The drunken encounter

Author's Note: Hello again! This one is short compared to the first but I'm actually happy with the way it ended. I mean, it's not superromanced centered like I expected it to be but it's satisfying. I like the way things ended and I hope you do too! I'm sorry for not being able to get the attitude of the characters so well, I'm not really great at that. I'll learn in the long run, eventually! :)

Disclaimer: All characters are born from the creative mind of Kubo Tite – the mangaka of Bleach. I do not own anyone aside from the character(s) that I will add (if I will) at some point of the story as it develops.

Synopsis: One night, Kurosaki Ichigo, a third year student of fine arts and design along with his best friends, Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji, decided to get drunk and do crazy things for the sake of a good story.

I mean, if anything involving his drunk self with Rukia's beloved and uptight brother isn't considered crazy, Kurosaki Ichigo doesn't know what is.

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AFTER THE DRUNKEN ENCOUNTER

Here's the thing, I never thought that I'll ever get to see Kuchiki Byakuya after that one drunken meeting and a great conversation witnessed by the moon. I know that I can be a bit of a poet, sometimes, or when I actually want to be. But yes, I met Rukia's brother, again, three more times, actually, after the party.

The first one was the day following the party. It was when I decided to get out of the apartment after studying for five hours straight because damn, my brain is going haywire with all the information. I went to buy coffee from that shop that had a cozy feel to it – the one that's two blocks from the subway station near the university. You're probably wondering why I didn't go to Urahara's, it's because I'm not really up for socializing today. I already did a lot of that last night.

Upon entering the establishment, I immediately went to fall in line but to my complete and utter surprise, Kuchiki Byakuya was the person standing in front of me. The logical thing to do is to greet him but I don't know if I can especially after how I embarrassed myself. So instead of greeting him like any mature person would do, I acted as if I don't recognize him until he turned around after getting his order when we made eye contact. I had to at least do something, don't I? Hence I offered a small awkward smile which he returned with a nod.

A week passed before another meeting occurred. It was at a bookstore I frequent whenever I want to buy second hand books. I like that store because the owner is a good old man who knows a lot about literature and the books he sells have short anecdotes written in cursive lying around the pages of said books. It shows how other people think and to some extent, their way of thinking. It's inspiring. I remember that I was sitting in between the bookshelves and reading a copy of Boccaccio's The Decameron when I heard someone clear their throat.

"You read?" I looked up and saw Byakuya. He was wearing washed denim jeans, a beige coat with a white shirt underneath, the same colour of shoes, and his hair was up on a loose bun with strays framing the side of his face. I couldn't help the smile that came. Somehow, I always find myself smiling at him. "From time to time, yes." I answered before standing up so we could be at each other's eye level. "Why Boccaccio?" He asked, as per usual, no emotion betraying his face. "He's the greatest storyteller of all time." I simply replied. "And why the Decameron?" I pursed my lips as I tried to think of what exactly about this book I like. "It's about different people coming from all walks of life." Yes, that sounds about right. Byakuya lips twitched upwards, a small smile on his pretty face, before nodding his head. "Yes." He said.

Now, on the third time of meeting Rukia's beloved brother by coincidence (yet again), I remembered something from a series I watched a long time ago. 'What do we say about coincidences?' to which the man who was asked replied 'the universe is rarely so lazy.' I can't help but wonder if this is the universe's way of telling me to befriend this man whom had the worst impression of me, probably, and because of that thought, I decided to go with my gut feel and do what I feel is right.

"Do you want to grab coffee?" I asked while staring at the painting hanging against the wall in front of me. I'm currently in an art exhibit of a friend – apparently, our common friend or in my case, a sensei who also happens to be Byakuya's senpai, Ukitake Jushiro, but a friend to us both, nonetheless.

The fuck is with the silence?

"I prefer tea." I heard him say after a few seconds of nothing. I'm sure there's currently a huge grin plastered across my face. "We'll be having tea, then." I replied before clearing my throat and turning to face Byakuya. "I didn't think you'd agree." Let's be real, here. Kuchiki Byakuya doesn't seem like the man who would have drink with his little sister's best friend who also happens to be the same man who drunkenly hit on him the first time they met.

"You were rude to me so yes, it is right for you to assume that I would not agree." I winced at that. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I was –" "But you were also a good company." I snorted before teasingly saying "How so?" Byakuya spared me glance before returning his gaze towards the painting. "Do not fish for compliments, Kurosaki Ichigo." Ah, there it was.

"That's a first." I remarked after turning to look at the painting and placing my hands on my pocket. I could imagine him frowning but that's not going to happen. He would only raise his eyebrow that is if there was any emotion present on his face. "What is?" He asked. At least he sounded intrigued. "My name, you never said my name before."

Byakuya didn't say anything after that. We just stood there and looked at the painting which is proving to be quite interesting. It was of a man wearing a shihakusho fighting, what appears to be, a monster. The painting was dark with the sword of the man, the only thing shining.

"What do you think of this painting?" I hummed at that question. "What do you think?" I asked back. Once again, he has my full attention. "I think it is beautiful." My eyebrows automatically shot up. "How?" I asked, sounding very curious as I did. "When I look at this painting I see a man fighting his demons with everything he has." He said. "I see a man who is determined to win, when I look at this painting I see a man who's willing himself to survive in this world that can be full of temptations." He finished. "Truly, it is a painting worthy of admiration."

Gray met brown. There are no words to describe my awe for this man. You're probably thinking that many people would have concocted the same answer however it's not about what he said or how he worded the sentence, it was the way his eyes looked. Those gray orbs shining with rebellion, determination, and belief; it was rebellion to the temptations, determination to succeed in this fight that is life, and belief that in the end he will thrive.

"What about you, Kurosaki Ichigo, what do you see?" He asked, now fully facing me.

You know, until this day, I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I said the things that I said. I don't know where I got the courage to say it but I did.

"I see a man that has his walls up." I started, my eyes directly looking at his. "I see a man who's been hurt and is now scared to be hurt." His eyes widened by a fraction but it was gone the moment it came. "I see a man who probably thought, all his life, that he should be this instead of that." I paused, assessing if I hit a nerve. "When I look at this man, I see someone who is hiding behind a facade but that's okay because I think that this man is rebelling against the temptations, willing himself to survive this world that is said to be full of it, and from the looks of things, he's determined to win." I smiled at him before shrugging. "Maybe I'm just reading into it, maybe it's just me but that's the man I see."

Gray eyes met brown. We both know I wasn't talking about the painting, anymore. Byakuya's eyes stared into my own making me feel as if he's looking directly into my soul, trying to read what I'm thinking of. I offered a smile as I waited for him to speak. A few moments passed by before a small smile made its way to Byakuya's lips. "Can we have that tea, now?" He asked and I nodded my head. "Yeah."

Like I said, until this day, I don't know what came over me. I don't know why I said the things that I said and I honestly do not know where I got the courage to say it but I'm glad I did. Do you want to know why? It's because it led me to having this moment with the first person that made me wonder. It led to me lying on this bed with his head tucked under my chin, legs tangled together, and arms wrapped around his waist.

"What are you thinking of?" I heard him murmur as his breath caressed my ears. "Us." I responded. Byakuya tilted his head upwards, his left eyebrow raised as if telling me to expound. I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes. "I love you." I whispered. "I love you too." He replied. I kissed his forehead before pulling him closer – so close that our skins touch.

It doesn't matter why but I thank Kami that I did.