Every month it seemed the Kuchiki Estate hosted a new, blue blooded guest. Byakuya's aunt was determined to have him married and an heir on the way. She sent for women from all over to come one month at a time in an attempt to capture his heart, or at the very least, his libido. Neither would budge.
"Hime..." He whispered. He knew she couldn't hear him but it gave him comfort to utter her pet name whenever he missed her. How pathetic he must seem. He, Lord Kuchiki, was pining away after a human woman. An amazing human woman. He of course would never act amiss in front of anyone. He left his mourning for his bed chamber where he and his riatsu were free to run wild - within reason, of course!
The memories of that night still were fresh in his mind. Even though it had been a year and some months he could still picture her clearly. He remembered the way the dress clung to every curve of her body, the creamy porcelain skin that went so well with her fiery red hair, her silver eyes sparkling up at him like a pair of twinkling stars, her plump, smiling lips.
He also recalled how her naked form felt in his embrace, the sound of her moans of pleasure, how she called out to him lost in the throws of ecstasy, her nails digging into his back as he entered her.
He slid his hand under the covers to attend to his hardening member. May the heavens help him!
()()()()()
"Byakuya..." Orihime whispered as she laid in her bed in the dark, alone. Whenever she wasn't feeling well, or feeling down her mind would automatically shift to comforting thoughts of the noble. She had called in sick to work today. One of the very few times she had in the last few years. She could hear the disbelief in her assistant's voice as she said she wouldn't be in that day.
Her head felt as if it were going to explode. She supposed the feeling was coming on for some time as each day the pain had become increasingly worse over the last couple months. She tried rejecting it on several occasions but was unsuccessful.
Ichigo had tried in vain to get her to go see the doctor. One night he even went as far as throwing her over his shoulder in a vice grip, but she put up such a struggle her neighbors called the police in fear of her life. He insisted on at least having her head scanned and she insisted that it wasn't necessary.
The truth was that she knew something was wrong, but didn't have the will or want to fight it. The fact that her powers were useless against it made it more than apparent it was something that was simply meant to be. She would die, forget all this wasted life and begin anew. Perhaps she would roam the spirit world as a commoner waiting for her turn to reincarnate, or maybe she would become a shinigami? She longed for a simpler time when everything was so clear, when it was socially acceptable to wear her feelings on her sleeve, relentlessly chase her dreams, and love like a fool.
She closed her eyes, imagining that the abundance of sheets were those of Captain Kuchiki. She nuzzled her face down in them wishing that he would suddenly materialize and take her far away from her life and her pain. She missed him greatly.
In the distance she could hear a door open and close. Judging by the gentle sounds it was Ichigo. He always seemed to be walking on eggshells around her, trying in vain not to reawaken her agitation, hoping one day to be forgiven. My, how the city had hardened her. He must not have been able to reach her at work.
They had been sleeping together for the last few months. He was waiting for her to give in and be his, and she was letting him fill a physical void. Their roles had reversed. He sat by the sidelines in awe of her, waiting, while she barely took notice, or cared to. His mind was full of her and hers was full of someone unobtainable.
In spite of her lack of commitment where he was concerned, the young woman gave in and allowed him to have a key. "It is for your own protection" he would say. She supposed he was right. Especially on a day like today where she could barely move from the intense pain she felt. Him being a doctor in training would hopefully do her some good, though she hated, beyond anything else, to ask for help. Her days of helplessness were long since gone, or so she had hoped.
"Orihime?" The young man called out to her gently, careful to not make more noise that he absolutely had to. She could hear the light pitter-patter of his feet against the wood flooring.
"In here." She moaned, trying to pronounce the words as best she could. As soon as they left her mouth she winced. Even moving her mouth felt like a feat of nature.
"I'm taking you to the hospital. This time there is no arguing with me." He informed her as he wrapped his arms around her torso and legs to lift her from the mess of blankets. She moaned in protest, but dared not make an sudden movements for fear of vomiting.
He carefully walked the two of them out the door, down an elevator, and to a waiting car. There he cradled her in the back seat, occasionally placing kisses on her forehead. Much to his surprise she didn't object.
"I love you, Orihime."
()()()()()
Heavy fists fell like boulders on the door to what once was Byakuya's safe haven. Irritated at being interrupted during his evening activities. He threw on his robe, composed himself and walked towards the frantic banging sounds.
"Yes?" It was Rukia, who knew better than to disturb him unless something drastic- "Hime."
"She..." The raven haired woman's eyes dampened, threatening to produce a flood of tears at any moment. "It won't be long."
Within seconds he was out the door with sword in hand, making his way towards the Senkaimon Gate. If anyone were to release her soul it would be him.
"Where do you think you are going?" The croak of a voice raked against his ears as he passed through the great hall. It was his aunt.
"You know where I am going." He stopped for just a moment to respond to the old woman. Anger clung to his words, undetectable by most. "She won't remember me when she arrives."
()()()()()
"I'm sorry, Ichigo." She said through the sobs as she looked down at her body. "I'm so sorry!"
"You should have let me taken you in to get a scan!" He cried out. She wrapped her arms around his body attempting to comfort him. "I could have saved you..."
"I couldn't even save me."
"I wanted to help! I've always wanted to help! Now you've killed yourself because of your selfish - !"
"No." She calmly interrupted. "I couldn't live a moment longer being pitied. I was pathetic then, always getting into trouble, always being saved, always waiting by the sidelines watching as everyone else contributed. I was denied being able to fight alongside everyone for fear of me shattering like a porcelain doll. It made me sick!
I left all of you to prove you wrong. Even with my career, my expensive apartment - that I earned on my own - you still don't see how strong I am... Was."
"I love you and now..." Ichigo felt as if his chest would cave in. "I want to go too."
"You can't. You have a family that depends on you, your career..." She kissed him on his cheek. "Then I really couldn't forgive you."
"We could have figured something out!" He shouted out in disgust with the situation. She retracted, startled by his outburst. "I wanted to marry you, have children with you, make a future with you!"
"I'm sorry!" The heaviness in her heart became unbearable. The man in front of her, the man she loved once upon a time, the man who never looked at her before a year and a half prior was full of sadness, anger, and love - all because of her. She had single handedly ripped his heart out from his chest like he had done all those years ago.
"I guess it is what I deserve."
"No. No one deserves it. It hurts too much." She reached out with her hand and smoothed it over his shoulder.
"Did you do this to be with him?" He said quietly with a tinge of anger. He looked up at her with piercing brown eyes.
"I won't even remember him."
()()()()()
Byakuya rushed to the hospital where Orihime's body lay and where her soul waited to be sent on to the next world. He suppressed his spiritual pressure as he neared the structure in order to not alarm the young woman as he searched his brain desperately for the right words to say to her. As he reached the outside of her room he could hear her conversing with the substitute soul reaper. Kurosaki.
"I'm sorry!" He could hear the pain in her voice as she talked with the young man.
"Did you do this to be with him?" Kurosaki asked, his question laced with anger. Upon hearing the angry words Byakuya moved to interrupt, but stopped as he heard her reply.
"I won't even remember him." She was aware of it too.
"Or me." Was the substitute's reply. "Fuck!"
"But I'll be in Soul Society. It'll give me a chance to start over and maybe..."
"...Give me a chance?" He finished her sentence for her. He stood to pull her spirit into his embrace. "I will visit as much as they'll allow me to I hope you know. This time you will choose me. I will make sure of it."
"Maybe." She breathed in deeply, cautiously choosing her words, not wanting to upset the newly, somewhat calmed Kurosaki. "Please tell Tatsuki and the others that I'm so sorry..."
"Telling Tatsuki is going to be hell." The redhead winced at the thought.
"She will understand eventually and she can visit once in awhile. You'll bring her, won't you?"
"Yes." He stated as calmly as he could manage. He buried a shaking hand in her hair at the base of her neck. Tilting her head upwards he crushed his lips down on hers. Tears fell from his cheeks onto hers, mixing with her own. "God, I love you, Orihime."
"I know." She rested her forehead on his chest. Her body was crumbling under the unbelievable sorrow she felt. As bad as it was she knew she had a bright future ahead of her. It was another chance to prove herself, to not screw up. It was purely selfish on her part and she knew it. Eventually everyone would forgive her.
"You can come out now, you bastard." The substitute looked towards the room's only door. As suppressed as Byakuya's spiritual pressure was, he could still be sensed by the almighty Kurosaki. He slipped through the entrance. Orihime stood frozen in place, eyes wide.
"I came to-" the noble began to speak but was immediately interrupted by his nemesis.
"I can fucking do it. This is your fucking fault! All of it!" The younger man growled through gritted teeth as he released the woman in his arms. He returned to the seat by the bed and began to separate himself from his body. While her childhood friend remained preoccupied, she stole a glance at the older man. Just as she suspected, he was looking at her with those beautiful, sad eyes.
"I'm sorry." She mouthed to the noble. All he could do was stare at her in composed disbelief. He was always composed, wearing that damned poker face. Anyone else would think him indifferent to the situation at hand, but she knew him. Ichigo knew him. The fact that he was even here spoke volumes.
"He is right. It is my fault." Byakuya's voice shook very slightly. Guilt flooded his body and his eyes turned red and wet, tears threatened to fall. His face still remained expressionless despite the crushing sorrow weighing heavily on him. The young woman's heart sunk even further.
She wanted to say more, even touch him, but she couldn't bear hurting the substitute shinigami more than she already had. If she were to show preference to either the other would be devastated. She would not choose. Not now. She looked down at the floor wishing the two men away. Despite what she'd been told all her life, death was not peaceful.
"Are you... Ready?" Ichigo asked quietly and she nodded in response.
"I love you." She stated as the tears once again began to fall. Her silver eyes looked to each of them. "Both of you."