[ 52 - Broadcast Mind ]
You're not like other nobles.
That's why there are fireworks on this night. The sky is ablaze with them, a thunderous roar of one explosion after another drowning out all else, captivating those present with its beauty. And danger--the Shibas have always played with fire, in both the strict sense of the term, and a metaphorical one. You've always been ones to push the envelope, to cast away over-formality and bindings to tradition in favor of that oh-so-elusive concept that's never seemed so foreign to you, of following your heart.
Amidst the brilliant display, then, you see your own name, and that of your beloved. You steal a glance over your shoulder, and your little brother and sister are there, clearly pleased with their surprise. You think if you smile any broader, your face might well split in two.
You're not like other nobles, and that is why this celebration takes place in your family home in Rukongai, why there are commoners mingling in the same location as Kuchiki and Shihouin. That's why your friends and squadmates are given just as much priority as your fellow nobles, and why the gift table is laden with everything from taiyaki to expensive tea sets.
That's why there is the telltale flush of alcohol on your cheeks, and that of your bride, and many of the guests, some in further states of drunkenness than others.
It's why this wedding is not a quiet, somber affair, but one filled with gaiety, laughter, and love. You lean in to kiss your wife for what must be the tenth (twentieth? who's counting!) time this evening, and she giggles, mocks pushing back (people are watching!) but leans into the kiss anyway.
And you know people are watching, some that might not approve--and some that do, all too wholeheartedly Kyouraku-taichou--but it doesn't matter. In a sense, you revel in it, this ability to share your joy with everyone else that you love. Every moment that hasn't been spent with her has been spent talking someone or another's ear off, and they laugh warmly and indulge you, and if your heart could swell any further it may just burst.
No, you're not like most other nobles at all, you think. Because the happiest, the proudest moment of your life is not becoming the head of your clan, nor any grand accomplishment as such, but the moment that you can share your name--and your heart--with the love of your life.
That's why there are fireworks on this night. The sky is ablaze with them, a thunderous roar of one explosion after another drowning out all else, captivating those present with its beauty. And danger--the Shibas have always played with fire, in both the strict sense of the term, and a metaphorical one. You've always been ones to push the envelope, to cast away over-formality and bindings to tradition in favor of that oh-so-elusive concept that's never seemed so foreign to you, of following your heart.
Amidst the brilliant display, then, you see your own name, and that of your beloved. You steal a glance over your shoulder, and your little brother and sister are there, clearly pleased with their surprise. You think if you smile any broader, your face might well split in two.
You're not like other nobles, and that is why this celebration takes place in your family home in Rukongai, why there are commoners mingling in the same location as Kuchiki and Shihouin. That's why your friends and squadmates are given just as much priority as your fellow nobles, and why the gift table is laden with everything from taiyaki to expensive tea sets.
That's why there is the telltale flush of alcohol on your cheeks, and that of your bride, and many of the guests, some in further states of drunkenness than others.
It's why this wedding is not a quiet, somber affair, but one filled with gaiety, laughter, and love. You lean in to kiss your wife for what must be the tenth (twentieth? who's counting!) time this evening, and she giggles, mocks pushing back (people are watching!) but leans into the kiss anyway.
And you know people are watching, some that might not approve--and some that do, all too wholeheartedly Kyouraku-taichou--but it doesn't matter. In a sense, you revel in it, this ability to share your joy with everyone else that you love. Every moment that hasn't been spent with her has been spent talking someone or another's ear off, and they laugh warmly and indulge you, and if your heart could swell any further it may just burst.
No, you're not like most other nobles at all, you think. Because the happiest, the proudest moment of your life is not becoming the head of your clan, nor any grand accomplishment as such, but the moment that you can share your name--and your heart--with the love of your life.