1Chapter Ten - The Craziest Party Ever

If you don't laugh,

You don't love.

So smile for me and prove,

That I can hold your heart as you hold mine.

-Dear My Love by Amaya Arashi-

Sai caught her reflection in the glass door leading out their pool patio. She sighed in distress. She had told Tai not to make her wear this, because she looked like some kind of whore. Or at least she thought so.

It was a black two piece bikini with thin straps that tied behind her neck and had little blue flames all over it. She felt a little self-conscious of the way it fit her a little too well. She felt like her boobs might pop out or something...

She walked out on the patio, feeling refreshed by the way the sun hit her skin. She felt better when she saw that mostly everyone was already there.

But she didn't see Kira...

She walked up to where Tai was staring at the gate, as if willing someone to walk through it.

"Hey, have you seen Izuru?" She asked her.

"Huh?" Tai glanced over at her. "Oh, no. Byakuya Kuchiki better get his noble butt over here and soon. I don't want to be running through the streets wearing this."

Sai looked down, giggling at the revealing little green number Tai wore.

"Aw, did you dress up for Bya-kun?" She teased.

Tai almost hit her sister in the chest, but Sai was too quick and blocked her with ease.

"Look." Sai nodded to the gate that Tai had taken her eyes off for only a second.

Tai beamed when she saw Byakuya walk in with a rather annoyed look on his face, dressed in the full Shinigami-Captain get up. Which made Tai glare at him, but she smirked instantly.

She picked something up off a table nearby and ran to him.

"Where's you swim-suit, Bya-kun?" Tai said as she skipped up to him.

"It seems I have forgotten it." He lied.

"Aw, darn!" She snapped fakely. "I guess it's good I brought you one!"

She held out the most revealing little pink Speedo.

Byakuya's eyes went wide as his face flushed.

"Tai-dono..." He choked.

"I'm kidding!" She laughed and threw the Speedo on Renji's head as he stood nearby. "Here."

As she handed Byakuya the black swimming trunks, Oko had taken it upon her self to attack Tai with the Speedo.

"You can get dressed in the bathroom!" Tai called as she flashstepped away from her sister.

Byakuya sighed, defeated.

When he emerged from the house, he had taken out his kenseikan and had removed his scarf. He felt a little exposed...

"Bya-kun!" Tai waved her hand to get his attention. "Come here!"

He walked over to her, still crushed.

"Aw, be happy!" Tai told him as she lead him forward.

"This is humiliating, Tai-dono." He muttered.

"You look cute!" She giggled.

And then she pushed him into the pool, before jumping in after him.

When he was finally able to make it back up to the surface, she was smiling at him, her hair all wet. He looked at her for a second, unable to move before she hugged him tightly. He sighed before hugging her back.

Oko watched from the side of the pool, noticing when Byakuya got that look in his eye. Yeah, he was most defiantly head-over-heels. No doubt about it...

Suddenly, there was a spiritual pressure behind her, running towards her. She only had time to look over her shoulder before she was being launched into the water. She felt the water rush over her skin as her attacker fell in the water with her.

She reached for the top, gasping for breath as she caught Renji's figure in front of her.

"You little..." She mumbled.

His hair fell down then, the band breaking and those wet, red locks falling down around his face. She bit her lip at the sight of him.

"Damn." He muttered, pushing the mess out of his face.

"I think it's sexy." Oko smirked before wrapping her arms around his neck, her lips lingering just a breath away from his.

He thought, maybe this is it. Maybe she'll finally kiss this wasn't the case in the least.

As she wrapped her arms around his neck, she got a hold of those locks and dunked him underwater.

She laughed at the look on his face when he came up.

(=_=)

Mikoi laid on the soft blanket near the pool. She had her head propped up, watching Yumichika as his angry friend Ikkaku tried to start a fight with Shuuhei Hisagi, who really wasn't falling for it.

She smirked as his eyes wandered over to her again, and she kept watching him as he did this. She lifted her finger and motioned for him to come to her.

Hisagi caught the action and chuckled at the shocked look on Yumichika's face.

She caught his words and felt like throwing something.

"Nice catch, man." He had said.

"She's not a catch." Yumichika spat back as he turned to walk away.

She smiled, glad that he had defended her. He was so cute...

He walked up to her in silence as she looked up at him. She caught his arm and pulled him down beside her, pushing him down in a laying position before resting her head on his chest.

"Yumichika..." She sighed. "How's my necklace?"

He reached in the pocket of his swimming trunks and pulled out the diamond and silver piece of jewelry. She touched his hand and forced it back in his pocket.

Then she lifted her head and looked up at his face, still leaning on him. She brought her hand up his bare chest, along his neck and up to his face. She brushed his dark hair away and caressed his cheek.

Smiling, she watched as his eyes looked warmly down on her.

"Yumichika...I think I've figured out why I gave you my necklace." She bit her lip. "Because, for the first time in my life, I think I might actually want to be with you, and for you to be with me."

He held his breath as she sat up and pulled him into a sitting position before sliding gracefully on his lap.

"Will you? Be with me?" She whispered as she touched his cheek again.

"Yes..." He nodded weakly.

She smiled before she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. The kiss radiated through both their bodies. Mikoi wrapped her arms around him, running a finger down his spine and making him shiver.

She took that chance to deepen the kiss, running her tongue along his lips before he opened them for her. They explored each others mouths as Mikoi subconsciously pushed Yumichika back. His arms wrapped around her waist as she straddled him, assaulting his mouth once more.

He hoped to God that Hisagi and Ikkaku weren't watching, or he'd never hear the end of it.

(*o*)

Sai looked around desperately, her eyes searching for Kira. Finally, her inspecting eyes found him, just walking in.

She ran for him, launching herself into his arms as he stared wide-eyed at her.

"Izuru!" She called. "Yay! You're here!"

She reached on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek, making him blush. When he caught a look at what she was wearing, he blushed even more. He looked at the ground just to be safe.

"You're just in time for the food!" She smiled at him, grabbing his hand before turning to everyone else. "Everyone! Get to the gardens or starve!"

(-_-)

Shitteiru sat between Captain Kyoraku and Ukitake on the blanket, with Renji, Oko, Tai and Byakuya across from her. Nanao sat quietly beside her Captain as Tai was searching for the tomato she had just retrieved as she held the knife in her left hand.

"So, tell about this Substitute Shinigami I keep hearing about." Oko said.

"He's not a bad kid." Shunsui commented.

"He's a hot head, though." Renji put in.

"He reminds me of you." Shunsui told Renji. "Or maybe Byakuya when he was young."

"I was never so reckless and foolish." Byakuya tilted his head away in disapproval.

"Sure you weren't." Ukitake said sarcastically. "The only difference is Ichigo-kun would do anything to protect his friends."

"I-" Byakuya began to object.

"You would ignore them in their time of need." Renji muttered, Oko raising an eyebrow at him.

"You're in no place to be speaking to me like that, Abarai." Byakuya said coldly.

Suddenly, there was a tomato smashing against his head.

Out of reflex, Tai had thrown her tomato at him.

"What the-" He began as the gooey redness oozed down the side of his head.

"You need to get off your high-and-mighty pedestal, Bya-kun." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"What was that for?" He demanded.

"I threw it at you 'cause you were being a meanie!" Tai said.

Suddenly, everyone started laughing. Ukitake was coughing he was laughing so hard and Shunsui was rolling around on the ground as Nanao tried to get him to calm down.

Byakuya's face grew red and he shook his head hard, trying to slosh the tomato off. Tai sighed before grabbing his arm.

"Come on, I'll clean you up." She said as she lead him towards the house.

She smiled over her shoulder as she walked through the door.

"I'll race ya."

And she was off.

She got to the bathroom first, reaching for the spray bottle under the sink. She grabbed a rag and some soap while she was done there, before standing up and turning around.

She was shocked when Byakuya was right behind her, so close she could feel his cool breath on her skin. She barely noticed when she accidentally sprayed him in the face.

He rolled his eyes as he wiped the water off his face.

She laughed before reaching up and immediantly beginning to clean him up.

Byakuya's eyes were looking at the ground as he tried to resist looking at her body in that bikini. He was a man after all...

Other than that, he liked feeling her hands on his skin. They were warm, as his skin was usually rather cold. She was warm. He wanted to grab her and tell her how he felt...so bad.

But he was...afraid of what she might say.

Like all men, he was also afraid of rejection.

She lowered her hands before throwing the rag into the dirty cloths hamper on the far wall. She put the bottle and soap back before she turned to Byakuya.

"You probably want to change back now."

She disappeared then reappeared at his side. She handed him his cloths and then turned to walk out the door.

She stood out there, wondering why she was feeling so nervous. She was never nervous...

She had nearly fought to keep her hands from shaking. She wanted to touch more than his soft black hair, but she felt like she couldn't. Like if he did, Byakuya wouldn't...want to be around her anymore. And no matter how many times he denied it, he defiantly wanted to be around her.

When Byakuya opened the door, fully dressed, she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. It seemed like the only think she could do...

She felt better when he wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head on hers.

"I'm sorry, Byakuya-dono." She said. "For messing up your hair."

"It's okay..." He sighed. "Tai, I have to tell you something."

She leaned back, sure she was going to get the 3rd degree for hugging him or something. Or maybe he had figured out how she felt, and was going to give her an easy letdown...

She pushed back tears at the thought.

"What is it?" She asked as she stepped back.

Byakuya looked down. "I...Tai, I think I'm in love with you. It's been a while, since I've been in love. But, even though you're bent on tormenting me, I can't help but to want to be with you. You're so bright and amazing, the complete opposite of me...I just...I want to know if you feel the same way, too."

Byakuya felt like a star-struck teenager again, his words only making sense in his mind before they came out of his mouth and they sounded completely foolish. He watched her shaken eyes as they widened in surprised, and saw her mouth go slack.

Maybe she needs time... He thought.

"Just...think about it." He told her, before he walked down the hallway.

Tai snapped out of it as he flashstepped down the hall. She ran after him, unable to find her sense of Shunpo. He was already to the gardens before she caught up with him.

"Byakuya!" She choked.

Everyone seemed to looked at them as he turned around, looking at her with curious eyes. She launched herself into his arms before taking his lips.

She immediantly pushed all of her feelings into the kiss, pouring her heart and soul into it. She deepened the kiss as she tangled her fingers in his hair. She was relieved when Byakuya wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight.

She felt those fireworks people talk about flash behind her eyes.

In the back of her mind, she heard the cat-calls and the cheering from the people around them.

(*-*)

Sai laughed at the sight of Tai and Byakuya in front of her. She looked over at Kira, who was some sort of shocked.

She smiled at him and shook her head.

Her mind wandered to what Tai had told her before. Love is love. She bit her lip and looked away. She couldn't be in love with him...not already. But what Oko had said...

Did she sound like she was in love? She wasn't exactly sure. All she knew that what she felt for Kira was different than what she had ever felt before. She wanted to keep him...forever.

Shitteiru had said it was amazing to know that there was someone out there willing to hold her...She wanted someone like that.

The Hell Butterfly flew into her vision. She immediantly stood and put on her serious face as she reached up and caught the little creature on her index finger.

"What is it, Captain?" Kira asked as she listened.

Her eyes went wide.

"Oh, dear..." She bit her lip.

She turned to everyone. "Everyone! Quiet down! We have news from the Captain-Commander!"

There was silence.

"It appears that the human that was here not too long ago, has been intercepted at the gate by an Arrancar!" She called. "All units are to report to your Divisions for further briefing!"

She grabbed Kira's arm before he could leave.

"You're coming with me, Izuru." She pulled him towards the house.

Suddenly, Oko, Tai, Shitteiru and Mikoi were behind her.

"Looks like the funs over." Oko muttered. "It's time to show these guys what we've got."

"I want the four of you to get ready to leave." She told them. "We've been ordered to be the protectors of the new and demoted Karakura Town."

"What?" Oko asked.

"Just get ready." Sai ordered.

"Right, boss!" Tai nodded before they ran off.

Sai led Kira to her room before pushing him inside. She quickly reached for her uniform before removing her bikini. Kira blushed before looking away.

"Descent." She laughed when she had her kimono on.

She shrugged on her Captain's haori before putting on her tabi socks and woven sandals.

"Captain, you aren't really going to go up against Aizen are you?" Kira said quietly.

"It seems I'll have to." She told him. "I'm just as strong, if not stronger, than him."

"You can't!" He objected before covering his mouth. "Sumimasen, Captain."

"Why can't I?" She asked as she put her sheathed Zanpaktou through her obi.

"I...no reason." He blushed. "Never mind."

She smirked as she walked up to him. She caught his chin before lifting it up to look him in the eye.

"Izuru..." She whispered.

His eyes went hazy at their close proximity.

"Before I leave..." She muttered. "I want to tell you that I love you."

"Wha...what?" He asked, his eyes wide.

"I love you, Izuru Kira." She pressed her lips to his.

He couldn't hold it in anymore. He twisted her around and pinned her to the wall before deepening the kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair as he held on tightly to her waist.

"Kira..." She whispered against his lips.

He released her lips and trailed his own down to her neck. She moaned as he bit softly at her pulse.

He lifted his head and leaned his forehead against hers. They both breathed heavily.

"You can't go..." He pleaded.

"I have to." She said as she touched his face softly.

"At least let me go with you." He pushed.

She sighed. "I guess there's no harm in that..."

"Good, because even you couldn't stop me." He pressed his lips to the hollow under her ear. "By the way, I love you, too."