"You must be hungry, Shihana-san", he said. "Would you like to have dinner with us?"
"I would be honoured", said Shihana.
On their way to the dining-room, Reki's mother stayed at her side and pointed out several pieces of art and expensive furniture.
Shihana remembered always to smile politely and assure her how very good her taste was.
Inside, she was bored to death.
When they had arrived and sat down, Reki's mother made a little sound of annoyance.
"Unfortunately, our oldest daughter cannot join us for lunch today."
"It is a pity", said Shihana. "But I hope I can meet her some other day."
The meal was spent with shallow talk and Shihana's face soon began to ache due to all the false smiles she forced on her lips.
When everyone had finished eating, she stood to say goodbye.
"But you must stay!", cried Reki's mother. "We were having such a lovely time together."
"Maybe some other day, Shihoin-sama", said Shihana. "I am afraid I have an appointment this evening."
"That cannot be helped", said Reki's father and stood to accompany her to the door. "But you can return whenever you want. Our son's future wife is always welcome in Shihoin estate."
Shihana cursed inwardly. That meant she had to make another visit.
"Yashin, the dower", reminded his wife from the back of the room.
"Ah, I nearly forgot", said Shihoin Yashin. "Could you please visit Kuchiki Byakuya-sama this evening and talk to him about the dower? He will know what you mean."
"Of course, Shihoin-sama", replied Shihana and bowed her head. Then she bowed a last time and stepped out of the room.
Shihana felt a wave of relief when she had finally left the estate and was flash stepping across the roofs of Rukongai.
Once inside Seireitei, she headed straight to the barracks of 13th squad to look for Rukia.
"Hello, Shihana-san, what brings you here?"
"Ah, hello Juushirou-kun, I mean, Ukitake-taichou. How are you?"
The white-haired captain smiled at her and stifled a cough. "Fine enough. And do call me Juushirou, please. Can I do something for you?"
"I was looking for Rukia-san, is she here?"
"Yes", answered Ukitake. "She's in the yard, doing some training. Go along. Tell her she is allowed to leave when she is done with it."
"Thank you Juushirou-kun", smiled Shihana, happy to be with someone who sincerely liked her.
There were only a handful of recruits in the yard and Rukia's training was by far the most impressing.
Shihana stayed in the shadows of the corridor for some time to watch her. The graceful dances with Sode no Shirayuki were something she saw the first time.
It really is the most beautiful Zanpakutou, Shihana thought. Well, Senbonzakura has another kind of allure, but this icy splendour has no rival.
She smiled, feeling proud of Rukia and surpressing the twinge of envy she felt when she saw her move so freely. Rukia, who was a shinigami. Who had no parents to please. Who had grown up with Renji...
She immediately forced herself back to reality. What use was it to ponder such things?
Shihana finally stepped out into the court and waited for Rukia to notice her. Waving and shouting would have been inappropriate and she was bent on being as perfect a Kuchiki as possible.
Rukia's face lit up when she saw her friend waiting for her. She made one last battle move then resheathed Sode no Shirayuki and walked over to Shihana.
"Shihana-san, what are you doing here?", she asked.
"I wanted to invite you to dinner. Your taichou said you could leave when you were done here."
"Great", said Rukia and smiled. "Let's get going then."
The meal in the evening was much more pleasant than the one Shihana had endured at Shihoin estate.
Rukia suggested she should join the Shinigami Women's Association, despite being no shinigami. Then she launched into an account of their past accomplishments.
It was already quite late when they returned to Kuchiki manor.
"I have to speak to Byakuya-san. Do you think he will be in his quarters?", asked Shihana.
"He should be", replied Rukia. "If not, try the garden. He enjoys lonely walks."
"Thank you for the nice evening, Rukia-san", said Shihana. "I really needed that."
"Well thank you for inviting me, Shihana-san. Good night."
Shihana hurried towards Byakuya's rooms. She hoped this wouldn't take long, for she was tired and longed to sleep.
With this the pleasantries are over. The next chapter is gonna get much more angsty and we slowly get to the point where the rating for this story is justified.
So stay with me and as always, don't forget to review!
