Hi, Gritten-Tells here! First of all, I would like to apologise for delaying the continuation of the story. There was something wrong with my thumbdrive, and all my files- including my school work from last year- disappeared and so did my draft story. I had to rewrite the story again before posting it online. Also I am busy with school, preparing for upcoming tests and presentations.
Second of all, I would like to thank the reviewers, followers and the readers who faved this story. I uploaded the first chapter at night and the next morning I saw the comments and everything. It really brings a smile to my face whenever I see it. (thanks a lot, you guys :D ) Also, I think many of you have read Bleach chapter 545…. Look who've returned…. *squeal!* I read it too, I see that it was slightly different from my story plot, which I would keep updating it anyway. So my story plot would be slightly AU, and readers, please take note of some changes. The story title will be changed from The Kirin Palace to Snow andSakura (*hides in one corner* I'm sorry, I'm not good at brainstorming titles in the beginning whenever I started on a new story). The first chapter of Snow and Sakura will be The Kirin Palace Part 1.
Here is some quick replies to the reviewers:
-Aii Sakurai: Hi, thank you for reviewing my story. And no, I'm sorry. Byakuya's and Rukia's relationship would not progress any further other than being adopted brother and sister/siblings/in-laws. (readers, please take note). This would not be a M-rated story either.
- corvusraven: hi, thank you for reviewing. I'll try to make the chapter longer, i'll see how the story goes, and i hope the second chapter would be long enough for you to read ^^
-Phantom Claire, Red Cr0w , sphinx (Guest), andyantopia, Pamila De Castro, and Aqua Master: thank you for commenting on the first chapter and i look forward to see your next reviews X)
Bleach characters belongs to Tite Kubo, story plot is owned by me. I hope you'd enjoy reading the second chapter of Snow and Sakura. :D
The first thing she saw when she turned around is his hair. Nii-sama's hair was black like her own, Rukia always admired how he kept his hair soft and silky. He used to put on his kenseikan as a symbol of his nobility and as the head of the Four Noble Houses. After Ichigo lost his powers after defeating Aizen eighteen months ago*, Nii-sama shed his kenseikan and windflower scarf. He trimmed his hair a little (she suspected it was around the same time she cut some of hers as well) and put three intricate hairpieces at the back of his hair, and donned on his new haori- he made a few slight alterations to it, the late Captain General didn't complain. His new image made him look younger (and MORE handsome), it made the shinigami women more rabid. Rangiku-san keep pestering her on every Shinigami's Women Association (SWA) meetings about Nii-sama's new look. Now his hair is wet and glistening from the hot springs spa (this was what Rukia thought of their purpose in the hot springs), sticking to his face and neck.
Rukia swept her eyes down to his bandaged forehead and a gauze on the right side of his eye. 'Poor Nii-sama...' She thought sympathetically. His eyes were still closed; when Rukia started to live with Nii-sama, she'd always notice that his slate gray eyes are stone-cold, emotionless, whenever she looked at them. Nii-sama and the rest of the Kuchiki household seemed so cold to her during the first fifty years she was adopted and became a Kuchiki. It was only until Ichigo rescued her... and Nii-sama saved her from being impaled by Ichimaru Gin's Shinso and confessed his reason for adopting her, Rukia realised she was wrong about Nii-sama. Nii-sama's not cold, he was lonely, grieving for the loss of his wife- her biological sister, the Lady Hisana- and he still is. After that incident Nii-sama never looked at her so coldly anymore, they even talked more during mealtimes in the mansion, sometimes it was Nii-sama who initiated a conversation.
Rukia's gaze moved further down. At his glistening skin- Nii-sama had a very fair and flawless skin, and handsome features- she hoped his injuries wouldn't leave him any scars. She glanced down to his neck, his Adam's apple, then his chest...
Rukia stopped herself right there, and mentally slapped herself. 'Oh, god. Am I really that close to him?' Her cheeks started to redden furiously. She started to push against his chest, but realised she would have to plant her hands onto his naked chest.
She turned back to the front and tried to remove his hand and fingers around her waist again. She struggled to get out of Byakuya's grip. Although he hadn't fully restored his strength, his grip is very strong. He held onto her tighter, his eyebrows furrowed when he sensed Rukia resisting.
"Stop moving, Rukia." He rasped, he sounded much better than he had previously, when he begged Kurosaki Ichigo to save Soul Society. "Let me hold onto you a while longer, please."
She stopped trashing about, she froze when she heard how broken, and desperate, he sounded when he'd spoken his last word. Nii-sama sounded much worse than he had before when he was wounded by Ichimaru's Shinso. She complied to his order, she'd never disobey Nii-sama's orders, though this might be a little inappropriate. She distanced herself as much as she could, and refrained from touching Nii-sama's skin. Rukia could feel him breathing behind her, slightly laboured; she had a lot of questions to ask but she daren't disturb him. But staying quiet isn't going to make her feel at ease, so...
"Nii-sama." She said softly, half-expecting for him not to answer.
"... What is it, Rukia?"
She gulped nervously. "What are we doing here? Are we still in Soul Society?"
"We're in the healing springs, Rukia. If you've noticed, some of our injuries are healed here. And no, I don't think we're in Soul Society anymore." Byakuya inhaled a few times before he continued, "The spirit particles here are denser, more concentrated than Soul Society was. I met a man who calls himself Tenjiro Kirinji, he told me we are in his domain, the Kirin Palace. He is one of the zero division Shinigamis."
Rukia's eyes widened. She heard that before. "Zero division... That means we are-"
"Somewhere close to the King's Palace, yes." He started rasping. "He explained to me that each zero division Shinigami officer has a domain of his or her own, an orbiting circular platform that surrounds the King's Palace." He explained briefly, and couldn't elaborate any further. That was what he could recall before he slipped into unconsciousness again. He changed the subject.
"I heard that Kurosaki Ichigo and Abarai Renji were here as well." Byakuya figured she'd want to hear what happened to her beloved nakama as well. "They've healed, and went to the other domains."
"I see, Nii-sama." Rukia said hastily. Nii-sama is not well and she thought she'd better not disturb him, or delay his recovery. "Thank you for clarifying these matters to me."
Rukia felt him nod his head once, and said nothing more. The two of them fell into tranquil silence, Rukia decided to take a nap, she felt drowsy with all these heat, the sound of splashing water and the bamboo hitting constantly against the rocks was lulling her into sleep. Her eyes were about to shut when Byakuya spoke to her again.
"How are your wounds?" He wanted to know.
"Huh?" She blinked confusedly, then she remembered she used to have a simple window dressing over her right eye- was it? She touched both eyes tentatively, to make sure, and her head. Her bandages are removed, and she felt no pain at all. "O-oh. I think I'm healed, Nii-sama. There's no need for you to worry. On the contrary, Nii-sama, I think you should get some rest instead."
Byakuya breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. 'Good, she'd made a full recovery.' He thought. He'd removed her bandages while she was still sleeping, as he did on the ones on his chest and waist below. He'd wrapped a towel Tenjiro Kirinji had offered him to conceal his nakedness, and he promised that he will get some towel for her as well, but he had not returned yet. He furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. How long does he want to keep Rukia floating around in his hot springs without any piece of clothing on? Byakuya had waded to her, and carefully turned her over- he was thankful of the mist that suddenly grew thick and obstructed his view of her feminine parts momentarily and found her breathing- he slowly swam back to a corner of the springs with his arm wrapped securely around her waist and waited there. He dipped them lower into the springs, keeping her head up above the water.
Rukia is safe, in his arms. 'Alive, and breathing.' He silently told himself. Byakuya was afraid for her safety, he grew even more protective when he was engaged with that damned Quincy and suddenly had the image of dead Rukia, her bones showing and an eyeball dangling out of her sockets. He shuddered at that thought again, he'd never want to see her like that. His sweet sister, beautiful Rukia...
"Nii-sama!" The said girl interrupted his train of thought. "You're shivering!" She didn't think that it would be impossible for him to feel cold since they are bathing in the hot springs. She started disengaging from his hold again. 'No, please, don't.' It also made his heart and pride swell when he thought how much Rukia cared for him, though he would not voice it openly to anyone, not even to her. "I think it would be better if I-"
"No." He interjected stubbornly, not wanting her to leave him. He doesn't want her to leave his side as it'll make him feel uneasy. He did not tell her the reason either. "Just stay, Rukia." He decided to tell her that simply, at least this is what he wanted her to do. "I'd appreciate that much if you could wait until Tenjiro Kirinji fetches your towel, and informs us what to do next."
He felt satisfied when Rukia stopped trying to slip out of his hold again and nodded obediently. She always listens to him. 'Good girl.'
"Alright, Nii-sama." She said softly, tired and feeling drowsy again. And so did he. She turned her head a bit to look at him in the eye, Rukia always does that whenever she wanted to mean something seriously. "Please get some rest. I'll wake you when the zero division officer comes, then..."
*I don't know how long after Ichigo had brought Ginjo's body back to Kurakara Town/ the real world and when the Quincies started to show up. So I take it as one month has past and the Quincies started to create trouble.
Alright, there's a wrap for chapter two. I'll try to write more and update as quickly as I can for everyone to read. Please forgive me for any spelling/ grammatical errors. As usual, reviews and comments are much appreciated. Stay tuned for chapter 3- hint: Byakuya and Rukia will be going on to the Gaton Den next chapter! XD