Bleach belongs to Kubo, as always.

Rangiku Matsumoto's head swiveled around rapidly, frustrated that she could not see. "Where are we? I hope you're not trying to kidnap me and hold me hostage in a dungeon, Byakuya." She was currently blindfolded and clutching onto Byakuya's arm for dear life after a harried journey by shunpo. He picked her up as soon as she was out of work and insisted that she follow him, even tying something around her eyes to boot.

Byakuya silently reached behind her head with one hand and untied the piece of cloth with one movement. She rubbed her eyes for a moment before opening them. Rangiku realized that they were in one of the newer upper-middle class neighborhoods in the Seireitei that were built after the Quincy War. The houses were modest, ranging from one to three-story houses, and quite private as well. Several hundred yards separated each house from one another, it was completely possible to not even know who your neighbors even were due to the amount of privacy.

The house they stood in front of was a two-story home and painted in a pale green color with white trimmings. There were around a dozen trees on the front lawn, and she could see the outline of a bathhouse in the back. The front lawn was expansive as well, and the walkway to the house itself was made of cobblestone. Rangiku was perplexed, Byakuya was one of the wealthiest men in the realm, what business did he have here? This was considered upper class to her, but quite beneath him.

She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. "Whose place is this? Is there a party going on in there?" she asked. "I haven't had a good drink in forever." Rangiku was very excited at the possibility of alcohol being served. Byakuya couldn't help but shake his head slightly at his object of affection's obsession with alcohol.

"You have mentioned before how complicated it was for me to visit your apartment without being seen, as well as when you visit my quarters at the 6th Division barracks. Also, visiting my manor outside of official business obligations would be difficult as well." He began to explain in the monotone voice that Rangiku wished he'd drop around her. "So, I decided to remedy the solution the best as I could."

Rangiku looked scandalized. "So, it is a dungeon!" she pointed an accusing finger in his face and faltered slightly at his reproachful stare.

"Rangiku-san…" Byakuya gazed at her with his smoldering coal colored eyes, quieting her instantly. He reached inside the pocket of his haori and produced a set of keys. Her jaw dropped as he took her hand and placed the keys in her palm. "This set is yours." He explained as he softly closed her hand.

"You did not just buy me a house…" she stammered out incredulously. They weren't even dating! What kind of person casually buys their friend an entire house?!

"I bought us a house." He corrected her with a nod as a hand dipped back into his robes, producing another set of keys. "This is so that we may be in each other's company privately, and without any fuss. I do hope it is to your satisfaction." Byakuya tried his hardest to seem blasé, but he could feel his hand tremble ever so slightly as he gauged Rangiku's reaction to this sudden change in events. He was always the type of man to take the initiative, and while he enjoyed visiting Rangiku at her place immensely, why not gift her with something better that they could both share and enjoy?

Rangiku was a healthy shade of beet red as she stared at the set of keys in her hand. "Us?" the word repeated itself in her mind over and over. Byakuya watched her with amusement and held out an arm. "Let us take a look around our home, Rangiku-san. If you do not like it, I will purchase another suited more to your tastes." He opened the gate and motioned for her to walk through.

She took the offered arm hesitantly as she gaped at the home in front of her. Most guys usually bought women flowers, chocolate, jewelry, etc.—not an entire house.

The two friends slowly and silently made their way along the cobblestone pathway arm in arm, basking in the warmth of the sunset. Rangiku's bright eyes regarded the building in front of her—it was a beautiful home and she had to admit, it appealed to her tastes quite a bit. Yet the nagging thought on her mind was why Byakuya did something like this so soon? They had only been friendly for a little more than a year, and rich or not, this was very abnormal. She wondered fleetingly to herself if that kiss was misinterpreted and wanted to kick herself even more than she did that morning. The kiss was hot—so, so hot—but a mistake all the same, and it seemed as if now she was paying for her weakness. Rangiku hated the thought of hurting this man's feelings because she couldn't get herself together.

She glanced at the man to her left and saw that he had on his usual look of indifference. Yet, his spiritual pressure was absolutely buzzing, almost as if he was bursting with anticipation. Her eyebrows furrowed, perplexed by this. Rangiku could always identify Byakuya's spiritual pressure, it reminded her of a cool, spring breeze—and what self-respecting lieutenant of the Gotei 13 couldn't identify something like that—but this was the first time that she could feel it. The first that that she felt him.

This was something that she had never experienced before.

Byakuya glanced at her several moments later as if he felt the same sensation. Her spiritual pressure was like an intoxicating perfume; sweet, yet oh so very tantalizing. At some point in the past year, he would randomly seek out her spiritual pressure, just to know where she was. Most times she was at her home or in her office. Other times, she was at the local bar with her friends, much to his distaste. Sometimes, she'd even be at Kuchiki Manor, trespassing with her fellow women for their biweekly meetings. Yet, for some odd reason, something felt off. Her normally wave-like spiritual pressure started to feel as if it was rumbling. He could now feel that she was in deep thought, and it made little sense. Byakuya was a talented Shinigami, but he was no mind-reader.

He had never felt this way before.

"Who would've thought that a little kiss from me was worth an entire house?" Rangiku snickered at her own expense as she swiped a hand across the granite kitchen counter. The house was Western-style and she had to confess, Byakuya had good taste. The cabinets were a rich cherry wood that made the kitchen feel homey and lived in. The wooden floors were even heated, and Rangiku made sure to kick off her sandals as soon as she walked inside.

Byakuya poked his head in from the family room and pinned Rangiku with a piercing look. "Our home was in the works long before you decided to lavish my mouth with your tongue." He took silent satisfaction at the middle finger she gave to him and smiled ever so slightly. Her expression soon turned sullen and she hugged herself.

"This is weird. Really weird." She sighed to herself as she leaned against the counter.

"How so?" Byakuya inquired as he walked up to her, placing both hands on her shoulders.

"Byakuya." Her voice was admonishing him like a guilty child. She crossed her arms underneath her ample chest and tilted her head back in exasperation. "It's not normal to casually buy a house for, or with someone that you're—uh—crushing on, no matter how rich you are. People usually don't do those things unless they're…" she trailed off, suddenly unable to finish her sentence with the word she was planning to use.

The nobleman in front of her merely reached out and gently pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I have already explained to you as to why I purchased this home for us. Spending time with the woman that I've come to care for immensely matters more to me than following the rules."

Rangiku clasped a hand dramatically to her ample chest. "You don't care about following the rules anymore? My goodness, I feel faint." she sighed as she slumped backwards into his arms, shivering at how he nuzzled his face into her neck and squeezed her tenderly. "Stop…" she whined half-heartedly as she wiggled in his embrace. Rangiku failed to realize the Pandora's Box that she opened when she kissed Byakuya; the man had become exceedingly affectionate with her in the weeks since then, and she didn't have the heart to stop him because she liked it quite a bit.

She'd take a cuddly Byakuya over a taciturn Byakuya every day of the week. It was so weird to see how Byakuya could go from being cold and emotionless to such a thoughtful, affectionate man when they were in private. She saw a side of him that no one ever had, and she was secretly glad that she had this side of him all to herself. They hadn't kissed each other on the lips since that morning, and Rangiku found herself thinking about the kiss more often than she cared to admit to.

"We should explore upstairs, I want to see if you have a knack for interior design or not." She stepped away from his embrace quickly before making her way towards the stairs.

"The dungeon, you mean?" Byakuya retorted mockingly as he followed her. He was startled when she stopped at the foot of the stairs suddenly and turned.

"Dungeons aren't meant to be upstairs, a dungeon would have to be in a basement or something." she rolled her eyes at the man before placing a hand on his cheek. She then traced her fingers slowly down his neck and down his chest. "But we could christen it as such, if you want." she whispered as she took another step forward, her blue eyes glinting mischievously. She pressed herself into him ever so slightly, and Byakuya felt his blood run cold. "All…night…" she giggled into his ear before nipping at it with her lips. Rangiku loved teasing Byakuya, his blushing and awful attempts at keeping a straight face were absolutely adorable.

Byakuya's jaw was slack with shock. He was smitten with Rangiku for a variety of reasons—her beauty, her intelligence, her sense of humor, etc.—, but her being a consummate temptress tested him on a near daily basis. His hands clenched together in fists as he silently contemplated his life decisions before she broke down into raucous laughter. Rangiku was now hunched over, hands on her knees as she absolutely howledwith glee.

"Oh, you should see your face!" she exclaimed as she sat herself down on one of the steps, howling with glee. She noticed his silence and looked up at him to see that he was staring down at her blankly. Although Rangiku learned to read Byakuya's body language quite well, there was something about his reaction that she simply could not place. He did not look annoyed, but he didn't look pleased, either. If anything, the man looked quite dispirited. She thought about trying to sense how his spiritual pressure felt like she did earlier, but ultimately decided against prying too much.

"Byakuya? You alright?" she called out to him, standing up as she waved a hand in his face. He suddenly jolted back to reality with slightly widened eyes and took her hand in his squeezed it softly. Rangiku ignored the jolt of what felt like fire go through her body and stared at him.

"I am fine. I was just…thinking about something." He answered her as he stepped around her and walked up the stairs. Rangiku frowned as the man disappeared around the corner and sighed as she followed him. Such a moody man, he was…

"And that's the whole house." Byakuya announced as he pressed a glass of wine into Rangiku's hands. "As I said, if this doesn't satisfy you, I can easily buy another house. Several, if you wish." He was completely serious, he would buy out the entire neighborhood the second she asked that of him.

Rangiku couldn't help but laugh. "I wish that I could say something like that so casually." She sipped at the wine, a very tasty white wine. Stepping out onto the veranda that overlooked the backyard, she sighed. "You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to make you happy." His voice lowered ever so slightly as he approached her, his face now inches from hers. "You deserve this and much more; and if it's within my power, I want you to have everything that I could possibly provide for you."

Rangiku gave him a meaningful look before turning away to face the garden. "The lengths that you go for me, it's borderline absurd, Byakuya. I wish you cared about yourself as much as you care about me."

"Then you would be asking for quite a bit, because I care for you immensely." He stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I make the effort for you so that you don't have to exert any of your own. You are worth it."

"Byakuya…" Rangiku sighed and she couldn't help but smile ever so slightly at his sweet words. "What's the real reason you bought this place? I know you have an ulterior motive, and I'm no fool. We haven't had any serious problems with meeting up before and it's been a year already, so you might as well tell me the truth."

The nobleman next to her turned away and finished off his glass of wine. "I want you to move here." He blurted out as he served himself another glass and drank from it deeply, mostly to loosen himself up a bit. "I bought this house and the lands with it with the intention of you living in it permanently."

Rangiku sighed in exasperation after several long moments as she too served herself another glass of wine. "We both know that cannot happen." To pack up her life and run into this house that she didn't even know about until an hour ago, it was too much to process. Even then, she would be living in his humongous house all by herself since Byakuya obviously had his own mansion. It would be weird being roommates with him, anyways…

"If you would just consider—"

"No." Rangiku cut him off firmly, but her tone soon softened. "Look, I appreciate everything you've done for me, but this is…this isn't something that is supposed to happen like that." She looked away from his saddened expression before his eyes could convince her to change her mind. Leaning heavily against the bannister on the veranda, she swirled the contents of her glass around in deep thought. "I don't mind hanging out here—this place is amazing, it really is. I just think that your intentions are a bit…excessive. Sometimes, money can't buy everything."

Byakuya's eyes never left her face as she spoke, and he felt the telltale signs of dejection start to set in. He waited day in and day out for the right moments to prove his worth to her, and nothing seemed to work. If anything, his methods seemed to push her way, but never completely. Never once had Rangiku ever completely spurned his advances, which simply meant there was some degree of interest on her part. Yet, she seemed to admonish him and flirt with him all at once, it was quite puzzling. Not only that, it was heartbreaking as well. Even the slightest negative response from her caused a horrible sinking sensation in his chest. Rangiku affected him in ways that he couldn't even fathom himself.

He jolted slightly when he felt her knuckles brush against his face tenderly, and the gentle smile she gave him made his heart flutter with longing. Could she not see how much she meant to him?

"You're my best friend, and I don't want you stressing yourself out over trying to make me happy—just enjoy what we have, please?" she sipped at her wine again. "You've got to tell me where you got this stuff…" she eyed the bottle that she left on a small table next to her. Byakuya stayed eerily silent, and Rangiku turned back to him with concern.

"Are you alright?" she asked of him yet again.

He nodded slightly and murmured something about exploring the den further, and she followed him with excitement. Yet there was a single phrase that kept ringing in his ears, a phrase that would most likely keep him awake at night for the next several days.

Best friend.

Cold.

So, so cold.

Byakuya turned over on his side and brushed a hand on the empty side of the bed forlornly, wishing that she was there. He had grown accustomed to sleeping alone since his wife's passing, but now he once again craved the warmth of a woman next to him in his slumber. To meld his body onto a curvaceous feminine figure as they slept away in bliss. To wake up, nestled in a comfortable embrace. He needed her.

In his mind's eye, he saw her blonde tresses splayed out like a halo on her pillow as she grinned playfully at him. He saw baby blue gems twinkling with mirth and he could hear her melodious laugh. He could also hear those small mewls she made in her sleep as she tossed around listlessly and kicked at him. She turned onto her stomach and rested her head on her hand, swinging her legs back and forth playfully as she winked at him. Her pink lips smiled gently and opened to speak.

"You're my best friend."

He felt himself shake his head softly in defeat, and the picturesque image of her next to him dissipated into darkness. Worst case scenario, if in fact that Rangiku failed to return his affections, would a friendship even remain as a feasible option? Byakuya had to remind himself daily not to dwell on such a possibility, but the fear in him about his feelings being unrequited troubled him quite often. The past year with her in his life was complete bliss, and the thought of all of that ending made his stomach churn uncomfortably.

Yet, Rangiku initiated a kiss with him, which would logically mean that she had feelings for him, wouldn't it? Her mouth tasted divine, and he was craving for her more and more each day. He loathed the idea of pushing further advances on her and buying her an entire villa didn't work out and anything else would only serve to drive her away further.

Eventually, sleep was able to claim him, but not as deep as he would have preferred. His sixth sense picked up on a disturbance some time later and his eyes opened immediately. As a soldier with senses honed with experience, he immediately shot up in the bed. Blinking wearily, he saw a sight that was too good to be true, but he soon realized that he was not dreaming at all.

There she was in all of her splendor, laying on her back and snoring softly on top of the sheets next to him. She was clad in the lavender night robe that he bought for her several weeks ago as a present.

When did she get here?

He decided to spend the night at the new house a week after introducing it to Rangiku. Byakuya felt the need to get away from clan responsibilities and he needed time to think, yet he did not expect her to come back here any time too soon. A hand reached out to her on reflex, brushing golden tresses from her forehead. The woman shifted ever so slightly into his touch, and aquamarine orbs fluttered opened to gaze upon him.

"Hey." she yawned as she turned over on her side to face him. "Couldn't sleep?"

He nodded silently, contented with just observing at her. Gods, this woman…

"Me either. Come back and lay down with me." Rangiku reached out and tugged at his hand, beckoning him to lay beside her. He immediately sank into her embrace and snuggled into her warmth, groaning softly under his breath. The sensation of her arms wrapped around his body, the steady beat of her heart against his chest, the sweet scent of her hair…the sensory load was overwhelming. How could she make him feel this way so effortlessly?

"It's the middle of the night, why have you come here?" he finally asked after several minutes of indulging in her balminess. He felt Rangiku shift ever so slightly, and her hand slunk over his bare chest to where his heart was. Her touch was searing hot and he could feel white hot fire flow through his veins, and it took everything within him to keep his composure together.

"Well, I hate tossing and turning all night like I was, being restless and all." she replied as she drew patterns on his chest with her fingers. "Figured you'd be here, and I thought you were already asleep. So, I just…" she paused a moment to draw the covers over their bodies.

"Just what?" he asked with bated breath.

"I…" he felt her shudder slightly. "I didn't want to be alone right now. I wanted to be here with you, Byakuya." She confessed softly. Her nightmares weren't giving her any reprieve, so she came to the safest place she could think of.

"I see." Byakuya drew her even closer to him, entangling his legs with hers and resting his forehead in the crook of her neck. "The feeling is mutual, I crave for your warmth during these cold nights. Especially now of all times." She shivered when she felt the deep rolling rumble of his voice.

"Don't cop a feel now, Mr. Sentimental—I'm still a lady." She warned him half-heartedly as she drew lines with her fingers along his spine with her other hand. Byakuya never once tried to touch her in such a way and she wouldn't be surprised if the thought had never occurred to him. Such a model gentleman he was.

"Hmm." Byakuya hummed as he felt himself begin to drift off again. Her timing was impeccable, but then again, everything about Rangiku was impeccable. He eventually felt her turn her back towards him and draw his arm tighter around her midsection. The both of them couldn't help but marvel at the fact that they fit into each other perfectly—every single curve of Rangiku's body flowed seamlessly with Byakuya's toned form.

"You're so warm…" Rangiku commented through a yawn as he fingers danced about Byakuya's toned arm. "You're like a fluffy teddy bear, all warm and snuggly…I like it a lot. Makes me feel safe."

Byakuya cocked an eyebrow at Rangiku's half-asleep words and chuckled under his breath.

Rangiku jolted awake suddenly on her back, slightly disoriented. Blinking the sleep from her eyes rapidly, she looked down and sighed in relief. Byakuya was still there. The man's arm was wrapped around her as snugly as they were before they went to sleep. Turning her head, she noticed how his eyes now fluttered open, silently regarding her.

"Morning!" she chirped happily at the man, still relieved that he kept his promise to her.

"Rangiku-san." Byakuya stifled a yawn as he greeted her. This was probably the most well-rested he had been in quite a while. He shifted onto his stomach, absorbing the sight next to him. Her hair was splayed about the pillow messily and he could even see a line of dried drool on the corner of her lips. A kind smile and teasing blue eyes stared right back at him.

She looked utterly gorgeous.

"Did you sleep well?" he questioned her.

"Yeah. For once, finally." She arched her back and stretched. A calendar was on the wall next to her and after squinting at it, she realized that it was Saturday. No work, which meant that she could stay here all day if she wanted to. She reached forth and stroked Byakuya's cheek, giggling slightly at how he leaned into her hand. "And that's all thanks to your efforts, big guy." she said genuinely, smiling softly at the slight tinge of red on Byakuya's cheeks. The man cleared his throat and even looked bashful, much to Rangiku's amusement. She jumped slightly when she felt a moistened thumb rub at the side of her mouth.

"You drool quite a bit in your sleep." He commented as his thumb inched closer to her mouth, undoubtedly searching for more dried spittle to rub away. "For once, someone has surpassed my niece in that manner." Against his better judgment, he gently flicked his thumb across her bottom lip slowly.

Rangiku pouted at him and swatted his hand away, ignoring the jolt of heat through her body from his sensual touch. "Ichika-chan is such a cutie, even though her uncle is a such a grumpy old man."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed at her. "If I recall correctly, you are several years older than me. What does that make you then?"

The blue-eyed beauty immediately shot up in bed and glared at him. The Gotei 13 as a whole was well aware that any reference to Matsumoto-fukutaicho's age were ill advised, but Byakuya did not fear her wrath. If anything, she was quite endearing when she glowered at him. She crossed her arms and scowled at the wall opposite her, suddenly feeling ravenous.

"Is there any food here? I'm starving."

Byakuya nodded silently. Their house was fully supplied with everything that they could possibly need. Anything that she could possibly ever want.

"Alright then." Rangiku slid from Byakuya's warmth regretfully and walked towards the bedroom door. "I'll cook us up some breakfast." She winked at him. "Wipe that look off your face and come get some food!"

Byakuya listened to Rangiku's laugh as she pranced down the stairs before he flopped on his back, smiling softly at the ceiling. She did not realize how she was the light of his shadowy life.

Byakuya approached the dining table cautiously, he had forgotten about the stories of how Rangiku's cooking could reduce grown men to their knees. Granted, her culinary expertise (or lack thereof) wasn't as treacherous as Kurosaki's woman's, yet he did not want the experience to compare. On the dining table, there lay a pot of tea, fried eggs, rice, and a bowl of fruit. A simple breakfast by his standards, but seeing as how Rangiku prepared it, it might as well have been a feast fit for a king.

"I figured that you wouldn't be up to what I usually eat, so I decided to compromise." Rangiku commented airily she swept in from the kitchen, depositing two bowls of miso soup on the table. "Whoever invented the instant stuff is a miracle worker—there's no way that I could've made that from scratch." She sat herself down and immediately opened a jar of marmalade, spooning out two spoonfuls of the tangy jam into the soup. She brought a spoonful of soup to her lips and crooned in approval at the taste.

Byakuya eyed her concoction warily as he sat down, electing to start breakfast with a banana. "Rangiku-san, this is absolutely wonderful. Your efforts are recognized and appreciated." He complemented her frankly and she grinned at the praise. "Next time, I would like to do the same for you."

"You know how to cook?"

"I do not, but I will learn. It shouldn't be that difficult. Tell me what you want, and it will be done." He replied, unconcerned. Byakuya never needed to learn such domestic skills as cooking, but he was willing to try if it made her happy. Rangiku giggled at his nonchalant comment and the two settled into a peaceful brunch, conversing about many topics ranging from Rangiku's latest shopping trip to Byakuya's work week.

During a short bout of silence between them as they ate, Rangiku snuck a quick look at Byakuya. His hair loose down his back with a few loose strands framing his face and his sleeping robe was loosened at the chest, showing off his toned form. Such a placid expression enveloped his features as he busied himself with eating his rice, and Rangiku never realize how she truly appreciated when Byakuya let down his hair sometimes and relaxed, both literally and figuratively. Only she was allowed to see this side of him, and a small part of her wished that she would be the last.

Byakuya was nearly finished with his rice before he heard a tapping noise. Looking up, he saw that Rangiku was tapping her chopsticks against her bowl, staring right at him. She looked utterly adorable with her hair tugged into two small pigtails. Rangiku hadn't even bothered to dress for the day and yet she looked so beautiful.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Nah, I was just thinking, that's all." Rangiku reassured him as she turned her seafoam blue gaze onto him. She set the chopsticks down and folded her hands underneath her chin. "I love how normal this is, you know? We're just enjoying a nice Saturday morning brunch with each other. This is something that I've always wanted to do, just be regular." She tilted her head to the side and gazed at him warmly. "I love how I woke up next to you and the first thing that I thought about was you, and not if I'd be fighting for my life that day." She continued as she gave him such a genuine and dazzling smile that Byakuya felt his heart leap several times in his chest with happiness at her words.

Byakuya looked into her marvelous sapphire eyes and noticed something different about them. There was a touch of fondness in her gaze, as if she was looking at him in a different light now. He wondered if she was looking at him as how he gazed upon her.

"Do you really think of me often?" he found himself asking before he could stop himself.

Rangiku nodded enthusiastically after she drank a few sips of tea. "Yeah, I do. I think about what you're up to when I'm not around, and I even think about what ticks you off so that I can go out of my way to do it." She laughed at his slight frown. "That doesn't creep you out or anything, right?" she questioned quickly, fearing that she was revealing too much.

Byakuya crossed his arms across his chest and closed his eyes. "The farthest from it, for I do the same with you. Yet I find myself thinking about how I can make you happy instead." He opened his eyes again and his dark eyes glinted. "I think of your smile as often as I can, and what I could do to see more of it."

"Aw!" Rangiku clutched a hand to her chest and bounced happily in her seat. "That's so cute!" She folded her hands together and leaned forward. "You know, I'm glad I showed up here. I was second guessing myself on the way here, but you really came through for me when I needed you the most." she blew a kiss at him and winked, and he fought the sudden urge to catch her kiss mid-air with his hand.

He gathered himself quickly before replying calmly. "This could possibly be a frequent occurrence if you were to move…" he trailed off as her visage suddenly darkened. Yikes, he said the wrong thing yet again.

"Byakuya, really? We're on this subject again?" She huffed as she sipped at her tea again, disappointed that the picturesque moment was now ruined. "I'm not going to uproot my life to live in this huge house by myself, waiting for you to grace me with your presence whenever you feel like popping in." It didn't matter whether or not she decided to come here in the middle of the night—visits were one thing, but actually living here? That was simply out of order.

"And what made you think that I would not move here as well?" Byakuya's expression was just as impassive as it usually was. "My intention was for the both of us to live here. Together." He stressed the final word. "I was not quite sure how I was going to ask that of you yet, Rangiku-san."

Rangiku's jaw dropped in astonishment. She couldn't believe that Byakuya would consider doing such a scandalous thing. Surely his clan would notice and immediately look into it, and she did not want to be branded as a live-in harlot who spirited their clan head away.

The thought of waking up in the same house as Byakuya Kuchiki every morning was both tempting and terrifying.

"But what about Kuchiki Manor? Your family? You shouldn't leave them behind like that so suddenly." Rangiku questioned hastily. The idea of having a man abandon his ancestral home to cohabit with her was mind-boggling to even wonder about. What was Byakuya thinking?

Byakuya pried his eyes away from hers and stared down at the table, taking several deep breaths before he decided to speak on a topic that he never once wanted to address.

"I do not like living there anymore. The Manor is…depressing. I wake up to silence and my own servants and family members cower in my presence, although that is more my fault than theirs. Since Rukia's marriage, she's moved into her own residence and…the loneliness is suffocating, Rangiku-san. There are things that my extended family members and servants simply cannot provide for me, as much as they try to. And I do not wish to bear witness to that more than I am obligated to." His normal steely countenance weakened slightly, and Rangiku's heart ached at the vulnerability that he was showing. He raked a hand through his hair and cleared his throat, desperate to regain some semblance of control in the conversation.

"Last night, I was so cold, so…lonely until you came here. I don't think you understand how I crave to be near you as much as I can. Your presence is therapeutic to me. I realized this many months ago and decided to take the initiative without taking into consideration of what you thought of this." He admitted softly. "Holding you in my arms is a privilege that I would be honored to have if I had the chance again."

"Byakuya…" she breathed out his name, the ache in her heart made her choke up a bit. This man, this wonderful man didn't deserve to feel this way. She felt awful about admonishing his attempts at mitigating his discomfort with his current lifestyle.

"I'm aware that asking this of you is selfish of me…and I agree. I had no justification in purchasing a home for us without your knowledge and coercing you into moving in. That was insensitive of me." His countenance was once again firm, that moment of weakness was simply what is was, a moment.

Obsidian orbs closed again, refusing to see the inevitable look of disdain on her face. Rangiku probably thought of him as a desperate fool for such a stunt like that. Byakuya couldn't help but jolt ever so slightly at the sound of her chair scooting back against the tile of the floor. Opening his eyes once more, he watched her stand and walk next to him and cradle his head into her bosom, stroking his hair softly. Byakuya couldn't help but succumb to her embrace and relax against her touch. Rangiku's caress was like a drug to him, only she could make him feel this way. Secure, appreciated, and safe.

"If I had known all of that, I wouldn't have spoken to you in the way that I did." Rangiku murmured soothingly. She cradled his face, slightly rough with unshaved stubble in her hands and made him look up at her. "I never realized how this meant so much to you. How much I apparently mean to you." She pinched one of his earlobes teasingly. "And I'm just a big fat hypocrite for throwing a hissy fit as if I didn't sneak in here last night to sleep with you. I get lonely too, don't get me wrong—I'm just not used to anyone doting over me like you do. Sometimes it makes me feel uneasy because you could walk away at any minute now and I wouldn't know." She continued as her voice became softer and softer, abashed at her previous reaction.

Gin had provided for her in his own way, but almost always turned his back to her as soon as he did so. Rangiku couldn't help but feel consistently apprehensive whenever Byakuya did something meaningful for her, which was almost all the time. It was never her intention to run Byakuya's emotions through the ringer.

Byakuya gazed tellingly into her eyes as he turned his body to face her directly, making her stand in between his legs. "You cannot sneak into a home that you yourself own, especially when you have your own set of keys. And I would never step away from you, ever. Please, don't ever think of such things again." He finished with conviction in his voice as he grasped both of her wrists gently. Rangiku's reservations about him were no fault of her own, she had every right to protect herself. Byakuya then made it a personal goal to ensure that she knew that he'd always be there for her, no matter what happens.

"Wait…this place is in both of our names? Together?" Rangiku questioned with wide eyes, relieved that her insecurities were simply that.

A slight nod confirmed her suspicions. "Joint ownership. If anything should befall me that results in my demise, this property is solely yours." He winced as his earlobe was pinched harder, but it did not hurt him. Her eyes narrowed significantly, and she pinned him with a hard glare.

"Shut up. That won't happen." She said firmly. "We'll both make great memories and have fun here together, got it? I don't want to hear any of that morbid nonsense out of your mouth anymore." Those words sounded so familiar to her, and then she realized that she had told Gin the exact same phrase in their little shack, deep in the Rukongai, eons ago. Her throat suddenly dried, and she found herself unable to speak any further.

Byakuya lifted his arms and embraced her around her waist, his head resting on her bosom once again. Rangiku was a saint, there was something about her that could always turn his sadness around almost instantly. "Yes, Matsumoto-fukutaicho." His earlobe was once again accosted when he spoke her title, and his lips teased into a slight smile. Many people did not realize that Byakuya genuinely enjoyed needling and teasing people for sport. He could truly be himself around her. Byakuya had so much to be thankful for, and he had his arms wrapped around the most important of them all.

"Tell you what, I'll spend some nights here with you every week." She offered, a slight rose colored tint to her cheeks. "I…I mean if you want, obviously." Naturally, Rangiku really wanted to be wrapped in his arms as she woke up in the morning again, but a lady shouldn't come on as desperate.

Byakuya lifted his head and blinked incredulously at the woman before nodding, grateful for her suggestion. "I would be indebted to you for that." A chance to wake up in her arms once again was dangling right in front of him, he would have to be a fool to do the gentlemanly thing and decline.

"I guess we will both benefit from this, in a way. You'll scratch my back while I scratch yours." Rangiku commented with a small smile. "Waking up to you isn't a bad thing. You're damned good at cuddling, Byakuya. Just don't grab at my boobs or my ass in the middle of the night and everything will be peachy." She winked at him playfully.

"I cannot guarantee that." Byakuya replied casually, amused at Rangiku's horrified expression. She pinched his cheeks and stuck her tongue out at him as he attempted to flail away, and the pair laughed at the humorous situation.

Rangiku smiled softly and pecked him on his forehead with her lips chastely before pulling him from his chair by his hands. He stood to his full height and beheld her, entranced by the set of baby blues that felt like they were looking into his soul every time she gazed at him. She tilted her head to her right and nibbled on her bottom lip slightly, almost goading him into what he was about to do.

Byakuya couldn't help but lean down ever so slightly to kiss her lips—the slightest of experimental pecks—and was pleased to feel her lean in and kiss him back. The sparks that he felt were instantaneous the second his lips touched hers, and he couldn't help but sigh into the contact with her. Rangiku's kisses were alluring and sensual, yet quite amorous as well—it was difficult to describe it any less than being absolutely breathtaking. One of his hands held her chin so gently and the other stroked her upper arm leisurely, and she shivered at his touch. He'd been craving to kiss her properly since day one and he was grateful that she acquiesced. They parted for a brief second to breathe and Byakuya's sense of smell was immediately overwhelmed with an intoxicating combination of peaches and vanilla from her hair.

There was nothing shameful about indulging, Rangiku thought to herself as she locked lips with Byakuya. He was trustworthy, honorable, and no stranger to her at all. Plus, he was an amazing kisser. He had her in his life for over a year and he never once tried to force her into any sort of physical contact without her consent, and that was something that she appreciated immensely. His rugged, yet soft hands left a trail of heat wherever he touched.

Her hands drifted up his chest and rested on his neck as she continued to kiss him. Rangiku had always wondered what it felt like to kiss a man properly—to kiss a sober man who wasn't trying to shove his tongue down her throat. Byakuya's kisses were sweet and gentle, yet firm and desirable. She decided that she'd let him kiss her more often. There was no harm in that, right? Her whole body felt warm and tingly, as if Byakuya's touch blanketed her with his affections. Eventually, Rangiku pulled back and smiled such a brilliant grin at him.

"You were waiting to do that, weren't you?" her flirtatious tone was playful. She had been secretly waiting on him to kiss her again as well, but she would never admit to that. Rangiku licked at her reddened and kiss-swollen bottom lip and batted her eyelashes, and Byakuya felt a rush go through him at the sight.

Byakuya's eyes lowered, looking chastised as he gathered himself in. "Possibly." A slight flush was on his cheeks from the intimate act with her. "It felt as if you were as well. You seemed eager and I was more than willing to oblige." He smirked ever so slightly at her pout. Byakuya felt the vigor in which she reciprocated the kiss, he was no fool. Rangiku's pride prevented her from admitting to the fact that she was just as intoxicated from his touch as he was with hers. He reached forth and stroked her cheek with his thumb languidly, relishing the sensation of her smooth, alabaster skin against his thumb as he gazed at her lips.

A roll of blue eyes and a friendly smack on his forearm brought his attention back to her face and she walked past him. "I've always liked kissing cute guys and you are not an exception…but never mind that. I feel like taking a post-breakfast walk around the garden, are you up for it?" she flipped her hair teasingly and sauntered around the corner and out to the patio.

Byakuya watched her disappear through the door and followed with a significant pep in his step.

It's been a while! I'm back in school now, so I unfortunately won't be updating every 2 to 3 weeks as I usually do. Rest assured, I'm still writing even if I'm not updating, I just don't like to rush especially when I'm super busy. I made this chapter longer to make up for my extended absence, so I hope everyone likes it!

Thanks for reading and please review!