Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Word Count: 1068

AN: Hey all! Gratitude for the follows and favs and reviews! Hope everyone is well- I caught a little plague and felt rather miserable for a bit, but things are lookin up!

A Kiss for Shelter

This is Happening

She could admit that she was proud of herself. It had taken months- but she had done it. Well months and some intense debates with more than one ornery individual.

But it was done now- and the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth broke free.

Yes! She could feel a burst of refreshing pride tingling in her chest.

… That was until she came around a corner and nearly barreled into her brother's looming form.

His gaze was placid- but she could see the measure of expectation in the stoic look.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

…

Something was going on.

Sakura-san's sudden departure… She'd offered a kiss to Takuma and a heartfelt hug to Xochitl, her only words, 'It is time for me to take my leave.' Xochitl's protests and questions had fallen on deaf ears.

Then there was the talk- a lot of talk- whispers among the servants.

There was shock and awe in these whispers and an anxiety hinged on the fact that the truth had not been verified.

But when she asked the maids they tittered and glanced nervously at one another, making up apparent excuses to flee. Even Byakuya's kindly elderly steward, who was fond of taking walks with mother and child, hedged.

The purposeful avoidance was worrisome. She became anxious in response.

Thus, during Takuma's nap did she find herself on a circuit of the grounds, strolling casually as her ghagra swirled about her ankles in a warm breeze. The sliver of skin that might be seen between her long choli top and the skirt might seem scandalous, but in her spare time, she'd used her various dance disciplines to regain her shape after the birth and felt no shame in the foreign attire.

Still when she spotted one of the Elders- Sushiko-sama in particular- she froze and then after a moment or two of nervous hesitation, ducked behind a conveniently placed tree.

She closed her eyes and cursed silently when she heard Byakuya's silky tones. Obviously she didn't want to be seen as eavesdropping- but nor did she want to walk straight into an awkward encounter- whether she had turned away or not she would have caught their eyes.

She stifled the frustrated whines that scratched at her throat as she inwardly berated herself. Preparing to wait them out she bit her lip. Admittedly she was tempted to sneak a peek at the man now striding at the Elder's side…

Honestly she lost track of the minutes that she waited, too preoccupied with her inner mantra: I will not gawk at the lord of the manor. I will not…

When she opened her eyes there were no familiar voices rising on the breeze. With a sigh she sidestepped from her hiding spot- only to realize the pair had stopped outside the shrine she was facing.

Both turned to her and she tensed visibly before bowing deeply to the pair. She could practically feel the older woman's cool assessment. As for Byakuya… his reiatsu was… strange… It was very subtle- but Xochitl felt it- as surely as she could feel the shifts in her son's energy- she was too familiar with it now not to notice.

Her heart gave a worried thud. What now?

"If you will excuse me, Kuchiki-sama. I should think I can have a draft of the agreement to you by the end of the day." Elder Sushiko said, turning to the clan leader, though she kept the girl at the edge of her vision.

"That would be acceptable, Oba-san." Byakuya replied without a hitch. At the address Sushiko cast a slightly disapproving frown at the young man, but lifted her chin in arrogant indulgence.

"Kuchiki-sama." She gave a slight bow which her nephew returned. The Elder moved to leave but hesitated at the same moment Xochitl looked up only to catch the woman's eyes. The Kuchiki mask was firmly in place on Sushiko's face, but her brown eyes seemed to consider Xochitl without their usual severity. After a brief, yet meaningful, nod at the young woman, the Elder swung around, fluidly striding away in her navy kimono.

Byakuya watched in veiled amusement as Xochitl stared after the elder, a stunned look exposed on her face.

"What was that?" Xochitl whispered, forgetting that even softly spoken words might reach the man across the way. A breeze brushed her face and feathered the loose hair against her neck. She sucked in a breath as she jerked her head up to look into Byakuya's calculating greys.

Before she could stop herself she hissed, "What are you doing?"

"You asked a question." He responded reasonably.

"Yes," She retorted instantly stepping back to gain space, "But to myself. We can't be seen here- talking!"

The way he cocked his head just slightly made goosebumps breakout across her flesh- he was scheming.

"In that case…" His voice was a deep purring rumble as he closed the gap between them.

Her body was weightless in his arms and she barely had the sense of mind to grip onto him as the landscape blurred.

As he drew to a stop he smirked a little- he had missed that thrilling beat of her heart against him. He realized he loved to catch her off guard, just to feel that drumming rhythm vibrate throughout him. After several moments in which she was too winded to scold him, she began to struggle where she was seated in the crook of his right arm.

He ignored her squirming, keeping his forearm secured beneath her bottom, the other wrapped lightly around her waist.

Finally she stopped attempting escape long enough to look down into his face, her expression murderous.

"Down. Now." She said between her teeth, her accent quite heavy at the moment. This only made him lift a brow mockingly.

Still, after a second or two of defying her with a provocative stare, Byakuya gently lowered her until her feet touched the ground, though he did not relinquish his hold on her waist.

Flush against him and decidedly upset by his audacity she braced her hands against his chest.

"You're-,"

She was sufficiently silenced when he bent and buried his face against her neck. Both hands, nearly meeting around her waist held tight against cloth and skin.

"Oh." Was all she managed as the force left her own hands and she found herself inhaling the scent of his black robes.