Hi! So "miss insensitive writer" had wrote another chapter... It's not much of a romance in it, but it's one of the most important chapters, by the connection it makes with the rest of the story.
Also it's a oce scene chapter... I don't know if i did it well ( personally i belive it could have been done better,but since i also have other stories to write i can't grow old on this one)... So i'll let you guys, be the juges. (espeaciallt mr. Adamxero who is always sooo..."constructivly critical" on my work.)
And Rndd, if you are around here somewhere...Cette nouvelle développement de l'histoire est faite grâce à toi et tes "théories folles" concernant Nene-cha... elles ont été, disons, une source d'inspiration! Merci :)
As usual , please be indulgent with my english mistakes.
Otherwise... enjoy!
A noble's party in Souls Society. Not much of a difference from a high class cocktail in the human world.
Good food…good drinks…good music… good people! The only think that might have been different were the clothes: everybody was wearing expensive kimonos…
Byakuya and Rukia entered the Ryoings's house and they were immediately encountered by Haruna.
"Good evening, Miss Haruna" intoned Byakuya.
"Good evening Lord Kuchiki, Lady Kuchiki" Haruna answered with her most polite voice and made a graceful bow.
Then the three of them remained still as stones for a couple of second. Wondering if something was wrong, Rukia looked at both of them, waiting for a reaction. Then, the second the people around them were not paying attention, Haruna suddenly grabbed their hands and pulled them into a corner behind a curtain. Dragged by force, Rukia didn't have the time to say anything. She just looked at her brother, and discovered with surprise that he wasn't protesting. Then, the moment they all remained alone, Haruna's noble and polite mask suddenly disappeared.
"Totooooooooo!" she exclaimed and jumped in Byakuya's arms.
Rukia's eyes widened almost scared. 'What is she doing? Who's Toto?'
"You're late! I thought you weren't coming!" the women said with a playful voice.
"Women take more time to prepare for a party than men, Nene-cha" Byakuya replied with a slight smile.
Rukia turned to Byakuya. What was wrong with him? A women jumped in his arms and he didn't reject her. Furthermore she was talking to her in a good-humored way.
"Oooh… I see… So this little princess took the time to look her best!" Haruna said as she turned to Rukia. "You must be Hisana's sister! You know, Hisana and I, we used to be best friends! I'm Haruna Ryoing, but since you are Toto's sister you may also call me Nene-cha ! Anyway, it's nice to finally meet you ,Rukia Kuchiki!
"Nice to meet you,too…" Rukia answered not sure of what she was doing.
"Nene-cha and I, we grew up together… that is why she is acting so exuberantly… she believes that we are still children." Byakuya explain to Rukia as he gave Haruna a meaningful look.
"You're quite cold Toto, aren't you ?" Haruna commented "…But that shouldn't surprise me… Anyway I kidnapped you here so i could only to say 'hi'. Now I have to return to my guests…"
"Were you really friend with my sister?" Rukia suddenly asked.
A glamorous smile revealed Haruna's white teeth.
"Of course…Actually I'm the one who hooked her up with Toto." she replied. "Am I not?" she added looking at Byakuya.
He didn't answer.
"See you later!" she sang and pulled the curtain.
Rukia raised her gaze to Byakuya waiting for an explanation, but he continued to watch Haruna as she was heading to Ukitake:
"Taichooo! I missed you so much!"
"Little Haruna! It's lovely to see you…"
"Well, Taicho I'm not little anymore…but still, I'm so glad to see you that I could become a shinigami again."
"Well you can do that anytime… The gates of the 13th Division are always opened for you!"
"Taicho… you know that I was joking, right?"
'Strange creature' Rukia thought and gasped bored. She couldn't spend her whole night like this, watching others. She looked again at Byakuya but he didn't seem give a sigh of communication.
"Nii-sama…" she finally said. "I believe I will look for Ichigo…" and before she could receive his permission she went ahead. It didn't take her long to find him. After all there weren't many handsome orange haired guys that seemed lost in that sea of nobles.
"Did you lose your sense of orientation? It looks like you need some guidance!" she whispered from behind.
"There you were!" Ichigo said relived. "It's a really strange world up here…"
"I know… Let's grab some drinks and find a quiet place…" she proposed.
"Drinks?...I'm hungry! Let's find some food!"
"Some boiled lobster, perhaps?" she asked.
"I don't know… they don't have something more comestible…?"
They didn't know, but from the other side of the room, Byakuya was watching them both. What Byakuya didn't know was that from the window of his opposite corner, while she was slowly smoking a cigarette, Haruna was watching them all. She observed the way those grey eyes were frowning every time the little princess was smiling. She observed the amused expression of the princess while she was trying to teach that orange haired stranger how to eat properly a lobster. She was also paying attention to Ukitake's joyful manner of leading conversations with the guests. She was even noticing the absence of some guests…and from time to time, her eyes were turning to entrance door, checking if new faces made their appearance. And of course, she saw her father approaching her:
" 2 captain, 2 lieutenants and that prodigy Kurosaki… If I didn't know you I would say that you are trying to build yourself a team" the old man said.
Haruna frowned and took a grad from her cigarette. Then, she turned again her eyes to the entrance.
"There's only one lieutenant…" she replied calmly.
"Don't tell me that your sweetheart has dumped you…"
She didn't answer.
"I could say it makes sense what you're trying to do… but what do you plan to do with Nanakuma and his lover? Because they definitely don't fit in the picture."
"I don't plan anything with them for the moment … because they're the back plan" Haruna replied with her eyes fixed on the entrance.
"So much for " stop taking on some poor children!" the father replied ironically.
Haruna took another drag from her cigarette.
"I think you should go and greet them" she said.
Goroza turned his gaze to the entrance and saw the young couple making its appearance.
"I couldn't!" the man replied stiffed. "It's you the one who wanted them, not me!"
"Indeed, and I'm also the one who's asking you to go and greet them as a good host that you are!" she replied in a cold glare.
"What are you up to, Haruna?" the man asked frankly.
"Fixing up old mistakes! Saving your ass!" she replied annoyed. "And for that I will ask you to no put additional questions or try to meddle yourself, because the last time you did things on your own you ended up destroying this family!"
After she said that she threw her cigarette on the window and disappeared in the crowd.
A few meters away from the place that Goroza Ryoing was left with a stunned expression on his face, Rukia was standing alone on the terrace waiting for Ichigo to come back from the toilet. It appeared that the lobsters were not one of his favorite foods. Leaning over the balustrade, she took a deep breath as her beautiful but uncomfortable kimono was slowly suffocating her.
"Hisana used to live in 1st District of Rekishi… That is the safest place in Rukongai and the closest to Seireitei..."
Rukia turned as she heard a voice and saw Haruna Ryoing approaching.
"She used to work at inn… That's where I met her." Haruna continued. "She was always serving me this tasty and fresh food and somehow I liked her companionship. She was a good friend and she admired Byakuya a lot. When we were alone she always used to tell me: "he's everything I cannot be"… I never understood what she meant with these words, but I guess everybody has their secrets. Byakuya married her even though he knew she was sick, and for that, back then I thought he was deeply in loved her… Now, after all these years I'm starting to wonder…"
Ruka's eyes widened.
"Well don't look at me like this, I told you haven't I, that everyone have their secrets?... If you are patient enough and careful while you watch the people around you… The secrets will reveal themselves…" Haruna added.
Rukia frown displeased.
"Revealing secrets…I wonder if that would be a beautiful sight. It's like you're undress people against their will. Sometimes secrets are kept in order to protect the others. Can you take the responsibility for that?" Rukia replied.
Haruna's eyes suddenly widened. For a reason she couldn't mention those words pierced her heart. Then a smile appeared on her thick lips.
"Hisana spoke to me about you…" she finally said. "I knew she was looking for you, but I didn't hope for Toto to find you…"
"Toto?" Rukia said amused.
"It's shortcut from Otouto. Byakuya made that up when he was child. Quite ingenious, right?"
"Otuoto… you mean little bother?"
Haruna turned her gaze to the garden.
"Byakuya and I, we are cousins… so i taught him to call me Nee-chan so I will call him Otouto. He ended up calling me Nene-cha and himself, Toto. Quite typical for him, right?"
Rukia frowned her eyebrows confused.
"Well, of course, there is no way for you to know what is typical for Byakuya since you don't know the person he used to be…"
Rukia also turned her gaze to the garden.
"My captain told me, he used to be quite temperamental…" she said with a dreamy gaze. Haruna turned and saw in that little woman's heart the hidden desire of encountering that character Ukitake and she spoke about.
"Would you like to meet this 'temperamental' Byakuya?... I could arrange a meeting for the two of you!" she said with a grin.
Rukia suddenly started to laugh.
"That would be impossible!… Nii-sama it's now one of the most self controlled persons I have ever met! It's hard to imagine him other way … Maybe if I would have met him a century ago…"
"And what if I could arrange that for you?" Haruna said with a strange glare.
"That will require going back in time!" Rukia said with sarcasm.
"And what if I could arrange that too?" Haruna added with the same glare.
Rukia's eyes widened wondering if the strange woman in front of her was being serious.
"Joking! I was joking!" Haruna concluded with a playful smile. "No one can control time, right?"
Rukia frowned confused. That woman was changing her moods too fast.
"But anyway…" she added. " You seem to care a lot about Byakuya…"
"Why wouldn't i? Everything I am and I have I own to him…" Rukia replied emotionless.
"Oh! I see… so it's more like a feeling of high respect and indebtedness…" Haruna commented visibly disappointed.
"Whatever my feelings are or their nature it is a certainty that I won't make a spectacle out of them in front of the others" Rukia said.
"So you love him…" Haruna added with a serious glare.
Rukia didn't answer. The only comment she add was:
"I believe you are way too direct and rude, Miss Ryoing!"
Haruna smiled.
"I certainly am… but you, my darling, are way too tensed when I talk about Toto."
Rukia's eyes widened offended.
"You're indeed, very different from Hisana." Haruna continued untroubled. " My father warned me, but I have to admit that you surpassed all my expectations."
Rukia gasped. That was a line she got tired listening to.
"You're the currently next head of the Kuchiki clan and at the same time, the lieutenant of the 13th Division … I could say that you easily succeed in every way that I failed."
Rukia turned to her curiously.
" I was born to in order to ensure the next heir of the Kuchiki clan and raised in order to became a shinigami…" Haruna added.
Rukia's eyes widened.
"That means…" she hissed.
"I was Byakuya's fiancée … and a shinigami also…' Haruna completed the sentence with a sad smile.
Rukia was more than...surprised.
"But I horribly failed in both of my duties… Arrange marriages were never my kind of business…and as a shinigami, I wasn't able to fight a single hollow in my entire life…"
"Nii-sama's fiancé…" Rukia whispered.
"I was a shinigami right at the 13th Division, just like you are now… Me and Ukitake, we are old acquaintances…" Haruna added quickly so Rukia won't put other questions regarding her failed engagement. "I could say it was fun being an officer… but not fun enough to indulge myself becoming a lieutenant. If there is one thing I truly miss… it's the hold of my zanpakuto…"
"If say you resigned from your seat, your zanpakuto must be locked at the 13th Division headquarters…"
"Indeed… It's a way to keep control over ex-shinigamis and prevent them to act on their own. But I don't think my zanpakuto was ever dangerous. As I told you I was never able to fight a single hollow."
"Then what is the ability of your zanpakuto?"
Suddenly, a strange sparkle appeared in Haruna's grey eyes.
"Stealing and revealing secrets…" she answered.
Rukia lift her eyebrows.
"That seems more dangerous than any other weapon…"
Haruna bit her lips.
"Dangerous for others, but harmless for you… since you already know its secret" Haruna replied and then she suddenly turned to Rukia with a warm smile. "I'm sorry. I must appear like a strange and unpleasant person to you… Byakuya was right: I'm not a child anymore. Can you forgive me for that? Can you tell me what to do in order to gain your trust?"
Rukia cocked her eyebrows.
"Why would you need my trust?"
"Because even though I'm surrounded by hundreds of people, the truth is that I'm alone… and I need a friend… But hey! It's not like I'm forcing you! Everyone has the right to choose their friends!"
Rukia didn't answer.
"You're an interesting person, Rukia… I'm happy that Toto is having you by his side!" she added and took a few steps back, heading to the party.
Rukia remained still, facing the garden. From behind, Haruna's eyebrows frowned annoyed by the fact she wasn't receiving any reaction. She took another step back… and slowly another. She was about to give up when…
"If you really want to hold your zanpakuto again, than I would arrange for you to reenter the 13th Division" Rukia finally said.
A satisfied, almost evil smile appeared on her sensual lips.
"Me? A shinigami again?" she begun with a friendly voice. "Too much bother only to see my old zanpakuto again… Don't worry as I lived all these years without my zanpakuto, I guess I can continue to do so…Now if you'll excuse me Rukia, I have to greet some other guests!"
Rukia turned around but, the woman was gone. As she remained alone, she suddenly remembered Ichigo. He's being in the toilet for quite long, now. She left the terrace, thinking of looking after him, but the second she rejoined the party a young couple approached her enthusiastically.
"Lady Kuchiki! Lady Kuchiki!"
After a second look she recognized, Lady Shokun, Nanakuma's lover. Rukia took a deep breath preparing herself mentally.
"I'm so happy that i finally found you! I've looked for you for more than half an hour! I must introduce you my fiancé…" the girl begun with her childish voice and pulled closer her partner, an average looking boy. "This is Nanakuma Noru!"
"It's an honor, Lady Kuchiki!"
Rukia faked a smile as her eyes were looking around for Ichigo.
"Lady Kuchiki! Lady Kuchiki!...I'm so excited! Can you believe that Lord Ryoing had invited us to his party?..." she said.
"This must be a good sign, right? Maybe he's preparing to recognize our engagement!" the boy added.
"Y-yes… indeed!" Rukia replied mechanically without paying any attention. Her eyes did not meet Ichigo, but instead they found Haruna leaving the room.
"If he will accept it… I hope you haven't forgotten your promise of helping me with the preparations, right?" the girl asked.
Rukia finally turned to them with a polite smile.
"Of course, I haven't…As a matter a fact, I brought some things that might help you!" she replied, referring to the catalogues she bought a few days ago with Ichigo. "Now if you'll excuse me…"
She left the couple, in order to make her way to the men's restroom. What she didn't know was that Haruna got there first. With a sick expression on his face Ichigo exited the toilet and tried to pull himself together, so that Rukia won't make too much fun of him.
"Orange hair… tall appearance… disoriented expression…" Haruna intoned as she sat against the corridor's wall. "You must be the human, Kurosaki Ichigo"
Ichigo turned to her with a "whatever" expression.
"I am Haruna Ryoing!" she said and raised her hand in order to greet him.
His eyebrows cocked surprised.
"I didn't know nobles of Soul Society shake hands…" he commented.
"Well, you could say I'm a little different… I've spent some time in the real world so I'm quite used with these customs…" she replied with a smile.
"Some time?"
"You could say about 60 years…"
Ichigo laughed.
"Then you must know the real world better than I do…"
Haruna smiled.
"And I might say that you, Kurosaki Ichigo, know Soul Society better than I do"
Ichigo frowned.
"I heard that you beat the crap out the captains when you first came here!" Haruna added.
"I'm sure the rumors are exaggerated …"
"And I'm sure that you are being modest!... I'm wondering what bring you here this time?"
"New enemies, as usual…" he replied.
"And do they stand a chance in front of you?" she asked with a seducing voice.
He frowned with a self pleased grin, untroubled by the noble's charm.
"Of course they don't!" he replied.
"Then you are fooling yourself!" she snapped coldly, cutting all her sweetness.
Ichigo's eyes widened confused.
"How are your arms? Your shoulders? Your reiatsu? None of these seem strong to me ,in this moment. You haven't trained yourself in years, haven't you?" she added.
"How would you know that?"
"Does that matter? The point is you can't defeat the Prisoners without Bankai…and you don't have the time to train in order to regain it. In other words you need some help, my friend!"
Ichigo frowned.
"How do you know about these things?" he asked with a serious glare. "You say your name it's Haruna Ryoing…I've seen your name on the invitation I received. What is the real reason I'm here?"
Haruna smiled playfully.
"Well you're Kurosaki Ichigo… everybody in Seireitei knows you. Having you here it's like inviting a movie star to a private party!" she replied.
"So you brought me for entertaining!" he snapped sarcastically.
"I would rather call it curiosity!" she replied and went ahead. "Anyway… let's meet again, Kurosaki Ichigo! I'm not sure yet but I might be able to help you!"
Ichigo remined in the corridor confused and worried at the same time. He exited the corridor, thinking of following that strange woman, but she was nowhere to be found. Then in front of him Rukia appeared with a relived smile.
"There you were!"
"Is it only my impression or did you really missed me?" he asked with a grin.
"Stop it Ichigo! I was worried that you'll get yourself in trouble if I leave for a couple of minutes with these nobles! Tell me, are you feeling better?"
"I guess so… anyway, no more lobsters for me!" he said and looked once again at the crowd, searching for Haruna. He thought of telling Rukia about the short meeting he had on the corridor, but then he reconsidered it, not wishing to ruin the night. "Would you like to go back to the terrace?"
"It's ok with me…" she replied.
She went ahead a few steps, she felt how Ichigo approached her and gently grabbed her hand. This time, she didn't say anything and she bowed her head in order to hide a girlish smile.
"Or…maybe, we could find to quieter place…" she said. " How about a walk in the gardens?"
Ichogo's eyes widened in a pleasant surprise.
"As you wish, my lady… But first, let's grab some drinks!"
"My lord, are planning to get me drank?" she asked with a flirting voice.
"Why are asking such things, my lady? Am I looking like a suspicious person?" he replied trying to play the gentleman, as he let go of her hand and put his arm around her waist.
After that, they both started to laugh… and they were not the only ones. The whole room was filled with happy … relaxed… careless faces. There was only one person who was not enjoying himself. From the place he had been left by his sister, Byakuya was pretending to pay attention to a glass of wine, while his eyes were glued on Ichigo and Rukia.
And then a voice whispered in his ear:
.
"And so the lifeless marble statue has been cursed with living eyes,
So he'd watch with pain the princess giving her smiles to another guy.
He had no voice to damn the culprit, nor the tears to cry his pain,
He could only stay and watch how she' being stolen away.
He knows he's strong, yet he won't fight the hopeless choices of her heart
And if her happiness requires it, he will let her go and fall apart.
.
His heart is true, it has no doubt,
Though, she will be way better without.
So he prefers to set her free…
Than to have her seen what he turned out to be:
.
He, shameful brother… He, poor soul…
Now it's too late…
Too late for all…
…the unconscious monsters…
.
The little monsters are awake
And you are praying for her sake
To stay far, to not be close
Even though you wish the most…
To grab… to taste… too feel…to love
To kiss her chin and the lips above!
You can control…Your eyes are cold!
But can you deny what burns your soul?
The pain of seeing next to him…
You have to endure, you cannot whim!
But wait a moment … What is that?
That strange glare that just I caught…
Could it be the burden of guilt?
Or have you fallen in love for real?
You, shameful brother…you, poor soul…"
Byakuya's eyes widened and Haruna leaned over him whispering again:
"Kuchiki Byakuya… I know your secret!"
He froze and dropped the glass of wine on the floor.
"But don't worry… Your secrets have been always safe with me!" she added.
He was…speechless.
"I pity you…You disserve more than you have indulged yourself…" she said and looked around. Her father was approaching them from the left, while the Nanakuma-Shokun couple was coming from the right. "That's why I'm going to help you out!" she added and left him.
"It's time for the back-up plan!" she told herself and took a few steps ahead. She gave her father a "Stay where you are!" glare and then turned to the Nanakuma-Shokun couple with a wide and cheerful smile:
"There you were! I've looking for you the whole night! Come on, it's time!"
She grabbed their hands and claimed on the little stage where the musicians were performing. She asked them stop the music and then turned to the crowed.
"My dear guests, I want to thank you all for your presence here, tonight! My father and I, we are honored and we inquire a toast to remember this moment…but before we all fill our glasses, I would like to make an announcement in the name of my family and this new family here, that it's about to be created…"
She turned to Nanakuma and Shokun who were both confused and made a slight bow. Then she turned to the crowd again, took a deep breath and spoke:
"My dear guests, I would like to invite all of to the wedding of Lord Nanakuma Noru with Lady Shokun Natsumi , that will take place in 2 months at the summer residence of the Ryioing family!"
Shokun gasped loudly and put a hand over her mouth, almost passing out. On the opposite side of the room, next to the window, Goroza widened his eyes with anger. Next to the food table, Rukia let go of Ichigo's hand and turned to the stage with a confused expression…
Haruna, with satisfied smile, turned to the crowd as everybody started to applaud. Then, slowly, her smile faded:
Byakuya was nowhere to be found.
.
.
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Hmm... poetry... i wan't seeing that coming either! Anyway...
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That you in advance for reading and until next time R&R! Every opinion counts!
PS: Why everyone's so exclusively Ichigo or Byakuya?... I mean there is plenty space for both of them in this story.