The Hollow Queen

What a Man Will Do For Love.

"Jeez King, if you get any more mad you're gonna cause an inferno in here. The AC is out i my apartment so I'd appreciate if you kindly CALM THE FUCK DOWN BEFORE I MELT!!!" Hichigo shouts from inside Ichigo's inner world. The fury present in the substitute lieutenant causes a massive heat wave in his inner world.

'I'd like to see you deal with this better than I can. Every single one of these jackasses has something smug to say about me, my family or Rukia. I have half a mind to gut the next person who says anything rude about them!" Ichigo responds, communicating with his zanpakuto through his thoughts.

"Fine fine, there's no need to shout." Hichigo teases knowing full well that he was the one yelling earlier. "I think it'd be more entertaining for me to let you suffer through this. I'm gonna go find a room with a working AC and enjoy the show. Try not to kill anyone, partner." His laughter fades away into the aether of Ichigo's mind leaving him all alone in the ballroom of a bunch of puffed up nobles here for a dick measuring contest.

Part of him wanted another arrancar attack right now, the past hour alone had been unbearable. At least the Kyoraku noble family were as laid back as Shunsui, he and Jushiro are both in attendance and probably the most tolerable people here. Soi Fong and a few members of her noble family as well as the Omaeda family. Yoruichi and her incredibly excitable brother Yuushiro are present as well. Then there's Ichigo's side of the family consisting of his insane father, his just as insane cousin, and his short tempered aunt. The twins were both far out of their wheelhouse, not knowing what to do aside from raid the food table. The particular family that has earned his ire is the Omaedas, specifically Marenoshin Omaeda and Marejirosabu. It's bad enough that the fat useless oaf of a lieutenant is here, gorging himself at the deserts table, but the way that the family head and youngest son speak about both him and Rukia is starting to drive the knife.

"Lord Byakuya, have you finally decided on who shall marry your sister? I know my son's name has been on your family's matchmaker registry for several years now. It's about time you gave that street rat some use and married her to a man with some prestige." The Omaeda patriarch, almost as fat as his lieutenant son, sporting what looks like a white fluffy bath robe over a soft maroon tinted kimono and purple sash. Around his fat neck sit a chain of opulent gold framed jewels. He wears a pair of gray blue aviator shades with a thin wispy perv mustache. Ichigo can't even count how many chins the man has. "She'd definitely eat well, married to one of my boys." The jolly man laughs.

"I have decided on whom she shall marry, however it is not your youngest son or Lieutenant Omaeda from the second division." The wind is immediately taken from the fat man's sails. Every time he had mentioned her for the past hour it was like she was just some golden trophy to be collected and hoarded.

"You look like you're going to snap any second now, Ichigo." The laid back and calm voice of Shunsui draws his attention away from the two nobles. "I take it someone is getting on your nerves?"

"You could say that." he responds, the older captain offering him a saucer of warm Sake to calm him down. Ichigo smirks seeing the liquid before accepting the dish. "I hate how they talk about me, about Rukia and my dad's side of the family."

"I can tell, it's written on your face." The older man says, the kimono he usually wore over his captain's haori is now what he wears to the ball. "It's all a game to them, petty politics, one upping each other. They even trade daughters like pawns in chess, trying to solidify truces and stop family feuds."

"I don't know how she stands any of this crap." Ichigo says partially under his breath to the older man.

"She grew up in it, you're the son of a doctor in the human world so your upbringings are vastly different. It will let you grow even more respect for your dear kuchiki princess, Captain Kuchiki will probably announce your courtship soon and after that, your aunt has a fireworks festival prepared." Jushiro says, while the Ukitake family are lesser nobles, he only really tagged along to keep Shunsui mostly sober.