Finding a girlfriend for Kuchiki Byakuya
chapter 1
"Where the hell are my clothes?" Rangiku complained irritably as she stepped out of a very popular hot spring in a nearby suburb of seireitei. She had just come out of it and was about to change when she found her clothes, that were left in a not so secured changing cottage surrounding the bath, were missing.
So now, clutching a towel as far from modestly as possible around her freshly bathed body that was letting out faint steams in the air, she muttered curses under her breath while looking around the perimeter for her missing apparel.
"If Haineko is at it again, I'll confiscate all her feathery toys this time..." she frowned while softly padding around the place, looking for any possible hiding spot under rocks and trees.
"... Senbonzakura." A deep distant voice made her look up and she almost tripped in shock.
The tall masked man stood few yards away from her, half hidden under the shades of the woods where the secluded hot spring was located, holding her clothes neatly folded in his hands. His soft long ponytailed hair was blowing in the breeze.
His dark grey eyes were watching her with such intense focus, she couldn't speak for a moment.
"Senbonzakura?" She muttered in confusion.
"Senbonzakura!" The voice still called him from somewhere behind him, she couldn't see. He took long strides towards her and held out the folded clothes. She was too confused to react.
"I have your clothes, Matsumoto Fukutaichou."
"Th... Thank you?" she stuttered, clutching the towel on her almost exposed chest.
"Senbonzakura." The captain of the sixth squad appeared behind him and halted as soon as he saw them. She watched as his eyes slowly became large when they fell on her.
"Where did you find them?" She turned back towards the masked man still looking at her intently.
"I took them." he replied nonchalantly.
Her mouth dropped in surprise.
"Why did you..."
"Senbonzakura" Kuchiki Byakuya called for him again, privy to the conversation that had just happened between the two. "Why haven't you been responding to my summoning?"
Senbonzakura completely ignored his master and continued with his heated gaze at her. "Matsumoto Fukutaichou, would you please have sex with me?"
She dumbly stared at Senbonzakura for a while.
"Senbonzakura!" his master behind him was losing his hold on his perfect calm and stoic.
"I like looking at you when you bathe in the hot spring, I had been watching you for many days and I think I love you. Now I would like to do more." Senbonzakura's calm and monotonous voice continued with his offer of amour. "Since you don't have any clothes on right now, we can quickly do it."
With the corner of her eyes she saw the Captain Kuchiki pressing his fingers down on his temple. "Senbonzakura!"
And she couldn't stop herself anymore as a fit of giggle took over her and next thing she knew she was crouching on the ground holding her stomach, laughing her ass off.
Both man stared at the almost naked woman knelt on the ground, vibrated in the silent bout of laughter.
"Matsumoto Fukutaichou please excuse Senbonzakura." She heard the most unyielding captain of Gotei 13 sounding almost apologetic.
She looked up at him then looked back at Senbonzakura. "Don't worry about it Kuchiki Taichou." she stood up and with one swift move snapped her long hair from one side to another, ready to turn back.
"About the offer Senbonzakura." Her face was still lit in humour as she eyed both the master and his manifested Zanpakutō. "I don't make it my habit to say yes to everyone who asks that of me. It's not that easy. Also, you're handsome and all but I do require my man to be... at least a man, not a manifested Zanpakutō spirit. And that's the least of it."
She paused for bit then lightly touched his arm, "in the future maybe you can try taking that mask off before offering your love to anyone Senbonzakura. I know Haineko will loved to know how you look underneath it." She winked and grabbed the clothes he was still holding.
"See you around Kuchiki Taichou. Do try to keep this little pervert in control" with her suggestive smile she left him breathing in the fresh smell of sea salt.
Byakuya stood watching the departing figure of this illusive woman who was showing way more skin than he had seen in decades and not being remotely shy about it. He frowned and realised Senbonzakura was about to follow her footsteps as she disappeared behind the door of one if the changing cottages.
"Senbonzakura." He held out the sheath of his Zanpakutō. "Return. Now."
He watched the eyes of his master for a moment, his silence threatened another outbreak of defiance from him.
Byakuya took in a deep breath, "this is an order Senbonzakura. You have troubled the woman enough."
Senbonzakura was a little concerned. But Byakuya couldn't tell whether it was the worry that his chances of getting laid might thin out due to this 'trouble' he had caused, or it was the slightly angry deathglare that emanated from his master towards him, that made him evaporate into thin air and return as the Zanpakutō in the sheath.
After the Zanpakutō rebellion and the chaos, the 12 squaders were still working hard to find an acceptable way to control and eventually stop the Zanpakutō spirit's wilful manifestation. Although some of the aspects can be controlled by the masters, complete domination was yet to be achieved.
While tucking his Zanpakutō and its sheath back in its place, Byakuya decided with a frown to never to let Senbonzakura loose again. Byakuya was his master and Senbonzakura had never before defied him. He was sure if he was strict enough with his orders, nothing like this would happen again.
Before turning away to leave the woods at the perimeter of the hot spring, Byakuya spotted the strawberry blonde lieutenant of the tenth squad reappeared from the cottage. Their eyes met for a split second before she threw her shiny hair in the air, and strolled away with her usual slow glamorous gait towards another route. He thought with a little bit of uncertainty, that she might've flickered an unreadable mysterious smirk at his directions before disappearing within the bushes.
...
"Matsumoto" Toshiro eyed him suspiciously. "What is this?"
"Senbonzakura." she lazily spoke from her spot at the couch.
"What is he doing here?"
"My question exactly." it was Haineko who spoke from the other side of Toshiro.
"Running errands that I'm clearly too busy to do." She yawned. "Senbonzakura. Could you bring me a bottle of juice?"
He bowed sightly the disappeared out the door of the tenth squad captains office.
"Matsumoto. What the hell are you up to?"
"Come on Taichou, just having a little fun. He offered to do anything if I let him touch my boobs." She rolled her eyes.
"What?" Toshiro yelled red faced. "Why would you do that? Have you lost all your sense of shame?"
Before Rangiku could say anything Kuchiki Byakuya stormed inside the office. "Matsumoto Fukutaichou. May I have a word?"
She hid a sniffle and got up from the couch.
"I would appreciate it if you stop trying to turn my Zanpakutō into a slave of your will."
"Kuchiki Taichou, I'm not forcing him to do anything against his will."
"You have offered to let him touch your...your…" he stopped abruptly.
Her eyes were large, blue and humorous. "Breasts? Not exactly. I said I will think about it." She said in a teasing way.
"Matsumoto Fukutaichou, Senbonzakura is a Zanpakutō. He is not nor will he ever be a real human. His physical manifestation has only made him more confused about his urges. It is also something that we need to address with the 12th squad. He isn't capable of knowing what to say or how to act in situations like these. What I'm trying to say is that, having a woman like you, distracting him, is only making him more confused..."
"Woman like me?" She interrupted in a seriously tone. "Please tell me whatever you meant by that Kuchiki Taichou." Her voice was cold suddenly.
He paused briefly. "Woman like you, allusive and attractive in ... that way."
She thought she was going to choke in shock. That way. She started giggling. "And what way is that?"
He looked uncomfortable. Extremely.
A footstep appeared from behind them and both turned to find Senbonzakura holding a bottle of fruit juice. "Matsumoto Fukutaichou here's the juice bottle you wanted."
She could almost hear Kuchiki Byakuya sighing out in frustration.
"Senbonzakura. Have you forgotten that it's the time for my daily practice?"
"No master. I have not."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Assisting Matsumoto Fukutaichou with whatever she needs of me."
"Why?"
Rangiku watched with anticipation at this very odd conversation that was happening in front of her.
"Because I like being near her. She has a very nice body that makes me want to be near her all the time and she smells like..."
"Okay stop." She couldn't watch the misery and confusion in Kuchiki Taichou's face anymore. "Senbonzakura you should go with your master. If it was Haineko defying me, I wouldn't like it either."
Byakuya looked at her with something similar to surprise in his eyes. He never expected any form of understanding or selflessness from her.
"Will you come with me?" Was that a slight plea in Senbonzakura's voice? Her eyes darted towards Kuchiki Byakuya. He looked even more uncomfortable, if that was at all possible.
"I think that's a great idea." Toshiro arrived at the spot at that exact moment. "In return would Kuchiki Taichou let my lieutenant spar with you a little? She needs the practice, badly. I'm sick of seeing her lazy form on the couch everyday doing nothing else but sleeping and drinking."
Byakuya thought for a second. He prefers his practice session to be quiet and alone, then again he would have none of that if Senbonzakura was busy elsewhere, stalking behind this woman.
He nodded affirmatively then sighed. "Would you like to join us Matsumoto Fukutaichou?"
"Can she join us tomorrow as well? And the day after?" Senbonzakura was suddenly talkative. He sounded excited even.
Hitsugaya Toshiro looked like he had just found a box full of candy and undone paperwork. Anything to get that lazy lieutenant off his couch.
"Kuchiki Taichou. Please feel free to practice with my lieutenant as many times as you want. Take her with you every day if you need to."
The excitement in her captain's voice made Rangiku frown. "Haineko isn't here..."
"I'm here." Chirped Haineko from behind Hitsugaya Taichou. She was more than happy to interrupt Senbonzakura's little stalk sessions of Rangiku. Rangiku sighed first then seemed irritated, "what am I getting out of this? I don't have to do anything for Kuchiki Taichou or his..."
"Matsumoto. What you're getting out of this is not my foot in your..." Toshiro stopped mid-sentence and controlled his sudden outburst. "Listen, you have been in worse form than you ever had and as your captain it makes me concerned and honestly, a little bit embarrassed. So either you spar with Kuchiki Taichou whenever he's free or you do all my paperwork."
Yikes! Paperwork. No deal.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. I will spar with Kuchiki Taichou if he'll have me."
She wasn't sure but both Senbonzakura and Haineko suddenly seemed to have perked up. She knew Haineko was just happy at her chance of being near Senbonzakura. And Senbonzakura was happy to be near her. She sighed and reflected on how being beautiful, sexy, smart, witty and overall perfect had its down sides too.
She inwardly exasperated in frustration. This was going to be a chore. Everyone knew Kuchiki Taichou was the biggest killjoy in seireitei, most likely in the entire soul society too. If she was going to spend a part of her day with this guy, she needed to make this fun, somehow.
"I take it that you prefer to practice alone." She asked as she walked next to the Captain of the sixth squad, heading towards the training grounds.
He silently walked. He couldn't believe how he now needed to drag this woman along to his daily practice. This was supposed to be his alone time. The 12 squaders needed to hurry up and find a way to unmanifest these Zanpakutō spirits.
"No answer?" Her voice raised a little, "you know you should stop being rude to everyone. That's the reason why your poll has dropped significantly."
"My poll?"
"The shinigami women's associations' most desirable man of seireitei poll." She smirked.
He frowned. He had never heard of such thing.
"The only reason Ukitake Taichou is at the number one spot is because of his niceness. You've dropped down to the bottom 5, I'm afraid." She said it like it was a serious issue.
He couldn't believe how brainless the woman was if that was all she thought about on a work day.
He refused to dignify that with a response.
"Stop staring at her ass..." Haineko's heated voice startled both of them and they turned around to find the pair of trailing Zanpakutō spirits.
"It's nice to look at" Senbonzakura admitted without the slightest change in his tone. Rangiku giggled at Haineko's angry face. Her crush on Senbonzakura was known to everyone throughout the whole seireitei except these pair of knuckleheaded master and sword.
Byakuya's eyes involuntarily travelled towards the part of her body in question. And he found himself agreeing with Senbonzakura for a split second before mentally chastising himself for doing so.
"As I was saying..." she delved back into the previous conversation to Byakuya's dismay. "If you could stop being such a prick all the time and maybe practice some, I don't know, social skills, I bet you would be number one in no time."
"Matsumoto Fukutaichou I assure you I do not care the slightest about ever becoming number one most desirable man of seireitei according to shinigami women's association's poll." he hid his annoyance well.
"We all know that." She rolled her eyes. "Personally, I don't think you even deserve to be on the list with that attitude of yours." Her dusty blue eyes looked at him with all the mystery in the world. "At least Senbonzakura is putting himself out there."
Was she trying to compare him with Senbonzakura? As if admitting his ridiculous crush on her was somewhat heroic.
"Matsumoto Fukutaichou. I fail to see the need to as you say it...put myself out there."
"Don't get me wrong. I don't give two shits about you or your love life. I'm just worried about poor Rukia. As an influential member of the shinigami women's association, and being a woman in general I wanted give you some free advice for her."
"Rukia? What does she have to do with this?"
"Nothing much. But I did hear disturbing rumours about you and her around few places." She raised an eyebrow and eyed him. "It was especially made worse when the news of her being the splitting image of your late wife spread out. She's too young to be dealing with rumours like that. Especially involving her own brother. But of course she is not your blood relative. So if there was any truth to it..."
"Matsumoto" her arm was suddenly in his grasp and the grip almost dug into her skin painfully as he pulled her towards him. Her eyes widen at seeing the unnatural scowl on his face. She had finally done it. She had pissed the cold hearted captain of seireitei off real good. A part of her was triumphant at her success.
The other part shivered in cold fear as she looked at his grey eyes afire in rage.
"How dare you say such filth about my sister?"
His voice was deep as he growled out the threat. Instantly Senbonzakura was standing in between them, with his arms around Rangiku protectively, pulling her away from Byakuya. "Master. Please do not address Matsumoto Fukutaichou like this."
Byakuya stood with his fingers clenched into fists, eyeing the surprised Rangiku in Senbonzakura's arms.
To further his surprise, she pushed Senbonzakura aside heatedly, "let me go. Are you a real Zanpakutō spirit? Defying your master like this?" She scolded him. Both the master and the sword eyed her in astonishment. "If you were mine I swear I would kick your ass so hard..." She stopped and breathed in.
Byakuya's anger was momentarily forgotten.
She carelessly brushed her cloths and said casually, "and Kuchiki Taichou, I didn't say any of that filth. I'm merely pointing out what I've heard. I know Rukia. That little brat only has eyes for rebel bad boys like... " she eyes him suspiciously. "… I won't mention any names. I don't want anyone to die at my account."
Byakuya had finally calmed down and his cold face reappeared. "Pardon me." He muttered and Rangiku smirked at that. He quickly resumed his walk, she had to almost run to catch up.
After a long silent walk he asked hesitantly, "That rumour... has it really been spread?"
She watched him curiously then nodded in agreement. "Mmhmm. But there is a solution." She smiled wickedly. "All you need to do is get a girlfriend."
Yes. That would be fun. Rangiku's insides filled up in mischievous delight.
His eyed widen. A girlfriend? Where do you even find such thing?
She stifled another giggle. "Don't worry Kuchiki Taichou. If you want, I can help." her mouth widen with a smile. Byakuya felt a dread inside his stomach.
"And when you say help what do you mean exactly?" His monotonous voice had a very faint pitch.
She continued her toothy smile which threaten to turn her large blue eyes into a squint, "I will find a girlfriend for you."
...