Teehee. Thanks guys.
Especially YOU.
You know who you are.
"Byakuya! Calm down!"
Kurosaki.
Ichigo Kurosaki.
'Rukia Kurosaki.'
The name seeped through my brain, leaving a trail of toxins, tormenting me.
When Hisana had died, I had died. Everything that made my eyes have light in them, gone.
The light was back now.
But it was a different type of light.
Paying no attention to Yoruichi following me, I stormed out of my office, past the lilac garden, into the hall.
To the elders.
That was my intent.
But Yoruichi always was faster than me.
"Not so fast! You aren't supposed to know about this! I told you about it, because, uh-" To my intense surprised, Yoruichi grabbed my hand, then quickly let it go, flushing a dark red. "I really care about you, Byakuya... I mean- Rukia! And you. And I didn't want you to-" Cursing under her breath, she turned her oval eyes on mine, glaring. "Byakuya, don't do this! We- I will take you to see Ichigo!"
She knew me too well.
Apart from Hisana, Yoruichi was the only woman I knew completely. This was actually only somewhat truthful. I had never understood her desire to brake the rules. But I did know her body, for I had spent every day of my childhood trying to understand her. We were children, not yet even sixteen, and she was the one who first caught my interest. She was wild, she broke the rules.
She made me want to brake them too.
"Naughty, naughty, Byakuya! Junior soul reapers aren't supposed to dishonor a woman in such a way!" Blushing, I pulled my hand slowly away from her waist, blushing from shame. "I'm sorry..." Laughing, she grabbed my hand, hers so much smaller than mine, and placed it directly over her heart, smiling devilishly. "I didn't say I didn't like it."
"Fine. If I must not speak with the elders, I will speak with the... substitute."
We arrived in the world of the living in a short time, coming to a small house Yoruichi announced to be Kurosaki's.
I shuddered at the thought of Rukia living in such poor conditions.
With him.
I wouldn't have it.
When I had asked for Hisana's hand, I was sure that I could provide for her, and go beyond even that.
He wouldn't do that for her.
He couldn't.
Yoruichi knocked on the door loudly, and it opened almost at once, showing a small girl with blond hair, a large apron on, and a spoon in her hand. (Yuzu.)
"Kurosaki Clinic! Are you hurt, sir? Or you, maim?" Her voice was high, but endearing.
"No, child. We wish to speak with Ichigo." Nodding obediently, she lead us down a short hall, pointing the spoon at a closed door. "He's in there, sir, with Rukia. Excuse me, but may I ask, who are you two?"
Smiling, Yoruichi ruffled her hair playfully. "I'm Yoruichi, a friend of Ichigo's! And this is Byakuya, Rukia's brother. Don't worry, he only looks scary. I'm sure Ichigo will explain everything later."
The child nodded quickly, leaving through another door on the left.
Yoruichi sighed quietly. "I almost rather-ed you confront the elders."
Ignoring her, I opened Ichigo's door, stepping in awkwardly.
Not exactly a good plan.
Ichigo and Rukia were lying on a large bed, passed out over the sheets, both facing different directions.
Ichigo was wearing a pair of shorts, with nothing to cover his upper body, which was half hidden under a white sheet.
Rukia was wearing a small nightgown, that was inched up her small thigh immodestly, her hair crinkled from sleeping. Her arm was sprawled out behind her, bent in a odd position, which confused me, until I saw what it was holding.
Ichigo's hand.
That did it.
"Kruosaki!"
They both jumped up immediately, flushed and looking around sleepily. It would've been comical if I were not so furious.
Noticing Yoruichi and I, Rukia flushed deeper, immediately shoving her short nightgown down her thigh with one hand and combing her hair with the other hand. Ichigo cursed loudly, quickly grabbing a shirt from the chair in the corner to cover his bare chest.
"Rukia Kuchiki! What do you think you are doing? This is no way for a lady to act! Here I though you were becoming a true Kuchiki, and you're in the world of the living, sleeping with a human! If word spread that a Kuchiki- that's it! I'm going to have Renji guard you, young lady!"
"Rukia is not a child, Byakuya. She's a grown woman! She can make her own decisions! And this- this is nothing! We were just sleeping!" (Ichigo is telling the truth, if you would like to know.)
Ichigo's words brought a flood of pain with them.
My honeymoon was the happiest week of my life, I remember that first night of marriage, how I had carried Hisana to our bedroom, locking the door carefully. We had clung to each other uncertainly, our breathing loud and painful, until I had kissed her carefully, asking her a million questions in one moment. "Oh Byakuya," she had sighed, "I love you." "I love you too. More than anything."
When we had arrived at a minor meeting the next morning, Gin Ichimaru had been smirking at us, finally asking, "So- what were you two doing last night, hm?"
I had flashed him a warning glare, but Hisana had answered boldly, "Oh, we were just sleeping."