Once

Character/Pairings: Kaien/Hisana

Rating: M

Genre: Romance/Drama

Summary: When Hisana mistakenly loses track of time, she is stuck on Mt. Koifushi, alone, with Kaien, whom she barely knows. It is during this time of discomfort that she finds out things about him and herself she'd rather not know.

A/N: Hello, readers! If you're reading this and thinking, "Oh, God, not another Kaien/Hisana fic", I'll have you know it hurts my feelings, but I wrote this thing anyway cuz I just like the pairing. This isn't like my other cutsie one-shots. It will be a three-shot. I intended it to be a one-shot, but certain scenes ended up too lengthy for me to squish it all into a single chap. This first chappy is T rated. I'll launch into the M stuff the following entry. For those who see similarities between this and A Wet Dream, it is cuz this was the original verson and A Wet Dream was the revised.

Reviews are welcome! Tell me what you think. :} Really. Just press that sexy review button. -.-


Hisana felt a sudden waft of air play across the rich creamy pallor of her cheeks, which were coloring a rosy shade from delight of the zephyr. The craftily done braids she'd half-heartedly put effort into plaiting where coming loose from the ribbons she'd tied the ends in and hung limp on either side of her round, heart-shaped face. Her irises were a liquid muave, wherein her eyes themselves were big and owl-like and framed perfectly by the rest of her features. Her button nose wrinkled a bit as she tried to distinguish the fragrances of all the flowers on the hill and failed.

She folded her hands in her lap, clasping her fingers together and allowing her head to loll back on her shoulders. Her braids, which were coming undone, cascaded down over her shoulders in thick, frayed strands of ink black. Hisana smiled, her lips lifting happily.

It was spring, and such was a day that it was just too lovely and picturesque to turn down the chance to drop everything for a trip to Hokutan. Getting away from the Kuchiki estate wasn't necessarily a ritual, but it was the closest thing to a retreat that she had. Hisana didn't have a sanctuary or a place she could escape, but she figured that this was just as well considering it was the most gorgeous place in Rukongai. Needless to say, she didn't plan to stay long, which was quite regrettable. Byakuya would never permit her to be from his sight for a lengthy amount of time.

Mt. Koifushi was especially beautiful during this period of the year. With each gust of wind the atmosphere was permeated with the scent of cherry blossoms from elsewhere in the forest.

The tall perennial plants enclosing the lush, grassy clearing shifted in the breeze while the smaller florae bent slightly in tandem. She tossed her weight back and fell onto the ground, inhaling and then letting out a lengthy, happy sigh. Her fingers clutched onto the blades of grass, savoring their texture and the prickly feel it left on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes, feeling the breeze play across her cheeks and through her tresses, picking up the stray strands and whisking them about in a dance.

Hisana frowned as something blotted out the enjoyable sunlight, and she opened her eyes, lips pursed and brow furrowing slightly.

She squeaked faintly and shrank back into the grass when she saw Shiba-fukutaicho, who's face was but inches from her own. He was so close, in fact, she could see every detail of the sea foam green of his irises.

A scarlet hue crept into her cheeks in the form of a wild blush at his proximity and she clasped her hands together feebly against her breasts.

He smiled at her then, a genuine smile that made Hisana's lips lift in turn.

"Hi," he said.

"H-hi..."

Kaien withdrew, pulling away from her, and plopped down next to her on his back. The few occasions in which Hisana had come to Koifushi to survey the landscape, he had always been here, training or doing something of the like. Judging by its well-kept state, he had gotten here first. She and him were on approachable terms as they had met once or twice while he'd been doing business with Byakuya.

They were always formal and kept conversation to a minimum. Hisana was fascinated with Kaien as he was a shinigami of more experience in his field of work as he was older; that, and Byakuya never talked about his job and she had so many questions to ask.

"It's nice up here this time of year, isn't it?" he asked her.

Hisana nodded so vigorously he laughed.

"I hope you don't mind my being here..." she murmured.

"Oh, not at all." She felt his arm brush up against hers, and she reflexively scooted closer to the warmth his body exuded. Luckily, he didn't seem to notice. Hisana had a long-standing crush on him; obsession was more the appropriate term, but it was also a term excluding you from the class of peope that are considered normal. Hisana preferred normal. She was still trying to engage in Byakuya's activites and get to know him on a more intimate level. He was, quite frankly, having trouble opening up to her.

She tried as often as possible not to let her eyes wander. She wasn't a common whore. She respected boundaries and knew the implications of trying to make a successful or potential marriage function properly. However, it was made a tad bit more problematic when Shiba-fukutaicho happened to have a past with Byakuya which meant that the aforementioned man popped up with alarming regularity in their daily lives.

He was also remarkably beautiful.

It wasn't to say that all Soul Reapers weren't inhumanly beautiful; Kaien just pulled it off better. Which made abstaining twice the strain. So here she was, feeling quite awkward, as Kaien eagerly pointed out a few clouds that seemed oddly shaped. Hisana joined in the game just for the sake of a diversion and found numerous clouds that looked like Chappy or other equally cute things. He would just be creative and play along. She felt happy to have his company; it wasn't often either of them got to unwind.

Being the lady of a household had its trials in spite of what one may think; her position meant she had to deal with clan affairs and issues involving everything to funds to matters with lower branch families. Hisana was only grateful she didn't have to do the really nasty stuff: royal family business. Whenever aristocrats from other imperial clans had to meet, covering everything from executions to the transport of artifacts under surveillance of the remote squads, Byakuya would go because he was the head of the household. Overall, their duties took up a lot of spare time and required a mature, stern attitude, something Hisana lacked in what with her weak, trepidatious personality.

She admired Kaien his fortitude. She had been with Byakuya on errands before to the 13th's barracks and had witnessed Shiba-fukutaicho with his subordinates. Hisana appreciated the genuine determination and readiness that kept his squad in line and strengthed their confidence in him. It was the makings of a true leader.

His happy-go-lucky personality was just as inviting. It relaxed her.

In fact, she felt so comfortable around him, Hisana didn't have any idea how much time had passed until the sky had turned a hazy orange-ish yellow with splashes of violet off to the horizon. The sun was setting, making the clouds appear almost pink.

"Kaien-san, I think it's getting late," Hisana informed him. When he didn't answer, she lifted her her head and supported herself with her elbows.

"Kaien-san?" She looked over at the fukutaicho. He had one arm folded across his waist and his head had lolled to the side. He was very much asleep. Her first impulse was to wake him, but when she looked at him, she couldn't tear her gaze away. He looked so peaceful...

She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, the lax position of his body.

Her eyes drifted to his own, the prominent lower lashes, his sun-kissed complexion, his lips, which were slightly parted as he breathed in and out evenly.

Hisana had always thought Kaien was good-looking, whether he was angry or solemn, or happy, but in comparison to now, everything paled in significance. He looked utterly angelic-she would like to say "beautiful" but that was beyond her scope of boldness, for sure.

No, instead of rousing him, Hisana pulled her tiny figure against his own to ward off the chill that was accompanying the evening dark and pressed herself to his side. She buried her nose into the thick fabric of his uniform and curled up, her hand grazing the defined contours of his abdominals.

She had to refrain against the irrational urge to do so again, and instead tucked her hands against her bosom. The breeze sent a tremor up her spine when it came, and she heard the rustle of the leaves again. A dense blanket of cloud passing overhead onimously foretold a downpour to come.

Hisana inwardly prayed it didn't come to that and flattened herself up against her spiky-haired companion.