Oh wow, oodles of thanks for such nice reviews! Special thanks to isara-love, obsessed dreamer, Elcarim-Soberian-1222, and DRUON for being my first reviewers! Please feel free to tell me what I need to improve on and if I made some errors. Please and thank you. And because you guys seemed to like it, here is the next chapter.
Seppen ~ snowflake
ENJOY!
Chapter 2: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
"Ask who subtly?"
Byakuya watched with interest as she visibly stiffened at the sound of his voice, slowly turning her head to look at him with a guilty look in her eye as though she had been caught sticking her hand in the cookie jar. He raised an eyebrow at her and the guilty look in her eye turned to that of panic. Now, he was truly curious on the topic of the conversation he had just walked in on.
"N—Nii-sama, you're home," she laughed nervously. "I—I didn't expect you to be home so early."
"Ask who subtly?" he repeated, eyes boring into her.
"Why, you, of course!" Matsumoto giggled.
"Matsumoto-san!" came out before Rukia could stop herself. Eyes wide and hands on her mouth, she was thinking up ways how to kill the other woman and get rid of the evidence.
Looking at the busty lieutenant, he asked, "And ask me what exactly?"
"If you could accompany poor Rukia-chan to the SWA's Christmas party," she grinned with a wicked glint in her eye. "She knew how much you hate these things, but she wants so much to go and wanted you to accompany her."
From his peripheral vision, Byakuya could see Rukia heaving a sigh of relief. He smirked inwardly.
So, that wasn't what she wanted to ask me. Interesting.
"So, what do you say Kuchiki-taichou? Are you gonna accompany Rukia-chan to the party? Or shall you leave her defenseless to be preyed upon by the many bachelors of Seireitei?" She winked.
Hand instantly coming up to his zanpakutou, Byakuya immediately felt his insides turn at the thought of Rukia spending her time with another man.
"Matsumoto-san, please," Rukia reprimanded, cheeks flushed pink.
"Of course I shall accompany her," Byakuya said with usual indifference.
Whipping her head to Byakuya with a look of surprise, Rukia bit her lower lip. "You don't have to nii-sama. I can just ask Renji to—"
"No, I shall accompany you," he cut her off, tone holding no room for argument. He bristled at the mere suggestion of her going with his redheaded lieutenant. He had to make the effort to control himself just to keep his reiatsu from flaring up.
"H—Hai, nii-sama," she nodded.
Grey eyes met violet and locked together. Byakuya couldn't bring himself to look away, mesmerized by the various emotions he could see swirling within her eyes. He could see the bright red hue coloring her cheeks and how adorable she looked blushing like that. His gaze traveled further down her mouth as she began to sink her teeth into her lower lip once again.
Sensing the tension, Matsumoto got up with a smile. "Well, I better get going before my little captain slices my head off. So, I'll see you guys at the party, yes? It's at seven. Don't be late!" Not waiting for a response, she let herself out.
And then, there were two. Rukia now looked down as she nervously fiddled with her hands, surprisingly unable to keep still. Byakuya couldn't help but smile to himself. Because of their newfound closeness, her walls went down so easily when she was with him that he could read her like a book, emotions written so openly on her features.
"So, how was nii-sama's day?" she asked quietly, eyes still on her hands.
"The same," he replied, sounding bored. "I think I might have to find a new lieutenant soon. Abarai has trouble keeping up with the work."
"Because nii-sama is too much of a perfectionist," she giggled, shoulders relaxing and finally meeting his gaze.
Her laugh, he mused, closing his eyes. Such a beautiful sound. What I wouldn't give to keep you laughing like that.
"You must be tired, nii-sama."
Eyes opening her meeting hers once again, he shook his head. "Just thinking, Rukia. I shall be in my study until dinner. I have some work that needs to be finished."
Getting on her feet, she tilted her head and frowned, brows furrowing. "You work too hard."
Walking closer to her, he placed a hand on her head, his thumb smoothing out the lines that were slowly forming on her forehead. "I'm fine." He smiled. "No need to worry."
Blushing, she smiled. Clearing her throat, she said, "You should smile more often, nii-sama. It truly does suit you."
Eyes softening, he chuckled. "Only for you, my little seppen."
Byakuya could've sworn that her cheeks turned redder at that. Removing his hand and letting it fall back to his side, he turned and made his way towards his study. He could feel her gaze burning into the back of his head but he dared not look back. As soon as he got to his study, he slid the door close and sat down on his armchair. His eyes immediately fell on the odd-shaped cup sitting on his desk. It was dark blue with the kanji six painted on it. He smiled, recalling the creator of said cup.
It was seven Christmases ago.
/flashback/
"Nii-sama?" came a voice, accompanied by a knock from door of his office.
"Enter," he replied, not bothering to look up from his work.
Slowly, Rukia opened the door and came in. Closing it behind her, she looked at him, uncertainty plainly seen on her face. She had both arms behind her as she timidly approached his desk. She stood there quietly for a while, unsure of what to do.
"What is it Rukia?" he asked with evident impatience.
She blushed. "I—I just came by to bring you your gift." Taking her hands from behind her, she showed him an average sized box, wrapped in modest pale blue wrapping paper with snowflake patterns. "You left so early this morning that I didn't get the to give you this and you arrived so late last night that I fell asleep before I could get the chance to." Placing it on his desk, she fiddled with her fingers, as she looked at him, uncertain of how he would react.
Picking it up, he looked at it for a moment, then at her and back again. Opening it slowly, he took out what seemed to be a cup, but he couldn't be sure since it had an unusual shape to it.
"I guess I'll go now," she squeaked, practically running out of the office.
But before she could open the door, he called out, "Wait, Rukia." As soon as she faced him again, he asked, "What is this?"
"A brush holder," she mumbled, heat rushing to her cheeks.
"A brush holder," he repeated, holding up the peculiar cup and looking at it curiously.
She nodded. "For your calligraphy brushes. I know it's not much but I made it for you in a one-time pottery session we had with Unohana-taichou. It's the first thing I made so I know it's not very appealing, but I worked so hard on it and I just wanted to give you something nice for Christmas since you always give me something pretty…"
She was rambling.
She was nervous.
They both knew it.
"Nii-sama?"
He met her gaze.
"You don't have to keep it. You don't even have to like it. I just wanted you to know that—"
"Thank you, Rukia," he cut her off, offering her a nod of reassurance. "I can see how hard you worked on it. It's a very thoughtful gift, thank you."
Her face broke into a lovely smile. "You're welcome, nii-sama!" She turned to open the door once again but his voice calling her name for the second time made her turn back around. "Hai, nii-sama?"
Byakuya knew he shouldn't but his curiosity got the best of him. "You said that this was the first thing you made and that the session was only one-time. Why didn't you give it to Abarai or that Ryoka boy instead?"
Blushing prettily once again, she looked up at him and smiled. "Because nii-sama was the first person I thought of."
She thought of me? He thought in surprise. Perhaps she…no, she couldn't…she simply couldn't…could she?
"I see," he nodded. "You may go, Rukia."
"Hai," she bowed. "See you at home, nii-sama," she told him before walking out the door and closing it behind her.
/end flashback/
I was the first person she thought of, he thought with a smile. My sweet little seppen.
Looking out his window, he gazed at the sky and could see the stars silently coming out to greet the night. Byakuya had realized his feelings for Rukia that moment Gin tried to stab her with his zanpakutō on Sōkyoku Hill. It left him feeling cold, remembering how he almost lost her because of his promise to his parents. He surrendered to the feelings when Zommari had taken control of her at Hueco Mundo. The moment he saw her put her blade against her neck, his heart dropped to his stomach. He couldn't lose her. He wouldn't lose her.
"Had this been your plan, Hisana?" he asked aloud, closing his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder. Did you have any idea that she would worm her way into my heart like this? She has made a permanent residence in it. Or did you simply watch as things fell into place? It probably amused you how it troubled me so much."
She would approve, Byakuya-sama, Senbonzakura uttered. I know how much Hisana-sama wanted to see you happy.
Byakuya nodded. Perhaps.
Rukia-sama might feel the same thing.
Byakuya froze. Perhaps.
A breath. Senbonzaruka suggested, perhaps it is time that you let your feelings be known?
Opening his eyes, Byakuya stared up at the stars once again and he could've sworn he could see Hisana's smile painting the sky. For the first time in a long time, he was actually looking forward to the SWA's annual Christmas party.
He smiled. Yes, perhaps it is.
So, what do you think? Comments? Suggestions? They're always welcome! Please review!
