The lieutenants waited outside the meeting hall. The girls gathered in the corner enjoying a random afternoon chat. The guys were in the other corner having a conversation about their zanpakuto's. Yachiru was handing out candies and immediately jumped up when the captains exited the hall.

"Ken-chan!" latching on his shoulder. "Pinku still can't play with me today but she gave me snacks."

Kenpachi grinned. "Heh. 3 days and your girl still can't walk huh?!" proudly turning his head to Byakuya.

"I don't know what you mean by that." The noble simply shrugged it off. But the crowd loved the information.

"Ara ara… you still have it in you after all these years Taichou!" Rangiku teased. "I must tell Yuruichi-san about this." Giggling.

"This is an inappropriate conversation." He sighed.

"Your captain is a showoff." Ikkaku jealously whispered to Renji who was counting three on his fingers.

Yumichika who had his head buried in a living world magazine flipped another page. "Have you seen this girl yet Abarai-san?"

"No, Taichou has been very busy I'm surprised he even had time to spend with her." Pulling his back away from the wall. "Rukia and Ichigo have seen her once."

Yumichika and Ikkaku stood beside each other getting ready to follow their captain who already left. "And what does she have to say about this?"

"She is fine with it. It's Taichou who has his troubles." He worriedly answered.

Rangiku who was listening just tapped the guy on the back. "Don't worry about it. It's Kuchiki Taichou we are talking about." She smiled.

Two months felt like forever. Kana sat beside her door, it was opened by a few inches just enough for her to see the hallway on the other side of the mansion. The fog was thick that morning that she worries if she will see him today. It has been her habit, she enjoyed sending him off in the morning just by watching him pass by the corridor leading to the foyer of the mansion. By sunset, she rests by the garden, writing her journal until she catches a glimpse of Byakuya getting home.

The mansion is vast. On her first day, she thought she'd enter the gate and she'll see the front door right away, but instead, she must cross a large lake. She even made a joke to one of the servants that she needs a map to get around the residence, which she did, and it was a present from Yachiru.

She lit up when the white cloth of his haori flapped with the wind. Other than her fertile night, this is the only time for her to see him. He never invited her to join him for dinner, his late-night walks, or to talk. She then moved to her bed to pick up her journal when he disappeared from her sight. It's all about her stay in the mansion, but her most favorite entry of them all is the part where she gets to describe her night with him. A knock on the door snapped her back from her trance.

"Since when are you going to act like a guest?!" the angry Kuchiki governess entered her room. "Kuchiki-sama has been so nice to not say anything but at least have some sense and take care of him!" her voice was loud and commanding. "Have you ever prepared his bath?" she stopped passing about and stopped in front of her.

She quickly shook her head. "No."

"Prepared his breakfast?"

"No. Sorry."

"Pressed his clothes?"

"No…" her voice going weaker.

"Sent him off to work?"

She shook her head, looking down.

"So, what have you done for him?" digging her with answers.

"I'm sorry I didn't know…"

She clicked her teeth judging her. "Have it your way then." the angry woman didn't even wait for her answer and left.

The younger servants entered the room with her breakfast. "It's ok ojoo-sama, old lady Yamji is always like that. She is the one in charge of training all the helpers in this mansion and all the other mansions the Kuchiki family has. She's been taking care of this household since."

She sighed. "She's right, I should help to prepare the meals." Burying her face on her palms.

Kana dragged her off-shoulder hanfu styled dress behind her as she sneakily entered the kitchen. She expected one or two cooks to be hanging around since it was already past lunchtime but to her dismay the kitchen area was empty. She opened the closest cupboard to her right and the ones over her head only to find silverware and china. She stared at the leaking sunshine from the window wishing the light would lead to any containers. She closed her eyes, chanted her prayer, and slowly followed the ray of light.

"What are you doing?" a voice came up behind her.

She jumped from shock screaming as she curled into a ball under the island counted.

The man standing by the door didn't ask the second time instead waited for her answer.

"Oh, it's you." She clumsily wiped her tears as she got up and dusted herself. She then slowly bowed her head to greet him. "Good afternoon Kuchiki-sama."

The man in front of her was quiet but winced at her informal tone.

"I was looking for the tea master to ask for some leaves." She faked a smile as she shrugged while playing with her fingers.

"It's not here." He flatly answered and turned around.

She stared at his back as he walked then paused. "Are you just gonna stand there?" making her quick on her feet to follow.

He led her into a smaller room that smelled of herbs and spices. The back of the room was a wall of spices and the other side was a display of all kinds of tea-making utensils.

"Thank you." She bowed to him again. "Would you like some…" she swallowed. "I can make you some if you like… Kuchiki-sama." She's nervous and she can't explain why.

"I don't mind."

"What kind of tea would you like?" she excitedly asked when he accepted her offer.

"I don't mind." Then he left.

Byakuya's workplace was located at the back end of the manor. He preferred the solace of the area away from all the commotion in the house.

"May I come in?" Kana quietly asked him as he was reading a report.

"Yes."

She slowly placed the tray on the table beside him and started brewing. She sensibly observed him as he worked.

"I thought you were in Seireitei Kuchiki-sama?" placing the teacup beside him.

"I was." He answered without looking up.

"Can I stay here and have tea with you?" she asked but didn't need an answer. She took her teacup and sat by the door facing outside. She laid her cup on the floor and rested her hand beside it. The afternoon sun made everything look still. There was a tiny stream in front of the office and a bridge crossing it. The room was elevated with a few steps adorned by beautiful stone lamps. The trickling of the water from the stream sounded so comforting.

"This tea is good." He broke the silence.

"Mmmm.." she turned her body to face him. "It's roses and peach." Turning her head back on the scenery.

Byakuya watched the girl sitting on his door, her braided bun looked messy with some of the strands hanging behind her, but she still carries herself with grace. Most ladies from the noble realm ranges from snotty to overbearing and for some bad karma he has always attracted the assertive kinds. If he has one word to describe her, it would be, unassuming. He watched her bring herself up taking the teacup in her hand.

"I'll take these to the kitchen…" taking his empty cup and placing them on the tray. "Thank you for your time Kuchiki-sama." She gave a long bow and took the tray with her but before reaching the stairs she turned to face him again. "I will help with dinner tonight, I hope you enjoy it." Giving him a short awkward bow again letting him know she's leaving.

"What do you want?!" annoyed at the presence behind him.

Yuruichi appeared behind the tapers, "Oya, you look pleased…" she teased him nudging on his shoulder.

"Why are you here?" feeling a headache coming.

The girl sat in front of him, legs crossed, and rested her face on her hand. "You don't like fragrant tea."

"Eavesdropping is not kind." He added a tone of annoyance to his words.

"I didn't even hear a thing. You were just staring at her!" she laughed.

"I was not." He dropped his gaze on his paperwork ready to work again.

"But why do you prefer her sitting here instead of me?" smacking her hand on the table to get his attention back.

He slowly stood up ready to resign for the night. "I assume you will have dinner here."

"Hell yeah, I want to taste what the pretty lady prepared for ya." She poked at his face when she did not hear an answer. "Admit it she's beautiful."

He sighed. "It's none of your business." Walking faster than the lady beside him.

"This tastes soooo good!" Yuruichi's face turned pink like the salmon she was eating. "I didn't know fish could taste this good!" closing her eyes to savor her meal. "I'm gonna eat here forever."

"Don't"