Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Note: Sorry for the long wait. I had to get up a 5:00 AM the whole week to be at the hospital in time, so I've been quite tired when I came home in the evening. Thank you again for the wonderful reviews, especially Icy Fae Tears, who I have to thank for the name of Reki's mum.
Now enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 33:
The next day, Byakuya, Shihana, her parents, Renji and Rukia sat in Byakuya's living room, drinking tea. At a loss of something better to wear, Renji was still in his black shinigami uniform and felt slightly out of place. When he remarked something like that towards Rukia she just gave him a 'get used to it' shrug and a smirk.
"Let us go over the revised guest list then", began Byakuya.
"We can exclude the whole Shihoin family, though I am afraid we will have to cope with Yoruichi-san. Filling their place will be the entirety of the 6th squad and every taichou and fukutaichou of the other divisions."
"Even Yamamoto-soutaichou?", complained Renji. "He'll surely spoil the fun", he added muttering.
"It is a question of etiquette, Renji", replied Byakuya. "By the way, have you decided on a best man, yet?"
"Um..."
"I already settled on Rukia", commented Shihana and smiled at her friend. "If you can't decide, I would propose Kurosaki Ichigo", she continued.
Both Byakuya and Renji shot her a look.
"What are the alternatives?", asked Byakuya.
"Well that would be Ikkaku Madarame, Hisagi Shuuhei, Kira Izuru..."
Byakuya suppressed a sigh. "Fine, Kurosaki-kun it is. But only if he refrains from calling everybody by their first name."
"Rukia will make sure of that, won't you?", said Shihana.
Just as Rukia wanted to agree, there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?", called Byakuya. When a bowing servant entered, he continued. "What is it?"
"The family council has been convoked. Your attendance is required. Excluding Rukia-san and Abarai-fukutaichou of course."
"It is Rukia-sama", said Shihana with an edge of coldness. "And we will be there in a minute."
When the servant had disappeared, they stood slowly.
"If I may speak so openly", remarked Shihana, "I sense trouble ahead."
"Indeed", answered her father. Byakuya nodded.
Shihana turned back to Renji and Rukia again. "I'll let you know as fast as possible what is going on. Until then, you can perhaps ring up Ichigo-kun and have him plan the wedding-eve party." She winked at them then followed behind her parents.
In the meeting room, the other family members were already gathered. The four took their seats in silence.
As usual, Byakuya, as the head of house was the first to speak.
"Why is it that we have assembled today?", he demanded.
"It has come to our ears", said the the speaker of the elders' council, "that there are plans to allow a commoner into the Kuchiki family. It is unacceptable."
"Specify the details please", commanded Byakuya with a cool and expressionless demeanour. He hadn't shown the slightest sign of surprise.
"The case regards the future marriage of Kuchiki Shihana with Abarai Renji."
"I will not allow such meddling!", said Shimaru sharply. "It is not the council's task to pry into private matters."
"It is indeed our affair as it concerns the honour of the family as well as financial resources", replied the elder.
Unbidden, an aunt spoke up. "Why would you want to drag some Rukongai cur into our house, anyway?"
"Please refrain from using such rude language, Aunt Himeno", interjected Shihana calmly. "I might need to remind you that my fiancé is an honoured fukutaichou of the Gotei 13 and one of the most competent at that. Your old-fashioned beliefs in worthiness by birth should be reconsidered."
"Where ability is concerned, I do believe Shihoin Reki owns skills more fitting for a future Kuchiki."
"We are hypothesizing without knowing the true prowess of the subjects. Is there a means to convince you of my fukutaichou's qualities?", asked Byakuya.
There was a bit of whispered conversation. Then the elders nodded.
"We will test their qualification to become a Kuchiki. If you would call for Abarai, Byakuya-sama?"
Moments after Byakuya had dispatched a hell butterfly, the door slid open and Shihoin Reki together with his parents entered the room. He had obviously already been inside the manor.
The identity of the source is revealed, thought Shihana. What a backstabbing behaviour!
After having greeted everyone, they sat down.
It took a few more minutes until Renji and Rukia arrived, too. Some mouths opened upon Rukia's entry, but were quickly closed after a strict glance from her brother.
"Now that everybody has gathered, let us discuss the procedure."
Nobody spoke, because Reki had stood up and was now facing Renji who eyed him with a distrustful look.
The air crackled with suppressed rage.
"I challenge you to a duel!", spat Reki finally.
Renji grinned.
"A duel of wits."
Uh, oh, thought Rukia. Renji's smile lessened a bit. "Fine", he ground out. "I accept your challenge."
"Very well", stated Byakuya and gestured for both of them to sit. "Incidentally, we were planning to have you compete anyhow. I suggest several disciplines. Six should be enough. Any proposals?"
"I recommend a horseback race. It is a very noble discipline", said Reki's mother Leiko with a honey-sweet voice.
"There should be calligraphy", added an elder cousin.
"Dinner etiquette."
"Music."
"A test on Seireitei history."
Byakuya held up one pale hand. "I will decide on the last task. It will be a kendo match. I am aware that this is nothing a noble would do. Yet, there is a war coming up. I assume it is of the best interest of the Kuchiki family that Shihana-san is well-protected."
"But I have never done that!", protested Reki. Byakuya turned his cold gaze on him.
"Then I shall teach you all I have taught Abarai-fukutaichou", he said. Then he turned back towards the elders.
"The competition will take place in three days time to give them some time for preparation. I expect the family to witness every task to make a final decision. If there is nothing else to discuss, let us then close this meeting."
Back at Rukia's room and without Byakuya, Renji, Rukia and Shihana settled down to make a plan.
Renji shook his head. "What have I gotten myself into? Calligraphy, history, music! The only thing I'll excel in is the kendo taichou has proposed. What shall I do?"
"Don't worry", said Shihana and smiled at him. "We'll help you. First of all, calligraphy is a speciality of mine. I can teach you. Dinner etiquette we'll do together. What about history...Rukia?"
"I think Ukitake-taichou can help us with that. Leaves music and the horse race. Can you play any instrument, Renji?"
"Hell, no", answered Renji and scratched his head. "And I don't think I can learn to play one in only three days. And I haven't ever sat on a horse, either."
"Me neither", said Rukia. "You, Shihana?"
Shihana shook her head. Cringing her brows, she pondered the question. "Guess I'll have Matsumoto ask around the Gotei who can do it. We'll meet up in my rooms in half an hour, all right? Rukia, can you bring Juushirou-kun with you?"
The small woman nodded.
After the three of them had split up, Renji, at a loss of what else to do, decided to speak with his taichou.
"Enter, Abarai-fukutaichou", came the cool voice of Byakuya who had sensed his reiatsu lingering outside.
Renji came hesitatingly into the room. Byakuya sat at the window, a closed book in his lap.
"Please have a seat, Abarai", he said.
The red-head sat down and tried to remember what he had come for.
"Um, taichou, do you think...", he began.
"You stand even the slightest hint of a chance?", completed Byakuya his sentence, one eyebrow arched up.
"Surprisingly, yes, I do. You have that curious ability to struggle on even if everything seems completely hopeless. Have you come for help? I guess Shihana-san can give you a hand with calligraphy and there are lots of history books in the Seireitei library. Do you play an instrument, Abarai?"
Renji shook his head. Byakuya eyed him for a moment with an expressionless face. Inside, he pondered the possibilities.
"Can you sing?", he finally asked.
His fukutaichou shrugged. "Dunno, taichou. I haven't ever tried seriously, to be honest."
"There might be potential for a nice baritone", said Byakuya. "And you might be able to learn how to perform at least a single song properly in the sparse time. Come with me." He arose and went out into the corridor.
Renji followed him obligingly and already cursed himself for having come to him of all people. He would be one hell of a teacher for sure!
Now what do you think? Does Renji stand a chance in all the noble disciplines? Find out in the next chapters and please review!
