Chapter 21: Spring

(Thanks so much to Kittykins, Aizenfan6969, Willow, Dawnwind and Picklez80 for taking the time to kindly review. I know it's sometimes harder with the stories that waited a while to be finished and are longer for readers to reacquaint themselves with the story and review, but those who do bring an undeniable warmth to my heart and keep me energized and writing ceaselessly. You have my deepest gratitude! :) This one's short and sweet, but was a pleasure to write as the rain FINALLY came down and started the colder season. I am planning some sweet oneshots for the holidays. If you have any pairing requests for a holiday oneshot, shoot a PM my way! Love you all...going out to walk barefoot in the rain now! Cheers, Spunky)

(Four months later)

Byakuya flinched and made a sound of annoyance as his attendant's footstep sounded in the doorway and Kuchiki Torio peeked into the Kuchiki heir's bedroom.

This is not the first time this week that Torio has had to rouse me in the morning. Ever since Grimmjow and I were married...but then, we are very active sexually.

He felt a blush come onto his skin as he sat up and felt the residual stickiness between his thighs that remained from their intimacy the night before.

Perhaps it is a good thing that Soi Fon has him training with her or I would get no sleep at all.

"Good morning, Byakuya-sama," Torio greeted him, slipping a robe around him as he climbed to his feet.

"Good morning, Torio."

"I hope you slept well, sir."

"I did. Thank you."

He turned and left the bedroom, proceeding out onto the wooden walkway that led to his private bathing chamber. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at being free of the first division detention center.

But I cannot complain about being confined there as I was. In truth, Soutaichou could have imprisoned me for longer and in Central 46's prison instead of his own. I am quite fortunate.

He entered the gardenlike chamber, walking to the edge of the huge, heated bathing pool and waiting as Torio undressed him, then disrobed and set a small wrap around his waist. The attendant followed the Kuchiki heir out to one of the large waterfalls that served as a shower and waited as Byakuya dampened his body. He lathered the clan leader's skin, noting his master's reverie and respecting it by remaining silent as he washed Byakuya's body and hair. He left the clan leader daydreaming under the warm fall of water and returned to the edge of the pool to wait for him to finish bathing.

Byakuya sighed and closed his eyes, tipping his head back and letting the water run through his raven black hair and down his pale, slender back. And despite how recently he had been with his former Espada lover, he longed even so to feel Grimmjow's strong hands slide down his body and caress him while they kissed. He blushed slightly at how just the thought set his member hardening in anticipation. He wondered if he was dreaming on his feet as hard, wet arms closed around him suddenly and Grimmjow's teeth found his vulnerable throat. Out of the corner of an eye, he saw Torio smile and slip out of the chamber.

"Grimmjow!" Byakuya exclaimed, "I thought that you were on a training mission!"

"Finished early," the blue haired shinigami growled, sucking at his lovely mate's flushed skin, "Thought I'd come home and surprise you."

Byakuya couldn't manage an answer as his mouth was enthusiastically invaded, then his body was pushed back against the rock underside of the waterfall. Probing fingers swiftly prepared him, and the former Espada took him standing.

"Did you even say hello to the children?" Byakuya panted.

"Course I did," Grimmjow said, smirking, "I'm surprised you didn't hear their squawking even in here."

Byakuya was left unable to speak further as Grimmjow's powerful hips moved, grinding hard against his and sending quivers of rising arousal all through him.

"You're so damned beautiful!" Grimmjow huffed breathlessly, "Te amo! Te deseo! Yo vivo para tì!" (I love you! I want you! I live for you!)

"Yo soy tuyo, siempre," Byakuya managed as hard shudders of orgasm gripped his body and he felt the seething heat of his lover's release fill him inside.

Grimmjow sank down slowly onto his knees, keeping their bodies connected as they continued to kiss and caress each other.

"How was your meeting with the elders last night?" Grimmjow chuckled, nipping at the flushed skin of his throat again, "They ready to kill me yet?"

"I think they are just shy of wanting to kill us both," Byakuya sighed, "You must try to keep your attempts to seduce me more private."

"Hey, who could look at you and not want to get you in bed," the former Espada laughed, licking the Kuchiki heir's frowning lips, "no matter where they might be?"

"That is no excuse," Byakuya said, more sternly, "I may have forgotten for a time my place in the family while I had to so that I could save Rukia and the others, but we are back in the Seireitei and you said that you would at least attempt not to do things to send the elders and other noble families into fits."

"Yeah, okay, sorry. I won't fuck you in your office again."

"Or in the officer's club hot springs...or the house gardens, where the staff could see," Byakuya said, arching an eyebrow meaningfully.

"All right," the blue haired man agreed grudgingly, "How about out by the waterfall and that meadow, where you like to go moongazing?"

"That is acceptable. That area is private."

"Can we go there now?" Grimmjow snickered.

"I have to go to work," the clan leader said firmly, "And you are not to follow me this time."

"Aw, come on! How am I supposed to practice my stealth skills? Now that I'm with the Onmitsukido, I have to practice, you know!"

"Practice with that overgrown were-cat," Byakuya said dryly, "I will return home and be available for you to seduce at the usual time."

"I don't know if I can wait that long," the blue haired man complained.

He sucked wantonly at a flushed earlobe, then made it redden even more with his hotly breathed words.

"Nuestro amor es un infierno! Se queman, mi corazòncon tu belleza , mi amor!" (Our love is an inferno. You burn my heart with your beauty, my love!)

It wasn't just the words, but the soft tremor in his lover's tensed body and the amorous glimmer in his fierce, ice blue eyes that undid the Kuchiki heir and made him surrender easily to Grimmjow's intense affections, yet again.

How did this happen? I lived a life that seemed comfortable. I had family and friends around me, but even so, there was a loneliness in me that ended when Grimmjow's path crossed mine. As different as we are, our hearts beat together and we find that happy medium that both allows us to be who we are and makes us even more. What a gift that is to find, and to find this when I was lying beaten, everything about to be lost. And I am only here because a hollow found his heart and knew to listen to it unfailingly.

Thank you, Grimmjow.

Byakuya laid back on the surface of the water as the former Espada stood, gripping his hips tightly and thrusting forcefully, his ferocious eyes glaring affectionately down at his noble lover's suspended and splayed out body, peaceful eyes and raven colored hair that billowed tantalizingly in the water. The sight alone was enough to make his deeply aroused body seize and fill his lover's slender form with his wilder essences. Glowing reiatsu stormed around the two, rippling the surface of the water and bringing a look of perfect contentment to both their faces.

We are not perfect.

All of our moments are not perfect, nor all of our actions.

But our love...that is perfect.

It was strange how that warm, contented feeling that was so wild and unscripted, actually made it easier (once Grimmjow had gone), for Byakuya to dry himself and stand quietly as his body was adorned in traditional noble clothing, as he left their home to sit in quiet council with those older, more reserved relatives, discussing clan matters for hours, then to walk the busy streets of the Seireitei, returning to the sixth division and taking his normal place across the room from Renji.

I feel more peace in everything I do because I feel that wilder love with me always.

"Good morning, Taichou," Renji said, smirking at the fact that he had, once again, arrived at work before his superior officer, "Your tea is waiting there. The new orders for supplies are on your desk with the latest living world and Hueco Mundo assignments."

"Thank you, Abarai."

"No problem."

Byakuya sat down in his familiar seat, Senbonzakura set in the mounted sword stand on the wall behind him, looking the same to Renji as he ever had, proud, quiet and magnificent. But there was something more.

"Renji?"

The redhead hadn't realized he was staring.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah, no sir. Nothing's wrong, exactly."

"Hmmm?"

Byakuya's dark eyes blinked slowly, watching Renji closely as his subordinate considered his words.

"You look happy. I can tell he makes you happy. He drives everyone else around here bonkers, but you, he makes happy. Go figure..."

The faintest hint of a smile raised the corners of that usually solemn mouth and Byakuya's lips parted.

"Yes, Renji, Grimmjow makes me happy."