Hey guys! Welcome back. Now, you'll get a taste of the first ever realization Ichigo will have. I hope you all enjoy this story since tbh, this was a fun story to make. I wonder if you could guys guess the realization before the end?

Ever since Ichigo had died and stayed at the Kuchiki Manor, he had come to 15 realizations about Byakuya…

Realization #1

Ichigo yawned as he exited the Shino Academy. He had just finished his last class, Kido. He did fairly well at it mostly due to the assistance of Byakuya, the Kido master himself. The captain was really good at teaching him. Hell, even better than the instructors but Ichigo chose to learn through the academy and he will stick with his decision.

He slowly walked back to the manor as he observed his surroundings. The streets were hustling and bustling with busy shinigamis, running around doing rounds or some were just walking with piles of paperwork at hand. It was his first time that he took a step back and observed how life works here. The usual visits he had in the past were action-filled after all.

When he arrived at the manor, the door was automatically opened for him. Ichigo guessed it was the guards that opened it as they sensed his presence. He wasn't really hard to miss. He was greeted by an older man, a loyal servant of the clan.

"Good afternoon, Kurosaki-dono," The servant greeted and bowed. He had short black and white hair and his light blue eyes were gentle over the years.

Ichigo nodded, "Hey there, Yusuke-san. I told you to call me by my name, remember?"

Yusuke smiled lightly, "It would be against Kuchiki-sama's wishes to call you so informally."

Ichigo sighed, "I'll make sure to talk about it to Byakuya, okay?"

The servant was still slightly taken aback at how casual Ichigo was to his master. Even Rukia doesn't call Byakuya by his first name so when Ichigo started living in the manor and Yusuke heard the orange head call the noble so casually and to Yusuke's surprise, Byakuya never reprimanded the orange head.

Yusuke nodded warily, "I understand, Ichigo-dono."

Ichigo grinned, "Better! Oh, is Byakuya home already?"

The older nodded, "He just arrived a few minutes ago, Ichigo-dono. He is in his study room."

Ichigo smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Yusuke. I'll go to him now."

The orange head used shunpo and headed towards Byakuya's study room without even waiting for Yusuke's reply.

Ichigo sighed in relief when he finally found the study room. It took him a few minutes to look for the right door. It was already open and Byakuya was yet to be seen. He observed the room. It has a new stack of paper on the table and a pen already set.

"Kurosaki?"

The deep voice from behind startled Ichigo and made him turn around to see the newly arrived captain. Ichigo noticed that Byakuya was out of his captain haori and shihakusho as he was only wearing a simple black yukata. HIs long raven hair was also free from the kenseikan.

"Kami, you scared me there, Byakuya." Ichigo managed to say after snapping out of his observation.

"I apologize," Byakuya replied, "What are you doing here?"

Ichigo shrugged, "I just wanted to see you."

The noble's eyebrow raised in surprise and curiosity, "I see."

Ichigo slapped himself mentally. Why did he even say that? That really sounded weird and it must've sounded weirder to Byakuya. He really wished to be swallowed up by the ground now or just let some hollow alarm go off to forget this.

Byakuya noticed how Ichigo was shifting uncomfortably in his position and he wanted to chuckle in amusement, "Do you want to join me for tea, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo's discomfort seemed to melt away as he folded his arms and nodded his head towards the stack on the table, "Don't you have a lot of things to do?"

Slate gray eyes fell on the stack of paperwork and slowly locked on amber ones, "That could wait. I will let Renji finish it if I don't complete it by today."

The orange head snorted, "You really love tormenting the guy."

Byakuya smirked, "I have my moments."

Ichigo chuckled in response, "Alright, I'll join you. Where will we stay?"

"We could drink here by the porch. I shall request for some tea now."

"Sounds like a plan."

Ichigo comfortably sat down on the porch as he watched Byakuya walking away to find a servant to serve them tea. The last time he offered that he would be the one to make tea for them ended up in an argument.

"Both of you are really like cats and dogs. Always fighting," Rukia said as she shook her head.

Ichigo chuckled as he recalled what the younger Kuchiki said. She wasn't wrong, he concluded. They usually argue but enjoy each other's presence even in silence. The orange head sighed. He sounded really old.

A few minutes later, Byakuya came back and gracefully sat down beside Ichigo in a comfortable distance.

"Tea will arrive shortly," the noble stated.

Ichigo nodded, "Okay. Thanks for letting me bother you for today."

Byakuya sighed, "I do not think you're a bother. I would rather spend this nice afternoon for tea rather than staring at white for hours."

The orange head shifted in his seat and grinned, "Well then, glad I could distract you from that."

After a few moments, Yusuke arrived while holding a tray with a pair of ceramic cups and a teapot. He bowed at the men sitting before setting the tray down between them.

"I shall bring some snacks as well," Yusuke stated and left the two alone.

Byakuya grabbed the handle of the teapot before Ichigo could and poured the new and hot green tea for the both of them. Ichigo eyed him with an eyebrow raised,

"You usually let me do that."

"I feel awfully kind today, Kurosaki." Byakuya stated, eyes fixated on the cups.

Ichigo snorted, "Here we are in the time that the others still couldn't believe you can make jokes."

"Perhaps they do not understand my sense of humor," Byakuya mused.

"Right," Ichigo gingerly wrapped his hands around the now filled cup and brought it to his lips. He took in the comforting scent before taking a sip.

Byakuya did the same as well and rested his hands that were holding the cup on his lap, "I'm surprised you didn't change your attire while I was away."

Ichigo looked down to take in his appearance. He was wearing the standard uniform of the academy, blue hakama already too wrinkled to be even proper anymore.

The orange head shrugged, "I'll change later before dinner."

"I see," Byakuya said, "How was class?"

Ichigo set his cup back down on the tray and leaned on the pillar, "It was exhausting and boring. Good news is that my Sokatsui didn't explode! Thanks for that, by the way."

Byakuya nodded, "It was no problem, Kurosaki. You do tend to have difficulty in controlling your reiatsu."

Ichigo folded his arms and his face turned to his famous scowl, "Oi! I'm trying, okay?"

"I never said you weren't."

The orange head rolled his eyes, "Well, you gotta teach me other stuff next. I got the incantations down and all I need to do is execute it."

The noble nodded, "I shall see where my schedule is available, then."

"Gotcha."

Byakuya took another sip of his tea and after awhile, he managed to finish it. He set his cup down and refilled its contents once more.

"Damn, you do finish that fast," Ichigo commented.

Byakuya grabbed his cup once more, "I do enjoy this kind of tea. The weather today is good as well."

Ichigo looked at his half empty cup, "Hm, this does taste good."

The two fell into a comfortable silence. Yusuke has also managed to bring a set of cookies for Ichigo as snacks to which Ichigo smiled gratefully for. It was chocolate chip cookies, his favorite kind. Ichigo picked up one and ate.

He grabbed another one and offered it to the noble, "Want some?"

Byakuya politely waved his hand, "I do not eat sweets. It's fine."

Ichigo took his last bite of his original cookie and shrugged, "Okay. More for me, then." He started eating the cookie he offered to Byakuya.

Ichigo looked up at the sky absentmindedly. It was pretty similar to the World of the Living. The life in Soul Society and the World of the Living wasn't really that different. It had its ups and downs like the Rukongai. It definitely wasn't like a paradise like Rukia said in the past. You could just live longer and have your youth for an extended period of time.

Speaking of youth, Ichigo sneakily glanced at the captain beside him who kept his eyes closed as he drank. The raven's appearance didn't change much except for his hair that has grown almost as long as when they first met.

"How old are you, Byakuya?"

Byakuya's eyes snapped open and looked at the younger, "Why do you ask?"

Ichigo shrugged, "You look pretty much the same over the years."

"I believe I am almost… 250? I do not pay attention to it anymore," Byakuya mused.

"Damn. It'd take so long before I look like in my 50s then," Ichigo commented.

"Perhaps. Though, it is my first time seeing you with longer hair, Kurosaki." Byakuya said as his slate gray eyes observed the younger.

Ichigo pointed at his hair, "Oh, this? I guess no one except Rangiku saw my Dangai form. This is what I looked like when I fought Aizen."

"I see. A form before you lost your powers?" Byakuya inquired.

"Pretty much. Why? Do I look bad? Should I cut my hair?" Ichigo asked with a slightly frantic tone.

Byakuya sighed, "No, you do not look 'bad'. Do not cut your hair if you do not want to."

Ichigo sighed in relief, "Well, I'll keep this then."

"Besides, Kurosaki." Byakuya said, "It suits you."

Ichigo, who was drinking his beverage, almost spat it out in surprise. It was only a simple compliment but Byakuya rarely does comment or speak his mind in such "trivial" things. Ichigo cold feel the worried eyes on him and he waved his hand,

"I'm alive, don't worry."

"Technically, you're not." Byakuya said sarcastically.

Ichigo managed to recover and snorted, "Okay, enough with the jokes. I might die a second time due to tea."

The orange head's eyes widened when he saw the noble pouring another cup for himself.

"Woah, woah. Calm down on the tea, good sir. Isn't that like your 4th?"

"3rd, Kurosaki." Byakuya nonchalantly said.

"Jeez and I haven't even finished my first," Ichigo commented.

The captain simply ignored him and resumed drinking. Ichigo grumbled and finished up the plate of cookies that he enjoyed all to himself. He was silently happy that he could still surprisingly get food that he enjoyed from the World of the Living and eat it in Soul Society.

After an hour of another round of silence, Byakuya set his cup down and stood up, "I need to resume with my paperwork now, Kurosaki. I shall see you at dinner later."

Ichigo nodded, "Alright. Thanks for your time."

"I did enjoy our conversation. Perhaps we could do this again in the following days?" Byakuya inquired.

The orange head stood up and grinned, "Sure. I enjoyed it as well. Mostly the snacks but hey, your company was great too."

"I am happy to hear you prefer the snacks," Byakuya sarcastically said.

"Oi! I just said your company was good too."

"You said it after saying about the snacks."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Tsk. Fine, whatever. By the way, Byakuya."

"Yes?"

"You don't need to ask if it's okay if I drink with you from time to time. Besides, we practically live together now," Ichigo said.

Byakuya nodded, "I see. I will keep that in mind."

"Good. Well, I'll go change now. See you later, Byakuya." Ichigo waved his hand.

"Yes. See you later."

Ichigo realized that day that Byakuya really really loves tea. The following days of their afternoon tea, he soon discovered that the noble loved green tea and usually drank 3 cups...minimum.

"How does one drink that much?!"

Hey there! Thanks for reading the story. So if you thought it was tea, you are correct! Nice one. Welp, leave a review/follow/fave if you enjoyed! Go ahead and read my other fics:

Cigarette (One-shot)
Protettore (One-shot)
Red String of Fate (On-going)