Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 341
A Kiss for Shelter
Naturally
It came to his attention within the space of a few days that where there might have been competition, there instead bloomed friendship.
Xochitl and Sakura-san… seemed to enjoy one another's company while he was away from the manor tending to his division.
It was astounding.
Byakuya Kuchiki lorded over a house of women. Two women dependent on his affections (or indulgence)… If you counted Rukia, three. Though Rukia most certainly wasn't vying for any affection that wasn't familial in nature- regardless of how much she admired (adored?) her elder brother.
Byakuya was entirely too calm about the circumstances in which he found himself- or so Renji said.
Renji also pointed out- unhelpfully- that it was like the start of a mini-harem. He (the captain) might as well just add a few more women to the fray. He'd earned himself a rather baleful glare for this series of observations.
While his lieutenant was picking apart the situation, adding what he thought were humorous comments, Byakuya himself wondered why he was not incensed by his obvious lack of control.
In his office, the lieutenant's yammering provided an almost calming backdrop for his frivolous musing. He knew Renji was only trying to dispel the oppressive atmosphere that had been clouding around him since Xochitl had…
Well in any case he knew he was being rather complacent about the whole affair.
Was he simply just relying on some kind of faith- a belief in kismet?
He smirked.
If so, Xochitl had had more of an effect on him than he realized with all her talk of gods and goddesses and the universe at large…
Superstitious woman… She looks for signs everywhere… Borrows scrolls full of legends from my library… And always lights incense in that odd makeshift shrine of hers…
Byakuya's chuckle shocked Renji into pausing mid-sentence.
He eyed his captain with suspicion a moment, one tattooed brow raised. A devious twinkle crept into his brown eyes as he gave a conspiratorial smile, "You're thinkin' bout it, aren't ya, Taichou? The whole harem thing..."
AN: Oh Renji… Just oh…
In the next few chapters… A small drama might bring the two stubborn lovers together again.
*Hopefully I can figure out how to throw a poll on my profile- I might ask for a little participation as the end nears… We'll see if my tech-challenged brain can puzzle it out (or maybe it's hella simple?).