A Kiss for Shelter

by ArsinoetheXXVII

What if the courtesan was not the first to fall? One night is all it takes. And in Fate's hands a seed takes root. An honorable man will take responsibility and face the unexpected. Beyond passion, beyond possession and obligation he'll want for more, but find a soul unwilling to bow to him. Still with a little effort Byakuya might get what he'd forgotten he always wanted.

81. Chapter 81

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Word Count: 395

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A Kiss for Shelter

Funny Girl

She stopped as well, but kept her back to him.

Renji swallowed hard as he stared at her straight spine. Crap. She probably is one of those nobles and I just insulted her by being nosy!

"Ugh," He put his hands up, "I didn't mean any offense- I- ugh- just…"

The wind shifted and the woman's heavy cloak fluttered around her ankles.

After another tense moment she sighed and replied evenly, "I am carrying his child."

Needless to say this response left the red-head speechless and gawking. His eyes trailed her as she began to walk away, as nonchalant as though she had not just brought the world to a screeching halt with her revelation.

He lurched forward to catch up with her- which really only took a couple strides of his impossibly long legs.

Peering around over her from his height he noted the bump he had somehow missed earlier.

"What? You're joking- ne?" He forced a chuckle past his lips as he leaned further to see her face.

"Would someone really joke about such things?" She cast a sidelong glance at him.

His brow furrowed and he scrubbed at his forehead with his hand, "Well, everyone has a different sense of humor…"

She sighed heavily again, coming up short to turn toward him.

"Umm…"

Her small hand was stronger than it looked as she tugged his own toward her and forced it to her middle.

Renji made a strangled sound and pulled his hand away with a leap back. Nearly as red as his hair he gaped at her, sputtering, "Wha- wha- you- I didn't ask- wha-," But realization hit him so strongly he was left with his mouth hanging open in silence.

She said nothing as he tentatively reached out, hand hovering over where she herself had placed it moments before. His mouth was dry and his hand shook slightly as it stopped an inch away from the blue cloth. The pulse against his palm had him reeling. It was like a shockwave and a tingling sensation shot all the way up his arm and down to his spine.

Again, his jaw hung open and he was unintelligible. He soon ran out of awkward sounds to make and simply stared.

A small smile tugged at the woman's mouth as she mused softly, "So, you recognize it too."

Renji's reply was a twitching smile.