A/N: This is a chapter slightly redone and rewritten. It's supposed to take place in between 'Left For Tender Mercies' but I couldn't get it exactly right until now. I'll add a second part soon.
Many Years ago...
Hiding behind the wooden railing of the pavilion leading out into the Kuchiki Manor's idyllic gardens young Byakuya watched the mysterious teen girl. The daughter of his father's current guests. She danced between butterflies, enjoyous giggles filling the hair, her steps crushing on the cherry blossom petals below her feet.
Byakuya observed her from behind a pillar, a slight frown on his face. He had never met someone who acted soo carefree before, and it piqued his curiosity. Thegirl's laughter was like a melody in the air, the kind that usually annoyed Byakuya, but for some reason, it didn't seem so today.
Byakuya approached, her form almost ethereal in the soft evening light. The butterflies swirled in her wake, creating a magical aura around her.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice flat but not harsh.
The teen girl's eyes widened as she heard the sudden voice, and she stopped in her tracks. She stood there, panting slightly, her eyes wide as she looked up at the tall young aristocrat before her. Byakuya stood there, his arms folded across his chest as he looked at her with a quizzical expression.
"Who are you?" He asked again, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, taking in every little detail. The way she dressed was unlike anything he had seen before; she wore a beautiful silk antique kimono, its vibrant spring colors standing out against the neutral backdrop of the Kuchiki manor.
She seemed to shrink back, intimidated by the questioning. Her hands clutched the fabric of her kimono, her eyes darting around nervously. After a few moments of silence, she finally found the courage to speak, her voice soft and a little timid.
"I-I'm Ayame Utsunomiya," she said, her head bowed low.
Byakuya's eyebrows rose slightly at the sound of her name. He recognized it; the Utsunomiya clan was well-known in Soul Society. They were known for their very marriagable beautiful women and men, also their influential status as soul society's greatest brewery artisans and merchants. The girl before him certainly fit the bill; she was indeed quite lovely.
"Utsunomiya?" he echoed, a flicker of interest in his voice. He took a step closer, his eyes still studying her intently. "You're the daughter of the Utsunomiya clan head?"
The girl nodded, her eyes still averted downward. She seemed nervous, as if she was afraid of him. Byakuya could see her clutching her kimono even tighter, her hands trembling slightly. He let out a small huff of breath, the corners of his lips turning down.
"You don't need to be afraid. I won't bite." he said, his tone a little drier than he intended.
The girl looked up at that, looking at him with widened eyes, searching his face for any hint of deception. Finding none, she relaxed slightly, her hands releasing her kimono. She took a small step forward so that she was closer to him, the distance between them now considerably less than before.
Byakuya observed her body language, noting the subtle change in her demeanor. She seemed more relaxed now, which he took as a good sign. He took another step closer, bringing him right in front of her, looking down at her curiously.
"So, Ayame," The boy said, her name rolling off his tongue easily. "What are you doing here, in the Kuchiki manor? Don't tell me that you're here on a marriage arrangement," there was a slight edge to his final words, almost like a scoff.
Ayame's eyes widened at Byakuya's seemingly blunt question, surprised that he could hit the nail on the head so easily. A small tinge of pink dusted her cheeks at his implications. She took a step back again, a bit overwhelmed by his proximity.
"Um, y-yes," she answered quietly, her cheeks still flushed.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he heard her answer, his irritation at the situation growing. He leaned against the railing, studying her closely. The fact that the Utsunomiya's would send their beautiful daughter for a marriage proposal irritated him.
"So your family is looking to enter an alliance through marriage?" he asked, his tone still slightly cold.
Ayame nodded, her head still bowed so she was looking at their feet rather than making eye contact. "Yes," she confirmed, a small sigh escaping her lips as if the idea displeased her. "My parents... they think it would be beneficial for the family."
Byakuya noted her expression, the hint of displeasure in her voice. It seemed as if she wasn't entirely happy with the arrangement either. The fact gave him a strange sense of comfort, but he wasn't sure why.
"Which Kuchiki does your father wish for you to espouse in the future?" he asked, his voice slightly softer now.
Ayame's eyes flickered up, finally meeting Byakuya's gaze. She was surprised by the softened edge to his voice, making him seem almost approachable. She chewed on her bottom lip, a small frown creasing her forehead.
"T-the..." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kuchiki son... the clan heir..."
Byakuya's eyebrows rose, the information hitting him like a punch in the gut. He wasn't prepared for this at all. His thoughts whirled in his head, a myriad of different emotions coursing through him all at once. Surprise, irritation, disbelief...and something else, something he couldn't quite identify.
"The clan heir?" he repeated, trying to keep his voice even. His usual calm demeanor was starting to fray at the edges.
She nods, "Yes, Do you know him?"
Byakuya nodded, more to himself than to her. Of course, he knew who the son of the Kuchiki clan was. He was the son, the heir. The one who would inherit the Kuchiki name and all its responsibilities. There was no room to refute that, no choice.
His gaze moved to Ayame again, studying her once more. The knowledge of who she was arranged to marry only seemed to add to the strange feelings bubbling within him. He wasn't sure how to feel, whether to be upset, angry, or...envious. Maybe all three.
"Yes, I know him," Byakuya responded, his voice more composed now.
He pushed off the railing, straightening up to his full height so he could look down at Ayame. He was at least a head taller than her, which seemed to emphasize the differences between them. He was a Kuchiki, the heir to one of the most important clans in Soul Society. And she was an Utsunomiya, the daughter of a powerful but notorious house monikered as 'Merchants of the divine'. The overseers of the economy.
As the two of them stood there, the silence that fell between them was almost uncomfortable. It was broken only by the occasional flutter of a butterfly or the soft rustle of leaves. The air was thick with tension, and neither of them was sure how to break the silence.
Byakuya's mind was still wrestling with the information he had just learned. He glanced at Ayame, his grey eyes taking in her delicate features, her lustrous black hair, the elegant yet simple design of her spring kimono. He found himself unable to look away, his gaze fixed on her.
She asked kindly, "Who are you?"
Byakuya was pulled out of his thoughts by Ayame's question. He realized he hadn't even introduced himself yet. He hadn't thought it necessary, yet now felt a pang of shame that he hadn't. He straightened up, looking at her directly and speaking confidently.
"I am Byakuya Kuchiki, son and heir to the Kuchiki clan," he said, his voice clear and steady.
The surprise on Ayame's face was evident. She had clearly not expected the boy before her to be the heir to the Kuchiki clan. She gasped softly, her eyes widening as she looked at him.
"Oh," she said, the realization dawning on her. Her cheeks tinged with a soft pink as she realized she was standing in front of the boy she had been arranged to marry. She fidgeted with the hem of her kimono, suddenly feeling very nervous.
Byakuya observed her reaction, a flicker of satisfaction passing over his face as he noted her surprise. He took a step closer to Ayame, his tall form towering over her petite frame. He could almost feel the tension radiating off her in waves, the nervousness and uncertainty evident in her every gesture.
"You look nervous," he stated bluntly, a slight hint of amusement in his voice.
Ayame's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing even more at his comment. She was nervous. The fact that he could see it so easily made her even more uncomfortable. She forced a small smile, her hands clenching into the fabric of her kimono.
"I-I'm not..." she denied, her voice betraying her. The lie was clear.
Byakuya let out a soft huff, amused by her attempt at lying. He could see right through it. He moved closer still, closing the small gap between them until he was standing directly in front of her, looking down at her with his grey eyes.
"It's quite obvious that you are," he said, his mouth curled up in a wry smile.
Ayame's heart pounded in her chest as Byakuya got so close to her. She swallowed, her throat dry, and looked up at him, her large purple eyes meeting his grey ones. She wasn't used to being this close to boys, let alone a boy as tall, authoritative, and handsome as Byakuya.
Byakuya seemed to enjoy the effect he was having on her. He took a step forward for every step she took back, closing the gap between them each time. He could see the mixture of fear, fascination, and even attraction mirrored in her wide eyes.
"You're even more beautiful up close," he commented, his voice low and soft, almost a whisper. He reached out and lightly brushed a strand of her hair away from her face, his fingertips barely touching her skin. His hand moved to the back of her head to untie the red ribbon holding up her hair.
Ayame's heart skipped a beat as Byakuya's fingers grazed her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine. The feeling of his hand on the back of her head was almost electric, and her hair fell down over her shoulders in a cascade of black silk.
She stared up at him, speechless. No one had ever touched her so familiarly before, let alone someone like him. She found herself unable to move, "My elder sister gave that to me..."
A smirk tugged at the corners of Byakuya's lips as he looked down at the ribbon in his hand. He twirled it idly around his fingers, his eyes still fixed on her.
"I'm keeping it," he replied matter-of-factly, his tone brooking no argument. He tied his own hair back with it.
Byakuya noticed her staring at the ribbon in his hair. He lifted a hand and ran his fingers through his hair, drawing her gaze to the simple yet unusual hairstyle.
He chuckled softly as he saw the conflicting emotions playing across her features — surprise, annoyance, fascination, and a hint of something he couldn't quite place. He could tell she wanted to protest but was holding back for some reason.
"It suits me, don't you think?"
Ayame blinked, his casual confidence catching her off guard again. She had to admit, he didn't look bad with the ribbon in his hair. In fact, it suited him in a strange, almost irritating way.
She swallowed, biting back a retort. She didn't want to get into an argument with him, especially not over a ribbon. But it was her favorite ribbon, given to her by her sister who received it from her childhood friend Yoruichi.
Byakuya could see the wheels turning in her head. He could tell she was conflicted about the ribbon, but he decided to push her a little more, just for the fun of it.
"You know," he said, a smirk dancing on his lips, "You keep staring at me... Are you maybe...jealous?"
Ayame blushed a deep red as he called her out. She quickly looked away, her heart racing in her chest. She couldn't deny it — she was jealous. Jealous of how he could just take her ribbon without asking, jealous of how good he looked in it, and most of all, jealous of his confident swagger.
"I-I'm not!" she denied, her voice cracking slightly.
Byakuya chuckled again, enjoying her flustered reaction. He knew he was getting to her, and it was too enjoyable to stop.
"No?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Then why are you so flushed? And why do you keep staring at me?"
He took a step closer to her, closing the gap between them until their faces were just inches apart.
Ayame's breath caught in her throat as he stepped closer, the heat from his body almost palpable. She could feel the heat radiating off of him, and the scent of his skin and hair filled her nostrils, making her head spin.
She swallowed again, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest she was sure he could hear it. She couldn't deny it any longer. He was making her feel things she'd never felt before -- confused, flustered, and dare she admit it... attracted?
Byakuya leaned in even closer, his eyes never leaving hers. He could see the conflicting emotions storming behind her violet eyes - anger, confusion, and...something else. Something that looked very much like desire.
He lifted a hand and gently tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "You know," he murmured, his voice low and soft, "I kind of like it when you're flustered."
Ayame's eyes widened at his comment. His close proximity, the touch of his hand, the low, seductive tone of his voice - it was all too much for her. No one had ever spoken to her like this before, let alone a boy as handsome and arrogant as Byakuya Kuchiki.
"Y-you do?" she managed to stammer out, her voice barely above a whisper.
Byakuya nodded, a sly smile on his lips. He could see her struggling to maintain her composure, and he found it oddly endearing. He lifted his other hand to her chin, tilting her head up slightly to force her to look at him.
"I do," he confirmed. "It reminds me that you're just a girl. And that I can affect you, perhaps more than anyone else has."
His words made her shiver. The way he spoke, the certainty in his voice, everything about him was utterly mesmerizing. She could feel her heart racing in her chest, her mind swirling with the overwhelming rush of emotions she was experiencing.
She should have been offended, should have slapped him for the audacity, but instead, she was captivated. He was right. No one had ever made her feel so off-balance, so flustered, so...affected.
And as much as it scared her, there was something thrilling about the idea of it. She was a teenager, a child, a teenager that had always thought she would be alone forever. She had always known she'd be unloved, unloved enough to cause her to spend most of her life amongst others but always feeling alone. Now she was feeling everything but loneliness.
His lips tilted upwards slightly, the smile widening slightly at the sudden change of expression crossing Ayame's features. Her eyes widened in shock, her blush deepening, and a light pink dusting across her delicate porcelain features. She was surprised, but pleased, and she couldn't stop the tiny smile from spreading across her lips either. It wasn't long before Byakuya realized that Ayame hadn't reacted negatively at all to what he'd said. He wondered if that was because she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't find her voice or her thoughts.
Her silence was telling though. Even when he had talked, she had remained silent. He could tell she had wanted to say something, anything to make him stop talking, but now she didn't know what to say or what to do next.
For a few seconds they stood there, facing each other, neither of them daring to make the first move. They simply stared into each other's eyes, trying to find an answer that would resolve all the questions they both had. A question that neither of them was brave enough to ask yet, one that neither knew how to address.
Finally, Byakuya broke eye contact, letting go of her face and taking a step back, "Well?" he muttered, breaking the awkward tension, "Are you going to stand here all day or do you plan on replying?"
She blinked and shook herself back to reality as she followed suit. She cleared her throat and forced her gaze down to the ground, avoiding eye contact once again.
"Ah... Yes! Um… I guess… I suppose we should go...back inside to our parents…"
Her voice trailed off as she turned around to walk towards the pavilion, her hand reaching up to scratch the back of her neck.
"Yes," Byakuya agreed, walking beside her, "We should."
They walked in silence until they reached the pavilion. As they walked past the archway to the house, the two of them passed an elderly woman carrying a large tray full of sweets and glasses of tea. She smiled at Byakuya, but Ayame ignored her and went straight into the house without slowing down. As soon as both faced the sliding doors, Byakuya smirked to himself as she opened the door and followed her inside.
Once inside, they were met with the sight of their parents sitting at a low table in the middle of the room. On the table were small plates, cups and saucers, and a large pot filled with tea and water, along with the pastries and sweets the old woman carried on the tray. Their parents were sitting across from each other and looked up as he and Ayame entered the room, both of them wearing a different expression on their faces.
Her father Hachiryu looked impassive, as usual, but one could see he was quite pleased with the turnout, whereas her mother Tsuyoi couldn't have looked more overjoyed as if she won the lottery.
Byakuya faced his father Sōjun.
Byakuya's father, Sōjun Kuchiki, was a tall and handsome man in his mid-forties. He had shoulder length black hair that was pulled back from his face by kenseikan and tied back in a neat topknot, and sharp grey eyes that seemed to see through his son's mind when he looked at him. He was dressed in a simple dark blue kimono, with the Kuchiki family's golden crest embroidered on the back, along with a dark purple obi around his waist.
His expression was more neutral and unreadable and held no clues to his thoughts. He was sitting in seiza, staring at his son and the young girl at his side. As Byakuya and Ayame approached the table, his eyes flicked between the two, sizing them up before speaking, "Ah, there you are. Have a seat."
He motioned to the empty space next to him. Byakuya bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment and sat on the floor next to him, while Ayame followed suit, sitting next to her mother. Sōjun watched them carefully as the two seated themselves. Once they were comfortable, he leaned forward, interlacing his fingers together as he set his gaze upon his son.
"How did your walk go?" he asked, his voice a low, even tone. One that held an underlying meaning that both Byakuya and Ayame could hear as they sat there and stared at him. Despite the calmness of his voice, Byakuya could tell what his father was really asking, and judging from Ayame's slight flinch, she could tell too.
Byakuya took a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying, "It was...pleasant." he said, choosing his words carefully. His Father said nothing but continued to stare at him, waiting for Byakuya to elaborate. Byakuya fought the urge to roll his eyes or sigh, knowing his Father would not appreciate his insolence.
He glanced at Ayame from out of the corner of his eye, expecting to see a look of defiance on her face, but he was surprised to see her head was bowed in a subservient manner, her eyes downcast and her hands in her lap.
She looked like a picture of a perfect, polite young lady, one that would never dream of speaking out of turn or doing something that would bring shame to the family. Byakuya was both annoyed and amused by behavior.
His Father must have noticed the glance he had made, because he chuckled softly, a slight smirk playing on his face. He waited a few seconds before speaking again.
"Just pleasant?"
Byakuya winced internally at the tone of his Father's voice. He knew that his Father was far from pleased with his vague answer and he was trying to get him to elaborate, but he could also feel his eyes boring into him. He forced himself to remain calm and collected, he was not going to let his Father's teasing get under his skin.
He replied smoothly, "Quiet and relaxing. We spoke of a few things."
His father Sōjun chuckled again, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest. Byakuya resisted the urge to sigh again, knowing that he was satisfied with that answer.
"That's good to hear. You two seem to be getting along well this afternoon." The tone of his Father's voice had softened considerably. The anger Sōjun saw in Byakuya earlier was gone, and in its place was a sense of contentment. Byakuya felt Ayame shift beside him and glance at his father.
Byakuya spoke before she had the chance, "Are you sure about this arranged marriage? Father?"
Sōjun nodded calmly, smiling gently at his son, "I am. This will be good for both of you. You're both very young, and it is time you started making friends with the rest of nobility."
Hachiryu, the patriarch of the Utsunomiya clan and Ayame' s father, was a man that looked out of place in the room. In stark contrast to his small and flimsy wife, Tsuyoi, he was a tall, buff man who in Byakuya's slate eyes appeared to be a ruffian in noble cloth. Occasionally his intimidating bronze gaze would fall on Byakuya himself.
Her mother, Tsuyoi, looked so fragile, but still had the aura of authority over her daughter. She was seated beside Hachiryu, and held her own tea cup in one hand and a small plate of sweets in the other, nibbling on them and smiling warmly at both of her daughter and potential future son-in-law.
She was always well dressed, and today she wore a simple, yet elegant, dark maroon kimono. Her long black hair was piled atop her head in a neat top knot, secured by a sapphire inlayed silver comb.
Byakuya and Ayame sat across from their respective parents in comfortable seiza positions. The low table on which they were sat had a large black tea pot and several cups, along with an assortment of sweets and small plates for each of them. As Tsuyoi continued to observe the both of them, her daughter Ayame, continued head down and her hands in her lap, the perfect image of a proper high ranking noble woman.
As Byakuya watched her out of the corner of his eye, Ayame remained silent but he could tell from her slightly tensed shoulders that she was nervous. Her face was carefully guarded - he was beginning to realize that behind her calm, collected and well-mannered image, there was a great deal more lurking under the surface. This, admittedly, made her more interesting to him.
Turning his attention to the head of the Utsunomiya family, Byakuya met Hachiryu's eyes. The man's face was a passive one, no doubt from years of practice at hiding his thoughts. He held his sake in one hand and the other flat on the table, and seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere very much. His large frame seemed almost too big for the mat he sat upon, yet he sat with a kind of innate dignity that commanded respect. Byakuya held his gaze steadily for a moment.
Hachiryu's gaze didn't waver, and neither did Byakuya's. He knew the man was sizing him up, and he wasn't about to be judged lacking. He kept his own expression neutral, but he couldn't help but notice a hint of amusement in the man's face, something he clearly hadn't expected. It reminded him of his father when he was amused, though his father would always break the glare with a light-hearted laugh, Hachiryu instead held a look that could make most men cower in fear. The man and teenager stayed like this for several moments, neither willing to look away. Byakuya held his ground, refusing to give in first.
After several moments of tense silence, Hachiryu's eyes began to crinkle slightly, and a hint of a smile crossed his face and eventually he let out a single, gruff laugh that startled Byakuya.
"Ha, I like this one. He's got a pair." Hachiryo laughed deeply as his daughter glanced up momentarily at his remark.
Ayame's eyes widened at her father's words, her head snapping upwards and towards him, her eyes widening as her cheeks flushed a pale pink, her face contorted with embarrassment. Her Mother, Tsuyoi, gave her husband a light swat on the arm.
"You will embarrass our daughter like that?" She scolded, shaking her head at her husband. She turned to Byakuya. "I am soo sorry, this man has no manners."
"Tsuyoi, my love, please. I think it is a compliment." Hachiryu defended.
His wife rolled her eyes and turned back to Byakuya. "I apologize for my husband. He has a habit of saying things without thinking."
Hachiryu chuckled, "I speak only the truth, my dear."
Sōjun smiled at the exchange between the couple, amused by their banter as Hachiryu's eyes found Byakuya's once again, his gaze softening slightly. "I'm surprised you're still here, most young men would run away after that."
"I am no coward. Nor will I be intimidated by a brute with a title." Byakuya retorted evenly, holding the man's gaze. His response was met with another laugh from Hachiryu and a pleased expression from his father. Hachiryu smiled at the boy, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Hachiryu took another drink of his tea, and then set the cup down, still smiling.
"I'm starting to really like you, Kuchiki boy. There's something about you that... Well, I'm not going to scare you off now." He glanced at his daughter, who was still red faced from her father's comment earlier. "I'm sure you're going to make an excellent husband."
Ayame blushed even harder and looked away, and Hachiryu chuckled again and then looked at Byakuya. The young man found himself growing more and more curious about Ayame and her family, and even a little amused by the whole situation. He couldn't help but wonder how Ayame felt about this whole arrangement. He'd have to ask her later, he decided. He was sure he'd find a way to get her alone.
"Now that that's out of the way, I suppose it's time to talk about the details of this arrangement. I'm sure you'd like to get to know Ayame a bit better, and she'd like to know you too." Tsuyoi smiled a little more. "We're not the only ones who want to make sure she ends up happily married, Our whole house is hopeful."
"I…I would like that. Yes." Ayame spoke, her soft voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't help but feel the urge to flee the room- her parents could be so embarrassing at times. Both, despite being high class, had no filter and often spoke without thinking, no matter their company.
"We'll leave it up to you two to decide how long you'd like to be engaged." Tsuyoi said.
Ayame blinked. "What?" She hadn't expected it to be left up to her, nor to happen this quickly after meeting Byakuya. It was all a bit of a surprise for her.
Her mother squeezed her hand gently, "Don't worry, dear. You both can decide when you want to get married."
Byakuya raised a brow. "That's unexpected." He said smoothly. He hadn't expected to really marry until much later in his life, though he supposed that wasn't a choice as an heir to a noble family. He turned his gaze back to his betrothed, "Perhaps we should get to know each other better before we make any decisions."
"I agree." Ayame managed, her heart thudding in her chest and an unfamiliar warmth rising to her cheeks.
Hachiryu laughed again and Tsuyoi smiled a little. She felt that perhaps, both of the teenagers weren't opposed to such a union.
Byakuya glanced at his father, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, merely sipping his tea. He could not help but wonder what the man was thinking.
"I have a feeling you both will make excellent life partners." Tsuyoi said with a fond look towards the couple.
Byakuya looked at Sōjun and then back at Ayame, who had her eyes glued to some pastries. His lips quirked upwards. She was cute, and the whole situation was oddly endearing.
"Perhaps. Time will tell, I suppose." Hachiryu chuckled again looking at the two.
Byakuya smiled, then turned to Ayame who had been staring down at the table. He felt a twinge of empathy - he could understand how she felt, it must be difficult to be so close to a stranger and know that this was most likely her life now.
"Would you like to go somewhere quieter perhaps?" He asked, his gentle and soft voice making her look up and into his eyes, her cheeks slightly tinted pink.
Ayame nodded and then risen back onto her feet. Both teens now excused themselves from the dining room and exited to the main hall. Byakuya looked at the girl walking beside him. He could tell she was reserved, yet that seemed to be only the surface of her character. She certainly wasn't like most noble girls in his age group. They were all spoiled and very sycophantic.
"Do you have any hobbies in particular?" He asked, hoping to draw her out a bit.
"Hobbies?" She echoed. She was a little taken aback by the question, she hadn't expected it. "I...I suppose I enjoy writing and reading." She said after some hesitation.
She did have a love of books but she rarely spoke to others about it unless they were also avid readers themselves. "What about you?"
"I enjoy reading as well. The art of strategy. I must understand my opponents, both in the field and the mind." His gaze was on the ground, thoughtful, before looking back at her. She had a kind face, and he smiled slightly.
As they reached back to the gardens they stopped, sitting down on the deck before the stairs. He looked down at the girl beside him, she was still slightly hot in the face.
"Is everything okay?"
"I...I'm fine." Ayame said quickly. She was nervous, and she wasn't sure why. All the time training to master her emotions, and all of it gone when this boy showed up.
She fidgeted slightly, not meeting his gaze. It felt like he was looking straight into her, and it was a little too intense for her. "I'm just not used to this sort of interaction with boys my age. I apologize for being distant."
"Don't be. It's not a problem at all." He reassured her with a small smile. He reached out to move an errant strand of her hair away from her face, and she tensed slightly. He couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
"Would you mind if I touched your hair?" He asked, watching as her eyes looked up, surprised.
"I-It's fine, yes." She muttered, glancing away. She was definitely nervous with this, but she would try to do better. She wanted to make a good impression on her future husband, since her father apparently liked Byakuya. She closed her eyes, steeling herself.
He carefully brushed his fingers through the locks, feeling the softness. It was unusual, having his own bride so close to him. He had expected more of an arranged marriage with a noble that he would barely interact with.
"Your hair is beautiful, Ayame. A fitting match to go with your violet eyes." He said with a straight face. "It's a shame that it's usually tied up."
Ayame quickly looked around to see her parents absent, then unexpected to Byakuya he heard her laugh for the first time.
She spoke, Looking down at his hands with small healed scars, "Um, Well, You took my red hair tie earlier, No need to return it, You probably need it more than I do as you are studying the art of the sword."
He responded politely, "I'm afraid your hair tie will be put to use, my father will have me running through drills everyday." He added with enthusiasm, "The art of strategy and sword is a bit of a passion of mine."
"I hope my hands do not bother you," He added in a soft tone, "I will always bear these marks."
"They will be proof of your strength." She replied, her eyes showing a bit of admiration. Ever since she read tales of chivalry, She was fascinated by the idea of a noble shinigami.
Byakuya chuckled at her response. "I suppose you're right. I'll have to prove I can protect you from any enemy."
Byakuya raised a brow, his hands still gently working through her tresses. Sitting here, next to her for such an extended amount of time, He was starting to notice her strong spiritual presence, It was basically radiating off of her, "Your reiatsu is... unusual for even nobles. Perhaps you'll explain why that it is?" He asked, his tone kind.
Ayame gave a small nod and then opened her eyes. "I was born with an unusually high level of reiryoku, so my parents sent me to my family's temple to learn how to control and suppress it, amongst more academic subjects. I'm the second and youngest daughter, The so called sacred heir to the founder of our noble house Taiyohime." She answered, still looking at her hands which were resting in her lap.
Byakuya nodded with interest, as he listened to her explanation on how she was born with such high spiritual pressure. It wasn't unheard of - being born with such strong spiritual power, especially for someone of noble lineage, but what surprised him was the fact that she had chosen to suppress her power to maintain a humble demeanor.
"That's a brave decision, Ayame. Most noble houses are so prideful of their powers, they don't even attempt to mask their reiatsu. But you chose to suppress yours, and I can tell it's not easy."
Ayame took out a necklace from out of the folds of her kimono. The pendant was a beautiful piece of Seikinsen - carved in the shape of a flower with pale jade beads hanging at the end of the pendant. She opened her hand, and let Byakuya take it in his hand to examine.
"It's an heirloom," She told him softly, "I've had it ever since my grandmother gave it to me. The Seikinsen acts as a barrier, suppressing the strength of my reiryoku."
"I'm impressed. It seems it works well in masking it," He observed, admiring the elegant design of the pendant. "You managed to hide such a strong reiatsu so well."
"Why do you choose to suppress it? Is it because you're afraid of hurting others?" He inquired, his tone soft and calm, "If so, I think that it's not necessary to hide your powers. You're strong, and I can tell you have a great deal of control over your powers. I believe that you could have great success and accomplish many great things if you let yourself." He smiled warmly at her, "In any case, I'll be here to support you. You're not alone."
"Thank you," She murmured, a little timid as she looked down at her hands, "I appreciate the support. It's just that, I'm the only one in my family to have this amount of reiatsu. My mother and older sister only have around average, even my father and brother only has slight above average. I was not allowed into society until now..." She paused, and lifted her head to look into Byakuya's kind eye. "It sounds self-centered to talk like that, I know."
"You shouldn't feel ashamed," he replied, his voice soothing. "Your parents made a choice to protect you from those who might try to harm or take advantage of you because of your power. But you don't need to hide it."
She smiled, and relaxed slightly, feeling herself being at ease around the boy who was to be her soon husband. She wasn't sure how she felt about all of this, but she was starting to feel more and more comfortable with the idea of having him as a husband.
She was quiet for a moment, just enjoying the peace of the moment with him. It was nice to be able to have a conversation without feeling like a piece of property, or being treated like a delicate flower.