A/N: Please forgive my attempts at haiku, (yes, I tried it more than once) I suck at poetry. I notice that I also have a tendency to take these two out of uniform but then we so rarely see them in anything else in the manga/anime I can't resist.

Disclaimer: Blah blah blah, Tite Kubo, Shuiesha Publishing, Shounen Jump, blah blah blah, not mine, blah.

"Proposal"

"Since its inception the Kuchiki have been led by a generational head," the Elder had said over tea in Rangiku's quarters at the barracks. "Lord Byakuya is the twenty-eighth such head after his grandfather, Ginrei. His father, Sojun, was unfortunately too sickly all his life and died before he could succeed. Thankfully he managed to sire our current lord before his passing." She paused here to take a sip of tea, a cheap black tea that was provided for all seated officers and Rangiku rarely drank. Rangiku, on the other side of the table, said nothing, absently playing with the ends of the bow she had made of her lieutenant's badge. The woman looked her directly in the eyes over her tea then and said, "There must be a twenty-ninth."

It was strange, thought Rangiku later as she followed the man himself, as well as Captains Ukitake and Kyouraku and her best friend, Nanao, to his family's private room at the theatre house. No, not strange, it was downright bizarre that the woman, cocooned in fine mint-green silk, her white hair adorned in kanzashi that cost more than Rangiku's entire wardrobe, wrinkled, liver-spotted hands making antiques of her already ancient jewellery and the lieutenant's best tea service, had come to her. What on earth could Rangiku, of all the women in the Seireitei and the Gotei Thirteen have to do with the lines of succession in the Great Noble House of Kuchiki?

A maid drew back the door to the room as they approached and the men let the women in before them. Ukitake and Kyouraku settled with Nanao and Rangiku between them and Byakuya took the cushions on Ukitake's right. This put him directly in Rangiku's line of sight and she could not help looking at him as he sat down.

"Is he not handsome?" the crone had asked, gnarled fingers dabbing a perfumed handkerchief delicately against her shrivelled mouth. Age had not been kind to her, if she had been beautiful once she certainly was not now, not that one would really ever think that looking at this ancient princess. Money covered flaws much better than makeup.

"Pictures of him sell only a little better than those for my captain," Rangiku replied, casually, as if she had not a hand in the procurement of said pictures. "It helps that he's independently wealthy, very powerful and currently unattached. What does that have to do with me?"

The Elder set her cup down again before replying, "Lord Byakuya has been seen in your company of late, and before you say it, yes we know that this includes Lieutenant Ise and Captains Ukitake and Kyouraku. Of course your presence is the one that stirs the most gossip. So my reason for being here is simple: if you have no interest in Lord Byakuya, then you need to get out of the way. Make it clear that you are barely acquaintances and let us get on with this business. However, if there is the possibility that you may be persuaded to pursue a relationship with him, well then, we have a proposition for you."

To be frank, the thought of being with Byakuya had never actually crossed Rangiku's mind. Sure he was attractive, but he was also cold, arrogant and downright rude. Granted since the ryoka invasion he had started to mellow, openly spoiling Rukia rotten and not being as abrasive to Renji, but no one was about to pull out the friendship bracelets. It was probably why the clan was having so much trouble finding him a suitable wife, or, as she had come to think of the whole thing since tea: "brood mare". Sure you would have the money but you would still be married to him.

A heavy hand came to rest on her shoulder, dragging her down a little behind Nanao and then Kyouraku whispered, "If you keep staring at Byakkun like that I'm afraid he's going to catch fire. Is everything alright, Ran-chan?"

"Ehh?" she said aloud, feigning surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry, have they started?" As far as deflections went it was hardly her best effort, and everyone was looking at her, but she soldiered through it, adding, "I'm sorry, Commander, my mind just wandered off on its own. I think I spend too much time with Orihime-chan."

Nanao came to her rescue then, pushing her glasses up her nose with a finger as she replied, "No, they haven't. How is Inoue-san these days?"

It worked like a charm. Within minutes Ukitake and Kyouraku were back to their conversation, something about medicine, and Byakuya had returned his attention to the stage. He had spoken only a few words in greeting and not a word since. Why was he even with them? Unlike them, he had come from home and was dressed in a navy blue kimono with periwinkle blue haori depicting a romantic scene of dancing cranes. He looked like an entirely different person, a little weary with eyes too old for his face and maybe a little too thin now that she could get a good look at him out of uniform.

"—giku-san. Rangiku-san?"

"Yes?" she asked, turning to Nanao to find her friend looking at her with an eyebrow raised. Oops.

"I spaced out again, didn't I?" she asked, this time in a low whisper, refusing to look at Kyouraku just beyond. He was not fooled for an instant and though he might be mistaken about why Rangiku was looking, it was just enough for him that she was. And he was not going to be ignored.

Leaning forward to pour himself a cup of tea, he asked, "Ah, Byakkun, it was good that we ran into you when we did. This place is always packed."

Byakuya, pouring himself a cup with long, slender hands, replied without looking at him, "I am sure that you would have been seated. No one would have refused the Captain Commander."

Kyouraku flicked his gaze to Rangiku and looking her in the eye, replied, "At least they would not have after they had a good look at our lovely Ran-chan here. I don't think that there are very many men who would refuse her anything."

"The proprietor of this establishment is female," said Nanao, glaring at him.

He cheerfully continued, "Or women."

Byakuya replied, "She is a lieutenant of the Gotei Thirteen, there are few establishments that would not welcome her patronage."

He did not have to say anything but it was a good answer. Nothing that Kyouraku could play with there, or at least that was what Rangiku thought until the Commander said, "Ah, well, yes, restaurants, but I'm talking about men here. Let's take you, for example, you do not look like the kind of man easily swayed by the more obvious charms (a pointed look to Rangiku's bosom, she glared at him,) but do you not think that she is quite beautiful?"

Byakuya looked over at her and Rangiku found that she was actually curious for his answer. Then he replied, "I find that a person's heart and mind are more attractive than physical attributes, but her countenance is agreeable, yes."

She lifted an eyebrow and Kyouraku snorted and said, "A diplomatic answer. I prefer to think she is prettier than the flower for which she is named. Have you ever seen a sky so blue as her eyes? Gold so bright and fine? Skin so fair and smooth? Why, if it was not for my precious Nanao-chan I would snatch her up for myself."

Then he took hold of one of Rangiku's hands and kissed her palm. She looked at Nanao and scowled. Nanao, however, was laughing. Rangiku snatched her hand back and said, "Go recite your bad poetry to someone else. You sound just like my new recruits."

Byakuya had not laughed nor was he even looking her way, instead down at his tea. Really, why was he with them? Was this the man his relative wanted her to marry? What in all of Soul Society gave that woman the idea that he had any interest in her? She could just see him laughing in her face if she ever dared to pull him aside to ask him about it, or worse, insulting her in some public place. Clearly the old woman had gone senile and Rangiku had been crazy for letting her in.

And then Byakuya said:

"Imperial flower,

great seal of autumn,

what warmth your blossom brings."

All chatter and laughter stopped immediately, all gazes snapped around to him. Byakuya, for his part, looked nonchalant, as if he had not just uttered a word. But they had all heard, and understood and Rangiku's eyes had gone wide. Did he just...? Had he just composed a haiku for her?

Then Kyouraku coughed, cleared his throat and said, "Ah, yes, well, Byakkun has had far better tutors than I…"

There was a scoff, Nanao, and she said, "You mean he has talent. I've told you more than once to stick to writing reports…"

Then Ukitake said, "Now, now, Nanao-san, he is not that terrible…"

"You mean to say that I am terrible?" asked Kyouraku, and that started a mini-argument that left Byakuya and Rangiku to themselves.

Byakuya had turned his attention to the stage, but Rangiku was still staring wide-eyed at him. He was not the first man to compose poetry for her. And Kyouraku's lines had not been the worst, cliché though they were; it was just that…Byakuya had actually sat there and put together a poem for her. Right there, on the spot, as they were all seated and chattering on nonsense.

The crone in her head again: "There must be a twenty-ninth." Ah, that thought brought her back to her senses. Brood mare business.

Looking Rangiku directly in the eye, though with her head raised so that it was as if she were looking down at the considerably taller lieutenant, the Elder had said, "If perhaps you do have an interest in Lord Byakuya, myself and those members of the family who are willing to overlook your…background in favour of your current position as a member of the Gotei Thirteen would lend our support." Rangiku had stopped playing with her belt to stare at the woman, stunned. The Elder continued, now with slight smile on her face that did not reach her eyes, "We have considerable influence with the young lord. We were the ones who agreed to his marriage to the late Lady Hisana, unfortunate though that turned out. We also understand and accept his predilection for those that others deem unsuitable. I do not mean that as an insult but you are not of noble blood. You are also a lieutenant of considerable power, infinitely more so than the late lady. The matchmaker assured us that there should be no problem with you conceiving, and quickly."

No thank you. Rangiku had nothing against children; she just preferred them when they had owners she could return them to as soon as stuff started getting sticky. Plus they ruined figures. But this and that were two different things. She said to Byakuya's back, "Thank you…that was…very nice."

He turned his head a little in her direction and said in a low voice, "It was not my best. But you deserved better than the commander's offering."

"That was not your best?" asked Rangiku, trying to ignore the second half of his reply.

"In certain company they would have torn it apart. Too simplistic. Usually we have more time," he replied.

"You mean like, you and a group sit around putting together poems…for fun?" she asked. Byakuya had friends, apart from…whatever it was going on with him and Renji?

"Well usually there are prizes. The worst pieces are usually the most entertaining, the composer must take a drink for each error," he replied.

Rangiku's stared at him wide-eyed and then muttered, "That…is something I would like to see…"

Now Byakuya turned fully to face her and asked, "Can you compose poems?"

He looked only mildly interested, his solemn expression betraying nothing, which was the norm for him though for the first time since he started these outings there was the light of curiosity in his clear grey eyes. It took her a moment to realise that she had zoned out on him again, and she snapped out of it, gave herself a little shake and replied, "No, I was just curious to see what you looked like drunk."

"You think I lose?" he asked. There was the slightest lift on an eyebrow. It was practically his equivalent of her wide-eyed, open-mouthed stare.

She doubted it, but before she could say so, he said, "We are having a meeting this weekend at the manor. I'm sure none of the others will mind an audience though I suggest you be prepared to try at least once."

Did he just? But the silence was going on too long, his brow furrowing. She said with a smile, "I can hold my liquor. Can you?"

"Well then, see you this weekend, lieutenant," he replied, with the slightest of nods, an acknowledgment.

She returned it and he turned back to the stage. She looked back to the others. They were still mocking Kyouraku's writing, though Nanao was giving her a narrow-eyed look, suspicious. Rangiku smiled at her, trying to play it off while a voice in her head demanded to know what the hell she had just done.

Earlier she had said to the old caterpillar, in her cocoon of heirloom silk: "Right, no. I'm sorry. I understand where you might get the impression from seeing me with my captain that I'm the maternal type, but no, that's not me. Me, I like to have a good time. Go out with friends, dress how I like, say what I want and do what I want when I please. I'm not interested in being tied down and quite frankly I already have a husband: my job and one lifelong contract is enough for me. So go tell whoever you picked out for the good captain that I send my congratulations and good luck on the marriage-thing."

The Elder had looked neither pleased nor disappointed with Rangiku's response. That dead-eyed, blank look must be a patented Kuchiki thing. Instead she said, "You would give up an offer to leave all this behind? You would have been richly compensated: your own home elsewhere in the Seireitei if you so desired, an allowance of your year's salary a month for the rest of your life, and the freedom to 'do as you please' once the child was born. You surprise me, lieutenant."

Rangiku had folded her arms and replied, "I am the one surprised. Usually you lot only come around to pay people to disappear. I supposed I should be flattered, but I'm more than capable of getting the things I want on my own and I'm happy where I am. Besides, I've lived through too much to settle for marrying a man who seems to have the emotional range of a sheet of paper."

The Elder had stared at her for nearly a minute before replying, "There's more to Lord Byakuya than you think. That 'sheet of paper', you speak of, can contain a multitude of emotions once you can read what's written on it."

Rangiku looked back up at Byakuya just as the lights began to dim to find him hastily writing something on a napkin. A moment later, without turning his head, he slipped the napkin past Ukitake to her. The other captain pretended not to notice, though she felt his gaze, and Nanao's at her shoulder, as she picked it up and read, first, her name in kanji and then:

"Golden petals spread

like fireworks upon the fields.

The sun at hand!"