66Chapter 10
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Kuchiki Byakuya-Sama," said Hisana in a low voice, her gaze glued to the ground. "But I did not expect this type of a discussion when you invited me here."
Shut your mouth, you little! "Forgive me for telling you so suddenly," Byakuya said, imagining how cheesy he sounded. Turning to his currently shocked relatives, he said, "If you'll excuse us." and left without waiting for a blessing, dragging Hisana behind him. He knew that he had more than three maids trailing him, so he did the most logical thing he could think of- and mentally thanked Yoruichi in his mind for teaching him the technique.
Hisana's eyes were shut tightly as a burst of wind hit her face and her feet lifted from the ground. Am I floating? she thought, but then realized that she had wrapped her arms around Byakuya's neck when he had warned her to be careful. What had she been thinking? But instead of letting go, as the speed continued, she tightened her grip around him. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that she opened her eyes and let him go. Too bad for her that she let go so suddenly, for she ended landing on the ground, her hand covering her ears.
Byakuya sighed and extended his hand out for her, which she took. Standing straight, Hisana quickly dusted herself and stood straight, placing one hand over the other. A profound silence made the atmosphere thick, with Hisana observing the area, and Byakuya focusing on a rock. The female soul knew for sure that they were in Rukongai, but she didn't understand how they had gotten so far in so little time. She had understood the concept of shunpo, but never had she imagined that the technique was so fast. Byakuya knew how to pick a pleasant place to land as well.
She inhaled deeply as she tilted her head to the side. She could see a full district beneath them, and it never ceased to amaze her on how small souls looked from a distance. Regardless of how tiny they looked, she could still identify what was going on. A group of kids had lit a fire in the middle of the district and were jumping up and down, probably playing. A few elders in another section were sleeping, and in another place, two kids were fighting over food. She frowned. Not too long ago, she was stealing anything she could find. She would watch as two souls would fight for food, and as both of them did so, she's snatch the food.
"You will never start a new life. All of that you went through in Rukongai will never leave you and even if they do, it doesn't change the fact of who you are."
"Stop that," said Byakuya, interrupting her thoughts. She turned to look at him quickly, her black hair slightly whipping the side of her face, and raising an eyebrow.
"Stop what?" she inquired, and he looked away.
"The thing you do with your eyes," he replied, in the same voice he had used to talk to his family. Hisana had now noted another thing about Kuchiki Byakuya; he was bipolar. When he had spoken to her first, his voice sounded nonchalant and easy, but the second time, it sounded forced and cold. Was he trying to act like a man when he was nothing more than a boy?
"I do nothing with my eyes," she replied, in an even colder manner. Two could play at his game. Was it just her, or did he opened his mouth slightly before shutting it? She mentally nodded, coming to another conclusion; Byakuya would easily lose control if she tried hard enough, but of course she wasn't going to do that. "Why did you lie?"
"A minor setback, Murasaki-San," he responded, looking back at the stone from before. "I was not thinking wisely at the moment, but I assure you that I will clear the situation very soon."
"What?" she breathed, not sure if Byakuya had heard her. So that was it? That was how he was going to clear everything? If he was going to dispose of his idea so quickly, then why did he even tell his relatives of it? "How will you clear it?" she asked, and he looked straight up ahead, as if it hadn't crossed his mind on how he was going to break it to his family members that he, the noble young Kuchiki, had told them a blatant lie. "How will you clear it?" she repeated, in a softer tone.
Something about his expressions caused her to feel pity for him. She knew from observing Yoruichi's schedule that a noble's life wasn't so simple, contrary to her original belief. Their freedom was plenty, but still limited, and he- as she had learned in the most horrible possible way- was an orphan. No one to go to. No one to trust. Sure there was Yoruichi, but she had said Byakuya didn't talk about his life to her much. He was alone. Just like her own self when she had barely left her sister.
"I'll find a way," he finally said, still looking ahead. "The reason I said that was because they wanted me to wed a soul from the Hoy Clan."
She didn't imagine that he would explain anything to her. He seemed like the person to keep his thoughts to himself. His reason was not the best, but not the worst either. In his position, knowing from firsthand experience- torture and Hana- that the Kuchikis and Shihoins did not trust the Hoys, she would have done everything in her power to avoid marrying into the opposite clan. But what about when he would tell the truth to his family? Then they would make sure that what Byakuya had originally wanted to stop would happen. All this drama and stir that he caused in his clan would be for nothing. She smiled as she put a puzzle together in her mind.
"If you'd like," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder, and he immediately shivered at her smooth touch and soothing voice. "I'll play as your spouse-to-be until the Hoy soul is married. If you go back and tell them the truth, we both know what'll happen, Kuchiki-Sama."
He glanced at her hand and then at her, internally confused. "Why would you do that?" he asked, and she simply smiled. What could she reply? She was doing this mainly because of pity? No, he would decline, if he was the person she thought he was. Then she thought of another answer, which came out too naturally.
"I like you," she had said, registering her words seconds after. Byakuya slowly took a step back, and then another one.
"Why?" he asked, and she tilted her head to the side, trying not to smile.
"Not in that way!" she replied, looking at his facial expressions. "You seem like a good person to help, and I'll help you for the fun of it."
A sigh, and Byakuya turned around. He had seen through Hisana's lie perfectly, his self-conscious telling him that she wasn't a person to do anything for the fun of it. She was sorry for him, and that was the only reason why she dared to aid him. "I will contact you, Murasaki," he said, but before he could begin to shunpo, she caught hold of his bare arm. He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, the gesture itself asking the question.
"Can you give me directions on how to get back to the Shihoin Manor?" she asked, avoiding his gaze. "I have no idea where I am, but I can probably find my way if you give me basic directions."
He forced her hand off of his shoulder with his free hand, but grasped it. "Hold on tight," he warned but she shook her head. "What?"
"I don't want to be a bother, Kuchiki-Sama," she said, but he didn't let her wiggle her hand out of his grip. "Just tell me the directions," she said, and after a long glance, he nodded.
"What were you thinking when you skipped this meeting?" inquired Lady Fuyu, and Hisana didn't dare look at the raged soul. "I thought you were responsible and chose the kitchen work specifically for you, but this is how you pay me back? By not showing up? I know you had gone to eat, but it does not take that long at all. You've been gone for-"
Fuyu stopped, studying Hisana's facial features. "What's wrong?" she asked. Had she been to hard on her? It hadn't been her intention to make Hisana look so conflicted- So guilty. Then it struck her. Something had happened while the young soul had left the household. Now, the question was what?
"I'm sorry," mumbled Hisana, shaking her head as her gaze stayed stuck to the boards of the floor.
"Never mind that," said Fuyu, narrowing her eyes. "I held the position for you, but this will be the last time you'll be allowed to skip such a meeting. I expect you to never be tardy again." Hisana nodded, and waited to be dismissed, but Fuyu inquired, "Where were you?"
"I was told to go visit the young Kuchiki-Sama by Yoruichi-Sama," she replied vaguely.
"And he met you?" asked Fuyu, raising an eyebrow, and as soon as Hisana nodded, her expressions turned colder. "Interesting. So he didn't attend his family dinner?"
Hisana met Fuyu's eyes, surprised that she knew about the family dinner. "He cut it short," she replied truthfully, and asked, "May I be excused?"
Fuyu nodded and watched as Hisana disappeared. What was she thinking? To dare and lie to her, when she was not only the Head Servant of the household, but the one who could read almost every soul that crossed her path? Fuyu turned slightly towards the garden, smiling.
If only she knew.
Kuchiki Byakuya slowly lifted the calligraphy brush, pushing his sleeve back with his other hand. Dipping the tip in ink, he closed one of his eyes, scrunching his nose a bit. He had lost count on how many times he had accidentally over done packing the bristles with the black ink and utterly destroying the piece of creamy paper he had been provided with. Slowly removing it from the ink pad, he nodded to the paper in front of him, as if assuring it that he wouldn't mess up again.
He already knew what he was going to write- his father and mother's name. On the sides, he would add a few blossoming violet flowers with hints of green to represent the sepals. Each stroke, each bit of color applied to the paper, each tiny detail- Everything heused in calligraphy and painting was taught by his mother. She had told him that patience was important in life; That he should put a bit of his soul into anything he did, so that it may be worth it and so that he may cherish it.
The finishing product was satisfying. His father and mother's name was written on par, the ink standing out amongst the light colored paper and pastel paint. He had painted in three flowers for each side, and they looked fine.
"Kuchiki-Sama," said one of his servants, tapping his shojou door. "You have a guest."
"Who?" he inquired as he elegantly placed his brush next to his ink pad.
"Murasaki Hisana-San," the soul replied, and he raised an eyebrow. It wasn't even evening time, and she had visited. Either the Shihoin House had loosened their rules on their servants or Murasaki wanted to inquire something desperately. "I'll be sending her away then," sighed the servant, presuming that the young Kuchiki's silence had meant 'no'.
"Send her in," he said, gruffly. A moment of silence, and guessed that he had caught them by surprise. The door slid open and Hisana wobbled in, one of her eyebrows raised. She sat in front of him, her eyes glued to his work as soon as she sat down. "What brings you here?" he inquired.
"Kuchiki-Sama," she began, now looking at him. "Do you remember the girl whom I was taken to be tortured with- Hana?"
"If you speak of the one who blatantly turned her back on you, yes," he replied, and she grimaced.
"I have put much thought into addressing you regarding this matter, so pleas do not take it lightly," she threatened and he nearly scoffed. "I'd like to find her. I believe you have the social power to aid me in her searching."
"And?" he asked. "What makes you think I will help you?"
"I am going to help you," she replied, and he smiled slightly.
"Only because you want to," he said. "I clearly remember you saying something along the lines of 'I like you' and 'You seem like a good person to help'; Murasaki, if you want help, present a better argument."
"So you don't need me?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
"I haven't needed anyone in far too long," he said turning his head away from her, his pony tail swishing slightly. "Why would I need you, who is a servant at the moment, right now?"
"You sure 'bout that?" she inquired, smirking. "I heard from Shihoin Yoruichi-Sama that in the upcoming meeting at her household, all pairings planned out will be confirmed by the elders. So you need a solid excuse by then."
"I can use a servant from my part of the household anytime," he said, his patience snapping. Did she think that she was all that just because she had intervened with his family dinner?
"I also hear that most of your servants report everything to your uncles and aunts," she jeered, and stood up.
"Damn that miserable cat-lady!" he snapped quickly standing. he couldn't show in any way that she was intimidating him. Regardless of anything, he was a noble Kuchiki.
"Kuchiki Byakuya-Sama,you need me right now, so I'd recommend you to help me," she said.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Byakuya surprised himself and Hisana. Like he had thought before, he still had to uphold that he was better than her. Her eyes widening and her mouth opening proved that he had caught her off-gaurd. Everything she was saying had been planned, probably with the help of. Yoruichi. What he wondered was why instead of asking Yoruichi for help, she was asking him. Regardless, he'd play along. Not only would he not have to worry about choosing a soul for his temporary wife, but he'd get to figure this mysterious female soul a bit more.
(A/N Guess whose back? Back again? I am back. Back again. Yes, this story is updated. I wonder how many of you even remember that this existed. I haven't updated it since December and the sole [not sole] purpose of this hiatus was school [and youtubers], but hopefully I'll be able to update more now. I currently have eighteen followers for this story, and it's great! Earned a few during this hiatus, so I hope to impress you new ones.
Oh! I got a tumblr for those of you who are interested. name is in my profile. Till next time!)