Matters of Family [Hitoshi/Byakuya]

Toasting, Hitoshi formed a rare sight, sitting across from the Kuchiki. Ever faint, the edges of his lips curled into the shadow of a smile. The display he had for his father had been one thing, but this was genuine. A smile from the man without a heart.

"Thank you, sincerely. There are many things I plan to accomplish with the position. It is my hope that the benefit will not be mine alone, at the end of the day." Downing the last of the sake, Hitoshi sat the empty cup down without a noise.

"Although, I believe the work is cut out for me."

The two finished their toast and drank their sake. Byakuya set his down, enjoying the warmth of the sake before returning to the conversation.

"You're welcome," Byakuya said. "Leading a family can be a stressful task. You have the lives of everyone who shares your bloodline looking to you for security, in both lifestyle and from danger. Those in your family will benefit most from the decisions you make. Every family head will have their work cut out for them."

"The only advice I have to offer is to find where your goals will lie. Will you focus on money, your bloodline, the law, or something else? It is something to think about. Do not spread yourself too thin; trying to carry too much at once may cause you to drop it all. Find a balance that works for you and take each day at a time."

"I believe our scope to be well managed." Hitoshi responded, some level of arrogance behind the words. The mountain of work ahead of him spoke otherwise, with the looming presence that only the Gotei could embody. Whether he was blind, or just in over his head - time would tell.

"Your advice is taken close to heart, Kuchiki-dono." Hitoshi felt that the extra formality might be too thick for the moment, but he was remiss to ignore such a well used tool in his arsenal. Shifting the topic, the man slowly blinked. "There is hope that, as the Kurata grow, your support could become an alliance. Something hard earned, with time."

About one hundred years ago, an ignorant young man, unfamiliar with noble tradition and respect, called Byakuya by his first name. He had corrected him many times, but Byakuya had little to no faith in his ability to adapt to a culture not his own. That was why Ichigo Kurosaki was allowed some lenience on how he addressed Byakuya. Hitoshi, on the other hand, was well aware of the traditions, and though Byakuya was trying to honor this man's rise to the head of his family, he did not take kindly to the disrespect of being referred to as "dono." That particular honorific showed too much assumed familiarity between the two of them.

"It seems it is time to call this meeting to a close," Byakuya said, a new tension in his tone that only the most observant would recognize. The man stood up and called for his servants and guards. "Escort Lord Kurata off Kuchiki grounds; I have places I need to be." The man stepped out of the room without another word.