RUKIA
I walked aimlessly from Kisuke's place. Tonight, was New Year's Eve and also his birthday. Yoruichi's birthday is the first of January, and those two are so close that they don't consider more that the few minutes around new years as their birthday. Best friends forever. I delivered their gifts, but they said that they would open them the same time exactly on the new year's count down. I am one of the few people who know that Kisuke had always been in love with her. No one knows why they don't get together, but some people say something about captain Soifon affected their relationship with each other.
Yoruichi saw Soifon as her best student even though she was fairly fond of Byakuya and treated him like a little brother, as she treated Soifon as a little sister. Kisuke has been her best friend since forever, and they are fiercely loyal to each other. Yoruichi abandoned her clan and responsibilities to be with him, and he would give up anything for her. How could they love each other so much yet not be in love? Well Kisuke was, but Yoruichi's feelings are a mystery. Soifon hated Kisuke for some reason and refused to act civil towards him.
But to have those feeling there all the time and not act on them? How did they do it? I was hesitant to get closer to Byakuya because I was afraid of how it would affect my relationship with Ichigo, and I couldn't try to be more forward with Ichigo and risk hurting Byakuya and shatter the special relationship we have with each other. Sure, they were both attractive but I didn't know if I wanted to sleep with them. And even if I did want to, it wouldn't be proper for someone from nobility to sleep with someone when they are unmarried.
I decided to stay here for a while. All of my problems were back home and being here for a while felt like a relief. Byakuya didn't like the world of the living so him being here didn't seem likely, and Ichigo didn't know how to open the Senkaimon yet. It was possible for Byakuya to come looking for me, but it was unlikely since he knows that I am alright.
I just couldn't understand why Byakuya disliked the world of the living. He said it was too artificial and materialistic, but there are so many nice things in this world! One of the few things he actually liked has piano music. I was bored out of my mind but the last thing I wanted to do was go back home.
I walked into the harbour port and observed the ferries returning from the neighbouring attraction islands. A sudden thought hit me and I was filled with excitement. The rabbit islands! I really wanted to go! Ichigo told me he would take me someday but it never ended up happening because when they did make a trip over as a group, I was too busy with work to join them. I bit my lip in contemplation.
Should I ask Byakuya? He doesn't like the world of the living though. Karin was only just starting to settle in at work so I couldn't disrupt her. I could always go with Ichigo, we did promise to go together. I would have to decide later. I walked up to the brochure stand and looked curiously at the different attractions. Rabbit island, fox island, cat island, bird watcher island and the islands dedicated to ruins and shrines of the Shinto religion. I took one of each so that I could talk to Ichigo about what plans we should make for the day. I cringed at the thought of asking Byakuya to let him off for a day.
I was really pushing him lately. Byakuya liked order and organise and me hiring a lieutenant for him without his knowledge or permission annoyed him more than he let on. It's difficult for him when I get too involved in his office life with Ichigo. Perhaps I should ask him if he wants me to take Ichigo instead. At least he would be in a better mood when he gets home every day. Before we found Ichigo again we used to eat lunch together every day but now I rarely see him. Either I stay in the office with Karin or Ichigo sneaks out to find me during his lunch break.
I packed my brochures neatly into my hoodie pocket and decided it was time to go home if I wanted to make plans for my upcoming trip, only it would probably be best if I left it till a week or so after new year to ask him. He seems stressed for his meeting with Uryu to night. I tried to talk to him but he brushed me off saying that he needed to clear his head.
I sighed heavily as I walked into the compound from the Senkaimon. I didn't pay much attention to anything around me as I walked through the main house towards my room. I took out the brochures and looked some of them over. Byakuya, despite having the soul animal of a bird, didn't seem to like them all that much, neither did I honestly, but I wanted to see if there was a bird alive who could match his elegance. I gasped as I walked into a tall body.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." I told him and stepped aside out of Byakuya's path.
"You went to the world of the living again, why?" He asked me curiously and slightly unhappily. I looked down sadly. I really wish he would come with me, but I don't think he would.
"Well, I wanted to deliver Kisuke and Yoruichi's birthday gifts. I stayed over for a while and had tea with them and caught up on the progress of the creation Kisuke is creating to diminish the human's spiritual abilities, among other lighter topics. Actually, I hope you won't be angry but Yoruichi asked me why I smelled so much like you. I honestly don't think I smell like anything but myself but, I didn't know what to tell her so I told her that we sometimes slept together. In a non-sexual way of course!" I squeaked and quickly looked away when his eyes widened.
"That demon cat always butting in on other people's business." He growled out dangerously.
"You know she doesn't mean any harm. She cares for you, and she wanted to make sure that I was alright after everything that has happened." I told him gently and pressed the brochures over my mouth to hide a small smile at my fondness for Yoruichi.
"What is this?" He asked me and gently tugged the bird brochure out of my hands. I sighed tiredly.
"Well, after my visit with Kisuke I walked around for a bit to clear my head and sort out my thoughts and I ended up at the harbour. I saw some of the tourists coming back from the attractions and remembered that Ichigo promised me that we could visit them sometime. We actually made a date to go together about a year ago but work pulled me away and I couldn't go." I told him sadly. He took the other brochures out of my hands and looked them over.
"We could go together if you would prefer?" He asked me while looking at the rabbit one. I smiled at his thoughtfulness.
"No that's okay, I know you don't like the world of the living anyway. It's a whole day trip that stops at each of these locations, I don't know if you would enjoy feeding animals and having them climb all over you…and I hear some of the fox's bite. There is a weekend cruise ship what I was thinking of booking actually, that way you can spend more time at each location. The day trip is a one-way sail across each of the islands for an hour per location and by the time you are half way finished you would be exhausted! I want to enjoy the nature properly without being pressured for time." I said strategically and rubbed my chin gently in consideration.
"It doesn't sound terrible. I too enjoy nature, I would like to accompany you if you wouldn't mind?" He asked me and I was genuinely surprised.
"Well, yes I would like that, but you do know that there will be a lot of humans around? Are you sure you are comfortable with that?" I asked him curiously if not a bit sceptically. He narrowed his eyes at me slightly.
"I will be keeping your company, not theirs, I don't see how their presence affects me." He told me calmly.
"If you are sure. But then we need to make some arrangements. One room or two? Eating aboard or not? Swimming yes or swimming no? I personally wouldn't mind swimming. We never do anything fun really." I told him and pouted sadly. His gaze softened a little.
"I will make arrangements at work to free a few days for us. We only need one bed really, so one room should be fine. You can swim if you want to, I would but I don't like being watched by strangers. As for food, you know my tastes well enough, I am sure you will choose something acceptable. You may choose two rooms if you would be more comfortable sleeping apart from me." He suggested and I nodded.
"I sleep with you most nights now anyway, I don't see the harm in sharing a room. Unless you decide not to behave yourself, who knows, it might be more fun." I said and slapped his behind. I ran into my room quickly before he could catch me.
"Rukia!" He shouted indignantly from behind my closed door. I smiled sneakily.
"Is something the matter?" I asked him playfully.
"Well, why do you do that?" He asked me agitatedly from behind my door.
"Am I not allowed to think that your behind it attractive?" I ask playfully and he sputtered behind my door. I had taken off my pants off already so I only wore my shirt and my underwear.
"Fine, I will make us even." I told him and opened the door, and I bent down just a little.
"I didn't hit you hard, so don't you dare make my butt sting!" I warned. He was looking away and I thought he would do it until I loud slap resounded in my room. I squeaked and jumped up rubbing my behind.
"Ouch! I didn't actually hurt you!" I whined as I rubbed my stinging behind. He smiled evilly at me.
"It serves you right for taunting me!" He said and burst out laughing. I glared at him and took off my shirt. His eyes immediately stared at my body. I might not have many womanly assets but I was starting to like the way he stared at me, it made me feel more confident. I watched him looking at me for a moment before I too burst out laughing.
"You are such a little pervert!" I accused and his face flushed in shame at being caught staring. He cleared his throat.
"May I touch you?" He asked me softly. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"In what manner?" I asked and he stepped forward and reached out his hand. I watched it carefully before he gently grabbed a hold of my side and slid his hand over my curves. I gasped at how surprisingly good it felt! He looked up at me quickly before looking back down at my body. He kneeled on the floor in front of me and slowly moved his hands from my waist down to my hip and thighs. I was getting butterflies in my belly. He leaded forward slowly and closed his eyes. He kissed the centre of my chest softly. My body shivered at how sweet he was being. It was strange, but he was somehow so sweet! I lifted my hands toward his head and gently caressed the back of his head where the kenseikan couldn't reach. He sighed into my stomach softly.
"I don't know what this is really, but I like it when you touch me." I told him softly and looked at the floor shamefully. He leaned up and kissed me on the lips.
"Then, am I allowed to touch you freely?" He asked me and I flushed.
"Yes, just not inappropriately. I also like it when you kiss me." I told him and looked at the roof embarrassedly. He smiled into my stomach and leaned down further to kiss my thigh.
"Hmm, perhaps I should get dressed. You are starting to excite me and I don't think you will touch me as much as I would like you to." I told him gently and stepped away from him. I noticed his eyes widen and dart towards my face, but I turned my back on him and walked behind my changing curtain to dress into one of my home kimonos.
"You underestimate me. I would be too happy to touch you more…sensually, however I fear for our reputation if we are caught. It would be beyond scandalises for many reasons. If you wished for me to touch you while we were completely alone however, things could work out differently. But I will not make love to you unless you marry me." He told me sternly. I had just walked out fully dressed and stared open mouthed at him.
"Humans usually try to see if they are pleasing to each other before deciding if they want to stay together you know. What would happen if we married and you were unhappy with me in bed? Or you didn't think I was attractive fully undressed?" I asked him embarrassedly. He smiled at me.
"I have seen you naked before as you have seen me, and no one has ever been more attractive…and arousing to me that you. It is impossible for you not to please me, however if your concern is whether I can please you or not, if you will allow me to try and learn, I am eager to." He told me and my face flashed redder. I opened and closed my mouth a few times before licking my lips and swallowing tightly. It was difficult looking at him after hearing him say something so forward so shamelessly!
"If you did though, I would develop a need for you. Would you really reject me if I wanted you to make love to me?" I asked him and his eyes clouded over in desire.
"I told you before, I would never reject you. But the consequences of our actions may be severe as we are not married and are not yet ready to have children." He told me and I nodded but looked in his eyes.
"If I did fall pregnant though, would you be happy?" I asked him and he smiled beautifully at me.
"Of course! But for our own sake, as well as the child's it would be best if we were married. Rukia, if that is what you want from me then let me know your decision." He told me passionately and I smiled slightly at him.
"We can talk more about it on our cruise. It would be more private." I suggested and he nodded.
"Rukia, you should know that I have been restraining myself towards you out of decency, if you would allow me to be more intimate with you, I would be happy to be. I crave touching you." He told me and looked at me heatedly before slowly walking to my door.
"I will see you at dinner. I love you, Rukia." He told me and my eyes widened. He had never said it in that way before.
BYAKUYA
I clenched my hands tightly on my bathroom dresser counter. I knew that she was just playing with me at first but I never expected such a topic to pop up. I desperately fought off my arousal. I knew that she didn't think of herself as physically appealing but seeing her that bare did something to me! And she was so warm and so soft! She smelt so nice too, whatever she scented her skin with made my loins stir with lust.
She doesn't even try, and she cripples me in such a way. Women can be cruel! My legs trembled in exertion and I breathed in methodically, deeply in and slowly out. Eventually the pulsating sensations died down leaving my body tired and tense. I left my bathroom warily and sat at my calligraphy table.
My calligraphy was horrible today! My hand didn't stay upright as it was supposed to and just when I thought I had managed a perfect stroke, my hand shook slightly and the tip of the brush splotched at the end of the stroke! I grit my teeth in frustration.
Many things were troubling my mind as was the norm, but more of them were immediately important. I never should have confessed to my desires for her so soon. And if she did choose me and we married, she would expect a child and we weren't ready for one! Perhaps I was thinking too much on the matter.
I shouldn't have said that I was eager to please her either. Abarai couldn't have been more experienced than I am though, so even if I was a novice, she shouldn't be able to tell. What if I make a fool of myself?! And I really do want to touch her, I just don't know how! I put my hand down next to my sheet of paper and accidentally toppled my jar of ink. I sighed and quickly wiped up the spilt ink before it stained the expensive wood.
Another thing I didn't think about before speaking was the nature of our relationship. We have yet to involve ourselves intimately with each other apart from a few heated kisses. Right now, we are still siblings, still friends. If we took the leap and started touching each other intimately we would be truly crossing to the relationship of lovers. It would kill me if she decided to leave me after that milestone in our relationship! Or worse, what if she didn't choose either of us but instead have intimate relations with us both until she was sure? I did not want Kurosaki to touch her!
I sighed tiredly as a headache pounded in my poor skull like a rubber ball bouncing against walls endlessly. I decided to have a maid bring me my tea, but when I got to my door the hall was empty. I looked outside to see if getting dark outside. It was already dinner time? I walked tiredly to the dining room and saw Rukia waiting for me already.
"Hey, are you alright? You look really worn out." She asked me sympathetically. I tried to smile but failed horribly.
"I feel like I'm dying. My head hurts, everything hurts, and for some reason I have failed at everything I tried to accomplish today." I told her sadly and glared at my food as it was presented to me. Would there be some sort of unwelcome surprise there as well?
"I'm sorry to hear that. I am still quite energised; would you like a massage after dinner? You should have a bath first though if you haven't yet." She offered and smiled at me. I felt my lips pull upwards.
"Only if you will let me return the favour?" I asked her and she shook her head.
"No, it's not necessary. You are the sore one here, not me. You should be taking it easy, not trying to make us even. Besides, one of us moaning is more than enough, what do you think a passer-by will think if they hear two sets of vocals resounding from your bed room? I will be pleased enough to help you out of your discomfort." She told me and my ears tinged pink. I felt a slow stirring in my nether regions and hastily willed it to go away.
"Did you make any preparations yet for our weekend away?" I asked her timidly and tried to ignore everything other that her words and my food.
"I did, your birthday is on a Saturday so I made the booking for that weekend. We leave Friday morning and return the Monday at noon. By the way, its new year's tonight, are we going to do anything? Ichigo and Karin invited friends over to Ichigo's place, only he will be spending the countdown time in the world of the living." She told me and I frowned. Usually the kitchens made all my favourites for my birthday dinner, I wasn't too thrilled to me leaving at that time. But the booking was made already, what could I do but go along with it?
"You aren't going with Kurosaki to the world of the living?" I asked her curiously, I wasn't aware that he knew how to open the Senkaimon.
"I have to take him there an hour before midnight and pick him up later an hour after the new year has begun. I could stay with him and the guys, but he wanted to have a private talk with Uryu and Chad, as well as his father so I should give him the privacy. We could maybe bring a birthday cake over for Kisuke and Yoruichi? It would be nice to have interesting company for a change. I honestly prefer their company to many of our colleagues here at the Seireitei." She asked me and I frowned.
"I could have the kitchen prepare a cake in time, but Yoruichi is over thirty thousand years old already, the candles wouldn't fit on that old hags' cake." I joked childishly and she burst out laughing.
"So, we're going then? You can take care of the cake and I will take care of refreshments then." She said cheerfully. Then she became thoughtful and a sad smile crossed her face.
"Byakuya, do you know why Kisuke and Yoruichi haven't pursued a romantic relationship with each other? I know they like each other a lot more than friends, though its more obvious for Kisuke than Yoruichi." She asked me and I sighed sadly.
"That is a complicated question. Perhaps her feelings for Soifon are what separates them? I do not understand that cat woman. From what I remember, they once had a romantic relationship before Yoruichi started training Soifon as her lieutenant. Maybe she is in love with Soifon more than she loves Urahara? At any rate, strong love of friendships can be just as strong as romantic love only lacking of the physical attraction. Urahara to my knowledge has always been in love with Yoruichi but only ever let her make their decisions. In my opinion if he loved her as I do you then he shouldn't have let her decide their relationship and should have fought to be with her." I told her and she sighed softly.
"That sounds like me and Ichigo. I don't know where we stand with each other anymore. He and I are so close. We could have a future together, in fact if you and I remained as we were before he and Renji died, we would probably be together already. But lately I don't feel physically attracted to him as I once was. I still love him. I would fight for him and die for him, lie for him and live for him, but I just can't see a future with him in front of me anymore. It really hurts, and confuses me. Does he feel that way as well? Should we talk or something? Would that help us at all? I know he is in love with me, but I can't say that I feel the same anymore. How much would it hurt him if I moved on without him? Perhaps I should do nothing and let him decide what is best for our relationship with one another." She told me and I reached over to fold my hand over hers.
"If you act as Urahara did, no one will be happy. You said you wouldn't be in a relationship where you weren't sure you were in love, do not doubt yourself. He will remain in your future, even if as only a friend. I don't think he will move on if you don't lead him forward, that seems to be the type of relationship the two of you have together. But, I know it is too soon to ask, but at present, how do you view me? What am I to you now? I will always be your friend, and your brother, but is that all I am to you at this moment?" I asked her curiously and she swallowed shyly.
"Well, I have always loved you in some way, now I just love you in many more ways, some more complicated than others. I see you as my family, my friend and confidant. Sometimes I think about what a future together could be like but honestly, I don't know how if we could manage everything together. Could we work together and be each other's support properly? If I chose to be with you would we really be happy? A normal relationship between Renji and I or Ichigo and I would have its ups and downs and complications but with us its more extreme and more frightening." She told me softly and quiet sadly. My heart leapt into my throat and my blood pumped furiously through my veins. What did she mean? What could I say or do to change her mind?
"What complications do you speak of?" I managed to ask, though I'm sure she saw the uncertainty and panic hidden behind my words.
"A normal family wouldn't have anything to live up to, they wouldn't have duties and obligations. But you and I do. Would our child be able to have the proper childhood that we never had? Would you want to mould them into being a worthy heir early in life? We don't know what might happen to us in the future, if you die then your bloodline dies with you. Even if another Kuchiki managed to become the next head of the clan, the purity the main family has preserved through you would be diminished. Does that pressure me to have a child early if I did choose you? I know you said we should wait until we are ready but you do need to really think about that. What if we do marry but I can't have children after my miscarriage? Or die before giving you a child? Would you be harsh on our child and bring it up sternly as you were? I think you would make a good father if you were allowed to treat your child as your child instead of as a person you had to rear into becoming the next head of the clan. I just don't think I could do it. I hurt from knowing what you went through, but if my child had to go through that as well then it would be better if we didn't go any further in our relationship and instead rather let things settle down until they become normal again." She told me and I panicked and squeezed her hand.
"Don't say that. I know we will be fine, but if we marry do you understand that as my wife you would no longer be able to participate in battle? You will remain captain of your division, but physical battles will be dealt with by others, even I one of the strongest captains am held back because of my status, and for good reason. As a wife you must take care of yourself for my sake as well as any child you could carry of mine. It is true that I do need an heir, sooner rather than rather, but Rukia I swear to you that I will not let any children we have suffer as we had. They will need to school in the nobility and regular soul reaper studies but apart from that I do not need to teach them to become the next head of the family until many years later. If we have children we will raise them together as a family, don't you worry about that. I promise I will do my best to be an upstanding father and remarkable husband if you choose to remain at my side. You don't need to decide now, I will wait until you are ready, however long it takes." I told her and gently brushed my thumb over her knuckles. Her hand shook a little under my own, so I squeezed it reassuringly until her tremors ceased.
"But what if I can't have children anymore? Didn't you think of that before?" She asked me sadly.
"I love you, I wish to stay with you regardless, but if you are willing, I am sure that the fourth or twelfth division could find a way to heal you if you aren't already fully healthy. I could only accept a child from you as my own, I would let my line die with me out of selfish pride if I was ever forced to wed someone from the family. I want to love you and I want you to love me if you can. I want our descendants to look up at our love and our achievements and strive to be like us. I won't pressure you for an heir either, remember, 'at our own pace'." I told her gently and softly held her cheek in my palm. She sighed and rested her face in my hand before looking up at me and smiling.
"Thank you, Byakuya. Truthfully, I am very curious about what children born of the two of us would look like. I don't think there is an ugly possibility. They would be very blessed indeed." She told me and I smiled charmingly at her before leaning towards her to give her a kiss. The door to the dining room opened abruptly.
"My Lord- "And the maid gasped. I held her gaze with my own and felt my rage storm through my eyes.
"I do not believe I rang for you, neither did you knock, is this the respect you show to your master?" I growled out at her and narrowed my eyes. She hurriedly fell to her knees and bowed with her hands and forehead against the floor.
"Forgive me my Lord!" She begged. I stood and I saw fear cross Rukia's eyes out of the corner of my own. I had to discipline the girl, it was customary. But I could forego it after what I was about to do you her.
"Why have to disturbed us?" I asked her harshly.
"My Lord, elder-sama requests an audience with you and I rand ahead because he was coming to the dining room even after we asked him to wait for you!" She sobbed and my eyes widened. In a flash I used my Kido on her to erase her recent memories and asked her to leave. Rukia looked alarmed and I placed my hand gently on her back to calm her.
"She will not be punished this once because of the urgency of her message, I am however suspicious as to why an elder is trespassing in our home." I told her roughly and walked to the door where I could tell it was about to open without even a knock. I drew my hand back and slapped him across the face. Rukia gasped in horror behind me. I gulped inwardly and forced myself to focus on the problem at hand.
"How dare you disrupt my house! Do not forget your manners, showing me this little respect is warrant for punishment!" I shouted at him and he flinched slightly.
"Forgive me, my Lord Kuchiki, I was told by the council of elders to deliver this to you post haste, as your first arrangement is for tomorrow morning." He told me and bowed. He handed me a small book that I opened and looked through. My eyes widened in anger and shock.
"A matchmaking list?! You are setting me up with these women?!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. The elder hastily walked back until he stood frozen against the wall.
"And I am to assume that it is for the sake of the clan?! Did you hear nothing I said? You will all be punished! Know your places! I will not take your lives but you will know humiliation! The lot of you are to cancel every single one of these dates, I don't care how it inconveniences you or the women you have assigned to me. The next elder to walk into my home without invitation's head will roll, do I make myself clear?! Now as you are so happy to be the errand boy, you will relay my message to the rest of the council. I intend to live a good long life, I will not die for tens of thousands of years so you better start being more accepting of my decisions! If you will for me to have a child so you can take my life and wrap strings around my child as you tried to with me, you've got another thing coming! I will annihilate the entire clan and build it up from scratch before I let anyone demine me or overpower me! Now go before what little reason I have retained escapes me and I punish you more severely! I don't believe you all need two arms or legs at your age, do you?!" I hissed cruelly at him. He bowed and quickly made his way to the nearest exit from the main house.
"Vipers, vipers, everywhere I look, someone is trying to manipulate me or undermine me!" I said and slammed the door to the dinning room shut. Rukia stood up and walked to the other door leading to our private part of the house.
"Wait. I'm sorry you had to see that, but they are really getting out of hand these days. The power grabbers are finally letting themselves be known. Do you want me to send for a birthday cake? Are we still going? I am sorry if I upset you, I didn't mean to frighten you, but try and see things through my perspective?" I asked her kindly. She was very unhappy but she nodded.
"Yes, you take care of the cake, make sure it's beautiful! I will get the refreshments sorted out, I think the four of us could use a few drinks." She told me and closed the door. I blinked owlishly. Did she just refer to alcohol? I thought she didn't drink? I sighed exasperatedly before walking to the kitchen and giving our exhausted chef a last-minute job. He smiled and bowed telling me it would be an hour making a cake for friends of ours.
I made my way to our room. No. My room. And tiredly walked to my closet to pick out clean clothes. After a moment I wondered if I was looking for the wrong clothes entered and wrapped gently on Rukia's bedroom door.
"Rukia, are we using our gigai's or can we go as we are?" I asked her and she answered from behind the door that we didn't need to use gigai's. I told her I was going to have a bath and try to relax before we left. It was no good going to them to wish them well in a sour mood. I had just relaxed in the bath when a knock came to my bathroom door. I froze in shock. Then quickly grew agitated?
"Yes?" I asked hesitantly, not sure if letting my irritation being known was a good idea, after all it was probably only Rukia.
"Uh, I'm really sorry to bother you I know you weren't feeling well earlier and you probably feel worse now. I hope I am not crossing a line here, but may I come in? I have bath salts used for massaging in the tub, they smell nice and they do wonders for your skin…want me to come in or should I wait until you are out? I promise I won't look!" She squeaked out cutely. A wide smile spread across my face.
"I would love that; the door is open." I told her and smiled as charmingly as I could at her before she looked away from me in embarrassment. I made a slow reach for the bubbles to cover my groin. I watched her watch me with a smile.
"That is as decent as I am going to get im afraid. You could always join me you know, it wouldn't be the first time we bathed together." I teased her and she did the unexpected. She took a cup of warm water from my bath and poured it over my head.
"That's what perverts get. Don't worry, I can help you wash your hair if you want me to." She said as an after thought of apology. I nodded happily and carefully parted my hair from my eyes. She snorted at my attempt at being cute and kissed my cheek before squeaking indignantly and hurrying behind me. I didn't know what had gotten her so embarrassed until I looked down. The cup of water she had dosed over my head had washed away the bubbles covering my groin. I coughed out in shock and quickly reached for more of them near the foot of the tub.
"What a sexy behind." She said teasingly and slapped it before I could sit down again. I managed to grab her hand and pull her forward in a rough kiss before pulling her into the bath tub with me. I leaned back and smirked at her.
"I believe, that is what perverts get, correct? But it simply wouldn't do for you to bath with your clothes on." I teased her and she gaped at me before letting a small, dangerous smile cross her lips. I gulped and pulled my legs closer together, preparing for an attack of some sort.
"Byakuya, do I have your word that you will never touch me inappropriately, unless I allow you to or we are married?" She asked me and I nodded dumbly.
"Uh, yes?" I answered lamely. She stood up in the bath, her robes were positively soaked! Slowly, she started disrobing and dropping each article of clothing to my floor in splattering sounds until she stood bare before me. This was the first time I had actually seen her assets and did I enjoy them! Her breasts were perfect subtle mounds and she had very little pubic hairs at her pelvic region. I quickly understood two problems.
One, was that I had been indecently staring at her most intimate parts, and two, I was fully erect without much coverage as her robes had soaked out a large portion of the water. I held a hand to my mouth and a hand over my shaft. I quickly pulled the lever on the tub to fill it more fully and threw in some more of the bubbling salts for decency.
"Do you want me to get out?" She asked awkwardly. I quickly snapped my head to her.
"No! Stay…" I said and looked down to her breasts before quickly looking away.
"I'm sorry! I can't help looking, it is a natural reaction, but I swear I will not touch you unless you permit me to!" I told her hurriedly. Once the water was filled high enough to cover the better part of her chest I pulled the lever to a stop and let the steam relax me as I hung my arms over the back of the bath. I gasped as I felt smooth toes touching my stomach. They were dangerously close to my erection. I grabbed her foot and gently placed it beside my thigh.
"Don't move so much. I am having difficultly with my arousal at the moment and it won't go away unless it is left alone completely." I told her and she gasped I made a sound of agreement and looked away.
"I am sorry for throwing you into the bath, it wasn't the brightest of my ideas, though I did enjoy seeing you fully." I told her, never taking my eyes away from the door handle.
"You were so quiet, I was beginning to think you found me unattractive." She joked, but I could hear the underlying fear under her humour. It was as Kurosaki had said, she covers her fears through humour.
"You are exquisite! I regret not being able to touch you. And I can't look at you again for fear of my erection not going away. My dreams will haunt me after this day." I told her sorrowfully. Slowly she moved towards me and I closed my legs tentively. Her chest had risen out of the water exposing her chest once more. I flushed and quickly looked away.
"What are you doing?" I asked her curiously.
"I said that you may not touch me in bad ways, not that you couldn't touch me at all, what's more, you never said that I couldn't touch you." She said and sat across my lap. I gasped and groaned in agony as her leg brushed over my erection. She looked startled before she wrapped one of her arms over my neck and started touching my chest. I breathed in harshly. I whined at not being able to do anything but sit there. It wasn't fair! Slowly though her hands started brushing against my skin with soap. Was she bathing me? I never realised that my erection was leaving me as I enjoyed the calming bath she was giving me.
"Will you turn around? It will be easier for me to wash your hair." She asked softly. I hadn't noticed that I had been holding her tightly until then and quickly dropped my arms. She stood up and walked back to give me room to turn around. I refused to look at her chest and thankfully her groin was hidden by bubbles. I sighed and groaned as she massaged my head while she washed my hair. Once she was done she moved back to the opposite side of the bath.
"Thank you, Rukia. Would you prefer for me to get out first, or will you let me bath you? I would enjoy washing your hair." I told her honestly and after a moment of consideration she agreed and turned around in the tub. She hummed while I washed her hair and carefully washed her body. I made extra certain not to touch anywhere too private. Once I was done I stood up in the tub and got out her eyes had widened considerably and I smiled at her.
"Do I measure up to your standards? Wouldn't we just fit perfectly together?" I teased her and she looked away shyly.
"I'm too small, it wouldn't fit. You will have to take one of the women on your matchmakers list." She told me and my smile froze.
"Please tell me you are joking?" I asked her incredulously. She shrugged and sighed sadly.
"I suppose." She said before washing the bubbles from her body and stepping out of the tub. I gasped and quickly wrapped a towel around my waist. She walked up to me and hugged me tightly. At first, she looked smug but then when she felt my erection from beneath my towel her happiness drained from her being replaced with uncertainty. I quickly pulled her flush against me and kissed her heatedly until she gasped for breath.
"So, do I physically please you?" I asked her softly and her cheeks flushed before she nodded and looked away. She took one of my towels and her wet clothes and flash stepped back to her room.
Yes, my dreams would definitely haunt me for the nights to come.
RUKIA
The cake was made perfectly and I had the booze waiting for us at the foyer. Once Ichigo made it to us we left and told him that we would meet him at Kisuke's shop. Tessai had taken the kids out for the night leaving Yoruichi and Kisuke alone. At first, I thought we were intruding until they happily welcomed us inside and we cut pieces of cake for ourselves. Yoruichi was very surprised and extremely happy to see her 'Bya-bo' after years of him ignoring her existence.
We laughed and drank, even Byakuya loosened up and cracked a few laughs after a few drinks from the world of the living. We met up with Ichigo and headed home. I knew he was quiet but I didn't feel sober enough to listen to him attentively and give him the comfort or advice that he needed. That could be done tomorrow when we were all sober.
Once we were home, Byakuya ended up rolling into my bed with me for a change. It happened sometimes if I chose to stay in my room, he would come looking for me. But tonight, we cuddled up snuggly with each other and wished each other a happy new year. Honestly, I couldn't remember half of what happened over the last two hours. Hopefully Byakuya would tell me in the morning.
One of the few things I did remembered though, was that Kisuke and Yoruichi now knew our secret.