Edit: Sorry for those following this story, I was trying to fix errors in chapter two and ended up having to delete and reload all of the chapters. My apologies if your email exploded!
Hey guys! I have finally gotten back into the writing mood after a ten year writers block! Feel free to give me feedback and let me know if there is a situation/prompt you would like to see me write for these two!
Opening the window and letting in the light, summer evening breeze she took a deep breath, glad for the fresh air. It smelled like there was a storm on the way and she grew more anxious for his return. Thunderstorms were her favorite, and there was no better way to enjoy them than lying in bed under the covers and snuggling up close to Byakuya. The feel of his fingers running through her hair, the warmth that radiated from his body and into hers, and the sound of his steady breathing.
Funny how just the thought of him could make her heart skip a beat and cause a smile to spread across her face. She'd been missing him terribly over the last month while he's been out on a mission, not to mention the amount of worrying she put herself through, even when she tried not to. But he was supposed to be returning this evening and she felt like a giddy teenager at that. She believed there was no way that he could understand what it was that he did to her. He made her blush and lose her train of thought with just a look from those windows he called eyes. So many things were expressed in them, she wasn't sure if he was even aware how much he let her see at times, she felt the skin of her cheeks flush thinking about just how intimate their relationship had become. And not just in the physical sense, on an emotional level as well. She's only the second person that he's let see who he is behind all the titles, ranks and expensive clothing, and that made her heart swell.
The rain began to fall in thick, heavy sheets outside, thunder rumbling in the distance. She reached into her closet for a yukata to wear to bed, but spotted one of his shihaksho off to the left. Thinking for a moment, she shrugged to herself and put her yukata back. "What do ya know? It actually covers my breasts!" laughing to herself as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror on the door. It was more comfortable than anything she normally wore, and she thought she looked cute in the over sized garment. She heard once that women in the world of the living liked to wear their boyfriends clothes and she could definitely see why. Not only was it comfortable, it also smelled like him. Tying it loosely around her waist she decided to make a cup of tea and watch the storm. She made her way to the kitchen, being sure to make enough hot water for him in case he was back soon.
Back in the bedroom she set her cup on the night stand next to the bed. She'd gotten rid of her futon as soon as she had discovered the wonderful creation called a mattress. Crawling under the covers and laying at an angle that allowed her to see the sky outside,she looked around her room for a moment and realized that his shihaksho wasn't the only thing he had at her place. There were signs of him all over, his hairbrush on her vanity, his toothbrush in her bathroom, clothes in her laundry basket and his favorite kind of tea in her Kitchen. When had he started to leave things permanently? Actually, when had he started bringing these things with him in the first place? Pulling the pillow from his side of the bed and curling herself around it, she tried to figure it out. "Now that I think about it, there's probably just as much of my stuff at his place." She thought out loud. It was true, she could think of a number of things that were at his place. But that was because she stayed with him quite often -and while she was on that subject- the only time they didn't share a bed at night was when one of them was on a mission. She felt a pang of longing at that thought, where was he anyways? "I'll just rest my eyes for a few minutes, he'll be here soon." She said with a yawn. Closing her eyes and listening to the rain and thunder overhead, she could see flashes of light behind her eyelids from the lightning. Clutching his pillow closer, she drifted into a peaceful sleep, lulled by the storm and thoughts of her lover.
As the gates of the senkaimon slid open before him, signaling that he was in fact back in Soul Society, she was the only thing on his mind. He wondered if she would be awake and waiting for him, as she had been the last few times. His feet turned and headed in the direction of the first division, body on auto pilot while his thoughts were halfway across Seretei. There was a thunderstorm raging overhead, and it only made him long to be back in her arms even more. Even though he hadn't seen it in a month, the image of her face was still vivid in his mind and he couldn't wait to see it with a wide happy smile.
Taking a right he was finally arriving at the Captain Commanders office, and took a moment to collect himself before knocking and entering. He'd probably set a new record for the fastest report ever given, because before he even realized it he was on his way out of the first division building and heading towards the barracks of the tenth. He had truly believed that he would never love another after Hisana, but somehow Rangiku healed that pain he had carried around for so long. She had changed his whole outlook on life, and the best part about it was that she wasn't even trying to. Her presence alone had been enough to move mountains in his heart, and his soul.
They had been on their first mission together and she had boldly declared that he was an uptight stick in the mud who sorely needed a friend, and then proceeded to nominate herself for the role. He'd gone along with it to pacify her for the duration of the mission, but as the days passed he found himself genuinely enjoying her company, and when the mission was over they continued their blossoming friendship. They spent more and more time together, despite what his family had to say about it, and she taught him what friendship truly means. A few years later, he realized that his feelings for her had begun to change into something more serious. Suddenly whenever he thought of his future, she was always there beside him and he knew that he was falling for her, for his best friend. It took several months for him to finally tell her how he felt, and when he did the look in her eyes relieved all the tension and nervousness he had been feeling. She simply looked up at him, a smile on her face and happy tears in her eyes as she confessed as well.
Now as her neared her quarters all he could think about was holding her close, and watching her sleep in his arms. The light was on in the kitchen, a pot of water for tea now sat cold on the small stove and the living room was empty as well. Taking off his kensaiken and scarf he walked down the small hallway to her room, his haori coming off next. Entering the room he found her in the bed, wrapped around his pillow, her bright hair splayed out behind her. Her chest rose and fell gently with the rhythmic breathing of sleep, and was that his Shihaksho she was wearing? It definitely was, and he couldn't understand how she could make his clothing look so damn hot...he'd have to tell her to wear it more often.
Stripping out of the rest of his clothes and changing into a sleeping yukata, he slowly removed the pillow from her grip with every intent to replace it. He hadn't planned to wake her, but when lightning flashed across the sky illuminating her sleeping form, he couldn't resist leaning in and kissing her shoulder softly, and he didn't stop there. He started to make his way down her arm to her elbow and then on to her wrist and finally to her fingers. As he kissed the tip of each one he looked at her face and realized she had opened her eyes, a soft sleepy smile on her lips. She never looked better than she did in moments like these, half asleep, no make up, messy hair, when she was just natural. "I'm so glad your home." A whisper as she moved to wrap her arms around his neck. "I missed you." His quiet reply as he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him, her legs straddling his lap. He cupped her face with his free hand and gently kissed her forehead,then her eyelids, nose, cheeks and finally her lips. It started out feather light, barely brushing her mouth with his, but she wasn't having that. Grabbing the back of his neck, fingers twisting into his hair, she pulled him in and devoured his lips. "I missed you too." She said breathlessly when they finally broke for air.
"You look exhausted." Tracing his cheekbone with her thumb. "Come." She said laying down and patting the space next to her on the bed. "Let's sleep first, we can talk about your mission over breakfast in the morning. Right now I just want to be close to you." His reply was a small grateful smile. "So that means you can wait till morning for the gift I brought you too, right?" He said with amusement evident in his tone. "Really?" Her eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas, but then her expression softened. "Yeah, it can wait. You're more important to me than anything money could ever buy anyways." She looked away as a light blush colored her cheeks.
"And you are my world. Goodnight Giku-chan." his arms squeezing her tight. "Goodnight, Bya-kun." She replied, snuggling her head against his chest. Both slept peacefully under the sandman's spell for the rest of the night.
AN: Byakuya calls her Giku-chan because Gin always called her Ran-chan, and he wants to call her something different.