Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Byakuya's Memories ❯ Birthday Boy ( Chapter 1 )

[ A - All Readers ]

Byakuya felt the slap across his face and gasped as the pain stung his soft flesh.

“Stand up straight boy!” He heard barked out and his stiffened his shoulders back. He so desperately wanted to please his father yet everything he did seemed to anger the man further.

The long now greying hair of the Kuchiki Taicho of the 6th Division and 27th Head of the clan looked sternly down on the boy. He hated to see weakness and the damp edge to his eyes was testimony that the child had not yet mastered the noble ways of emotional restraint. It was disappointing that the child just had too much spirit and wanted to question too many things. Nobility just was. It wasn't something one had to wonder at its creation. One stood fast to traditions to ensure that generation led to another and there was never any lapse in the standards expected.

“Gomen father.” Byakuya bent stiffly at the waist and from this lowered position watched his fathers feet retreat away from him.

He stood up as straight as he could as the older man sat back at his desk. He mentally checked that his feet were angled correctly, his knees soft and not locked, his pelvis angled & drawn in to his abdomen, his shoulders pushed wide and backwards, whilst his neck was drawn out tall as he could make it, with his chin thrust just that little bit forward. He drew in his mind and tried hard not to focus on the stinging heat of his cheek.

“Your tutors told me you were questioning their methods. You also took the liberty of asking if the carriage would stop and let you visit the park?”

“The other children....”

“SILENCE!” Byakuya tried not to flinch he really did, but he couldn't help it.

“YOU are not OTHER children. YOU are to be the HEAD of the clan and YOU WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY!” The older man slapped his hand on the desk and looked at his son exasperated. Did this child not understand the role that would be entrusted to him? Did he just do these things to irate the elders and his tutors? What on earth would his grandfather make of this behaviour?

The silence in the room went on for some time and Byakuya had to dip his gaze from the intense dark eyes that continually glared at him. His hair fell around his face and he stood there as motionless as he could with his hands stuffed inside his billowing sleeves.

The father shook his head and cursed his family secretly. Such a beautiful child so full of life and laughter. It was a cruel world that wanted to rip that from the boy. It really was not his fault he was born with his level of intelligence or with the Kuchiki blood in his veins. The level of his power was already astounding his tutors and he was barely 40 yet. In human years that may well have only been equivalent to roughly 6 but his mind was nearing double that. He had mastered so many skills that others his age would not contemplate for another ten to twenty years. His place in the 6th Division would be easily realised by that time and no doubt he would rise to the Lieutenant by the time his peers were leaving the academy.

“Byakuya?” The voice was softer.

“Father?” He looked up hopeful.

“Explain yourself to me then. What was wrong in that action?”

“I just wanted to play father. They were laughing and running and swinging in the tree! It was a huge tree with a big log tied and it looked so much fun father!” Byakuya was brimming with excitement and his face alive and animated. His hands gestured widely at the size of the log and height of the tree. In his ears he could still hear the laughter and cheering of the boys and he still wanted to run and jump into the middle of them all and help to push the swing or show them just how fast he could run. It would have been so nice to have a friend.

“It is time you put such nonsense from your mind.” Byakuya wished that his father would have smiled and laughed with him. He wished that he would say he could go tomorrow even just for a little while. “Those children are not worthy of your presence and you were expected at my brothers house for lessons with your cousins. Did you forget that?”

“No father.”

“Let me make it clear and be sure my lad that this is the last time I will have this conversation with you, so mark my words carefully.” Byakuya nodded to prove he was listening. “Those children, as far as you are concerned, do not exist. They are not worthy to speak to you, be any where near you or god forbid touch you! They are common and you will consider them as trash! Kuchiki's are the finest noble family and we do not associate with the mongrels of Rangoli! I cannot even begin to think why you want to play with such urchins!”

“I wanted a friend father.”

“Friends!” The man looked outraged. “You have no time for that rubbish. Friends won't be there when you are placed at the head of this family. Your duty is paramount and that leaves no need for friends. Banish the thought immediately! What rubbish child!”

Byakuya dipped his head. He felt saddened to his centre and wanted nothing more than to run from the room into the arms of his nanny Takara.

“I think that a change to your recreational time is required. I will see that you are studied in the arts and literature further. You should become familiar with the delights of current affairs and the politics of our world.”

There was a knock on the door and as it was open, it was easy to see that Takara had arrived to collect Byakuya for his bath.

“I am sorry to interrupt my Lord. But time is pressing us.”

“Of course.” The house revolved around a strict timetable and the evening meal would be soon be ready. This lecture had taken him longer for the sake of Byakuya's persistent lax attitudes. The boy needed his bath and his meal would be sent to the nursery. Tonight the boy needed to be neatly preened to be presented to the head of the Shih?in clan. Their daughter was now of age to formalise the marriage proposals and they were entitled to view the boy at least once before this happened. “Byakuya, when you are called for this evening. I do not want you to say anything unless you are asked. If you do speak, please remember that you must only say a few words and be on your best behaviour. I will not tolerate any deviance.”

“Hai father.” Byakuya bowed.

“You man go now.”

“Father?” Expecting his son to have left, the older man had to turn back to look at the child again. He had approached him by a few steps and looked as if he wanted to say something really important. For once he bent and allowed the child no taller than his navel to come closer and he could not help but open his eyes wide as the boy leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I love you father.”

“Of course.” Byakuya felt the soft pat on his head and was pleased at least with that gesture. He turned to run, but remembered just in time to only walk towards a smiling Takara. He didn't want another punishment for acting inappropriately today.

Takara slid her hand into the boys sleeve and took his hand smiling down at him. He beamed back at her as he stepped into the corridor and she smiled to him. “You should know in his own way, he love you too.”
...
Takara listened intently to his description of the swing and the children playing. She laughed with him and wondered at the wide arms he showed for the size of the log. Had she seen him to this in the study, she would have seen that it had grown considerably in the short while it had taken for him to bathe.

“Well that log sounds bigger than this table!”

“It was as big as this house!” He laughed and jumped up from the table to stand on tiptoes. “And the tree was taller than the moon!” He jumped up high pushing the tips of his fingers towards the ceilings.

“Just think if we went back to climb it, we might be able to sit and have a picnic on the moon.”
Takara joined in with his joking.

“Looking down at the people here like little ants!” He smiled widely. “Wouldn't it be wonderful if the children came too and then I could play with them?”

“Yes my poppet it really would be wonderful.”

“Do you think that papa would let me have a friend for my party?”

“It would be nice wouldn't it. But I think you might have too many people coming already.” She swept the hyperactive child into her arms and hugged him tightly. “I think that Yoruichi would make a good friend. She can run faster than you!” She began to walk them towards his dressing room where his ornate kimono and dress outfit was waiting and placed him down in front of the mirror.

“No way. I'm waaaaayyyy tooo fast!” He shook his head vigorously watching her in the mirror as she removed his layers of nightwear fresh on from the bath. “Papa even said that I am the faster than he was!”

“Then you will have to find out for yourself if she really is that fast. That's something to look forward to isn't it?” She smiled at him and he nodded.

Dressing a living Mexican jelly bean with energy enough for four children was not an easy task when there were so many sashes and fastenings to complete. But finally he sat upon her knees as she knelt at the mirror and combed his hair. Now that the time was drawing closer to his appearance he seemed to become a little serious and Takara frowned. “What it is my little butterfly?”

“Would my mother like me in this?” He plucked at the bright green of the embroidered kimono. His little eyes were dulled and his mouth down turned. Takara hated to see that face and she put the brush down on the floor beside them and stood him up twirling him to face her. She smiled at him and nodded.

“Your mama would have said what a fine little noble you were and then you know what?” He shook his head. “She would have given you a hug just like this.” She wrapped her arms tightly around him and squeezed him hard with a jiggle and long drawn out groan earning a laugh and two arms around her neck and a hug back. “She would have loved you so much.” Takara whispered. “Now lets go and make her proud shall we?” Byakuya nodded.
...
The dining room was stilled as the young noble entered. All eyes watched his well rehearsed bow to the room in general, before he walked to the distance of 6 paces back from his father and bowed. The Shih?in clan looked suitably impressed and watched the small child then turn to the framed picture of his mother that sat on the mantle with incense sticks and them bowed with his hands clasped in prayer to her image.

Then he turned without prompt to the guests and bowed to each in turn.

The guests were suitable impressed and he raised a few unspoken questions. The child's quick mind had already been spoken of this evening and his behaviour was of a much older offspring. But then the Kuchiki's had always been a family that prided themselves on the etiquette and traditions of their standing; where as the Shih?in valued family and individuals. Yoruichi was going to be a little hell raiser for this family.

Byakuya had met many members of his own family before and paraded as if he was a Ming vase that needed to be cooed over. They liked to talk about him as if he wasn't there whilst they expected him to stand motionless suffering their quizzical gazes.

So when this man, the Head of the Shih?in tapped his legs he felt a little confused. He shifted his look to his father who just nodded at him.

The darker skinned elders seemed to be amused by his confusion and let out quiet chuckles as Byakuya stood rooted to his spot.

“Come here.” The head repeated his tapping again this time only with one hand whilst holding out the other like Takara does to hold his hand. With some clearer understanding Byakuya shifted closer and the man pressed both his hands around the boys waist and lifted him to sit on his lap. “I forgot how much younger you are than Yoruichi, but you are truly a wonderfully curious little fellow. How old are you now?”

“40 next week sir.” Byakuya remembered his manners although he was still surprised to be sat in a way. It felt a little strange with anyone else but Takara.

“And so polite. My dear friend...” Byakuya wondered at his father being called a friend. Did that mean that only the head of the family was allowed a friend then? “You are training this one very well. I might need to borrow him to set an example to my daughter. You must be proud of him!”

“My son always pleases me.” Father and son shared a small smile and Byakuya felt happy that he had earned the openly voiced praise; maybe tonight he would be visited by his father before he fell asleep.

“Well if you are having a birthday, I bet there is something you would like as a gift from your father? I bet you have seen a lovely toy in the shops you would like?”

Byakuya had to think a moment at this one and shook his head. “I do not have toys.”

“No toys? Well what a funny answer! You really are a wonder!” The noble laughed. “No toys; such a tease. Come on. Name it. What toy could would make your birthday perfect?”

“A swing.” Byakuya thought of the log in the tree and ached to tell his tale again but he knew his father would not approve and so he kept quiet.

“Then I will have to send you my daughter sometime to play with. Even if she is 100 now, I know she would love to have a swing. You'd like that huh?”

“Once I have studied, if I may, I would love to have her visit.”

“Well you must meet her soon enough. I will talk to your father later.”

“Thank you.” Byakuya did not forget his manners as he beamed at the man. His thanks earned him a ruffled pat of his hair and he was carefully placed on the floor again. “I was honoured to meet you.” Byakuya said his lines just as he had prepared over and over with his tutor and then bowed deep at his waist.

“Honoured! You are just so funny!” The guests were laughing at him again and Byakuya was a little bemused at their reaction. He looked to his future father in law, who was looking at him with a pleased smile. “It was a pleasure to meet you too.” He gave Byakuya a firm shake of his hand almost causing the boy to stumble had he not concentrated his energy on gluing his feet to the floor firmly.

“Excuse me gentlemen. I must just take my son to his bed, it is getting late for him.”

“Of course of course! See you soon Byakuya-sama!”

The door to the elegant room shut and Byakuya looked up to his father hoping he didn't anger him somehow.

“Was I... Was I good father?” He asked after they had stared their walk to his room.

“I think you pleased him. That is all that matters. Your future wife will be sent with a generous dowry if you keep the Head of her clan happy. If it is a generous amount, she will give you a strong heir.”

They met Takara closer to the sleeping wing and she looked at her charges pleased face. It must have gone well. The nanny bowed to her lord and he pushed Byakuya forward by his shoulder.
“He should be put to bed now.”

“Yes my lord.”

“I thought you were going to visit with me until I got into bed father?”

“I have guests tonight it is not possible. Duty must come first Byakuya you know that.”

“Yes father.”

“Good now off you go and I will see you tomorrow! Good night Byakuya.”

“Good night father.”
...
Two days before his son's birthday, Kuchiki Taicho stepped in to his home after a long day at the office. He felt weary and wanted nothing more than to sit in his study quietly letting his headache recede as he read some poetry.

Instead his was accosted the moment he shook off his shoes by the elders wanting to go over the details of the party and update the list of guests now having returned their replies.

“...then my Lord, we are all in agreement that the young Lord should be permitted to...”

The man inwardly groaned and listened with half an ear as he tried to continue his walk to the study and shake off his advisor's. To be frank, he could not care less for this party. It was way too early to be displaying Byakuya as they expected and hoping he would behave as an adult. The party they had organised was a banquet for coming of age with all the noble families and notable superiors of the Gotei 13. He had listened to the reasons and been talked into it because of course the Kuchiki clan had a reputation to keep and showing all of Soul Society that they were the finest blah blah blah...

Honestly he'd sat there with J?shir? and his lover Ky?raku, who were invited and that damn pushy Isshin, who was most defiantly NOT invited, listening to them drone on about how Byakuya should be allowed some fun while he could. Not one of them had a child so just what qualified them to lecture him so? It might well have been light hearted he knew with much sake and teasing, but he could read the underlying message.

“Where is my son?” He cut through the old man and his rabbiting voice and wondered suddenly why Byakuya had not come to report his day. Was he due another punishment for acting common and his tutors were preparing a speech of his deplorable behaviour again? He paused at the study door but felt no presence of Byakuya inside the room.

Byakuya climbed up another branch of the large oak in the garden. He could see the ribbon for his hair fluttering just out of reach and he could not even with a full stretch catch hold of it yet. His father would scold him again if he reported in without being dressed correctly. He was already going to be in trouble for ripping his hem of his robes when he fell in training today. The wind had to only make it worse by whipping the ribbon from his hand as he'd been running to greet his father.
The light was getting dimpsy and he held tight with shaking fingers to the branch above his head. If he put a little spiritual energy into it, he could probably jump up higher and get a better hold.

“Your son sir? He should be here.” The gathering of elders looked around their feet and along the corridor.

The scream echoed around the entire mansion and the clan leaders with their head were running within a second towards its source. A courtyard near the nursery.

Shunpo did not help the distressed father reach the motionless child any quicker than the closest guards. The moment he saw his son lying so still on the floor at the foot of the tree, his heart leapt into his mouth. He could not bare to lose another precious person. No. Please Kami let him be alive. With elegance and poise thrown out of the equation, he barged through the mindless fools who just stood looking at the boy and knelt down beside the body.

“Byakuya? Gods what were you doing in the tree boy?”

“My Lord.” A guard pointed up and their sights caught the ribbon innocently taunting them too high for any of them to reach either. The worried parent shook his son's shoulder and was sickened to see the blood on his temple and no response to the motion. He swept the tiny limp figure into his arms and was gone in a flash of speed towards the medical facilities of the 4th.

Kurosaki Taicho rushed out at the sound of the commotion echoing through his division hallways and he looked at the pale face of the man holding his son's body.

“Please!” The strangled sound from the mouth of such a dignitary pushed Isshin into motion and he lifted the young boy into his arms and carried him with haste to a waiting treatment room. Lieutenant Unohana took the arms of the distraught father and led him to a quiet room where he could wait quietly. “He fell from a tree. What would his mother say if she knew I had not protected him well enough?”

His beloved wife had already lost a infant in childbirth before Byakuya and was so elated to be having another. The pregnancy had been difficult and made her quite unwell, but she never complained for her sake. She had looked so regal in her bed with a warm smile on her face and her hand ever present on the growing mound of her abdomen.

“This little one will be special. I can feel that he is a strong child.” She would say. It was not uncommon to hear her singing to the unborn child and talking about keeping him safe and giving him happiness beyond anyone's imagination. It was as if she was willing him to live and grasp the life that his elder sibling could not.

But he did grasp life with such a sudden need to be born he was pressing out of her belly within an hour of intense contractions, well before the birthing medics could make it and bled profusely in the process. She had barely held her healthy son for two minutes before her body gave way to blood loss and she slid away.
...
Takara watched her master sitting beside the child's bed. He had brought him home not wanting to leave him at the division amongst the commoners. It was a simple broken arm and a concussion accompanied the bump to his head; but he hadn't woken yet beyond a groan and the man was terrified Byakuya would never wake.

“My Lord?” She settled a light meal next to the man and looked down at the angelic face of her charge. “Would you eat something?”

“I am not hungry.”

“You have sat all night sir. A little wouldn't hurt.”

“I will not take my eyes away from him.” No, because last time he let his guard slip from the protection of his son, a simple cold turned into debilitating fever and he had been away at work leaving the boy to collapse in his lessons. His guilt at forcing his son to study through the illness had made his condition worse. The ideals that it would make him a stronger man, rebounded back to slap him in the face with his fear of losing the boy.

“You could hold him. When was the last time you did that?” She said it softly, it was not a rebuke or order and he did not take it as such. Instead his mind was taken to the Shih?in visit where his son had sat on the lap of the clan head and he had watched with jealousy. The loud crashing of the tree giving way to his orders to be felled echoed through the room and the two adults looked out of the window to see it broken on the floor. He was again reminded of the visit and Byakuya's alert and sparking eyes requesting a swing. What nonsense. That would be too unsafe now and he would not permit it.

“You know when he thought no one was looking, Byakuya always sat under that tree with his picture of his mother.” The nobles eyes turned back to her surprised. “The picture you are missing from your study. I promised him not to tell.” She leant forward and slid her hand under his pillow. “He knew how much you loved her and he wished so many times that he knew her like you did. He is going to miss his little sanctuary.” She placed the framed photo on the side table.

“Will you send for the groundsman.” He said quietly. Takara nodded and slid away out of the room. How is it that a lowly servant knew more about his son than he did. What kind of father had he been? Resolute to ingraining the noble way of life into his son along with the expected behaviour and self regulation was necessary. But where is the love and laughter that his wife spoke of? It was always a distant echo through the house to hear this little might laugh, but rarely did they laugh together.

It had not made the iron man happy to have such an impish child. He saw too much of his mother in him and it pained to see it. Laughter did not come easy with so many reminders of what he had lost. Happiness was for others and he believed that his parenting methods would bring happiness to the child born of the duty expected of him. It was not a requirement to enjoy one's live but it was one to serve the family. Byakuya had been his duty. Produce an heir and that was all. No one stated that happiness and laughter came with that task. But his wife had obviously seen the task differently. No doubt she would have spoilt him with emotional sentiment and possibly it was better that the boy was not subjected to it overly.

Still. He loved this child. Loved him beyond what he thought he could. It was always a delight to see his face in the morning with a cheerful smile and a polite greeting. To feel the tiny hand slide into his when they walked in the garden or the times that he had let the child sit on his knee as he read the ancient manuscripts in the study. No father could be prouder of the way he was developing as a warrior, family man and future heir.

The picture of his wife looked down at him with her dark sparking eyes and waterfall of dark hair. She had been truly beautiful and Byakuya could have been her twin. On yes she would have spoilt him and he would have been angered at the less time for himself. Yet the small boy really captured his heart and he longed to wrap him into the embrace of that love.

Looking down he surprised himself that he had already taken Byakuya into his arms and cradled his head in his elbow and squeezed him tight to his chest. His body was already rocking him slowly back and forth quite instinctively and the world slowed to a gentle hum of warmth. He stroked the long dark hair and caressed the back of his hand over a deathly pale cheek.

“My Lord.” The groundsman knocked and knelt before his master, eyes averted to the ground.

“I have a job for you.” He spoke of his request to the absolute last detail and as the man left he heard an almost silent sigh from the lips of his son. He looked down to see the boy's face begin to crease into a frown and his eyelids begin to flutter.

“Mama?” He asked looked quite confused and the noble continued his gentle rocking.

“Not your mother little one.” The soft voice seemed to confuse the child more and he reached up with his good arm and touched his fathers face. The stubble of a worried man tickled his fingers and he smiled.

“Papa.” The joy was indescribable as the tiny child shifted just so slightly in his arms and snuggled his body further. His eyes closed and he drifted back to sleep easily.

“I love you my son.” Kuchiki Taicho wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and allowed himself to sit there for some time onwards savouring the smile on the pink lips.