Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 449
AN: Introspection-a-la-Byakuya
A Kiss for Shelter
The Unknown Heart
Heavy clouds spread across the sky, dulling the faint moon. The snowflakes were slow, falling languidly to create a thin sheet of white.
The lamp burned low, its glow just strong enough that Byakuya could pick out the delicate features in the picture in his hands. He laid his head back on the screen behind him and could feel a slight chill from the air outside.
Again his eyes slowly traced the black outlines- a head, a neck, tiny hands. He smiled wistfully in the dark.
'Stay… I have something to give you.'
He had unwillingly released her from his arms and she'd returned clutching what looked like a small photo to her chest.
There was a shy blush in her cheeks, but her smile was unrestrained as she kneeled to face him and offered him the picture.
He could practically see how she held her breath as he took the gift from her hands.
A poignant ache filled his chest and his throat tightened as he gazed down at the photograph. His heart was constant in his ears and he had to force himself to ease his grip on the paper, lest he wrinkle it.
'Unohana-san said the baby is healthy… She even told me she knows whether it's a boy or a girl.'
He looked up earnestly then, somehow unable to hide behind his aloof mask.
Her eyes were glowing, but her smile dipped slightly as she admitted, 'I asked her- not to tell me. They're healthy… I don't mind a little mystery…'
He met her eyes for some time before he nodded and looked back down.
Snuggled close again they had gazed at the picture together.
It wasn't the first time he had opened his eyes only to watch her sleep. Still it was the first time he'd been invited to stay the night and this meant more than he could fathom.
But as the days glided by it wasn't uncommon for him to pause and wonder how his life had taken this turn- why it had taken this turn. Why was he so easily accepting of this? Why was it natural for him to accept her- to accept her role and want nothing but to keep her close?
A sigh passed his lips and his eyes shut again.
In retrospect, understanding his reasoning was fairly simple. A man who had been so close to the edge of death naturally craved things he did not have. Perhaps he hadn't been conscious of these desires as he spent days in recovery, but there was no doubt now that they had been just beneath the surface.
Was he finally obtaining all that he had forgotten he once wanted?
AN: Sorry- don't throw anything! I debated about letting the cat outta the bag… But then- aren't surprises good… maybe?