Note: I slipped in a little RenRuki. Because I can.

Chapter 26 Do not mistake an illusion for the magic of love

"Matsumoto?"

"Matsumoto Fukutaichou, open your eyes."

I opened my eyes slowly. I saw Kuchiki and Unohana Taichou looking at me with concern.

"Can you tell me what happened to you that morning when you lost your memories about Kuchiki Taichou?"

I muttered. "… I was leaving Kuchiki's room and I thought I saw him… at the end of the corridor. It was someone else but I can't remember who it was."

Unohana Taichou studied my face intently and looked at Kuchiki with a smile. "Would you like to ask her some questions, Kuchiki Taichou?"

He looked at me with his piercing gaze, "Matsumoto, do you remember where you've got your scarf from?"

I nodded. "You gave it to me."

He let out a loud sigh and rested his forehead on his hands. I could tell he was relieved. Unohana Taichou said, "It's normal to not remember everything after such events. Recovery is usually never 100%. Maybe you can think of someone who might benefit out of her loss of memories of you, Kuchiki Taichou."

She stood up, ready to leave the room. "I'll leave you to this. She can go home whenever she's ready."

"Unohana Taichou." Kuchiki looked at her. "Could you please… not tell anyone about this...?"

She looked at us and smiled. "Do not worry. Each patient's medical reports are confidential, unless it's the Gotei 13 official annual medical check-ups. And what relationship you have between you two is only your business."

She disappeared out the door.

We sat there in silence for a moment when he suddenly got up and came towards me. Without any words he gave me a hug.

I hugged him back. I still felt a little groggy, but happy nonetheless. "I'm sorry to worry you Kuchiki."

He broke the hug and looked at me with kind eyes, "Hitsugaya Taichou was also ready to have my head off my shoulders. He thinks I did something."

I smiled at that. "He's really cute isn't he?"

He took his seat. "You also worry me with all your affections towards men other than me."

I gaped. "You're not jealous are you, Ku... chi... ki ?"

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow, "I'm glad to have you back Matsumoto. I should take you home. But I don't want to leave you on your own." He frowned.

I frowned too "what do you take me for? A helpless little girl?"

He studied my face. "But it seems that everything time I leave you alone, you get yourself into a situation."

"It never bothered you before."

"It does now." he stood up. "Let's go, I'll take you to Kuchiki household."

"No. I want to go home." I stood up, a little disoriented.

"Very well."

I never thought he meant to stay the night here with me.

"Won't this raise more questions Kuchiki?" as I snuggled up next to him on my small bed. "You're engaged to be married to another."

"I'll take care of that, eventually." He spoke after a moment of silence. "I can't help but suspect that Akako has something to do with your memory loss."

"Akako? You think she has it in her to harm another ?She's such a proper lady."

"Not everything is as it seems, Matsumoto."

"I thought you called me Rangiku now." I brushed my face on his chest when I felt him look at me.

Suddenly he rolled over and slid on top of me. The playfulness in his usual calm eyes made imaginary butterflies doing acrobatics inside my stomach. I felt myself face is heating up.

"Ran…" he lightly touched my lips with his, "gi…" he kissed me again with a little more force, "ku…" and he started kissing me with all his passion.

I found myself thinking how lucky I am to be loved like this.

…

Hojo Akako was alone in her room when she felt a chill in her bones. It felt like someone's watching her.

She stood up from her writing desk and looked outside the window. Her room isn't the biggest one in the house, yet it lacks proper heating. She sighed and closed the window.

She went back to her papers. Too many of them but she needs them done by tomorrow and there are the pending visits that needs to be done. Looks like there might not be much sleep for her tonight.

Love is a strange thing.

She's experienced firsthand what love can make one do.

Maybe there is a little part of her that recognises the connection between Byakuya and the blonde vice-captain.

She too will do anything for love. She'll do anything for him. Anything.

…

He came back to earth as Rukia placed another slap on his head. "What are looking at Renji" he noticed her large eyes looking down at him irritated.

He's been thinking about what she said earlier, it made him feel something weird. He remembered the way she was looking so uncomfortable when she said those words.

"We are staking out Akako from a dangerously close vantage point, what are you doing spacing out at a time like this."

"Say Rukia." He looked down at the roof tiles beneath his feet as he was crouching down to hide and keep a watch over the Hojo residence. "… Is there something going on between … you and Ichigo?"

Rukia was caught off guard at that. "Renji… where is this coming from…?"

"Well… I was just thinking… after what you said earlier… just so you know, I gave up on you after you found Ichigo… I didn't want to compete against him and make things messy between friends."

Rukia looked surprised first then red faced. "Renji… what is this crap at a time like this… focus. We are here for Nii-sama and Rangiku san."

He watched her face for a little while before something at the corner of his eyes caught his attention.

He grabbed and pulled Rukia into the shadow of corner. She almost let out a yelp before realising what was happening.

There is a movement at the back entrance of the Hojo residence. They were hiding on a conveniently placed roof of a building high enough to watch both the front and the back of the household.

Renji watched carefully as a figure clad in dark cloak was leaving the house through the back door.

Rukia was kind of lost elsewhere. She was suddenly noticing the way Renji was holding her tight against his body. She noticed how strong his arms and body is and the way he smelled was suddenly enticing.

She was pressed close to his chest as he narrowed his eyes to slits watching the figure disappeared behind the corner when he looked down and released Rukia.

Rukia was blushing profusely. As soon as he released his grip, she pushed away from him. "Give me some warning will ya?"

Renji was surprised to see her face red. "There was no time. Any movement might've caught her attention."

Rukia still looked away, not sure what to do with herself at the moment.

"Umm Rukia" Renji scratched his head with confusion. "Shouldn't we be following her?"

Rukia suddenly gained her senses.

"Yes. What are you doing here standing like an idiot? Follow me."

He stood up. "Who are you calling idiot, idiot. I was the one who pointed it out while you were acting like…"

"Just shut up and come." Rukia soundlessly flash stepped.

…

"Do you know who that is?" Renji whispered.

"No." But the name on their door looked familiar to her. She bit her lips. Where did she see that name before?

They followed Hojo Akako to a house in the business district of seireitei. They watched as she came out the door after half an hour or so with a man who is almost double her age. They watched as she lingered for a while and kissed him.

"You know you can be a witness to this and use it to break up the engagement?" Renji spoke thoughtfully. "It clearly looks like she has another man on the side."

Rukia barely had any time to think before realising Akako isn't heading towards her home. She grabbed Renji's sleeve and pointed towards Akakos direction and he stopped talking.

…

Byakuya was sitting at his desk when Rukia knocked his door. "Nii-sama, can I come in?"

"Rukia. Come."

She sat down a little further away from him and bowed in respect. "I wanted to ask you something… regarding your engagement with … Akako san."

His facial muscles stiffened. "What is it that you want to know Rukia?"

"Nii-sama. I'm worried about you." He saw her large eyes were heavy with concern. "It's clear that you don't want to marry her and … I think maybe you like someone else… so why are you forcing yourself to marry her?"

"This is not for you to…" He spoke in irritation before she interrupted him.

"Nii-sama. I want you to know whatever you decide I'll follow you but I don't want to see you hurt. If … if someone is making you happy... I want you to be happy with her… I apologise if I'm speaking out of terms, but I just want you to know, that I… I don't think I can truly support your decision to marry Akako san."

"Rukia? What is this all of a sudden?"

"I think… I think she has other lovers." she bowed. "Not just one."

His eyes widen. That makes things a little more easier. But this still won't solve the problem with money.

"Rukia. There are things you don't understand… "

"Nii-sama" she interrupted again. "... if you don't believe me I can prove it to you. I… I followed her at night and found her visiting a number of different men in the business district of seireitei. I think you might know some of them… I remember seeing their names in our guest lists few times. There was Soichirou san from the Abe family, Joji san from the Fujiwara clan and Kimura Aran san who I believe we have some business with. I also think… I think she's the one responsible for Rangiku sans illness. Please don't marry her Nii-Sama."

The names and their connections suddenly made sense to Byakuya. These are all the people who back out of their dealings with Kuchiki family businesses. And these are only three names out of many.

Are they all in a pact to bring the Kuchiki clan down? But where will they be without the support of Kuchiki clan's noble name? It's because of their business with the Kuchiki family that they have so much wealth and connections now.

He had a dreaded feeling inside his stomach that Akako is in control of more thing that it appears.

…

"Aka-Chan" He smiled at her amiably.

She watched as his lilac coloured eyes under a mess of silver hair twinkled at her direction.

"Do you have any new development to report to me?"

She bowed in respect and awe. This man makes her knees weak and heart thump out of her chest.

"I…I'm trying... Atsushi san. I tried to make her forget about him, but I still can't seem to keep them away from each other… But I don't understand why that would be a problem... He's already roped in. He can never choose her over his family."

He cackled a laughter. "Aka-Chan, come here, sit with me."

Her face reddened.

She watched as he gestured everyone else out of the room. Everyone was gone and its just the two of them. She timidly sat next to him, but he pulled her towards him and placed a deep kiss on her lips.

She lost all her control and grace. His beautiful eyes watched her as she sat red faced after the kiss. A smile played across his face. "Aka-Chan, never underestimate the power of love."

He pulled her into his arms again. "You're beautiful Aka-chan. Any man would happily fall in love with you."

He continued kissing her again.

As she quickly picked up her jewellery and the papers she came with and placed them into the bag, her cheek kept flushing red. Her kimono was badly tied up, and hair fell over her shoulder like a stream of jet black water.

He looked up from where he's lying, not bothering to cover his naked body. "You don't have to rush out to quickly Aka-Chan. My wife will not be here for a while."

"It's been few hours already Atsushi can, Miyoko san will be here soon." She tied up her hair very crudely, unable to hide her red face under the hair any further.

He smiled.

"Aka Chan. Remember, if we are to make the Kuchiki clan head our pawn, I need you to work extra hard and stop their relationship from growing. If you can't keep her away from him, then try keeping him away from her."

With that he rolled on his bed and closed his eyes peacefully.

She watched his beautiful face as the silver hair was covering parts of his face handsomely. She hid a sigh that almost escaped her.

Under the cover of a dark cloak she left the premises. She needs a new plan now.

…