Constantly There
The following day, all shinigamis gathered at Urahara's place and discussed the events that transpired the night before. Michiko and Byakuya arrived early, while Matsumoto and HIsugaya were late, with Hitsugaya blaming Matsumoto's indecisiveness of what outfit to wear.
"Ohaiyo!" greeted the jovial store owner, to which everyone greeted in return. Michiko handed the information she got last night during her encounter with the hollow and later on they all agreed to meet downtown for dinner since its Ikkaku's birthday.
Michiko decided to act as if nothing happened the night before and concentrated on the mission at hand. Before leaving, she was pulled aside by the 10th Division Fukutaichou asking her if she could accompany her to the nearest mall. Byakuya looked at them and before Michiko could reply he suddenly said "You may go with Matsumoto-san, Sayomi-san, she knows a lot of places here, and it would be good for you to have time off. I'll be going ahead. See you later in the apartment." And with that he left.
"Ohh it would be fun Michiko-sama! I promise you that." Grinned Rangiku, to which Michiko smiled and replied, "What are we waiting for, let's go" and the two lovely shinigamis left.
With the help of Rangiku, Michiko was able to purchase some clothes as they went shopping in various boutiques, Rangiku being more exposed to the real world taught her how to walk wearing high heeled shoes. It was difficult for Michiko at first, and she suffered a few stumbles but later on she was able to learn how to walk with it.
"Ne, Michiko-sama, you really could pass as a fashion model with your beauty…" Rangiku dreamily said, admiring Michiko who is trying out another shoe.
"Thanks for the compliment, Rangiku-san, you too could pass as a model, and a more confident one! Me? For sure ill always fall on my face wearing these shoes" Michiko smiled, then remembered something, "hey tonight is the dinner party for Ikkaku-san, right?"
"Ah yes, it is! I nearly forgot" said Rangiku "we better get him a present then" Michiko suggested and the two women paid for the goods they purchased and went to another shop to look for Ikkaku's present.
The women had a wonderful time shopping as well as bonding as friends. Michiko found the 10th Division Fukutaichou to be friendly and cheerful, her worries about the incident last night was momentarily forgotten.
Rangiku treated Michiko for her first coffee experience in one of the coffee shops in the mall, Michiko found its taste a little weird, but liked it nonetheless. As they were about to leave the coffee shop, they were both surprised to see Byakuya walking towards them, shopping bags in one hand.
"I trust both of you are on your way home?" He asked.
"Hai, Kuchiki Taichou, we're about to proceed to the bus stop" Rangiku replied.
"No need, we'll take you to Orihime's place then" he said.
The 3 silently went to the parking area, Byakuya leading the way. After dropping off Rangiku, the two sped to the apartment, with Byakuya silently driving, the same as the night before, the atmosphere inside the car was silent… too silent Michiko mused.
As they reached the building, both were silent during the trip to Byakuya's apartment. As they entered the foyer, Michiko was surprised when Byakuya took her arm and said "We need to talk Sayomi-san" and led her to a winding staircase.
They reached the topmost portion of the building, Michiko still wondering where they were headed when Byakuya opened the door and when she stepped out she was surprised to see a garden.
"It's so beautiful…" Michiko exclaimed, the beauty of the garden taking her breath away, its like being in another place. There's a koi pond and vast cherry blossoms as well as other flowering plants and at the middle of the garden is a gazebo draped in soft white silk curtains, with pillows and cushions.
She looked at Byakuya who was silently standing behind her "Taichou, this place is so beautiful…thank you for bringing me here.." she shyly said.
"I'm glad that you like it…about last night," he began… "I would like to let you know that I, I---" he stammered.
"Oh it's alright, I reprimanded my gigai and she promised that it wont happen again" Michiko sheepishly replied. "It's a malfunction, I guess"
Realizing that she didn't want to discuss what happened the night before, Byakuya let the subject drop, gazing at the garden; he said "I had this made after I saw it barren the time I bought the flat downstairs. I thought it would be a good idea to have a garden to remind me of home when I'm out here on a mission. You may come here as you please."
She was touched by his generosity and said "Domo arigatou gozaimasu Taichou, I really like this place already. Is it alright if I stay here for awhile?"
He simply nodded and told her that he would go downstairs to attend to some business. Michiko watched him leaving and after closing the door, she went to the gazebo and sat at one of the cushions, took out her mobile phone and dialed the special number.
"Shiro… aka-chan.." she smiled, seeing her son on the phone screen.
"Mommy! Ogenki desu ka?" (how are you?)
"I am fine, aka-chan…" they talked and made funny gestures on the phone screen for quite a while and later on, after hanging up, it was then that Michiko realized how much she missed her little Shiro.
Afterwards she went downstairs, finding Byakuya in the living room, a big projector screen coming down from the ceiling.
"Sayomi-san, we'll be speaking to Yamamoto Soutaichou and Ukitake Taichou in a moment" he pushed one of the buttons of the remote control he was holding and the faces of Yamamoto Soutaichou and Ukitake Taichou appeared on the screen.
"Kuchiki Taichou, Sayomi-san, I believe that you had an encounter last night with a hollow" Yamamoto Soutaichou began
"Yes Soutaichou, we encountered two hollows, and also performed a konsoh on the soul that it nearly consumed. We are alarmed though that the soul informed us that her partner was caught by a negaccion…"
"I see" replied Yamamoto "the data that you sent thru Urahara-san is being processed in the 12th Division; as soon as we get the results we will inform you then. As for the soul that was caught by the negaccion, I have a feeling that it has powerful reiatsu that Aizen took interest of…. Be vigilant then, the both of you"
"Any more occurrences or information about last night that needs to be reported?" Ukitake inquired the two.
Ahh yes, if you would consider being kissed passionately by the most handsome and sought after captain of the Gotei 13, well then - yes that is really 'something' to report – Michiko was startled by her mischievous thought could not help but blush.
Byakuya who was standing beside her saw her blushing and thought, naughty minx, maybe she was thinking what happened to us last night at the club… to which a smile showed on his face, remembering their kiss…
"Kiuchiki Taichou! Are you alright?" Ukitake suddenly spoke, to which Byakuya who was momentarily caught off guard, resumed his stoic expression. Looking at his senpai he answered "yes, nothing's the matter senpai…"
"I ---thought—I----errr---- saw ---you ---smile…" Ukitake added.
"I guess you need to rest then senpai, you might be exhausted with all the work you've been doing" Byakuya replied. "We'll resume our patrolling later this evening, and give you updates the soonest" and with that, the screen became white.
Michiko was still blushing, to which Byakuya who could no longer resist what's making her blush asked, "Is there something that I should know of, Sayomi-san?"
"I, ah, oh, no, nothing Taichou… I"ll go to my room to prepare for this evening" Michiko replied, stammering most of the time, her face getting redder by the second.
"I have something for you; please accept it as a gift…" Byakuya handed her a package
"Arigatou Taichou, you really …shouldn't …"
"I insist, consider it as a welcome present on your first mission here in the real world" he casually replied.
"Thank you so much Taichou… I'll go prepare now" she took the package, bowed to him and hastily left.
oOo
hi: ) heres chapters 9 & 10... thanks so much for the reviews, im currently in chapter 14 and still editing the other chapters. would submit them the soonest... hope you enjoy
