Spring - Birthday preperations
Kuchiki mansion, 9:07 AM
Hisana had her arm wrapped around Byakuya's as they walked along one of the many corridors of the large Kuchiki-mansion. Only five minutes ago, they had gotten the request of Samoshi to join her in the living room (the one on the right of the eastern wing in the front of the house, the servant had added) to discuss something. They strolled in the early morning along the kitchen and Byakuya stopped in his tracks, making Hisana stop as well. It was rather hard to continue walking when your arm was being kept in place. Byakuya sighed.
"Otaku, leave the servants alone," he ordered. Hisana chuckled.
"Whut?" Otaku tried to say, while chewing on something which looked like cake. "I'm feffin."
"What are you testing?" Hisana asked. Byakuya glanced at her, but she ignored the surprised expression he wore. Otaku pointed at something behind him and Hisana let go of Byakuya's arm to be able to look in the kitchen. There was the largest cake she had ever seen, covered in sprinkles, whipped cream and lots of other things which made it look delicious. It was standing on a table, and a big piece was missing.
"Eh… Otaku-kun, do the cooks know that you took a piece?" Hisana asked carefully.
Otaku swallowed. "No, but don't worry. With my magnificent skills in the kitchen, I'd be able to replace that piece! Oh, and cake for breakfast is just the best. I'll recommend it to you."
Hisana turned a slight shade of green. The last time Otaku had made her something, she ended up feeding the disgusting green stuff to the yellow roses when Otaku wasn't watching.
"Eh… sure. Good luck." Hisana managed to say. Byakuya saw the queasy feeling covering his wife and he decided to take her to Samoshi, and quick. He loved Hisana very much, but he knew that if she would vomit, he would have to support her… and he didn't like sick people that much.
Only one corridor later, Hisana felt much better already. She had her fingers weaved into Byakuya's, and Byakuya now watched her closely.
"Hisana, let me ask you something."
"Yeah?"
"How did you know what Otaku was saying?"
Hisana smiled. "My uncle had a really thick tongue. I was the only one in the family who understood him."
Byakuya sweatdropped. While he recovered, Hisana knocked on the door. "Samoshi-san?"
Samoshi opened the door herself. She looked excited over something. "Come in, quick!"
Byakuya raised an eyebrow, but did was he was told. Not that he had much of a choice; Hisana dragged him along, now looking as excited as Samoshi did.
"What is it?" Hisana squeaked.
"Well, as you know, Otaku-nii's birthday is coming up-"
Hisana jumped up right after she had sat herself down. "His birthday is coming up? Oh I totally forgot! Awh, Byakuya-sama, why haven't you told me? When is he having his birthday? When are we celebrating? How old will he get, anyway? What are we going to do? What does he like? Can I help with anything?"
Taking a deep breath, Hisana noticed both her husband and Samoshi looking at her with blanc expressions. Hisana groaned and sat down again.
"Yes, it is coming up. I haven't told you because I didn't think anyone would want to celebrate it. His birthday will be tomorrow. We will most likely, according to Samoshi's sense of organization, celebrate it this evening. He will become 324 years old. We will be planning a traditional surprise party. He likes personal made stuff. And Hisana, I think Samoshi has got things listed up for us to do." Byakuya only used one breath.
This time it was Hisana's turn to sweatdrop.
"Anyway," Samoshi continued, probably not even having noticed Byakuya's rattle of answers, "I've got us three big tasks to do."
She stood up, holding a rumpled piece of paper and walked towards a larger one. With a marker, she wrote, in huge, black letters:
#1: Invite people over
#2: Decorate the largest available room in the house
#3: Think of and make a present
"Any questions so far?" Samoshi asked. Insisted, actually. She had just insisted a question. Good work, Byakuya sighed. He had trouble not to twitch his eyes when he saw Hisana, looking serious, raise her hand eagerly.
"Yes, Hisana-san?"
Hisana placed her finger up against her chin as she pointed to the three-pointed list. "Is there going to be any food and drinks?"
Samoshi nodded. "I made the servants to take care of that. We will be inviting people first, so when we're away, the servants will put everything to their places. Then we know how many people will come and how much more drinks there will have to come. Also, we start decorating around the consumptions."
Hisana raised both her eyebrows. "And where will Otaku-kun be during the day? We can't have him walking around when we're preparing."
Samoshi grinned. "I have also thought of that. I talked to a few people, and they were in for getting him away from the house. You see, there's Captain Ukitake. Bya is sending something over to him, and Otaku-nii will be 'the only one he trusts enough to give such a task'. Then Captain Ukitake invites him over for some tea. He will somehow get the subject on potatoes, and then he will ask Otaku-nii to deliver some to the twelfth division. Nemu-san will ask to bring some medication to Unohana-captain, then she will invite him over for the weekly fourty-division's high tea. You know Otaku-nii, he can't say 'no' that easily. And… there are a lot of things to go like this, so he'll be away until at least six o'clock."
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. "That does not sound convincing. Maybe Hisana can act ill, as if she had eaten something wrong. It happened before, it should not be a problem to her."
"We were talking about this party. Not my food poison," Hisana tried to change the subject back, pouting stubbornly.
"Indeed, we were talking about the party," Samoshi cut in before Byakuya could reply on his wife. "Where did your manners go?"
Byakuya wisely decided not to reply.
"Now, let's make a list on people who are allowed to come tonight," Samoshi continued. "I've written down all people Otaku-nii likes, and I've added a few myself."
Byakuya and Hisana gulped at the same time. People who would come on Samoshi's request would probably be too vain to even talk to Yumichika. But they would scrap them off the list when Samoshi wouldn't watch, Byakuya and Hisana made a mental note to each other.
"Now, let's get to the streets of Seireitei!" Samoshi hopped.
---
Center of Seireitei, 10:39 AM
"Ah, Ise Nanao… is she really coming?" Samoshi pouted when she saw the Vice captain of the 8th division walking away, holding an invitation Hisana had just given her. Hisana nodded.
"Yeah! She and Otaku-kun are going along well, so why not?"
Samoshi quickly turned around and saw Byakuya talking to his captain, Ukitake Jyuushiro, and then whispered, "Ise Nanao-san is creepy. Have you ever seen her eyes uncovered? I think she's hiding something…"
Hisana chuckled and waved Samoshi off. "She hasn't got the best pair of eyes, that's all."
Samoshi walked away, murmuring, "Yeah, like I couldn't figure that out myself…"
Meanwhile, Byakuya had invited Ukitake over. Ukitake seemed way more exited than Byakuya did, but the Kuchiki heir had never wanted to celebrate Otaku's birthday in first place. He got a pat on his shoulder by Ukitake.
"It'll be fun. Can I take Kaien with me? He's been dumped for the second time this month and he could really use a party."
Byakuya nodded slowly, thinking about Kaien. Damn Kaien, he was chasing Hisana at all times. Making a mental note to warn her right away, Byakuya walked over to Hisana, who was drinking some water. He bent down so he would be on ear-height and he whispered, "Shiba Kaien will be present tonight as well. Be sure to stay close to me."
Hisana choked on her water and she started to laugh, in combination with coughs.
"You really think I would allow someone like him to.. do stuff with me?" she giggled.
Byakuya watched her surprised. "You won't?"
"Byakuya-sama, don't even think about it. I married you, didn't I?"
Byakuya forced a very small smile. "I guess.."
Hisana put her hands on her hips. "You guess? What, how many other women have you married?"
Byakuya thought about this for a few seconds. Then, he realized that he shouldn't have thought about it that long, for Hisana frowned and turned her back to him, running away and approaching a group of female shinigami. Byakuya decided not to walk after her, and let her calm down first.
But then Byakuya saw who the women were; Matsumoto Rangiku, Ise Nanao, Kotetsu Kiyone, Runka Miyako, Kurosuchi Nemu, Kusajishi Yachiru and Kotetsu Isane.
Knowing that he should take immediate action, before Hisana could cry out in front of them and rumors about him and Hisana would be spread all over Seireitei, Byakuya shunpoed away and stood suddenly in front of Hisana, who collapsed into his chest.
"Oof," she gasped.
Byakuya quickly hugged her and stroke his fingers through her hair. "I care so much about you, Hisana. No other woman had ever made me feel this way. Please do not worry."
"Byakuya-sama…"
"It is okay. I am sorry I acted like that before."
"Byakuya-sama…"
"Never have I wanted to marry a different woman…"
"Byakuya-sama…"
"I am truly-"
"Byakuya-sama!"
"What is it? Are you in pain?"
Hisana wrestled her way out of Byakuya's embrace and she looked him in the eyes. "You have to stop doing this, before those girls will start talking about us."
Byakuya raised an eyebrow. "You were not going to tell them..?"
Hisana chuckled. "No. I knew you would do something stupid like this, and to be honest, I think it's cute. And, seeing how they are watching us… they think it's cute, too."
Byakuya sweatdropped and Hisana skipped off.
"Hey, Ise-san! I've got invitations for the rest, too!"
Ise Nanao turned around and smiled. "What was Byakuya-dono just doing?"
Hisana just grinned. "I teased him and he was afraid of getting into a fight."
"Awh," Matsumoto cried. "That's so cute! I want a Kuchiki too."
Hisana raised an eyebrow. "I think Otaku-kun is available…"
"I do not want her into our family, Hisana."
Byakuya had followed Hisana without her having noticed, and she jumped up in surprise by hearing his voice. Matsumoto just pouted and looked for support by her friends.
"And I don't think Otaku will like a woman like her," Byakuya continued, taking the water away from Hisana and spilling some of it over her head.
"What the hell was that for?!" Hisana yelled, as she felt the cold water run down her skin.
Byakuya turned his head and looked amused. "That's odd.. I knew for sure that you would calm down by that.. That happened before.. Besides, I wanted to get you back for fooling me."
Hisana groaned and took the bottle of water to spill the remaining water over Byakuya's chest (for she couldn't get to places much higher). "That was in the shower and that was warm water. And you were the one who made a fool out of yourself."
Byakuya shivered and did his utmost best not to make noises in respond of the cold on his body. Things didn't get much better when Hisana grinned and her friends were hiding their laughs behind their hands. Hisana threw the bottle up, caught it and continued doing this.
"That's odd," she repeated him in a monotonous voice, "I knew for sure you would calm down by that…"
"I was calm in first place," Byakuya groaned, after he had given up on his mask, while he used his sleeves to dry most of his chest.
"Ahhhh, you know," Matsumoto started to pout. "I don't think a Kuchiki would fit me… I like them wet."
Eight persons were suddenly very quiet and feeling awkward.
Miyako coughed.
Isane scratched her neck.
Then, Byakuya pulled Hisana away from the women and ran off with her.
"Weird people," he murmured. "Do not come too close... It might be contaminating…"
Hisana chuckled, and she, Byakuya and Samoshi ran home.
---
Kuchiki Mansion, 12:20 PM
White walls, a large vase with yellow roses, a huge chandelier that lit the entire room and a gigantic table, filled with snacks and drinks. Fancy clothes were drawn out over the table. The windows allowed the sunshine to enter and yellow roses where filling up the corners.
"Ooh, it's so beautiful!" Hisana gasped upon seeing the prepared room. The servants had done their job fairly well indeed.
"There is something wrong with the roses," Byakuya noticed.
Hisana raised an eyebrow and walked towards a vase. The roses stunk. Hisana inhaled to recognize the smell; then she did. She gasped by realizing the scent of chocolate sauce, rosins, ketchup, strawberries, bacon and yogurt. Diner Otaku had made her once.
"I don't think they'll live much longer," Hisana said, trying to get rid of the smell in her nose.
Samoshi called for a servant, which took the roses and replaced them with white ones. "Lovely," she said.
"It's even more welcoming now," Hisana decided.
"Yup! It is, and now we're going to make it into a party-place!"
Samoshi pulled a bag out of nowhere and she threw Byakuya a smaller bag, Hisana a bag, too, and Samoshi herself kept the larger bag.
"Hisana, blow the balloons! Bya, garlands are yours! I will arrange the confetti!"
Hisana shrugged by seeing the balloons, and Byakuya didn't like the idea of garlands. With a mere glance between the two of them, they swapped bags and started to follow Samoshi around the room.
After thirty minutes of attempting in decorating the room, Samoshi, Hisana and Byakuya sat down, all panting.
"These balloons," Byakuya said, holding one up. "They are too stubborn. They snap too soon and they get me lightheaded."
"You've blown a lot of them," Hisana said, concern in her voice. "Those garlands, by the way.. would somebody care to free me?"
Immediately, Samoshi took a pair of scissors and started to get Hisana out of the festoons which were wrapped around her body.
"It's warm in here," Samoshi said after having unchained Hisana. She stood up and walked towards the windows and attempted opening one, when Byakuya asked, "Do you think that is the best idea..?"
But Samoshi shrugged and allowed the wind to enter the room. If only she had listened to Byakuya.
Confetti whirled all around the room. The small pieces were lifted and thrown around, only to land in the drinks, on the pies, decorating the flowers and getting stuck in their hair.
"You know what the best part is?" Samoshi asked after a couple of minutes of abashed silence.
"What?" Byakuya growled.
"If you want to wash this out.. your hair will get dyed."
---
How she managed to stay positive after this, Byakuya and Hisana would never know. At this moment, Samoshi (with her hair colored in any color you could come up with) was hopping around the room, deciding what they would make to surprise her brother.
"We can make a big drawing. We can make a drawing on his wall! We can make a stuffed animal. We can go rehearse a performance. Write him a song, or a poem! He likes pictures, maybe we can… no, wait. Ehm…"
"This party could be his gift," Hisana said, while suppressing a yawn.
"I agree. It took us a lot of organization in such a short notice," Byakuya said. "He should be happy to have a par-"
"I think we should make a stuffed animal," Samoshi cut in, ignoring all of the words Hisana and Byakuya just said. "A huge one! He could cuddle it before sleeping. Maybe we could give him a girlfriend, but I don't want a random girl to be his date. So that would be his own business."
"A stuffed animal is fine," Hisana said. "However, where do you want to get stuffing and material to make it?"
Samoshi opened her mouth to speak, but closed it almost immediately. Then she pouted. "I dunno, where do you suggest?"
Hisana didn't know where, either. Byakuya, however, stood up. "He enjoys being creative himself. If we get him the equipments, he can design something on his own."
"That's dull," Samoshi thought. "We could help him…"
"Yes, you could help him. I, however, will not waste my time on stuffed animals."
Hisana shot him an angry glare. "He needs something or someone to cuddle. You know you need it…"
Byakuya recognized the tone in her voice and he sighed. "Fine, I will help, but only if he wishes to."
"We'll make him wish," Samoshi said.
Byakuya groaned.
---
"Waaauw!" Otaku screamed upon seeing the decorated room that night. The servants had decided to help the three Kuchiki's into decorating, and now the place looked really cozy, yet big and colorful enough to party in. Garlands hung neatly on the walls and balloons had been pinned against the ceiling. The white roses had been replaced for red ones and the white ones where now laying spread out over the consumption table.
The guests had all arrived already, and Hisana had just dragged Otaku down to the room.
"You like it?" Samoshi peeped, wanting her brother to enjoy it as much as she did.
"I do! Thank you, you guys!" Otaku roared. He squeezed Hisana's cheek and he embraced Samoshi. Then, with his arms wide open, he eyed Byakuya. "I know you want to…"
"Ugh," Byakuya puffed as Otaku almost shattered his chest in a very tight hug. "You are welcome. Please release me."
Otaku grinned as he did what Byakuya asked of him. Then he ran into the room to thank people for coming.
The party had been going on for an hour, and Otaku had his mouth stuffed with cake and sodas already. He paced away from a couple of his friends to offer the three people in the organization some pie.
But when he found them, he started to laugh quietly. While he asked a servant to get a large blanket, he softly placed a kiss on Samoshi's forehead. "Thank you for giving me this."
As he placed the blanket over the three bodies, the party went on. And even though Hisana, Byakuya and Samoshi were vast asleep, Otaku enjoyed their presence.
He'd laugh at them when they'd wake up with their faces covered with whipped cream, anyway.
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