A.N.: Alright, here is Chapter 11 of No Regrets. :] But before I thank everyone for reading this, I have a confession to make. I am sincerely happy. Why? Because I received so many reviews last chapter! When I saw the reviews, I was inspired to write even more for this fic. :D So... a big, big thanks to all of you who reviewed (andyantopia, velvetsins, Gritten-Tells, trah-tibidoh, BunnyMarshmallow, Aii Sakuraii, Julimouto, Nyanmaru94, Amahlia Shen Qui-yan Dong, DelSan 13, Jasmine, kei, Lilian Violet, vicky73, PAMILA DE CASTRO, LuciL06, Lilith's Heart, seras3791, Guest, aria, DRUON, ReckoningDay, Violet, MitsurugiChire, arlingtonsteward, Yuki-onna 0, Shinnie, Sapphireravens [for your PM], and Blue Ice Flame), viewing, favoriting, and following. Yet, I will specially thank two of you (you know who you are!) who took the time to review ALL 10 of my chapters. :D
Onwards now!
Disclaimers: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite, but everything else is mine.
"Rukia."
Byakuya watched her whirl around to face him, shock and fear shadowing her features. He kept his expression carefully neutral, but a storm was brewing deep within him.
So she was with the Kurosaki brat all this time.
"B—Byakuya..." Her violet eyes were wide. "I... I didn't know you were here-"
"You did not inform me you were going out tonight," he said, his voice deceptively cool. Byakuya took a step closer to her and saw how she unconsciously backed away.
"I... I didn't think I needed to-"
Didn't think she needed to? Byakuya felt anger rising through his soul. Didn't Rukia understand that she could have been kidnapped or killed? He recalled the consort Mikoto's violent death a few weeks ago: why couldn't she have spared him the worry and told him where she would be?
"Do you realize why the palace is ablaze with guards carrying torches?" He stepped even closer as Rukia shook her head.
"I ordered them to search for you." Byakuya saw understanding dawn in her eyes.
"I—I'm sorry..."
A knock on the door, distracting them for a moment.
"Byakuya-sama?" It was Yumi. "We couldn't find-"
"I have found her," Byakuya answered, his gaze not leaving Rukia's. "You may call off the search. Do not disturb us for the rest of the night."
"Oh... Hai, Byakuya-sama." Yumi's footsteps faded away and he turned his attention back to the girl in front of him.
"Why did you not tell me you were with Kurosaki Ichigo?" Byakuya pressed. They were a foot away from one another now.
"I..."
"Do you not understand it is not proper for you to leave with an unmarried man?" Anger mixed with that sour, acidic feeling, threatening to corrode through the walls of his stomach.
"I..." Suddenly, a defiant light sprung into Rukia's eyes.
"What does it matter to you?" she asked fiercely and Byakuya was momentarily taken aback by her anger. "It isn't your business to know who I spend my time with!"
"What?" His eyes narrowed in disbelief.
How dare she say this to him after he had spent the time to search for her? Did she even care whether he was worried about her? How ungrateful could Rukia be?
"If I want to spend time with Ichigo, let me be! He's my friend and you can't prevent us from hanging out." Rukia's eyes burned with frustration. "Why do you have double standards for everyone? You decide you can do anything you want, but get angry when people spend time together. What kind of person are you?"
Double standards? How on earth could she be saying these things to him?
"Double standards?" Byakuya said, his tone dripping with bitter derision. Fear crept into her eyes, yet she held her ground. "You are mistaken. I am merely protecting what is mine."
"Yours? Yours?" Rukia was furious. "You keep saying I'm yours when I'm not. I am not your consort and I will never be. You are not going to boss me around and act as if I'm betraying you when I spend time with my friends."
"Mind your words, Rukia," he said, his voice dangerously calm.
Byakuya had never thought Rukia had the gall to speak to him in this way. She was being unappreciative, foolish... all because of the stupid brat she called her friend. Anger blazed in her violet eyes, making them widen with emotion.
"You keep wanting us to have a relationship when it can't happen! It will never happen, so don't act like you're my husband. If I want to spend time with Ichigo, just leave me be!"
"Kurosaki Ichigo?" Was that why she was angry? Because of that man? "Are you suggesting that you prefer his company to mine?"
Something passed through Rukia's eyes, darkening them for a mere instant. Then they stared back at him, all traces of fear vanished. Byakuya found himself unwillingly drawn to the strength of will reflected within them. Then-
"Yes, you're right." Rukia gazed at him, unyielding. "I prefer his company over yours."
A cold, numbing sensation swept into Byakuya's stomach. He hastily repressed it before speaking.
"You are lying," he stated.
"No, I am not. In fact, I like Kurosaki Ichigo. Not you."
"I do not believe you." What was she trying to do? Then he understood.
"Do not attempt to use that brat to dissolve our relationship. I am not a fool." Byakuya noticed hesitation flash through Rukia's eyes.
"No. I am telling you the truth. I like Kurosaki Ichigo, so don't bother with me." Desperation tinged her tone.
"Do you truly not appreciate any of my efforts tonight? I never took you for an ungrateful person, Rukia." He stepped even closer to her, their bodies inches away from one another. "Do you sincerely not wish for me to be concerned about you?"
"Y—Yes, I do." Her voice faltered, but strengthened again. "I do not want you to care about me or involve yourself in my business."
Byakuya was stunned by the conviction in her voice. How could she...
"Do you know what?" Rukia plowed on recklessly, driven by some inner resolution he knew not of. "I don't want to see you anymore and I don't want you to search for me. Just leave me alone!"
In a flash, Byakuya pinned her to the wall, his hands gripping her shoulders.
"Care to repeat that again?" His eyes bored into hers, his voice lowering to almost a hiss.
"I—I dislike you. I really do. I don't like the attention you've been giving me; I prefer Ichigo's attentions. So I'll repeat it again, just for you." The violet eyes looked unflinchingly back at him. Those beautiful eyes...
"Leave. Me. Alone."
Hurt, anger, and that horrible, acidic feeling stung Byakuya's heart.
"Is that so?" His voice dropped to a frigid whisper.
"Then I will teach you to appreciate what you have." He crushed his mouth against hers in a passionate kiss.
Rukia pushed against him, yet as he softly bit her bottom lip her efforts grew feebler, less determined. She opened her mouth and returned his ardent kiss, her tongue twisting with his in a violent wrestle.
"You are a liar... Rukia," he said against her lips. She moaned as he sinfully ran his tongue along the seams of her mouth.
"Yet you cannot deceive me."
In the next moment, they fell tangled together onto the bed. Byakuya grabbed Rukia's wrists, pulling her hands above her head as he stretched himself out over her. He captured her lips in another ardent kiss.
"B—Byakuya... I said I didn't want this-" She gave a cry of pleasure as he nibbled the side of her neck.
"You lied." His tongue slid over her collar bones.
He released her hands, his fingers moving to tilt her head toward him as he plundered her mouth again. Rukia's fingers tangled into his hair as a response, pulling him even closer to her. Byakuya no longer felt any anger toward Rukia- lust had devoured everything.
Her transparent pink overcoat slipped down to reveal the milky flesh of one shoulder. He instantly seized the opportunity to bite that soft skin, the light, sleeveless robe she wore doing nothing to prevent him.
She was... delicious.
Rukia whimpered, her legs wrapping around his waist, her hands slipping into his robes. She felt Byakuya's long, sensual fingers stroke the side of her leg as he kissed her.
"I do not believe Kurosaki Ichigo can compare to this." He licked her pulse point and she moaned in pleasure.
"Can he?" Drawing back, the gray eyes fixed her with that familiar stare.
No matter how much she wanted to deny it, Rukia admitted,"No, he cannot."
She didn't know how it came to this- her clouded mind could only remember quarreling with him. She had said such hurtful things to him; it caused a stab of pain to shoot through her heart. But she had only done so to prevent him from coming closer to her. If Byakuya involved himself with her, she would eventually cause his downfall.
But soon, Rukia found herself unable to recall those facts of her life either. Byakuya had utterly conquered her senses. She could feel his smooth skin beneath her finger tips.
I need to have a taste.
Rukia's hands shook as she pushed back his robes and overcoat from his shoulders, revealing his sculpted torso. She placed her lips on one elegant plane of his chest, hesitantly kissing it.
"R—Rukia!" Byakuya let out a groan as she nibbled his soft skin, his fingers tightening in her hair.
He was addicting.
Unable to control herself, Rukia snaked her arms around him, sliding her tongue up to his collar bones, then to his shoulder. She felt Byakuya gasp and shudder as her fingers dug into his shoulder blades. Her back slammed into the bed and he kissed her yet again. His hands traveled to her stomach and reached for her belt. My belt...
"NO, NO! STOP!" Rukia disentangled herself from Byakuya and shot to the other end of the bed. She panted heavily, seeing the dark lust in his eyes rapidly fade. For a second, they sat silently on the bed, registering what had just happened between them.
"OH NO!" Rukia put her hands to her swollen mouth, her face scarlet. "B—Byakuya, I... I'm so sorry." Her mind began replaying everything she had done with him in the past five minutes... and what she said to him before that.
She had to leave this room. She couldn't bear to stay while he was still there.
Rukia made to leap off the bed, but Byakuya was too fast, his hand latching onto hers.
"No, stay," he ordered. She tugged at her hand but to no avail- he refused to release her.
"I'm sorry... Please just let me go-"
"I will not let you go," he said and Rukia knew that Byakuya was no longer referring to his grasp on her hand.
"Byakuya... no..." she feebly protested as he drew her back onto the bed.
"I do not comprehend your reasons for constantly rejecting me, but realize that I will never relinquish you to anyone else."
"B—Byakuya... stop." Rukia tried to push him away, but he did not move, instead placing his hands around her shoulders. "I don't want this... and neither will you."
"On the contrary, I do want this."
"You won't! I... I'm not good for you..."
"Do not be foolish, Rukia." Byakuya readjusted her robes, pulling her overcoat back onto her shoulders. Rukia's heart throbbed painfully at his sweetness.
"I'm not!" A tear dropped from her eyelashes before she could prevent it. "Please, Byakuya... just go, alright?" He did not answer.
"I've hurt you already so many times tonight... saying things I didn't mean." Both knew what she was referring to. "I... I just don't want to deal with all this tonight. I don't want to hurt you anymore. So please... just leave me."
A pause. "Is that what you sincerely wish for, Rukia?" Byakuya's voice was eerily composed. "You desire me... to leave you?"
"Y—Yes. I do." The words felt like swords piercing her heart from every angle.
He shut his eyes and rose from the bed, pulling his clothes back together. Before he opened the window, Byakuya spoke.
"As this is what you truly want, Rukia..." He did not turn to look over his shoulder. "I shall take my leave." With that, Byakuya was gone and the window closed.
For several moments, Rukia sat on the bed, events of the past few minutes replaying in her mind, when it abruptly hit her like a ton of bricks.
Byakuya was gone.
She turned her head toward the window, not knowing when tears had begun to stream down her cheeks.
He had left her, like how she always wanted him to. So why...
She hunched over as a sob racked her frame. Byakuya had never been that way before- he had never said he was leaving. Rukia's breath came out in little gasps and hiccups as she hugged herself in an attempt to stop shaking.
Stop it, Rukia. This is what you've always wanted, for Byakuya to leave you be. Yes, that's right.
There was no one to tie her down now. She could focus on her mission to save her family.
I should be happy.
"I... am h—happy..." she choked out between her tears. "I'm happy..."
But why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel as if there was no tomorrow? Why did it feel as if her very heart was being ripped out of her bosom?
Why did Byakuya have to make her feel this way?
"B—Byakuya... I..."
"I'm sorry."
"B—Byakuya... I... I'm sorry."
Byakuya stood quietly within the shadows outside Rukia's window.
She was crying.
A pang of hurt shot through his entire being. He felt useless, completely useless standing outside her rooms when he wished he could be taking her into his arms. Yet, Rukia did not want him with her and Byakuya did not want to cause her even more distress. Another heart-wrenching sob emanated through the walls of her chambers, reaching his ears.
At that moment, it had never been more clear to Byakuya that she loved him. Loved him with all her heart. What he originally sought to conquer from her was already his.
He should be content, really. What more had he wanted in the first place? He had only wished for Rukia's heart and nothing more. But now... now he wanted more than just her love.
He wanted her. To spend the rest of his life with her. To be able to freely love one another without restraint. Byakuya closed his eyes, fighting the emotions threatening to burst their banks.
The love Rukia felt for him was so great that she was willingly undergoing emotional torture... all to keep him safe.
What on earth was she hiding from him? Rukia was prudent; she was not prone to making stupid, rash decisions. She had a legitimate reason for doing all of this, for keeping them apart.
That reason Byakuya intended to find out.
Forcing his ears to shut out the painful sounds of Rukia's sobs, he leapt up onto her roof and silently darted away.
I will make everything right.
"Rukia! Rukia!"
Rukia opened her eyes, blinking up at Yumi. What...
"Rukia, your breakfast is on the table. It is your favorite food today."
"Yumi... I don't feel like eating," she muttered. How could she eat? Her entire body ached from crying her eyes out the previous night.
Byakuya had left like she asked him to, that was all that mattered.
"Rukia, please eat." Yumi laid a small hand on her cheek. "You don't look well. If you don't eat, you will be sick." Rukia shook her head and buried her face into her pillow again.
"Please, Rukia? I will be worried about you if you don't eat."
She sighed. She couldn't let more people be concerned about her, could she? Rukia gave Yumi a watery smile. "Alright. It would hurt my conscience to make you worried, too."
She moved over to the table and sat down. Yumi was right: the cooks really had served her favorite foods today. It cheered Rukia up a tiny bit.
"Thanks, Yumi, for bringing this. You always work so hard to make me comfortable." Rukia smiled. "I really appreciate it."
"Rukia, you are too kind. I am fortunate to serve a lady like you."
Rukia waved a hand over the food. "Yumi, please have some. You should at least have some breakfast, too."
"Oh, Rukia, it really isn't necessary-"
"No, no, it's fine." Rukia gave a small chuckle. "It's kind of strange if I'm the only one eating, right?"
"If you insist." Yumi smiled gratefully and selected a bun from the platter. Rukia followed suit and picked up a pastry. She brought it to her lips, about to take a bite, but stopped.
Something was amiss with the pastry. Rukia raised it to her nose and cautiously sniffed. Beneath the savory smell of the pastry's filling, her trained nose detected something else.
Poison.
"YUMI! Don't eat it!" Rukia cried, snatching the bun out of her maid's hands. "It's poisoned!"
Yumi froze in her seat. "Poisoned?" she repeated dumbly. "That- That can't be... the cooks checked the food already."
"That doesn't matter!" Rukia hurried to the girl's side. "Are you feeling sick? Yumi, tell me!"
"I..." All of a sudden, Yumi clutched her stomach, doubling over as she moaned in pain.
Oh my god. "Yumi! Just wait!" Rukia flew to her medicine drawer, ransacking it until she found an appropriate antidote. She uncorked it and ran back to Yumi's side.
"Yumi, here." Rukia opened her maid's mouth and emptied the contents of the bottle down her throat. She shouted at the passing servants, "Someone call a doctor! My maid's been poisoned!"
Instantly, the servant and maids scattered outside the door, hurrying to summon a doctor to the scene. Rukia returned her attention back to Yumi.
"Yumi, hold on, okay? The medicine I gave you will relieve the symptoms a little." She held the girl's hand in her own. "Be strong, alright?" Yumi nodded weakly.
A doctor rushed into the room and set his bag on the floor.
"We need to move her to the bed, if that's alright with you, Rukia-sama."
"Oh, of course!" Together, Rukia and the physician carried Yumi onto the bed. The man sat down and felt the girl's pulse. He asked for her to stick out her tongue, checking the color of the muscle.
"It appears that the poison has not affected her system. Do you have the poisoned food with you?"
"Yes, I do. They are on the table." The physician nodded and walked over to where the platter of food sat. After inspecting the food, he looked up at Rukia.
"Did you give your maid an antidote or some medicine before I arrived?"
"Yes, I did. Did it help?"
"I assume it did." He glanced at Yumi lying prone on the bed. "Your maid is lucky to only escape with a stomach ache. The poisoned used here..." He waved a hand at the platter. "... is very lethal. One small dose will kill a man within five minutes."
"O—Oh... Yumi is very lucky." And the girl was. Rukia was familiar with this type of poison. The person would die after vomiting and experiencing a sensation similar to the ripping of one's innards. However, she feigned ignorance of the drug. "I'm very happy Yumi is still alive."
The doctor smiled. "You are an intelligent woman, Rukia-sama. You are thoughtful enough to collect healing medicines and antidotes. Most women of your station would not even think of that, although they keep poisons to kill each other."
"O—Oh... yeah." Rukia was not about to say the reason for her keeping so many antidotes. "But thank you for coming. You've helped me a lot." He shook his head.
"It is likely that your maid would have died had you not given her an antidote." The physician looked over at Yumi. "She has you to thank."
"You're too kind." Yumi being poisoned in the first place was all because of her. It was glaringly obvious to Rukia that someone wanted to kill her.
The doctor laughed. "Rukia-sama, I will be leaving now, but I have one word of advise for a newcomer like you. You've been promoted rapidly through the ranks of consorts. Beware of hidden snakes behind the walls." He tapped the wall for emphasis. "One day one might spring out and bite you."
Rukia nodded. "I understand."
"Good." He bid her farewell and left. Once he had gone, Rukia sank onto a stool. Her worst fears were confirmed.
Someone knew she was an assassin and they were trying to kill her.
"Rukia?" Yumi hobbled over to where she sat.
"Yumi, are you feeling better now?" Rukia turned around to look at her maid. The girl nodded.
"I am really grateful, Rukia. You saved me."
"No, no." Rukia smiled. "I just happened to have the right medicine to give to you. It is actually my fault that you ended up like this." Silence befell the room as both women understood the implications of the failed poisoning.
"Rukia, what are you going to do about this?" Yumi asked slowly.
Rukia shook her head. "There isn't much I can do about this, right? But... did you leave the food unattended for awhile before bringing it in?"
Yumi thought for a moment, then gasped. "Earlier there was an accident in the maids' courtyard because a roof tile fell and hit some people. I left the food on a table and went to help."
"Which table? Where was it?" Rukia asked eagerly.
"It was in the courtyard, to the side." Yumi sank to her knees and wept. "Rukia, please forgive me. I hadn't thought something like this would happen. I was foolish to leave the food unattended. I-"
"Yumi." Rukia helped her maid to stand. "It isn't like you purposely poisoned the food. You didn't know, so I'm not angry at you. It's fine."
"Rukia..."
"Don't blame yourself for this." Rukia sighed and looked out the open door. "It probably was an assassin. Sent by whom, I don't know. That will be difficult to find out."
"But, Rukia-"
"Yumi, don't worry about this." She smiled comfortingly. "I knew about the poison this time, right? Believe me, Yumi, I am not someone who dies easily. It will be hard to kill me." This was said more as a comfort to herself. Rukia gazed at her maid again.
"Go back to your rooms and sleep, Yumi. I don't want you to be working when you're still feeling badly." When Yumi opened her mouth to protest, Rukia shook her head. "Yumi, it would make me happy if you had some rest."
"Very well, Rukia." Yumi headed to the door. "And thank you again."
"Don't mention it." Her maid smiled at her and left the room.
What was she to do? Rukia knew for certain it was an assassin sent to kill her, but how could she find out who was behind this? If she stirred a commotion, she would draw even more attention to herself, something which she did not wish to do. People would start to wonder why someone was trying to poison a simple consort like her. It was far too risky.
She would have to endure this and always be on her toes. That was the only solution Rukia could think of.
But she had to survive any more assassination attempts or else Ukitake and Renji would never be freed.
"Hisagi Shuuhei."
"Hai, Byakuya-sama."
Byakuya placidly perused the document in his hands. "I understand that you have achieved some success in your past cases?"
Hisagi beamed with pride. "Ah, Byakuya-sama, you're too kind. But, yes, I have successfully solved several cases in the past-"
"Investigate the consort Ukitake Rukia for me."
"Ukitate Rukia?" Hisagi repeated.
"Are you not aware of who she is?"
"No, no. It's because I've met her before."
Byakuya raised his eyes up from the document. This was unusual. It was strange that Hisagi and Rukia would cross paths. "Where?" he asked.
"I was over at the Inner Palace looking into Consort Mikoto's death when she wanted to take a look at the crime scene." Hisagi shook his head in disbelief. "That woman-"
"Do not address her as 'that woman'."
"My apologies, Byakuya-sama." Hisagi continued on, his head bowed, "Rukia-sama had mad skills: she actually jumped onto my arm to run into the room."
"You allowed her to enter the crime scene?" Byakuya's eyes narrowed dangerously. How could Hisagi allow his Rukia to see such a violent death? Was the man daft?
"No, no!" Hisagi put in, panicked. "I told her not to look, but she barged in anyway. That's why I said she jumped on my arm to go in because I had been blocking the door. And she threw up after she saw the crime scene, even though she said she wouldn't."
It was exactly like Rukia to do something like that, to barge in regardless of her own safety or what other people thought.
"Did she tell you why she was there?"
"She said Consort Mikoto was her friend. She thought she should at least see her friend one last time."
Again, very like Rukia.
"I see."
"But, Byakuya-sama, what would you like to know about Rukia-sama?" Hisagi asked curiously. "I thought you two had a close relationship-"
"That is not of your concern." Byakuya did not want to think about her almost constant rejection of him. Not now.
"Sorry."
"You will investigate Rukia's background, her family's occupation, and her acquaintances. Leave no stone unturned."
"Hai, Byakuya-sama." Hisagi turned to leave.
"If you succeed... I will promote you to Seireitei's Chief Investigator." Byakuya watched the man whirl around, unable to keep himself from gaping.
"Thank you, Byakuya-sama!" He made a low bow and hurried out of the room. Byakuya thought it amusing that Hisagi was thanking him even before he was successful.
He mentally sighed and reached into his robes, taking out a square of white silk. He held it in his hand, his thumb running over the embroidered bunny.
Who would have known that he had to resort to this to know more about Rukia? Byakuya never thought that she would hardly reveal anything to him; he had always assumed that she trusted him more than this. It hurt to know that he was mistaken.
Now, he was seeking to understand her actions in the most clinical manner possible. It was almost as if they did not lie together the previous night, passionately enjoying one another. He only reserved investigations for people he cared nought about- certainly not Rukia. However, here he was, looking into her life as if she were just anyone he happened to meet.
As if their relationship was nothing.
A red leaf drifted to the ground from the maple tree outside his window. Byakuya badly wanted to see how Rukia was faring after last night. Where was she now? Would she still be sad? Would she be... thinking of him? All this he wanted to know, but he could not meet her again so quickly.
If Rukia wished him out of her sight, he would stay out of her sight. Perhaps if he stayed away long enough, she would finally realize that she needed him beside her. But for now, he would have to use other means to check on Rukia. In fact, one of those other means now conveniently strolled into his study...
"Yo, Byakuya." Ichigo dumped himself down on a chair. "What happened last night? The guards were running all over the place-"
"I sent them to search for Rukia," Byakuya replied coldly. Courtesy of you.
He actually felt like choking the man to death. After all, Ichigo had chosen to disobey his order to keep away from Rukia. But Byakuya couldn't afford to punish the brat right now: he had an assignment for him to do. After Ichigo completed his work for him, Byakuya would decide how to deal with the man.
Ichigo blanched, but recovered. "You knew she went out?"
"Yes, I did. I visited her rooms."
"You..." Ichigo decided to change topic. "So what are you doing now?" Byakuya refused to respond- the answer was spread out all over his desk. Surely the brat wasn't that stupid.
"What's that?" Ichigo strolled over to his side and stared at Rukia's handkerchief. He pointed at the rabbit. "And what is that?"
"This is from Rukia," Byakuya answered, struggling to keep his satisfaction out of his voice as Ichigo glared at the handkerchief. "That is a rabbit."
"A rabbit?" The man started laughing. "That thing is a rabbit? Rukia's art is so bad..."
"Kurosaki Ichigo, do not insult Rukia in my presence." Byakuya examined the rabbit, then he added,"Her embroidery is beautiful."
Ichigo gawked at him, then burst into another fit of laughter. Byakuya wished he could dismiss the fool immediately, but he still had use for him. He would have to endure Ichigo's idiotic demeanor for a while longer.
"You think it's beautiful?" Ichigo's tone was demeaning.
"It is the truth," Byakuya said calmly, forcing himself not to slap the brat.
"Didn't think you had weird taste in art, Byakuya, considering you're into calligraphy and all-"
"It is pointless to discuss my preferences," Byakuya interrupted. "While you are here, you will tell me about Rukia."
Ichigo stared confusedly at him. "Rukia? Why do you need me to tell you how she's doing? Aren't you two like best friends forever?" Byakuya did not miss the sarcasm in his voice.
"My relationship with Rukia is none of your concern," he said coolly. "From today onwards, you will inform me about Rukia."
"Always the same, Byakuya?" Ichigo shook his head amusedly. "Then again, at least you need me." Byakuya did not reply.
"So... what's up with you and Rukia? Did something happen between you two?" Ichigo asked carelessly, flopping back down on his chair.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, do not ask foolish questions. You are here to report Rukia's condition to me."
"Actually, I only came here to say 'hi'." Ichigo stood up from his chair. "And I did not visit Rukia yet today, so I have nothing to tell you."
"Visit her now."
"What the..." Ichigo suddenly laughed. "Che. That's fine by me. See you later." On his way out, Byakuya heard him mutter, "Vindictive, bossy bastard..."
Byakuya picked up the handkerchief and held it in his hand. He hated to ask Ichigo for help- it bruised his pride. However, this was the only way he could keep track of Rukia. Ichigo would probably use this as an opportunity to bring Rukia everywhere and to stick by her side like glue. Byakuya felt his stomach tighten itself into knots at the mere image of the brat together with his Rukia.
But he was willing to do this to keep Rukia happy. When she finally realized she couldn't be without him, he would dispense with Ichigo's help. Yet...
What if Ichigo succeeded in winning Rukia over? What if she decided she didn't want him anymore after being in the man's company? Though Byakuya did not like to admit it, Ichigo was everything he was not: lively, warm, carefree (or careless, he corrected)... everything a girl would like in a man. And what was he?
Cold, dispassionate, and severe. Byakuya smiled dryly at his description of himself.
If Ichigo spent more time around Rukia, she might begin to find that she was wrong about him, that Ichigo was a far better person than he was. He did not want that at all. Byakuya found that he was taking a great risk by allowing Ichigo to draw near Rukia.
But he wished for Rukia to be happy, right? So if she decided that she liked Ichigo more than she liked him, he should let her be. At least she would have realized she had made a mistake. He shouldn't be concerned about this.
Byakuya sat stiffly in his chair, turning the handkerchief over in his hands as he mulled over these distressing thoughts.
"Rukia, how are you doing?" Rukia looked up to see Ichigo towering over her.
"Ichigo, what are you doing here?"
After the episode in the morning, Rukia had escaped to the gardens in hopes of calming her mind. Before she knew it, she had climbed up the stone steps to the pavilion Byakuya always liked to sit in.
"I was looking for you," he answered, sitting down on the cushion beside her. Byakuya's cushion.
Did he still come here to play the zither? It seemed ages ago since the last time they had met here. In fact, the last time they were here together was when Byakuya had stolen her first kiss...
Rukia could still remember how his soft, refined lips felt as he kissed her the last night. He was undoubtedly hurt by her actions again; he had seemed that way when he left her rooms. He was always being wounded by her in one way or another. Rukia felt awful.
"Yo, Rukia, are you okay?" Ichigo was looking concernedly at her.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
Ichigo stared hard at her. "Anyway, what have you been doing, Rukia? Did you like the tour of the capital last night?"
Last night...
Rukia felt her face burn at the mere thought of last night. She and Byakuya had done so many things to each other last night, so many scandalous, embarrassing things. Then she had told him to leave her after what they shared together. Her heart constricted.
"So, Rukia? What did you think of my tour?"
Oh. Ichigo was talking. "I liked it. It was nice," she said and smiled at him. He grinned.
"Really? Then I'll bring you to see the stars tonight, too. The sky's pretty clear today, so we'll be able to see lots of them." Ichigo offered. "There's a really good place in the palace to watch them from. You'll have to sneak out again, though, if you don't mind."
"O—Oh... sure." Rukia gazed at the rippling waters below them.
Did Byakuya like to go stargazing? She wished that she could invite him along with them, so that he could enjoy the twinkling lights, too. So that they could enjoy them together.
"Then it's settled. But you haven't told me about what you've been doing today?"
Ichigo's question jolted Rukia out of her Byakuya-related thoughts. Today had not gone well at all, with Yumi being poisoned.
"I..." Rukia stopped. No, if she told Ichigo about the assassination attempt, he would be worried about her. Besides, she knew he would run over to Byakuya's quarters to spread the news. That could not happen. She couldn't let either of them be concerned about her.
"It was fine," she said. "I had breakfast and did some embroidery, then I came here."
"That's it? Is that all you do all day?" Ichigo shook his head. "Your life is so uneventful. Don't you want to do other things?"
Rukia glared at him. "I do do other things. I can read, draw, play games, take walks, and sometimes friends visit me."
"Like who?"
"Like Inoue." Actually, Orihime was the only person who could come visit her while she was at her rooms. Minus Byakuya.
"That's it?" Ichigo sighed demeaningly. "You really are a boring person and your art is bad." He yelled in pain when Rukia punched him on the cheek.
"No, it is not!" she retorted.
"Yeah, it is." Ichigo righted himself, rubbing his face. "If I showed your work to my friends, they would all laugh at you." He paused. "You know, you haven't seen them for some time, huh? Why don't I bring you along when I go to see them tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Ichigo stretched himself out on the ground, his hands behind his head. "You know, Rukia, you need friends. I understand it's hard to get around when you're a consort, but still. I mean, the only people who get to visit you right now are me, Inoue, and Byakuya."
Byakuya. Now even he did not come anymore.
"Say, does Byakuya still come over?"
"No, he doesn't." Rukia smiled at him. "But I guess it's for the best that he doesn't." This was said more to herself than to Ichigo.
"Really? Why? Aren't you two friends or something? Why don't you want him to visit you?"
She shrugged as nonchalantly as possible. "He wants certain things that I can't give him, so I think it's best for me to stay away from him for a while."
"Oh... I see." Ichigo sat up. "But now that Byakuya doesn't come over anymore, you have even less company. So tonight we'll see the stars and tomorrow we can hang out with my friends. Okay?"
Rukia smiled. "Sure!" They watched the lake beneath them for several moments before Ichigo gasped.
"Ah! I almost forgot. There's a martial arts tournament a week before the Mid-Autumn Festival and you're supposed to join."
Martial arts tournament? "Why am I expected to join?" Rukia asked, puzzled. "I thought women generally don't participate in that stuff."
"Well, Byakuya said everyone, both men and women, who knows how to fight is required to join," Ichigo said. "So you naturally aren't exempted."
"Byakuya asked for the tournament?" Rukia was surprised.
"Yeah. Weird, isn't it?" Ichigo laughed. "But Byakuya is a temperamental person anyway, so-"
"He is NOT temperamental!" Rukia beat her fist into his side, causing him to double over in pain. As Ichigo moaned and tried to sit up, she sank into a reverie.
Byakuya did not come across as a person who liked to watch fighting tournaments. In her mind's eye, she could picture him disdainfully denouncing such activities as useless and unrefined. Why had he suddenly decided to host one now? What was his purpose?
Maybe he's trying to watch the participants and gauge something about them. Or maybe... Rukia froze.
Maybe Byakuya was trying to find something out about her.
The best way to figure out a martial artist's background was to watch him or her spar. From there, a knowledgeable person could trace what school the martial artist originated from, maybe even who was the teacher. Byakuya would be able to gather a good deal of information by observing her spar during the tournament.
Rukia felt her heart throb. It would not be surprising if Byakuya didn't trust her anymore- she always gave him vague answers when he asked about her background. She should be happy that he was being suspicious about her; at least, he would keep his distance.
But why did it hurt so much? Rukia gazed up at the detailed eaves of the pavilion...
And saw the ends of a black robe flash away.
"Byakuya!" she cried, racing to the wooden railing. She frantically looked up, searching the roof for any signs of him, but Byakuya had disappeared as mysteriously as he came.
"Rukia! What are you doing?" Ichigo ran over to stand beside her. "Was Byakuya here?"
"I don't know..." Rukia stared out of the pavilion.
What was she doing? Why had she run over to look for Byakuya? What if he heard her calling his name and decided that she wasn't sincere in wanted him to leave? Stupid, stupid Rukia.
"Are you okay, Rukia?" She glanced up to see a shadow cross over Ichigo's face.
"I'm fine!" She grinned at him and he smiled.
Yet her heart was not present, having chased after a certain man who had just flitted away.
Rukia missed him.
Byakuya swept out of the gardens, headed for his quarters. He had not wanted to trail after Ichigo and Rukia, but he could not help it. He couldn't stand the thought of Ichigo spending time alone with his Rukia in their pavilion. It was all worth it though, even though he hadn't planned for Rukia to notice him.
Byakuya wasn't surprised that Ichigo was blatantly taking advantage of their temporary separation. Taking her to see the stars? He almost scoffed out loud, yet restrained himself. He knew much better things he could do with Rukia at nighttime.
However, it appeared that she was starting to realize that she couldn't do without him- the tone of her voice as she called his name made that clear to Byakuya. He felt rather satisfied.
If he was able to look into what was preventing her from being with him, he could solve this problem easily. He would be able to show Rukia that she could never hurt him. Byakuya mentally smiled to himself.
With the upcoming martial arts tournament, he would have a better understanding of Rukia's past.
Aaannd... they broke up. Well, not really, but Rukia thinks that they did. As for Byakuya, he believes absence will make Rukia's heart grow fonder (and he is right, but we all know that their problems aren't that easy to solve). But there you have it, the continuation of the cliffy from last chapter. So it was a lime with sexy, jealous, and lusty Byakuya, but then you all probably expected that, no? ;] Rukia should know that she cannot lie to Byakuya about her feelings- he knows her too well. Yet, she starts to realize that Byakuya is becoming suspicious of her. That can't feel good. :[ On a side note, in ancient times, emperors really would occasionally hold martial arts tournaments to boost the strength of their generals and also for fun. So there you go, another historical fact from a history-liking person. lol I decided to use this as a way for Byakuya to track Rukia's background since canon Bleach has so much fighting :3, so I thought it would be fitting.
But kindly drop me a review and tell me what you thought about this chapter! I would love to know. ;] Until next time! *waves*
