Hi everyone! Sorry this took awhile because idk anymore haha. I have forgotten like usual. Also, much ashamed but this lowly author didn't realize until now that Chapter 1 had a scene removed and I didn't notice so if you want, read the chapter 1 again. It's longer since I included it this time... sigh... I'm so dumb.
Also, I just finished reading SVSSS (Scumbag Villain Self Saving System) and I do think mxtx best work is really tgcf. ANYWAYS, hope you guys enjoy the chapter.
An hour or two passed and Byakuya woke up once more lying in his bed.
"I would appreciate it if you tell me the pain in your leg, Kuchiki-san," Satoshi said with a smile yet his eyebrow twitched in irritation.
Byakuya stayed still as his eyes were looking anywhere but his doctor. He then slowly said, "It was fine for a while."
The doctor sighed as he rubbed his temples, "That may be so but you need to tell me that. Lying your way won't help you leave the hospital early."
"... I apologize."
"Forgiven," Satoshi said as he scribbled down on his trusty clipboard, "But for now, I should still assist you going to the library." He kept his pen in his pocket once he finished, "But for now, stay in your room. I'll make sure someone will bring your lunch."
"Thank you."
Satoshi opened the door to the raven's room and looked over his shoulder, "I'll make sure to inform your sister about the incident."
The raven didn't complain because he knew his words won't stop the doctor's actions at all. He could already feel the presence of his sister scolding him in the most polite way by his side right now.
Byakuya could feel the deadly eyes boring into his skull as he resumed reading the book that he had picked up during his first visit in the room. He was sitting across from a certain orange head at the table rather than outside the balcony.
The raven flipped a page, "Would you please stop staring at me?"
"No," Ichigo replied immediately, "What happened to you yesterday?"
Byakuya sighed. He forgot that he hasn't apologized directly to him just yet. He simply went there, grabbed the same book and sat right across from him despite the evil aura that the orange head kept on directing at him.
He set down the book in his hand, "My leg seemed to have acted up while I was on my way here. I apologize."
Slate gray eyes met amber. Byakuya could see the man's gaze softened as he looked away and sighed.
"Jeez," he muttered under his breath as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I was worried about you, you know?"
"You were?" The raven asked in return, face obviously concerned.
"Of course!" Ichigo sighed exasperatedly, "I heard shouts from someone and a doctor calling out your damn name. Who wouldn't be worried?"
Byakuya blinked slowly and nodded, "I understand. I deeply apologize."
Ichigo waved him off, "You don't need to be sorry, Byakuya. I'm just glad you're safe."
The raven couldn't help but look at the younger man right in front of him carefully. It was weird, he didn't know what to explain the feeling but it was weird that he couldn't help but simply observe.
The man was wearing his heart on his sleeve with a hint of secrecy in terms of feelings but the majority was shown in his actions and expressions. This fact intrigued the raven quite so that he decided to just stare.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Ichigo asked as he wiped a nonexistent dirt on his face.
The raven tore his eyes away from the orange head and looked back down at his book, "Nothing is on your face."
"Really?" Ichigo got up from his seat to get a book from one of the shelves.
"Of course."
The orange head hummed softly as his eyes scanned the shelf at a slower pace, as if he was looking for a specific one. On cue, his eyes lit up in glee as he pulled a rather small book from the shelf and stared at the book for a moment.
He then returned to his seat with a small grin on his face that Byakuya could almost feel the happiness radiating off the younger man.
Byakuya looked back up and eyed the new book, "What is that?"
"Why are you suddenly curious?" Ichigo eyed him suspiciously and almost hugged the book closer to him.
"I won't steal that," the raven said amusedly, "But you seem happy about it. I was simply curious."
Embarrassment was drawn all over the orange head's face as he fake coughed, "I'm not that happy." He grumbled a bit and resumed, "It's called The Catcher in the Rye. Have you heard of it?"
"I did, actually," the raven replied, "Is it your favorite?"
The orange head hummed, "Not really. It was something that my dad gave as a gift before. I lost my own copy though."
"Was it your first book?"
"Not really," Ichigo chuckled, "But it was the first book I was willing to read and actually enjoyed."
"I see," Byakuya muttered. That was an interesting fact.
"Wanna read it?"
The raven eyed him carefully, "Just a few moments ago, you were holding it dearly. What changed your mind?"
"You seem interested," Ichigo said with a grin, "Besides, this is a public copy. I'm not that stingy."
"I don't know about that."
"What?! Are you calling me stingy?"
"Perhaps I am."
"Why, you-"
Ichigo was cut off when he heard the door of the room sliding open calmly but it took both of the patients' attention. They were met with the wide grinned doctor that made Byakuya frown immediately in response.
"Kuchiki-san," the doctor said, "It's good that you're here."
Byakuya eyed him, "Satoshi-san. You know I don't go anywhere else."
"That's true," Satoshi responded as his eyes wandered from Ichigo then back to Byakuya, "Let me help you return to your room. Rukia-san is there."
The raven stood up at the mention of his sister's name. He looked at Ichigo with an apologetic look, "I'm afraid our session must come short for today."
Ichigo blinked but waved at him dismissively, "No worries, Byakuya. Just leave that book on the table. I'll return it."
A frown etched on the older man's face, "Are you sure?"
The orange head nodded and had let out a small grin, "I'm sure. Now go before your sister waits even longer."
Byakuya still had a frown on his face because he already recognized that kind of smile when it's on the younger man's face. It was fake, he thought. He wasn't sure but it was a feeling that it was that.
"Alright," the raven said and nodded, "I shall see you tomorrow again?"
"You better actually come here, okay?"
"I will."
A few days had passed and Byakuya was still resting in his bed most of the time but he got used to it, much to his dismay. He eyed the clock that has been staring down at him since he woke up. It read 9AM. It was early, he thought.
A knock broke the man's stare at the clock and his gaze averted towards the door. It was soft so he assumed that it was Rukia. The doorknob turned and he was right. His eyes fell upon two figures. One that he hasn't seen in a long time.
"Good morning, nii-sama!" Rukia greeted cheerfully, "Someone was finally free to visit you."
The woman then made way for the other individual to enter. The man was tall and muscular, tattoos all over him were visible and his long spiky red hair was tied up to a high ponytail.
"Abarai," Bakuya said, "It's good to see you."
Abarai Renji nodded and let out a grin, "It's nice to see you lookin' pretty good, sir."
Rukia closed the door behind him while Renji pulled two chairs just beside the raven's bed. Both of them sat down and Byakuya missed that they were holding something.
Byakuya sat up, "How's the company?"
"It's doing well," Renji replied, "Everything is slowly coming back into order."
The raven nodded in approval and his gaze moved towards Rukia, "How's Father?"
"He's doing well right after he took his medicines," Rukia said and sighed, "He insisted on moving around more but he felt sick right after."
"What a hard headed man," Byakuya said under his breath.
"I guess that's what you got from your old man, sir," Renji jokes.
The raven eyed him and the redhead thought he was going to die at that moment before the raven sighed before looking away, "You are certainly not wrong there, Abarai."
Rukia and Renji then looked at each other with a confused look. It was like something had changed within the raven that the both of them couldn't put a finger on. They looked at him one more time in confusion but the raven didn't even take notice of it.
After a few quiet moments, slate gray eyes fell upon the items that they were holding. Why didn't he notice that when they entered, he wondered. He looked up and met his gaze with his sister's.
"If I may ask," Byakuya started, "What are you two holding?"
Rukia's gaze lit up and she placed the items right on the man's lap, "I'm glad you asked, nii-sama. Based on those items, what do you think the day is today?"
Byakuya looked down and observed the items. A box of chocolates and a rose. Quite odd. He picked it up and observed the box closer as he heard a groan coming from Renji which in return made the man place another box of chocolates on the man's lap.
"Today…," the raven muttered to himself. He didn't know.
Rukia beamed, "I know you are not particular with this kind of holiday, nii-sama but Happy valentines!"
'Ah, valentines,' the man thought with dread.
"One's dark chocolate and the other is milk chocolate," Renji explained, "Hope the dark chocolate is good enough."
"Thank you, you two," Byakuya said with a small smile, "I appreciate the gesture."
Both Renji and Rukia smiled brightly at the man's reaction. The raven's smile was such a rare sight that it gave them joy just to see it knowing that they're the cause of it.
Byakuya eyed the boxes for a moment and kept it within his hospital gown and placed the rose right at the desk beside his bed which made the two confused once more.
"Nii-sama, would you like something special for lunch?"
"No, I'm alright for now."'
A sudden knock came from the door which made the three look at the door. The doorknob turned and it revealed the grinning look of the raven's doctor as he popped in the room with no hesitation.
"Kuchiki-san!" Satoshi greeted and then he eyed the two visitors, "Ah, Rukia-san and…"
"Abarai Renji, doc."
The doctor nodded, "Abarai-san, of course. I'm glad you're all here."
Byakuya eyed him carefully, "Based on your smug grin, I assume it is something well?"
"You said it!" Satoshi said cheerfully, ignoring the jab of the man, "I have very good news to tell you."
They all looked at him expectantly with Byakuya looking subtly curious himself. He guessed it was something about his condition because other than that would be quite different.
Satoshi clapped his hands together and he grinned, "Kuchiki-san may be discharged in a week!"
Both the guests looked happy and excited while Byakuya was unsurprised but at the same he felt a tinge of guiltiness in his heart when a flash of orange appeared in his mind. He wondered what would happen to the younger man then?
"That's great," Rukia said in relief, "What's his condition?"
"He is doing great based on my reports," the doctor replied, "So he'll be fine by next week. Just make sure to not tire him out immediately."
The woman nodded, "Of course."
"Good," Satoshi said and eyed the three of them again, "Well, I need to attend to something. Happy valentines everyone."
The three gave their goodbyes to the doctor and the man responded with a small wave before leaving the room. The air in the room was pretty happy and relieved because finally their boss could go back to work slowly.
A few moments later, Byakuya asked, "Rukia, Abarai. Would you two help me go outside?"
"What? Aren't you going to eat lunch first, sir?"
The raven shook his head, "I will eat later. It's my usual routine to head there first."
Rukia and Renji looked at each other for the nth time today. Their boss was acting weird ever since he stayed here and they were sure it wasn't included in the treatment. Both of them don't know where there is but it wasn't like they could reject the man's request.
"Of course, nii-sama. Should we head out now?"
Byakuya was already sliding down his bed as he replied, "If you would."
Before Renji could assist the raven, he held up a hand signalling that he doesn't need any assistance at all and he proved it by standing properly. His figure was towering Rukia but he was slightly shorter than Renji.
"Let us go."
The red head quickly went towards the door to open it for the Kuchiki siblings before closing it behind him as soon as the three of them were outside of the room. Renji had to admit that being there for a short while was quite suffocating. He then wondered what his boss felt like for staying there for so long?
They walked at a slow pace in the corridor with byakuya leading the way. They noticed that the raven was quite excited to go wherever he mentioned on going. After a few more strides, the man stopped by a closed sliding door and this piqued the guests' interest.
Byakuya looked back at them with a neutral face but his eyes said something different, "I would like you two to meet someone."
Someone? Someone?
Renji and Rukia's thoughts went wild immediately thinking that Byakuya managed to have a girlfriend in a goddamn hospital? Literally a place where someone least expected to meet someone. They were both happy and dreading at the same time because it has been so long since then.
They didn't even notice Byakuya sliding the door open and greeted whoever was inside the place but once they did, they snapped out of their thoughts and jogged closer to take a peek.
The sight they saw was something that they didn't expect. The place seemed like a small library and it was fairly empty except for a shock of orange who was sitting by a table reading a book.
The orange head looked up and grinned as he stood up, forgetting his book immediately, "Byakuya!"
"Ichigo," the raven replied with a certain softness.
Somehow that took the wind out of both Renji and Rukia. Someone calling Byakuya by his first name and the raven wasn't even mad? Byakuya calling the other back with such softness was also quite a shock.
What the hell?
They were also surprised that the orange head that was approaching them was a man. Seemingly the same age as Rukia. He was only an inch shorter than Byakuya. He had sharp features but with those boyish charms. Someone that they imagine would have a hard time getting along with the raven.
"Ichigo," Byakuya said as he stepped aside, "This is my sister, Kuchiki Rukia. And this is my right hand man, Abarai Renji."
Ichigo stepped forward and shook their awkwardly stretched out hands, "Hey there, I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Rukia managed to say.
"Yeah, same," Renji said.
As the orange head retracted his hand, he looked at Byakuya, "So, this is them, huh?"
"Yes," the man replied, "They decided to visit today."
"That's nice."
Byakuya averted his gaze to Rukia who looked like she was studying him, "Rukia?"
The woman immediately shook her head, "It's nothing, nii-sama."
"Alright," the raven said with a slight frown, "Would you like to join us for a bit?"
Rukia shook her head one more time and wore an apologetic smile, "I'm afraid we need to return to the company for now, nii-sama."
"Ah, I see. Well, I don't want to hold you off for too long."
Renji clasped a hand on Rukia's shoulder as he grinned at his boss, "Don't worry, sir. We'll be back to eat dinner with you here."
A slight pause before Byakuya nodded, "That would be you."
Both of the guests bid Ichigo and Byakuya goodbye before leaving the premises with a wave and a small smile. Ichigo snorted when he noticed the awkwardness that the two felt around him.
"Wonder why they're awkward towards me?"
"Do you expect them to be all chummy with you immediately?" Byakuya lightly asked as he chose a new book from a different shelf.
"Not exactly," the orange head returned to his seat, "It was like they expected someone different."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," the raven replied as he pulled a seat right across from the orange head to sit down with his newly found book.
They slowly fell into silence after that as the both of them were engrossed back in their book. It would've lasted longer than it would be now until Byakuya remembered something as he patted his chest and felt something hard.
The chocolates.
The raven set his book down and pulled the boxes of chocolates out of his hospital gown and placed it on the table. Ichigo didn't even notice this so Byakuya had to clear his throat to gain the orange head's attention.
It was effective since the man's amber eyes immediately looked up to directly stare at him, "What?"
Byakuya simply pointed down at the table for Ichigo to see it for himself. Ichigo, with a confused look, stared down at the table. His eyes immediately showed interest with how bright it got as he lowered his book to get one of the boxes.
"Chocolate? What's the special occasion?"
"Apparently it's valentines today."
"Ah," Ichigo's expression showed that realization just dawned on him, "I see." He then looked at Byakuya with a glint of mischievousness, "Is this you confessing your love to me, Byakuya?"
"Very funny," Byakuya said sarcastically which earned a roar of laughter from the orange head, "Rukia and Abarai gave this to me and I thought of sharing it to you. You like sweets, correct?"
Ichigo's mischievousness slid down and was replaced with a shocked expression but nodded dumbly, "Yeah, it is."
"You can have the milk chocolate," the raven said as he pushed the box.
"Are you sure we're allowed to even eat here?" Ichigo teased, "I thought you're a man who strictly followed the rules."
"I have learned that you can break it once in a while."
Ichigo grinned as he opened the box, "Well, then. You're the boss." He picked up a piece of chocolate and popped it into his mouth. He moaned in delight as he savoured the taste.
Byakuya's face contorted in mock disgust, "Would you please stop those explicit sounds?"
"But it's so good!" Ichigo exclaimed, "It's a damn expensive chocolate, that's for sure."
"It is probably Rukia's favorite," Byakuya replied, "You should be grateful to even taste something that exquisite once in your lifetime."
The orange head snorted, "You are so humble."
Both of them looked at each other and one broke out with a loud laughter while the other simply let out an amused sound. Those kinds of moments felt good for the both of them that made them wish they would have a longer time together being like this.
Ichigo kept the box with Byakuya's insistence in his own hospital gown once their amusement finally lowered down.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course."
Ichigo let out a grateful sound as he picked up his book to hopefully resume reading. He has forgotten which page he stopped at but that didn't bother him as much as he normally would.
A few moments passed and Byakuya cleared his throat once more to gain the orange head's attention. Ichigo looked up with an amused brow raised.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked again.
"I have something to tell you," the man said with a pang of guilt and happiness at the same time in his tone.
This made Ichigo set the book down once more. He felt like he knew where this was going. He nodded towards the other to signal that he could proceed since he was listening. He eyed the raven as he breathed in and out deeply before saying it.
"Satoshi-san said that I will be discharged in a week."
It was like something snapped inside Ichigo as he stood up abruptly which earned a loud squeak coming from the chair against the floor that made the raven slightly wince in response.
"Ichigo?" Byakuya asked in a worried tone.
"I need to go," the orange head said suddenly.
Byakuya stood up as well and grabbed the man's wrist, "Ichigo. I could tell something is wrong."
"Let go!" Ichigo shouted as he pulled away from the raven who immediately had a look of surprise as he slowly lowered his hand. What could even cause the pained tone from Ichigo's voice as he shouted.
What did he do?
The raven could see the slightly pained look in the orange head's eyes before it looked away, "I'm sorry, Byakuya. I… I need to go."
Byakuya didn't even dare to stop him as the orange head briskly walked away from him and even slammed the sliding door closed. He was surprised that it didn't even shatter from the sheer force from the impact.
The raven looked down at his hand with furrowed eyebrows. Why? Wasn't it supposed to be a joyous announcement? Why? He clenched his fists, frustration swelling up within him.
What did he do?
Thanks for reading! I'll upload the finale for Gesture tomorrow and hopefully Epiphany as well.