28:Fluttering Rage
"There is nothing more galling to angry people than the coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen."
-Alexandre Dumas
Kagome had to admit the fluttering of the soft pink pedals was entrancing, the other times she'd been there when Byakuya release his sword she wasn't in the mindset of pausing to enjoy their ascetically pleasing nature. She had a wonder in her brown eyes as she watched them curl around the pair on the squared area they were using for her practice. Twirling in place as she tried fruitlessly to track the hundreds of dazzling flowers dancing through the sky. She started to reach up toward one but paused when Byakuya reached out to pause her by taking her wrist, looking to the Captain at the touch, her cheeks matching the color spinning blades in the air.
"They are still each Senbonzakura." Byakuya explained. "Do not let the appearance deceive you. Touching them will still get you cut."
"It is magnificent." She breathed, looking back though many of the 'petals' had drifted to the ground, leaving the normally beige dirt frosted with pink. "Are all zanpakuto releases so incredible?"
Given that Byakuya still hadn't had the chance to go over all of the information in regards to the Mental Instruction project that he was still considering, he thought it better to test her verbally on the subjects he'd already been having her study. That lead into more in depth questions about soul reapers and their chosen blades, he normally didn't like to use Senbonzakura simply for show but she wanted to see how it worked. He knew his sword would forgive him with all the compliments she was receiving, she was quite the narcissist.
"All releases are different, unique to the soul reaper and their blade. Some have similar natures, but no two are completely the same." He continued to explain. "Senbonzakura for example, bends to my will when in this state."
To accent his point the captain raised a hand and gestured, the pieces of blades gathering toward one place, flying gracefully along the ground. Kagome laughed delightfully as she watched him do it, her eyes holding the first true happiness he'd seen sense before he gave her the news about their engagement.
"That is amazing…" She finally withdrew her hand from Byakuya when she realized he was still holding it. "Are there more books about examples of zanpakuto releases? I'm curious."
"I have some, I will have them brought to your quarters with the next books I want you to read." Byakuya replied seriously. It wouldn't hurt to give her a little leeway, and if she had things to do then perhaps she'd stop wandering outside without permission.
"Kagome. Are you certain you are prepared to attend the dinner tonight?" He asked her seriously, calling his blade to reform as he slid her away again safely. "Only one of us has to officially attend."
"Is there anything special expected of us?" She had to admit that as much as she didn't like the subject it was better for her to be aware. "I don't want to mess up."
"Other than attendance by at least one of us to accept the gracious wishes of the soul society?" He shook his head negatively, black bangs whipping in front of his face when it moved…thanks to the way his hair was often put up in his kensaiken. "No, once the dinner is over we will be expected to be occasionally seen in public…though even that will be given a lot of leeway with the high level of security you are expected to be under at all times."
"So basically after this party we date?" Kagome was trying to make the description as simplified as possible so she wouldn't be missing any details.
"Yes, I suppose you could see it that way." He agreed, perhaps a little annoyed at how this girl's moods still often managed to surprise him. "Though it shouldn't need to be a common bother."
"Oh." She commented, wilting a little at the comment. "Is spending time with me that horrible for him? What does he really think of this whole thing? It wasn't long ago he still thought I was a prostitute, I'm probably absolutely horrible for the way his family will look for such a thing…"
"What will end up happening if they decide to call off the engagement?" Kagome decided it was better to ask before she got too nervous and never spoke up. She had a habit of that in many instances that she would rather not continue to pursue.
"Then I imagine once your instruction is done you will return to your world." Byakuya replied, considering her more fully by the long change of subject. "This isn't…"
"No." She interrupted him, shaking her head. "What will happen to you?"
He blinked at her. He was both annoyed that she dared to disrupt him and astonished by her sudden concern as to his fate. It was a long moment before he formed a reply. "I will continue my duties here. Once you have finished your training I will have other responsibilities to attend. Does that answer your question?"
"…it wouldn't be frowned upon if a wedding was cancelled that your royals ordered?" She was back to watching the ground, noting for the first times that the petals had disappeared again.
"I cannot say what the royals would say." He replied with a shrug. "Though if the need for the order disappears I do not imagine there will be much trouble if it never ends up being followed through."
"Well, that's good." Kagome nodded some, mostly to herself. "I wouldn't want to be the cause of anymore trouble for you."
He considered her with softer eyes after that comment, smiling just a moment before remembering himself and growing serious again. "Thank you, however, we should return to your instruction. This topic isn't one that will be needed for a priestess."
She had to smile at that, though she had missed his moment of tenderness she looked back up then. "All right, though you really should learn to relax a bit…go dancing or something."
He paused again at that comment, he hadn't thought about dancing in ages. He hadn't attended any gathering that would have it sense Hisana's death. "Is she speaking to people as to my old habits? No…the servants at the manor now aren't the same as the ones from then."
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It was quite the ball, a traditional celebration of the oncoming new year. One of the grand halls of the royal quarter was frosted with decorations. Pillars surrounded with silver and white trim, red and gold streamers settled along pieces of the ceiling and halls. The actual ballroom had an exceptionally large oval glass for part of the roof, showing the dancers beneath the sparkling twilight of the horizon above.
People were dressed in finery of all kinds, most of the men in simpler suits or uniforms of various high station. The women however were always the picture to a man's frame…a dazzling array of colorful gowns and glittering jewelry. Though of all the breathtaking flowers wandering the royal garden he remembered his eyes only being drawn to one of the most closed of the blossoms. The one that was the crimson rose in a field of simple daffodils
Hisana hadn't wanted to attend the party, she had never learned to dance in her fight to stay alive on the streets of Rukongai…though Byakuya wanted to take her. He wanted to show her off, the diamond in the rough that he'd made his…to take her fully into the world that was his and away from the horrible things she'd witnessed in her youth.
She never did dance with him, trying to deal with the busy bee group of women that had taken an interest in her as Byakuya's chosen lady, he didn't realize the way they were sending silent barbs his young wife's way…or just how painful the experience was until much later…
When he began to shield her away from everyone, shortly before she came down with the disease that killed her…
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"Byakuya? Hey…are you okay?" Kagome was watching him with clear concern on her face, having moved closer while he was lost in memories of his past. "It's getting pretty close to lunch time, are you hungry too?"
"Yes." He agreed, accepting the easy way out of having to explain his true distraction. "I am fine, though I agree, let us proceed inside and get a meal. We can continue your instruction there. We aren't currently working with things that we need to be out here to begin with."
"Okay." Kagome agreed, moving slowly after him when he fell into a steady gait, but still leisurely enough that she was able to follow without worry. "I wonder what was wrong. It obviously wasn't just him being hungry…I think he could be half starved and it wouldn't actually distract him. Does he not like dancing?"
"Why is it I manage to touch on all the subjects that get him to go all weird on me?" Kagome wanted to pout a little as she followed after the silent captain. "Damn me for being that interested…I need to learn to get over guys like this. Just end up getting hurt again. Kagome, guys from other worlds aren't a real possibility."
"Unless we somehow end up married." She thought numbly. "Yeah, the guy is cute and all…but you know, I think I'd want a little passion or even a basic capability to feel emotion in someone I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with. This whole thing better be figured out."
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"Captain Kuchiki, married?" Matsumoto laughed as the group discussed it over the drinks that were becoming a common way to spend their time when they weren't working - or avoiding work. "Yeah right, I feel sorry for the girl."
"I'm sitting right here." Renji commented dryly at the insult to his superior in his presence.
"Well I sort of have to agree." Ikkaku laughed. "But then, I wouldn't want to be married at all."
"Not that anyone would marry you baldy." Matsumoto smirked, poking his bald head and laughing again drunkenly. "I don't mean marriage in general though. God, I can't imagine how little actual infatuation would exist in that relationship."
"Does it matter?" Renji muttered darkly. "I just know I'll have more piles of paperwork."
"Well it matters to women." Matsumoto rolled her eyes. "That attitude is exactly why you fail so epically with Rukia."
"Hey." Renji frowned at her. "You are taking some low blows for a girl obsessed with one of the men that…"
Ikkaku interrupted Renji by smacking him in the back of the head with the empty bottle. "Here, it's your turn to refill it Romeo. Go ahead with what you were gonna say Matsumoto."
The well-endowed redhead had paused a moment and then picked back up when Ikkaku spoke. "Yeah well, you gotta figure that scheduling intimate moments probably isn't quite what most women are after. I can see him fitting in time to cuddle right after paperwork every Tuesday."
"I wouldn't be so quick to judge." Yumichika broke into the conversation for the first time, pushing some of his hair aside. "Someone as beautiful as Captain Kuchiki likely has much to him that a lowly wretch like you will never see Matsumoto. Besides, you should have seen it coming."
That made everyone stop and Renji curse some as he overfilled the container and poured some liquor on his shoes before stopping. "Shit…how the hell do you figure that?"
"Well, it only makes sense if you know anything about the noble families." The narcissist was preening as he spoke. Ignoring the fact that the rest of them were staring at him like the freak he was. "The royals used to commonly have children of strong blood spiritually…like the nobles. Many of them were priests or priestess's themselves."
"So why not marry her off to one of the royal family?" Matsumoto at least was interested in the drama of what her co-worker was talking about.
"Mmm, none of the royalty have powers like they used to." Yumichika explained, always happy to have the attention of the people around him. "Or at least that's what all the rumors say…otherwise the central 46 wouldn't have fallen to Aizen's treachery without a warning to the rest of us. Many of them had relations to the nobles and royal blood."
"Captain Kuchiki though is one of the strongest nobles in centuries." Ikkaku commented, picking up where things were going. "His child is already likely to hold some power…if it was carried by a priestess then there is no telling the power of his heirs."
"Yep, that's about it." Yumichika took a drink of the shared liquor as it was passed around. "Besides, she's a fairly pretty young woman. Just sort of curious she knew the guy that defeated Captain Kurotsuchi…"
"Here we go starting more rumors." Renji sighed. "I need to go and get a clean uniform and get back to work in case Kuchiki isn't as taken with his wife to be as you are Yumichika."
The narcissistic soul reaper began to protest and more arguments ensued around the rickety table, getting louder as more drinks were passed…
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"This is getting tedious." Byakuya's voice had an edge to his standard cool tone. "How is it they can justify speeding through the normal year of engagement time?"
He was standing opposite his grandfather though was watching him without blinking as he vaguely considered thoughts of open rebellion. He could likely take on the few members of the royal family that were trained in the ways of the soul reaper.
"The circumstances haven't changed." His grandfather said, though unlike his brethren his voice was weary. "They are aware that you are in no position to refuse. I'd say the first order was simply a test to see if the girl would agree as well."
"Worthless political bastards…" His mental tirade didn't match the frigid expression he had. "And what if she refuses now? The order will still be to enforce the union against her will, how can you ask me to go along with such a debased command as to take a woman against her will?"
"Byakuya, no one is…"
He interrupted his grandfather this time, losing his temper as he took his turn slamming his fists on the older man's desk, spiritual power blasting wrathfully around him for a moment. "Don't, I am not a fool youth grandfather. You and I are both completely aware of why they want this union, you insult me by implying anything else."
The older man blinked in shock, and a moment of alarm, when his grandson's reaitsu flickered, the pressure from that split second would have made him drop to his knees if he hadn't been in a chair. It had been too long sense he had been away from the courts…he'd let himself grow too weak if Byakuya could manage that in a moment.
"I will not violate Kagome in that way, and nor will I allow them to send anyone else to do so." He pushed away from the desk as he realized that he had actually frightened the older man for a moment. "I brought her here and promised to protect her."
"And what of the promise you made your parents?" The older generation knew how to poke directly at his grandson's weak points, he always had but usually chose to do otherwise. "Or Hisana. Will you leave your duties and the family to dishonor and Rukia to care for herself."
"If you consider it my duty to rape a woman then you, grandfather, have forgotten what honor is." Byakuya returned darkly. "If my pledges hold me to the principled course then fighting against this is what is required of me, and Rukia has grown strong…she can protect herself in my absence."
"Byakuya…wait…" The older man got up, heading after the captain as he turned sharply to leave the simple office where they had been arguing. "…at least take time to think this over as opposed to rushing off at your first whim. The royals didn't expect an answer for a few days, take some time, ask the priestess if you need to."
He stopped when the older man touched his arm, hand on the door as he was ready to leave. He wanted to shake, to throttle someone for this indignant request, to do anything to get out all of this pent up rage he had as of late…yet, he knew his grandfather was right…if he just rushed off and killed someone it would do nothing to protect Kagome.
"You go along with all of this far too easily grandfather…how low you have fallen." Byakuya brushed his hand away as if he were any other distasteful being. "Don't touch me. I will take time to consider at your request."
Then the door was open and he was gone, flash stepping away from his grandfather before the older man sighed after him. "Byakuya, I just do things for your own good…my hands are as tied as yours…"
Byakuya was still flickering away when he heard Kagome's voice, she must have seen just an image of him as he passed as she was calling his name. It wasn't a conversation he was ready for but he couldn't just ignore her. So he flickered back into place, standing near where she was at on the walkway.
"I thought you were asked to stay inside?" he always fell back on the fact that she was so disobedient, already annoyed by others.
"Um…I wanted to take a walk…I can't just be shut up indoors all day." She frowned a little at him as she watched him. Empathy was something the girl was a master with. "What's wrong? I thought I felt your energy flare a few minutes ago?"
Kagome was dressed in a blue and black kimono with white highlights here and there, it had no set depiction but instead seemed more like an abstract painting of a night sky. All of her wardrobe was amazing and she had yet to wear an outfit twice during her time here…she simply hadn't been given a choice. She needed help to dress in these strange clothes and when the old kimono's were gone it was hard to say no to clothes. Though she was missing the freedom of movement she had with her uniform.
"It was more pests…" he commented darkly, knowing he had to tell her. "Kagome…they shortened the traditional length of the engagement to three months."
"Wha…what do you mean?" The smile faded off her face. "Can they…they can't do that! We won't have time to get it cancelled will we?"
Anger leaked into her tone after the initial shock passed.
"No. That is highly unlikely."
That was it, Kagome was pissed. "Oh those…I can't…grrrr!…dammit…Sit Boy!"
End Chapter
Some jumping about was needed this chapter. I just had to have her say sit boy in relation to being really really angry even if there wasn't an Inuyasha around…it just seemed to fit! I am insane. Perhaps in another time or dimension Inuyasha just face planted hard core for no reason! Anyway, whew, hard work getting longer chapters together like this. I wouldn't mind suggestions for 'dates' between Kagome and Byakuya btw. I can't promise they'll be used and I have some myself already but I wouldn't mind the extra ideas.
-Aura
P.S. More than a few reviews would be nice in a chapter. At least for the people asking for longer chapters that offer no feedback. You make me sad. Witch - lol, you make me laugh. Ayjah - thanks for the feedback. Enchanted - yeah I'm hoping to build on that. Nasuki - I want to toss in Zaraki sometime but I'm hesitant as he and Byakuya don't seem to get on too well.