A/N: I guess this is considered a quick update from me? Well, I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter. I was contemplating if I should let it flow in this direction or not but decided that it has to if not it wouldn't link to what I had in mind for the later parts of the story. So if it gets a little boring, please please bear with it. I promise more action will come soon!
Words to note: Chawanmushi - An egg custard dish served in a small tea bowl.
Rukia didn't know how long she had been running. She was too mortified by what happened to even know where she was heading. All she knew was that she had to keep running as far away as possible from Byakuya.
Breathless, Rukia finally slowed down to a stop and wiped her tears away. She was thoroughly embarrassed. She had actually thought that Byakuya was in a clear state of mind and was actually… speaking the truth. But that was not the most embarrassing thing of all. Rukia's face burned in shame once again as she recalled how she had reacted to him. She had actually caved in and not only had she let him do those things to her, she had actually responded to him and had even encouraged him to continue. Rukia even thought that Byakuya had actually wanted her.
"Because I have wanted you for so long, Rukia."
Byakuya's voice rang loud and clear in Rukia's mind and she quickly shook her head, trying to get his voice off her head. Yes, it was this sentence that had led her to cave in. It was this sentence that she had actually thought that Byakuya had indeed been longing for her. Rukia didn't know whether she should laugh or cry at her own stupidity. She had actually thought that her Nii-sama had fallen for her. She thought that she had finally understood why Byakuya had always been overprotective of her; how he had always disliked the guys that she was close with. It all made perfect sense. And after the heavy kisses they shared, Rukia couldn't care less about the flimsy brother-sister relationship that they had shared because she had actually thought that another better relationship was going to happen between Byakuya and her. Right now, she only felt foolish and extremely embarrassed.
The sun was beating down as Rukia snapped out of her reverie and squint her eyes. She had not even realised she had ran out of the hotel and right to the beach.
Rukia groaned as her thoughts drifted back to Byakuya. Byakuya acted like this because of alcohol. What about her? She had no excuse at all. It was barely eleven in the morning and she had done something so outrageous. Something she knew that she would never forgive herself for the rest of her life. How is she going to face her Nii-sama after this? For a moment, Rukia stood quietly alone, closing her eyes as the sound of the wave crashing against the shore seemed to calm her down a little.
"Are you alright, Miss?"
Rukia suddenly heard someone asked as she jumped around in fright. A very handsome young man who looked slightly older than her looked at her in surprise as he took a step back.
Rukia quickly brushed the tears away from her eyes as the man continued. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. You just looked really sad and I was wondering if you were fine."
Rukia quickly cleared her throat and gave a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
For a moment, the young man continued to stand there as Rukia shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, I'm terribly sorry that I have disturbed you. I think I should go now." The man finally said as he gave a slight bow and smiled at Rukia.
Rukia frowned as she stared at him. His face… Where had she seen him before? That short brown hair and those eyes… And the refined manners…
The man was about to turn and leave when Rukia found herself saying, "Please hold on a minute!"
The man stopped immediately and cast Rukia a curious glance as she quickly tried to explain herself.
"Have we met?" asked Rukia. "I'm sorry but I think we may have met or something."
The man raised his eyebrows. "Are you hitting on me?"
Rukia's face turned a few shades of red immediately as she shook her head frantically. "N-No! Of course not! You just look really familiar."
The man gave a laugh as he stared at Rukia fondly. "You don't seem to have a very good memory, Rukky-chan."
Realization dawned on Rukia as her eyes widened. Rukky-chan… The only person who called her that was…
"Sato Tanako? Is that you?" Rukia asked as she stared at him, anxious and hopeful.
"Ah, now you remember, Rukky-chan. I was still afraid you have forgotten all about me." Tanako said as he beamed.
Rukia heaved a sigh of relief and finally broke into a smile. "Where have you been all this time? I have missed you!"
Tanako's face seems to darken for a second but before Rukia could be certain, he was smiling again. "Do you remember how we met, Rukky-chan?"
Rukia nodded happily. "Of course, it was the first summer after I've entered the Kuchiki house. The elders were holding a meeting one night with your parents and some other families. I saw you strolling around and attacked you thinking that you were a thief."
Tanako laughed. "Yes, and we started fighting until my parents and the Kuchiki elders came to stop us."
"Well, I got scolded after that for attacking you by the elders." said Rukia as she sniggered. "But we had so much fun after that when your parents decided to stay for a week in the Kuchiki manor."
Tanako smiled wistfully. "Yes, those were good times."
There was silence for a moment as Rukia stared at him. "Tanako, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead." replied the older boy.
Rukia looked away as she clasped her hands together nervously. "Why did you stop replying my letters?"
Tanako remained silent as he looked away, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Remember that after you left the Kuchiki manor, we wrote to each other but after my fourth letter, you did not reply." continued Rukia. "I thought you didn't receive it but I wrote the fifth letter and then the sixth and there was still no reply from you. What happened?"
Tanako sighed and finally turned to face Rukia. "It was such a long time ago, Rukia. Can we just forget about that? And the most important thing is that, I'm back now, aren't I?"
Rukia nodded slowly. "I guess you're right. No point dwelling in the past now."
Tanako smiled as he tousled Rukia's hair. "Join me for lunch and we shall talk some more, Rukky-chan."
Byakuya groaned as he raised his head from the bed. He frowned immediately as he quickly sat up. How long had he been asleep? And why was he sleeping on his front instead of on his back? Byakuya got out of bed and went to the counter to pour himself a drink.
As the water slid down his throat, his mind started coming back to focus and bits of images were forming in his mind. First there was Rukia, and then there was the image of them kissing… And then Byakuya remembered how he ran his hands all over Rukia and how he had behaved in such an inappropriate manner towards her. He remembered how she had stopped him and ran out of the room crying and how much he wanted to chase after her but did not as giddiness consumed him and he was knocked out once again which leads to… now.
Byakuya set the glass of water down as he banged his fist on the counter. What had made him act in that manner? His eyes roamed the room and finally settled on the empty glass sitting on the counter beside the bed. Yes, that's right. Rukia had mentioned sake. Byakuya walked towards the glass and picked it up. He lifted it to his nose and groaned. It had been sake, all right.
He had drunk the entire glass and that was why he had acted that way to Rukia earlier. A little part of Byakuya knew that this was not the entire truth. He had long wanted to run his hands all over Rukia; to kiss her like nothing else mattered anymore and to make sweet love to her. But the sake was the best excuse Byakuya could find for himself at the moment.
Byakuya took a quick shower as he headed out, hoping to find Rukia. He needed to explain things to her and to apologise for his behaviour.
It was not before long Byakuya found Rukia. She was sitting inside a café alone and Byakuya quickly entered the café. He was walking towards Rukia's table when a man suddenly walked past him and sat on the seat opposite Rukias'.
"Here, I've got us some omelette and chawanmushi." Byakuya heard the man said.
Byakuya frowned. Who is that man? And why was Rukia sitting with him?
Byakuya continued to look as Rukia clapped her hands in delight. "Ooh, you remembered!" she exclaimed happily.
The man gazed at Rukia fondly as he spoke. "Of course I remembered my Rukky-chan's favourite eggs."
Byakuya glared at the man. When did Rukia become this man's Rukky-chan? His Rukky-chan? Byakuya scoffed as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Rukia and the man continued chatting happily oblivious to anything or anyone around them and Byakuya felt a tinge of jealousy. They looked as though they were a couple enjoying their day out on a date.
Byakuya strode towards their table and stared at Rukia.
"May I have a moment, Rukia?" he asked, ignoring the man.
Byakuya saw the uncomfortable look on Rukia's face as she hesitated.
"Is something wrong, Rukia?" The man asked.
Rukia shook her head and smiled at the man and finally looked at Byakuya. "I'm busy now, Nii-sama. Maybe later."
Byakuya grew irritated but tried to remain composed. "It is of a very important matter, Rukia."
"I am busy, Nii-sama. I will look for you when I am done." repeated Rukia, this time turning her gaze away from Byakuya.
Byakuya stared at Rukia, startled. She had never disobeyed him like this. She had never spoken to him in this manner before and this time, Byakuya's irritation turned into worry. Had he really hurt Rukia?
"Rukia, it seemed as though you do not understand the importance of the matter on hand. It needs to be dealt with immediately." said Byakuya gently but a bit more firmly this time.
"I'm sure Nii-sama is capable of handling it on his own." replied Rukia as she turned away stubbornly.
"You do not have a choice, Rukia. This is an order." Byakuya finally said.
Rukia glared at no one in particular in anger as she stood up.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, Rukia." The man said as Byakuya flashed him a look of irritation.
"This is not any of your business." Byakuya said, his tone clearly warning the man to back off.
The man ignored Byakuya and stood up, holding on to Rukia's arm. "You don't have to listen to him, Rukia."
Byakuya watched as Rukia pushed the man's hand away and replied him. "You don't understand. I'll be fine. Just a quick talk. I'll be back."
"Kuchiki Byakuya…" The man muttered as he stared at Byakuya angrily. "Is this really what you do best?"
Byakuya frowned. "Who are you and what are you talking about."
Rukia too, frowned in surprise at the man. "What's wrong, Tanako? Why are you speaking to Nii-sama in this manner?"
"Tanako?" repeated Byakuya as he stared at the man. "I see, so you are Sato Tanako."
Byakuya stared at Sato Tanako as he held on to Rukia's wrist and dragged her out of the café.
"What do you want, Nii-sama." asked Rukia reluctantly as Byakuya let go of her wrist.
"I just wish to talk about what happened." replied Byakuya.
Rukia felt her face burn in shame as she looked away. It was bad enough that she had acted that way; worse that he remembered and now he wants to talk about it?
"I don't see that there's anything to talk about, Nii-sama. It's my fault. I was in the wrong. So, do punish me as to how you see fit."
Byakuya stared at her for a moment then finally let out a soft sigh. "You did not do anything wrong, Rukia. There is no need for any punishment. I just want to say that it was the sake that made me behave in such an inappropriate manner and I need to apologise for it."
Rukia remained silent and Byakuya continued. "Rukia, what happened earlier was entirely my fault. I did not realise that what I drank had been sake and I should not have acted in that manner. I… I apologise, Rukia and I hope that you can forget about what happened earlier. It was my mistake."
Rukia sneaked a glance at Byakuya. He does seem awfully sorry and it was the first time Rukia had seen him apologising to anyone. He was looking at her waiting for a response and she finally sighed.
"Nii-sama, it's not your fault. I know it's the sake." she finally replied softly.
"Then why are you still angry with me?" asked Byakuya.
Rukia felt her brows furrowing and she tried to calm herself down. "I'm not angry with you, Nii-sama."
"It does not seem so, Rukia." pressed on Byakuya as he stared at her.
"Just let me be, Nii-sama. And rest assured that I really am not mad at you." Rukia said as she stared at the wandering crowd on the street.
"Rukia, if anything is wrong, you can talk to me about it."
Rukia nodded but did not reply. She knows that acting in this manner irks Byakuya but she had no choice. She cannot face him at the moment as every time she looks at him, she would be reminded of what had happened and how she had acted towards him. It made her feel cheap and very worthless and very stupid.
"Why are you with Sato Tanako, Rukia?" Byakuya asked suddenly as his eyes drifted back to the man sitting inside the café.
"He's my friend."
"You should stay away from him, Rukia." warned Byakuya as Rukia stared at him angrily.
"And why is that so, Nii-sama?" Rukia shot back angrily. She saw the shock in Byakuya's eyes but that didn't stop her. "Will this be one of your orders again, Nii-sama?"
Rukia watched as Byakuya stilled for a moment as he continued to stare at Rukia. He finally blinked and then regained his composure.
"He is not someone you should associate with, Rukia. Much less of a friend." Byakuya said carefully.
"Nii-sama, there's nothing wrong with him. You just don't like any of the guys I hang out with. Kaien-dono, Ichigo and even Renji. I know that, Nii-sama. But why? Can you give me a reason?" asked Rukia, half shouting.
Rukia knew that a few passerbys were starting to stare but she didn't care. At this point, she felt utterly humiliated and she still had to endure Byakuya's orders and now he wants to choose her friends for her? What is she to him? His puppet?
Rukia didn't mind and was willing to obey everything her Nii-sama said before. But this time, Rukia could not take it anymore. She hated giving in to Byakuya earlier when he was clearly drunk and didn't mean anything he said. She hated how she had even thought that Byakuya was in love with her. She hated how he had wanted her to forget about what had happened earlier as though it was a mistake and it disgusted him. She hated how much her heart is hurting. She hated how she was angry with Byakuya for making her feel this way when he probably feels indifferent about everything.
"Rukia, can we go somewhere else and talk about this?" asked Byakuya, aware of the attention they were receiving. He had even spotted a few fellow shinigamis pointing and whispering at them.
"B-But, Tanako-"
"He can wait." said Byakuya as he held on to Rukia's wrist and led her towards the back of the cafe, into the car park. It was deserted and out of sight.
"What is going on, Rukia?" asked Byakuya, his face showing the slightest bit of concern.
Rukia shook her head stubbornly, refusing to speak. She looked at Byakuya as he paced to and fro in front of her looking extremely exasperated.
"Rukia, if you are still mad at me about what happened earlier, I will understand. And if there is any way that-"
"For the last time, Nii-sama, I'm not! I'm not!" shouted Rukia as a tear slipped off her eye. "I'm not angry with you! It's me, myself I'm angry with! Are you satisfied now?"
Byakuya reeled back in shock as though he had been slapped as he stared at Rukia. "Why?" he asked.
As though she had not heard him, Rukia sank down onto the pavement and let out another sob as she covered her face with her hands.
"Why am I feeling this way? Why? I don't want this. You don't want this either so why am I feeling like this? Why does it hurt so much when you told me to forget that it happened?" Rukia cried. "This feeling is so awful. I don't want it. What's wrong with me?"
Byakuya remained silent as he gazed at Rukia. So is this how she had been feeling these past few hours? Byakuya didn't know what he should do. He had never seen Rukia crying this badly before and he felt really guilty. He was the cause of this. If he had not harboured any forbidden feelings for Rukia, he would not have acted in that manner when he drank the sake and Rukia would not be resulted to this. He wanted so much to tell her that he truly cares for her, that he would protect her from any harm and that he loves her so very much.
Byakuya knelt down next to Rukia and finally put an arm around her as another hand stroked her head, hoping to comfort her. Rukia leant in immediately as she sobbed quietly into Byakuya chest.
For almost twenty minutes, everything was silent except for the sounds of Rukia sobs. Soon, Rukia finally calmed down and she quickly wiped her tears away and Byakuya let his hands drop to his sides.
"I-I'm so sorry, Nii-sama." apologised Rukia as she stood up and bowed hastily.
Byakuya stood up and stared at Rukia. "There is nothing to apologise for, Rukia."
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Rukia spoke. "I should leave now, Nii-sama. Tanako is still waiting for me."
And without waiting for Byakuya's reply, Rukia turned her back and began walking away while Byakuya could only watch as her figure became smaller and smaller until she finally disappeared round the corner.
A/N: How was it? I hope it wasn't too bad. I know it's a little depressing to see Rukia like this but... don't worry, she's not going to be like this for a long time. Well, I won't reveal too much so hopefully you guys will have the patience to read on!
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