Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters, Tite Kubo does. I am simply writing this as my own amusement.

Chapter 28 Is This Legal?

Flashes of color danced through Rukia's mind. One moment she was on a plane, traveling to an unknown location; next she was throwing a coconut out the window; then she was playing in a beach volleyball game with a handsome human boy. Images passed in front of her closed eyes with startling clarity. She was kidnapped; she was in a garden enjoying a nice lunch; she was in a helicopter; she was in a dark cave… she was in a hot room with someone…. She was falling so far, through trees and darkness…. Darkness that closed in around her taking something to precious… It was as if time had turned back. A cold dead body was under her head, the scent of his blood in her nose. This was….! Crying out she fought against waves of anguish. Byakuya! This couldn't be happening again! She couldn't stand it. Not after what had all happened, it could end this way. He couldn't be taken from her like this! But staring down at his cold face, his closed eyes, and pale skin… there was no denying it. No matter how loud she cried, those eyes would never open again….that helicopter crash had taken everything from her…. She had never even really told him how much he had meant to her…

"NOO!" Rukia Kuchiki cried, sitting up in bed. Images of death still danced in her vision and she shook from their effect.

"Rukia, it was just a dream."

His voice. His beautiful voice! Her eyes widened at the deep sound. That voice she had thought she'd never hear again.

"B-Byakuya," she managed to whisper.

Warm arms, which had already been holding her, tightened and a gentle touch wiped away the trail of tears that ran down her cheek.

"Just take a deep breath," he whispered, his breath soft and warm in her ear. "It was just a dream."

Turning her head away, as she didn't want him to see her crying, she slowly did as he said. Feeling the cool air slowly begin to clear her head.

They were both sitting in the warm comforts of their large bed. The soft sheets wrapped around them along with the comforting darkness that still filled the room.

"What time is it?" she finally managed, somewhat calmer. His strong presence had quickly chased away the fears left by her vivid nightmare.

"Only a few hours before dawn," he quietly replied, still hugging her petite form close.

Her gaze turned to the large window. A starry sky looked back at her though the glass.

"I'm sorry for waking you," she mumbled, wiping away the last of her tears.

"You have nothing to apologies for." he said in that typical Byakuya fashion.

She smiled in spite of herself.

"Do you want some water?" he asked, looking to the pitcher that sat on a small table by the window.

She shook her head and instead leaned back to settle down in the bed. Byakuya willingly went with her.

"I just want to sleep," she muttered, rolling over and snuggling into his warm chest.

"I am here," he said softly to her, "And nothing will take me away from your side."

"Even after we return to the soul society?" she whispered her eyes closed.

"I will protect you always."

That wasn't the wording she wanted to hear. But she was satisfied enough to at least sleep the remainder of the night dream free.


Rukia woke again late that morning. Opening her eyes, she squinted at the bright sunlight that flooded the cheery room. Propping herself up on her elbows, she found that she was alone in the bed and in the room.

Shuffling on bare feet, she crossed the carpet and made her way to the bathroom. Only then remembering that she was wearing one of Byakuya's shirts. Looking at herself, and seeing so much of her bare legs showing, she blushed at what Byakuya would have thought at seeing her like that.

...

Emerging from the bedroom, in her yellow halter top dress, she walked barefoot down the brightly lit hall to the kitchen… which she found to be empty as well.

"Byakuya?" she said, feeling unease already rising up in her stomach. "Where ar-"

Her words were cut off when warm arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and she felt herself being pulled back against a now familiar body.

"Good morning," his deep voice rumbled, his soft lips touching her neck making her tremble slightly. Those same lips quickly traveled over her bare shoulder, kissing her tenderly.

Normally she would have turned bright red and pulled away in embarrassment, but no longer. Turning around, it was Byakuya who was momentarily surprised when she tilted her head up and kissed him on the mouth, passionately.

When air finally became necessary they broke apart, but she remained in his tight embrace.

"I don't ever want to leave this place," she finally whispered, turning her head and nuzzling her face into his shirt.

"Rukia…" Byakuya said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You are aware that we are scheduled to leave tomorrow…"

The warmth that had spread through her from his warm embrace disappeared.

"What!" she gasped pulling back enough to stare into his face.

That familiar emotionless mask greeted her. This was as painful for him as it was for her and he automatically fell back into that habit of hiding his emotions when they became to painful. His face stiffened even more at the sight of her obvious shock and despair.

"We were only scheduled to be here for two weeks," he said, his voice still soft.

"I know…" she stammered, "but how could two weeks have passed already?"

"Time goes fast when you're enjoying yourself," he replied quietly, his eyes finally showing some of the feelings he shared.

"But, isn't there some way we could stay longer?"

Byakuya was about to reply but was cut short when there was a knock on the door. He gave her a last look that said everything, and let her go heading to the door.

Rukia, now feeling as if everything had caved in on her, followed after slowly.

"If there's anything we can do, then don't hesitate to ask."

Rukia stared without even really seeing who Byakuya was talking to. She was aware that Byakuya was handed a large package though and she watched as he stepped aside and allowed the man at the door to push in a large silver covered tray.

"Miss Rukia! I'm so relieved to hear that you are okay!"

She blinked. Ben?

"I just couldn't believe what I'd heard. We've never had an accident like that here before, then when I heard that it was a private flight booked by a man and a woman…" he truly looked flustered. "I'm just so glad you both are alright."

She managed a smile for the boy despite everything. "We're fine." she said. "Just a few bumps and bruises."

Some of Ben's discomfort seem to ease and he offered one of his carefree smiles in return. "As long as you two are safe that's all that matters. It's to bad that you only have one day left here though, but at least you still have each other even after you return home. Nothing is more important than that."

She blinked at the words. Then looked back at Byakuya who was standing behind her. He was right. Things could have been a lot worse. She had though Byakuya dead for a time after all… the though of getting upset at just returning home seemed so small compared to his death.

Rukia felt her despair diminish a bit.

"Well at least you still have one full day here." Ben said as he uncovered the large amount of food that was resting on the trolley. "Complements of the house." he said as she gasped at all of it.

"I know it can't begin to make up for what happened… but we want to extend an open invitation to you both to any services we can offer for the rest of your trip free of charge."

"Wha-?!"

"Thank you," Byakuya said, cutting Rukia off.

Ben taking the hint, flashed Rukia another smile and rolled the cart out of the room.

Byakuya set the package he had been holding on the counter and moved to the table. "Care to join me for breakfast?" he said seating himself.

They had barely made a dent in all the food that Ben had brought when Rukia pushed her chair back and proclaimed that she was stuffed. She watched with slight amusement as Byakuya dabbed at his lips with a napkin and elegantly set his glass aside.

No matter what they did, Byakuya always showed hints of his noble upbringing. Even if it was the simple act of walking, he always held his head up high. She smirked.

Her eyes then fell on the package Ben had given Byakuya.

"What's in that?" she asked now curious.

"I was told it was a gift from Berdine. She had it shipped up this morning after hearing about the accident."

Byakuya watched silently as Rukia moved to the counter and retrieved the box. He wasn't watching for what was in it as she opened it, but rather he was simply watching her. He liked that dress on her. The way it showed off her lovely shoulders, and clung lightly to her shape. He had frowned all those days ago when she had first showed up wearing it. Then her had figured he just didn't want her to get sunburned when she had that much skin showing, but now he knew it was simply because he didn't want other men seeing what was only his to see.

"Oh, Berdine sent some photos!" Rukia exclaimed lifting out a small envelope. She handed it to Byakuya and reached for the letter the woman had included.

Byakuya frowned slightly, wondering what they could possibility be of, promptly choked when he saw the first image.

"Oh, I'm supposed to open this other package in private away from you know who," Rukia said not realizing she was speaking out loud. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted though when she heard Byakuya choke then cough.

"Are you alright-" She began to ask, then stopped when she caught sight of the first of the photos he was still holding.

Without thinking, she snatched the photos from Byakuya's fingers. "When did she!?"

It was of her. Standing in the fancy open air ball room at 'Tiki Hearts' in that blasted tight dress. With widening eyes Rukia stared in horror at how much flesh she was exhibiting. No wonder Byakuya had made such a fuss at seeing her like that… She went to the next picture. Her hand went to her chest, as she forgot momentarily how to breath. It was a close up shot of the two of them dancing together in that same room. Both completely lost to the outside world. It was quite a pretty shot actually. But she wasn't really aware of that. Her eyes were only drawn to Byakuya in that picture. During that time she had danced with her head on his chest, her eyes closed and wasn't aware of his reactions to her. But now seeing that calm peaceful look on his handsome face, seeing the way he almost possessively held her so close, did she truly realize how much he loved her then already.

"That blasted woman," Byakuya muttered taking a drink of water from his glass on the table. "She must have had cameras set up without us knowing."

" Byakuya's head snapped up when Rukia let out a startled cry, and at seeing what she saw, promptly choked again.

It was another close up… only this time it was of when they were in the hot springs together. It was taken right before Byakuya had hugged her, and right after Rukia had lied to him about being with other men. In the photo their faces were barely inches apart staring into each others eyes…. And it was quite clear, even if the hot water covered them up to their chests, that both were clearly naked.

Is that even legal?" Rukia cried as she stared at the picture.

"That woman…" Byakuya growled.

Rukia quickly flipped through the rest of the photos and found to her relief (And slight disappointment) that the rest were fairly innocent. She was amazed, and horrified, to see so many different photos from so many different locations of them from Tiki Hearts.

"What else is in the box," Byakuya said, his voice rather foreboding.

Suddenly remembering that Berdine had asked Rukia to open her gift in private (God help her as to what was in it) she snatched the box away from Byakuya's fingers.

"Eh, it's nothing, just a dress of mine I forgot to pack." She hated lying to him. But it was the only thing she could think of.

"Um, I suddenly have to go to the washroom. I'll be right back."

Byakuya watched with growing unease, as Rukia almost flashed stepped out of the room. He was quite certain that Rukia had lied about the contents of the package but he was more curious then angry as to why she did it… and somehow he suspected that whatever that woman had sent Rukia would be revealed at one point or another.

Byakuya turned back to the photos and began to ponder the how difficult it would be to sue a person in the human world.

...

Rukia stared.

This wasn't what she had expected. She had expected to be embarrassed, horrified or shocked into an early grave… but she wasn't.

As she lifted the item from the box, she began to imagine the look on his face. A smile crept onto her own.

She stood, then turned towards the mirror, when a small piece of paper fell to the floor.

Picking it up she opened it and stared at the words.

"For you, when you find the right path."

Her smile widened. "Thank you Berdine." she whispered.

She set the item aside and was about to pick up the box when something still inside caught her attention. It was two photos upside down in the bottom of the box. She could see the same spidery handwriting in the corner.

"You sure are a lucky girl!"

She frowned and reached for the photos. Turing them over she gasped and clutched at her heart. Here was the surprise she feared. Yet, as she stared at the photo of Byakuya handcuffed to his bed, a blush across his cheeks, with her leaning over kissing his bare chest, she felt a comforting warmth filling her body. She stared down at the item again and back to the photo. This was their last day here… but more importantly this was their last night together. Perhaps she would take Ben's advise and make it a night to be remembered.

With a smirk on her face, she set the first photo aside and looked at the second, the one that Berdine had written on.

Her eyes went wide and heat crept up into her cheeks. Now she truly understood why Byakuya wasn't supposed to be there when she opened the box. It wasn't just for the 'item' it had contained, but it was for Berdine's own protection. Because surely if he saw what she was looking at now, he would have gone back and murdered the woman with his bare hands.

It was another photo taken in the hot springs. Taken from behind… after Byakuya had hugged her and after he had just emerged from the water. His arm was slightly outstretched as he reached for her towel that he had stolen… but that was not the issue… the issue was that he was completely naked. Rukia felt the heat in her cheeks spread through her whole body as she stared at Byakuya's undoubtedly attractive bare backside.

"Rukia, is something the matter?"

She jumped and nearly dropped the photos.

"Nope, everything is okay!" she quickly shouted, praying that he wouldn't come into the room.

Snatching up the photos and the 'item' that Berdine had sent her, she rushed to the closet and buried everything into the bottom of her suitcase.

Standing up, she dusted her hands off and turned back towards the door. One day left here. One day left with him, and so many things she wanted to do yet… but most of all… she still had one night, one night to make a memory that would last a lifetime.


Rukia: *stashes photo away in a safe special place to be looked at later*

Me: Can I have a copy? *puppy eyes*

Rukia: As long as you promise not to leak it to the woman's association.

Me: Don't worry this is for my eyes only.

Rukia: *evil grin* Hands photo over.

Me: *evil grin*

Both: *start cackling madly*

Byakuya: *suddenly gets a chill*

Nope, I'm not dead and this story will be finished! But gosh, over 4 years since updating!? What happened?! I couldn't even find my 'stores' folder on my computer and had to look on a backup hard drive to find it… What's new? Well I moved for the first time ever in my life and I'm now sitting in a completely different house from the last time that I ever worked on this story. I have sort of moved on from Bleach… but I still adore Byakuya (what girl wouldn't?) but I now have other fandoms to dwell on. *is wasting hours playing touken Ranbu* but I AM going to finish this story (most of it is actually written now, it just has to be edited) and I just wanted to give a huge thank you to those that are still leaving reviews. It was you guys that put this story back into my mind and got me updating again. So a huge Thank You!

I know not a huge amount happens in this chapter but it's a lead up to the next. Will we find out what Berdine sent Rukia? Will Byakuya find the 'secret' photos? Will Berdine's life be threatened?

Stay tuned to find out! Thanks again!