Taking a walk [Open]

(Don't feel like doing an overly descriptive post right now.)

Although it was only seven in the morning, the sun had rose high in the sky, and morning light streamed through Byakuya's open window. He yawned and opened his eyes, looking out into his garden full of flowers and cherry blossom trees. Cool morning air rushed into the room, and Byakuya shivered slightly. Getting up, he closed the window, and walked into the bathroom. After a shower, he got dressed and headed out before Rukia or any of the servants could wake up.

He walked along the empty streets of the Soul Society, gazing around at his surroundings. He loved early mornings when he was the only one around. It was a good time for thinking without being interrupted by Renji, his overly talkative lieutenant.

The paperwork’s finished... everything's in order in the 6th division... there are no meetings... I guess I have the day off. Perhaps I should get next weeks paperwork? No... not yet. Besides, I want to get away from Abarai today. If I do paperwork he'll be there, looking over my shoulder the whole day.

Byakuya sighed. This was one of the few days when he had nothing to do and he intended to enjoy it.

Rukia woke late, and quietly looked around her sparse bedroom. She had never thought to be burdened by too many things, as she had never had much to call her own. She guessed growing up in one of the worst towns of Soul Society had something to do with that. She sighed to herself as she sat up, and eventually stood. She quickly put away her bed things and prepared for her day as usual, until she noticed the height of the sun in the sky, already nine in the morning...

Was it really that late? How long had it been since she had slept that long? She shook her head from the drowsiness and went about her morning dressing and getting ready for the day. She walked past the door to her nii-sama's room not surprised to find the room immaculate and spotless, with him already gone. No matter how hard she tried, and one day she had not gone to bed purposefully, she never saw him leave. She knew that he enjoyed his mornings, but it was also the one time he seemed less grumpy.

One question burned in her mind as she exited the manor, and there was only person who could answer her... The only problem she had now was in finding him. She hastened her step to the 6th Division headquarters hoping that she could catch him before he got himself too involved with paper work, she knew from Renji that once he started he would not be pleased when disturbed.

Arriving at his office she quickly opened the doors as she bowed, "Nii-sa...", she started to say, only then looking up at his desk.

"Hai, Nii-sama..."Rukia raised her head slowly careful not to look in her brother's eyes. He was doing paperwork, which he always seemed to be doing... Her heart beat faster in her chest, further increasing her anxiety level.

And she was interrupting him... Darn it! I had this all planned in my head... How in the world can I approach him about this? Nii-sama was only looking out for my best interest... But when I think about it he prevented... Why would he do something like that?

"Nii-sama, is it true that you were the one that prevented me from achieving a seated officers position in my squad?" She rushed on, "I heard that you did...

She looked up at his face, searching for any sign of emotion, but not expecting to find anything.

Ahhh!!! she mentally screamed, why did I think I had enough courage to ask this of him? And why here? I knew I should have woken up earlier and asked him before he left... Now I just want to get out of here before Renji shows up and make things worse by picking on me!!

-as ryoma was walking toward byakuya's office he was thinking about what he was going to after he finshed his Business with him. ryoma was mainly looking at the clouds above him most of the way. as soon as he reached the 6th squad barracks he opened the door and walked in.-

i am sure he won't mind

-ryoma continued walking towards byakuya's office and shortly after arriving he was in front of byakuya's office. ryoma then pulled the door open and walked in.-

byakuya sorry to interupt, but have you finshed those documents i gave you 2 days ago?

-ryoma then looked around byakuya's office and see's Rukia standing behind him, he then turns toward her-

i am truly sorry if i interupted something.

She heard... where did she hear that? I asked Captain Ukitake to keep that a secret... oh well, I might as well tell her the truth now....

"Yes, Rukia, it's true," Byakuya confirmed, still not looking up from his paperwork. "Being a seated officer is rather dangerous. Would you want to risk your life just for a position? Isn't being a regular shinigami good enough? You don't have to take risks this way."

Byakuya heard the door open and someone come in. Not now... I don't have time to talk to everyone. People need to stop interrupting me.

"Of course I finished them," Byakuya replied. Who do you think I am, Zaraki? "They're right...." Byakuya looked where he had put the papers the other day. They weren't there. Abarai....

Byakuya sighed and got up, walking around the office to the cabinet in the back. He opened it, then, not seeing any papers, closed it. He quickly glanced around the room. The small office was very neat, everything in its place. Byakuya hated messes. He made sure everything was in order when he left everyday.

Seeing no stray papers, he said back down at his desk. "It seems my lieutenant misplaced them," he told Ryoma. "I'm sure they'll turn up soon." They better.

"Nii-sama..."She replied evenly, although she was shaking slightly with suppressed frustration.

It was true... How could he do something like that! When I came home my first day in my squad I felt his disappointment in my not receiving an officers position, but now I find that it was a lie? He knew already that I wasn't getting a seated position!

"Being a seated officer is rather dangerous. Would you want to risk your life just for a position? Isn't being a regular shinigami good enough? You don't have to take risks this way."

Dangerous? He can't be worried about me, can he? I'm just his sister in law that he had to take in... He did it out of obligation for her, Hisana...

"There is danger in every mission.... nii-sama... I think that I could really..." She stopped when the door opened and in walked the captain of the 9th squad. Her eyes grew large as he walked into the room, past her, without even acknowledging her.

"Byakuya sorry to interupt, but have you finished those documents I gave you 2 days ago?"

She slowly started to back away from her brother's desk, getting closer to the door, trying to leave quietly, not wanting to Captain Sakuraba to ask her what she was doing there...

"I am truly sorry if I interrupted something"

"Uhm, no nothing at all... Nii-sama I will talk to you later, I'm sorry to interrupt your paperwork, gomen."

Walking out of the office and not breaking into a dead run proved to be one of the most difficult things for Rukia to do, and as she cleared the 6th squad barracks she unintentionally hurried her pace. She should have continued asking her brother what she had really intended, but again she had lost her nerve.

Why am I always like this, I need to be confident in myself! I can do this, I have the ability... I know that I could be a good Vice Captain... I could help Soul Society...

She looked up, realizing that she had come to her own squads office, which was surprisingly empty. She walked up to the desk and enjoyed the feeling of the smooth surface under her hands, imagining herself seated there. She sighed to herself, it didn't look like that it was even a possibility with her over-protective brother...

Maybe I can catch him again today, and this time I will ask him! Even if the Captain Commander is in the room!

She soon lost herself in her thoughts, her back to the office doors.

-ryoma then turns toward Byakuya, seeing that he is bothered by Rukia. ryoma walks toward him and says-

i know your tring to protect her, but you can't keep doing that forever. you have to let her stand on her own. that is the only way she is going to grow, though she will need your Guidance along the way.

-ryoma takes a breath-

so lets go find her together, and think about what i told you though, k

-ryoma then started to walk with Byakuya out of his office to find Rukia. while walking out ryoma had rough idea of where she might be. he then informs Byakuya about it since roma tends to see Rukia though out the soul Society. ryoma belived she might be at the Shinigami Academy on the roof since ryoma found her there before-

(Ok this just might be from me just waking up, but is Ryoma Sakuraba with byakuya at division 13 HQ or on the roof...)

(ooc- well all ryoma is doing is following captain kuchiki to where ever he is going. all ryoma did is lay out a possible idea of where rukia might be. i hope this answers your question)

"Nii-sama..." Rukia turned toward the office doors, startled to see
her brother standing there. She immediately bowed her head, not wanting
to look him in the eyes. Afraid that she would lose her nerve the
moment she saw his face.

"I believe that I am capable of... Well that I am able to help Soul
Socitey.." She raised her face at this, "I think you should allow me
to be promoted to Vice Captain... There are so many vacancies from the
fighting... "

She noticed the Captain Sakuraba standing behind her brother and blushed at having spoken so boldly.

Great, I know I said I wouldn't mind if someone else overheard this, but now that I am facing it, I'm more nervous than ever! Well I asked anyway, there's not much more I can do... He either accepts the fact that I can't be under his protection forever or he is his usually cool demeanor where nothing affects him.

"I'm sorry, Captain Sakuraba, I didn't know you were," she blushed slightly at the words, "here..." She gave him a quick bow as a show of respect.

I really didn't want anyone else to know of my request... then again I don't even know how much he heard of my conversation earlier. It's too late now....

She searched her brother's face for any sign of acceptance of her request.

Musha is seen casually walking along. He is heard talking to himself as he looks around. He frequently looks up at the sky and growls. He then casually moves at a quicker pace and ignores all that are around him.
"Where the hell are all the drunken morons to kill." "It is too calm and peaceful." "I need to see blood spilled and hear screams of terror."
He then looks to see if any humans are committing genocide or even any homicide. He then runs to a tree and slams his fists into it.
"This shit is pissing me off." "Damn this tree and damn these lowly humans."
Musha then licks the blood of his hand and feels the rage brewing inside of him. He then jumps and roundhouse kicks the tree and it causes a dent. He then release his anger on the tree and starts attacking it. He then stops and looks at the blood on his hands and feet.

"Why was I named Musha!?" "What was father's point!?" "Everyone caused my name to be of purpose!" "It makes me even more furious knowing this tree is not bleeding or dying yet."

-ryoma then walks toward Rukia and place's his right hand on her right shoulder, and has a small grin on his face. he was glad to to see that Rukia was ok, but real got his attention was the fact that she wanted to become vice-captain. ryoma then says to her.-

i am glad you you want the position and from the looks of it you seem like the kind of person to everything you have for something important to you. I also I can tell from the look on you face you want someone important to you to give you thier approvel. isn't that right, Rukia...

-ryoma then turns his head toward byakuya-

you with proper training she could become a very stong vice-captain, and maybe even get the title that i had.

-ryoma turns back towards Rukia, with nothing else to say for the moment-

(I'll reply to this soon, but PLEASE guys don't post so much without me!)

Rukia as a Vice captain....? Byakuya was startled by her words. She wants to be a Vice Captain? He had never suspected that. He'd thought she was content by just being a shinigami... not a seated officer. But then again, he never really talked to her. She didn't have a chance to tell him what she wanted. And he always acted so cold to her... she might have been afraid to tell me, Byakuya realized.

He regretted the way he acted toward her. The way he made her think he didn't care. He did care; it was just hard for him to show his feelings. In truth, he was almost afraid to get close to her... he had been close to Hisana and she died. His parents died. His grandparents died. Everyone he had been close to died. So he tried to keep his distance from her. He thought that by doing this he would learn not to care about her, not to love her. But that didn't work. He cared about her more than he would admit, even to himself. And because he cared about her, he wanted to keep her safe. He had never considered her feelings. He had never thought that she might want to be a seated officer and not just a regular shinigami. He had never thought about how hid decision might hurt her.

Byakuya frowned at Ryoma. "I don't believe you have any say in this."

He turned his gaze to Rukia and looked at her. She does have the strength... maybe I should let her... but what if she gets hurt? What if she gets killed? What if I lose her too? I couldn't stand it if I lost someone else I love.... But... isn't her happiness important to me? She's a strong shinigami. She might be able to handle being a lieutenant. I have to stop being protective. If being a lieutenant will bring her happiness... I may have to take that chance.

Byakuya sighed, his eyes weary. "All right. You can become a lieutenant."

Musha stops and takes a deep breath. He then sits under a tree and observes them. He lays his blade on the ground next to him. He then gets up after a few minutes and picks his blade up and puts it back in the correct place. He then sends out massive spiritual pressure around him.

"Any morons that walk by will be crushed." "I wonder who will be the true warrior to be my Vice Captain."

He then focuses quite hard. He then reduces the amount of spiritual pressure being put out. He then takes out his blade and looks at. He decides to hold it up to the sun for no reason.

"Domination is only for the cold hearted warrior." "This angers me that there is a lack of respect."

Rukia stood silent as she felt Captain Ryoma's hand on her shoulder and fought back the urge to glare at him. One thing she did share with her brother was the annoyance of being touched with such familiarity... Especially when none had been earned. As respectfully as she could, she walked towards her brother, allowing the captain's hand to slide off of her shoulder. She grimaced further at his words, although spoken in a way that was meant to be kind, the effect they would have on her brother was not going to be pretty. Which was confirmed with his words, "I don't believe you have any say in this."

And then came the words she hadn't been expected, but nonetheless lifted her soul, "All right. You can become a lieutenant."


He's serious? He's changed his mind, and shown that he had changed it... in front of another person? She looked at his eyes, but why are his
eyes so sad? I must be going crazy, but I actually think that he is worried about me... If thats true, then I need to show him that able to take care of myself! Although it is nice to think that he cares...

"Thank you, Nii-sama. I won't disappoint you." She gave a deep bow of respect. "Nii-sama, I would be honored if you would choose my division."

Musha silently glares at a group of people. He then looks around and continues glaring. While knowing feeling is blade pulsating. He then puts his hand on it and feels it Pulsate more. He hears the roars from nowhere. Then he flash steps up a tree.
"What the hell is the matter with my blade." "It feels quite enraged and feels so odd."
He then takes as nap on tree. His blade continues to act odd. The wind blows smoothly and is quite cold. The wind blows oddly around you.

(Will post when I get home, have to leave early for work cause of the snow)

(Okay ^^ Where do you live? It's going to snow here too, in Connecticut.)

Byakuya watched Rukia leave, staring after her for a minute. Once he realized that probably looked strange, he quickly turned away. Yes, she will be a great lieutenant. Realizing Ryoma was still there, Byakuya turned to him. "I'll have your paperwork for you tomorrow," he assured the other captain. If Abarai can find it. He had been in his lieutenant’s office a few times before, and it was not somewhere he wanted to go again. The place was a mess! He wondered how Renji would stand it. How he could find anything in there is beyond me. Just as long as he finds the paperwork and it isn't torn, dirty, or messed up in any way.

Byakuya nodded to Ryoma before heading out the 13th Division office. He knew he should be getting back to paperwork, but he just didn’t feel like it. This was odd for Byakuya. Usually when there was paperwork to do he could think of nothing else but getting it done. But not today. After all, it's not due for another week. I can get it done tomorrow. Byakuya headed out of the 13th Division, and across Seireitei, heading for his manor. Once there, he wanted into the garden and stared at a tree off to the side. A beautiful cherry blossom tree, fully blooming. Hisana's favorite tree. He walked to it and knelt by it, picking up a blossom that had fallen. Hisana.... Byakuya knew she would be proud that Rukia was now a lieutenant. If only she was alive.

-when Byakuya hugged Rukia that put a warm smile on his face to remember some of the better times in his life. before ryoma left Byakuya's office he turned toward Byakuya and said-

i glad you decided to let her keep moving, if after someone close to you died. you know something that is one thing we share Byakuya. we have both lost some important to each of us, and even after their deaths for each of us to continue living is a true test.

-ryoma then walks out of Byakuya's office, ryoma then started feeling the same pain he suffered 10 years ago. but ryoma forced him self to keep moving no matter how much pain he suffered. while he struggled to walk toward his squads barracks tears started to run down his face-

no matter how much pain i suffer i have to keep liviing for her