A/N: I apologize for the wait! I've had writers block, but I think I'm back on track with more ideas! Thank you for your patience.
()()()()()
Byakuya slowly opened his eyes and all he could see was orange. He was buried in soft, copper hair. He took in a deep breath. Sweet wine and strawberries he had concluded. That is what she smelled like.
It was early in the morning and he had a long list of duties to fulfill before he could join everyone for the post engagement party brunch. As much as he didn't want to, he had to take his leave and try to do it without disturbing the sleeping beauty beside him.
Quietly, he stood and wrapped his hakama loosely around himself and walked around the bed to look at the red headed woman. A pain struck him in his chest. Reality cut deep into him like a knife.
His duties weren't urgent, yet he was so eager to return to them. To run away from her. Responsibilities were so much easier than the complicated matters of the heart.
He knew he and the lovely woman could not be. She was alive and he was dead. They were from two different worlds. Even if she did belong to his world his family would not tolerate another marriage that they would consider beneath the Kuchiki name. He would not put her in that position. He would return to his duties as head of the household and set her free of any obligation to him. This time logic and reason would win. It was the best scenario for the both of them.
"I am truly sorry, Hime." He said barely above a whisper. The Captain pressed his lips to her forehead. "I have hurt us both and I am sorry. I shouldn't have. I..."
Nothing he could say would make it better. Like so many tomes before, he abandoned his feelings and the feelings of those closest to him. He turned and left the woman's room. Closing the door gently behind him, he took in a deep breath. He knew he would pay for last night for many years to come.
()()()()()
Orihime woke to the sun shining through the cracks in between the curtains. She stretched and turned to face the man she had reconnected with the previous night. He wasn't there.
"Byakuya?" She called out to him. Maybe he had gotten up for some water, or had to relieve himself. The redhead lifted herself out of bed and made her way towards the living area. The bathroom door was open as she passed it. He obviously wasn't there. Quickly, she reached the living room. He was nowhere to be seen. She ran in the direction of the balcony. She threw open the doors to reveal... Nothing and no one. She was alone in her room. He had left her.
At a nearby table was a piece of paper with a note on it. She peered down at it, taking in the message word for word. It was from him. An apology and a dismissal of all that had happened between them on the night prior. Her heart caught in her throat.
It was happening again, and with someone she had known for so long. She was just another woman. Nothing special, nothing to set her apart from the other women. Byakuya had told her what she wanted to hear, which granted him access to her bed. He got what he wanted and she gave it to him all too willingly. Stupid girl.
Orihime flung her arms over the balcony and rested her chest on the railing. She peered down at the flowers below. Tears began to fall from her eyes. A swell of sadness and frustration grew in the pit of her stomach.
She should have known better. She knew from experience that if she wanted a man to take her seriously she should wait, suppress her desires, give him something to chase. The many years that she hadn't seen the Captain didn't count. Maybe they were never friends and he was just drawn in by her physical charms, like the many men before, saying whatever it took undress her.
"I thought you were different, Mr. Kuchiki." He seemed different than all the rest. She expected him to be. She was wrong.
()()()()()
It was a beautiful and bright summer afternoon and all the guests gathered in the estate garden for brunch. It was a much welcomed meal as many of those at the party the previous night were feeling the effects of over indulgence.
"I have an announcement!" Rukia stood as she clanked her fork against her drinking glass. "As you all might be wondering why we would throw together such an extravagant party for just an engagement, not everything is as it seems. Renji and I... Well, we are getting married. Tonight... "
First there was silence, then Gasps, cheers and claps erupted from the crowd. Rukia beameda at the number of shocked faces looking at her in awe. A surprise wedding was just what this dreary house needed.
"I also would like to ask two very dear friends each a favor. Orihime, would you be my maid if honor, and Ichigo, Renji's best man?" Orihime forced a smile and nodded. Ichigo turned his gaze to the redheaded woman, grinned and accepted the request.
"This means I'll get to dance with you, Inoue." She winced, but forced yet another smile.
"Good! And my brother... Where is he?" The whole party looked about searching for the familiar face of the royal. Orihime fixed her eyes on the ground. She didn't know where he was, but knew why he was missing. It was her fault. "Well, he's got some explaining to do. Enjoy your meals!"
The guests laughed and returned to chatting amongst themselves. Everyone but Orihime. She was happy for her friend and happy to have the opportunity to be a vital part of the ceremony, but she couldn't bring herself out of her funk to enjoy the festivities. Byakuya had thoroughly embarrassed her by abandoning her after the intimate night they shared, and now he was avoiding her like the plague.
She had contemplated leaving Soul Society as soon as possible, but now that was impossible. As uncomfortable as she felt, doing this one favor for Rukia was far more important than running home and throwing herself on her bed in a heap of tears and running mascara.
"Orihime." She was broken from her concentration. She looked up to see Ichigo smiling at her.
"May I?" He asked as he nodded towards the chair beside her. She nodded back in response. "You... Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She replied, a bit irritated. The last thing she wanted to do was acknowledge what sort of state she was in. "You?"
"Better, now that I am talking with you." He winked and laughed.
"How corny. Since when did you say such things, Kurosaki?" She rolled her eyes. His humor was not amusing to her.
"Since when were you so serious, Inoue? You used to be so happy and carefree." He poked lightly at her arm.
"No. It was pretend. I was lonely. As I grew older I no longer had the patience to hide it." She moved her arm from the reach of his prodding finger.
"I'm sorry." Ichigo tried grabbing ahold of Orihime's hand, but she withdrew it before he could make contact.
"Why? You weren't before." She hissed. "Not when you rejected me so painfully."
He placed both hands on either side of her chair, picked her up and turned her to face him. His eyes searched hers for some warmth, any hint of sensitivity to his situation. He could find none.
"I realized what you meant to me after you left. I tried to contact you, find you somehow. You can't deny that. All those unanswered calls, e-mails, texts, letters."
"You hurt me!" She snapped.
"I know, but I tried. I really did, Hime..." His voice pulled at her heart strings, but failed to warm it. It was too frozen as far as he was concerned.
"Don't call me that! You can't..." That nickname wasn't for him to use. It was Sora's and... That bastard, Byakuya's to charm her into submission with. She stood before the tears could fall. Quickly, she made her graceful escape, leaving her old crush to stare after her, wallowing in his self-made misery.
()()()()()
Byakuya peered down at the party from a high window. He focused particularly on the fair redhead sulking as far away from the rest of the crowd as she could possibly be. It pained him to see her sad, or just look at her and know that he couldn't touch her. She was another forbidden fruit that would send the Kuchiki household into uproar. She was another pleasure that he could not afford to enjoy.
He watched as the redheaded idiot approached her, sat next to her, tried to please her with words that would fall on deaf ears. She could not be pleased. Byakuya watched her stand, excuse herself and run away. He wanted to run to her, scoop her up in his arms and carry her off to someplace where no one could find either of them, but that was not possible.
"I'm so sorry. For the both of us." He whispered.
"Sorry about what?" A familiar voice asked.
"Nothing. What is it?" Byakuya responded with suppressed agitation. He wasn't a fan of having his thoughts interrupted so abruptly.
"I was thinking, with Rukia marrying, and so far below her station, that it might be time..." The voice paused.
"For what?" Byakuya tried to hold back his growing frustration.
"To unite the Kuchiki Clan with another royal family. To minimize the shame Miss Kuchiki is placing on this household by uniting with that hoodlum."
"That is out of the question." He turned to see his great aunt with her signature sour look on her old, wrinkled face.
"It is too late to refuse. I have already sent word. I made the decision when I saw you..." She took in a long, deep breath. "Conversing with that harlot like a starry eyed child."
"Let them come. It will not amount to anything." He said not allowing the panic he felt to show.
"We will see what the rest of the family has to say about that." With that, she puffed her chest, listed her chin and made her way towards the door. The old woman turned slightly. "Also, do not continue your careless dealings with that whore, or else."