Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 720 (due to fluff)
AN: Depeche Mode's "In Your Room" helped this chapter along. "Songs of Faith and Devotion" is just an amazing album, one of my go-to favs.
A Kiss for Shelter
Where I Find You
He threw the shoji back without pause.
But there she sat on the floor, Ikarosu's head laid in her lap as the boy slept without burden. There was ash and dirt on the boy's face, and even the remnants of tears, but he seemed to have come to no harm.
The telltale streaks of tears dazzled on Xochitl's cheeks also and her eyes were still luminous when she looked up at him.
She watched silently, eyes intent on the heavy rise and fall of the lord's chest for a time before she met his anxious gaze. "He's alright." Her voice was whisper-soft and slightly hoarse, "He was frightened and..."
"And you?" His eyes did not leave her face.
He stared at her mouth as she trapped her lower lip between her teeth before looking down. Her hands feathered through the boy's auburn waves slowly and Byakuya's eyes followed their rhythm for a time before he drew them back up to her bowed head.
"I… I am angry- with myself…" She finally choked out.
His eyes darkened.
"I- did not reassure him. I didn't promise my friendship. I didn't tell him I would still make the tea he likes any time he might ask… I-," She sucked in a sob shaking her head, unable to continue.
Her eyes closed and it took her a few moments before she could look up at him again, "He's my family. And I feel as though I didn't make that clear to him."
Byakuya's chest swelled as he took a thoughtful breath, his grey eyes one again steady and placid.
"He is here now because he realizes how you feel. He has faith in you, Xochitl." He assured her. His voice was not overflowing with warmth, but all the same she sensed his tenderness.
Her sienna orbs reflected her gratitude and infinitely more.
It was never his intention to get too close. He had coached himself on maintaining some distance, but the temptation was too great.
He found himself down on one knee at her side. His hands slipped around to the back of her neck, one weaving into the hair at her nape and the other settling at the base drawing her forward.
She didn't attempt to stop him, she had turned her face to him instantly when he had kneeled. She leaned in, careful not to shift the boy sleeping unaware in her lap.
He offered a chaste kiss, but when he pulled back slightly it wasn't enough and he swooped down to press against her sensuous lips again, this time with greater pressure. His eyes closed, he shut away the thought of broken contracts.
There was a hint of salt that clung to his tongue as he swept it over the seam of her lips. She opened her mouth for him and the salty taste mingled with the somewhat spicy and heady taste of licorice root. He dove deep, torturing her with his thorough assault, his fingers massaging at the silky threads of her hair.
She made a soft sound and he broke away, rising before he fully disregarded his conscience. Integrity was a rather burdensome principal to cling to at times.
Her eyes trailed up him, her lips still parted as she swallowed air in rapid succession.
He disengaged from her sinfully dark stare moving toward the doors.
Yet he lingered at the threshold as she bit at her lips savoring the warmth left by his own.
"Does Hachimoto-san's presence… concern you at all?" He spoke stiffly.
But she read him easily enough and a huff of laughter lightened the atmosphere. There was a momentary attempt to hide her smile when he gave her a sidelong glance, but ultimately the effort failed.
Byakuya watched, bristling, as she shook her head and said succinctly, "No."
He sniffed, eyes passing over the line of trees before him, "Is that so?"
She looked amused now, "Mm. I recognize that Sakura-san is an enviable woman… But I don't believe my lord is so fickle."
He straightened his shoulders, placated. Then he was gone.
Xochitl looked down fondly at Ikarosu whose head was lightly pressed to her protruding tummy. A touch of sadness edged her smile, "He's so willing to break rules for me… How ruthless of me to be pleased by that in this moment."
AN: I feel like an ass for copping to this, but I created a poll only to delete it because I wasn't sure it was going to post to my profile and not just be out in the FF ether.
Anyhow- the poll's question was: Who should be with/discover Xochitl when she goes into labor? –And the options would have been:
Byakuya
Rukia
Renji
Ichigo
Other
*So if you're so inclined, you can either PM me or review with your opinion for now so I can get an idea until I can assure I can post the poll properly on my profile.
Thanks for reading!