Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 317
A Kiss for Shelter
Opposition
It had been late when the young woman had finally returned. He had met her at the front gate and shot the guards a warning gaze when their eyes threatened to follow the courtesan's progress. She was cloaked in that familiar blue and he had led her and the two trailing after her to the guest house.
He had only watched for a moment as they began to set things about her room before he turned on his heel to have a word with the over-curious men at the gate.
On Byakuya's return, he was nearly brushed by the young messenger boy. The boy's normally stern face was flushed, irritation and something else showing in the way he scowled. He even had the audacity to shoot a glare over his shoulder at the noble who had stopped, his head turned just enough to see the boy.
To Byakuya's astonishment, when the boy noted his attention he stopped, spun on his heel and sneered. A couple quick, and obviously angry hand gestures in the captain's direction and a hissing of breath as he mouthed words, and the boy had disappeared into the trees, heading for the gate.
Normally Byakuya would find himself indifferent to another's incomprehensible scorn, but he couldn't help but be curious about Ikarosu's precipitous animosity. He did not know the boy's language and suddenly he did not like the thought of being ignorant.
He closed his eyes and faced forward once more, opening his eyes after a moment to stare up the path toward the guest house.
A part of him scoffed at the idea of having to face the woman and lay out his expectations… yet another part of him relished the thought of seeing her dark eyes spark with rebellion.
He shook his head at himself and squared his shoulders further, trying to avoid the notion of anticipating the small battle ahead.