WE DO knot ALWAYS LOVE YOU Part 13 Full translation.

Marriage Registration



5

pages 138-148



6th sector - Kuchiki clan mansion.

On the morning of the day they were to head to the Kinin Noble Assembly, Renji passed through the Kuchiki clan’s huge main gate with a nervous expression. As he advanced on the stone pavement that had been swept clean, he was greeted by an old man with white hair wearing a pair of round spectacles - Seike Nobutsune, an attendant attached to Byakuya.

“Abarai sama, we have been expecting you”

Calmly bowing, he opened the door of the (genkan) entryway, “please come inside”

“Nah, I’ll meet her in front of the entrance……”

“I have been informed to tell you that you are to join Byakuya sama for breakfast”

“With the captain!? U-understood”

Renji became increasingly nervous, moving awkwardly, he followed behind Seike.

Three food trays were placed in the banquet hall, Byakuya, Rukia and Renji silently moved their chopsticks. The tray’s lacquerware was lined up with a variety of small bowls overflowing with side dishes and white rice, appearing as if he couldn’t resist it any longer, Renji posed a question.

“Is it always this quiet……?”

He felt awkward that nothing but the sound of him eating stood out, given the fact that the other two were eating almost without making a sound.

“We usually eat separately. Nii-sama eats here, I eat in my room. Since the 13th division is quite far away from the mansion……If I don’t finish breakfast beforehand and depart earlier than Nii-sama, I won’t make on time for the start of work”

When Rukia calmly put down her chopsticks, the waiter, who was standing by at the corner of the room, immediately removed her food tray and placed down another tray with Mizugashi* (*a type of Japanese Jelly dessert) and tea on it. Rukia responded with a “Thank you”.

“You could live in the lieutenant’s quarters couldn’t you? It’s more comfortable being able sleep until just before the start of work isn’t it~? Captain, you also stay overnight when it gets too late right? In the captain’s office”

“……I do not stay overnight”

“I see……pardon me”

“……are….-licious……”

“……huh? What was that?”

Renji turned his face towards her, Rukia’s head remained lowered as she murmured something.

“The meals are delicious……in this house……! I think It’s normal to want to eat here every day right……!?”

Her face became bright red as she said this. Seike and Chiyo who were waiting back wore smiling expressions that looked as if they wanted to say ‘goodness!’ and 'oh my!’ Appearing as though he was suppressing the expression in his eyes, the waiter was overcome with emotion.

“That’s rather gluttonous……”

“Shut up!”

“But yes, it’s certainly extremely tasty. I’m not surprised if you’d want to come back here every day just for that”

After emptying out his 4th bowl of rice, Renji set his chopsticks down, he brought his hands together showing appreciation for the meal. Looking at Rukia who was eating a pear whilst her cheeks were still stained with red, Byakuya coughed once.

“It’s fine if you want to come back here to eat anytime”

“Awesome! Thank you very much, captain!!”

“……I wasn’t talking to you”

Looking at an astounded Byakuya, Renji laughed and said “I understand that!” In a loud voice.

“Nii-sama, thank you very much……!”

As her eyes lightly filled with tears, Rukia smiled. Seeing Byakuya’s eyes tenderly narrow in a soft expression, Renji’s mouth gaped wide open.

"Ca……c-ca……ca- captain smiled……!?”

“What do you mean 'C-c-c-ca'……? Even Nii-sama smiles sometimes……”

“Rukia”

Perceiving the will in Byakuya’s voice that 'no more has to be said’, Rukia held her tongue.

“I have finished affixing my seal on these documents…… I will go now”

Byakuya promptly exited the room leaving the other two behind. Without a sound, Seike also follows.

“……Captain, he was feeling a bit embarrassed wasn’t he?”

As Renji uttered that, Chiyo who looked as if she was unable to restrain herself any longer, burst into laughter. “Hey” the senior waiter chided, with a bow of her head she apologised. However her shoulders were still shaking.

“We should get going too, Renji……Chiyo don’t keep laughing forever, please help me with this kimono”

“Certainly!”

Chiyo quickly walked up to Rukia who had stood up, carefully she adjusted her clothes which were slightly disheveled.

“Abarai sama this way”

An elderly servant who was in front of a (fusuma) sliding screen that lead to an adjoining room, called out to Renji.

“Huh? Even me?”

Saying that Renji looked to Rukia, but she inclined her head like she also knew nothing.

When Renji stood before the sliding screen, two servants immediately drew back the panels.

Placed at the center of the room was a beautiful clothing rack with two mounts, there a five crested kuromontsuki and haorihakama* was hanged up. (*Traditional Japanese formal wear for men)

“Cool……! ……huh? Is this for me!?”

“It is indeed. Byakuya sama ordered that you receive this.”

“Nii-sama……!”

Finished with her adjustments Chiyo stepped back, Rukia stood lined up beside Renji.

“Come to think of it…… on the evening we reported to Nii-sama our intention to marry, after Renji had returned home, I was asked "does he have a ceremonial suit to wear?” but I answered that well, at any rate he probably doesn’t have one……"

“Why’d ya make up your mind on something like that, you don’t know maybe I do have one!? I don’t have one but still!!”

Rukia looked at Renji with an expression that said 'I thought so’. Renji turned his face away, he then approached the montsuki.

“These crests……they’re camellias?”

Attached on the black fabric there were crests, dyed in white, representing the 6th division’s squad flower, the camellia.

“We were informed that Abarai sama doesn’t have a family crest……but if it’s the squad’s camellia flower, then it’s suitable as a crest is it not?”

Saying that, the servant calmly bowed. “A camellia crest was Seike sama’s idea” Chiyo added.

“Ah! That old guy!”

“Byakuya sama said everything including this crest is fine……”

“Even if that was kept private, he would accept it wouldn’t he?……”

Picturing Byakuya with an extremely troubled expression, Renji let out a small sigh.

“That was so thoughtful of him……this is great, Renji”

“Right! ……'but well, in the end even with this montsuki, Rukia hopefully won’t feel awkward walking next to him’, that’s what this probably means am I right?”

With a “eh?” Rukia looked up at Renji.

Renji laughing, pat her small back and said, “……everything he does, it’s for you, Rukia”

———-

Central first sector.

When Rukia and the others arrived with the documents at the window of the reception desk of the Kinin Noble Assembly, one of the officials, who appeared to have been contacted already, greeted them with a respectful bow.

“The head of the family, this way”

The man opened up the massive double doors that were at his back, Byakuya proceeded inside.

“The two of you, please wait there”

Rukia and Renji sat down side by side on the dark green sofa he indicated to. Making sure they were seated, the official headed inside the room and closed the doors.

The waiting room fell silent. Although the space wasn’t that wide, Rukia thought the place was built too large for merely four clans.

“Before they see to us, he has to affix his seal right?”

Unaccustomed to wearing montsuki, that are apparently quite uncomfortable, Renji turned his head several times.

“This morning Nii-sama said that he had already finished affixing his seal on the documents, so because of that……here, he only has to submit those documents isn’t it?”

“If he’s just submitting a document then it’s not necessary to go into a separate room, ya kno-……”

Quicker than Renji could finish talking, the doors of that inner room were opened up again. Entering the waiting room themselves, the male official passed through the doors followed by Byakuya.

“You’ve finished already……!?”

He looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. Not even five minutes had passed since the two had entered that separate room.

“Abarai Renji sama, -Abarai- Rukia sama”

Watching as Rukia’s shoulders sprang up with a start, the man smiled softly.

“Congratulations on your marriage”

Saying that, he presented a single sheet of paper before the two.

It was a 'Certificate of Marriage Acceptance’.

“Thank you……very much……”

As a consequence of the fact that the formalities had gone by so fast, it was Renji who listlessly accepted the certificate, but as soon as he saw the characters 'Abarai Rukia’ written there, he stood up from the chair.

“We did it Rukia!! With this, we were finally……finally able to get married!!”

Taken aback at being named “Abarai” herself, Rukia’s mind went blank, but she regained her composure when Renji shook her shoulder.

“Abarai Rukia sama”

“Ye-yes!”

Rukia looked in the official’s direction whilst willing herself to stay in control so as not to lose that composure she had just regained.

The man took out a yellow coloured form that said “Notification of Gotei soldier name change” before speaking.

“If you’re going to be using the surname 'Abarai’ whilst on duty from now on, then please submit this form to the 'Gotei Soldier Record Administration Bureau’​……”

“It’s fine, I will keep the Kuchiki surname as it is”

“What? You’re not changing it?”

“I absolutely cannot change it!!”

Although Renji seemed to be somewhat dissatisfied with this, Rukia decided to refuse altering her gotei soldier registered name as she thought there was a real danger that her mind would get distracted if person after person that encountered her called her 'Abarai’.

Giving a slight nod to the official, Byakuya headed outside. The couple also followed suit.

(My last name is Abarai now)

Rukia thought it was quite strange how her family name had just changed In a matter of minutes. As she walked, Rukia wondered whether or not a day would ever come where she’d get used to being called 'Abarai’, Byakuya who was walking several steps ahead of them, stopped abruptly.

“….…You two are husband and wife now”

He said this whilst his back remained turned towards them. They instinctively straightened their posture.

“……Renji”

“Yes!”

Renji’s facial expression stiffened as he waited for Byakuya’s next words. Slightly lowering his head, Byakuya spoke.

“……Take care of Rukia”

Bowing deeply, Renji answered with sincere conviction, “of course……!”

Rukia held back her tears and bit her lip.

“Captain……! I will, absolutely……at all costs for Rukia-……”

"I’ve made arrangements for you to be able to announce your marriage at the captains meeting this afternoon……don’t be late.”

Byakuya coolly spoke, interrupting Renji who was about to say something good.

“This……afternoon……? Eh….!?”

“……Eh? Eeehh!? Today!?”

Feeling a sense of vertigo from their emotions, the pair fell into a slight state of panic.

“But……about that……I still have to prepare myself……!”

Losing the senses in her teary eyes, Rukia’s gaze darted about.

“I-isn’t this a bit too sudden!? Perhaps after we’ve settled down a bit more……”

“Are you saying……my efforts have been rendered futile……?”

Byakuya slowly turned his head to look over his shoulder, he looked at the pair with eyes that had cast aside emotion.

“We’ll announce it today”

“Please accept our sincere apology for your troubles”

At that moment, the pair had collected themselves again.

“If that is the case, then make haste”

With a final sharp look, Byakuya immediately shunpo’d away.

For a moment they stood there in a daze before coming to their senses, in a mad dash they headed back towards the Kuchiki mansion to change into their shihakushou.

End.

