((A/n: Sorry for the delay much has happen. I finally got the wedding chapter out. As i said in the last chapter im not good at the wedding illustration so i did my best at it.))

29th Head of the Kuchiki Clan

Chapter 7: Wedding

Rukia sitting in the middle of the dressing room as servants putting makeup and decide what jewelry to add with her beautiful bluish-white kimono with pink saukra petals with snowflakes. She sitting there nervously not knowing how the day will turn out. Rukia then stands up heads to the shoji door to make her grand entrance for her own wedding.

A roar of applause came as everyone witnessed Rukia enter the gardens. They all followed behind her maids and servants on the way out of the building to the wedding shrine. She found herself surprised they had all been allowed in the Kuchiki manor's garden when Byakuya was already so protective over them;

Rukia sighed and looked down to her feet past her veil she focused on her steps in the elevated okobo on her feet. She wouldn't fall and embarrass the Kuchiki clan. She only wished she had been given the shoes in advance in hopes she could practice walking in them without stumbling over her own feet. She began to count, the numbers coming past her lips softly.

On the way to the shrine there was more cheering, and the louder the roars of applause sounded, the more tired Rukia became.

Glancing past the curtains Rukia looked on into a room she had been in before for Byakuya and Yoruichi. The setting was completely formal and towards the far side of the room was a circular shaped platform and on it, a shrine and a large blanket laid upon the ground. Ceremonial scrolls decorated with fine calligraphy hung from the ceiling with red and gold chimes dangling around the stage. At the other side of the room was the kneeling space for which Rukia guessed the elders would be sitting.

"Ready yourselves girls." Eri said. Everyone assembled themselves into two lines behind each other and straightened out their fancy kimonos, taking a deep long breath for what beheld them. Rukia couldn't help but stare at them in disbelief, one at the thought it was her about to marry and not them, and two because it was finally happening. And it didn't feel real, suddenly her head felt light but she was given no time to calm herself down as she was gently ushered out by her head maid and other superiors.

Just before she entered the room, everything became quiet. The friendly chatter of her audience seized, all eyes were on her. She inhaled through her nose and breathed out of her mouth in hopes it would relax her. She stared out of the small holes in her veil and observed someone walking her way. It was Byakko.

Walking a few steps behind him was his father Byakuya, the man who was once her nii-sama. She gazes upon the back of her future husband to focus on her walking as she approached the steps onto the platform.

Byakko's gaze was focused on the platform as he approached it, Rukia approached from the opposite side being escorted by a few women holding up the bottom of her expensive gown. Yurika stood behind Rukia carrying the long train of her traditional bluish-white uchikake and two other women stood by her side helping her up towards the shrine in the middle of the circular stage, hand in hand.

Time began to slow down and Rukia heart beat increase tenfold. The sound of thudding rushed through her ears, all she could hear was her own fear. Silence filled the room as Byakko and Rukia approached the middle of the platform, facing each other t making eye contact with one another. Byakko stared head-on and Rukia looked up to see him, even as her veil constricted most of her face. Then one of the women who had helped Rukia to the shrine moved to her other side and unpinned the veil from her face, revealing her to Byakko. Rukia froze staring at the man infront of her who used to be the little protective boy for his mother dignity. The priest stood before Byakko and Rukia and motioned them both to kneel before him, which Rukia shakily did.

Facing his way, Rukia looked up at the man with awe for nothing more than a second then remembered that normal Shinigami were married by the captain-commander, but royals and nobles married by priests. And this was such an occasion. On a large blood-red cushion, the priest also kneeled. Then Rukia realized multiple, formally dressed women standing behind him with their heads bowed. All of them wearing traditional fore sided and Kuchiki insignia.

Rukia felt the sudden urge to look around but as she knew everyone's eyes were on her and Byakko, she did not. She had noticed from the corner of her eyes that maids and servants stood respectfully in the back of the room, their heads bowed also. From the other corner of her eye she sees her friend and fukutaichou, Renji attending her wedding like he promised. Beside him were Matsumoto, Kira, Hisagi, Hinamori, and Hitsugaya bowing their heads as well paying their respects.

At once Rukia's gaze went behind the priest where she watched the foreside-wearing women picking up multiple small dishes and a traditional teapot with calligraphy decorating it. She managed to suppress making a noise of frustration as she fell into a deep thought about what they could possibly be doing. She wanting to get this ceremony over with then she abruptly remembered that Byakko was less than a few inches sitting away from her, she noticed his hands in the same manner as hers, resting on his knees. He was as still as a statue and his large reiatsu were steady like a exact replica as his father. She wondered if he noticed that she couldn't control hers, no matter how she had slowed her breathing and her heart beat, she wouldn't be surprised if her reiatsu was fluctuating like mad.

Rukia could hardly concentrate as the priest began to talk, his words directed at Rukia and Byakko as well as their audience and mainly the elders. He graciously thanked everyone for attending before mentioning how wonderful and historic this day was, Rukia gulped at his comment. The priest did not notice and slightly smiled as he continued with his speech.

As the sake drinking ceremony began, Rukia could remember a few mentions of such ceremonies from the talk of female Shinigami she had gone to school with, including Hinamori. The foreside dressed women then approached Byakko, Rukia's eyes slowly drifted over to see what they were about to do. They handed him the first sake cup to drink from, Rukia watched him intently from the corner of her eyes – straining them as far as they would go. With his fingertips, the sake cup slowly reached Byakko's mouth. His movements were quick but elegant at the same time.

After Byakuya received his third cup of sake Rukia shakily noticed her turn would be soon. And as she had never tried alcohol before, she wondered what her reaction would be to it. Would it be really strong and bitter? And how would her body react? Suddenly the worst scenarios came rushing into her head; images of falling over and drunkenly admitting to her deepest darkest secrets became clear in her mind, also wondered if she can drink a little bit of alcohol while she is carrying the next Kuchiki heir. Rukia drew in a large breath before a cup was ushered her way; shakily she raised her hands as not to keep anyone waiting. She watched as the small amount of pale liquid vibrated under her uneasy touch.

Her breathing quickened as she brought it close to her now parched mouth. Twice more she repeated the action with the next two cups, only then did she realize the taste was not all that bad but different enough for her to make a face of unpleasantness.

It was no coincidence that suddenly her head felt lighter. A small smile graced her lips, just big enough for her to feel relaxed. When her smile was abruptly interrupted by the priest's voice, she looked up to see him directly speaking to Byakko – instructing him to speak his vows. She wondered if she would have to do the same and if her mouth would even open for a second time. Luckily that time never came.

And when the ceremony was finally over and done, it seemed so unreal to her.

Quickly Rukia was taken away to a private room where her heavy wataboshi was removed and replaced by cherry blossoms which were each individually pinned into place after her hair was pulled back into its place. Her weighted uchikake overcoat was taken off and in its place a lighter white overcoat with golden embroidery and cherry blossoms, flair added with light green material inside her sleeves. She looked fit for royalty.

"Come dear, we must have a grand entry." Yoruichi said pulling Rukia along. Her hear began to thud once again as they approached the room in which everyone was waiting for her. When the door opened and her maids helped her in, whistles could be heard and everyone clapped their hands joyfully. There was no veil for her to hide behind.

She was lead to where all the captains were standing, gifts in their hands and odd stares on some of their faces. She knew that the arrangement was so unexpected that no one had seen it coming and some would be there to question it but not when the elders were still present at the other side of the room. One by one they motioned their gifts to her and they were placed in the hands of maids who took them back to the Kuchiki mansion.

"I'm sure you'll appreciate my gift, Rukia-chan." Rangiku said with a devilish smile. Rukia gave her a soft smile and that was when she was pulled into a hug all of a sudden, "Awe, you look so beautiful!" she said, Rukia blushed and thanked her courteously.

"Hey midget, looks like Byakko got you knocked up already." Renji snickered.

"Where have you learned those words?" She asked.

"In the world of the living. I have like three months there then I should be back." He said.

"Okay, well they already arranged my sister-in-law, Yurika as substitute captain till I can come back to duty." Rukia explained.

"Hmmm…she is a fine..piece..of…" he said looking over Yurkia.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, because you might not live to finish you mission if you did." She said in harsh tone.

"Okay, Okay, ease up, midget ill stop before you or Byakko cripple me again." He said moving slightly away.

"Byakko wouldn't think twice wanting to finish that dual between you and him years ago, if you keep thinking about his sister that way." Rukia smirked at him.

"He is scary when he's mad, who I have seen Kuchiki Byakuya act in such a manner." Renji said.

"Well he has in the past in his younger days. Now I must attend to my wedding. I'll see you soon?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I'll come by when I finish my mission and paperwork. Okay?" He responded pulling her into a hug.

She hugs him back then pulls away, trying her hardest not to shed a tear knowing she won't see her friend for awhile.

After the wedding reception Both Rukia and Byakko says good-bye to their guests. Everyone in the manor has to go retire soon. Tomorrow is Yurika's big day in squad thirteen accompanied by her parents. Byakko has a training exercise for the new recruits who became assigned to his squad. As for Rukia, she'll be all alone in the giant manor on her maternity leave while everyone else doing their duties. She has begged Yurika to bring home some paperwork so she can guide her how her squad is done and help her In the future when she commands a squad of her own.

((A/N: Please Review and no flaming please. I hope you all enjoyed.))