Chapter 4: Broken Rose Petals

Byakuya couldn't sleep much that night. He didn't understand why Yoruichi was so restless while dreaming. Not 10 minutes passed by without him being kicked in the back (which was already sore). When he turned over to embrace her, his groin was the target. He hadn't noticed it the first night, but then again she never stayed. Nonetheless, he couldn't stay angry at Yoruichi. Every time she'd elbow him, he'd glare at her, but that adorable face of hers cooled him. He would just watch her until she'd manoeuvre again.

When morning came, Byakuya rose from his bed and arranged a bath. He wasn't going to wait for Yoruichi as that would only have one outcome. He needed to get serious now, being 2 days behind his work schedule. After grooming and changing, he had his breakfast and went to toil in his study instead. It was difficult at first, being a different environment, but he was determined to concentrate. By noon he had almost completed the reports from 2 days ago. "Byakuya," her voice echoed across the shelves. The door was open. "Hmmm?" he hummed, not taking his eyes off of the paper. "Morning," she said, scratching her head and yawning. "Afternoon," he corrected. "Ah." She folded her arms. She asked, "Why didn't you wake me so we could have breakfast together?" Yoruichi was wearing his robe. That irritated him slightly, but he wouldn't dwell on it. "I have missed work for the last couple of days. I need to catch up." Byakuya flipped the page, writing something down.

He could sense Yoruichi's disappointment. Thinking back, he did feel a little guilty, but he would make up for it tonight. "Okay," she smiled. "Well it shouldn't take too long, right? I was thinking we can play some tag, visit the world of the living... have some fun today." Byakuya stopped writing. He called her some things in his mind he didn't mean – was she really that inconsiderate? "I'm not going anywhere today, Yoruichi. These last few days have put me off track. I need to stay home, rest and work." Yoruichi looked like she wanted to come over and see what all the fuss was about, hearing the words 'off track.' She remained by the door. "How about tomorrow then?" she almost pled. "Maybe..." he lied. He wasn't planning on heading out for at least a few days. "Let me know, then. We can have lunch together in an hour instead?" 'Why do you do this?' he thought. He tried hard to stay expressionless. "I will see you in an hour." Yoruichi nodded and left the study, closing the door quietly. Byakuya didn't want lunch; he just wanted to be left alone. Nevertheless, an hour of her time wouldn't hurt as long as she'd let him be for the rest of the day.

Keeping his word, Byakuya sat at the dining table in the kitchen ready for lunch. She was the one who was late, wasting his time. The maids offered him his food, but he would wait. When Yoruichi arrived, she was still in his robe. She had no reason to be late – it's not like she even washed since she woke up. "Hey," she beamed, sitting opposite him. Byakuya didn't respond, annoyed. "What are we eating?" she said, tucking in her chair. "You can have anything you like – ask them." He had said 'anything you like' not 'everything available.' This woman made him feel so good, yet so frustrated at the same time. He desperately wanted to correct her table etiquette; tell her off for overeating (not that he could judge after his strawberry shortcake frenzy). He didn't want to start anything, so kept quiet.

"So," she sputtered with her mouth full. "I wanted to falk about us. Where doo eee go from here? Do eee move in together...?" She coughed, choking a little on her rice. Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "Are eee going to take things slow or...?" She patted her chest. He swiftly scooped the fried tofu into his mouth, chewing slowly. He thought about it. It hadn't been a day and she was already too much for him. Moving in was out of the question – at least for now. However, he didn't want to take things too slow. He was a traditional man; they were sleeping together, so marriage was already an option. He gently swallowed his food, wiping his mouth as he stated, "We should not move in together yet." Byakuya placed the cloth on his lap. "But I meant it when I said forever. I want us to move forward." Yoruichi licked her lips and smiled. Byakuya continued, "I think it's best you remain a welcomed guest at my manor. We can discuss moving in at a later date." Yoruichi suppressed a burp. "That's great. Feel free to come and visit me too. Since you're busy anyway, I'll leave you to it and come back tomorrow." Before Byakuya could say anything, Yoruichi stood up and walked away, swaying her hips in a happy motion. Really, Byakuya had wanted to ask her to come back in the evening for another activity.

The manor silent once again, Byakuya successfully completed all of his work and got a good night's sleep. When Yoruichi arrived the next day, he gave her another excuse about not being able to go out with her. However, he convinced her to stay the night. This went on for a number of weeks. Byakuya had been happy feeling their relationship had blossomed, so he was surprised when Yoruichi stopped visiting. She would disappear for days on end without contact. Then she stopped turning up to their agreed dates. She was being disrespectful. One evening, he sat up until 1:00am waiting for her, pink rose petals on the bed. And when she arrived, she brought an angry streak. He had tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned. Yoruichi glared at him, daggers in her chrome eyes. "Where were you?" She shook her head, "Somewhere not here." He didn't like her tone. He told her off, "I have been waiting since 8:00pm. This isn't the first time you've been disrespectful. I don't appreciate you abandoning me for days on end, then turning up whenever you like. This isn't your house." "Your rules don't apply to me. Technically, I don't live here, Byakuya." He scolded, "All the more reason."

"Oh, don't complain!" she groaned, looking away from him. He turned her chin towards him. "I asked you a question. What's wrong?" "You, Byakuya!" He was shocked. "I don't think you care about my feelings. Whenever I ask you to take me out or do something, you dismiss me. Then at the end of the day you expect me to spread my legs for you," she moaned – not the good kind. Yoruichi pulled her face away from his grip. "That's not true," Byakuya retorted. He understood why she felt that way; he just liked to stay home – was that so wrong? And she wasn't a booty call; he had feelings for her. "It's like you're ashamed to show we're together. How many people have you even told about us?" She had a point; he hadn't even told Rukia. Byakuya didn't know what to say. "I have work, Yoruichi. There are many responsibilities of a Captain. Sometimes you distract me from my duties–" "Distract you from your duties?" she yelled, raising her arms. "Don't act like the job's impossible! I was once Head of a Clan, a Captain and Commander of the Onmitsukidō, Corrections Corps and Executive Militia Corps. And I still had time to chase you around! Maybe you're just incompetent." "How dare you," he hissed, stepping forward. Yoruichi stepped towards him, too. "You won't make sacrifices for me, Byakuya. You're selfish. If you can't do it now, you sure as hell won't do it later." "You're one to talk about sacrifices," he snorted. The maids were listening outside his chambers. "You complain that I never do anything for you – when was the last time you wanted to stay indoors with your lover? Not roam the streets like some Rukongai trash."

Yoruichi poked his chest. "Watch your mouth, Byakuya. Remember, you picked Hisana out of those 'Rukongai trash.'" Byakuya's chest burned. He honestly could have hit her right now – he should have tamed her a long time ago. "This was a mistake," he whispered, walking away. He aggressively tugged the sheets off of his bed; the rose petals floated to the floor. "I want you out of my house. I never want to see you again," he spat, clenching his fists. "Time to celebrate! Something we agree upon. I was a fool to think this would ever work. I'm surprised someone even loved a spoilt brat such as you." "At least I've been married," he muttered. "What was that? Marriage means nothing. I can have any man I want." "Exactly. That's why you will never marry. Continue to whore yourself; you bring shame on the Shihouin name."

Yoruichi's mouth dropped. She couldn't believe he'd said that – called her a whore. "You bastard...For that comment, you bring shame on your own name." Yoruichi opened the window and flash-stepped away. For a second, the rippling fabric exposing the skin on her back aroused him, but he remembered he would never see it again. 'I don't need her,' he told himself. 'She's done nothing but bring chaos ever since she re-entered my life – when she was in my life.' He called the idiot maids listening-in on them to clean up the mess. He watched the flowers crumple as they swept them up into the pan. 'I don't need her.'