Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor its affiliates.
A/N: To all my lovely, faithful readers, I would like to start off by apologizing for such a long hiatus. The everyday stress of work and life had found a way to suppress my creativity. Yet as you can see today, no longer. Writing is my life and it makes me very happy. I don't care if you blaze me with threatening reviews or even go so far as to un-follow me. Just so long as I can get people to read my work, that is all I ever wanted. Alright, enough with the sentimental stuff, on to the story! If any of you can recall what happened last time, Byakuya went and made a huge mistake that cannot be reversed. Now Rangiku is forced to deal with a decision she had no say in whatsoever. This should be good. Happy reading!
A Sunday, the beginning of the new week and officially her first day of no longer being fukutaicho to her beloved Squad Ten. Rangiku had so many farewells to say, so many people to bid goodbye. It wasn't forever and she was well aware of that, but as she walked down the corridors of her division everything that looked so familiar and safe had suddenly felt so far away.
She wasn't a woman who adapted well to change, even though the changes adapted well to her. When she moved in with Byakuya three months ago, it took her a month to get used to such a lavish life of living. She wasn't used to maids cleaning everything she left behind and she most certainly wasn't used to dining on food that costed more than what she spent on a pair of stilettos.
Byakuya changed my life. But I didn't know he would change such an important part of it. This is my home...
No matter what happened, Rangiku knew she would always be a lieutenant to the Tenth Division.
But not today.
With the signature badge that elaborated her position as fukutaicho of Squad Six strapped securely on her upper arm, she felt like an outsider as she made her way towards the office she's been stationed in for too many years to remember. She knew she might see Renji there, her replacement as lieutenant for the time being, and there was no mistaking that Toshirou would be there as well. Her captain. Her ex-captain.
Toshirou...
Rangiku stopped infront of the door that she so many times before never hesitated to open. Now here she was, alone and afraid. Actually, she chose to come alone, leaving early this morning and left a note for her beau who was still asleep that she would be visiting her old barracks today before work. And why was she afraid? That she didn't have an answer to.
Inhaling a deep breath, she held it and before she could knock on the door, a voice was heard from inside the room.
"You can come in, Rangiku."
Her heart leapt out of her chest at the sound of his voice, calm and soft as it usually was this early in the morning. He was the only captain she knew of besides Byakuya that actually wanted to be in the office at five in the morning. Lately, Byakuya chose to report later to his office, to be more precise, around the time she started living with him. His early bird mannerisms slowly waned away as he realized that sleeping in like her wouldn't really do much harm. His slumber had extended to at least half an hour more. Not by alot, but to Byakuya it felt like at least an hour.
An awkwardness that she was not familiar to overcame her being as she slowly opened the door to reveal her old office. Her eyes fell onto her empty desk, yearned to sit behind it, if not to do work that she so despised, at least to slack off like she usually did. She had absolutely no clue what kind of taicho Byakuya would be to her, but he sure wouldn't be like Toshirou.
She averted her eyes towards Toshirou's desk, the green-eyed teenager sitting at his desk with a small stack of papers and a cup of hot tea. He was slightly engrossed with his morning paper but as soon as she walked into the room, his attention was completely on her. Toshirou was beginning his day as his usually did, nothing out of the ordinary. Besides the small amount of sleep still in his eyes, he was alert and ready for whatever the day brung to him.
"Rangiku. You know you aren't scheduled to work in these barracks for the next seven months."
"Don't you think I know that?"
The strawberry blonde didn't mean to say it so curtly and she most certainly didn't mean to give her ex-captain such an unapproachable glare. She sighed softly and folded her arms, leaned her shoulder on the frame of the door. Toshirou didn't seem offended at her behaviour in the slightest. He actually sympathized.
"Come now, Matsumoto-fukutaicho. Have a seat."
Rangiku silently obeyed and walked into the room without closing the door, sat down infront of his desk. She could see it as blatant as day that there was something on his mind, the teenage boy failing utterly before his ex-subordinate with furrowed brows and a deep frown.
"Rangiku...," he spoke softly, lowered his emerald eyes down. "...There is nothing more to say other than that I am sorry. Byakuya-sama was firm with his demands yet so was I in my keeping you here. I apologize."
"Toshirou. Please, don't apologize to me. It was a decision that I had no part in, but it's all for my benefit. Soon i'll have his baby and then i'll be right back here. I won't be gone forever..."
He nodded and she could have sworn she saw his eyes grow glassy. Refusing to look at her, Rangiku concluded that he was indeed trying to suppress tears and that was her cue to comfort him. For too many years to count she had been almost like a doting mother to this pouting boy, a friend and a companion. She wouldn't have their relationship any other way, but damn was his face grasping her heart.
Slowly she stood and floated silently around his desk, pulled the quiet teenager into a warm embrace that was included with pillow soft breasts and fragrant, pale skin. For the first time since she's known him, he had actually succumbed to one of her hugs and didn't fight it. Toshirou gently wrapped his arms around her tiny torso, laid his head across her bosom. He could hear her heart, gentle with a hibernating strength that was only let out when needed, just like her he recalled with mirth inside his own heart.
"I'll miss this place so much...but I don't think i'll miss anything else more than you, Toshirou..."
"I will miss you as well, Rangiku."
The strawberry blonde relied on impulse as she leaned down to kiss the top of his spiky haired head, held him tighter. She then felt something warm trickle down the valley of her breasts. It could be nothing else but his tears. So in silence, she allowed the teenager to cry into her bosom, held back her own tears as all she could do listen to the muffled apologies of her former captain.
This place wouldn't be the same without her. She didn't know whether to feel honored or guilty that the captain of such a strong division was reduced to tears over her seven month leave. But the decision was finalized by the Soutaicho yesterday and it was not only Byakuya's wishes but also ordered by the First Division that she report as the Sixth Division's official fukutaicho today and for the duration of her pregnancy. Renji received the same orders regarding the Tenth Division and so began today for the both of them as lieutenants for different squads.
'I'll miss you so much, Rangiku...'
Byakuya didn't want to follow her. He knew where she went this morning. When he woke up to an empty bed and a note, he knew better than to go after her. The one thing they had in their relationship that wasn't hard to believe, was space, and he respected her decisions. He could also trust that she would always do the right thing, even though there were times when he could trust in her but not in her companions or places she ventured to.
And so he waited for her this morning in her office barracks, a cup of hot tea and a tray of light breakfast also waiting for her. Byakuya was in the midst of preparing her desk, Renji's belongings and papers having been cleaned out last night. He merely filled the empty desk with the essentials, ink and a brush, blank papers and folders.
The noble finished off with a vase filled with a bouquet of pink orchids, which he learned long ago were her favourite flower, and placed them ontop of her desk. He hid a long black box into one of her drawers and he could finally declare that he was finished. And just in time.
The sultry strawberry blonde walked in with her usual attire of a black haori and hakamas, pink scarf and her necklace that dropped into the valley of her breasts. Byakuya saw the badge around her upper arm with the Sixth Division emblem, a happiness inside of him, that he chose to contain, wanting to burst forth. She looked so beautiful, so lovely, he didn't know why he hadn't thought of this idea before.
But then he saw the frown on her pouty lips and that made his heart call out to her.
"Rangiku. I welcome you as my new lieutenant."
"Arigatou..."
Her icy blues looked down as she mindlessly twirled a long tendril of hair around her finger. When he didn't reply, she was afraid that she must have upset him and looked up only to have her lips married with his in a tender kiss. Byakuya gently grasped her chin as they pulled away, a hint of compassion in his violet eyes.
"There are many reasons why you would be cross with me, love. But I promise to make you happy while you are here."
Rangiku nodded. She wanted to trust the man she loved but something deep in her heart was still missing her old position as lieutenant to Squad Ten. It was her destiny to be stationed there, her calling. In the barracks of Squad Six, not even the compassion of her fiancée couldn't tame her fears. Her doubts.
The moment her eyes trailed away from him, he coaxed her gently with feathery kisses along her jaw until he reached her lips. He kissed her once and she didn't respond, looked into his eyes with slight disagreement when he pulled away. But then he smiled reassuringly and he leaned in to kiss her again. This time she kissed him back, thoroughly aware of his intellect of her weaknesses. She smiled against his mouth when his arm wrapped around her waist. Only Byakuya Kuchiki could take her mind off of things for even a minute with his kisses, his touch, his blatant handsomeness and gentleman ways.
Then again, only Rangiku knew that this man was far from a gentle man when it came to the bedroom.
"You know, I have a feeling you won't be getting much work done with me around," she teased after ending their kiss.
Byakuya revealed a small smile. "But on the contrary, Miss Matsumoto. I believe I shall get much work done..."
He pulled her closer until she could feel his heart, so strong and tamed; stoic just like him. Their proximity was only adding to the quiet around her new office as the strawberry blonde could have sworn she felt her nipples hardening when they brushed slightly against his chest. They've already had sex in here on a couple of occassions, but that was before she was his fiance, the expectant mother of his child; lieutenant of Squad Six.
Now that she thought about it, alot has happened in these past few weeks.
"How?," Rangiku asked innocently.
Byakuya leaned downwards until his forehead rested against hers, his eyes up close similar to violet gems of infinite possibilities. And the possibilities were endless with this nobleman. Her own topaz irises blinked in pure puzzlement of his actions yet realization hit her tenfold when the arm around her waist skimmed all the way down to her backside, grabbed it like a precious belonging that the entire world wanted yet could not afford.
"I shall try my best to complete any task that is put my way. No matter how tedious, everything shall be thoroughly inspected and handled with utmost professionalism."
With his every word, she hung onto it as though it were a lifeline. With every syllable he spoke, the gentle baritone of his voice seemed to travel through his masculine stature and seeped into her increasingly hot, aroused feminine silhouette. Though he was referring to his office work, both of them knew what he was really referring to. Rangiku couldn't stand the fact that she was still in clothes at the moment, but loved the fact that he had just described in tantalizing detail at what he would do to her body while she worked here in his office barracks. But she knew firsthand how busy a strong division could get throughout the day.
Or to better rephrase it, how busy the captain's office of a strong division could get. Squad Ten was strong because of its teammork, tactics and sheer willpower. Squad Six was strong because of organization, strategy and natural-born talent. Both were strong for completely opposite reasons, but it didn't change the fact that a captain's office was its most busiest during weekdays. Luckily today was Sunday.
"I do not doubt you, Kuchiki-taicho."
He then proceeded to kiss her softly, cradled her delicate body close. Byakuya cherished the sweet of her moans, her silken tendrils through his fingers and the lovely scent that wafted from her warm silhouette. She had changed drastically once they started dating, most of her risqué mannerisms fading away with each day she spent with him in his lavish mansion. And he didn't ask her to do a single thing, it was all on her account to change for him.
Rangiku had matured.
She has changed from my lover to my pregnant fiancee...and i'm alright with it.
Before their liplock could progress, he pulled away, tried to ignore the small pout to her full lips.
"Rangiku, I would prefer today to be a productive day. Your paperwork I will arrange for you once it arrives and later on you and I shall engage in some outdoor activities."
"Activities?," Rangiku empathized, raised a brow in curiosity.
Byakuya simply tucked away a lock of strawberry gold.
"I will clarify. The activities shall simply be division patrol."
"Oh..."
He then lifted her chin slightly, a small twinkle of mischief in his violets. "But I think I can arrange other activities if you so wish."
Rangiku received a kiss to her forehead before they both released eachother from their embrace. He guided her slowly towards her desk, explained his organizing and the rarity of the flowers he had arranged for her. She appreciated everything he had done for her up until now, loved this extraordinary man who thought of her more than he did himself.
"Orchids are hard to find here in the Seireitei. I had them imported from the world of the living."
"I love them. Arigatou, Byakuya."
She took a seat at her new desk, smiled slightly at the utter bareness of it. Her old desk would have been piled up with an endless onslaught of boring paperwork, empty sake bottles and her array of different nail polishes. A clutter-free desk and mind. It almost felt like a fresh start, a start for her new life. And she couldn't lie that it felt good.
"You're so thoughtful, koibito...," she continued as she checked the drawers of her desk.
The last one was the one on the top left and what it revealed left her speechless. A long, black box that could only be a present. He lavished her on countless occasions, even when it wasn't her birthday, Christmas or Valentines day. She lifted it out and placed it ontop of her desk, unaware that he had quietly stood behind her.
With playful warning in her voice, she whispered, "Byakuya...what is this?"
She gently opened the box to reveal a shiny silver necklace that looked nearly identical to the one around her neck only this one had diamonds. In her ear was the silkiest of voices, masculine syllables breathing against her flesh.
"I love you. This necklace is a symbol of my love for you...it will accentuate all of your assets."
Rangiku was silent as his hands undid the necklace around her neck, the blue-eyed woman feeling a pang of hurt deep in her chest. He knew of the origins of her current necklace and that was because she told him. Gin had given her that necklace as his symbol of his love towards her. He had given it to her once she was assigned lieutenant of Squad Ten, a present. A thoughtful present that resulted in abandoned, pliant love making later that same night.
Gin...i'm sorry. But I am in love...with another man now.
She held back the tears that sprang forth behind her eyes, welled beneath a pair of glistening topaz irises as her old necklace was pooled into her open hand. Byakuya could practically smell the salt wafting from her, ignored it the best he could as his arms reached out infront of her to retrieve the new necklace from its box. It was gorgeous and he knew she had to have it, precious diamonds of unbelievable wealth embedded into the silver chains.
As soon as it was secure, Rangiku tilted her neck downwards to see a chain of diamonds dropping into the crevice of her breasts. If she ever walked into work at Squad Ten, Toshirou would have been sure to instruct her to remove the necklace. She could hear him now, calling the piece of jewelry a distraction, so to speak. At least she knew that Byakuya would allow her to wear whatever she wanted while she worked here.
"You look gorgeous, Rangiku."
"Arigatou...I love it, Byakuya."
Rangiku contorted her body to the side to gaze up at him, the first thing she noticed was a small smile upon his face. He was happy and it was rare to see him like this when they weren't home alone. She had then realized something. Not only was she changing for him, but he was also changing for her. No person on this side of the afterlife had ever done something like this for her. Not even Gin. It meant more to her to know that the person she loved was proving his love for her in so many ways unimaginable.
"I promised you...that you will never want for anything. And I meant it."
"Byakuya..."
Standing from the chair, she wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him as tightly as she could. Byakuya hugged her with equal compassion, kissed the top of her head that undeniably smelled like fresh strawberries. He wished he could stay like this with this woman forever. Together he knew they could overcome any and all obstacles. Could withstand anything.
Then she kissed him and her luscious lips and sweet tongue were enough to distract him from the regimen he originally had planned for this morning. She moaned and all stood still within the universe except the two of them. Passion was a language that spoke for him when he returned her kiss with equal fervor, swayed the woman onto her desk and then against the wall until they both ended up on the floor.
She had no idea how they ended up here on the floor nor how on earth he managed to take off her clothes in such a short amount of time, but Rangiku had a hunch that it had something to do with one of her phenomenal kisses she had bestowed upon him.
Or maybe it was the way her necklace looked between the bountiful valley of her large breasts. His ultimate weakness. Her weapon.
So far I like being his lieutenant. Not bad, Kuchiki-sama...
A little OOC for my own taste, but I love it just the same. What are your thoughts on Rangiku being lieutenant to Squad Six now? Could anything justify Byakuya's decisions? What do you think is going to happen next? Whatever it may be, it just might happen! All you gotta do is leave a review! Ja ne!
