Byakuya shivered in his sleep before his eyes opened. He shifted a little, pulling the yogi up to his chin. For some reason he was still cold. In fact his body from his chin down was cold. He then noticed the dividing door between Tama's room and his own was open and remembered he wasn't alone in this futon. He sat up and looked over at the girl. She was sweating, her brow was furrowed and her jaw taunt. She gripped into the futon below her hand, fisting the fabric of the covering until her knuckles shone white.

'A nightmare?' Byakuya wondered to himself as he observed her, uncertain of how to handle this. Should he try to shake her awake? No, given her history that might dissolve any budding trust between them. One other option then, he shifted so he was on his knees beside her and softly called out, "Tama?"

Nothing, not a single change to indicate she'd heard him. If anything the temperature dropped more. He brought his hands up underneath his armpits in an attempt to conserve his body heat. He decided to try again, "wake up, Tama."

Again there was no change in her conscious state, but the temperature didn't drop any further. He could see his own breaths in white wisps as he tried once more, "Tama, you must wake up."

At that she did wake up, but he was certain she didn't wake up because of him calling to her. It happened so fast he had barely seen it coming. Her hand that had been under her pillow flew towards him, and within her fist was the dagger that his father had hidden within the large barrette they'd given her when she was at the Fourth. He brought his arm out, wrapping his hand around her wrist and halted her from attacking him with ease. It was as if she fully woke up in that moment, and her eyes went wide with sheer horror. She released her grip on the dagger, which he caught with is free hand. Not taking his eyes off her for a moment, he wordlessly set it aside.

"It was a bad dream. You're alright. You're at the Kuchiki Manor with me," He assured her. Tama wrenched her hand away from him and shuffled away from him on her hands and feet. The way she moved reminded him of a crab.

Once she was a bit distanced from him, she brought her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs before lowering her head to her knees. He ached inside. He wanted to go to her, comfort her somehow, but something kept him seated where he was. That same instinct prompted him to keep repeating her current location and that he wouldn't hurt her. Eventually she snapped at him, "oh just shut up! That's not why I'm upset."

He blinked a little and inquired, "then why are you upset?"

She shook a bit as she sobbed into her knees. He slowly crawled over to her and advised her, "I'm just going to put my arm around you. Alright? I won't do anything else."

She didn't respond, so he slowly brought his arm up, and placed it around her so his hand was resting on her arm. His arm was pressed against her back. After a moment she shifted so she was leaning into him and had her face in his yukata. Byakuya stayed still, letting her cry into his yukata. It was only cheap fabric, it washes, and the maids would have no trouble cleaning it.

"Take your time, Tama-chan," he coaxed, he remained unmoving, uncertain of what else to offer. This was something his father would be better suited to, but he was woefully inexperienced with calming upset or agitated women.

"I'm sorry. I'll understand if you get me thrown out," Tama choked out.

'Huh? Sorry? Thrown out? Wha—oh the dagger,' Byakuya thought to himself, and realized what had upset her so much. He smiled as he assured her, "you are fast, but so am I. I'm not upset by it. In truth I sort of expected it."

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

Byakuya shook his head as he repeated, "it's alright. There's no harm done."

She rested her head on his shoulder, still huddled up close to him. He tensed momentarily before relaxing. He felt her breathing evening out. He'd never done well sleeping while sitting up, but if that's how she was most comfortable he'd make an effort. He grasped the yogi and pulled it over to them, covering them both as best as he could with it. He rested his head against hers and closed his eyes again.

The next time he opened his eyes the sunlight was filtering into the room from the window. He lifted his head and grimaced. This was exactly why he didn't sleep sitting up.

Tama glanced up at him with soft concerned eyes. He closed his eyes as he reached behind his neck and rubbed a tense spot.

"Oh no, I'm sorry, I-"

"You apologize too much," he objected. As her head lifted off his shoulder his hand shifted to it while he rotated his shoulder a bit to loosen himself up. He groaned a little as the tension eased off. He glanced to her with a victorious smirk and added, "see? No harm done. I was just a bit tense. Nothing a little motion doesn't fix."

"You're awfully calm and light hearted, considering last night," she replied.

"Che, that's nothing. There was one time I slipped off from father to umm answer nature's call in a forest in the third district—well some bandits had heard that we were there and tried to jump me. They figured they could kidnap me and get a ransom for me or something. They were from a completely different district they'd just caught wind of where I was supposed to be," Byakuya pointed out.

He smiled at her as he replied, "an attack that I can see coming isn't a big deal. It's when I can't see or sense it that there's an issue. I was a little kid back then, it was a few months after my mom died so Father was still a bit overly protective of me. Once I started training he relaxed a little. Grandfather, however, still worries."

"You're lucky to have them. As annoying as I'm sure you find them sometimes," Tama observed.

He chuckled a little and remarked, "well, you're correct on both counts. But having you around is going to mean that I can do a bit more than before too, because now there's someone with me that can fight if they need to. We just have to get a gauge on your own abilities."

Tama nodded and asked, "when can we get started on that?"

He glanced up at the ceiling in thought before answering, "perhaps, after breakfast, if you're up for it?"

"Definitely," she agreed with a small smile. She gained a slight blush to her face as she admitted, "you and your Father, you've done a lot to make me feel safe and welcome here, but if I'm honest—it's the opposite with your Grandfather. I get the feeling he'd rather not have me around. So the sooner I can start with the bodyguard role, the better."

Byakuya nodded with a grin as he acknowledged, "alright. First training begins after breakfast."