Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
The final days at the academy seemed to breeze by and, soon enough, Rukia began her days as an official shinigami of the 13 Gotei. Being new, her duties mostly consisted of patrolling, therefore, she hardly ever left the Seireitei. She was lucky if she ever got the chance to be sent out of a field mission to exterminate hollows. Despite the boredom, she was fairly content with her new routines.
It'd only been a few weeks since her graduation from the academy. She'd been all too eager to quickly be done with it and finally receive the first of her orders.
Of course, she'd chosen to become a part of the thirteenth division. It hadn't really been something she had to ponder over beforehand. Having gotten use to the thirteenth division as a student with her constant visits, it felt out-of-place to choose loyalty to any other where she doubted she'd feel as comfortable or familiar. Besides, she'd come to find herself on friendly basis with several other shinigami in the division during her academy days. When Kaien had not been available to train with, he'd pushed her to spar with the others of his division and eventually it become regular for her to join them in training. As graduation approached, they'd been none too subtle in saying that she was to become one of them, making it clear that they were already comrades with no room for doubts. Even Kaien had spoken his few words about how she fitted in and such.
Just as she'd figured, Byakuya had not been the least bit pleased about her decision. Though he did not voice his displeasure or try to convince her into changing her choice, she'd been friends with him long enough to confidently figure out his thoughts through his subtle expressions. He'd obviously wanted her to join the sixth division for obvious reasons that slightly irritated yet amused her. She was also aware that another reason why he opposed her joining the thirteenth was because of Kaien. For some reason he didn't seem to hold much liking for the lieutenant and wasn't too keen about her friendly relationship with him. Of course when Kaien discovered this, he made a point of provoking the young Kuchiki heir despite his icy glares. She had no idea why he disliked his so much and doubted he would tell her if she asked.
Byakuya hadn't been the only one fazed by her decision. Several of her fellow graduates as well as a few instructors had believed she would join the sixth and had been none too subtle in expressing their surprise. She heard the tid-bits of gossip during the ceremony about how they'd been sure she would try to use her connection with Byakuya to gain a higher position. Of course, having gotten use to their criticism during academy days, she ignored them and had been relieved when Byakuya didn't lose his temper upon hearing them. However, that relief had been short lived after she caught him throwing them very intimidating glares.
But, at least, it was a great change from the old days where he'd outright confront them. With his coming of age, his original persona had changed drastically. She'd never have believed that someone could change in only a matter of two years if she'd not witnessed it herself. In the last two years, it'd been rare for her to see him even once in a matter of months. When she'd finally met with him a month prior to her graduation, he'd adapted a calmer and more serious personality. His eyes weren't nearly as expressive with constant show emotion as they'd been. As well as emotionally, he'd also changed physically. Instead of being just a centimeter shorter than her, he'd shot up to a full hand taller than her and his voice had become considerably deeper. Despite the changes, she'd been glad to see that his attitude towards her was still the same, and that he even reverted to his normal self when it was just the two of them.
Completely her shift of patrolling, Rukia headed towards her room in the barracks. Before she could get there, she was intercepted by another shinigami. She recognized him as Takahara Jun, her sempai in the division. During her academy days, he'd been one of the shinigami she briefly met while training with the others. She hadn't really talked to him though since he was constantly training and wasn't shy about voicing his goal to become a seated officer.
"What can I do for you, Takahara-san?"
"Call me Jun. Since you're through for the day, I was wondering if you'd care to spar with me."
She raised her eyebrows at this. It felt a bit odd for him to ask her of all people. After all, she was a newbie and not many people had yet to have a good look at her abilities, he included. If anyone, she'd expect him to ask someone above him since he aimed to be in the ranks.
"Umm...I-", before she could say anything, a familiar voice called her name from behind. Turning to look in the direction, she watched as Byakuya approached them. He was dressed in formal attire best suited to his rank, which only served to enhance air of nobility around him. She'd thought it was weird on him at first, but she'd gotten used to it and even liked the look on him.
Takahara bowed respectfully to him. "Kuchiki-dono."
Byakuya's gaze didn't even pause on him as it traveled to Rukia. "You are finished with your duties, correct?"
"Yeah." She turned to Takahara. "I'm going to have to decline you're offer. I've already made plans with Kuchiki-san."
His gaze touched Byakuya briefly. "No problem. Rain check?"
"Sure." Nodding, he bowed again briefly before they parted ways.
"It is not like you to lie, Rukia." Byakuya said as she poured them both a cup of tea.
Setting the cup in front of him, Rukia settled opposite him at the small table, gingerly blowing at her tea. "Yeah, well, I found the need to."
They sat in one of the rooms at the Kuchiki manor with the outer doors slid open to give a pleasant view of the garden. Rukia had been considerably reluctant about continuing her visits to the Kuchiki manor. Now that they were no longer kids, it seemed vastly inappropriate for her to visit on a whim such as this for mere pleasantries.
"That man causes you discomfort?"
"Not particularly." Though she would admit that he gave her a weird vibe of-sorts when she was within his presence. It wasn't hostile, but it definitely wasn't comfortable.
She glanced at him. "You'd rather I have accepted his offer."
He returned her glance without saying anything before looking back out at the garden.
Byakuya had obviously come to the division intending to have her as company; otherwise he wouldn't make a pointless trip. Now that he had his duties to attend to as a lord and she as a shinigami, their time together was even more limited that before, therefore all the more precious. While her world had in fact expanded and she'd come to gain more friends that she'd ever imagined she would, Byakuya was single-most precious to her.
The thought caused her to remember something. "A single rose can be my garden…a single friend my world."
He looked back at her. "What?"
"It's a quote I came across while reading a book one day. I came to associate that quote with you."
He stared at her for a moment over the top of his cup, causing her to blush ever so slightly. Setting his cup aside, he slowly reached across the table to gently touch the underside of her chin. "Only as a friend?"
Eyes slightly widening, Rukia was held mesmerized by the look in Byakuya's eyes as he gently dragged his hand across her cheek. Who was this man to suddenly have such a hold on her that she couldn't move for the life of her? She and Byakuya had certainly never had this type of atmosphere around each other.
She found herself slowly leaning towards him, her eyes glancing towards his lips. Before they could make contact, a sudden knock on the door from a servant broke them from the trance. Both pulling away, Byakuya spoke for the servant to enter. "Your grandfather asks for your presence, my lord." The woman stayed bowed at the door entrance. At his okay, she backed out and slid the door back shut.
With the weird trance now broken, there was now awkwardness in the room as Rukia looked towards the garden and drank her tea, mostly to avoid looking at Byakuya. As he stood, she felt his gaze on her. "I have to go. I'll seek you out later." At her nod, he silently left the room.
Sighing, Rukia set her cup on the table before leaning on it and settling her face in her hands. Her heart was beating incredibly fast, causing her to take long, ragged breaths.
What in the world just happened?
Her first clear thought was that she was sincerely glad that the servant had interrupted when she did or else something dangerous would have definitely happened here in this room. Her second thought was that was that she hated that the servant had to interrupt just before that something could have happened. Her thoughts were obviously in turmoil and weren't having a good effect on her meager heart.
Sitting up, she let the hot liquid scorch down her throat as she downed the rest of her tea before leaving the manor and heading towards the training grounds. She needed to busy herself before the explicit thoughts in her mind overcame her.
Sorry that it took so long to get a new chapter out. I've been busy and have only been able to write bits at a time whenever I had some free time. . Just to let you know, this story is sort-of an AU story. And I'm the type of person who doesn't like to linger on a single point too long, so sorry if time speeds up a bit in every chapter: like in this how she's already graduated. (I've gotten some complaints about that.) That's just the way I write.
And also sorry that Byakuya's personality has jumped from A to C. It's inevitable that his personality make the transition from bratty heir to calm noble, so I decided to do it sooner than later since I felt in the mood to write it that way. I'm not all that good at illustrating brats (since I don't like them), so I hope you guys are cool with this.
