Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

AN: Fair warning, despite the title, there is no sex in this chapter…


Fulfillment

Lesson 5:

A Gentle, But Firm Hand…


He waited. He paced. Anxiety was prickling at him, a feeling he was not accustomed to. He had not slept well the night before. His quarters at the barracks were private, quiet, isolated from the rest of the squad, but the silence had only plagued him.

He had found himself in the courtyard where the chirp of crickets was accompanied by the buzz of conversation from the main lodgings of his subordinates. He heard the clack of dice on the wooden floor boards and muffled laughter. There was a genial atmosphere behind the shoji screens that was simply the camaraderie of men (the few women in his squad were housed on the other side of the courtyard and he did not venture near) who had trained and served together. Alcohol was not allowed in the barracks after all, it could only be their close companionship that prompted the happy air. The amity seemed to mingle with the lighting inside the barracks creating a warm glow. Byakuya paused a moment, allowing it to permeate the hard exterior.

Two squad members arriving back from duty happened upon him and couldn't have been more surprised to see him standing on the path outside their quarters. They quickly saluted him, which he acknowledged momentarily before turning his back on them and striding away. He had gone back to his own chambers at that point, but sleep still evaded him. Yet he closed his eyes. The thought that finally had him drifting was that the following night, he would not be alone.

But as it was, he was anxious for her arrival, and it showed in his patterned steps across the floor in front of the entrance to the guest house. When he felt her approach, heard her light tread on the garden path he finally stopped. He was being somewhat reckless tonight he knew. The shoji doors were open behind him, the candlelight spilling forth from inside, yellow warmth falling on the steps and pooling on the ground. He closed his eyes, his strict training allowing for almost instant calm to return. When she came to the end of the path before the steps, he was the straight-backed stoic nobleman she had accustomed herself to.

Xochitl hesitated. He was so tall the light behind him was slightly obscured, his features in shadow. Still he glowed, and it was more than the light, but strength and resilience, qualities that both intimidated and awed any who crossed his path. Her heart started once again and she bowed. Upon rising she realized his hand was extended toward her.

He helped her up the steps and when she stood in front of him he did not release her hand right away as he studied her face.

Her lips were glossed a fetching red that complimented her skin tone and pronounced their pouting quality and fullness. For a moment he was mesmerized. But the magic of beauty did not work on Byakuya Kuchiki. There was definitely a spell woven about her, but he had words to speak.

With one more breath in he did speak, and his voice was both hard and soft at the same time, reminiscent of conflicting emotions, "Are you not wary of me, now? Has no lesson made you fear me in the slightest?"

Was he really concerned with how she perceived him, or was this perhaps another game, a lesson to be played out once the shoji doors had closed behind them?

She stared up at him with moon-starved eyes, "You are a man."

She said this simply, held his gaze for a moment more before side-stepping and moving past him to venture inside. He wasn't sure what shocked him more, her unassuming statement or the fact that she had dismissed the subject by leaving him to stand there staring at the space she had occupied. But what baffled him was that she had spoken without accusation, bitterness, or contempt. There was no hint that she thought his sex repugnant or stereotypically chauvinistic. It had been just a simple statement, absolving him of his guilt if he were so inclined to stop playing the penitent sinner.


Typically they drank their tea in silence, but after a few minutes Byakuya spoke again.

His tea cup cradled in his palm, his other hand around it for support he did not look at her across the table as he asked, "Are you literate, Xochitl?"

She blinked, the surprise clear on her face. There was the slightest twitch to her brow that might've signaled her insult at the question. He realized too late that her fascination with Shodo the night before last might have simply been an astute appreciation of the art. It proved a kind of ignorance and, yes arrogance on his part. For a moment, he, Byakuya Kuchiki, became uncomfortably aware of his slight prejudices.

She quickly looked down into her tea, but could not help but look back up to lock eyes with him, her voice unwavering, "Yes, my lord. I know kanji, hiragana, and katakana." She dropped her eyes as she realized there must be a confrontational gleam to her eyes as he looked the tiniest bit taken aback.

"I see… In that case, would it please you to learn a few styles of Shodo?" He asked then took a sip of his tea, gauging her reaction surreptitiously over the rim of his cup. Again he had made an assumption and he nearly held his breath.

"Yes." No hesitation.

He found he was not surprised by the quick response, but for a moment he wondered if she were placating him as the client. He did not think she was so complacent, however, as to agree to something simply out of obligation. She had insisted that she was no liar and he was inclined to believe her, despite the fact that the emotions behind every move she made were still a mystery to him. Certainly she seemed to follow his directives without pause, but more than once she had proven to have a mind and will of her own. Was that eagerness in her eyes or was it resignation?

"Very well." He said.

The new robes her mistress had fitted her with were lovely, but would only be a hindrance to her. Her clothing was not Japanese, but Chinese in style: a gown of yellow, sleeveless and fitted to her torso before falling into an A-line skirt, tied with braided cords a deeper yellow at the waist. There was a diaphanous gauze shawl about her arms, this too a pale yellow that contrasted with her skin beautifully. The whole ensemble was breathtaking.

Still, after a quick glance at him she shed the mantle, carefully folding it and setting it aside. The tightness about her upper body, not to mention the corset underneath gave her a great deal of cleavage and she knew this too was not conducive to learning what he had in mind. She was left in a simple underdress of thin white material and the corset whose strings she loosened. Her waist was small as it was, but her mistress had insisted it was most fashionable to cinch ones waist even smaller; in what era Xochitl did not ask.

Able to breath with ease, she sank down onto her knees in front of the desk that he had prepared with rice paper, an ink stone, an ink stick, and brushes.

Despite her state of undress, which was just as appealing- if not more so than her naked form, he managed to begin a slow paced instruction.

Byakuya did not touch her but to position her hand around the brush. As he expected, she had a delicate touch when using the bamboo brush of fine goat hair. He only had to correct her form twice; she was a quick study, though he kept the pace even and steady, patience and reflection was the key here.

"A gentle, but firm hand you will find is relevant in most things, Xochitl." He said as he paced patiently around her.

He did not allow himself to be distracted by the rise and fall of her chest, her rhythmic breathing swelling her breasts so that they threatened to spill from the loosened corset. He was a serious artist, his eyes may have strayed more than once, but his mind did not drift from his tutelage.

By the end of their time together she had transcribed a verse of poetry from The Heike Monogatari. It was far from perfect, but it was well-done nonetheless and he was pleased, though one could never tell by the look on his face as he gazed at it. He gave a nod and set it back on the desk.

He helped her redress, an act that he performed with an almost clinical detachment. The sun was rising and he could not afford to let his lust rise with it. Still his fingers lingered on her skin at moments and when he draped the shawl over her shoulders he held her arms a moment as he closed his eyes, the scent of her hair wafting into his nose. Bergamot and honeysuckle.

He quickly released her and stepped back, "We will continue with Tensho and Reisho styles on the morrow."

She turned slowly to face him and nodded. The red that had colored her lips had been licked away as she concentrated, but her mouth was no less inviting.

"The boy will be waiting." He said and turned away lest his hand shoot out to grasp her wrist and draw her away from the door and into his eager embrace.

She bowed, "My lord."

Her departure was quiet, and left him irrationally agitated. But one deep breath and a glance at the desk eased him. Slowly he approached the desk to once more pick up the paper of uniform lines of black ink.

First line of the Heike Monogatari:

The knell of bells at the Gion Temple

Echoes the impermanence of all things.

Impermanence. The word echoed in his mind like the bells the poem spoke of. He was all too aware of the impermanence of things in this life. Like youth, a time of smiles, and laughter and a temper not yet moderated. Like the bonds shared with loved ones, mother, father… wifesister

That last thought rankled and the noble found that he had bitten the inside of his lip, a rust-like taste touching his tongue; definitely not as sweet as hers.

Yes. Things in this life were impermanent, just as they were in the world of the living, despite the difference in the passing of time. Briefly he wondered whether Rukia was enjoying herself during her time away. But his eyes fell on the poem again and he sighed.

Impermanence. He wondered when his newest venture would fade into just another memory.

He smirked. This time it wasn't the demon who replied to his musings.

Byakuya thought: But there is so much more to teach.


Lesson 5: A Gentle, But Firm Hand…


AN: Thanks again to everyone who's stopped by! I'm actually gonna try my best to wrap this up at about 10 to an uneven 11 chapters, and hopefully in the next month, but we'll see!