Disclaimer: Although I would very much want Ukitake Juushirou or Byakkun to be real and mine, but sadly they are not and they belong to Kubo Tite who also owns BLEACH and all the other gorgeous characters. Only the OCs Kuroki Yuu and Tsubasa are mine.

Thanks everyone! Who added this story as their favourite or on their alert list. :)

(All thoughts of the characters are in 'this is thinking' this single inverted comma and italic format. New words in Japanese are in italic and explained at the end of the chapter. Emphasizes are bolded and in italics.)

Chapter 13 – Doubts.

"What?!"

"Tsk." Yuu rubs her ear when Tsubasa shouted out loud. "Why are you so surprised?"

"B-But Ojou-sama! You mean you spent the night in the same room with a man?!"

"What's wrong?" Yuu pushes Tsubasa to kneel back down onto the Zabuton and laid her head on his lap, pretending to sleep. "I sleep with you every night in the palace. Plus that man is Kuchiki Byakuya-sama."

"It's not the same! And you should know it!" Tsubasa looks down to his lap where his mistress laid her head. Fearing that this black hair woman he respects was hurt. "Did he…"

"What?" Yuu faked innocent while batting her long lashes. "Did what?"

"Take advantage of you? Or some sort? You know…"

"Advantage?" Yuu raises a brow, but lets it down after she made up a plot.

"Un." Tsubasa nodded.

"Hm… Come to think of it he did…"

"WHAT?!" Tsubasa pushes Yuu to sit up and looks around searching for something. "What did he do to you?!"

"Hm… It's kind of embarrassing to say. You should know I'm the shy type." Yuu then gave a little giggle.

Tsubasa chokes upon hearing the giggle. "Wait wait wait." He picks up his sword when he finally found it and holds it as though he could cut anyone who hurt his mistress into half right now. "What exactly did he, or… did you do to him?"

"Why you!" Yuu pretended to be shocked. "…Okay, I have to admit I planned to do something to him, but things went the other way round."

"Can you please tell me what exactly happened? Did he hurt you?"

"Nah." Yuu grabs for her coin purse and counted the gold coins in it. "Spent me quite some gold, but we had fun."

"Gold?" Tsubasa raises a brow. "Spent on… what?"

"Wine. Speaking of the wine Tsubasa, they were sooo good. I'll bring you there someday."

"Wine?"

"Oh, and food. But the main point is the wine. We finished a bottle, so I thought we should get one more."

"Uh-huh…" Tsubasa nodded, waiting for his mistress to continue.

"So I suggested that we have a small Haiku composing game. The one who did not do well pays for the food and wine." Yuu then pouts as she crosses her arms. "That Byakuya, he's quite the poet. So I end up losing and had to pay. Then he started ordering more and more expensive wine and food! Grr."

"And then…?"

"And what? Oh and! He sure can drink. I was all groggy after three bottles so I had to rest. He himself stayed at the veranda and continued drinking throughout the night. I wonder if he caught a cold though…"

Tsubasa heaved a sigh of relief and mouthed the word "Thank God".

"It's noon, Tsuba."

"Why yes, Ojou-sama. Is anything the matter? Do you have a meeting to attend?"

"Not me. But I think a certain servant boy of mine has a Kidou lesson to attend." Yuu pretends to think hard. "Who might that be… Tsk…"

"Ah!" Tsubasa stood up immediately and bows to Yuu. "I shall take my leave now Ojou-sama! Ittekimasu!"

"Itterashai!"

When Tsubasa left, Yuu plops down onto the floor once again. Her head was still throbbing since she was never a good drinker to begin with. But she hid it to prevent Tsubasa from over-reacting. "Haa…" She rubs her forehead. "I feel like crap…"

"If Tsubasa-kun hears that he would not be please."

Yuu sat up immediately. "U-Ukitake-Taichou?" The Reiatsu of the white haired captain was behind her screen door. Together with him was Byakuya, who Reiatsu feels weaker than usual. Ukitake-Taichou's Reiatsu must be really powerful to overpower Byakuya's. "Byakuya?"

"Hai! This is Ukitake Juushirou. Reporting to you with something nice!"

Yuu slides the door open. "Hm?"

"Jaa-Jang!" Ukitake lifted a small box wrapped with cloth. "Hopefully the Ukitake Wagashi will make you feel better."

"Uwah! Sweets!"

"Yuu." Byakuya called out softly to stop Yuu from taking the small package. "Do you need my physician to examine those?" He then looks to Ukitake. "You are probably unaware, but Kuroki-Taishi is allergic to certain food. Now that I'm in-charge of her safety, I will not allow food from unknown sources to be anywhere near her."

Ukitake sighed. "Then you are probably unaware too. These are some specially made Wagashi my servants prepared with home grown herbs added. They are very good for health and cannot be found in the market. Kuroki-Taishi commented the other time when she was staying at my manor that she loves these and would like to have them again."

Upon finishing his sentence, Ukitake lifted the package to Yuu and flashed his usual warm smile. "Isn't that right, Kuroki-Taishi? I promised you them, so here you go."

'Promise?' Byakuya raises a brow.

Yuu's eyes brighten up as she nodded. "But you shouldn't have travelled all the way here! I should be the one visiting your manor for them."

"Since you're busy and not staying at my manor now, I figured it would be better for me to deliver them. Plus it's my off-day today."

"Still," Yuu bows slightly, "I'm sorry to trouble you. Next time I'll visit you at the Ugendo! I'll also prepare anything at your request!"

"You would? That's great! The Ugendo welcomes you anytime, Kuroki-Taishi. Maybe I should get going, excuse me for disturbing your rest."

"Not at all! In fact I even have the time to visit your manor right now. I don't feel like working at all, those can wait till tonight." Yuu laughs.

"Serious? I could arrange your lunch to be prepared and we can have lun-"

"Yuu," Byakuya called again, "if you would like to spend some time with Ukitake-Taichou, I could arrange a tea room for you. The weather is too cold for you to be travelling outside."

"You could?" Yuu turns to Byakuya. "That will be great! Are you fine with that, Ukitake-Taichou?"

"Why of course Kuroki-Taishi." Ukitake smiles. "Kuchiki-Taichou, do join us too."

"I'm afraid I have reports to complete." Byakuya coughs as he turns to leave. "I'll leave Kuroki-Taishi under your care for the day, Sempai."

"Sure. Leave it to me." Ukitake pats his chest.

"Mou…" Yuu pouts as she watches Byakuya back and mumbled to herself. "Don't even have time for a Wagashi?"

Byakuya wasn't please. As he heads towards his study, he noticed that his footsteps today were rather heavy and slow. He tried thinking of ways to finish his report as soon as possible so that he could join the pair of visitors, but he couldn't focus. His head was heavy as well. Must be all the alcohol he consumed yesterday night, he thought.

Not that Ukitake is unreliable. In fact, Byakuya believes that if you ask anyone in the Seireitei to pick a guardian between him and Ukitake, everyone would choose Ukitake over him without hesitation. Ukitake is probably the most trusted and reliable captain in the Gotei. Yet the thought about somebody else watching over Yuu somehow disgusts him. On top of that, his stomach churns whenever he recalls the bright smile Yuu flashes upon seeing Ukitake.

That smile was so genuine that he wonders what of Ukitake makes her do that. Wasn't her face still full of worries and sadness the previous day when they were in Jurinan, when she was with him?

"For God's sake I should stop thinking about it", he chided himself in his mind, because somehow, his stomach is becoming really uncomfortable and he is beginning to feel nauseated.

In the tea room, Ukitake and Yuu were sitting at the Kotatsu, enjoying tea and the Wagashi Ukitake brought over. Yuu was beaming at the exquisite snack, shaped like a plum blossom and sitting on a small dish, looking pretty like an ornament.

"You can stop staring and eat it you know." Ukitake laughs. "They are specially prepared for you, Kuroki-Taishi, all four of them. No one will steal them from you."

"But it's so adorable!" Yuu pouts, still staring at the Wagashi so closely, like a child observing an interesting tiny bug.

"If you want to have them again, feel free to ask. So please don't stand on ceremony."

"…Okay!" Yuu picks up the dessert pick finally and started halving the snack. "You want one?"

"No thank you. I have them often." Ukitake chuckles at the sight of Yuu halving the Wagashi so carefully.

"Uwah!" Yuu exclaims upon sending the confectionery into her mouth. "This is so good!"

"Glad to hear. By the way, where is Tsubasa-san? Is he not joining us?"

"He's learning Kidou with Renji." Yuu replies after swallowing another small bit of the snack. "I feel so guilty making Renji practice Kidou. Or maybe I should feel sorry towards the Kidou instructor instead."

"Kidou?" Ukitake tilts his head. "Has he agreed to join the academy?"

"Nope, I want to give myself more time to consider as I might actually be the one who can't survive without him. So while I'm at it, I want him to be exposed to more forms of arts." Yuu shrugs. "Kind of like a… preparatory class?"

"You're so like a mother who wants her child to excel and well taken care of." Ukitake says after he takes a sip of his tea. "If you have children in the future, they would probably grow up to be elites."

"A-ha-ha!" Yuu laughs at the comment Ukitake made. "No way."

"I'm telling the truth. You're very capable in managing."

"No, no, I mean, there's no way I'll ever have children."

"Why not?" Ukitake looks at Yuu, puzzled. "Do you not like children?"

"Not that. I just don't think there would be someone out there with a right mind who will take me in as his wife." Yuu chuckles. "Oh boy, even putting me and marriage in a same sentence sounds funny."

"Of course there are! Plenty, I dare say."

"Really?" Yuu puts on a doubtful expression. "Then what about you, Ukitake-Taichou? I'm very sure you have a lot of admirers, probably enough to form another Gotei 13. Plus you would make a perfect husband, a perfect daddy!"

"Me? You know my problem." Ukitake laughs bitterly. "Even if I do get a wife, I will not have children."

"Are you afraid that…?"

"Yes, very. Even though it might or might not happen." Ukitake looks into his half empty cup and sighed. "I'm not saying I'm living in misery. But I wouldn't want my children to suffer from an illness they did nothing to deserve. So just to be on the safe side…"

Yuu picked up one of Ukitake's hand and squeezed. "Sorry for bringing this up."

"Don't be." Ukitake flashes an assuring smile. "You're a bright and healthy lady, so do cherish this and find someone you love to spend your life with."

"Hah… The only person I know who is willing to spend his life with me is Tsuba." Yuu rubs her nose. "And he would probably nag at me every day to: get a husband already, Ojou-sama!"

Ukitake laughs out loud upon seeing the impersonation Yuu did of Tsubasa. Maybe it's just him, but he thought Yuu probably did it to lighten up the atmosphere this conversation created. But seriously, who wouldn't be fond of this lady? At least he knows he likes her company.

"Aren't you going to finish the Wagashi?" Ukitake asks when he sees Yuu closing and wrapping up the box when she only ate one, leaving three in the box. "Do they taste bad?"

"They are great! …B-But I want to leave some… for later! Heh!"

After sending Ukitake off in the late afternoon, Yuu returned to the tea room, picked up the box of Wagashi, and headed towards Byakuya's study.

"Byakuya?" Yuu couldn't feel his Reiatsu in there. The room is obviously empty.

"Kuroki-sama," a maid approaches Yuu when she notices the Royal Servant standing in the hallway, "is anything the matter? Can I help you?"

"Oh, hi!" Yuu greeted the maid, who is holding onto a small basin with a towel soaked in it. "Have you got any idea where Kuchiki-sama might be?"

"Oh… He… He is in his chamber." The maid pointed to the direction where Byakuya's room is situated.

"I see… Is he taking a rest? If not maybe I could… see him for a minute."

"I'm afra-"

The maid was cut off when the head housekeeper called out to her from behind, approaching the two of them as she spoke. "Why are you still here?" She scolded, though with a soft voice, but her face was frightening. "Didn't I tell you to fetch the cold water and clean towels? How can you let Kuchiki-sama wait? Especially when he has a fever right… Kuroki-sama!" The old lady gasps when she finally see Yuu. "Pardon me for being rude, I couldn't see you from where I was standing."

"No worries, but did you just say Kuchiki-sama is down with a fever?"

"Erm… Well… Yes he is…"

"Has the physician attended to him?" Yuu then pushes the back of the younger maid. "Run along now and go fetch the water and towels. Be quick."

"Hai!" The young maid made her way out with quick steps.

"Yes Kuroki-sama, the physician said he caught a cold and fever, but with plenty of rest he would recover soon." The housekeeper assured Yuu. "So please do not worry."

"As if that workaholic would ever get enough rest." Yuu walks pass the housekeeper and made her way towards Byakuya chamber.

"Wa-wait Kuroki-sama, I'm sorry but Kuchiki-sama gave the order to stop you from entering his chamber."

"And why is that?" Yuu puts her hands on her hips, not please at this information.

"Kuchiki-sama is afraid that you would catch his virus if you get too close, Kuroki-sama."

"Aww, he's such a dear." Yuu smiles at the housekeeper, but rolled her eyes after that. "Hey, I'm not that weak!"

Upon finishing her sentence, Yuu called out softly. "Kuchiki-sama, are you asleep?"

No answer. Maybe he's asleep? No, his Reiatsu told Yuu otherwise. "Not answering doesn't stop me from entering you know."

"Did you not hear what my servants told you?" Byakuya finally spoke.

"I did, but you know me. Can I enter already? Or do you want me to get a mask?"

"Don't you even dare slide the door open. I would tell your servant boy what danger you tried putting yourself into, and he shall help me punish you by nagging at you all day."

"Okay, that is quite a threat. I rather get sliced by your petals."

"Therefore please leave and return to main building."

Yuu pouts.

The maid returned with the basin and towels shortly. When she slid the door open and tried entering, Yuu took her chance and followed after. "Kuroki-sama!"

"I didn't open the door, she did! Wow!" Yuu looks around the huge chamber that belongs to the head of the greatest noble house in Seireitei. "Pretty room you have here. Hey! My second time seeing you without your Kenseikan! You really look much better this way."

Byakuya sighed and place a stack of papers down beside his futon. He was reading through a report. "You are seriously trying your luck, Kuroki Yuu." He then sends the servants away, leaving him alone with Yuu.

"Sort of. Seems like I'm a lucky person." Yuu gave Byakuya a victory hand sign and grinned. "…Hold on a second! Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I was, until you came and disturbed."

"Yes, you are in your Nemaki and in your futon but you sleep with them, you don't read!" Yuu started walking over to Byakuya's futon.

"You shall stay right there and not move." Byakuya lifted a hand, pointing at Yuu. "Don't make me use force."

Yuu rolled her eyes and continued walking. "Try me, but I'm only giving you one try."

"Bakudou no Ichi", Byakuya chanted, "Sai."

"Danku." Yuu lifted her hand as well, as a clear barrier forms right in front of her, easily blocking the weak binding spell Byakuya casted.

Byakuya was shocked. Not only did she casted a high level Bakudou, but with such high speed and without a single incantation!

"Good try! But you used up your one and only try!" Yuu releases the barrier. "Now be good and lie down."

"How did you…?" Byakuya stares as Yuu approaches him and knelt by his side, where the maid before placed the basin of water. Yuu then puts the Wagashi aside.

"Did what?" Yuu soaks the fresh towel into the cold water and squeezes the water out of them. "Hm?"

Byakuya sighs. Just how much more things is this woman keeping from him? He wonders if she will suddenly release a Bankai if he releases Senbonzakura now. How strong is this woman exactly?

This woman who told him she wasn't trained to battle.

This woman who knelt by his side, now folding a towel quietly, looking as innocent as girls outside of the Gotei.

"Continue staring at I shall poke you in the eye." Yuu broke the silence.

Byakuya only managed to pull his sight away from Yuu when she went forward and pushed him back, so that he lies down on the futon and rest.

"With your arrows?" Byakuya asks, quite curious what type of attack this woman could actually release.

"You wanna try?" Yuu place the folded towel onto Byakuya's forehead. "I'm good at making them painless."

"No thank you." Byakuya closes his eyes. "You shouldn't be doing this."

"Doing what? Stabbing you with an arrow?"

Byakuya sighed. "No. I'm trying to say, you shouldn't be here, doing these chores."

"I don't think these are chores at all."

"Let the servants do their job. They are paid to work."

"What good would it bring you if you allow your servants to see you in such a state?" Yuu got up and went over to shut the windows. "As the head of the house, you must always look strong, even when deep down you're almost dying out of stress."

"Is that the reason behind that fake façade of yours?" Byakuya opened his eyes again, now staring at the ceiling of his chamber.

"Maybe." Yuu went back to kneel beside Byakuya. "But it's not about protecting your own honor. It's for the sake of not disappointing the people who believe in you. You should make them feel safe. To me, they are the people who gave me my honor. They are my pride and they allow me to stand tall."

"They? You mean Tsubasa."

"Hey, that's pretty mean!" Yuu crosses her arms. "So you think I'm only worth one follower?"

"At least he is a very loyal follower."

"Don't you try sugar-coating your words now Byakuya. It's too late."

"Do you expect an apology?"

"Actually no." Yuu releases her hands, but crosses them back again immediately. "Hey! So now you're trying to say I'm a petty woman who demands an apology all the time."

"What?" Byakuya glares at Yuu from the corner of his eyes. "I said no such thing. Do not put words into my mouth, woman."

Yuu glares back, but finally couldn't help it after a few moments and laughed out loud.

"Now what?"

"Nothing." Yuu giggles. "Just… I love it when you get so agitated by my jokes. How weird. When you're serious, your glare could literally kill someone, yet when in a situation like this one right now, I find the same glare so much more adorable."

"Adorable…" Byakuya repeated the word. "Seriously, do you really know the definition of adorable? Or do you use it on simply anyone?"

Yuu tidies the stack of report Byakuya was reading, and put it out of Byakuya's reach. "Let me tell you something about myself."

Byakuya didn't respond, but shut his eyes, probably to hide that tinge of curiosity he knows Yuu will definitely be able to pick out.

"I don't simply compliment anybody. I only say nice things to people who I think deserves. In other words, people who are nice, or people who I like."

"People who are nice and she likes…" Byakuya thought, as he closes his eyes again.

Does "adorable" count as a compliment then?

Is he someone nice enough to be liked by this weird woman?

Is his apathetic behavior and personality even likable by anybody to begin with?

Byakuya has a lot of doubts.

Doubts about himself.

"If only I didn't insist on visiting the tavern, you wouldn't be sick right now… I'm sorry." Yuu whispered, as she pulls the cover over Byakuya. "You must be tired, have a good rest now."

End of Chapter

"Ittekimasu" – I'm leaving!

"Itterashai" – Please be back soon (be safe)!

"Wagashi" – A snack with filling. There are many types of Wagashi, and they are very nicely made. Check them up on the net! You'll drool! XD

Anyway guys! I'm doing a reshuffle of all my ideas for this story, meaning I have to rewrite many chapters that I had already wrote. Tedious, but I think it makes this story better, which is my responsibility isn't it? :D

Hopefully you've enjoyed this chapter! Hopefully I'll update soon too. XD