A/N I know it's belated for Christmas, but nevertheless…
(Just a heads-up, this is a future fic.)
Poinsettia
She resembled a poinsettia in her character, in her defiance, and in her colourful vivacity.
To Kuchiki Byakuya, the poinsettia was a strange flower, if it could even be called a flower that is.
The 'petals' of the Euphorbia pulcherrima were actually leaves, generally recognised by its flaming red colour, but can also be orange, pale green, cream, pink like a cherry blossom, white or marbled.
It is impossible to ignore her.
Even if she is demure in her opinions during group discussions or merely a spectator, she stood out form the collective background. Her hair. Her eyes. The soft, voluptuous curves which are not typical of Japanese women. Kurosutchi Mayuri was once heard speculating that the "human healer" may not be wholly Japanese. Trust the scientist and Captain of the Twelfth Division to call her a "product of two races or two species".
Byakuya mentally gave a shake of his head.
He shouldn't be speculating this much, if at all, about the human woman he didn't consider her a child, despite her youth – certainly, not after Hueco Mundo. But, it was impossible not to, certainly not this evening consisting of a Christmas party in the Kuchiki manor with all the relevant captains, vice-captains and human protectors of Karakura Town present.
The poinsettia goes by many names, such as the 'Christmas star' in relation to the Star of Bethlehem. The Aztecs named it Cuitlaxochitl, the "flower that grows in residues or soil". For Mexicans, they call it the "Flor de Pascua", meaning "Easter flower" while in Chile and Peru, it is known as the "Crown of the Andes".
In terms of star quality, there is no denying that Inoue Orihime is the 'belle of the night', the main focus of many avid, admiring gazes this evening.
Byakuya had hosted this Christmas party on the Kuchiki estate, combining this human celebration with Rukia's engagement to Abarai Renji who had finally plucked up the courage to propose to his childhood friend and (not-so) secret love. (In reponse to the question "Will you marry me?", the petite black-haired shinigami just said, "Finally! You kept me waiting for so long, you baka!") It was a joyous occasion, in keeping with the festive 'Deck-the-Halls' atmosphere, which drew up an inevitably long list of friends, acquaintances and well-wishers.
It was unclear, when the invitations were sent, whether Orihime could make it back for the party since she was studying medicine overseas.
At the high school graduation, the cinnamon-headed beauty had explained that the scholarship opportunity was too good to pass up. The Seireitei rumour mill churned and stoked speculations that she was physically drawing away from a certain Substitute Shinigami, who (coincidentally?) at the time started dating the revived Memory Rosary, Senna.
The Kuchiki clan head explicitly claimed disinterest in the matter. He sent her a hell butterfly, separate from Rukia's personal congratulations, to wish her success the day before she boarded her plane.
So it was to his surprise and the rest of the guests as well when, about half an hour into the party, the servant at the door warbled out, "Uhh…Inoue-sama. Inoue Orihime-sama, ladies and gentlemen."
Well, the slightly high-pitched warbling was justified when everyone saw who came through the door.
Three years absence had allowed Orihime to flourish from a pretty but hesitant teenager, to a more mature, more self-confident twenty-one year old beauty.
It was in her sure footsteps.
It was in her smile and laughter. "Just san is fine, not –sama. We are among friends, aren't we?"
Dressed in a strapless mermaid emerald dress, which flattered her siren-beguiling softness, with a holly wreath perched on her fiery locks of hair, Orihime stole the breaths of everyone present. Taking a gentle look at everyone assembled, she spotted Byakuya and purposefully walked towards him.
For more than a split second, he panicked.
Steps away from him, she stopped and gave an elegant curtsey.
"Please forgive my lateness, Byakuya-san. The sun must have set a little earlier today, and my plane could not chase the sunset fast enough!"
His mind could barely follow her reasoning as he was hit by her perfume, her colours so very Christmas-like.
There is tightness in his throat, which is unfamiliar no, he has experienced such a mortifying tongue-tying state of being…the first time he met Hisana. He didn't trust himself to speak as the collar of his black Western suit suddenly felt restrictive and hot and itchy. He is afraid that opening his mouth might lead to croaking or even worse, an adolescent-like pitch breaking, worse than the doorman's.
She has not risen from her curtsey yet, her eyes and head slightly bent downwards.
The logical, right side of his brain helpfully supplied that not only is the young woman showing him proper respect and acknowledgement, given her late arrival, but also the fact that he needs to say something! to avoid embarrassment and rudeness.
Surely, he could be forgiven for any delays in his reactions. He is a healthy male, considered fairly young by Soul Society standards, who has remained celibate since the passing of his late wife, and he is currently faced with a beautiful female, who he knows through prior interaction and conversations, to be respectful and intelligent.
Byakuya suspects that Orihime does not realise that from his vantage point, he has a very clear view of the outer curves of her breasts and her slender neck. She has no idea that she is the very picture of mouth-watering Temptation, with the hem of her green dress rippling out on the cherry wood floor. If he did not know better, her posture and half-lidded eyes could be considered coquettish.
Forcing himself to swallow the knot in his throat, he tries to buy time by gently reaching for her hand and pulling her upright for the sake of his mentality and libido.
Taking a deep breath, he says in a surprisingly steady and clear voice, "Then we are lucky indeed to be joined by the Spirit of Christmas tonight."
She blushes. He…smiles.
(In the background, Matsumoto Rangiku is hissing for a camera.)
Aware of the attention they are garnering, but unwilling to cede to embarrassment unwilling to let her go he adds, "Though you take attention away from the main event tonight."
She blinks before she grasps his teasing. "That was not my intention, Byakuya-san." A shyness briefly steals across her cheeks.
He passes her onto Rukia and Renji, the former she greets by embracing on both cheeks.
There was a scandalized gasp from the corner where a few Kuchiki clan members were grouped the majority did not attend to signify their discontent with the addition of another non-blue blood individual into the clan. Byakuya is uncertain whether there was breaking porcelain from a teacup being dropped, being stunned as well.
("Bare shoulders…my goodness." A whisper hissed as the unnoticed family member took in the bold design of the evening gown.)
"Ah excuse me! This is how they greet close friends in Europe," Orihime explained without embarrassment to a surprised Rukia. Renji decided to break the ice.
"So I don't get a greeting?" he teased Orihime. Byakuya had a sudden urge to glare at his lieutenant.
"Oh, guys do receive a greeting too, but I wouldn't dare," Orihime smiled impishly. "Certainly not tonight!" in reference to the couple's engagement "But you can have a hug instead," she chirruped in conclusion.
The party got flowing much faster and more smoothly after her entrance.
She spoke with her nakama and all her other shinigami friends.
"Toushirou-kun, you're taller now!"
"I missed you too, Rangiku-san!"
"How are you, Ishida-kun, Sado-kun?"
Byakuya caught snippets and wisps of her conversations. Rangiku, Orihime's self-proclaimed busom sister, was eager to talk about Orihime's dress and the fashion overseas which she enthusiastically wants to introduce to the Shinigami Women's Association.
There was an anticipation, a tenseness among the party-goers, when Ichigo pushed forward rather eagerly to speak with her. He had come to the party with Senna. Rukia shared a worried look with her fiancé.
"It's nice to see you both again, Kurosaki-kun, Senna-san."
All the nervousness for nothing. She was smiling, polite…and happy.
There are no regrets in her countenance as she smiles at the couple before her. The rest of the evening, Senna had to restrain Ichigo from paying so much attention and conversation time with Orihime.
"You seem much happier."
This observation came from Urahara Kisuke, who along with Shihoun Yoruichi, surprisingly gave Orihime a warm parental hug.
"I am." came the assured reply.
The poinsettia can reflower after two months of darkness in autumn.
So he is correct, Byakuya reflects, as he watches Orihime accepting and enthusiastically dancing with nearly all the male shinigami soldiers, who were eagerly asking for a dance with her.
And no, he is not jealous. Kuchikis are never envious.
She has grown stronger.
She recovered from Hueco Mundo, from Aizen's psychological torture and imprisonment. And now, she has overcome the crippling dependence and yearning for affection from the Substitute.
It was a nice, satisfying change to see the reversion in roles – Ichigo trying avidly to engage her in conversation or dance, hard-pressed not to take his eyes off her form.
Byakuya smirked though there was dissatisfaction within him which he refuses to acknowledge.
Seeing an opening, he strides forward, pressing a kiss to the back of that delicate hand.
"May I have the last dance with you, Orihime?"
"The pleasure is all mine, Byakuya-san."
Byakuya felt immensely better seeing the Substitute gawk at him. It wasn't just the Substitute, the entire gathering stared at him – them – too.
No one fully realised until then that both human and shinigami noble were familiar to such a comfortable extent with each other. None of their interaction is artificial or contrived.
When the dance ended, it is actually Rukia who draws their attention to the mistletoe in Orihime's wreath smiling cheekily at her brother.
He looks at Orihime, trying to gauge her feelings, not wanting to force her into something which would end the night on a sour note.
There is only one right way.
He brushes his lips against both her cheeks. A pinkness spreads from where contact was made.
"Now I have properly greeted you."
A/N So there we go! I must thank Wikipedia for all the information about poinsettias.
Since Christmas and Boxing is past, I wish you all a Happy 2013!
Copyright of Bleach goes to Tite Kubo. Congratulations to him as well for his upcoming wedding.