Byakuya relaxed against the cherry tree in the school yard, it was a beautiful afternoon outside. Warm but not too warm, with a cool wind that was refreshing and perfectly timed. The grass was freshly mowed and smelled sweet in the air, the heavy perfume of the various flower beds on the school grounds permeated the air. The grass was soft under him and he could easily drift off leaning against the sakura tree.
He had just finished enjoying an extensive bento box prepared for him by his recent girlfriend Kiku Ukitake. It seemed unlikely at best that the two childhood friends would ever fall in love especially since Byakuya had been in love with Hisana for as long as either of the two friends could remember. But then in the middle of second year there was the horrible bus accident on the school field trip and Byakuya had lost Hisana, and for the longest time had pushed Kiku out of his life because her presence was a constant painful reminder of Hisana. Kiku as accommodating as ever left the country for Byakuya's sake and attended another school, she had returned over the summer to tend to her sickly brother and happened to run into Renji one of Byakuya's only friends. Renji unaware that Kiku and Byakuya had known each other accidentally brought them together on an outing. Upon learning the feelings that Kiku had been harboring for Byakuya and the extent that she went to in order to ensure his happiness he couldn't help but allow his heart to be opened once more.
It was at that moment he wondered where his girlfriend had gotten off to, she had only left for a supposedly quick errand for the special effects club. Suddenly Byakuya was engulfed in a shower of pink flower petals, he blinked in surprise as his surroundings glowed soft pink and then faded back to the usual sight of the school grounds. Except now his lap was full of paper flowers, he glanced down and picked one up to examine it curiously. It was folded so delicately and with such perfection, he could only think of one person with the patience and fine motor skills for the task.
He glanced up to see his girlfriend smiling down with her bright familiar emerald green eyes shinning and snow white hair tumbling down like a white curtain. Held up over her head was a now empty wicker basket that no doubt had held all the paper flowers,
Her cheeks were bright red and her tiny pearly white teeth showed as she let out a silent giggle, the large scar running around her throat that Byakuya could not help but feel was his fault poking out from under her usual long white scarf.
He reached one of his large hands up to caress her cheeks, several of the pink creations had been woven and braided into her hair making her look like the flower queen, "Is this what you've been up to?" he asked her and watched her smile even wider. In a flash he had rolled her gently down onto the grass and was pressing his lips against hers in a rare display of public affection, she kissed him back sweetly both of them tasting the cherry chapstick she had put on that morning.
He pulled back to regard her face once more, she was not strong in the conventional sense. He could toss her around easily, he could break her, in their youth he had bullied her often enough to know. But she had more grit in her than he ever had. A burning fire of passion and love, a sense of purpose and perseverance he could never have. His eyes softened as he took her in, "What did I ever do to deserve you?" he pondered allowed.
She shrugged and smiled pecking his cheeks gently staring at him dreamily what did I do to deserve you? She signed back at him playfully. He opened his mouth to list off all the reasons she deserved someone better than him, who didn't push her aside for years despite her always doing her best to make him happy. But was cut off as the bell rung signalling for everyone to go back inside and resume class.
He sighed and sat up helping Kiku get back up to her feet, he glanced around them and all the pink flowers scattered around them on the green grass, "What a pity that their beauty shall be so fleeting," he remarked and Kiku took his hand worried he was troubled but he offered a small shadow of a smile that had her grinning like she was on top of the world.
