"Cherry Blossoms"
Byakuya x Orihime
By Eowynd
Disclaimers: those of always well known by all
(*) Spoilers: Zanpakutous appear in his true form so that those who have not seen the fill arc of bleach from the Chapter 230 to 240, i.e. the "Zanpakutous arc" would not understand the details
Everything appearing in italics are thoughts of a character or dialogues between the zanpakutous and their carriers
And if there is any mistake it's because I'm not a native English speaker and don't have a beta, so I make the corrections myself. The Original version is in Spanish and it's called "Cerezos en Flor"
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- Thank you so much, for such a lovely dinner –said Ukitake, who was standing with Orihime, in front of his house, while saying their goodbyes to Byakuya y Rukia –Rukia, Will you come with me a moment? I need to give some papers from the 13th squad
- Eh? Ah, of course –said the brunette, since she understood his intentions of give them some alone time. When they left Orihime said
- Thank you so much for inviting us today, it's been a pleasant day, and I had a wonderful day Byakuya-sama
- Byakuya
- Eh?
- Just Byakuya, -sama is too formal and is no longer necessary for you to address me in such a fashion. Besides, nobody addresses me by my name, is always taicho-san, Kuchiki-sama, niisama, etc.; so please, be the only one who calls me "Byakuya", without any titles –he said, while looking straight into her eyes.
- Byakuya… I… I will, but only if you promise to do the same with me
- It is only fair –said while grabbing her hand and making her come closer to him. Orihime felt her body temperature raise, with the sudden proximity of the captain's body – this next Sunday, I will like you to come with me to a special place, just the two of us, Will you like to come?
- I love to Byakuya –said the Auburn haired girl
- it is a date then – finished while raising her hand to his lips, making it look like he was going to kiss her hand, but with a fast movement, he closed the distance between them, and join their lips, in their first real kiss, between them. All before the surprised eyes of Rukia and Ukitake who were hiding a few feet away watching everything.
Orihime thought that her heart will explode inside her chest. She has never been kissed before, and this kiss surpassed everything she ever imagines her first kiss will be. The captain's lips were soft and full. To Orihime they felt sweet and desirable. She thought that she could kiss them forever, and loved that thought.
- Niisama is so romantic –whispered Rukia- Orihime is so lucky
- Sunday… ¿what date is this Sunday? It rings some bells… –Ukitake seemed to be thinking aloud. And then it hit him- ¡Of course! How could I forget? ¡It's his birthday!
- Eh? Niisama's birthday?
- January 31, its Byakuya's birthday. And it seems he wants to celebrate it with Orihime –he said
- Oh, but it's so unfair –said Rukia- we must plan something for niisama.
- We better leave it that way. If that's what he wants, we must respect it, and maybe later will have some gift for him. –Ukitake said.
- All right, but we should still organize something for him
- Rukia… don't pressure him. Just because he's dating her, doesn't mean that he is going to change his behaviour overnight, to a Byakuya more open with his feelings, no matter how much we wanted or liked that –Rukia sighed at that comment
- It is time for us to interrupt them –Ukitake said while coming closer to the couple followed by Rukia-
- Sorry for interrupt you guys –said Ukitake- but it's becoming late and tomorrow we have a lot to do
- Its ok –said Byakuya- Then, are we going to see each other this Sunday Orihime?
- Of course Byakuya. I'll be waiting to that –answered Orihime, her face flushed. In that instant, he kissed her again, but this time in a more demure form, since they were not alone anymore.
- It's a date then. I'll come get you early Orihime, till then –said while retreating with Rukia, leaving Orihime standing next to Ukitake feeling very excited.
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- Good morning Juushiro-san –greeted him Byakuya, that Sunday morning
- Good morning Byakuya, punctual as usual I see, ¿Did you have breakfast? If not, I can get you something
- I have already, thank you for the offer, Is Orihime ready?
- Yes, she is, well almost, she insisted in cocking something for your lunch, and is finishing things in the kitchen
- ¡Hi! –suddenly Ukitake's twin swords, Sōgyo no Kotowari, appeared in front of them- Play with us? –asked at the same time, while playing with their fan
- I can't right now, I'm waiting for Orihime –said Byakuya
- Our cousin? –They ask at the same time with a finger over their lips- Are you her fiancé then?
- Yes, I am
- then you have to be really nice with her –they said in unison- she is really nice with us, and give us candies, and play a lot with us, so if you hurt her we are not going to love you anymore –If Byakuya could have laugh, he would. The fact that this two brats, albeit powerful zanpakutous in their own right, but still Little brats, would try to threaten him, with such adorable and, at the same time serious face, was quite the show.
- all right, all right, stop pestering Byakuya –said Ukitake- come, let's wait for her in the backyard –both went inside the captains house and get comfortable in the backyard. After a couple of minutes, the auburn haired girl came happily with some lunch boxes
- Ah! Byakuya! Are you here already? Did I make you wait too long?
- Juushiro-san and I have just seated here–said the brunette while looking straight to her
- Thanks goodness! I was preparing something special for you, for lunch time, and I get a Little stuck behind, I hope you´ll like it –Byakuya was feeling a Little torn about telling her, that the place where they were going, would be full of the clan's servants, and that it was unnecessary for her to worry about such trivialities, but it seemed to be so important to her, that he decided to not tell her that.
- I'm sure that I'm going to love it, did you have breakfast?
- No, not yet –said her- and you?
- I did, but I can sit with you will you finish yours –they sit around and start to have breakfast, while the twin swords never stop staring at Byakuya
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- Oh! This is such a beautiful place –she said while Byakuya helped her to get off the carriage in which they have being traveling that morning
- This are a hot springs that have belong to my family for a few centuries –said him
- Do you come here often?
- Only when I want to be just "Byakuya"
- Eh? What are you talking about?
- My life is full of duties, some by child birth, and others by my job, and even myself. Here there is but a handful of servants, most of them older, that knows me since I was but a wee lad, and that treat me, by my orders, just as Byakuya, not taicho, not Kuchiki-sama, just Byakuya and that is quite relaxing –in that moment the manager comes to greet them
- Welcome back Byakuya, its being a while since your last visit –said while bowing. Orihime when she saw this older woman with grey hair, soft Brown eyes and a rather simple coloured peach yukata, thought that looked like the grandma she always wanted to have when she was little and lived with only her big brother
- Thank you Oba-chan (*) –said the captain- but this time, I bring in someone with me, allow me to introduce you to Ukitake Orihime, my fiancée
- Is so nice to meet you Oba-chan –said with a little bow
- The pleasure is all mine Orihime-chan. We have heard the rumours about this courtship, and we were all very happy for Byakuya. I hope you enjoy you time here
- I'm sure that I will –in that instant some servants appeared, and took care of their luggage, while the oba-chan, take them to the main house. It was like a smaller, and warmer version of the main house, and, just like him had told her, almost all of the servants were elderly people, that been moved here, so they could still work, but at the same time it was a less stressing environment, than the main house.
She was taken then, to a private room, smaller than the one at the main mansion, but very comfortable, and decorated with beautiful paintings, and several elegant furniture made of cherry wood.
- If you want, I can order a hot bath, so you can rest from your travel –said the old lady
- It's a nice idea –said Byakuya- What do you think Orihime? –for an instant, her mind betrayed her, showing her images of her, in the middle of the hot water, completely naked, the water barely reaching her breast, and then Byakuya appeared wearing a small towel tied to his waist entering the hot water, and walking towards her, and then … Orihime blushed a Little with hose ideas unaware that similar ideas have gone through the captains mind
- I love too. I never been in a hot spring before –said the auburn girl
- Then I'll start the arrangements and bring you everything necessary –said the old lady while she and the captain leave her alone in her room to prepare herself
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- This place is so beautiful –said Orihime while they were having what she prepared for the lunch that morning, in the backyard after finishing their respective hot baths. Both wearing blue coloured yukatas– and everyone have been so nice to me.
- I'm happy that you liked this place Orihime –answered while looking at the food that she has cooked for him. The appearance was… peculiar to say the least, and him, have always been told that the foods display was half the food, but he decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, since she had put so much effort in doing something for him with her own hands
Orihime was worried, because even when her brother always eat what she cooked without complaining and didn't seem to found nothing wrong with her dishes, the rest of the world didn't seem to think very highly of her food, and the idea that the captain were to not like it worried her very much. She put a lot of effort and heart in all the dishes she make, even asking Rukia if Byakuya had any favourites dishes or desserts, or if he preferred spicy foods over sugar and sweets. And according to Rukia, he have a liking for spicy and hot food, and seemed to have a stomach made of Steel, because no matter how spicy or hot was the food; he always finished his meals without any problem.
Byakuya grabbed the chopsticks and took the first bite, all under the watchful eyes of the Auburn girl, who was feeling her pulse very accelerated, while he tasted the food. After a few seconds, the captain smiled and said.
- It's delicious
- Really? You don't have to be nice with me, if it's doesn't taste good just tell me, and I will try harder next time
- Do I look like someone who would do something that deceitful Orihime? The flavour it's just how I like it, and are all my favourite dishes and desserts, How could I not like it? – How could this be? That just a few words and the look in his eyes were enough to turn the butterflies in her stomach into falcons? Did he have any idea of the power he wielded over her? She thought that the most likely answer was yes, after all a man like him have to know what he did to other people.
- I'm glad you liked then. Rukia gave me some tips about your favourites foods, and I tried to do the best I could, but when I went to Ukitake taicho' s kitchen, I felt like fish out of water, there were so many pots and pans and ingredients, that I didn't know where to start
- The servants didn't anything to help you?
- They almost have a heart attack when they saw me in the kitchen; they didn't seem to believe their eyes. It took me a lot of time to convince them to let me stay and prepare our lunch
- Well, it's very unheard of heiress of noble houses, going into their kitchens and start cooking lunch for their betrothed, but apart from that, why did you felt so lost? Till I know all kitchen have the same equipment.
- Well, maybe, but my house kitchen is a lot smaller compared to this one, and I don't have so many things and ingredients to cook.
- You don't?
- no, my brother Sora worked so hard to take care of both of us, since we ended alone, but the money not always lasted till the end of the month, so I have to make it last as much as I could, and as a result everything I cook look so weird, and my friends think they are impossible to eat –while she was telling all this to him, he noticed that she have a very blue look in her eyes, so in that moment. Byakuya did something he haven't done in a long time. He grabbed her between his arms and hugged her against his chest, and while he was he caressing his long and soft Auburn hair
- Byakuya…?
- I'm very much indebted with your brother for everything he did for you Orihime, but my beloved you don't have to worry about that kind of things, as long as we are together, I will make it my duty for you to never have to go through something like that, I promise …
- I… thank you Byakuya –she said while hugging him back, feeling his body warm which gave her a kind of safeness she never have felted before
- Thank you? My hime… (*) –with one hand he raised her face, making her look at him straight into his eyes- my beautiful and beloved hime, do you have any idea of the thing you do to me? What you make me feel? Or the power that you have over me, little hime? –she tried to answer something but she couldn't because he kissed her again, with more passion and fondness that before.
- Thank you for being with me here today my hime –he said when they broke the kiss- it means a lot to me
- Really? Now that you mentioned, Rukia hinted me that today was a very special day, but she didn't tell me why
- Today is my birthday
- Eh? Today? But she should have told me! I didn't get you anything! –for her this sudden news was most unexpected and to think in not having any present for the blue eyed men, when he had brought her to such a fantastic place like this hot springs, it was madness
- Don't you see it hime? You have already given me the best present. This is what I wanted for my birthday. A day just for the two of us, nobody bothering us or pestering us –he grabs her hands and kiss both of them – and this hand were used in prepare something special and only for me, What could be a best gift than that?
- Maybe this… -was the only thing Orihime said, while she closed the distance between both of them, and kissed him, and her hands intertwine with his long soft black hair. He was fascinated; since this was the first time she gave the first step and kissed him. She also seemed less nervous than the first time they kiss.
¡Kami! Everything about this man was perfect …
His voice… so deep
His eyes… that seemed able to read her soul
His hair… soft and black as a raven wing
His lips… thick, full and sweet
Even his aroma was intoxicating… it was a mix between sandalwood and some floral essence that she didn't recognize…
- Happy Birthday Byakuya –was what she said when they broke the kiss
- thank you my hime
End of chapter IX
