Disclaimer: Bleach will forever belong to Tite Kubo. Big, big sigh..

Chapter 4: Stoking Desires

Rukia smoothened her hakama before opening the door to the dining hall. She still has that Kuchiki image she was grilled to maintain hence she would always ruffle down any unwanted creases, even when wearing her standard shinigami uniform.

As she opened the doors, she sees two servants and a steaming breakfast awaiting her. Where is Nii-sama? She tried to contain her surprise and is quite successful at it.

"Pardon us, Kuchiki-san. Kuchiki-dono left rather early. However, he left strict orders that we are to see that you have broken your fast this morning," one servant said with a bowed head.

"A-a… arigatou, Orie-san," Rukia proceeded to the zabuton provisioned for her. Her thoughts unwittingly focused at the outcome of her gift. Did Nii-sama like my present? In the first place Rukia, why did you give your brother a present? Mental kick.

And another mental kick.

Well, shit. I just wanted to show him my appreciation on allowing me to go Chappy-go-lucky on my rest day. No big deal, right?

Oh but Kami, I implore you. Let the gift be…classy enough for his taste.

Rukia wished she had someone to talk with in order to distract herself from her thoughts. She is even tempted to unsheathe her katana and have Sode no Shirayuki personify in front of her, if possible.

Sighing, she looked at the servant Orie and to the other one, hoping for a conversation during breakfast.

What she found are two empty spaces. Three, if she were to include her brother's.

A lady of your stature, Rukia, is not allowed to conduct small talks with servants.

Damn.

Rukia then quietly proceeded with her breakfast, trying not to feel woebegone.

Her unusual dream with strong sakura scents wholly forgotten.

**********

Rukia struggled with the bundles of paper and whatnots Ukitake Juushirou requested to be sent to the 6th Division. Upon reaching the door, she can barely manage to wheeze a 'Kuchiki Rukia of the 13th Division requesting permission to enter', when she suddenly heard her brother's baritone addressing her best friend.

"Abarai. Rukia is outside about to be toppled by whatever the burden she is carrying," his voice still gave no inflection, even if the intention is out of concern.

"Ah. H-hai, taichou." Renji slightly bowed at his captain, then ran gracelessly towards the door muttering to himself. As he opened the door, he wasted no time scolding a sweaty, red-faced Rukia.

"Oi. Rukia. Here, lemme. Baka, why don't you have Kotsubaki-san go with you? This way you would not have that kind of color yer having right now," said the red pineapple as he scooped the burden away from Rukia's strained arms.

Fortunately, Renji had his back from his captain because he would not be able to see the signature glare Kuchiki Byakuya is giving him.

But for Rukia, after conveniently seeing the death glare decided to make a copy of what she saw and directed it this time at Renji, boldly disregarding her brother even for a brief moment. Ye gods, the baboon never fails at idiocy. Rukia wanted Renji to act a little more dignified whenever both of them are in the presence of the Head of the Kuchiki Clan and consciously suppressing any Rukongai mannerisms that might bubble dangerously on the surface.

Nonetheless, she wanted to roll her eyes in exasperation but greatly refrained from doing so in fear that she might be receiving one from her brother as well. Although, Rukia cannot recall a single incident wherein her brother would give her one of his signatures glares, she does not intend to experience one, much more start being included among the recipients (like Ichigo).

Then Rukia looked solemnly at Renji and at the now-expressionless-again Byakuya consecutively.

"Arigatou, Renji. Sumimasen Kuchiki Taichou. I must immediately return lest Ukitake-taichou would have his sei-…"

Rukia's voice trailed-off to a zero volume when something shiny caught her eye.

Her present is settled inconspicuously between stacks of papers atop the table.

The very same table used by the sixth division captain; by which orders are issued, documents are signed and where strategies are laid. Her Nii-sama's table.

Now a rosy blush can be slowly seen forming on her cheeks. It took a lot of effort to redirect her gaze back to her friend, as if she were seeing Renji for the first time.

"Oi. Rukia."

Renji's voice cut through her mesmerized stare, along with his quizzical set eyebrows. If it weren't for Zabimaru's tattoos on his forehead, Rukia can probably see how high when a brow would arch in confusion. That incorrigible idiot, Rukia thought, silently thanking him for putting her into focus again.

Then suddenly, Rukia paled after seeing the sakura petals floating inside the orb. It certainly brought back that accursed dream…along with the forbidden feelings she is not supposed to feel.

"I...uh...MOUSHIWAKE ARIMASEN, NII-SAMA!" Rukia gave a very low bow, did a pirouetted turn and hurriedly slammed the door behind her, forgetting to appropriately address her brother as 'taichou,' as panic overtook any calm façade she had mustered beforehand. Why is my present in there…with him? In the friggin-6th Division?!

"Whattha..? Renji averted his gaze from the door to his captain. "Taichou?"

The poor bestfriend/sixth division lieutenant could only scratch his head, deeply mystified with Rukia's unusual outburst and sudden exit. As he did so, the burden Rukia laboriously brought there went in several directions.

Idiots, indeed. Byakuya thought, inwardly entertained at the spectacles he just witnessed. Although, the other is one incredibly beautiful idiot.

Softly huffing, he hardly gave any sign of astonishment and his amusement and simply resumed scribbling.

**********

Several hours and documents later, Renji rose from his seat and bowed low at his captain, signaling his leave for the day. Byakuya silently afforded his lieutenant with a nod at one corner and then stood-up to face the window. At his back, Renji blanched at the high stack of papers on one side of the room.

"I will come back to finish them, taichou. I just promised Rukia some shira-tama and ice cream tonight," Renji said, not caring to disguise the tiredness from his voice. He then took a low bow and left the room in haste.

If Renji were not too busy bowing and thinking of the paper load awaiting his return, he could at least see the tilt in Byakuya's head when the former included Rukia's name in the sentence. Thankfully, Byakuya knows this and allows himself this rare guarded moment when no one is looking.

Renji? Rukia? Was that a dinner...date?

One could now see a frown marring the smoothness of his forehead and a green emotion tinting his gray eyes. At this point, Kuchiki Byakuya thought he is immune to any hint, any form of jealousy until now. But after several minutes of weighing the pros and cons of the mess he finds himself in, Byakuya smirked knowledgeably; a plan now forming in his head.

All 'first-times' are always painful, he concluded. But painfully delightful, anyway, he added cheekily.