Disclaimer: I do not own BLEACH or it would never the same again...
A/N: Don't want to bother you all with my talks, just keep on reading then... R&R please...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8: Silent Understanding
"Mina-san, all of you are here-"
"Excuse me; I've got work to do."
Byakuya hastily left the living room without glancing at Naqeshi and the others, leaving them puzzled. They looked at each other and shrugged. The crown princess tapped her index finger against her chin, "I wonder if I can help him...," and she left them. All of them kept quiet for a while...
Ichigo decided to break the silence, "Mina, do you realize that-..."
Renji continued Ichigo's words, "...Kuchiki-taichou would excuse himself-..."
Rukia interrupted, "...every time Naqeshi-hime-sama comes around us-..."
Uryuu added, "...like he's trying to avoid her-..."
"...and all of us do notice it," Chad finished.
"Mina, kochi kochi," Orihime beckoned them while peeking through the door way. The five of them looked at each other and approached the naïve-looking lass, joining her for a peek at the corridor. They couldn't see anyone but two voices filled the corridor.
"Byakuya-sama, why-"
"I don't want to sound rude but could you please leave me alone? I really have a lot of work to do."
"That's why I offer you my help and-"
"Thank you for the offer but I don't want to trouble you, Hime-sama."
"It wouldn't be a trouble for me, Byakuya-sama. Furthermore, you've taken good care of me during these days and I feel-"
"Really Hime-sama, I thank you for your concerns. You should rest a little bit more," the six of them could see Byakuya walked Naqeshi-hime-sama out of his room and hastily closed the door behind him, leaving Naqeshi with a more puzzled face. She stood for a while in front of the closed door and then walked to her room. Silence fell in the house...
"Mina," Ichigo started, "Don't you all think Byakuya has been acting way out of his usual cold-and-noble character since last two nights ago every time Hime-sama's around?"
"He's obviously trying to avoid her in anyway," Renji added.
"Maybe it sounds weird but...," Rukia was unsure to say the next words, "...Nii-sama is kinda' 'jumpy' this days."
"Something about her makes him uncomfortable, that's for sure," Ishida stated.
"The question is what?" Chad asked and all of them immediately went into deep thoughts.
"Maybe...," all of them turned their attention towards Orihime, "...he kissed her...or nearly kissed her or anything that has to do with that. And he felt somehow embarrassed by whatever event it was."
All of them looked at each other and then involuntarily broke into laughs. Ichigo wiped his tears, "If it was someone else, I might believe that theory but we're talking about Byakuya here."
"And all of my life, I haven't seen Taichou is interested in any romantic relationship with women," Renji held his nearly-ripped-because-of-laughing ribs.
"I can see what you mean, Abarai-san," Uryuu took off his glasses, "I don't think he sees women like the normal men are..."
"He might even consider women are the same as men," Chad said.
"And furthermore," Orihime added, "The only woman he ever loves is Rukia-chan's older sister, Hisana-san."
"You're right," and then a thought struck Rukia's mine, "But Hime-sama does look like Nee-sama, doesn't she?"
"You mean..."
"...he might actually..."
"...did that to her..."
"...because she looks like..."
"...Hisana-san?"
The six of them looked at each other and then shook their heads furiously, "Zettai ni ieda; absolutely no way it'd happen," they said in unison.
"After all, Hime-sama should have been acting the same way as Byakuya does if that really happens," Ichigo added, "Maybe the reason is something else..."
And little did they knew, Byakuya who was in his room sneezed and murmured, "Either I'm getting the cold like she said or someone's talking about me...," he thought for a while, "And how on Earth she can acts like nothing happens? Maybe the dumb wish came true after all..."
"I've heard it."
"What?"
"You're avoiding her."
"It's none of your business-"
"It IS my business, little Byakuya."
Byakuya glared at Shihouin Yoruichi – in her human form – with annoyance obviously showed on his normally-expressionless face, "Why do you care anyway? It's not you the one I'm trying to avoid."
"Yes, it's not me but A CROWN PRINCESS," her eyes flickered with amusement, "Ne, little Byakuya, why don't you be a good boy and tell me what's going on."
"Stop treating me like I'm your junior, Yoruichi. We're of the same age in case you forget," he gave her another death glare and before turning his attention behind her, "Kisuke, could you please make it quick? Someone's annoying me enough for me to kill her."
"Hai hai, you're still so impatience as before," Urahara Kisuke appeared from a room and closed the door behind him, "Here you go, your cellular phone. The receiver radar is broken and I've already replaced it with a new one," he showed Byakuya his cellular phone but retrieved it back when Byakuya tried to take it.
"Any other problem, Kisuke?" Byakuya asked acidly.
"Byakuya, what's going on between you and Hime-sama? I kinda' worry 'bout you both...even though it's only you the one I'm worrying about," Kisuke asked, ignoring the acidity of Byakuya's voice.
"Both of you are nosey," Byakuya replied sourly, "Now, give me that phone or I'll get it myself."
"Chill out, Byakuya," Yoruichi said, "Both of us are just concerned about our dearest friend here. It's not like we're nosey or something. Come on, what's wrong? You've never acting like this..."
"Mind-your-own-business," Byakuya replied monotone but with pure venom.
"Aww, Byakuya... Come on, tell your sister-like friend here."
"As if I consider you as my sister."
"If it's a men's thing, you could just tell me. I promise nothing would slip out of my mouth."
"Seriously Kisuke, if I have something that I want to keep as a secret, I would keep it as one. Wakatana?"
"What secret, Byakuya-sama?"
Byakuya turned around hastily and came face to face with Naqeshi who was staring at him with her usual smile and a questioning face. Byakuya heard soft giggles behind him and silently cursed both of the Soul Society's exiles, "N-nothing, Hime-sama. It's not worth of your attention."
"Haime?" Naqeshi looked towards both Yoruichi and Kisuke, "But you three seem to be in a very serious conversation. May I know what it is?"
"Well, you know...," Yoruichi started and grinned mischievously, "Hime-sama, do you happen to realize that Bya-"
ZWIIISH! CRAAASHHH!
All four of them jumped out of a suddenly-appeared Hollow's attack range just in time or they would be as wrecked as the now-wrecked entrance of Urahara's Household Shop. The Hollow who took shape as an oversized mole with gigantic socket-eyes scanned wildly around it, licked its large teeth every time it saw anyone of them four, "Now I've found grown-up Shinigamis...and seem to be a lot more tastier than the youngsters..."
"Who are you calling youngsters?" suddenly Zangetsu found its way to slash the Hollow into two from above but missed as it succeeded in avoiding the blade. Ichigo landed right in front of the Hollow followed by Chad and Rukia, "Urahara-san, it seems something's wrecked your shop."
"Who told you to chase it here?" Kisuke said, "Just get over this already, will you?"
"Okay-...," everyone turned their attention towards the strange rumbling noises in the ground, "What the-"
GRREEEUSHHHH! CRRAAAACKK!
The ground split opened and hundreds of mole-like Hollows appeared together with Renji, Uryuu and Orihime, "They're a bit too many for us to handle, we might use some help," Renji explained while killing of five Hollows.
"SPLIT UP!"
And by Yoruichi's order, every one of them divided into group of two and went to several directions with a large amount of the mole-like Hollows right behind them. And to Byakuya's uneasiness, his partner was Naqeshi and both of them were heading towards Karakura Park. After several minutes of killing and running away from the masked creatures, both of them halted at the part of the park where it happened to be the place where the certain incident between Byakuya and Naqeshi happened…or nearly happened. And Byakuya grew more anxious by each microseconds passed.
"Great, just what I needed. Same place with the same person, perfect for remembering that thing. Can things get any worse?" Byakuya thought sarcastically while he swung his Senbonzakura towards the Hollows and Naqeshi used her Mizu no Tenshi to banish the soul-eating monsters. After several minutes, all of the mole-like Hollows vanished into thin air and both of them sheathed their Zanpakutou. Silence fell between them.
"Hime-sama, about the last two nights... I-"
"I know it Byakuya-sama, and I understand."
"Huh?"
"Sometimes, we just can't control our emotions or doings and more ever, if it has something to do with the one that we hold dear. I can't deny that I resemble Hisana in many ways and I know you miss her a lot. So, like you've said, just forget it."
Byakuya tried to say something but stopped himself; he thought it might be better if things left like this even though it wasn't the truth. After all, he wasn't so sure what had make him did that; it was either just like Naqeshi said or it was something else that he still couldn't understand. Surprisingly, he nearly smiled but managed to refrain himself from doing so, "So…this is what they called silent understanding..."
"Pardon me, Byakuya-sama?"
"N-nothing. Let's head back; all of them might be waiting for us... And thanks for understanding."
She just simply smiled.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: ...review?
