Running through a typical day of working the kitchen and cleaning, two servants peeped their heads out from the doorway to take in the view. In the dining room, quiet and calm, Sakura and Byakuya sat for breakfast. They did not speak, the sound of their silverware clinking against their plates filling the smothering silence. To put it frankly, many of the servants found it bizarre. Their introduction to Lady Kuchiki was dynamic and entertaining, but ever since the Koi Pond Incident, not a single spat occurred. It was disappointing. Not only were they losing some coin on the bets that were springing up inside the servants' quarters, but they really expected the young woman to fight harder.
"I owe that bastard from landscaping fifty-thousand yen," one of the women hissed, violently washing the dishes.
A chef, finishing his morning shift, groaned while stacking the pots and pans. "You think you have it bad? I bet half of my savings!"
"That's because you're stupid," she pointed out.
An older woman shushed the two and whipped a heavy mixing spoon against her palm. "Keep it quiet! You should be happy that they're getting along!"
"Yes, ma'am," they drawled, returning to their tasks. They would be much happier if they didn't throw their money in with such reckless confidence!
Back in the dining room, sitting clear across the table from one another, the newlyweds continued to eat their morning meal. Sakura glimpsed at her husband, practically squinting to see his face properly. To anyone out-of-the-know, it appeared as though she had surrendered to Byakuya's constant badgering, but that was far from the truth. They continued to bicker and argue but agreed to do so behind closed doors.
'I'm not going to wear that.'
'As a Kuchiki, you need to stand up taller. You slouch too much.'
'Must you nag me on how many steps it takes for me to get dressed?!'
There were rules. A tutor came in the late afternoon, teaching Sakura the proper ways of womanhood that should have been tossed in the garbage years - no, decades - ago if it weren't for the Kuchiki Clan's death grip on traditional values. She didn't hang the clothes right. She didn't bathe the correct way (apparently the head is first and the feet are last?) and she definitely didn't speak like a lady. 'Hold your lips together and bite your tongue if you must,' her tutor had instructed. Sakura would have gladly stuffed her shoe up his you-know-where if Ginrei wasn't watching at the time of her lessons.
She sighed, playing with the last bits of her food. No chopsticks like back home. No drinks until after she ate. No conversations until Byakuya was finished with his newspaper. No fun, no fun, no fun. Running was forbidden unless there was an emergency. Singing popular songs - even in the bath - was frowned upon. Soon, they'd say her hair was 'too pink' and have her dye it some Kuchiki-branded black. She was treated like a child and pestered for every minuscule thing she did. Honestly, if she had known before what life in the Kuchiki Manor was really like, she'd have burned every letter sent to her door and married some random farm boy she could get her hands on.
Byakuya quietly turned to the last page of his weekly newspaper, careful to keep the edges creased and neat. Breakfast was delicious, but what he really savored was the quiet calm of Sakura's presence. She was behaving so well! What a miraculous turnaround. He didn't have high hopes, but the tutor really made some immense progress. However, there were still matters that needed to be dealt with, things to fix.
A month and thirteen days and nothing to show for it. Sharing baths together was the only intimate act they were comfortable enough doing. It was beginning to frustrate him. He was a handsome man and quite the charmer! The fact that Sakura refused to move forward on their deal kept him up at night. No announcement of a pregnancy in the month to come and he'd be getting an earful from his impatient - yet well-intentioned - grandfather. They'll think he was impotent; they probably already did. He heard the rumors amongst the servants when they thought they were out of earshot. Those damn bets and insulting remarks. Humiliating. He couldn't even look them in the eye.
But now, he had a plan. A true show-stopper that he would occasionally work on while Sakura slept or ran errands. She was a bull-headed brute, but he knew she had a soft side. He'd put forth the first step into his masterful plot to seduce his wife today. By next week, they'd be fornicating on every surface of the manor and having a child by the beginning of spring.
Folding his newspaper, he cleared his throat, immediately gripping the attention of his young wife. Servants cleared the table and provided tea for the couple. The two sipped quietly. Byakuya's eyes drifted to Sakura as she gulped it down.
Yes, drink your tea. Let it balance out those pesky hormones, he goaded, smirking into his cup.
Never in his life would he have ever expected to think about such a thing, but here he was: Ovulation calendars, daily massages, sleeping schedules. Everything was planned accordingly and meticulously. Of course it was borderline obsessive on his part - he could admit that to himself. But with everyone breathing down his neck, it just couldn't be helped.
"What do we have planned for today, Byakuya?" Sakura asked, handing her cup over to a servant with a quick 'thank you'.
He wasn't fond of the way she addressed him, but he looked past it for now. Trying to change it would be a fruitless effort anyway and keeping her in a good mood while under strict diets and schedules was rough enough.
"I was going to head to Ugendo's estate. We partake in some trading ventures and often share in some light conversation. If you'd like-"
Sakura stood up abruptly, her chair wobbling on its back legs and dropping onto its side. "Yes! I'd love to go!" she shouted excitedly, unable to contain herself.
Byakuya's brow twitched, swallowing whatever snark that tried to slither its way from his lips. "Let's get ready, then." He plastered a smile on his face. "I'll walk with you."
Sakura was bouncing with each step. Part of her was embarrassed with how obvious she was being, but the rest of her just didn't muster a care to bother masking it. Being cooped up in such a stiff place was wearing her down and to meet one of Byakuya's business partners made her curious of the other rich folk in the neighborhood. The Kuchiki Manor was luxurious, quite a few miles past the threshold of what was necessary, its ostentatious display of the family's wealth a little too much for her. She couldn't imagine what the other families were like.
No, you can, she mused thoughtfully. They were rich, so the likelihood of them being snobby was very, very high. Hopefully, they were a level or two (or a couple thousand) below that of Byakuya's elitist personality.
The two entered their bedroom, walking to different sides of the room to get dressed in their best clothes. Sakura already knew about the paparazzi that camped out in the nearby hotels, slinking around the gates of the Kuchiki Manor to snap a few quick photos of the interior. No-one outside of her clan and the Kuchiki's was made aware of the wedding and that's how Byakuya wanted to keep it. If any information was leaked, swarms of photographers and reporters would block the entire perimeter, waiting for one look at the clan's new Lady Kuchiki. It was so secretive that the Kuchiki Clan forced her parents to sign a confidentiality form to prevent any news of the wedding. There was a deadline date of at least twenty days where they couldn't utter a word or the marriage was null and void like some business opportunity. In a way it was, but that wasn't important.
Today marked Sakura's first appearance to the public. Byakuya and her tutor had coached her on her upcoming debut. First impressions made an impact on the other clans and she would have to be on her absolute best behavior. With that in mind, her initial excitement turned to subtle panic. What if she tripped and fell flat on her face while they took pictures? What if she said something completely wrong and rude to the other clansmen? What if she accidentally tucked her skirt into her underwear and nobody told her?! (That last one hit too close to home, considering it happened when she was six and she only noticed after her first bathroom break at school. Quite humiliating, even for an elementary student!)
A dress was already laid on the bed, neatly ironed and in pristine condition. These were her 'celebrity clothes' as her tutor often referred to them - only worn outside when pictures were expected. There were many outfits planned for all kinds of occasions and different types of weather. Today, her fashion advisors decided on a modest, high-collared blue dress that hit below the knee. She brought it to her chest and examined herself in the mirror.
Byakuya watched with quiet intrigue as she undressed, stepping out of her loungewear. His eyes followed up her legs to the curve of her hip. She was wearing white, cotton underwear and a matching bra that cupped her breasts perfectly. He did not venture for romance, but he was still a man and he couldn't stop himself from being attracted to her. She was physically breathtaking.
Byakuya wasn't typically a sexual person either and although he knew very well that their intimate sessions would prioritize producing an heir over pleasure, he couldn't completely ignore the warmth pooling between his legs. It had been years since he laid with another woman. So. Many. Years. The first thought that ran through his mind when his eyes set upon her half-naked figure was that of any man.
He wanted to ravage her.
"Where Udengo's estate?" Sakura asked, cutting through Byakuya's self-inflicted torture. "What are they like?"
Byakuya turned his back to her, rummaging through his drawers to appear busy. For once, he was thankful for her social nature. He found it better to discuss today's future events than scooping her up and-
"Byakuya?" She stepped into her dress pulling it over her waist and sliding her arms through the sleeves. "Did you hear me? And can you zip me up?"
"Of course." He watched as she gathered up her pink hair, moving it over her shoulder and exposing her bare back with the small hint of the band of her bra peeping out between the gap of her opened dress. It took everything within him not to simply unhook it and slide his hands underneath to feel the soft, velvet flesh of her breasts.
It didn't take long for Sakura to take notice of Byakuya's tension. Tilting her head back, she was startled to find herself matching gazes with him. He lifted his hand, hovering it just at the center of her back, his fingertips grazing the center of her back between her shoulder blades. His eyes, dark and intense, were transfixed on her.
There were wants and needs and he was slowly diverging on the former. It was difficult to fight against his urges when his mind continued to tease him with the soaring imagination that was planting pretty, little images in his head: Her legs opened invitingly. Flushed skin and intoxicating moans. Her nails leaving burning trails on his back and shoulders. He was torturing himself, Sakura had done nothing to instigate his wandering thoughts.
A twinge of embarrassment rushed through him and he finally broke their drawn-out contact. She was his wife. He was allowed to have those thoughts, but to act on them now would be of poor taste.
Instead, he quickly zipped her up and brushed her hair into place. "It's 'Ugendo'," he murmured.
"That's right. Sorry," she managed, feeling the heat of her involuntary blush on her face as his fingers continued to run through her hair.
"Ukitake Jushiro is the head of Ugendo's estate. He has seven other siblings that reside in the family's manor and he is the sole provider. They're a new-money family, profiting from trading stocks in the TSE. They received their core profits due to an incident involving medical malpractice, gaining a hefty sum of one hundred and fifty billion yen." After realizing how long he'd been idly playing with her hair, he retreated to his corner of the room and continued speaking. "Needless to say, Ukitake-san invested his money wisely and moved on from there. He also puts a bit of money away for some Wagyu beef company, but that's not relevant to his actual gains."
"Are you friends with him?" She grabbed her heels and put them on. "These are going to kill me."
"We're… well-acquainted." He glanced down at her shoes then moved onto buttoning his shirt. "They look fine. Ukitake's home isn't nearly as large as ours, so it will be a small tour."
"I'm not used to these types of shoes," she replied sourly. "They pinch my toes and rub my heels raw."
"A small sacrifice, I suppose," he said, brushing off her worries. He suddenly turned around, appearing apologetic, albeit forced. "I didn't mean that. We'll… keep the walking to a minimum." He almost forgot the plan!
'Step one: Be considerate.'
Sakura laughed, shaking her head. "You're hopeless." The clack of her heels against the wood floor continued until she stopped in front of Byakuya. She grabbed the tie from his hands and wrapped it around his neck.
He swallowed, avoiding her eyes. "I can do that myself."
"I've been practicing," she insisted, "It's better if your wife does it anyway. 'Good luck', I've been told."
"And what fool told you that nonsense?"
"Your grandfather."
His face burned with a mixture of embarrassment and shame. "What I meant was-"
"Just kidding. It's a something my dad always said." She smiled coyly. "So you don't have to lie, dear husband."
"You're the one that's playing jokes. I should have known jii-sama wouldn't say such a thing," he remarked, irritated to find himself being played with. "Also, you haven't been practicing. A blind man could knot a tie better than you."
She laughed again. "Finish up, then. We should be leaving soon."
He nodded, hurrying with his tie and throwing on his suit jacket. Sakura took one, final look at herself in the mirror and waited by the door, spectating as Byakuya got dressed. She couldn't deny how handsome he looked in a well-tailored suit - a designer that went well with his lean frame. It left her wondering. Was he being paid to endorse some famous person's clothes while they were being photographed? Was she? Rich people were a confusing bunch.
And you're one of them now, she thought wryly.
That was the case, but she wasn't born into it like the rest of them. She still had her morals, her down-to-earth nature. Surely that's what made her different.
Regardless, there was still the elephant in the room that she continued to push back to the deepest depths of her mind. Sooner or later, he'd confront her again.
"You what?" Byakuya stared at her incredulously.
Sakura hunched her shoulders at a loss for words. Wasn't it simple enough? She said it as clearly as she could. He began to pace the room, trying to wrap his head around the news. "You're still on your birth control? Why didn't you tell me that?"
"It makes my cycle easier to manage. I can't help it," she explained again.
"It doesn't help anything if we're trying to have a child! You obviously need to stop taking it as soon as possible. Tomorrow."
She stood up, pointing a finger at him. "Excuse me? It's not your decision to make!"
He scoffed, "We've been through this countless times. I've told you that our marriage is built on the expectation that we produce an heir. You wanted to be a doctor, correct? Obviously you should know that a man can't just have a child by himself!"
"Wouldn't that just fix everything!" she shouted back, furious.
Byakuya, frustrated and exasperated, rubbed his temples to soothe the headache pulsating against his skull. He was angry that she hid it from him. She knew what their marriage entailed! "What kind is it?"
"It's the pill," she answered. "I have a month left until I get another prescription."
"Another prescription?" He stroked his chin in contemplation. "Then let me make a deal with you."
Sakura curled her lip in disgust, regarding him warily as a familiar, cunning look twinkled in his eyes. "Ugh, what do you want?"
"Excluding this moment, we haven't argued much in the last week. I've given you whatever you've asked for - including an entire office for your medical studies. You can't deny that I've been good to you."
"You're rambling," she growled, tapping her foot.
Byakuya quickly cut to the chase. "I'm making you an offer. By the end of this month, If there's even the smallest inkling of contentment inside of you, you have to relinquish your birth control and give yourself to me."
She sighed, crossing her arms and shrinking back. Her brow creased, eyes staring off blankly. "How can I be genuinely happy knowing that I'm losing part of myself to someone who doesn't really love me?"
"This was an arranged marriage. It's unrealistic for you to think I'm going to fall in love with you from the start," he argued.
"I'm not stupid, Byakuya! I wasn't expecting love at first sight. However, you've made it pretty clear in past conversations that you're not in this for my feelings. It makes me sick that I'm only here to be used as an incubator."
He grabbed her arm, glaring at her. "I don't look at you like that. I know it may appear that way due to how much I talk about it, but I'm being honest with you."
"But you said that I-"
"Don't misconstrue the pressure of me having an heir as me disrespecting your body. I need you to be strong." His grip softened on her arm and he tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. "We both made promises. Please, give me the opportunity to show you I am a kind man."
She dipped her head, hiding her tears. Too many times she cried in front of him, but burying her emotions would only fester and turn into resentment. He wanted her to be honest, after all.
"At the beginning of next month, then. If you stay true to your promise."
"I will," he vowed.
"I won't order another prescription." She jabbed her finger into his chest. "But that doesn't mean I'll have sex with you instantly! I might need more time."
He could have argued, but he relented to her demands. "I understand. Thank you."
She had finished her prescription. The decision was final and she reluctantly agreed to stay off the pill. Initially, she expected him to return to his original, cold self, but he surprised her by remaining cordial. There were a few spats occasionally, but any normal couple had an argument or two. He was warmer, perhaps it was the time they spent together that had them understanding each other better.
Still, she dreaded the day where the pressure would be too much for her to bear. The weight upon her shoulders grew heavier each night as Sakura slept beside her husband. A shift on their shared bed meant a hand on her waist, his body pressed against hers, his lips against her neck. She'd refuse him every time - too tired, too scared. And he would understand. He wouldn't pressure her.
They were lying to Ginrei, to the midwife, and to the servants. 'Of course! We're having sex every night!' An understated love that they kept to themselves; lies to stave off the pressure temporarily. Sakura was relieved for Byakuya's acceptance, but everyone had their breaking point. Perhaps he was actually a patient man or maybe he was concealing the true feelings he was harboring for her. It was only a matter of time before they had another discussion that referenced the inevitability of birthing an heir.
Byakuya quieted her internal distress with his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. His black hair, usually trailing casually down his back was pulled into a low ponytail, his signature bangs combed and pushed behind his ear.
"Are you ready to go?"
She swallowed her nerves and smiled faintly. "Yeah."
"The car's waiting outside. Mind you, the paparazzi can be very physical. There will be people pushing cameras in your face, so try your best to pretend they're not there. Don't answer any questions and you'll be fine," he explained. His hand rested on the small of her back as the two left their bedroom and headed towards the stairs.
She nodded, wringing her hands together. Reaching the bottom step, a servant approached the two and handed Byakuya a wrapped package. Sakura raised a brow, curious.
"Ohagi," he replied, knowing her puzzled look.
"He likes sweets?" She was now suddenly craving some red bean paste. A bit unfair that she wouldn't have a chance to taste it.
Byakuya ushered her out as the servants waved goodbye. "I'll have the chef make you some," he offered.
"I-I didn't say I wanted any!" she stuttered.
"Okay, I won't," he decided, playing along.
She blushed, squeezing his arm. "No, don't!" He gave her a knowing smile and she cringed, knowing well he was just teasing her. "I want some, too."
His eyes were fixated on her burning ears as she played with the ring on her finger, turning it over and over again out of habit. It was quite endearing, to say the least. If he had been someone as simple-minded as Ichigo or easily flustered as Renji, he'd even describe her hidden (but not so inconspicuous) love of sweets cute.
The doors opened and Sakura could hear the crowd outside beyond the gates. There were people holding large, expensive cameras snapping photos seconds after the servants guided the couple out. A woman wearing an expensive pantsuit was holding a small recorder while a man behind her filmed. Did news stations really think she was worthy of a headline? Nothing specific could be heard beyond the loud chatter until a man took quick notice of the woman walking beside Byakuya.
"Lady Kuchiki! There she is! Hey, over here!" He sprang into action as the others followed after him, taking aim and snapping as many photos as they could.
Byakuya guarded her, his arm wrapped around her shoulder and bringing her closer. He was never one to show any public displays of affection, but he didn't want these people to overwhelm her on her first outing as a member of the Kuchiki Clan. It bothered him that so many already knew about the wedding. The Haruno Clan certainly made good work of spreading the news after their deadline passed. Annoying.
Their driver, a younger man with a worrisome gaze, quickly opened the gate and led the couple to the car. The paparazzi circled around them, yelling out anything that would draw their attention. They asked questions about the date of their wedding, the invite list, the bride's identity, and, of course, the prospects of children. Byakuya glared at the driver, a silent order to pick up the pace. He obeyed, fumbling with the car's door handle and gestured for the two to climb inside. Byakuya helped Sakura and followed after her. The driver closed the door too soon, slamming it on Byakuya's foot. He recoiled back as the Head of the Kuchiki Clan gave him a sharp look of what could only be the murderous rage most were all too familiar with.
The young man sat in the driver's seat, adjusting the mirror and turning on the air conditioning. He smiled nervously at the two. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"Just drive," Byakuya muttered.
"Of course," he said, laughing to ease his nerves. The boss was going to be pissed. Often times, the end result was termination. As he turned the car around, he prayed silently that he'd still have his job by the end of the day.
Sakura leaned forward to check the damage. "I thought I heard a crack. Are you okay?"
"I just had a door thrown against my foot. I don't think I'm 'okay'," he hissed.
She reached down and untied his shoe, carefully pulling it off. He fidgeted while she prodded each side. "Move your toes."
He complied, sucking air through his teeth as he did. Sakura nodded in affirmation gently putting his shoe on for him and fastening the laces. "It might be broken. Should we cancel the trip?"
"No, we can't. The Kuchiki Clan doesn't cancel plans last-minute. It's impolite and lacking etiquette." He cursed as he adjusted his foot, pain spiking up his leg.
So stubborn. A tour was out of the question, but Byakuya wouldn't say anything if Ukitake asked. Going by the rules of etiquette were prioritized over a fractured foot.
As they continued their trip, they ran through a pothole causing another muffled cry of pain from Byakuya. The driver continued to offer his apologies until the older man raised the privacy barrier. Sakura stared at the passing cityscape, wondering with dry humor if perhaps she really should have been the one to tie his necktie instead.
They arrived ten minutes early from their scheduled time, stopping at a set of cast-iron gates. The driver hurried to their door and gave Byakuya a large amount of space, eyes glued to the ground to appear as small as possible.
Balancing on his good foot, Byakuya gripped the door for support as he hobbled out. Turning back to the car, he presented his hand for Sakura as she exited from his side. She glanced down as he gingerly settled his aching foot to the ground.
"That's not good. There's no way you can walk on that," she said.
He shook his head. "No, it's not as bad as it looks."
The driver with pleading eyes blubbered at Byakuya. "Lord Kuchiki, I'm so-!"
"Stop talking," Byakuya ordered, teeth clenched.
Sakura shooed the young man away to prevent any more trouble and held Byakuya's hand. She pressed her body against his and wrapped her right arm around his lower back for support. "Lean into me. I'll help you."
"Sakura, I'm fine," he insisted.
A voice beyond the gates called out to them. The two looked ahead as a man, slightly older than Byakuya, with white hair walked towards them with a younger man following behind. "Byakuya! It's such a pleasure to see you again!"
"Ukitake-san, Shiba-san, good afternoon," Byakuya greeted.
Sakura gaped. This man - Ukitake Jushiro - just used Byakuya's first name and the bastard didn't even bat an eye! Was she on a completely different tier than these guys? They could call him 'Byakuya', but he was trying to make her keep the formalities? Unfair!
Shiba Kaien, Jushiro's personal attendant, opened the gates for the pair and bowed respectfully. The two clansmen shook hands, Byakuya barely putting up the facade with a smile as his foot continued to throb with each step.
"It seems you have a new assistant with you," Jushiro marveled. "Quite a lovely shade of hair, too!"
"You beat me to an introduction, Ukitake-san. This is my wife, Sakura, originally a member of the Haruno Clan. You might recognize the name due to their frequent business in agriculture and livestock," Byakuya explained.
Both Jushiro and Kaien exchanged wide-eyed looks of disbelief. Both men dropped their sight to the couple's matching wedding bands then back to the young woman. Byakuya cleared his throat, regaining their attention. "May we come in?"
Although surprised, Jushiro recovered from his stupor. "Absolutely! I'm happy to have the two of you here! Kaien, please prepare another seat in the lounge." Kaien bowed to the three of them and sprinted off.
Sakura turned to her husband, eyes wide and angry. "You didn't tell them you were married?!" she mouthed.
Byakuya rolled his eyes. "I didn't tell anyone outside of the Kuchiki Manor. It's our own business," he mumbled back.
She shook her head, appalled. This man was going to be the death of her. Although smart, some of his actions made zero sense. How could such a logical man be so highly illogical?!
Walking - or limping in Byakuya's case - through the main grounds of Ukitake's home, the trio stopped at a modestly-sized house. A small lake was built around the property with a few islands of land connected together by wooden bridges. Koi fish, eerily similar to the ones at the Kuchiki Manor swam together in the clear water. Gardens of flowers were planted at the water's edge while large rocks were gathered and arranged artistically throughout the landscape. Other houses, Sakura assumed belonged to his siblings, speckled the far side of the property. It was quite the change from the Kuchiki's elegance, but still immensely beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
"You have a lovely home," she commented shyly, holding Byakuya firmly against her as he did his best to stay upright.
Jushiro beamed. "Thank you, Sakura-chan. Although most of the work was done by Kaien at my request. Without his help, this would be such a drab place."
Crossing the bridge into the main house, the three removed their shoes. Jushiro spotting the pained expression on Byakuya's face. "Are you hurt, Byakuya?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Byakuya assured.
"He hurt his foot," Sakura said, receiving a look of betrayal from her husband. "The driver slammed the door on it by accident."
"I'll get the first aid kit," Kaien exclaimed, walking down the hall to the closet.
Settling in a chair with Sakura and Jushiro's help, Byakuya lifted his hand to refuse. "Really, everyone. There's no need to worry."
"No, we definitely need an ice pack to reduce the swelling," Jushiro insisted. He smiled humorously. "I suppose there won't be a tour today."
"A tour would be wonderful," Byakuya argued in his politest voice. "Just-"
"No, no, no. I know how strong-willed you are, Byakuya. I have a better idea anyway! I'll just invite some of our friends over and have them meet your new wife over some drinks. They'll be so excited!" Jushiro decided, already tapping away at his phone.
The other man's stomach twisted. "Please, don't tell me…"
Ukitake smiled brightly. "It's been a long time since we've all been together. Hopefully they have some time. Oh! I just got a few replies. Yoruichi and Shunsui have agreed to come! I'll wait on the others to say something, too."
Sakura watched as Byakuya's shoulders stiffened, his face burying into his hands and heaving a sigh. Yoruichi? Shunsui? Byakuya didn't appear excited by the idea of them visiting. She couldn't blame him, though. With his foot and more people finding out about his marriage… Well, he wasn't going to be in the greatest moods when they got home.
"Um…" Sakura took the box of ohagi from Byakuya's lax grip and presented it to Ukitake. "Here you go, Ukitake-sama. Ohagi made by the talented chefs at the Kuchiki Manor. I hope you enjoy them."
Jushiro put his phone into his suit's pocket and took the box from her, his smile growing. "What a kind gesture. Thank you, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura bowed to him. It was silly of her to be so worried about Jushiro. He was obviously a very nice person. Looking back at all of her overthinking made her feel terrible for judging him so quickly.
"So tell me a bit about yourself, Sakura-chan. What do you like?" he asked as he unwrapped the box and opened the container.
The smell filled the room, both Sakura and Jushiro taking in the wonderful aroma. Sakura's stomach growled, not at all satisfied with her mushy, low-carb breakfast. Jushiro took notice and held up the box to her. "Would you like one?"
Sakura's mouth watered. They looked absolutely delicious.
But the diet.
Side-eyeing Byakuya to read his reaction, Sakura found herself caught red-handed as he sat staring at her, already anticipating her move. She gave him a strained smile, her fingers twitching as she reached hesitantly for the box. He narrowed his eyes, then waved at her for the go-ahead. Sakura was ecstatic, grabbing a rice cake and taking a small bite to savor the taste. It tasted amazing, satisfying her sweet tooth just as she liked. When was the last time she had a sweet snack like this? Her mother didn't make it as often as she liked. Anmitsu would have been better, but a dessert was a dessert and she wasn't one to complain.
"You have a sweet tooth, too? How cute," Jushiro commented.
Byakuya sat forward, resting his hand protectively on Sakura's thigh. Ukitake was always a very friendly person and a bit too friendly to women. Not the type to be a philanderer or flirt, but he couldn't take his chances.
Sakura brought the ohagi to Byakuya's mouth. "Would you like a taste?"
"Byakuya has never been a fan of sweets, Sakura-chan. He's more into spicy or umami flavored dishes," Jushiro jested.
"I didn't know that." Her eyes darted back to Byakuya. "You don't like sweets? Really?"
"Most are too overpowering or rich for me," he answered.
Taking another bite, Jushiro scooted to the edge of his chair. "So, I'm curious. How did the two of you meet? Byakuya doesn't get out much, so maybe it was during one of his inventory checks?"
"It was… an arranged marriage," Byakuya reluctantly answered.
Jushiro lifted his chin, finishing off the rest of his gift. "I see, I see. That's…" Kaien returned before Jushiro could say anything more. "Oh, good! The first aid kit."
"I also filled an ice bag for you, Kuchiki-sama." Kaien placed the ice bag over Byakuya's foot, then stood up. "This will definitely help the swelling."
"Thank you, Shiba-san," Sakura smiled. These people were so nice!
Conversations moved onto Jushiro's recent hiking adventures and stocks. He asked a few questions about his beef cattle to Sakura, fully aware of her clan's history with raising livestock. Kaien spoke about his wife and his time as Jushiro's financial advisor and their close friendship. Sakura was enthralled in every discussion. They were interesting men with friendly dispositions without a single smug bone in their body.
"So, Ukitake-sama, are you married?" she asked.
He laughed, taking a drink of sake and pouring a cup for his guests. "Married to my job, I suppose. I don't really have the time for dating."
Sakura hummed happily in response, perking the interest of her spectating husband. He pursed his lips in disapproval. She was enjoying herself far too much. What a socialite she had become in a span of a few short hours. It came so easy for the two to chat about anything and everything. At home, she could barely initiate a conversation.
A sudden weight pushed against the back of his head, a pair of breasts pressing into his neck and shoulders. "Shihoin-san."
"It's been a year, hasn't it? I'm flattered you can guess it's me simply by the shape of my-"
"You do it every time we come into contact," he interrupted. "It's nice to see you again."
Yoruichi backed off, smirking down at him. "Don't lie now. I know how much you hate me." Spotting the unusual shade of pink hair beside him, she became intrigued. "And who is this?"
"That's his wife. Her name is Sakura," Jushiro announced.
Apparently, nobody had the patience to let Byakuya do any talking. "Yes, that's right. We were just recently married…"
"Married?! You, Byakuya?!" A man's voice echoed from the door. Sliding along the wooden floor in just his socks, an older man wearing an eyepatch and wavy, dark hair tied at his neck ran to Ukitake's side.
"I know, right?! Seems impossible," Yoruichi added.
Byakuya closed his eyes, calm as ever. "Why is it so surprising to find that I am married?"
Probably because you're a terribly boring person, Sakura thought.
"Because you're such a terribly boring person!" Yoruichi voiced. She walked around their chairs, ready to study the poor girl. "Sakura-san, huh? You don't mind if I call you that, right?"
"Not at all," Sakura replied in a cheerful tone.
Yoruichi smiled and nodded. "I'm Shohoin Yoruichi. I'm sorry we had to meet under such horrible circumstances."
Sakura laughed nervously. "H-horrible?"
"She means to say that marrying me is horrible," Byakuya deadpanned, unamused at Yoruichi's bothersome jokes.
"I'm Kyoraku Shunsui! Nice to meet you, little lady. You're much cuter than I'd expect for Byakuya. I'd think most of the good girls would have known what he's really like and picked better guys. You know, I'm still single if you-"
"Sakura and I are happily married," Byakuya spoke up. Compared to Jushiro, Shunsui was an actual problem.
"I can kind of see it, though. He calls her 'Sakura' rather than 'Lady Kuchiki-san' or something like that," Yoruichi pointed out.
Sitting idly, Sakura picked at her nail polish to keep herself from agreeing with the others. It was hard to keep her mouth shut. She could easily ramble on about the fertility tea, the diet, and the strict schedule. Nothing would be any more fun than talking about how terribly dry he could be and how awful he was as a person. But she decided to lift her head and smile at the others, giving him a bit of a break.
"Byakuya is very kind to me. On our wedding day, he vowed to protect and cherish me. I told him about my dream of becoming a doctor for my village and he surprised me with my own study quarters and an endless supply of reading materials. He also helps my family financially, as well. I couldn't be happier to be his wife."
C-Cute, the others thought, their hearts skipping a beat.
Byakuya sat back in his chair, struck by her words. She didn't need to say anything. In fact, he half-expected her to start joking along with them. His gaze shifted to her as they moved onto a different conversation and, for the first time since their marriage, a small flutter of optimism rose within him.
Thank you, Sakura, he thought, grateful. It was possible that he underestimated her compassion.
A knock came from the door. Kaien walked to answer it, returning with a short man with spiky, white hair and a tall, busty woman with tangerine-colored curls cascading down her shoulders. Ukitake stood from his chair, greeting the two.
"Shiro-chan! Rangiku-chan! I thought you weren't going to make it!" He slapped his hand on the short man's shoulder, who returned his greeting with a hardened scowl.
The woman waved at the others. "Hiya, everyone! So where's the new girl?"
Sakura raised her hand meekly. "That's me. It's nice to meet you." Byakuya was apparently surrounded by beautiful women.
"I'm Matsumoto Rangiku! I can't believe you're married to Kuchiki-san!" She pointed to the stranger behind her. "That's my partner, Hitsugaya Toshiro-kun!"
"Partner? So you're married?" Sakura asked.
Rangiku stared in surprise before laughing hysterically at the thought. She held her stomach, waddling over to Toshiro and slapped him on the back repeatedly. He growled at her, pushing her back and letting her fall to the floor.
"We're law firm partners. Working together for corporations and, on occasion, small businesses," Toshiro corrected. He kicked Rangiku's butt as she continued to laugh. "It's not that funny, idiot!"
Yoruichi helped Rangiku up. "That's even more unbelievable than Byakuya getting married."
Shunsui sat on the arm of Ukitake's chair, stealing the sake bottle and pouring himself a glass. "Anybody else coming over?"
"Not tonight. I thought a small group would be enough fun."
"We'll definitely have to do this with all of our buddies. Hey, that reminds me. Where's little Renji at, Byakuya?"
"He's currently on vacation."
Shunsui nodded, "Figures. You probably planned this whole thing for the entire time he'd be gone, didn't you?"
Sakura's mind was racing. No, overloading. Ukitake, Shiba, Yoruichi, Renji? So many names! So many people! Byakuya probably knew more people than the Haruno Clan had members! How could he keep up with everyone and stay so calm? Her brain was melting.
"Hey, Sakura-san, how about Rangiku and I take you to the hot springs and we can hang out?" Yoruichi offered.
Uncertain, Sakura looked to her husband for approval. Byakuya nodded and she immediately stood up. If things went well, she'd come home with two friends. "Yeah, let's go!"
Rangiku grabbed hold of Sakura's hand. "Oh, this will be fun! We can talk and get to know each other! I can't wait!"
Practically being dragged out the door, Sakura waved to Byakuya. "I'll see you later, Byakuya."
He lifted his hand. "Have a good time."
"We'll take good care of her," Yoruichi said, sticking out her tongue.
"That's not very reassuring when it's coming from you."
Yoruichi winked playfully, closing the door behind her. Now alone, the men closed in on Byakuya for answers.
"So marriage, huh?" Ukitake folded his hands in his lap.
"Yes."
He smiled softly. "She seems like a nice girl."
Byakuya sighed. He could plan a retreat with his mangled foot and these guys were obviously prepared to interrogate him. "What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Well, I mean, why the hell weren't we invited to the wedding?" Shunsui exclaimed. "Aren't we your buddies? Why didn't you even tell us?"
"The wedding was organized by my councilmen and my grandfather. It was a private affair. I would have told you eventually."
"Are you embarrassed that it was an arranged marriage?" Kaien wondered. Being married was a dream come true for him. Arranged marriage or not, he couldn't fathom the idea of being ashamed of Miyako. Byakuya was a different story, however. He always thought on a different level than others. At least, that's how Kaien perceived him.
"The circumstances behind my marriage aren't important. I don't see why you're all so interested in my private life now. It's not like my routine has changed dramatically."
Ukitake snickered, "I'm sure your night-time routine has changed."
Shunsui shoved his friend, grinning at his sudden show of bravado. "Ukitake! That's a lady you're talking about, right?! You're not one to be so bold!"
"Everyone has their needs. And I'm sure the Kuchiki Clan aren't exactly tip-toeing around the subject of a family heir," Ukitake stated matter-of-factly.
Byakuya balled his hands into fists. Jushiro was always too fast at reading a situation. "I'm the only child. It would be foolish to not discuss the future of my clan."
"Hey, why not adopt an heir? It's pretty common nowadays," Shunsui suggested.
Byakuya frowned, "They would never allow a stranger to take over the Kuchiki Clan. It has to be a Kuchiki by blood."
Toshiro took the seat next to Byakuya and poured himself a drink. "Sounds like you're all running on outdated traditions."
"I can't go against them. I've already caused everyone enough trouble."
Ukitake smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "It's not that bad, right? She's really cute and suits you well. Besides, sex is always enjoyable even if you're trying for a child. That part you have to enjoy, right?"
Byakuya opened his mouth to speak, then quickly turned away. The others noticed and immediately realized.
"You haven't slept with her," Toshiro said.
"The relationship I have with my wife is my own business. It's not something thrown around for others to gossip about."
"So you haven't."
Byakuya stared daggers at Hitsugaya. "Why do you care?"
Shunsui, tipsy from the sake, spoke up for the rest of them. "Com'on! We're talking about Kuchiki Byakuya being married! You're a good-looking guy, so there's gotta be something happening."
"What he means is that maybe talking about it with your friends may help you," Ukitake added.
The ice pack on Byakuya's foot dripped onto the floor. He felt helpless in a situation like this. It was something he couldn't control - like most things present in his life. There were no clear-cut options ahead of him. Sakura wasn't the cookie-cutter, submissive woman he was expecting. She wasn't-
"She's not Hisana," he confessed quietly, his voice low and hollow.
The once cheerful atmosphere changed in an instant. The air was stifling, weighing heavily on the men in the room. All were fully aware of Byakuya's first wife. He was enamored from the start, completely devoted. Although he was still a serious man, he never felt the need to mask his happiness back then. It was devastating to find themselves helpless to their own friend's suffering. No actions or words were enough to alleviate his pain. It dwindled over time, but he never fully recovered, nor did he show true happiness since.
Byakuya bowed his head, his bangs covering his eyes. Pain radiated in his chest, tightening and squeezing at his heart. A sick, weighted feeling sank into the pit of his stomach. He had to control his breathing, fearing he may stop at any moment. Mentioning Hisana, in any form, always brought on these painful symptoms. But he couldn't stop himself from speaking, the words spilling from his lips compulsively like vomit.
"I feel… that it's impossible for me to stop comparing them. They're so vastly different yet I can't help it. She's worn clothes that were prepared for Hisana, reads the same books, talks to the koi and the servants with the same care and concern. I thought meeting her blindly would make it easier, but I can't stand being in her presence. I tried everything to convince my grandfather that marriage was out of the question, but nothing worked."
"Byakuya-"
"Am I supposed to be chained to someone I'll never love for the rest of my life? Is this my punishment for not doing enough for Hisana? To be constantly reminded of my past failures as a husband? I can't look at her without thinking about these things. I'm a horrible person. All I ever do is manipulate her feelings to get what I want. You've said it before, haven't you? 'Kuchiki Byakuya will do anything to accomplish his goals'. I deserve to be alone." He didn't dare lift his head, afraid of what the others would have to say. He was aware that he said too much. Far too much. Every word uttered left him feeling immediate regret.
Ukitake reached over the table, resting his hand on Byakuya's knee. "Byakuya… You're too hard on yourself. Hisana's passing wasn't your fault and there wasn't a single thing you could have done differently. It was an unavoidable situation."
Toshiro agreed. "Closing yourself off isn't healthy. Have you told her anything about Hisana-san?"
"I've never mentioned it to her. She doesn't even know I've been married before."
"It's possible that sharing this with her may help bring the both of you closer. Your feelings might change."
Byakuya shook his head. "No, I can't."
"Why?"
"Telling her about Hisana… She'd feel like a substitute. It would only end badly."
Shunsui poured the rest of the bottle in a cup and slid it across the table to Byakuya. "Or she'll understand and comfort you. That's what a wife does, y'know."
"I have only my first impression to use as a reference to her character, but it appears that she's a truly good person. You're being unreasonable for not giving her a chance and you're only hurting yourself," Ukitake remarked.
Byakuya gulped down the sake, sighing. "I did give her a chance. You don't understand how difficult it is. I can't just stop thinking about the only woman I ever loved."
"Then file for divorce," Hitsugaya told him.
Surprised by his advice, Byakuya's instant reaction was to deny him. "Why would I do that? I'm not going to divorce my wife."
"Why not? You're clearly still hung up on Hisana-san," he challenged.
Ukitake, sensing the tension, attempted to dissolve any emerging conflict. "Now, now, Shiro-chan. That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"I'm simply stating the facts. Kuchiki-san, to think about your own feelings while undervaluing your wife's makes you look like a shallow and selfish person. She can't control what happened in your past and she's also not responsible for carrying your baggage for the rest of her life."
Byakuya bit his tongue, refusing to meet eyes with Hitsugaya as he continued on.
"You may not have the courage to decide on divorce, so let her make that choice. What have you got to lose? Find another woman to marry that's willing to bear a loveless marriage and have a child with you. Keep it straightforward from the beginning so you don't repeat another mistake and hurt someone."
"Awfully brazen of you to try and give me advice, Hitsugaya-san. Your assumptions are based solely on a superficial inspection. There's no way you can possibly form a concrete idea of what my relationship with Sakura is after only just meeting her," Byakuya bit out.
Hitsugaya just blinked. "I'm well aware of my limited knowledge on your relationship. However, it doesn't take a psychic or an investigation of her life to know that she wants an authentic, loving partner."
"How would you know?"
"Not everyone's made out of stone like you."
Byakuya felt the need to defend himself, but no words came to mind. He was selfish. Unaffected. A piece of shit to put it brusquely. He made an effort to put her feelings at the front of things, but that was only mindful manipulation masked as a courtesy. Sakura truly, honestly, genuinely deserved someone better.
"What am I supposed to do? Act as though Hisana never existed and pretend I'm happy?"
Kaien straightened up, standing taller as he mustered the courage to speak. "Kuchiki-sama, I'd… I'd like to speak with you outside! If you're able to, that is!"
"Kaien? What are you planning?" Ukitake questioned.
"As a married man, I thought it would be better if the two of us spoke one-on-one. Not meaning to insult the rest of you, of course."
Byakuya paused, considering Kaien's offer. As he sat wondering, he spotted the encouraging smile on Ukitake's face. "Byakuya, go ahead and stay. The rest of us will go for a walk outside," he urged. Byakuya nodded in response as the others gathered at the door to put on their shoes, leaving the two to talk alone.
"Forgive me, Kuchiki-sama. I know it may seem like I'm speaking out against you, but I do have good intentions."
"It's fine, Shiba-san." It obviously couldn't get any worse than Hitsugaya's candid advice.
Taking in a breath, Kaien began, "Miyako... We've been married for four years now, but I've learned a lot since I asked her to be my wife. It can't compare to the despair of losing Hisana-sama, but I had a girlfriend back in high school that I really loved before I met Miyako in college. We were together for the same amount of time. Four years. I thought… that she and I were meant to be married. We talked about doing it after graduation.
"To keep it brief, she found someone else. It blew me away. I thought we were the real deal like what the movies and TV shows always talked about. At first, I was in shock and it was damn - oh, excuse my swearing - it was impossible to really absorb what happened. I was only eighteen, after all. This was my first experience with romance and it definitely didn't end well, as you may have predicted.
"After that, I sincerely thought I wasn't meant to be with anyone. I felt empty like I didn't matter - that I wasn't worth anything. And I was scared, too. Because if the person that I loved - and that I thought loved me back - could just drop me for someone else without a second thought, then the likelihood of it happening again was super high! Why would I want to put myself in that position again?"
Kaien pulled out his phone and scrolled to a photo of himself and his wife posing together at the beach. He smiled and showed it to Byakuya. "Then I met Miyako. She had asked me to help her with a project in our accounting class and we immediately hit it off! It was amazing! But, you see,
I immediately started thinking about my girlfriend back in high school. Miyako didn't know. It started with small things like their taste in music or their favorite foods.
"I would bring her up a lot. It's embarrassing now that I think about it because it took Miyako confronting me about having feelings for my ex for it to hit me. I didn't even know what I was doing. She was the safety net that kept me from exploring new things and it was so easy to hold onto those memories. I was hurting Miyako because I was comparing her to a girl she didn't even know. I was forcing her to live up to these ridiculous expectations.:
Byakuya slid down in his chair, hands in his lap as he listened on to Kaien's story.
"I felt like crap! After sitting down and really talking about it together, I realized they weren't that similar like I originally thought. My first girlfriend never laughed at my jokes like Miyako does. She didn't hug me super tight or teach me how to cook. My feelings for Miyako changed drastically after that. I finally saw her as her own person and it was like meeting her for the first time again. Now, the thought of my high school relationship barely even crosses my mind. It doesn't hurt when a memory of her pops up in my mind because I know that Miyako loves me and I love her."
Byakuya appreciated Kaien's honesty, Finding a man that was married and experienced the pain of losing someone he loved first was comforting. But his mind couldn't just shift gears and change his feelings for Sakura, for Hisana.
"I understand what you're saying, Shiba-san. However, I love Hisana. She was my wife and I can't simply brush her off as some memory of my past. She's still a part of me. Without her here in my life, I feel like I'm just empty."
Kaien nodded. "Yes, she's very important to you. I could never compare an ex to the death of a loved one. I know there's no possibility of a second chance. What I want you to know is that, in my interpretation, love isn't about taking part of yourself and giving it to the other person. It's about creating a new form of love together. There are over seven billion people on this Earth, so wouldn't it make sense that love would be just as distinct and vast? The kind I developed for my first girlfriend was innocent and warm. It took us five months into dating to actually hold hands." He laughed as he looked back on the fond memories of his wife. "With Miyako, it's passionate and durable. She kissed me after the first night. That's why with every different relationship that people experience, it's never the same. You're creating something unique between the both of you. Without that, love would be predictable and we all know that isn't the case."
"Using your logic, I should be able to love Sakura. That just isn't the truth, though. I don't know if I'll ever develop feelings for her. Right now, I could never imagine doing such a thing," Byakuya admitted.
"I'm not trying to influence you. Ultimately, it's up to you. I just wanted to talk because I do know how it feels. Your love for Hisana and the love you may develop for Sakura could be completely different. It's okay to have loved Hisana and, if it were to occur, it's okay to love Sakura. I'll always have a special place in my heart for my first love, but for what I hope will be the rest of my life, Miyako's love is all I need."
"Do you think it's wrong of me to feel hesitant in sharing anything about Hisana to Sakura? Is that a terrible thing for me to do, Shiba-san?" Byakuya asked earnestly.
"Everyone is different. For others, sharing past experiences comes easily while others would never think to speak of painful memories. Decide what you're comfortable with and move from there. You may end up telling her tomorrow or never. You have the right to make that choice yourself. Anyone who truly cares for you would understand and respect your decision."
Byakuya shifted in his chair, absorbing everything Kaien had told him. The man had undoubtedly spent a lot of time defining these feelings and pushing himself to better understand the true essence of love. In the end, it was only his interpretation, but it was well thought-out and logical.
It reminded him of the red string of fate story. Strings could be cut, frayed to the point of breaking, but fixed. Two ends could be reattached or to a new person's string. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Byakuya didn't believe in silly notions of a frail, little string that tied someone to their soulmate. Love adapted and changed was what he was getting at. It was never meant to be taken from one person. The red string was never meant to rip your finger off, so the other person could keep it to themselves. It was meant to be shared together. He understood.
"I won't let my finger be ripped from my hand," he exclaimed aloud.
Kaien tilted his head in confusion, wondering how his speech could possibly become so twisted and lost on the man to have him say something so odd. "Uh, right. That's good."
"Thank you, Shiba-san. You've enlightened me on things that I thought I couldn't get through on my own. You're very inspirational. It's almost a shame that you're working under Ukitake-san instead of me."
"I appreciate it." He was still puzzling over the finger comment. What did it mean? Why was the 28th Head of the Kuchiki Clan so bizarre?!
A muffled sneeze came from outside the window behind where Byakuya was sitting. Small whispers from the foliage and the sound of rustling bushes followed soon after.
"Bless you, Ukitake."
"I appreciate it, Shunsui."
Another voice groaned. "What part of absolute silence do you two not understand?"
"He can't control a perfectly-natural, bodily process. Have some respect, Hitsugaya," Shunsui argued.
Byakuya stared blankly until he turned his attention back to the table of refreshments. A pitcher of ice water. A wonderful tool for his next move. "Shiba-san, you're not thirsty, are you?"
"Not at all."
"Good." He reached for the pitcher and slung it over his shoulder, the water pouring through the open window and drenching the nosey bunch eavesdropping below. Screams of surprise as the cold water made contact spilled into the room and the two men sitting comfortably inside shared mischievous grins.
Served them right.
Rangiku and Yoruichi cringed following Sakura's recount of the last month she'd spent married to Byakuya. They knew it was going to be bad, but they both had hoped it wouldn't be a total trainwreck.
"I'm not that surprised. We're talking about Byakuya here," Rangiku said sadly.
Yoruichi agreed. "It's depressing but true. He's always been emotionally constipated."
"I'm sorry that you have to deal with that, Sakura-chan."
Sakura rubbed her shoulder, sinking lower into the bath. "It would have been easier with someone more understanding." Perhaps if it was someone like Ukitake she'd be more open to the idea, but she was stuck with the Head Robot of the Kuchiki Clan.
"Is he always such a brat?" Yoruichi asked.
"No, it's not that he's mean or cruel. For the most part, he compromises well and acts like a gentleman. He's just…" She cupped her chin in her hand, trying to find the right words.
Rangiku raised her brows. "Dreary? Dusty? Boring?"
"Emotionless?" Yoruichi guessed.
"Yes, that," Sakura replied. "But, you know, I'd be lying if I said it was just him. I feel that I'm just not the right fit. He sees me as inadequate and he's not wrong. The Kuchiki Clan are a different breed of people. It's hard to live up to their standards. I'm so stubborn - I don't even want to try."
"Have you brought up counseling? That could help," Rangiku suggested.
"We communicate fine, really. Most of our problems stem from how different we are."
Yoruichi stood up, pulling herself out of the bath and onto the ledge to sit. "Sakura-san, I know we've been ragging on Byakuya and it's pretty easy to point out his flaws, but he is a good guy deep down." Hisana came to mind, but she doubted that Byakuya had bothered to mention her at all to his new wife. "He's been hurt before, you know. Some people just aren't strong enough on their own to move on," she revealed.
"And you know how men are, Sakura-chan. They think they have to be strong and their definition of strong usually means being closed-off and cold to protect themselves," Rangiku added.
"He has so many walls built up," Sakura groaned, a stress headache forming behind her eyes. Thinking about Byakuya always seemed to end with headaches for her.
Yoruichi dipped a hand towel in the hot water and dropped it on Sakura's head. "Force your way through. You want love? You have to work hard for it."
"Sappy." Rangiku grinned, receiving a splash of water kicked in her face. "Hey!"
"Anyone can tell you to take the easy road and split up, but moving forward and actually achieving what you want - that's the height of living."
It was nice to hear an outsider's opinion on the matter of her marriage. Yoruichi made a fair point. Love wasn't as simple as confessing and being happy for the rest of her life. Both women also knew Byakuya much longer than she had, so for the two to actually tell her to give him a chance rather than run away meant something, right?
"It's getting pretty hot in here. How about we go meet the guys again?" Yoruichi suggested.
Rangiku and Sakura agreed, grabbing their towels to dry off. They'd been gone for much longer than they intended but talking usually had that effect. After getting dressed and fixing their hair, the women began their trek back to the house.
"I heard he was well-endowed, is that true?" Rangiku asked, curious.
"H-How would I know?!" Sakura stammered, heat rising to her face.
"You're his wife! Why wouldn't you know?"
Yoruichi smirked, clapping her hand on Sakura's back. "Don't pretend! As though Byakuya's peacocking hasn't happened yet."
"It really hasn't!"
Rangiku cackled fiendishly. "You're so innocent, Sakura-chan! Whenever it happens, you've got to let me know!"
After meeting up with the men (and failing to receive any answers as to why a few were soaked to the bone), it was time to leave. With the help of Ukitake and Shunsui, Byakuya and Sakura walked back to their car with the rest of the party following behind them.
"It was really nice meeting you," Sakura said, turning to the two other women.
Rangiku slipped her a business card. "Yeah, you're a lot of fun! Let's talk more over the phone."
"I wrote my number on there, too," Yoruichi noted. Leaning in, she whispered in Sakura's ear while her head motioned to an oblivious Byakuya. "Take care of him. He's like a little brother to me. An aggravating, pompous-ass kind of brother."
Sakura nodded, although she felt less than confident in her efforts. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Yoruichi-san."
Ukitake and Shunsui hovered over the door as Sakura climbed into the car to, helping their injured guest inside. As they settled him in, Ukitake bent down and smiled at the couple. "Thanks for stopping by! I really appreciate you putting up with me, Sakura-chan."
"Not at all. Thank you for having us," she assured.
Shifting his sights to Byakuya, he shook the man's hand. "Let me know how things are. I'll never turn down a chat."
"Thanks. Have a good rest of your day, Ukitake-san." Byakuya shut the door. As the car started, the rest of them waved goodbye until the car turned out of the driveway and back onto the street.
"They're not going to last," Hitsugaya stated flatly.
Yoruichi gave a hearty laugh, crossing her arms over her chest. "Wanna make it a bet, shortie?"
"You think they will?"
She shrugged. "Can't say for sure. Maybe. They're both equally stubborn. I doubt they'd give up as easily as you think."
Shunsui sighed, twiddling his thumbs as he glumly stared off into the distance. "Such a waste of a pretty girl. You think Byakuya would hate me if I-"
"He already hates you," Hitsugaya broke in.
"It's a lovable kind of hate, though."
Ukitake patted his old friend's shoulder sympathetically. "I don't think you'll have a chance, Shunsui."
"Ah?! Why so cruel all of a sudden, Jushiro?!" Shunsui whined.
Kaien understood. "He's right. They'll work everything out."
"I think so, too," Rangiku smiled cheerfully.
Sakura sat back quietly as Byakuya rubbed his foot, pain enveloping his features. "Still hurts?" The driver visibly shrank, squeaking out another feeble apology.
"I'll have to see the doctor when we arrive home. You were right, I think it's broken."
"Lord Kuchiki, I'm-" He glared through the rearview mirror at the driver as soon as the young man tried to open his mouth. Yet again, Byakuya cut him off by raising the privacy barrier.
Playing with the hem of her dress, she stole a glance at her husband as he stared at the department stores lining the street, expressionless. He wasn't in a terrible mood like she had anticipated. From what she'd seen, he actually seemed calmer than when they left the manor.
"Your friends are nice," she started, "I was expecting them to be-"
"Like me?" he finished, continuing to mindlessly watch through the window at the blurred buildings passing by.
"I guess," she confessed.
He twisted around in his seat, ready to talk to her face-to-face. His friends were hitting him with hard truths, but he knew they meant well. He'd never admit it, but Hitsugaya made the most sense. Sakura was against it from day one and she was especially unwilling when it came to bringing a child into a loveless marriage. He'd be perfectly content with a civil, unromantic partnership, but it wasn't about what he wanted. This was an extraordinarily difficult situation for any person to experience. He blindsided her, expecting it to be easy. Make it her choice? Fine. He could find a woman willing to bear him children without any expectations of love.
"I am about to ask you a very important question. Don't take any time to think about it, answer quickly. I want you to be completely honest. Do you understand?"
She nodded her head, heart fluttering. The tension was palpable, strung tautly and stretched so thin it could snap at any given time. It was hard for her to decipher what laid hidden behind his stoic appearance, but knew just how serious this was for him.
Brief and straight to the point, he decided. All he had to do was ask her, 'Do you want a divorce?' But there was something holding him back. Bile rose to his throat. Why did he suddenly feel so sick? It was simple, wasn't it? He just had to say what he needed to. Then, he could take the time to find a proper wife. It was a smarter choice. He'd find someone that would let him sleep peacefully in the night without hogging the covers or snoring in his ear. He wouldn't be questioned why they didn't keep junk food in the house for a decent snack. There would no longer be any embarrassment, knowing well that his new wife wouldn't dare to dance to some trashy idol's poorly-composed music. And never again would he have to deal with the stress of losing his clan's kenseikan after it being 'misplaced' under suspicious circumstances.
He bit his lip. She'd agree that they would be better off separated. Of course, baths would be quieter. Sleeping without the fan on would take some time getting used to, as well. And he'd have to adjust to not having that complacent feeling while he sat scrolling through his work emails, sitting in comfortable silence with her as she read through her own book.
Without thinking, he unbuckled his seatbelt and fully embraced her. "B-Byakuya, it's unsafe. We could get into an accident and…" She trailed off, feeling his heart pounding. It felt like a hammer pummeling his chest from the inside.
There was a moment of cowardice that tempted him to retreat, but he willed himself to stay and hold her. He was frightened, but besides the risk of losing all of their progress, he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why.
His chin nestled over her shoulder, their chests pressed close enough for both to feel the slight expansion of their labored breaths. The air was stuffy, electrified, and unbearable. Neither knew what the other was thinking.
Byakuya finally spoke, his voice brittle and hollow. "Do you want a divorce?"
Sakura buried her face into his neck. This was what he wanted to ask her? He was so hopeless.
"No."
She answered mere seconds after he asked, doing exactly what he wanted. There was no time for her to reflect on his question or doubt herself. She said the first thing that came to her mind.
He was fully prepared to contact his lawyer and sign the forms. He couldn't process that she'd actually refuse. "Why? I thought…?" It was proving difficult to speak. As he pulled away, he found a similar look of confusion in her eyes.
Sakura burst into inexplicable laughter. Her hands covered her mouth, but nothing could contain the sudden fit. "I don't know! I don't know!" she cried through giggles. "I said the first thing that came to my mind and it was, 'No, never'!"
"I thought you were unhappy?"
"I am!" she shouted, her laughter fading to a few stifled gasps. "I'm also stubborn and hopeless!"
"What do you mean?" He felt her hand slide over his, squeezing his fingers. "Sakura."
"Maybe if you had asked me three weeks ago, I would have said yes," she mumbled. "I would have signed the form and went back home feeling relieved."
Her eyes shone with tears, smearing her make-up and leaving discolored streaks down her face. "But I'm not giving up! Maybe it's the fact you gave me my own place to study my medical textbooks or the way it feels to have your fingers running through my hair or your obnoxious teasing. Maybe I'm just an idiot hoping that things will work out. I don't know the reason, but I refuse to let this temporary sadness defeat me!"
She unbuckled her seatbelt and threw herself into his arms, hugging him with all her strength. He sat, shell-shocked. His arms wrapped around her out of instinct, a hand on the crown of her head. "Do you really think this is temporary? What if it's for nothing? All that time would be wasted."
"Then I'll risk it. There are so many things that I could point to and decide that none of this is worth my time and heart, but I can't shake this feeling that there's more to Kuchiki Byakuya than what he's shown me! The hope I have is still there. It might be shaky and inconsistent, but I'm not throwing it away. You told me to stay strong and I will! Even if I have to be strong for the both of us! I'll bear it all!"
"Why put yourself through it, Sakura? You're only setting yourself up to get hurt. It's foolish!" he argued.
"April 21st, I made a vow: 'I give all of myself to you. I vow to stay at your side and support you in every way that I can. This I promise you!' I'm not going back on my word! If I'm left with nothing in return, I'll know I did my damn best!"
He grit his teeth and grabbed hold of her shoulders. "You're an idiot! A moron that reads too many romance novels and has unrealistic expectations!"
"And you're a bitter, old man desperate enough to take this 'idiot' as your wife! Right now, it's your choice because I'm not going anywhere!" she yelled back.
This sudden retaliation was a complete turnaround from just days ago. But she wasn't being completely honest. If he had asked for a divorce even yesterday, she'd have agreed wholeheartedly, but something switched inside of her. Yoruichi and Rangiku were right. He was hurting and it took her until today to understand that his cold exterior was his protection. He kept her at arms-length in order to avoid any more pain. There was no risk involved if he closed himself off to all feelings, especially to something as precarious as love. Sakura was willing to make the sacrifice. As he said, nothing could may from it. He may never return her feelings. She was an idiot, a moron, self-destructive, but she wouldn't stop until she'd given all of her heart. It was foolish and there was no way to defend why she even wanted to work for her potentially doomed marriage. All that she had was her obnoxious strong will and a fragment of hope. However, it was enough.
"I know what I'm here for," she rasped, voice muffled against his suit. "But is it really bad of me to hope that, maybe one day, we could actually fall in love and be happy?"
His hands steadily loosened around her shoulders. Expression softening, Byakuya retrieved a handkerchief from his suit's pocket and wiped at her smeared mascara. "You're a mess," he sighed.
Sakura closed her eyes, sniffling as he cleaned her face.
"I want you to know… that I'm not doing this to purposely hurt you. I brought up divorce for your sake because I want you to be happy," he explained.
"I know that."
He nodded. "Thank you, then. For staying with me, Sakura. I promise that I will make it up to you." Her eyes fluttered open as the car rolled to a stop, the two still holding onto each other.
"I know you will."
Their chauffeur opened their door, a team of servants with a wheelchair already on standby waited for them. "Forgive me for the hundredth time today," he begged. "I called ahead, so you wouldn't have to limp to the house."
"That's kind of you," Sakura responded, stepping out of the car and standing near Byakuya as he settled in the wheelchair.
Byakuya scoffed, still harboring ill-feelings for the young man. "If it wasn't for you, I'd have never been hurt in the first place."
"Shall I compose the forms for his termination, Lord Kuchiki?" one of the servants queried, receiving a remorseful cry from the driver.
He scowled, ready to sign off, but stopped. Sakura's hand reached for his and squeezed only once. Byakuya's frown grew and he grunted as he relented to his wife's wishes. "No, it was an accident. Take me to the infirmary, so I can get my foot checked."
The servant clicked her tongue disapprovingly but complied. "As you wish, my lord." Showing off a sharp eye to the driver, she stormed off and headed back to the house. "Let's roll him in."
As they pushed Byakuya towards the front door, Sakura lingered behind, turning on her heels to the driver. "No need to worry anymore. You're free to go now."
His hands, still trembling, clapped together. "Th-thank you, Lady Kuchiki! I'll never forget this!"
She smiled, fishing through her small pocketbook and handed him a five-thousand yen bill. "And here's this. Sorry I don't have anything bigger."
"What's this for? Lady Kuchiki, I can't accept this!"
"It's fine. Please, keep it as a token of apology. I know you were worried about your job and Byakuya can be a handful to deal with." She knew from personal experience. Probably everyone hired for the Kuchiki household knew what a troublesome person he was.
He thanked her, bowing respectfully as she walked away to the house. Servants came to her with warm smiles, welcoming her home. Ginrei having already spoken to his grandson waited by the stairwell to talk.
"A broken foot, hm?"
"Unfortunately."
He noticed the small smudges of black under her eyes, growing curious. "Was your time at Ugendo entertaining? Ukitake-san is quite the character."
"It was quite eventful, jii-sama. I'll definitely be returning."
"Although injured, Byakuya came home in a better mood than when he left. Did something happen?" he asked.
She smiled, confidence surging. The future wasn't as clear as she had hoped, but not as dark as it used to be. Byakuya wasn't convinced, but he never outright said there was no chance. Back in the car, before he asked her his question, she felt it. There was something that moved them ever so slightly in the right direction. She knew it and she knew he felt it, too. Why else would his heart beat so hard? There was no other explanation for it.
"We had a great time, jii-sama. That's all I can say."
"I'm happy to hear it. Would you like to accompany me to the infirmary? I'm sure Byakuya would be happy to have his wife beside him."
Sakura accepted, beaming. "Yes, I'd like that."
A/N: Wow, this took forever, but I'm letting you know that my love for this ship is what caused me to power through over 13,000 words in a span of two days to make this chapter happen. Also, I'll answer a few questions. This is set in a modern universe, so ninjas and shinigami don't exist (sorry). I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I sure did! Thanks for reading!