Blossoms of Love

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Byakuya x Orihime

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Authors Note:

Well frick. My lap-top somehow went nuts and what I had written of this chapter so far was deleted/disappeared. So sorry about the extra delay. By the way- this story was originally only supposed to be 5 chapters but I have broken down and decided to up the ante to around 10 chapters.

Why? Proper character, plot and relationship development.

Thanks to my followers! You guys rock for subscribing! And most importantly my Reviewers! You guys are amazing! Sorry I don't reply! I'm busy and have a hard enough time updating!

P.S.- Sorry about the tease for re-uploading the first chapter! I couldn't stand the format.

P.S.S.- Ichigo & everyone are all JUNIORS! And this has tones of American-ness in it sorry!


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Chapter 2- New Bodies & Lives

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Byakuya stood directly in front of his gigai, which was slouching in a chair next to the others. He stared indifferently at the human body as he and Kisuke waited for the others to ascend the ladder.

The gigai looked exactly like him- except for the obvious changes in attire. Instead of black robes- this body wore simple jeans and a white button up shirt with long sleeves and for shoes… they were… in a word- hideous. 'What ugly shoes…. I do believe I remember the name of these monstrosities…' he paused 'Loafers.' His disgusted face made Kisuke raise his eyebrows and smirk a little; Wishing he had a camera.

Captain Kuchiki was about to lift up the gigai's head to inspect his face- since it was hung over, as was the rest of his gigai in the chair. Lifting it up he found his hair piece gone and the hair swept over out of the eyes of his gigai. Otherwise his new body was exactly like his own- well from what he could asses while not actually being in it.

The clacking of the trap-door into the basement brought Captain Kuchiki back from his thoughts and to his subordinates who were finally making their way to him.

Rukia bowed her head as she stepped closer to him Captain Kuchiki merely nodded as the rest of the teenagers shuffled into the room.

Kisuke Urahara's fan clicked shut. "Now that everyone is here we can commence with the gigai peroration!" he paused for dramatic effect "As I'm sure you all know the basic way to get into gigai is to sort of jump in… so to speak, sort of like putting on a piece of clothing." Every member in the battalion nodded. "Now jump on in and tell me how it is!"

With no further prodding needed Captain Kuchiki slid into the gigai.

It was a strange sensation being in a gigai, especially since he had never been in one before. It felt like he was controlling a doll, like little girls played with. Lifting up his hand and flexing made him realize that this gigai's reactions were far slower than his own. He had no idea how humans could stand to be in a body like this.

"Now, it does take some getting used to. But it should be fully functional in a day or two." Urahara pulled out a box and opened it- it was full of Soul Candy. "Now I want each of you to take at least three of these. And keep them on you at all times."

Byakuya was the first to pick his Soul Candy- he stared at the contents of the box. It looked like candy for children… none looked very dignified for a grown man to be carrying around in his pocket. Frowning a little he picked three out, in the shape of what he understood to be a duck…

Soon after, each member of his battalion had picked their own out.

"Great! Now, next is the longer more drawn out part of entering the human world. So lets all go have a seat and drink some tea!"

The group made themselves comfortable around the table in Urahara's small room. It was a tight fit considering the number of bodies and the size of some of the friends –mainly their Mexican friend Chad. Even in the tight quarters the group kept a respective space from Captain Kuchiki.

Orihime sat close to the table with Chad on one side and Rukia on her other. Nestling her legs in the soft pillow she looked up to see Captain Kuchiki sit across from her and next to Urahara. A smile tugged a bit at the edges of her lips as she saw his some-what disgusted look at his surroundings and uncomfortable with the general closeness.

Captain Kuchiki was quite out of his element.

Urahara coughed to call attention, "Now- in the past I would have just given you your gigai's and set you loose… But now that this supposed to be some-sort of official operation I have come to fully prepare you all!" He grinned at (in his opinion) clever foresight.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and Renji scoffed as Urahara reached inside his cloak and pulled out four folders. He handed them to each person.

"What is this?" Renji flapped his folder roughly in front of his own face.

"Gentle Lieutenant Abarai! That is your new life." Urahara smiled beneath his fan.

"What!" Rukia was surprised "Like we have to live the life in those folders?" She took her folder and set it in her lap.

"Ms. Kuchiki is right! I have already set up jobs or spots in schools!" Urahara could have patted himself on his back.

One by one each opened and read their portfolio.

Name: Rukia Kuchiki

Human World Name: Rukia Kuchiki

Occupation: Karakura High School Student (Junior)

Hobbies and/or After School Activities: Female Kendo Team, Cheerleading Squad and Flower Arranging.

Residence: Kurosaki Residence

"Well my persona is pretty much the same as when I was here before… except now I have clubs to attend to. And what is 'Cheerleading Squad'?" Rukia closed her folder and placed it on the table.

Orihime laughed a little. "We can tryout together Rukia!"

Name: Lieutenant Renji Abarai

Human World Name: Renji Abarai

Occupation: Karakura High School Student (Senior)

Hobbies and/or After School Activities: Male Kendo Team and Football Team

Residence: Urahara Shoten

"Cool I can do this. Wait- what's a 'Football Team'?" Renji looked at his friends.

Ichigo just rolled his eyes. "I'll show you when school starts."

Renji just nodded in response.

Name: Hanataro Yamada

Human World Name: Hanataro Yamada

Occupation: Karakura High School Student (Junior)

Hobbies and/or After School Activities: Male Kendo Team and Future Paramedics of the World Club.

Residence: Urahara's Shoten

"Well that's awesome. This looks like a lot of fun!" Hanataro exclaimed in his some-what monotone voice. "I can't wait to go to a human school…"

Name: Captain of the Sixth Squad- Byakuya Kuchiki

Human World Name: Byakuya Kuchiki

Occupation: Part Time Karakura College Student and Part Time Entry-Level position at Secret Botanical Gardens

Hobbies and/or After School Activities: Flower Arranging, Gardening and Kendo Team.

Residence: Undetermined

Byakuya paused as he read the last line of his profile. "Urahara." His tone was void of emotion.

"Hmm?" Said man waved his fan in front of his face.

"Your file states that my residence is undetermined. Where am I to stay?" Byakuya closed his file and placed it onto the table.

"Well you see Captain Kuchiki- that's why I had everyone come over so we could discuss that-" he gestured to room full of teenagers, "-now which one of you can house the Captain?" Urahara looked to his side. where Ichigo was sitting.

"What? Hell no! Rukia already sleeps in my sisters' room. There's hardly room anywhere else! Let alone Rukia..." Ichigo fumed and crossed his arms.

Urahara nodded and then looked to the Quincy "Uryu, your rich and have a big house what about you?"

Sliding his glasses up the bridge of his nose he replied hastily, "I do have a large house, and it would be sure to be up to Captain Kuchiki's standards… But I doubt my father would ever allow a soul reaper into the house." Pausing he continued. "It would have the capability to be catastrophic."

Urahara laughed, and went on. "Chad?"

He shook his head slowly, "I'm being housed by distant relatives; my aunt, uncle and their dog, in a three room apartment. There's not enough room." Chad turned towards the captain. "Sorry Captain- but there's not enough room."

Byakuya closed his eyes and nodded "It is fine."

Urahara was about to move onto the next friend, when Ichigo spoke up suddenly. "W-Wait!" This caught everyone attention. "You have tons of room here! Why not let him stay here, in the Shoten?" Ichigo gruffly placed his arms on the table.

"Well that would be fine, but Hanataro and Renji have already filled up the two extra rooms, (which are quite small)." Urahara waved his fan lazily. "Besides if he did he would have to either clean or pay rent."

The room was silent and Ichigo gave a small "Oh…" the strawberry sat back and became more relaxed.

"Now onto…" The Shoten owner's eyes traveled down the line of friends to, "…Orihime!"

"Oh! Uhm me?" she said pointing to herself.

Urahara nodded and she laughed sheepishly.

Orihime paused to think, looking at the table; her index finger resting on her lips. "Well… I do believe it would be alright." She smiled and looked back at her friends.

Ichigo frowned, "He can't live with Orihime!" he yelled at Urahara.

"And why not Kurosaki?" Urahara smiled underneath his fan.

"He's a-a- guy!" Ichigo pointed accusingly at Byakuya.

"That's quite the observation Kurosaki." Uryu smirked. "I'm glad you used your small brain to come to that conclusion."

"SHUT UP!" Ichigo turned back to the blonde man, "The point is he'll be alone with Orihime!"

Rukia stood up and smacked Ichigo in the back of his head. "What was that for!"

"May I remind you Ichigo that my older brother is a Kuchiki? Not some street vermin!" Rukia said sitting back down.

"That's even more of a reason! He's a Kuchiki! He's a noble!" Ichigo sat exasperated.

Byakuya watched the antics go on with mild amusement. He was quite impressed and pleased when his little sister hit the Kurosaki boy, though he would never tell anyone. The captain then turned his attention to the girl who offered to house him. She was looking at her friends argue with a small smile on her face.

"Kurosaki, I do believe this is Ms. Inoue's decision." Byakuya looked towards said girl.

Orihime blushed at the formal address. She looked up at Captain Kuchiki quickly and nodded. "It's fine with me, besides if I didn't where would Captain Kuchiki sleep?"

Ichigo looked worriedly at his warm friend and grunted.

Orihime felt awkward under the majority of everyone's stares, "I mean there's no way I'd make him sleep on the street or have to pay for a hotel! That's just cruel!" She laughed a little.

Byakuya was surprised that she stood up to her friends; he always took her for the quiet and gentle type. But he knew things and people change over time, "Thank you Miss Inoue, your generosity is much appreciated." With the emphasis on 'your' Byakuya looked icily towards the strawberry- who was fuming.

With awkward silence ensuing, Urahara clicked his fan shut "Now that all that stuff is taken care of, why not have a welcome party for our guests?"

With delighted and surprised voices from around the table, the welcome party began. With games of Charades, Truth or Dare, Pin the Tail on the Donkey and music; the battalion was welcomed into Karakura with loudness.

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Orihime sighed with a smile on her face as she stepped out from the party and into the night air. She checked her cell phone's time, it was nine o'clock and the sun was beginning to set.

"I love it when the sun sets so late…" Orihime whispered to just herself; admiring the sunset, even though some buildings were obstructing her view.

A soft sliding, click then footsteps alerted her that someone had come out to join her. Orihime turned around to see Captain Kuchiki walking towards her.

"Oh! Hello Captain Kuchiki," she gave a small wave "are you enjoying your welcome party?"

"It is… different than to the kind of social gatherings I am used to." He replied as he walked up next her. "Why are you out here and not inside with your friends?"

Orihime smiled, "I could ask you the same thing... I just needed some air- it's pretty stuffy in there…" She paused and her gaze drifted from the captain back to the sky, "…and I wanted to watch the sun set."

Byakuya was slightly confused at why watching the sun set was such an event, but he didn't bother to ask. Humans were far too emotionally and mentally complicated, and Ms. Inoue looked quite content staring at the sky.

He soon turned his own gaze to the sky and watched as the sun was near disappearing. In all honesty Byakuya did not want to return to the 'welcome party', there was far too much yelling and loudness for his taste.

His thoughts were interrupted by a gasp.

"Oh my! How long have we been standing out here?" Orihime hurriedly checked her cell phone again. "Phew!" she turned to Captain Kuchiki, "We've only been out here for about fifteen minutes! It felt way longer! I was afraid we stood out here a whole hour or so and you were waiting on me!"

Orihime would have felt guilty if that had been the case, but a mere fifteen minutes wasn't bad.

"Oh, Captain Kuchiki?" A question she had asked previously popped into her head, the fact it was unanswered.

Said man turned to look at Orihime with a serious stare that made her feel very small. "Yes?"

"Um," her voice quavered, embarrassed she continued more firmly "…I asked you previously why you were out here…instead of enjoying the party? I would have felt awfully guilty if you had been waiting on me…" Orihime nervously played with dirt in between her shoes.

Captain Kuchiki was a very imposing man, his air of nobility and pride was almost stifling.

Byakuya was a bit surprised at her question, but chose to answer it nonetheless. "The same reason as you gave. It was getting a little too loud, stuffy …" he searched for the right words, "… and rambunctious for my liking."

She nodded a bit, he continued. "But, no I did not come out here to wait for you to return. So do not feel guilty."

"I see." Perhaps Captain Kuchiki had been a bit too straight to the point about not being out there to check up on and wait for her…

In a way it had hurt Orihime's feelings, but then again she knew she had been asking for an answer she practically already knew the answer to.

A silence ensued…

Then Orihime spoke up as she turned around, back towards the Shoten.

"Well I suggest we get going Captain Kuchiki. It wouldn't be very respectable if I had a hands-" she stopped short and turned cherry red. "-a man! If I had a man come with me into my apartment too late."

Byakuya was slightly confused at her sudden talking 'frenzy'… or why her face turned red. But he didn't really care enough to ask.

Though Byakuya did see how her worries about the decency, of a man arriving late a young woman's apartment, could be seen as a problem.

'Even though no actions of the sort will take place.' He thought stoically to himself. He knew the imaginations old ladies had, they should be no different here as to the ones in the Soul Society.

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After collecting a few necessities for the Captain, Orihime and Captain Kuchiki bid their goodbyes to everyone; they took their leave of the party.

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They began the silent walk back to her apartment.

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But a comfortable silence, for both.

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After Note: Happy New Years! Sorry this has taken me sooo long! I have a beta 'Mi amiga' but I haven't run this version past her yet… but I wanted to get it to you guys before the New Year starts. And that means I'll be too busy to update much. So please spare miss-spelling and grammatical issues!

LoL trust me there will be NO funny business between Orihime and Byakuya… Yet… :3

Read & REVIEW!

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