I DON'T OWN BLEACH

For Bleachfan78's birthday hugs and thanks for beta-ing this =)

Juushiro/FemBya

Noblesse Oblige; A FemBya Collection

Everything has been figured out, except how to live.
Jean-Paul Sartre

The Gift Part 1

The thin silver hair pins tinkle being placed in the woman's long thick hair. Her black silky locks are tugged and pulled, and pinned up high off her neck in a ceremonious braid curling around the top of her head in a circle. The last piece of jewelry, a silver circlet is placed around her head to rest on her forehead just above the pale pink sakura bulb that will open, blooming into a dark pink as a symbol of her nobility. This princess is a noble of the highest order named Byakuya Kuchiki and today is her Blossoming, her first taste of blood. But she is special and her high rank grants her an unusual gift.

"This way Byakuya-sama." Renji bows to her politely his head dipping low, his eyes not daring to look directly into hers. "I was told the Gift is here and waiting for you with everyone else in the grand ballroom. You must be very excited."

"Of course." she replies in a disinterested manner. A white cape is snapped around her neck with a silver clasp, the long fabric covering her bare shoulders and partially eclipsing the long strapless white gown that her mother's mother wore on her Blooming Day. How she dreads it. Should it be this way? Isn't it a flawed tradition that is overlooked by the clan just to cater to the nobility? "Useless questions." she scolds herself, following Renji to out the double doors of her suite and down the long red carpeted hallway. Two women step up and lift the ends of her antique dress, the heavy white fabric has tiny sakura blossoms embroidered on it with tiny pearls hand sown around the hem. Stepping down the curving staircase she keeps her eyes slanted to the side. These people, their faces hold no meaning for her other than their position in the bloodlines. With fewer and fewer families following the law, nobles in good standing have become a rarity. She is a part of a dying breed. Even her own clan has seen its share of controversy. Thankfully, Byakuya has managed to keep the clan from falling.

She is ushered to the next room where she sees her Gift tied by a long chain around its hands clamped behind it's back. Her eyes are drawn by the long black hair and the white blindfold covering its eyes. "It can't see me? That is a small favor. I won't have to see the terrified look on its face beforehand."

"Byakuya-sama, whenever you are ready."

"Thank you." Stepping to the center of the room her eyes lift toward the group of onlookers kept just outside the presentation room. Their hungry, heavy-lidded faces make this ceremony vulgar in Byakuya's eyes. Vampires don't do this... it's against the rules. For the first time in her life she is ashamed of being a noble. The long metal chain scrapes against the green marble floor drawing her eyes from the vultures to the man on his knees in front of her. "Don't enjoy it. It's barbaric."

His height must be considerable. He reaches her chest even on his knees. Byakuya leans over him and tries to block out the icy stares pointing in her direction. How shameless. They have even removed his shirt. Without waiting she places a hand on his shoulder and another on his neck. Her thumb sliding over his jaw is meant to comfort him just a bit. Her lips hover just above his neck, the fangs in her mouth extend to sharp points. "What is your name, human?" she whispers, in ears where no one else can see. It's not that she cares for him, it's more like she wants him to retain a bit of dignity that the others have taken from this human.

"J-Juushiro." he replies in a low voice. Her hands are so cold, but gentle. The scent of her perfume is sweet and fresh, like a violet touched by rain. But her teeth sink into him sending a burning sensation down his back. His hands clench as his back arches, the pain is fierce he wants to reject the terror streaking through him. Juushiro can feel the blood gathering around his neck, flowing from him into her.

Byakuya's hand curls around his chin; the touch is rare for her. His skin is soft and not as repulsive as she thought it would be. This is blood from a human; she can see why vampires are willing to die in order to taste it. It's delicious of course, but the thing that really has her focus is that it's satisfying. She could drink this man the rest of her life completely content. What an incredible... dangerous thing. Her head starts to swim; she releases him taking a step back. Watching in shock as her eyes focus on his hair slowly fading in to a pure white sheen. "I made his hair turn white..."

Taking the box from a silver tray from the servant stepping up behind her. Byakuya lifts out a small piercing gun and places it on his left earlobe. "I accept this gift." she says squeezing the trigger. Lifting away the gun, the small family heirloom of a sakura on a tiny silver hoop on his ear glints in the candlelight.

Applause breaks out from the gathered nobility. Setting the gun back on the silver tray, she exhales a quiet breath relived her part in this is over and these people will get out of her house. Soon as the guests file out she snaps her fingers causing the house to begin cleaning up and marches over to the man in the center of the room. "Unchain him immediately and lead him into my chambers." She turns her back on him and leaves the room.

He hears the chain keeping him in place loosen and an arm lifting him to his feet. He isn't afraid. If they were going to kill him, he would already be dead. Someone told him a lie. Juushiro assumed his life would be taken when he was bitten. Instead he is called a gift? What is going on?

"You are the luckiest bastard on the planet. You know that?" Renji grabs the man and leads him into another room. "Anyone would kill to be in your place."

His cuffs are unlocked and drop to the floor. Juushiro rubs at his wrists as he stumbles into another room still wearing the blindfold. The many sounds of the house help him picture what is happening around him. Footsteps pause as he walks by, a door opens and he feels a chair set behind him.

"Sit."

He sits.

"Renji, you may leave for the day."

The same voice from earlier makes Juushiro's head lift. The woman who bit him is in the room. Maybe this is where it happens. His head lowers, and he folds his hands together in his lap waiting for it to end.

"Kuchiki-sama, is that a good idea?" Renji looks at the man in the chair then winces at the glare on his bosses face. "I'll be two rooms away."

"Good night Abarai." Byakuya listens for the door to click shut before moving her eyes over to Juushiro. What is she going to do with him? Walking over his chair she unsnaps the cape around her shoulders allowing it to drop to the floor.

"Byakuya-sama?" Comes a knock at the door.

"Enter." she responds to the house maid. Her dress is carefully removed, her shoes, and finally her sleeping robe slips around her shoulders.

"Byakuya-sama..." The maid points to Juushiro's ear and the blood drop forming on his earlobe.

"I see. You may go." Listening for the door to shut, she returns to Juushiro's side. "It's forbidden to allow even one drop of your blood to go to waste. If you are ever injured seek me at once understand?"

"Y-Yes."

Leaning over him her lips part, her mouth wrapping around the earring and the drop of blood. Once again the rush fills her head. Tasting him so soon makes her head swim, her hands want to slide over his soft skin and- She hears him quietly gasp. Quickly she breaks away from his earlobe regaining her composure. "I hope you will... feel at ease and come to accept your role in my life."

"Y-You aren't going to kill me?" His head lifts, his mouth opening in shock.

"Kill you?" She snatches away the blindfold in shock. "You are to be my blood source for your entire life. I am not some filthy common vampire who needs to kill."

"Oh... dear." Blinking he looks up and sees the woman for the first time. Long raven hair curling slightly at her elbows draws his eyes first. Then her ashen blue eyes cool in manner but not harsh look back at him. His eyes begin to travel, slender waist, clear porcelain skin, and long slender fingers. The red yukata around her body only serves to mesmerize him. "Have you cast a spell on me?"

"I am offended by the insinuation. I would never stoop so low as to entice a man in that manner."

"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on." he tells her boldly. It's not in his nature to be so forward but her presence is so potent that she could win a man's soul with a mere glance. "I apologize for being so forward. It is not my intention to offend you."

"I forgive you." She replies shifting her weight to look at him more carefully. He smiles at her, causing her eyes to instantly narrow. She can't recall the last time anyone relaxed enough to smile around her. How usual, he makes her curious. Stepping closer to him she lightly touches his white hair. It's silky soft running through her fingers to fall back against his bare shoulder. Byakuya's hand moves quickly to his throat, her demeanor changing to deadly serious. "Only I am allowed to take your life."

"I am not afraid to die." Juushiro replies, his dark brown eyes lifting to look into hers. "Only of being a burden."

Byakuya takes a step back releasing him. His fearless expression shocks her to her core. "Be at ease. You... are not a burden to me." Walking to the inside door of her room she opens the double doors. "This will be your room. If you need anything at all ask a maid or Renji."

"Who is Renji?" He asks rising slowly from his chair.

"That's right, you were blindfolded. He is the over aggressive redhead that follows after me. You will meet him face to face tomorrow I'm sure."

He stops in the door way next to her. "Is he your lover?"

"N-No." she stutters at his question. How very unusual. "G-Good night." Shutting the door she walks over to her bedroom door. She glances over her shoulder and finds him standing in the doorway with a smile STILL on his face. Why is he so happy about this? Rukia's human gift had to be chased down and chained in the ceremony room for three weeks before he gave up running away. Juushiro looks like he is having the best time of his life. Who is he? And why is he given to her thinking he will die? It may be true that some nobles take the loophole in the law for granted. But why does her clan think she is the type?

Laying down in her bed she listens to the castle's daylight shield click into place. With the end of another night her eyes slip closed. "Will people always assume I'm heartless because I don't allow my emotions to show?"

~/~

The next week is one of adjustment for Juushiro. Everything is provided for him, clothes, food, and shelter. He spends ample time completely alone and wandering the vast rooms of the castle. His only responsibility is to be careful and of course when Byakuya-sama calls for him to come quickly. She hasn't once. Juushiro has not even set eyes on her since then.

"I would like to see her." he says to himself washing his hands in his private bathroom. Looking up at his reflection he lifts his brow, he still can't get used to his newfound white hair. Many of the maids smile blushing in his company so he guesses it's appealing. However, he likes to keep it neatly tied back in a small silver clip he found in his room a few days after he arrived at the castle. "I know what to do."

The night is long over, the shields blocking out the sun have been down for an hour and Byakuya's eyes feel heavy with exhaustion. For three generations her family home has been the nations archive for the vampires' history. Every birth, every death, marriage, war, and even legal records are housed on the elaborate maze of the first floor. Leaving her office she makes the short trek up to the second floor to the living quarters section of the castle. Reaching her room she waves away Renji and shuts the door behind her. Her shoulders slump slightly relieved at the solace her bedroom provides. "I could use a hot shower."

Twenty minutes later she emerges from her bathroom feeling much better. Sitting on her large bed her feet lift from the floor, her back drops to her pink quilt and her eyes slipping shut. Until she hears a knock at her door, a knock from Juushiro's door. Her eyes slip open moving to look at the large double doors. Does he need something? She instructed him to ask the help not her. He knocks again, "Come in, Juushiro." she says sitting up in the bed. It couldn't hurt to see a smiling face.

"Good morning." He smiles bashfully. "I hope I'm not interrupting you."

"Not at all. I was only about to-" her voice stops as he produces a pink rose from behind his back. "For me?"

"I saw it and thought of you." That line sounded much better in practice. "I'm not good at this kind of thing. I just wanted to see you." He confesses stepping in front of the bed and handing her the flower.

"He wanted to see me?" Truly perplexed she takes the flower from his hand, the thorns cutting into his skin make her eyes dilate. "I have cut you." Byakuya says in a low whisper, the red blood appearing in a thin line across his pale fingertip and thumb. An unusual lust makes her mouth water, her tongue slipping out to wet her lips. Abstinence for an entire week might have been a bad idea.

"It's noth-" His wrist is lightly seized, the wounded finger drawn into her mouth, the blushing flower with hints of morning dew still clinging to its fragile petals fall silently to the thick white carpet next to his feet. Lips surround him, sucking the pad of his finger into a warm, moist heat, his breath hitches in his throat. It's intense, the tingling sensation of his blood drawn from such a tiny mark. He can't help but look at her mouth like a spell has been cast on him. No it's more like she blooms when drinking him. Her eyes suddenly lift to look into his. He blushes and starts to look away, but her hand clutches his chin gently, keeping his gaze locked onto hers. "She wants me to see her... No to see her being a vampire." The smoky blue color of her eyes brightens into the purest blue he has ever seen. "Bell flower blue..."

Despite her best effort to remain indifferent to this human she is finding the slightest inclination to reach out and touch him. Yet, letting him see her as she is and not how the people around her do is a challenge. Humans are so easily broken. He could react in so many undesired ways. "He isn't looking away though." She is the first to look away. How she despises herself for it. His quiet, kind nature is making her experience something new, and with it an unusual insecurity. Her thirst increases suddenly, her teeth sending a sharp pain through her head. Breaking away her eyes close, waiting a week before another feeding is a terrible idea. Byakuya doesn't want to take comfort in him, just sink her teeth into his pale neck. "Ridiculous emotions. I am acting like a foolish girl."

Juushiro watches her move away and vanish into her bathroom, his mind swirling with so many questions and only one clear answer. Walking over to his bedroom door he stands waiting for her to appear before returning to his room. After a few minutes the door opens and she looks up. "I wanted to wish you a peaceful sleep. And I would like permission to come to you tomorrow." He waves his hands in the air nervously. "After your work is done of course. So that you can... you know." He puts his hand on the door as her eyes narrow. "I may have offended her." Regretting his words, he opens the door retreating to his room. Before he can shut the door her form appears behind him. Taking a breath he turns around to explain his actions. "Renji-kun told me you should drink everyday or you will be in pain."

Unbelievable... Juushiro is actually concerned for her. "You... may visit me anytime you like." Byakuya quietly responds then closes the door abruptly.

~/~

The following evening Juushiro is wandering through many tall rows of books in the history section of the library. Looking for nothing in particular he runs a fingertip over the spines of identical red colored hard back books. He continues to explore fed by his own curiosity. Walking past two double doors he comes to a larger room the previous one. Instead of wall to ceiling books like the previous room, this circular shaped room has only two books in the center on a silver pedestal. He doesn't dare touch it for fear of someone scolding him so he is content to look around the room and the strange emptiness. Glancing to his right he sees a rising staircase wrapped around the curving walls. His eyes flick to the top and another set of double doors leading to a second floor, and the familiar voice coming from beyond it. He climbs the steps and lifts a hand to knock.

"Come in Juushiro."

He hears Byakuya call. Opening the door his head peeks inside to see a large office. "Am I disturbing you?" he smiles nervously. "I can wait." Juushiro notices two other people standing in the room, all their faces seem to be stressed. The tension could be cut with a knife.

"I believe I answered the question already." Byakuya replies turning her eyes back to her sister and her current problem. Waiting for Juushiro to enter and shut the door she continues to speak, "The law must be respected."

"Nee-sama I want to do this." Rukia looks at her sister pleading with her large violet eyes. "I love him."

"The law is clear. I have only one option open if you choose this path." Byakuya says coolly her eyes refusing to look at the orange-haired terrorist who stole her sister's heart.

"We aren't expecting special treatment." Ichigo says rubbing his damp palms on his blue pants. "I just... didn't want her to leave without saying goodbye."

Swallowing the sadness in her throat Byakuya rises from her seat and walks to the large window to look outside. "Juushiro..."

"Yes?" He blinks watching her gesture for him to come to her. Stepping next to her he listens to her start to talk about the flowers down in the garden.

"It's a bright night. Have you seen the night blooming roses yet?" Byakuya asks opening the sliding window to the terrace and stepping out onto the balcony. "This is my private garden. No one is allowed to walk it's paths without my approval."

"I... have not walked outside at night." At first he thinks it's strange until he glances at Byakuya's reflection in the mirror and the sad expression on her face. Juushiro knows, and understands that Rukia will be banished. The protection of her nobility will end and Byakuya will never be able to watch over her. Juushiro shoots a look over his shoulder at the two lovers hand in hand. "Byakuya, would you like to walk through the garden with me?"

"Yes." She is suddenly grateful Juushiro seems aware of the situation. She makes a note to find out about his history as she glides down the outer stone steps to the garden. "These flowers are mine. They are... the only thing that has managed to thrive around me."

"My father told me once..." Juushiro travels along the path next to her pointing a hand to the white roses opening up around them. "That I would meet a woman whom flowers would bloom in her wake."

"He sounds like a poet." she answers slipping her eyes shut as two figures vanish out of her garden hand in hand. It's always that way with Rukia and Ichigo. Hand in hand, a unit of measure gods would not dare put a price on. "Good for you, Rukia. Good for you."

"I thought he was out of his mind." Juushiro watches as flowers all around uncurl and spread open so fearlessly filling the air with sweet scents. "Looks like he was right..." he says in a low voice fighting the urge to take her hand in his. She is hurting and he wants to soothe her, but Byakuya seems a proud type of woman and touching her may be unwelcome right now. "I have found you."

The feeling that he had something else to say lingers in the air as she turns to look up at him. "Who are you, Juushiro? You know our ways more than most humans. Please tell me how you came to be my gift?"

"I am the oldest of eight children. In my family we have a tradition of one serving the Vampire Kingdom as a token of our faith in the peace treaty. I volunteered."

"You mean you are a War Concession?" Byakuya's eyes slip closed in thought. He came here to satisfy a responsibility to his family and country. "He and I are not that different. We both play our parts in society." Opening her eyes she looks at the warm expression on his face and can't help but find him handsomely pleasant. "You are human aristocracy."

"I am..." Gathering his courage he reaches out to take her hand, the heat between their palms makes him feel a bit less lonely. "But, I am not sorry. I feel like I have a purpose here with you."

"W-With me?" she drops his hand stepping away. "I don't-"

"Don't you?" Juushiro can't help but pity her and the isolation she goes through in this large castle with no one to touch or embrace. "I'll be with you for life. You will never be alone again." Juushiro reaches an open hand out in front of him hoping, praying she will accept his offer.

Her eyes move to his, she carefully considers his offer. It's not in her nature to be emotional but, deep down... she has been so lonely. So unbearably alone and even more now that Rukia is gone. Seconds seem to tick away impossibly slowly before Byakuya lifts her hand.

The small pale fingers hesitate before his slipping into his larger palm, her blue eyes reflecting her uncertainty stare into his. His throat feels tight. Juushiro isn't a shy man, just not used to being around such a beautiful woman like Byakuya. His thumb runs over the top of her hand, the softness making a gasp escape his throat. Unwilling to break to contact or the silence between them his lips lower to graze the creamy white back of her hand.

Byakuya's hand tightens trying to pull away, her eyes blinking at his formality and his refusal release her. Juushiro's eyes, his hand, the warmth blossoming between them is enough to make her stay. She can't move. She can't look away. The large dark brown eyes plead for a sign that she feels, that she is here in this garden feeling the same way he is. Licking her lower lip, she leans close to him, smelling the fresh water scent of his silver hair. The thirst hits her again, making her want to sink into him and listen to him make that tiny gasp. Her lips run over his neck slowly, temptation... she could take him like this again. "Juushiro..."

"Yes?" he answers, her dulcet voice, her breath flitting around his ear making a chill cover his arms. Closing his eyes in surrender he waits for her bite. His body already responding in anticipation, but she surprises him by inching her petal soft lips up his jaw line to the very corner of his mouth. The contact is brief, stirring a hunger in him for her. He leans over her quickly pressing his lips against hers. His hands find her face gently sliding his palms against her cheeks. "Lovely... she is lovely to touch." Juushiro's mind swirls with her. The scents of flowers intensify; her skin is soft in his hands, her lips plump and smooth. Taking a short step closer to her, he leans over her deeper, leading the kiss as his lips part and suck on her lower lip. Desire wells up in his chest and his hands move up into her thick raven hair. "Softer than silk. No one would even realize unless they looked, unless they touched." Everything about her is so subtle. She is a rare flower to him, something worth more than money. A man could spend his whole life searching for what he has in his hands. Sensing her stiffen he breaks the kiss. However he doesn't' step away, that would whisper to her he is regretting. Instead he simply moves his hair back with his hand and arches his neck so she can sate her need.

"I-I'm fine." she says in a breathy tone and quickly vanishes up the stairs as daylight begin to brighten the horizon.

"I don't think you are fine. I'm certain I'm not fine." he says to himself walking through the garden and noticing the flowers have closed up. "I didn't expect this..."

End of part1^^ I hope you like it =)