THREE DAYS LATER

Byakuya walked through the Squad 6 compound, Miss. Kimura hadn't been to work today and to be completely honest he'd been avoiding her, unsure as of how to go about apologizing for his actions. He could have delt with what happened alot better and... now the thought of sharing a kiss with her no longer tweaked his conscious. He'd been racked with guilt for days over it but then he had a rather interesting dream the night before.

FLASHBACK

Byakuya stared at the picture of Hisana, questions whirled through his head like a typhoon. Hisana what should I do? I don't understand why I did what I did. I wish you were still alive. He thought to the photo of his late wife smiling at him as if sad by something. Byakuya sighed and shut the cabinet doors before he headed off for bed. Even Miss. Kimura's cat had been avoiding him it seemed.

Long into sleep was he when he started to dream, he was watching Miss. Kimura walk through his gardens, it was raining and she was barefoot. He watched as she danced gaily in the falling water, he heard her laugh sweetly as she lifted her arms and spun around in circles.

He felt cool hands on his back suddenly. "Byakuya... don't be afraid to love her."

He stiffened at the soft voice, a voice he knew all to well. He turned slowly and saw Hisana standing there. He opened his mouth to speak but she held on frail hand up and stopped him.

"Don't... I loved you very much while I lived Byakuya I truly did. But I'm afraid I can't give you what you need anymore... you need what she can give you." Hisana said nodding to Ame.

Byakuya turned back to Ame for some reason, even though he wanted to look at Hisana. "Don't let yourself wither away in sadness Byakuya please... at least try. I hold nothing against you." Suddenly he felt cold hands on his arm and Hisana's sweet voice whispering in his ear. "Don't be so far in the past that you let your future walk right by you."

END

Byakuya didn't know if that was Hisana telling him something or not. All he knew is that when he woke this morning he had tears on his face and it felt as if a large weight had been removed from his shoulders.

Byakuya didn't know what to do he needed to apologize and he had to do it fast before Ame Kimura walked away from him.

"Meeroow!"

Byakuya's head snapped up at the sound, he saw Tuxedo Cat in front of him. The feline was sitting on his haunches and looking at him as if displeased. Byakuya didn't know why but it felt as if there was alotmore to this large cat then he saw. It felt like this black and white cat was the one he had to get by in order to find Ame Kimura. Byakuya didn't understand why the look of displeasure in those green eyes made him want to fidgetand sqiurm like a troubled youth.

"I want to see her." He stated emotionless.

Tuxedo Cat's tail lashed out once before he tucked in back around his legs. Byakuya watched as his eyes narrowed at him dangerously, he didn't understand why but he knew this was no ordinary house pet. Byakuya knew without a doubt this creature was not to be trifled with.

"Please... I need to apologize." He said respectfully. Thinking it ludicrous that he was showing such respect to the animal.

The cat seemed to nod once before it got up and walked off, Byakuya followed. I must be going insane, dreaming about my dead wife, and now I'm speaking to a cat as if it was the head captain himself.

...

Tuxedo Cat led Byakuya to a part of squad 6 that was under heavy construction, one of the buildings had collasped and it was being re built. Tuxedo Cat stopped infront of a door he waited for Byakuya to stand behind him. Then he began yowling and clawing at the door wanting the door to open. Byakuya looked around, if this was Miss. Kimura's home then she must have troubles sleeping. It was directly across from where that part of Squad 6 was being rebuilt.

"Alright cat I'm coming! Although I don't know why that door is stopping you now, considering it never did be-"

Byakuya looked back at the door it had now been opened, and a stunned Ame Kimura was looking back a him. She blinked in confusion, then she looked down at her traitorous cat. Who was perched rather comfortabley on Captain Kuchiki's foot. For once in her life she hated the cat with all her heart.

"May I speak with you?" Captain Kuchiki asked calmly.

Ame looked back up at him, what could he want now she already felt like shit for being kissed then pushed away. It shouldn't have but it hurt her when he'd kissed her so softly then threw her from him like trash.

Ame bit her lip before she sighed and stepped aside for him to come in. He nodded in thanks and entered her home.

Byakuya looked around taking everything in like a sponge, there were a few articles of clothing scattered here and there. She had a large earthy green colored circle rug on the floor, her nightstand held a clock with a purple fuzzy sock slung over it. Her comforter was a deep sea blue with sea shells bordering it, a brown cat house was in the corner along with a food and water bowl. There was a vase of firey orange lilies on her kitchenette counter. It was obvious that she prefurred bright viberant colors to the soft cream colors that decorated his house.

Byakuya turned around to her after she'd shut the door, he wasn't going to waste time with pleasentries. "I need to apologize for what happened."

He saw her stiffen obviously thinking he meant the kiss itself not for what happened after. Ame jumped when his hand was suddenly on her face, his thumb tracing the cortours of her lips. "For being so rude Miss. Kimura not the kiss... can you forgive me for my actions?"

Ame was in a daze she heard him but his hand on her face and the thumb that was touching her lips kept her from speaking. From shock at the intamate touch and relief for the fact that he wasn't apologizing for kissing her. Ame looked at him there was a look of deep sorrow and regret, she couldn't believe he was apologizing to her. But then a thought crossed Ame's mind. "Why do you care... and why are you apologizing?"

Byakuya's attention was riveted on her lips, his thumb caressed them once more feeling the softness they had. She hadn't moved away from his touch that pleased him to no end. "Miss. Kimura... I haven't been with a woman in 50-yrs, i love that woman still to this day. When I kissed you it felt like I was betraying her... but she's... gone now. And you draw me to you like a moth to the flame, I don't know if you mean to do this but I would very much like to court you and get to know you better. I am sorry for my actions because it was rude of me to do that and I shouldn't put the blame to you considering I was the one to kiss you... and I would be lying to say I didn'y enjoy it. Also I don't think Hisana would like it if I just let you slip away from me without trying to know you." He didn't mention the dream he had.

"You want to... date me?" Ame asked.

Byakuya nodded he wanted to kiss her again badly. Why does she draw me so?

"Miss. Kimura... will you allow me to date you from now on?"

Ame could only nod in agreement, she was getting asked to date by a man just about every woman in the Sereitei drooled after. A man who was staring blantly at her lips.

"May I kiss you? Byakuya asked quietly she nodded once more.

Then he was kissing her softly. Ame's eyes slid shut at the feeling, and she sighed. Captain Kuchiki's hand went around her slim waist and pulled her closer to him. He kept it slow considering this was fresh and they still had a long way to go. Something bumped into his leg suddenly, they broke apart. Tuxedo Cat contiuned to rub himself against Byakuya's leg and Ame's. Ame laughed at her silly cat while Byakuya glared now understanding why his gardener called him a "Green eyed devil."