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Chapter 7
Rumination
The Soul Society was graced with another bright, sunny morning; her room filled with warm sunshine.
Miyako stared into the mirror as she tied her white obi into a knot. She always looked forward to the time when she would be officially don the famous and highly sought after shinigami robe, but this wasn't how she thought she would feel. Excitement and anticipation was replaced with apprehension towards working with Byakuya.
'I can't believe that I'm stuck with him for the next three months!'
Miyako tied her hair into a ponytail with a red ribbon before checking her robe one more time in the mirror. The last item, the trainee sash, was the last thing she had to put on.
'Everything seems to be in order…'
She let out a sigh; one mixed with anxiety and anger. She owed her internship placement to two certain people that she wasn't too happy with.
Miyako's rushed footsteps filled the hallway of the Shihouin manor. The staff was quick to move out of her way as she reached the end of the corridor, all surprised at her behavior. What Ms. Kubota had reported to her had sent her into a furry.
"You were assigned into the sixth division at your parent's request. If you would like to know more, please discuss this with your family."
She huffed one more time before opening the shoji doors. "Mother! Father!" Miyako shouted. "What is the meaning of this?! Why did you request for my placement in the sixth division?!"
The heads of the Shihouin Clan looked up to their youngest daughter with sharp eyes, eyes that almost rivaled the cold stare of Byakuya.
"You watch your tone with us, young lady!" her father hissed.
Miyako's throat tightened. "I apologize for my tone, mother, father." She pursed her lips as she tried to calm down. She quickly shut the door and stepped forward.
"I'm here to discuss why I was placed into the Sixth Division. I was told by my instructor that I was placed there at your request and I don't understand why."
"What do you mean that you don't understand?" her mother chimed. "You're training with Soifon. Surely in our line of work, you should be able to connect the dots."
A discontented sigh quickly escaped her lips. "That's exactly my point! I'm not connecting the dots and I don't understand! If I'm supposed to be the next captain, then why am I not with her? During this time I could train more intensively without worrying about my studies."
"Well, what's the matter with learning from another captain? Especially an esteemed captain with noble prestige?"
Miyako stiffened.
"What…? Is that what this is about..? Noble prestige..?"
Her father took a sip of tea. "We thought that you will have plenty of time to train with Soifon. You need to learn as much as possible before assuming your next role as captain. Having Captain Kuchiki as an alternative mentor is a great opportunity for you to grow."
Her mind went silent, her body froze.
"Besides, out of all of the captains besides Soifon, Unohana and Ukitake, he is the most dignified and skilled...let alone very well respected. No other captain is suitable to be your supplemental mentor." her father continued.
'A great opportunity to grow...nobility? What a farce! What have I done to deserve this placement?'
After mulling in her despair, her aristocratic demeanor kicked in. Her lips transformed into a small smile; she flashed them a content smile before bowing.
"I understand, mother, father. I thank you both for your wisdom. I'm sure that I'll learn many great things from Captain Kuchiki."
Rising from her bow, her eyes remained shut. "Excuse me while I take my leave to prepare for my internship."
Turning on her toes, she quickly exited the room, careful not to slam the door shut. She dare not let her parents hear her angry footsteps.
Occupying her room once more, she slammed the door shut and made a beeline for her closet. She carefully removed a wooden floorboard, reaching deep into the hidden compartment. Miyako smiled when she pulled out a golden incense burner; it was ironically shaped like a cat. She was grateful for little knick knacks like this at times such as this—she would have to remember to thank Kisuke again for this.
Exiting the closet, she opened her window and concentrated on the burner. A small amount of her white reiatsu filled the burner, its eyes glowed intensely as smoke emitted from its mouth.
'Yoruichi, I need you! Please come and see me!'
With those thoughts, she blew the smoke away into the air and watched it fly away hurriedly. She made sure to put her burner back in place before she left the manor unnoticed.
Miyako quickly arrived in the second division's courtyard, surprising Soifon.
"Miya!" Soifon exclaimed as she turned to her mentee. "What are you doing here? I told you that there wouldn't be any training today."
"I know…" she replied, clearly frustrated. Soifon was quick to notice her sullen mood. Before she could inquire about it, Yoruichi quickly appeared before them, putting a smile on Miyako's face and a look of surprise on Soifon's.
"Sister!"
"Lady Yoruichi!"
Miyako quickly embraced her sister, who returned with a loving one.
"What do we owe the pleasure of your presence, Lady Yoruichi? Is there something that you need our assistance with?"
"...I summoned her here…" Miyako replied quietly. "I need to speak with the both of you...can we move to Soifon's quarters for a bit?"
Not questioning her, they nodded before flash stepping away.
"YOU ATTACKED CAPTAIN KUCHIKI?!" Soifon screamed, making Miyako cringe. "You're aware that doing that is on the level of treason!"
"Soifon! Not so loud!" Yoruichi scolded.
"I apologize, Lady Yoruichi."
"I didn't attack him intentionally…" she replied. "He startled me while I was training and it was a reflex...I mean, what if it was a hollow instead of him?"
"You would've known that it was a hollow by its spiritual pressure!"
"I know...but Byakuya hid his really well...I didn't know it was him until after I attacked him and saw his face in the moonlight…"
Soifon sighed heavily while Yoruichi seemed to be quite amused, confusing Miyako and Soifon.
"Come on, Yoruichi...why are you laughing at my pain? This is serious...and mother and father had me assigned to his division for my internship! With what has happened, this is like hell for me! You know that he doesn't see us in the best light since we always visited him and always gave him a hard time..."
Yoruichi chuckled. "Well he didn't have to be nosy and spy on your private training session. He had it coming for startling you; it was a natural reaction."
"That still doesn't solve my problem!" Miyako huffed. "I have to train under him!"
"Well the good thing is that he hasn't reported your offense to the head captain. You would've been arrested by now." Soifon replied.
The two sisters nodded in agreement. "Maybe his lack of retaliation means that he knows that you didn't mean any harm?" Yoruichi said.
"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that he's been snubbing me ever since…"
"Captain Kuchiki snubs everyone." Soifon replied.
"Not in the manner that he's been snubbing me!" Miyako quickly retorted. "You should've see the way he's been looking at me whenever I look at him...his eyes are full of disdain…"
Miyako stared at her somber reflection in her tea. "All I want to do is apologize to him…"
Yoruichi laid an assuring hand on Miyako's shoulder. "You'll be fine. Just apologize whenever you can and focus on passing this internship. Byakuya will move on from this, as usual."
Soifon nodded. "I agree with Lady Yoruichi. Just do your best and still come for your training sessions afterwards."
"Yes ma'am."
Miyako finished her tea before giving them both a hug. "Thank you both for speaking with me...and thank you again for coming to see me so suddenly, Yoruichi."
Yoruichi gave her the affectionate hugs that grew to love. "You know that I'll always be here to help you."
Releasing them both, she gave them another smile before opening the door. "I'm going to go and prepare for tomorrow. Goodbye!" she said before flash stepping away, leaving them both.
After they waved at her fleeting form, Soifon turned to Yoruichi. "Do you think that she'll be okay? This is Captain Kuchiki she's dealing with…"
"I think that she'll be fine, Soifon. Miya is a hardworking and warm young woman."
Yoruichi took a sip of tea. "Who knows? Maybe she'll be able to get him to pull that stick out of his ass?"
After giving it some thought, Soifon followed suit and took a sip of tea as well. "Maybe…"