They spent six days in bliss and happiness, Byakuya made love to her everywhere in the house, the bath, the bed, the floor, as well as the carpet and on the pile of cushions. Now they were laying down on the fur rug in front of the fire place, Ame wearing her bathrobe slightly open while Byakuya only wore a towel around his waist. They'd taken a bath a couple hours ago, and Byakuya had started a nice little fire, then a few cushions added to the rug and they laid down and relaxed. Then Byakuya and Ame just stayed there talking, and occasional kiss or caress, they weren't sexual but very loving and intimate. Byakuya laid on his side his head propped up while the other hand played with Ame's sandy hair gently. Ame cuddled against his bare chest and drew little meaningless patterns on his skin, it was very relaxing hating the fact they would have to leave tomorrow. Knowing they had much to contend with as soon as they arrived back in the Sereitei, but he pushed those thoughts to the back of his head, they were here and this was the last night they would have away from the rest of the world for a while. "Byakuya..."

"Hmm?"

Ame looked up into his gray eyes. "When we go back tomorrow... are you going to go back to work?"

Byakuya wasn't sure where this was going, but knowing he would find out very soon he went with it. "The day after tomorrow I will, first I have to make sure everything went well back of the Estate, and see if anything has happened while we were away."

Ame licked her lip delicately knowing what she had in mind wasn't going to make him happy. "What about me Byakuya. When you go back to Squad 6... are you going to let me go back to work with the squad as well?"

Byakuya's hand stilled her hair, and Ame watched as he put two and two together and instead of getting a reasonable answer, he came up with a million irrational ones. "You can stay at the Estate..." He said his voice even and guarded.

"All day and never go back to my job in Squad 6, I can't do that I'm a soul reaper!"

"I'm the Captain I'll give you work to do at the Kuchiki Estate."

Ame frowned at the image knowing full well, he would make sure it wasn't something dangerous, he'd probably ban paper work because she might get a paper cut. "Byakuya... I can't hide forever and what would I do all day anyways?"

"I don't know, you could find a hobby to take up your time at the Estate where it's safe." He countered his eyes becoming steely. It was clear he already had a million and one reasons why Ame shouldn't be aloud to return to Squad work, and she was willing to bet many of them were simply ridiculous. She'd learned that Byakuya was very protective over her and his sister Rukia, and trying to get him to budge on something he deemed unsafe was very difficult. Ame could argue with him all night which was sure to happen judging by the stubborn frown to his mouth, if arguing forever meant keeping her safe he would do it.

Byakuya's body was tense now he was coiled up on the inside and out like a snake about to strike, she wanted to return to work? Where she would be out in the open for anyone to harm her at, and he was always swamped with the stupidity and mistakes of others. And he was not about to place Ame in the line of danger. His head was already filling with all the senarios of what could happen they hadn't even stopped his own family from making a ttemps on her life, let alone the day to day life of a soul reaper's duty.

"Byakuya I NEED to go back to work-"

"What could you possibly NEED to go back to Squad 6 for that you can't get while staying in the Estate." He snapped his patience running thin.

"The people, the feeling of familiarity, I feel more at home around people I know and trust Byakuya, and the only people I feel comfortable around at the Estate is you, Doc, Chitose, and Chiyeko. But I have everyone at Squad 6 and they'd all keep me safe."

"I can keep you safe." Byakuya said shortly his mood darkening, his pride stinging at the fact Ame though she needed someone else.

Ame rubbed her hands along his shoulders soothingly, and pressed a soft kiss to his frowning mouth. "I know you came Byakuya, your my husband and my first choice on who I want with me forever and always... But you also have a duty Byakuya and you value your duty to the Soul Society. You can't be in two places at once Byakuya and I don't want you giving up what you feel is right for me, then you wouldn't be the man I married. I married a man who always sticks to his duties, and has a very strong sense of honor and loyalty... and I need the sparring with the squad too Byakuya."

Byakuya felt his stinging pride soothed by her words, but his need to defend reared up once more at the mention of the sparring sessions. "Why?" He asked not liking the thought of someone raising a weapon to Ame fake or real.

"I'm getting slow Byakuya... I haven't done any training since my house collapsed. My reflexes are slower and my strength and stamina is weaker than before, what will I do if I'm alone and have to defend myself?"

Byakuya's look of displeasure deepened, and Ame gave him a pleading look before she scooted closer to him. Byakuya wrapped his arms around her and held her closer as if he would never let her go. "I don't want you to be hurt again." Byakuya said quietly into her hair.

"You can't keep me from the world forever Byakuya... If you do I won't be prepared for when it catches up to me, I'll be helpless."

Byakuya's grip tightened knowing Ame was right, he couldn't hold from life for long. He'd tried when Ame's feet were still hurting, and she'd ran away from him and he'd had to track her down. Ame was just like sand the tighter you tried to hold in in your hand more of it slipped from your fingers. It was killing him to do this, he didn't even want to have the slightest chance of losing her, it had felt horrible when he'd lost Hisana. If he lost Ame as well there was no way he could survive the loss, there would be no way for him to heal a third time again he was sure of it.

"You'll take whatever I give you?" He asked quietly.

"Yep."

"You won't do anything that may cause you harm." He both asked and ordered.

"I'll certainly do my best." Ame said earnestly.

Byakuya then sat up over his wife and looked down at her, the fire light flickering across her skin lazily. "If anything happens..."

"I'll be a good girl and do what ever you tell me to do cross my heart and hope to-"

Ame shut up at the black look Byakuya shot at her for the old way of making a promise. "Hehe sorry not the best thing to promise is it."

"No, its not..." Byakuya agreed sternly, but his disapproval was quickly fading as he began to part the folds of her bath robe. Ame's breath quickened as his finger tips brushed against her skin. "You'll do any thing I say?" Byakuya asked his eyes glowing with desire.

Ame bit her lip and nodded, they hadn't made love here yet, but judging by the look in Byakuya's silver gray eyes that was about to change and quickly.

.

MORNING

Ame brushed her hair while Byakuya walked around and made sure they hadn't forgotten anything. He was back to wearing his soul reaper uniform, his hair was held back once more by his hair pieces. His scarf, gloves and Captains' jacket lay next to Ame on the fur rug while he walked around checking and double checking. Ame put her brush in her bag and looked around, sad they had to leave. "Can we come back sometime Byakuya?" Ame asked quietly.

Byakuya turned and looked at her, he smiled gently at the sad and pleading look in her eyes, he walked over to her and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear softly. "Of course we can love." He said and pressed a sweet and loving kiss to her lips. "Do you have everything?" He asked when he pulled away slowly. Ame nodded reluctantly, still wishing they didn't have to leave. Byakuya smiled and brushed a hand along her cheek softly before he put his effects of. Once more looking like the Captain of Squad 6, then he took Ame's bag and held his hand out to her. Ame let him help her up and they walked out of the house together, Byakuya paused long enough to lock the door and pick Ame up so he could flash step them back to the Sereitei and all the troubles that were surly waiting for them.

.

KUCHIKI ESTATE

Byakuya kept his arm around Ame's waist securely his eyes scanning the area for anything out of place, all his senses on high alert now that they were back. The first person to greet them was Chitose, she came running out and her and Ame hugged. While Byakuya watched closely as far as he was concerned everyone was a suspect now, a lot could have happened while him and Ame were away.

"Oh it's so good to see you again Chitose!"

"It's good to see you too Ame."

"How had Tuxedo Cat been?"

"Um... well you will have to hire a new gardener, as well as a few servants..."

Byakuya felt something butt against his leg and he looked down to see the feline now, weaving itself between his legs. He wondered what shenanigans the beast had been up to since he had been away, he couldn't help but smirk as Chitose listed off the things Tuxedo Cat had done to torment his staff. From clawing ankles to shredding clothing as well as leaving... surprises for some poor unsuspecting person to find.

"After he'd left a bird in the gardeners' tool box or at least I think it was a bird... it had feathers the man quit. He also attacked some members of the family sir."

Byakuya looked up when Chitose addressed him. "Hmm whom did he attack?"

Byakuya's heart filled with pride and glee as Chitose mentioned four people, three of them being the men who'd been in the room when Ame had her virginity test. While the fourth one was an old woman who had been the previous head of staff, Byakuya looked down at the black and white cat. Who stared up at him with green eyes and something very close to a smug look on his feline face, Byakuya smirked as he realized just how much he loved this cat. He leaned down and scratched Tuxedo Cat under his chin. "Good cat."

Tuxedo Cat's eyes closed and he purred in pleasure, while his tail flicked from side to side slowly.