After the arrival of his bride to be, Byakyuya Kuchiki decided to, albeit uncharacteristically, take some much needed time off. He did not tell anyone of his recent guest, and feigned being ill to excuse himself from relaying any further explanations. His doctor had already been insisting for decades that he take time away from work to relax and he had no problem gaining her support and an alibi for disappearing from the world.
Even in the first day of absence from his captain duties he did not once regret his decision to spend every waking moment with the lovely Orihime Inoue. She was aglow with her pregnancy, or was it just her? Every time she smiled he felt himself fall more and more in love with her. Each day that passed he felt himself slip into a loving abyss of which there was no return.
"Byakuya?" Orihime called to him. He immediately turned to look at his woman who sat next to him comfortably in the tall grass. Seeing as she obtained his attention she continued. "Will we ever leave this place? Not that I am ungrateful. You have taken care of me so well, attended to my every need..."
"You are restless. Such a pretty bird should not be confined, no matter how comfortable the cage." He flashed her a bright smile and her heart skipped a beat. "There are a few things I still must take care of and we will venture out."
"You said that a week ago." She pressed her lips together sternly and took in a deep breath. She was so cute! "I have been here a month and haven't seen the outside of these walls since I arrived. Is something wrong?"
"I've a reputation to maintain and an entire clan to run. Most would not look upon on our union favorably." He sighed deeply. "You also are in such a fragile state. The pressure alone might harm..."
"The baby will be fine. I'm not the first woman to conceive and I definitely won't be the last." She smiled slightly, amused at his over protective nature. She snaked her arm around his. He flinched slightly, unused to the familiar gesture, but quickly relaxed into it. Any contact from her was heavenly. "As for getting out, I could go alone, or maybe Rukia..."
"Absolutely not! It is out of the question. You will remain here until... Until..." He was at a loss for an answer. He knew he was being overbearing, crazy even, but he would not lose her again, or lose his first child. Their child. The initial few months were critical and he'd be damned if they lost the little life they had made together. "Just trust me." He looked deep into her eyes as he spoke. His face was wrought with desperation. How could a girl say no? She nodded and turned to look at the lake before them.
"I will come up with a plan of action soon. It is just that..." He placed his hand on hers. "That I have been so distracted." She blushed slightly, still gazing at the water.
"Are you ashamed of me?" She asked quietly, almost afraid of what answer she might receive.
"Of course not!" He breathed in deeply, choosing his words carefully to not delve into too much detail. "Us being together... It made - makes things complicated. Some of my family do not look on our match with favorable eyes. Then there is the Kuchiki name that will be ridden with scandal over our baby, a baby that was made out of wedlock. Last but not least, there will be a fair amount of hearts crushed." He finished with a smirk and she in turn rolled her eyes.
"The fact that you are attractive hasn't escaped my notice, or yours apparently." She teased back.
"No, my dear Hime, there will be a large following of men that will have to mourn the end of your life as an unattached woman. You were and are still popular. The men of the Seretei are still looking forward to your arrival. I, on the other hand am afraid I scare the entire male and female population."
"I can see that." She let out a giggle. "If only they knew what a softie you really are."
"Only for you." He cooed, lightly squeezing the hand that lay beneath his. He turned his gaze to her profile and studied her features. "Heavens, you are beautiful."
()()()()()
"I have to see her, Rukia!" Ichigo called out in desperation. He had not seen the woman he'd fallen in love with for months. Knowing where she was and not being allowed access to her was driving him insane. He could barely sleep and food tasted bland. He was failing at his hollow duties and additional shinigami were sent down to aid where he was lacking.
"The situation is tough right now. I don't know if..."
"I don't care what the fucking situation is. Get me to her!" He interrupted, sorrow pulling at his heart strings and cracking through his voice.
"I will see what I can do for fucks sake!" The brunette was reaching her limit of patience. She knew that her old friend was desperate, but she also knew of Orihime and Byakuya's situation. If Kurosaki found out there might be bloodshed, or even death. She winced at the thought of his possibly violent reaction to the Kuchiki family's news. It was best to keep him ignorant of it.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" The redheaded man ground out through gritted teeth.
"I SAID I would see what I could do! All I can do right now within my power is bring you news that she is well. Be happy I even came to offer you that much." She placed her hand on his shoulder as an attempt to comfort him.
"Can't you see what a state I'm in? I'm dying..." He hesitated as the thought of death and joining his beloved Orihime in the afterlife popped into his head. "Without her."
"Don't even think about it, Ichigo Kurosaki!" Rukia noticed the gleam in his eye as the words left his mouth. "You have your family to think about."
"The pain... Is unbearable! Knowing I could have saved her..." He thrust his hands into his hair.
"I know... It isn't much, but please be content knowing that she is healthy and happy." Pregnant and confined, but relatively happy she reasoned. "She wouldn't want you to be like this, nor would she want you to kill yourself in her name."
"You are right." She was. Orihime would never forgive him for such a selfish act. His father and sisters would never forgive him either. He decided he would not die to join her, but he would find a way to see that she was well himself. If Rukia wasn't going to take him to the woman he was in love with he would find another way. He had snuck into Soul Society before and would do it again. He had to, to dull the immense pain in his heart and to rest his eyes on her beautiful person one more time.
()()()()()
"Brother." Rukia called out to her sibling, gaining his immediate attention. Byakuya set his book down and turned to face his younger sister, bowing his head slightly to encourage her to continue. "About Orihime..."
"What about her? Is something amiss? I should go to her immediately." He stood to leave.
"No! You must stop this." She halted the noble in his tracks. "If you don't give her some independence soon she may seek more... Freeing attention."
"I know, but..."
"Brother... She is restless and Ichigo..." She ceased to talk when she noticed the head of the household's change of expression, from concern to a hint of panic. She knew for him to show any form of emotion on his visage meant a great deal. It meant that he was truly bothered.
"What about him?" He returned to his seat, thoughts running rampant through his mind.
"He's desperate and you know very well what he is capable of. If they meet..."
"No. Not yet." She had not fallen back in love with him yet. If the two redheads were to meet he might not stand a chance. Ichigo was her first love and she was sure to feel the connection, even without the memories to guide her. "He's going to take her from me."
"You underestimate the love she had for you." He looked up to his sister and she gave him a warm smile in return. "Chin up, brother! Moping doesn't become you. It looks very... Odd."
"It is this woman's fault. I find it hard to maintain my composure when she is near." He coughed in embarrassment to his admission.
"It is healthy for you to show some feelings, as slight as the display may be. She is freeing you from your self induced burden. You should return the favor."
"You are right." He rose once more and made his way towards the door. "Thank you, Rukia." She accepted his gratitude with a curt bow.
()()()()()
Night had fallen over the Kuchiki Estate and all had retired to their rooms, sans the few servants on graveyard shift, whose job were to attend to any needs that may arise while everyone slept.
Orihime sat at her vanity, brushing her hair and humming a soft tune while musing over the day she had with the head of the household, her supposed future husband, Byakuya Kuchiki. The time they spent together was always enjoyable. They talked like they'd known one another for an eternity, he was handsome, kind, and in all other accounts perfect. Too perfect. It was unsettling.
Each day brought more joy than the next, but they were lacking. They were held together by basically the same routine, sometimes slightly tweaked for mild variety. The days were spent within the Kuchiki compound, a place she had come to learn almost as well as the back of her hand, with no hope in the foreseeable future of seeing what lie beyond the guarded gates. With Byakuya returning to work soon she would be left to her own devices with what little space and excitement her newfound cage had to offer.
"What is a girl to do?" She whispered, shaking her head at her predicament. She wanted an adventure, passion, and romance - after all, she was a hot blooded woman! If he wasn't going to let her out she would do it on her own. Somehow she would find her way past those very capable, strong, mean looking, powerful... "There is no way around those guards." She became deflated at the thought. She set her brush down and stood to make her way to her oversized bed.
Knock... There was a knock at her balcony window. Her eyes grew wide as she saw where the noise had come from. A man stood just outside her room and was trying to gain her attention.
()()()()()
Ichigo watched his old lover for some time as she sat singing to herself, completely unaware of his presence. She was insanely beautiful, even more so in death. She was like an oasis in the middle of a desert he'd wandered through his entire life.
The want to just see if she was okay turned into a want to touch and physically feel that she was alright. Just one touch...
Before he knew it he had leapt from his hiding space, up to the french doors that kept them divided from one another. As he approached she stood up, looking as if she were going to retire for the night. He tapped once on the glass, enough to gain only her attention. She was startled by his sudden appearance, but was calmed as soon as he quickly, and temporarily raised his riatsu.
She approached the window to peer out at him, searching for something to remind her of who he was, beyond his spiritual pressure. Red hair, brown eyes, a permanent scowl, a comforting spiritual pressure. Her hand slid to the door knob to let him in.
()()()()()
"Orihime." A deep, familiar voice called to her, taking her focus away from... She looked back. The familiar stranger was gone. "What are you doing?"
"I just wanted some fresh air before bed." She turned toward towards the raven haired man. "I thought you had gone to your room."
"I... I could not sleep." He approached her slowly. "I was thinking that we might see some of the town tomorrow."
"Away from this house? On the other side of the gate?" He nodded 'yes', smiling at her excited reaction. "But I thought with all the complications..."
"Do you not want to...?"
"Of course I do!" She beamed at him, running into his arms in a warm embrace. That smile! It was so sweet it made his heart ache. He squeezed her tighter. She let out a muffled "thank you."
"Hime, I wonder..." The young woman looked up at him and he returned her gaze. Heat pricked at her cheeks as she suddenly felt so vulnerable under his watchful eyes. "That I might stay with you tonight?"