Chapter 21 There is no remedy for love, but to love more.

Kuchiki Byakuya looked up from his papers as he heard some commotions from the next door.

"Rangiku san!" His ears perked up.

"Guys! Renj! How's everyone doing? Been a while." He heard her cheery voice.

He has been expecting her but not so soon. She's always too quick to react. He felt himself chafe inwardly.

He heard her exchanging pleasantries with his subordinates who were hard at work in the next room, before walking towards his door. Here we go!

Knock knock.

"Come in." he kept his voice as dull as possible.

A mess of fiery hair peeked through the door. It was followed by a pleasant smile. He didn't want to deal with her excessive emotions in the office.

"Good morning Kuchiki Taichou." She closed the door behind her and walked towards his desk. He kept his attention on his papers, but barely.

"Is there something you need Matsumoto Fukutaichou?"

"No, not really. I thought I should share something interesting with you." She leaned on his desk with on hand to support her weight. "So I found something in front of my door this morning."

His eyebrows raised a little. The woman does have a knack for creating drama.

She brought her other hand from behind her, holding a box. What is she doing carrying this all over the place.

"And I thought to myself what could this be?" she looked away with an expression of confusion on her face. "Then I opened it, and guess what?" she looked at him.

He couldn't help looking in her eyes. Where is she going with this?

"An expensive silk scarf." She let out a mock gasp.

He kept his face unchanged, while surpassing the urge to let out a smile. She's just so freaking adorable.

"The question came to my mind was, who in this whole seireitei could afford a scarf like this?" her face lit up with a smirk. "And I thought of you."

She stood straight and placed to box on front of him. "So here you go." She then placed her hands on her waist and gave him a mock scold. "Be sure not to misplace expensive things like that again, Kuchiki Taichou."

He frowned. If she wasn't here he would have let out a frustrated sigh.

She turned around and ready to leave.

"Matsumoto. It was for you." he worked hard to keep his voice calm.

She was almost at the door when she turned around promptly and her hair fanned around her. She made an "o" with her mouth with a shocked look on her face, "me?"

He looked at her sideways.

"But how could that be? There was no note, no one was there to hand it to me to tell me it's for me or who it was from. It mustn't be for me."

"Matsumoto." He is now frustrated. "I ruined your s…"

"Kuchiki" and like that her voice raised and she's back to normal.

She trudged to where he was sitting, stood next to him and looked down at him with a frown. "I don't care what self-proclaimed crime you are trying to make up for, but if you are going to send me something, make sure you give it to me personally. Although I can't accept it anyway, it's too expensive. And if I am only a casual acquaintance at the other end of a thank you note, I don't really want it." she crossed her hands and turned around. "Don't think you can just make everything good just by sending me a present, I'm not that easy."

He stood up, shoved his chair back.

"Very well. How about a bottle of sake this evening to make up for this?"

She turned around. Studied his solemn face for a while and smirked. "Fine."

She was about to turn around and leave before Byakuya grabbed her hand, "wait."

He pulled her towards him and locked her into an embrace before placing a tender kiss in her. "But it seems, you're pretty easy with a bottle of sake, Matsumoto."

She flushed red and suddenly changed into another person. Still locked in his embrace, she stuttered "Umm… I…"

Before she had to come up with any further witty remarks, he kissed her again. This time it was deeper and lasted longer.

When she opened her eyes she murmured softly, "What are we doing Kuchiki?"

He suddenly looked confused and vulnerable.

She let go of him and slowly started walking towards the door before Byakuya called out, "Dinner."

She turned around. "Dinner?"

"Would you liked to have dinner with me tonight at the Kuchiki residence, Matsumoto?"

She stood there processing the offer for a second. "… like … a date?" there was clear confusion on her face.

He was at lost for words. His brain stormed at a speed faster than light to say something in response.

She stepped towards him with amusement on her face. "Kuchiki Byakuya, are you asking me out on a date?"

"I wouldn't call it … that." he managed to speak.

"What would you call it?" she looked at him close up. She's clearly enjoying this too much.

"A dinner." He managed again by looking away from her inquisitive eyes.

"Right!" She studied his face again a little longer. Then suddenly burst out with a giggle.

He frowned and studied her face. What part of having dinner with him is so funny? Before he could deepen that frown any further she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You're cute, Kuchiki." Her sincere smile almost stopped his heart.

Before leaving him dumbstruck she turned around and said with a wink, "So I'll see you tonight for our date, Kuchiki Taichou."

Cute? Kuchiki Byakuya?

He sat there staring at his paperwork for a good 15 minutes before he could start working on it.

What is he getting himself into?

…

This is dumb.

As I stood there, in front of the massive gate of the Kuchiki mansion, all my courage suddenly deserted me.

I'm on a date with Kuchiki Byakuya. Is that even legal?

It sounded fine in the morning, but now I realised I'm going to be a fish out of sea in this place. He'll be in total control of the situation.

What have I gotten myself into? I sighed and tried not to ruin my perfectly tied bun by pulling my hair. it took me so long to get it right.

I looked down at myself to check if my patterned yukata is fine, the obi is tied correctly and not too much cleavage showing before knocking.

A servant looking person escorted me around the mansion. After taking the third left turn, I was totally lost and would never have a clue how to leave the place.

She ushered me into a room and closed the door behind me.

I looked around there is a small table and some cushions. The door to the back garden is open and the moon is flooding everything I laid my eyes on.

He was sitting outside with his back against the door. I could see his light colour haori and a casual yukata. His hair is missing the kenseikans. I tiptoed out the door.

"Have a sit Matsumoto" he spoke without looking at me.

I hesitantly sat down. There is another small table between us with steaming teapots and cups.

He poured me a cup and I accepted it. I saw him looking at me that once before returning his gaze towards the moon.

I sipped my tea while sitting uncomfortably and wished it was sake.

"So, where is that sake you've promised Kuchiki?" I tried to shake off the awkwardness.

He looked at me sideways before producing a large bottle from somewhere and I could feel the relief in my body.

I think I reached for too quickly and he pulled it away from my reach. I looked at him with a frown.

"I would like something in return for this." he spoke.

"What is it?" I was alarmed.

"That kanzashi on your hair."

I was confused. This old thing? It's old and frankly was cheap to begin with, not that I paid for it. I couldn't remember the name of the young guy at one of the fairs who volunteered to buy it for me.

"But this is keeping my hair tied." I asked.

"Do you want the bottle of sake or not?" he looked away now, attempting to put this bottle back for wherever he pulled it out from.

I am conflicted. I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be sitting around with hair everywhere in a date, which happened to be at the Kuchiki mansion.

This isn't a test is it?

I frowned. If it is he's going to be sorely mistaken about my intension of wanting to fit in with them lots, or lack of it.

With one yank I pulled it out of my hair and hand the kanzashi to him. I felt my hair fell out of the bun and it was everywhere.

He took it and handed me the bottle. While I opened it, he spoke.

"You don't look at all like yourself with your hair tied up like that." he spoke up.

I've already poured myself a cup of sake. I sipped it and felt the familiar feeling of freedom running down my throat. I can now be myself. All these uptightness is too tiring.

I ran my fingers through my hair, "well should've told me about it earlier, I spent 2 hours getting it right."

"It's beautiful just as it is."

I choked and felt my face redden. Thankfully I didn't have to come up with any response or look at his face because there was a knock on the door.

"Come." he called and stood up. He reached one of his hands down towards me and said, "Let's have dinner."

I starred at his outstretched hand blankly and the bottle of sake on my hand.

"It will still be there when we finish." He looked down at me, so I placed the bottle gently on the small table before reaching out for his hand. It felt warm and welcoming.

The servant who served the dinner was different from the one before. She gave an ominous look.

When she left, I asked, "So, even the Kuchiki servants have the same look of distaste towards us commoners." I looked at the wonderful variety of food laid out in front of me. "Either that or I must've killed someone she knew."

"She's new. You might've killed someone she knew. "

"Well, that's reassuring." I spoke sarcastically. "I hope there's no poison in my food." I smiled at him. He instantly looked away.

"I won't let that happen." He reached for his rice bowl.

I watched him for a second before reaching for me. Everything about this atmosphere is so different. It's as if I'm here with someone else, not Kuchiki, as someone else not Rangiku.

End of the meal came as a relief, I just couldn't wait to go back to my beloved sake. The dinner was awkwardly silent. I could barely swallow anything. What is it about dates make eating so uncomfortable? I'm sure if we were just having a casual meal, thing would've been different.

"So, is this how you spoil all your dates Kuchiki?" I was swinging my legs on the porch and supported my weight on my left hand while sipping sake with the other. I cocked my head and gave him one of my sweetest smile. "What I hear about your dating life, one would think you're a pro."

I didn't see him frown, but I'm positive he did.

"I don't know what exactly you had been expecting Matsumoto."

I think I felt him gaze at me from the side, I didn't want to pay attention. The evening breeze was too perfect for sake.

"I'm not even sure if I was expecting anything. It's you after all." I lazily rolled my head in his direction. "It's enough that you're admitting this as a date. It was only a dinner this morning." I smirked. He looked clearly uncomfortable.

"Here" I poured him a cup after watching his stone face for a second. "Have one with me?"

He studied my face and accepted the cup. Something about that made me smile.

We sat there quietly for a while before he stood up. When I looked at him he reached his hand down towards me again, "come with me."

I took his hand meekly.

We entered the garden. The breeze was gentle and I loved the feel of his hand in mine while we walked. It felt like he really was there with me. All my life I've always felt alone, sometimes even with Gin around.

"Kuchiki" he looked down at me. I could see how kind his eyes looked. It stirred something in my stomach. "Thank you for the dinner."

I tried not to look at him straight, though I wanted to, really bad. To hide my face I hugged his arm that I was holding, and hid my face behind his shoulder and my hair.

He suddenly leaned down and kissed my head. My stomach made a jolt. I felt various different indescribable feelings inside my chest.

I wish I could capture this moment and hide it in my pocket to look back at later.

…

She has dozed off on his shoulder. He looked at her with a soft look in his eyes.

It's getting late, he'd better take her home. "Matsumoto?" He called her softly. She didn't move.

He signed and waited. Honestly he doesn't want her to go. He doesn't mind being her pillow for as long as she needs him to be.

She was sleeping soundly when he picked her up. He thought he could just take her home and leave her sleeping in her bed.

Then she murmured something in his arms, he looked down at her sleeping face, "…but my hair is still prettier than yours Kuchiki…"

A smiled played across his face.

He instantly decided that she can go home tomorrow.

…