━ ENDEARMENT ( byakuya kuchiki. )

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 // Kuchiki Manor.

<Esmee's POV>

I was pacing around my large bedroom in my manor, contemplating all the things that could go wrong while I am having dinner with the Kuchiki elders. In other words, I was panicking and thinking about everything negative that could happen.

"What if they don't like me? What if they hate me? What if they don't accept me? What if the-" I thought.

"Lady Arisu, you need to calm down. You are the head of the noble Arisu clan, that should easily make the elders accept you. If not, then they will love you for your beauty and amazing personality." One of my maids told me.

Her attempts to calm me down worked, but only slightly. I still had negative thoughts stomping around in my mind, begging for me to listen and panic even more than I already was.

"Thank you." I responded.

I approached my bathroom and decided to take a long, luxurious, warm bath to calm all of my nerves and worries. After I was clean, I jumped out of the bath and dried myself off. Then I grabbed the stunning white and black kimono that I had laid on the bed and put it on.

After I had managed to put on the gorgeous kimono, I gazed at myself in the minor and smiled brightly. The kimono I was wearing fitted me perfectly and made me look beautiful. After I had admired the kimono's beauty, one of the maids rushed towards me and began to brush my long, white locks. After all the knots had been removed from my hair, she then decided to curl my silky, black hair slightly and let it rest on my shoulders.

After she had finished my hair, I stood up from my chair and checked that I looked decent to reveal myself to the elders of the noble Kuchiki clan. After deciding that I looked presentable, I began to make my way to the Kuchiki manor with my guards surrounding me. When I approached the gates, the Kuchiki guards spotted me and bowed down to me, much to my surprise, then opened the gate slowly.

"Greetings, Lady Arisu." One of the guards welcomed me with a bow.

I grinned and entered the large Kuchiki grounds, a few seconds after I did, I felt an all too familiar presence and saw Byakuya appear in front of me. He was wearing a black suit that made him look more handsome than he usually does, which I thought was impossible. When he laid his eyes on me, his eyes widened slightly and then he smirked. He gripped tight onto my pale hand and embraced me tightly in a hug filled with love.

"You look gorgeous." He whispered softly in my ear.

"You too." I replied with a smile as he kissed me on my soft cheek.

"Follow me." He ordered as he walked into the humongous house.

I obediently followed him and entered the gigantic mansion, as we went through the hallway I saw a beautiful picture of Byakuya's deceased wife and Rukia's sister, Hisana, and frowned slightly as I remembered her.

"What's wrong, Esmee?" Byakuya asked as he saw the slight frown on my face.

I snapped out of my thoughts and gazed up towards Byakuya, who had a worried expression on his face.

"I was just deep in thought." I responded as I smiled slightly.

Byakuya nodded and we continued walking down the long hallway until we reached a large wooden door, Byakuya pushed the door open slowly and we stepped inside the room. Inside the room, there was a large table that was surrounded by several elders. As Byakuya and I approached the table, I analyzed most of the elder's expressions.

Most of them had a smile plastered on their faces, while the rest of them had a look of uncertainty on them. The only person who presented a neutral expression was Byakuya's grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki,

Everybody sat down and I inhaled the smell of delicious food. A few seconds later, the doors opened and maids came towards the table with different sorts of tasty food. Once they had placed all the different types of food on the table, everybody began to take different foods and place them on their plates.

"Greetings Esmee, my name is Hana." One of the elders smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I responded.

Hana then introduced me to all the other elders and most of them seemed like they thought I was appropriate, which I smiled at.

"So, what is the backstory about your clan?" One of the elders asked.

My eyes widened slightly as I thought about the clan and my parents, but I regained my composure before they realized I was panicking slightly.

"The Arisu Clan has been a noble clan for many years, however I only know of what happened while my parent's were the head of the clan. Takara and Ganju had three children, me, Daisuke and Blossom. One day Blossom went missing and we searched for several years to try and find her, but nobody could find a trace of her. She was soon pronounced dead." I explained. "A few weeks ago, Sosuke Aizen, Kaname Tosen and Gin Ichimaru betrayed the Soul Society. Along with doing that, they beheaded my parents."

One I said that sentence, several gasps were heard among the table and I gazed up to see many of the elder's faces plastered with the emotion of shock.

"I am so sorry for your loss." Hana spoke.

"Thank you." I replied. "After my parents death, I was then made the head of the Arisu clan."

"What is your position in the Seireitei?" Another elder asked.

"I used to be the third seat of Squad Ten, but then I got promoted to the Captain of Squad Nine." I answered.

"Very good." One of the elders commented.

"What have you done for Byakuya?" An elder questioned.

I was about to answer but then Byakuya interrupted me.

"That is a question for me to answer." Byakuya spoke. "Esmee has done a lot for me without realizing it. For a starter, Esmee used her own body to protect myself and Rukia from being killed by Gin Ichimaru's blade, and it's a miracle she is still alive after she received such a fatal wound. Not only that, but she has replaced the hole that was left by Hisana when she passed away. That is more than enough."

"Thank you for protecting Byakuya and Rukia." Byakuya's grandfather thanked me.

"Esmee Arisu, you are a very beautiful girl and you also have a great personality. I am speaking for most of the elders here when I say this, but we accept you." Hana smiled.

"Thank you." I replied with a slight bow.

The elders then left the room and the only people that remained in the room were you, Byakuya and his grandfather. Ginrei stood up and walked past you and smiled slightly when you made eye-contact.

"Byakuya, make sure that you keep Esmee. She's perfect for you." He smiled.

"I will do, Grandfather." Byakuya replied.