Title: My only love sprung from my only hate. Part 2

Disclaimer: No owny!

Spoilers: Through the Soul Society Arc, for sure.

Summary: Continuing on from the previous chapter. Urahara and Byakuya "decorate." Yoruichi helps. Yes, there will be a part 3.

A few definitions to help those who may be new to the Japanese words or Bleach terms:

Hougyoku – "crumbling treasure;" artifact that Urahara created that caused a whole heap of trouble

Kami – diety, spirit of Shinto belief

Kidou – spells in Bleach that make use of spirit energy

Koi fish – the big goldfish you see in the ponds of Asian gardens

Zanpakuto – sword that Shinigami carry

And as we left off…

Urahara felt blurry. It was five in the morning! What idiot was around to pound on his door that early? And why weren't they scared off by all the defense magic he kept around?

And where were Tessai, Jinta, or Ururu? Surely one of them could have gotten the door instead of letting the thudding wake him from his beauty sleep.

He cursed as he stubbed his toe on a wooden crate. That's it! Whoever it was, they were getting the full taste of that new curse he had been experimenting on.

He slammed the screen open then took a full step back as he realized who it was.

"Kuchiki-san!" Urahara waved his fan wildly in front of his face. What was the 6th Division Captain doing on his doorstep?

"Urahara." Byakuya's arms were crossed in front of him, his hands in his sleeves. He looked decidedly ill at ease.

Urahara tried to regain some of his composure. Oh, why couldn't Tessai have gotten the door?

"So, what brings you all the way to my humble shop at this fine hour?" He smiled the bland shop-owners face while looking to make sure there were no pointy objects in the immediate vicinity. Last he checked, the 6th Division Captain hadn't quite forgiven him for using his little sister to hide the Hougyoku.

Then again, he also suspected that the 6th Division Captain blamed him for Kurosaki and Rukia even becoming a couple. Urahara wasn't sure which offense was worse in the younger Shinigami's mind.

Nope, no pointy objects besides the zanpakuto at Byakuya's hip. Nothing to worry about…right…

"I have come to discuss business regarding the preparations for my sister's and …Kurosaki's…" the name was only slightly hard to get out, "wedding."

"Ah…" That was good. Urahara felt on more steady footing as he realized what must have brought the oh-so-cheery Captain his way. "So, you want me to prepare a gate to bring the human guests over to Soul Society?"

"No." Byakuya shifted slightly, bracing himself to endure the next few minutes. "I want you to host the ceremony."

"Come again?"

After Urahara checked his ears – he could have sworn Kuchiki Byakuya had just asked him to host his sister's wedding – he realized that, no, he was not hearing things and yes, Byakuya wanted him to host the ceremony and reception. The Captain also mentioned that the idea was Kurosaki's, and was the reasonable compromise to their various expectations for the wedding.

Urahara invited his guest inside, mind quickly calculating. He would have to "thank" Ichigo properly when he saw him next.

The two went down to Urahara's training room, the store owner grabbing his zanpakuto on the way by his bedroom, just in case.

They toured the room (Urahara was only slightly irked that Ichigo had ruined the surprise), Byakuya asking questions on the type of kidou that had been involved in the construction of the project. Urahara happily answered; he was always excited to discuss his scientific achievements with a reasonably intelligent audience.

It was almost enough to make him loosen his death grip on his zanpakuto.

After the tour, the two went up to Urahara's office. Actually, they went up to the kitchen, because Urahara's office was too full of gadgets and experiments to let two people sit comfortably. After discussing what would be necessary to alter the room, the two set down to planning over an amiable cup of tea.

"If this were being held at the Kuchiki estate, I would think the East Garden would be an appropriate venue." Byakuya used a black pen to draw the garden layout for Urahara's benefit. "Sakura trees span the length of a long pool, and there are places to set up seating along the sides. There is a bridge that runs down the middle of the pool, ending at a family shrine."

Urahara pulled his hat down over his eyes to hide his disbelief. He didn't think it was possible – after all, Byakuya and Rukia were not actually related by blood – but apparently the family similarities went deeper than black hair, death glares, and arrogance.

Byakuya, with a frown of concentration on his face, added another marshmallow-shaped tree to the landscape.

Great Kami, all Kuchiki's were horrible artists.

"There's also a shrine here…" Byakuya began to draw an object that looked vaguely like a football post, but Urahara stopped him.

"Oh, that's not necessary, Kuchiki-san," he dropped his cane across the paper, which caused Byakuya to frown as his pen was knocked across the room. "I've been to your estate in the past, and I'm sure I can rely on Yoruichi to help job my memory when I need the details."

"If you are certain." His response was collected.

"Oh, quite certain." Urahara suppressed a sigh at the mess on the paper. He would have to redraw the schematics.

"That is acceptable." Byakuya sipped his tea, then reached for another sheet of paper and a blue pen. "Then we should work on the improvements to the Soul Society gate. I think we should begin by…"

Urahara stuck a biscuit in his mouth to stifle the cry of frustration.

At 10:30 am, Yoruichi stretched languidly. She turned her face to the sunlight streaming in the window, arching her back at the wonderful feeling of sleeping in a warm, sunny spot.

Warm sun, a comfy futon, and a cupboard full of anchovies in the kitchen. What more could a girl want?

Her stomach grumbled, and she rolled out of bed. Definitely time for those anchovies. And maybe some nice milk.

She pulled a tank top and shorts on – after all, the kids could be wondering around at this hour, and Tessai got so embarrassed whenever she paraded around in the nude – and padded her way to the kitchen. She smiled at Urahara as she walked into the room, reaching into the fridge for the milk. She was pouring herself a glass before her still sleepy brain caught up with the scene she had just walked past.

Urahara was sitting at a paper-strewn table, ink on his hands and his hat no where to be found. His hair was flying at odd angles, looking like he had been gripping it in frustration. But even more weird…

Kuchiki Byakuya was in the kitchen.

Having tea.

She blinked at the two men. Byakuya gazed back, deadpan, and Urahara cleared a place for her by shoving some papers onto the floor.

She grinned, her fangs showing slightly, as she came over to sit at the table.

"Well, you two boys look like you've been hard at work this morning." She settled onto the floor with her glass of milk. "Long time no see, Byakuya-bo."

"Yoruichi." Byakuya's voice was not amused.

Her smile grew wider. "So, what are you boys working on?"

"Ah, Yoruichi!" Urahara seemed relieved for some reason. "Kuchiki-san has decided to visit this morning to discuss some of the plans for his sister's wedding."

"Really?" She licked at her milk mustache.

"We have decided to hold the wedding and the reception in Urahara's training room." Byakuya ignored her lack of manners.

"Did you, now?" She was willing to bet Urahara hadn't done much deciding at all.

"It is the most logical choice." For some reason, it sounded like he was reciting a mantra. "We were discussing alterations on the design of the room, as well as possible changes to the gate." He shifted his attention back to the scientist. "I still maintain, Urahara, that we may expand on the gate without altering the underlying security in your current design. A rather elementary kidou could…"

Urahara glanced over at Yoruichi, his eyes pleading.

"Perhaps we should let the genius here work on the design." Yoruichi tried valiantly – she even threw in an alluring cat-like stretch for good measure – to distract the 6th Division Captain. "You and I can take a little outing down the road and visit that tasty ice-cream stand. They serve green tea ice-cream..."

"I think it would be best if I was here to supervise." Byakuya frowned, suspicious. Many childhood experiences had taught him to be cautious when Yoruichi had ideas for an "outing."

Yoruichi shrugged, reaching for the milk carton. "Ah, well. Can't blame a girl for trying." She winked at the Captain, pouring herself more milk.

Byakuya became even stiffer, and Urahara cleared his throat. Yoruichi grinned wickedly at the apparent discomfort in the room.

She looked down on the plans spread across the table. One sheet of paper looked like it had been drawn by a five-year-old, while the other had the careful layout of an architectural design. She could guess who had done which.

Time to implement Plan B.

"Ah, the East Garden." She leaned across the table, her smile growing more feral. "Remember the time we went skinny-dipping in that pool, Bya-kun?"

"Bya-kun" went very still. That was one of Yoruichi's "outings" that had made him so suspicious.

Urahara brought his fan in front of his face, chortling gleefully. "He went skinny-dipping?"

"It was a youthful indiscretion," Byakuya pronounced with a glare, at the same time Yoruichi said "He had just gotten into the Shinigami Academy, and I got him drunk."

"He was drunk?" The fan was waving wildly now.

"Completely wasted." Yoruichi lay on her side, settling in for a comfortable story-telling position.

"You slipped the drink into my tea," Byakuya glared at her defensively.

Yoruichi laughed. "Course I did. But after the fourth bottle of sake, you didn't seem to care that you weren't drinking tea anymore."

"Oh my!" Urahara faked a scandalized expression. "And then you convinced him to go skinny-dipping?"

Byakuya's grip on his teacup tightened, and Yoruichi laughed. "Oh, no," she wiped the tears from her eyes, "Bya-kun came up with that idea all by himself."

The 6th Division Captain raised his eyes towards the ceiling, apparently asking for a Menos Grande to appear and swallow him up. Yoruichi rolled on the ground, laughing at his expression.

"He told me, and I quote," she sat up and forced a bland expression on her face in imitation of the stoic Captain, " 'My mother would be terribly scandalized, but I have always been curious of what it would be like to swim in the pond like the golden koi fish.' Once I agreed, he couldn't get his clothes off fast enough."

"My, my, Kuchiki-san!" Urahara smiled broadly. "Whoever knew there exists such an adventurous soul beneath that serious and respected demeanor."

"Oh, you should hear what we did for his graduation…"

Byakuya stood up. "I believe I would like to visit that ice-cream stand, Yoruichi."

As the two left the room, Urahara toasted Yoruichi who winked back, then settled in for a good laugh.

Yep, this round definitely went to Ichigo. With bonus points to Yoruichi.

Notes: When Yoruichi and Byakuya first meet up in Soul Society, she calls him "Byakuya-bo," meaning "Little Byakuya." I think it's a cute nickname, and one that seems to annoy him.

In the previous chapter, I had Ichigo referring to Byakuya as "Kuchiki," which some reviewers pointed out is not how he refers to Byakuya in the anime or manga. That being said, I will continue to have Ichigo and Byakuya refer to each other by their last names in this story.

In Japan, it's considered very rude to call someone by their personal name unless you know them very well – which is one of the reasons I think Byakuya was so annoyed when Ichigo did that (I also imagine Ichigo did it in order to annoy Rukia's uber-proper brother). For the timeline of my story, while I don't think they're ready to hit the bars together (oh…now there's an idea for a bachelor party…), I think at the very least, they respect each other.

So, Byakuya doesn't try to kill Ichigo, and Ichigo doesn't go out of his way to annoy Byakuya. Big happy family.

On a completely different subject, I was inspired last night to write the Epilogue to this lovely little piece. It had me laughing for a good ten minutes (I still giggle when I think about it)! Now I just have to fill in the blanks from here to there. Should only take me another 10, 15 chapters at the rate I'm going. sigh