Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's characters, that right belongs to Tite Kubo. Nor do I own InuYasha or it's characters, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Author's Note: This is the first of two gift fics inspired by none other than GemNika, who got me back into Bleach.

Ryuken walked down the side street. The chill in the air told him that Fall was in full swing. Not that he minded one bit. At the current moment, his thoughts were instead occupied. And by something, his son told him earlier in the evening after both had gotten home from their shifts at Karakura Hospital. And the only reason he'd asked his son, Uryuu, what was wrong because in the last week his demeanor had shifted rapidly.

Not an idiot, nor overly cruel and mean as Uryuu had believed ten years ago, Ryuken did care. Over the last six months, he'd seen a gradual shift in the boy. Towards the better no less. And figured he had finally found a woman. But after asking his question and getting the answer, one he had not expected, it had left Ryuken thinking over the last six years because he was loosely acquainted with this particular female.

His son had gone and run what was called the Higurashi Gauntlet. The petite female was a rather simple, yet very complex enigma. His encounters with the girl were either at one end of the spectrum or the other. And that didn't mean he wasn't aware of what was being consistently said about the girl. No woman. Even if she didn't look all of her twenty-five years, due to height and the fact she never seemed to age, one Higurashi, Kagome was a topic he didn't take much notice of after their second meeting. During which she had flat out told him that if he couldn't ask her personally about her past, then he was not worth her time. She was angered him to the point he chose to ignore the damn girl.

Shaking his head, Ryuken looked up at the dark, partially cloudy sky. His mind recalling that first meeting. He'd thought she was some teenager that had slipped into his Hospital on a damned dare to steal a Doctor's Coat. When he had spotted her, swimming in the white coat, he had immediately confronted her. That had also been the day he had returned from a two-week conference in Tokyo and had to speak about medical advancements in the heart surgery field, one of his few specialties. Spacing that the Hospital was getting a bunch of Med students in for their residency.

He was smiling as he recalled spinning the girl around, instantly lecturing her about the importance of respecting the sanctity of the Hospital. He was watching as her deep blue eyes narrowed and flashed in anger — the way her face colored as she got angry. But even then, he didn't give her a second to slip a word in, though it was undeniable that she wanted to, as he began to propel her towards the exit. Only to have one of his senior Doctors call out, and the damn girl jerk from his grasp to look at the man. Who looked shocked at what he saw, before smartly smothering a bark of laughter, as he explained that Kagome was one of the Resident Medical Students assigned to Karakura Hospital.

This had put him on a path to find out how a child got placed at 'his' Hospital, who only accepted the best and brightest of aspiring Medical Students. Hell, his son was only in his 2nd year of medical school at twenty-one. And this girl was nineteen. Hence the second meeting when she'd found out that he'd been looking into her background. And if he had thought she'd been furious that for the first time, he was wrong.

He was pulling his train of thoughts back to where it had begun. Ryuken was still amazed that after six months of courting, or trying to, Uryuu had been bluntly refused. And the reason the girl gave had shocked even him. She had essentially told his son that she wanted a man, not a boy stuck in the shadow of someone he could never hope to achieve to be. Which had him wondering if the girl was just not into men, as over half of his male staff had been denied, including some of those that sat on the Directors Board with him. One of whom had been married, soliciting a sexual relationship with a younger doctor who was going for their mastery. Of course, he had put the man on suspension without pay for a month. Ryuken would not tolerate that shit in his Hospital.

Stopping outside of a small, tucked away little tavern, he was not surprised that his feet had led him there. It was not anywhere near where he lived. It was on the poorer side of Karakura Town. And it was a place he came just to relax and hide from the world. Sort out all kinds of issues that he had to deal with though that was not often. Letting a small smile pulled the corners of his lips, Ryuken pushed the door open and entered the establishment, which was reasonably quiet this early in the night, playing soft jazz in the background. The best part was that it wasn't smoke-filled. This was one of the few bars that didn't allow smoking at all inside.

As he stepped further into the bar, Ryuken felt his eyes widen as he scanned the place to see which of the regular patrons he knew were there. Only to spot a familiar petite woman sitting at the bar with a large bottle of brandy and a half-filled sniffer. The way she shook her head as soft laughter he had come to recognize over the years floated on the air. He had not expected to see her here of all places.

Becoming cautious, though curious, Ryuken walked up to the bar and sat on the stool next to her. Not looking at her directly, he ordered his usual. Though he heard the soft, defeated sigh that came from next to him, he looked over at Kagome to see that she ran her finger around the lip of the Brandy Snifter. Eliciting a soft, yet high pitch sound. It was almost melancholy, yet eerie in its way.

"Good evening," he said, trying to be polite as the smile that had just been on her face was now gone.

"Director," was all he got in response.

He is choosing to be quiet since his drink arrived, a nice solid scotch on the rocks. Ryuken sipped on it for a few minutes before looking at Kagome from the corner of his eye.

"You don't have to ask," she said, her voice soft. "I presume that you have already heard I rejected your son..."

Blinking twice before putting his glass down, Ryuken turned enough that he could look directly at her. His interest was piqued, just like it had been only after she had applied for permanency after completing her residency. A thing he had not expected her to do. Hell, he didn't even know that she wanted to specialize in Pediatrics Oncology. A field that was high stress and could break people easily. Most women didn't want to touch that field. But after he hired her, placing her in the pediatrics ward. He had had a late night that had him on edge.

He'd been in the room he'd made to hide spiritual pressure under the Hospital when something like spiritual pressure had spiked. It was not like a hollow, or even a soul reapers spiritual pressure. No, it was very gentle, soothing, and held a lot of sorrow. It was causing him to leave the room and explore the Hospital to find it. Because he knew that was not Quincy powers. It was something entirely else. And he traced it to a room in the Children's cancer ward. Where he heard a soft lullaby being sung. Entering it just as the Heart Monitor flatline, he saw Kagome sitting by the child's bed. The lullaby had stopped.

Standing there, he watched as she got up and unplugged the child from the machines before looking at him. He could see just how bright her eyes were with unshed tears. But it was what she did that shocked him. She pulled out her cell phone, the child's parents, informing them that the child had finally passed. Then when she tried to walk past him, Ryuken had stopped her and asked her what she was going to do. Where she promptly informed him that she had to make arrangements and greet the parents when they got there.

It was during this time that a single tear had spilled down her cheek as she set her lips in a firm, resolute line and pulled away from him. And all he had done was watch as she walked to the door, called out to the nurses to get things prepped, before looking back at him and told him bluntly that she would study, learn more so that she had a better chance to keep this from happening in the future, though he doubted that she would ever win the war with the insidious disease. And she had done what she had said for the past four years.

"I want to know why, from you, Kagome," he asked, pulling his mind back to the present.

The small smile that curled her lips as she spoke, "You are his father. And though you act like a cold, distant asshole to him, it is obvious you care greatly for your son. But I don't want the boy, and I want the man. And even if he were to pull out from your shadow, he is too much of a passive. I want an aggressive male who is assertive and knows exactly what he wants and how to get it."

Her bluntness had him just staring at her as if he had never seen her before. She was something else like everyone claimed. He had seen her be sweet and polite and have been on the receiving end of her fury. But now, she was just bordering on rude. But he couldn't get his mind to wrap around the fact that at twenty-five, she knew exactly what she wanted. And he knew for a fact that several of those that had approached her to fit that description. Cluing him in on the fact that there was the possibility that she had someone she liked.

"So, correct me if I am wrong, but you have turned down half of my male staff, I am sure a few females, and my son. Do you have someone that you at least like?" he asked, not caring if he was blunt like she was.

The way her eyes widened before she threw her head back and laughed loudly in amusement. She was giving him a good view of just how flushed her face was from drinking. When she finally got control of herself, he saw that she was looking at him with a mix of seriousness and sadness of all things.

"Yeah, I do. But I won't even broach that topic," Kagome muttered. "The bastard does funny things to me all the time when he is near. And I am sure he wouldn't even look at me for more than the second it'd take for him to dismiss my ass."

This had Ryuken just staring at her before he spoke, "And why do you think that?"

His words had Kagome's eyes darkening until they were almost midnight blue. They were bordering on black. Her mouth was turning downwards into a frown.

"I like my job. The man is not just my Senior Doctor and advisor; he is also on the board, Director Ishida. And that means it's a huge no-no, to begin with. And if I did want to pursue it, I'd have to give up my position in the Hospital for that. And like I said, he'd just dismiss me anyways. So, I prefer to stay single. I have my fingers and porn. And if I get bored of those, Sir, I can always use a Battery Operated Boyfriend. Since there are no emotional strings attached," she said, her voice cold, almost devoid of any emotions.

There was nothing he could say to that. As she just also over shared personal details of her life, he decided not to continue that line of questions. Though he watched as she took a silver sharpie from her purse and wrote her name on the half-empty Brandy Bottle before shoving it and some Yen, she pulled out of nowhere at the barkeep. Then she was standing up and walking out the door; shoulders slumped as if she was a kicked puppy.

Once she was gone, Ryuken couldn't help but feel as if he'd done something wrong, crossed some invisible line in the sand. There was no mistaking that she was in pain from explaining that to him. The girl was always so full of smiles and cheer while at work. That one would never think that she hid some kind of pain and longing beneath it.

"You know, you are an asshole sometimes, Ryuken."

Glancing up from his drink, he looked at the barkeep, Susan was his name, as he took the bottle and put it behind the counter. This had him narrowing his eyes at the man.

"You know who she likes. Don't you?" he asked.

The slow nod of the man's head as he glared back at him. It was a look that said he was not going to tell him who it was.

"She gave more than enough clues for you to figure it out," Susan grumped at him.

And Ryuken knew she had as well. But he couldn't seem to get an idea. There was roughly 12 on his director's board. Minus him, the one that had already been burned, and the two females, it narrowed it down to eight. Another two were married, so that narrowed it further down to six. And he knew that one of his Directors made his preference in men very clear, that left five men total. All who were a lot older than Kagome. Could be very aggressive and assertive over what they wanted. But he couldn't see her being into any of them.

"You are overthinking it. Didn't you listen to how the girl worded what she said and watch her while she spoke?" Susan asked.

Feeling annoyed at this, Ryuken pulled out the Yen for his drink. Something in the back of his mind was telling him that he was missing an important clue. A clue so obvious he'd be obsessing over this for a long while to come. Because he loved a good puzzle and a challenge all rolled into one.

It had been months since he'd talked to Kagome in the bar. And when he saw her about the Hospital when he made his rounds, she either ignored him until he asked her something of importance pertaining to what she was doing or working on. Or made her self-scarce using his Hospital against himself. It was almost as if she knew he was coming at times. But now, he stood in a back corner of the rented space for the annual New Years' Eve Party he threw for his staff. His eyes tracked her around the room.

He'd been pleasantly shocked to see her arrive in a traditional winter Yukata that complimented her coloring perfectly. And the sight of her hair hanging down her back in blue-black waves accentuated her face and the peach of the Yukata perfectly. She was drawing attention to her expressive blue eyes. While only using minimal makeup to highlight the rest of her face, further drawing attention to her eyes. And it disturbed him in the last few months that he had come to watch her. Study her. Learn about her. He admitted to himself that he had an obsession with the woman.

So, the moment he saw her snag an unopened bottle of the blackberry wine before slipping from the room, he narrowed his eyes and followed her. She was acting oddly out of character. Though he was glad it was not hard to follow her, as she only went to the end of the hall, pushed the door to the stairwell open and walked right on through. It was causing him to frown as he paused, waiting for the door to shut. And to allow the small dizzy spell from too many glasses of wine to pass. Which he had not realized he had drunk while watching her flit about the party.

Once he was fine, Ryuken entered the emergency stairwell and heard the sound of a door closing above him. Meaning she had gone to the roof. Not rushing, he made his way up the stairs, opened the door, and stepped out onto the hotel's rooftop. Where he heard the sound of singing again. Instantly he recognized the lullaby. Turning his head as he moved away from the door, Ryuken spotted Kagome, leaning against the railing with her back as she just stared up at the oddly clear night sky.

He was deciding to wait since she didn't seem to be acting suicidal. Ryuken just listened to the song. Though once it was done, he found he was staring into a pair of glazed blue eyes. The small smile he saw twitching at the corners of her lips had him feeling like he might want to run.

"Oh, Director, in a bit, it will be another new year!?" she more asked than anything else. "I didn't get you a Christmas gift, cause well... wouldn't know what to get you? New archery bow? hahaha"

As she spoke, he could hear the pain and loneliness threaded through her voice. There was no slurring of words, and her face was not flushed from the alcohol. He could tell the difference easily. Her face was flushed from the biting cold. But the fact that she was talking about Christmas struck him as odd. And reminded him that yes, she didn't get him a gift, but everyone else on staff had gotten one. Choosing to remain silent, he watched and waited for her to continue.

"I know... How about I answer one and only one question of your choice, no matter what it is? That is charitable and nice of me?" she chirped, pushing away from the railing and spinning in the snow that covered the rooftop.

Raising an eyebrow, Ryuken thought about it. There was only one question he wanted to be answered. Not that the answer would do anything but put out the fire of curiosity that made him slightly obsessed with the tiny woman. So, with a small nod of his head, he walked the short distance over to her. She had stopped spinning and was watching him. The look in her eyes said she knew which question he wanted, but would wait for him to ask.

He stopped an arms distance from her, tilting his head down to keep his gaze locked on her as he spoke, "I want to know who you like so much, but won't risk your job here for."

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she dropped her gaze from his and looked at his chest.

"I figured that was what you would ask. That man... he is something else, even now. I don't like him, though; I love him. Like I previously stated, he does funny things to my body. Causes me to feel light-headed, my heart beats faster, and hell, I have started to carry a spare pair of panties because when he is near me, mine get soaked," she said, laughing lightly in amusement. "He is a real hardass and has rather high standards that he pushes on others. But that is because he cares and wants those under his care to succeed, be the best they can be. He holds himself to those standards as well."

As she rambled, Ryuken felt his alcohol flush cheeks heat up even more. What she was saying was just a bit too much. And it made him feel irritated. She was not answering the question but instead describing this person.

"I can say this for the man; he is highly intelligent. I completely respect him. I adore his opinions and theories. Hell, he is a looker. A bit exotic, though I question his fashion sense or the ties he seems to fancy," she quipped, tilting her head up at him, smirking. "And I know he knows all this but doesn't give two flying fucks, Sir. He seems untouchable and unattainable. I know he is a compassionate person. It shows in his work and how he manages things. Even his son."

When she trailed off, he had her gaze locked on his. Frowning, Ryuken narrowed his eyes behind his glasses and making her wrinkled her nose and pout at him.

"That is not answering my question, Miss Higurashi," he said in a soft, low voice.

His response was a snort as he watched her close the distance until she was practically brushing her body against his. Her arms were rising until her hands were cupping his cheeks. He could see a blush darkening her face under the pale light of the moon, giving her an ethereal quality. When she gently pulled his face downward, he allowed it to a point. What she said next was just a single word; you had all the puzzle pieces in his mind clicking into place, forming a very clear picture.

It stunned him. And that was all it took for Kagome to pull him down those last few inches as he tried to collect himself. Her body was pressing against his as she kissed him. It was soft, hesitant. Only to hear his name slip from her lips in a husky voice, that had something in him breaking as she pulled away from him — causing him to react.

His body moved on its own, arms wrapping around her tiny frame, pulling her back to him as he slammed his mouth against hers. It was primal. A feeling he had never felt with either Misaki or his wife. And it was burning like wildfire through his veins. Ryuken prided himself on his self-control. And here he was acting like a horny little teenage boy. He had a few discreet lovers since his wife, Kanae, died. Not wanting to have his son think he didn't love his mother after she passed.

But none of those women did this to him. Albeit, it had been over a year since the last time he'd bedded one of his few lovers. A low moan of pleasure had him sliding his arms down until his hands cupped the back of Kagome's thighs and lifting her. All care about propriety flew out of his mind. The feeling of just holding and possessing the woman he was kissing remained. Though he knew that doing anything like that on a snow-covered roof would not be too comfortable.

Two people stood still and silent as they watched the scene play out before them. One was blushing and grinning like a mad person. The other was a mix of horror and embarrassment. When they'd followed after Kagome, they hadn't realized that Ryuken Ishida, Director of Karakura Hospital, had left before them. And neither had expected to see the confession that had taken place.

"I...I think we should leave...Eri..."

A soft, happy-sounding sigh was the only response. It is causing the person who spoke to look down at the short-haired woman with wide blue eyes.

"Isn't that sweet?" Eri said.

"...Sorry, if I do not find my father making out with a woman that I had a thing for a few months ago," was the reply.

This had the woman looking up at one Uryuu Ishida. A knowing smile was brightening her face. She reached out and grabbed his hand.

"I have explained to you that Kagome is very picky about her men or males as she calls them. And that she has been seriously hurt in the past by one, Uryuu," Eri said her voice. "Besides, she liked you enough to introduce us. And I would hope that you're as happy as I am. Let them have their moment."

Uryuu flushed a bit darker as he refused to look back at his father and Kagome. "I am happy with you. You are perfect for me. But if this goes anywhere, Kagome will have to resign from the Hospital, and if my father is serious about a relationship with her."

The shocked, pained look that flashed across Eri's face as Uryuu gathered her to him and led her back to the door. He knew exactly how she felt. He had that same guilt building up. It took him only two days after her rejection to think and figure out what she had meant. She told him via wording why and who she wanted. It showed she trusted him with that knowledge while trying to encourage him to stand on his own and not in his father's shadow. Because she was right, he'd never be his father. He wanted the man to be happy.

Ryuken opened his eyes slowly. He was feeling a bit disorientated and more than hungover. Shifting, he felt the sheets rub against his skin. They were more coarse than what he owned. With a glance around, he realized that he was not in his bed at home, or even in a room at the hotel. No, he was in a rather small, homey looking studio apartment. And his brain was being a bit fuzzy, was unable to recall how he got there through his body felt oddly light and refreshed.

"hmmm."

The soft hum had him looking down at the mound of blankets covering his person. Watching as they shifted, revealing a head of wavy blue-black hair. Just as warm air puffed across his chest, he was forcing his mind to backtrack to the night before. The New Year's Eve party he threw for his staff at a nice hotel. He was leaving the party to follow a petite woman who had hair very much like the person snuggled against him — asking a question, getting a rather long drawn out answer, before being told and kissed.

Instinctively his body tensed. He was causing the arm that the head was resting on to tighten around the silky smooth skin and press very defined feminine curves into his side, as another small hum came from the person. Who just shifted a leg over his and pulled themselves up onto his chest. He could tell from how skin brushed against skin that both of them were very naked. Ryuken closed his eyes and made his body relax. Not that it was that hard, not with the soft warmth of the woman molding to him.

He recalled that after the fireworks went off, while he was still kissing and holding Kagome's body up against his, they'd somehow made it to the stairwell. Where they'd finally broke the kiss and with a look agreed that they both wanted to get out of there. Staying in the stairwell, they went down all the flights, occasionally stopping to catch a breath and kiss some more. Like it was an all-consuming need. A raw magnetism that made them keep fusing their bodies and lips.

That was when he realized where he was at. The hotel was only two full city blocks from them. They were in Kagome's little apartment, in her bed. That thought unlocked the floodgate in his mind. Images of everything they had done, felt, said rushed back. She was making him suppress a groan of need. The woman had been damn near insatiable, submitted to him when he wanted something. Hell, he had been especially rough with her, and all she could do was scream his name as she broke apart around him several times.

"Ah..."

Opening his eyes, he looked down his nose, glad that he was nearsighted, and stared into the full blue gaze of Kagomes. Enjoying the way she was blushing darkly from the roots of her hair and down her face to her neck. There was no horror in that look. But shock, nervousness, and need. Making him recall that she said she was in love with him.

Smiling, he spoke, "Good morning Kagome."

The tentative smiles she gave showed her nervousness. Instantly he knew what was going through that little head of hers. Slipping his other arm around her waist, pinning her to his chest, Ryuken rolled them, so his body was pressing her into the bed, before shifting his arms, so he was leaning upon his arms to look down at her.

"I regret nothing," he stated slowly, knowing it to be the truth. "And we can discuss things later, Kagome. For now, I think I want to talk about other things, using only our bodies."

The way her still very kiss-swollen lips parted as she stared up at him, he felt her wiggle her hips against his own. She was only making his body respond appropriately. Yes, they could be responsible adults later. Right now, he just wanted to be a man with a rather wanton woman in his arms. Leaning down, he placed small kisses along her jaw, down her neck, taking time to suckle lightly on the pulse point, making her whimper his name.

THE END!