Blossoms of Love

Byakuya x Orihime

Authors Note:

I'm so-so-so-so soooooo sorry about last chapter's format & spelling! (I'll fix it when I can!). But anyways thanks to these people for faving, reviewing and alerting:

Nnoitra-Szayel: It is indeed a rather different pairing- I'm thrilled to know you will be following!

blackrose777: Thank you! I hope I do not disappoint!

Red-Weasel-Chan: :D I'm glad you could find this story then! Your very welcome! Harhar :3 it was very loverly! (thanks for the Author Fav)

nitrolead: It does indeed! *sighs* I'm glad I could help make it grow! I hope I make your 'looking forward to' happy! XD

And tonypsy:Ah, yes I was kind of upset that there were not any more stories for this couple- so I broke down and wrote my own. Oh yes- my spelling is quite embarrassing sometimes. Oh dear! Did I really spell that wrong! -_- uwah! Yes unfortunately my time is limited –though I wish it wasn't. But I would sill like for you to send a private message detailing all my mistakes.

Anyways! Yes last chapter was fairly short! But I always have intense problems with Prologues. I do not know why, but trust me my short chapters are usually around 2,000 words and my longer ones are around 4,000 – 5,000… Meh you guys tell me what you think. And it does indeed take me a while to get the characters rolling. Since I really am trying to keep Byakuya in character – I really hate it when they make him all soft & mushy right away… so I'm really going for no OCCness in this one.

~I'll shut up now~


Chapter One- Greetings

As the doors began to close Orihime and the others stood from their former sitting positions to address the new arrivals.

"Welcome ~friends from the Soul Society!" Urahara waved his fan in front of his face, "It's my pleasure to welcome you into my humble abode and this lovely town of Karakura!" the former captain said in a sing-song voice that made Orihime smile a little.

Captain Kuchiki smoothly walked through what was left of the portal- and crossed over into Urahara's underground training facility. "I believe thanks are in order–Kisuke Urahara, for letting us use your half of the portal." He nodded stiffly at the man, not making any eye contact.

"No problem at all Captain Kuchiki!"

Moments later his subordinates followed suit, all wearing faces of happiness to see their friends again. Rukia scanned the small gathering and the moment she saw Orihime she ran straight to her, "Orihime! It's so good to see you again!"

Orihime smiled exuberantly "It's great to see you again Rukia!" tears of happiness threatening to shed from both girls' eyes- the two embraced in a tight hug…

While Renji merely nodded towards Urahara, Hanataro bowed and said words of thanks a them allowing them to enter in his basement.

Renji grinned "Yo- Ichigo. How's it been 'round here?"

"It's been pretty crappy if ya know what I mean… with all these freak hollow things running around." Ichigo shrugged and glanced at the two girls who were squealing about something.

"Well then," Renji began "sounds like your having a bit of trouble keeping up with these things!" he barked a laugh "Don't tell me your retirement has made you soft!"

Ichigo was flabbergasted "Wha-What! Who the HELL said I was retired?" he

roared as he grabbed Renji's Hakama collar. "And to answer your stupid question…NO I haven't gotten soft!" the carrot top's temple began to pulse. Not even one minute and this guy was already driving him up the wall.

In the background Chad and Uryu rolled their eyes at the two's antics.

"Well I just assumed that you had gone soft since your spiritual pressure is pretty pitiful, compared to the last time we saw each other!" Renji's eyes narrowed- he was purposely messing with the kid now.

Ichigo felt like steam might come out his ears any moment "Well how about I show you how weak I am then!" he began to pull back his arm to throw a punch when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I-Ichigo… I don't think Lieutenant Abarai was b-being serious…" Hanataro smiled nervously up at his old friend.

"H-Hanataro! Buddy!" Ichigo clapped him on the shoulder with his right hand, "It's been way to long- how ya been?" his prior confrontation all but forgotten.

"O-Oh, well I've b-been okay I guess…" quite taken aback at Ichigo's sudden change in attitude he decided to keep going "… w-well I do have s-some good news t-to share though!" Hanataro began to smile…

"What good news Hanataro?" Orihime and Rukia both beamed as they walked up to the boys. "Oh, by the way- it's nice to see you again."

"And it's n-nice to see you too, Ms. Orihime." Hanataro turned slightly back around to Ichigo, Chad and Uryu "Well y-you see I was about to just tell Ichigo, Chad and Uryu here, was t-that I've been bumped up to t-third seat!" His cool demeanor brightened as he smiled.

Each friend gave their own praise- practically all at once…

"Really?" Ichigo half shouted, Hanataro nodded in response. "That's great!" the carrot top gave him a slap on the shoulder. Chad gave Hanataro a 'thumbs up'.

Orihime cried out in joy and gave him a great big hug, while Uryu gave a small smile and said "Good work- Hanataro."

In the midst of it all Captain Kuchiki stood in silence and watched the affairs with a cool mask of indifference. Then as the group of teens got louder and louder, (in no time at all had their noise level become one of a concert), the Captain was nearly out of patience.

"Urahara." Captain Kuchiki stiffly turned towards the dingy shop keeper "I do believe it's time we transferred into our gigai's."

The man who was being addressed nodded "Alright then… just get all of them in order and meet me up stairs." And with that Kisuke Urahara walked away and up the ladder to his shop, to prepare the gigai's for the transfer.

Meanwhile- during all the chaos of greeting and friendly banter between the friends, no one took note of Byakuya's approach. Except for Orihime, she noticed that fact that Urahara had walked away and that led to the closeness of Captain Kuchiki and the group.

Orihime stopped chatting and all other rambunctious actions- it was obvious the captain was annoyed. She turned all the way to face him and as she did so- nudged Rukia.

"What is it Orihime?" Rukia questioned- obviously out of breathe from her banter with Renji. As a response she nodded towards Rukia's brother's advancement. Her face faltered a little bit- taking in the full realization that none of her human friends had formerly greeted her older brother, who was a noble and a captain.

The petite shinigami turned to the others and started yelling at the lot of them to 'Shut your faces! Show some respect!' in response Ichigo and Renji merely scoffed and made smart-remarks and continued their lively conversation. Exasperated Rukia continued to hit, kick and yell at the two boys.

All the while Orihime stood straight, and faced toward the advancing captain. She knew how strict the Kuchiki clan was- from Rukia's description. And she did not want Ichigo and Captain Kuchiki to get off on a bad foot… right at the beginning anyways. 'I hope my respectful greeting will be enough to calm Captain Kuchiki down.' Orihime thought with a gulp.

She could feel the tension from the captain filling the air… 'I'm amazed… not even Uryu or Chad have noticed Captain Kuchiki's dingy aura or the fact that he's coming this way!' Orihime slowly worked up the courage to say hello, as the noble man took one proud step after another. Determinedness washed over her face and eyes- she was going to say hello in the most respectable way possible! Orihime mentally pumped herself up…

Then the healer let a shiver run through her body at the remembrance of Captain Kuchiki's spiritual pressure the last time he had fought… It was long, long ago in the seiretei, when they had gone to save Rukia. He had fought Ichigo then, and even though she had been yards away- she could still remember the weight of his spiritual pressure. 'Though there's no doubt he's gotten even stronger since then…' Orihime let a smile of determination spread on her lips. She wasn't going to let this man's strength scare her. She would greet him- no matter what.

With each slow, determined step the captain advanced. And still no one had taken notice. Now the captain was roughly eight feet away from her.

Orihime's heart began to beat frantically. 'Why am I so nervous?' she inwardly questioned herself… 'Wait! Don't let your self get distracted! The little blue alien men will surely try to detour you from your goal!' she mentally bonked herself on the head.

When her ashen eyes opened- her heart nearly stopped. Captain Kuchiki was a body length away… But what Orihime was mostly worried about was the fact that he seemed to be throwing daggers with eyes towards her unruly group of friends, stationed a little behind her and to the right.

It was now or never.

"Captain Kuchiki." Time seemed to slow down; he stopped looking angrily at her friends and stared straight at her. All-of his attention was directed towards her. She gulped- noticing her friends had all gone quiet.

"My name is Orihime Inoue," her throat constricted… And as their eyes met, time seemed to not slow, but stop.

Orihime looked into Captain Kuchiki's eyes for the first time. And it was the first time she realized his eyes were the color of ebony… 'But with flecks of violet in between.' She thought to herself. 'His eyes are so sad… but so beautiful.' Orihime's face flushed at her thoughts…

Captain Kuchiki was quite amazed at the fact that the human girl had come forward to greet him. 'I always thought of her as the more passive and to air headed to properly great someone.' The girl continued to amaze him- by meeting his gaze… Normally no one –neither human nor soul reaper dared to. But he saw in her silvery eyes that shined- 'Defiance… no it's something akin to bravery or… respect?' Captain Kuchiki was cut short when he noticed a light shade of pink covering the girl's face… but it seemed of no consequence as she continued her greeting.

"And it is my honor to greet and welcome you to Karakura Town." To top it off, she placed her hands the front of her thighs and gave a very formal and very deep bow.

Captain Kuchiki's eyes widened a fraction at her formality- though was very impressed. "Obviously- Rukia, this is the only human friend you have that has any dignity and enough respect to say hello." He glared icily toward Ichigo. Then Captain Kuchiki turned back to Orihime and gave her a nod, "Thank you for greeting me- it was in the most respectful manner." His voice held no emotion and in a second he had passed her, and began walking towards the ladder. "Come- Rukia, Renji. We are going to see and use our gigai's now."

Rukia ran after her brother first "Yes, brother."

Then Renji realized he too was supposed to follow "Yes, Captain."

Everyone was looking at their retreating forms when Ichigo muttered "What a jerk!" he scowled and began to criticize the captain (without him hearing of course).

As Ichigo, Uryu and Chad began to talk –Orihime kept her eye's glued to the retreating figure of the Captain. Wondering –what on earth would happen next…


After Note: Sorry about the re-upload. I did this last minute before I went on a vacation. So here's the more organized & lovely looking version! Oh & Chapter 2 is on the way!

-Beta anyone?-