A/N: Although I am not a huge fan of RenRuki, I do know that Renji's efforts are commendable. But Ichiruki has more chemistry, and Byaruki is forbidden it's kind of sexy.
6th Sector - Kuchiki Clan Mansion
On the morning of the day they were to head to the Kinin Noble Assembly, Renji walked nervously through the Kuchiki clan's massive main gate. As he moved along the neatly swept stone pathway, he was greeted by an elderly man with white hair and round spectacles – Seike Nobutsune, an attendant assigned to Byakuya.
"Abarai-sama, we've been expecting you," Seike said calmly as he bowed and opened the door to the genkan (entryway). "Please, come inside."
"Nah, I'll meet her at the entrance…" Renji responded.
"I've been informed that you are to join Byakuya-sama for breakfast."
"With the Captain!? U-understood."
Renji grew increasingly nervous, moving awkwardly as he followed Seike.
Three food trays were laid out in the banquet hall. Byakuya, Rukia, and Renji silently ate, their chopsticks moving. The lacquered trays were arranged with a variety of small bowls filled with side dishes and white rice. Unable to resist, Renji finally broke the silence.
"Is it always this quiet…?"
He felt awkward with nothing but the sound of him eating, especially since the other two were eating almost noiselessly.
"We usually eat separately," Rukia explained calmly. "Nii-sama eats here, and I eat in my room. Since the 13th Division is far from the mansion… If I don't finish breakfast before Nii-sama and leave earlier than him, I won't make it to work on time."
As Rukia calmly put down her chopsticks, a waiter, who had been standing by in the corner, immediately removed her tray and replaced it with another tray containing Mizugashi (a type of Japanese jelly dessert) and tea. Rukia simply responded with, "Thank you."
"You could stay in the lieutenant's quarters, couldn't you? It's more comfortable being able to sleep right up until work starts, isn't it? Captain, you also stay overnight when it gets too late, right? In the captain's office?"
"…I do not stay overnight," Byakuya replied flatly.
"I see… pardon me," .
"…delicious…" Rukia murmured
"Huh? What was that?" Renji turned his head towards her. Rukia, her head still lowered, had murmured something.
"The meals are delicious… in this house! I think it's normal to want to eat here every day, right!?"
Her face flushed bright red as she said this. Seike and Chiyo, who were waiting nearby, exchanged smiles that seemed to convey "goodness!" and "oh my!" The waiter appeared to be suppressing a look of emotion.
"That's rather gluttonous…"
"Shut up!"
"But yes, it's certainly extremely tasty. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd want to come back here every day just for that."
After finishing his fourth bowl of rice, Renji set down his chopsticks and placed his hands together in appreciation for the meal. He glanced at Rukia, who was eating a pear with her cheeks still red. Byakuya cleared his throat.
"It's fine if you want to come back here anytime for a meal."
"Awesome! Thank you very much, Captain!"
"…I wasn't talking to you."
Renji laughed loudly, looking at Byakuya in surprise. "I understand that!"
"Nii-sama, thank you very much…" Rukia said, her eyes filling with tears as she smiled.
Seeing Byakuya's eyes soften with a tender expression, Renji gaped in amazement.
"Ca…c-ca…ca- Captain smiled…!?"
"What do you mean 'C-c-c-ca'…? Even Nii-sama smiles sometimes."
"Rukia."
Sensing Byakuya's unspoken message that no more needed to be said, Rukia fell silent.
"I have finished affixing my seal on these documents… I will go now."
Byakuya promptly left the room, followed silently by Seike.
"…Captain was feeling a bit embarrassed, wasn't he?" Renji remarked softly.
Finished with her task, Chiyo stepped back, and Rukia stood beside Renji.
"Come to think of it… the evening we reported to Nii-sama our intention to marry, after Renji had gone home, he was asked, 'Does he have a ceremonial suit?' I replied that, well, he probably doesn't have one…"
"Why'd you decide that? You don't know, maybe I do have one! …Well, I don't, but still!"
Rukia looked at Renji with an expression that said, I thought so. Renji turned his face away, then approached the montsuki (formal kimono).
"These crests… are they camellias?"
The black fabric of the montsuki was adorned with white camellia crests, representing the 6th Division's flower.
"We were informed that Abarai-sama doesn't have a family crest… but if it's the squad's camellia flower, it should be suitable as a crest, right?"
The servant calmly bowed. "The camellia crest idea came from Seike-sama," Chiyo added.
"Ah! That old guy!" Renji exclaimed.
"Byakuya-sama said everything, including this crest, is fine…"
"Even if he kept it private, he would still accept it, wouldn't he?" Renji mused, picturing Byakuya with a troubled expression. He let out a small sigh.
"That was so thoughtful of him… this is great, Renji."
"Right! …But, well, in the end, even with this montsuki, Rukia probably won't feel awkward walking next to him. That's what this probably means, am I right?"
Rukia looked up at Renji with a puzzled expression.
Renji laughed and patted her small back. "…Everything he does, it's for you, Rukia."
Central First Sector
When Rukia and the others arrived at the reception desk of the Kinin Noble Assembly with the documents, one of the officials, who appeared to have already been notified, greeted them with a respectful bow.
"The head of the family, this way," the man said.
He opened the massive double doors behind him, and Byakuya proceeded inside.
"The two of you, please wait here," the official instructed.
Rukia and Renji sat side by side on the dark green sofa he indicated. After ensuring they were seated, the official headed inside the room and closed the doors.
The waiting room fell silent. Although the space wasn't very large, Rukia thought it seemed too big for just four clans.
"Before they see to us, he has to affix his seal, right?" Rukia asked.
Unaccustomed to wearing montsuki, which were apparently quite uncomfortable, Renji turned his head several times.
"This morning, Nii-sama said he had already finished affixing his seal on the documents, so he just has to submit them here, right?"
"If he's just submitting a document, then it's not necessary to go into a separate room, ya know—" Renji started to say, but before he could finish, the doors to the inner room opened again. The male official entered the waiting room, followed by Byakuya.
"You've finished already…!?" Renji exclaimed.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. Not even five minutes had passed since they entered the separate room.
"Abarai Renji-sama, Abarai Rukia-sama," the official greeted them.
Rukia jumped slightly at hearing her name, and the man smiled softly.
"Congratulations on your marriage," he said, presenting a single sheet of paper to the two.
It was a Certificate of Marriage Acceptance.
"Thank you… very much…" Renji said, somewhat listlessly, as he accepted the certificate. However, when he saw "Abarai Rukia" written on it, he stood up from the chair.
"We did it, Rukia! With this, we're finally… finally married!"
Rukia froze, taken aback at being called "Abarai" herself, but regained her composure when Renji shook her shoulder.
"Abarai Rukia-sama," the official said again.
"Ye-yes!" Rukia replied, looking toward the official, willing herself to stay composed.
The man took out a yellow form titled Notification of Gotei Soldier Name Change and spoke.
"If you'll be using the surname 'Abarai' while on duty from now on, please submit this form to the Gotei Soldier Record Administration Bureau…"
"It's fine, I'll keep the Kuchiki surname as it is," Rukia interrupted.
"What? You're not changing it?"
"I absolutely cannot change it!"
Although Renji seemed somewhat dissatisfied, Rukia firmly refused to alter her Gotei soldier registered name. She worried that constantly being called 'Abarai' would distract her.
Byakuya nodded slightly to the official before heading outside. The couple followed him.
(My last name is Abarai now…)
Rukia thought it was strange how her family name had changed in just a matter of minutes. As she walked, she wondered if she would ever get used to being called "Abarai." Byakuya, who was walking several steps ahead, suddenly stopped.
"…You two are husband and wife now," he said, without turning around. They instinctively straightened their posture.
"…Renji," Byakuya continued.
"Yes!" Renji responded, his expression stiffening as he waited for Byakuya's next words. Byakuya lowered his head slightly.
"…Take care of Rukia."
Bowing deeply, Renji answered with sincere conviction, "Of course…!"
Rukia held back her tears and bit her lip.
"Captain…! I will, absolutely… at all costs for Rukia—"
"I've made arrangements for you to announce your marriage at the captain's meeting this afternoon… don't be late," Byakuya said coolly, cutting off Renji, who was about to say something.
"Head of the family, bride, proceed!"
The shrine maiden's voice echoed, and Kuchiki Byakuya appeared before the open gate, dressed in a grayish-blue montsuki-haorihakama.
Byakuya held up a red umbrella in front of the palanquin that had pulled up outside the gate. The bamboo blinds were lifted, and Rukia stepped down from inside.
At her appearance, the crowd erupted in cheers of "hurrah!"
Her body was wrapped in a Shiromuku (white bridal kimono) made from a pure white material that seemed to glow, and on her head, she wore her wedding veil. The veil swayed gently with Rukia's movements, and each time, the gold of the embroidery sparkled as it reflected the setting sun.
Rukia slipped under the red umbrella that Byakuya was holding, and the two began walking side by side down the path leading to the shrine.
Ichigo repeatedly pressed the camera shutter, capturing the two figures as they gradually drew near. Using the zoom function, he could see clearly through the veil, and Rukia wore a gentle smile. Byakuya, as usual, maintained his calm demeanor.
(He should at least smile on such an occasion…)
"There's no helping that guy," Ichigo thought, smiling wryly as he , and to take photos.
The two passed by Ichigo and the others, who were standing side by side along the path. Rukia looked at Orihime, who was crying, and smiled affectionately at her. With a smile still on her face, she then turned toward Ichigo, who was aiming his camera at her. The sound of the camera shutter clicked. Byakuya shot Ichigo a look, as if to say, You shouldn't bring such boorish things with you.
The two continued walking down the path to the sound of music, finally reaching Renji, who was waiting in front of the shrine. Renji bowed, and Byakuya closed the red umbrella he had been holding before handing it over to Renji.
"…I want you to be happy."
The words were said softly, meant only for Rukia.
She looked up at Byakuya, her eyes filling with tears. His solitary eyes were narrowed, and he exhaled slowly, silently mouthing the words "don't cry." Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he nudged her in Renji's direction. Renji held up the red umbrella, welcoming Rukia under it. From beneath the umbrella, Rukia bowed deeply to Byakuya.
Urged on by the head priest, the couple ascended the stairs of the shrine, step by step.
Byakuya watched them, his heart full of emotion as he gazed at their backs.
fin
A/N: Of all the Byaruki stories I've read and imagined, Caught Somewhere in Time by nitrolead. Is the best scenario for Byakuya. Having a loving wife and adorable kids. There's something magical about building your own family, rather than living alone surrounded by luxuries, fame, power and money. There's going to be a point in your life when partying, getting drunk and casual hooking up, is uncool and depressing. Either way, life is short to waste on temporary and high risk pleasures.