A/N: I was listening to Will Young's "Leave Right Now" during the time I wrote this vignette, which might explain the feel of this installment somewhat. This one is actually a follow up to the previous chapter because I'm sure some of you guys might think it ended a little too abruptly (or at least I think so anyway). It can still be read as a standalone, however. Please enjoy and as always, feedback is loved.

8: Shooting Star, Impulse and Reservation

Despite the victory in the war against the Quincy, Soul Society was still left in disarray, as its capital was used as the battleground. The Gotei 13 had lost thousands of members in the war and a few thousands more were discharged because of either physical disability or other mental issues while there were only a couple of hundreds of Shinō Academy's graduates to refill those positions.

It was a very difficult time for all Shinigami. And while he thought he knew how to handle any situations, Captain Kuchiki was almost at his wit's end as to how to keep the morale in his division up when everyone was having a hard time dealing with postwar depressions.

Byakuya didn't want to admit that he was weary, but the truth remained that he was. Because of all empty positions in his division, every member of the division needed to work overtime to cover for the lack of manpower and as a captain, he needed to work even harder than his subordinates to keep the division operating smoothly. The last time he had a time off to relax was actually a couple of months ago, in that one warm night right after the Quincy was defeated, which he spent drinking tea while admiring the moon, the stars and the fireworks, in an unusually quiet company of one Kurosaki Ichigo.

Thinking about that night with Ichigo, Captain Kuchiki took a deep breath and closed his slate eyes.

Up until that moment, Byakuya still couldn't quite tell what had compelled him into asking Ichigo to stay just as much as he couldn't begin to fathom why Ichigo had agreed to do so. It simply happened, and it felt natural, like everything else than had been going on in their relationship so far; so perhaps there was no reason to question it.

What was really important was that Ichigo had stayed more than just a little while that night...

After the Substitute Shinigami had decided to stay, he slid his backside down the roof just enough for him to be able to lay his back against the cold tiles. Then he folded his hands together behind his head to give it some support. He looked so relaxed as if the roof he was lying against wasn't Byakuya's but his very own home.

They let silence fell between them for yet another moment before Ichigo turned his curious eyes to Byakuya and asked, 'Hey, Byakuya, are you seriously just gonna sit there like that?'

Byakuya tilted his head to his left side and looked back at Ichigo.

'Like what?'

'You know, all stiff and formal,' the Substitute Shinigami supplied. 'I mean, won't you get some kind of crick in your neck or back from sitting with your back that straight the entire time?'

'I do not see anything wrong with the way I am sitting, and no, I do not have any kind of crick in my neck or back.'

Ichigo rolled his eyes and sighed.

'Even so, I'm still telling you it'd be much more relaxing to lie down when you try to watch the sky. At least that way you won't have to crane your neck to see some stars.'

Byakuya eyed Ichigo for a moment before he replied:

'You spoke as if it would be that much more comfortable to be leaning against the roof's tiles.'

Ichigo shrugged.

'Whatever, Byakuya. I'm just saying this because I think you need to relax a little,' Ichigo said before he wrinkled his nose slightly. 'Okay, scratch that. Make it a lot instead. We're talking about you, after all.'

Strangely enough, Byakuya understood what Ichigo was trying to say. However, with decades of strict upbringing, those postures Ichigo called stiff and formal came naturally for Byakuya that he saw no other way to position himself, and not to mention, he wouldn't be able to assume other posture when he still had thick bandages wrapped tightly around his torso anyway.

'In case you cannot tell, this is me being relaxed,' he claimed. 'Besides, even if I wished to appear more "relaxed", I still would not be able to move much with all the bandages.'

Ichigo kept his eyes on Byakuya for another moment before he decided that Byakuya wasn't lying.

'Are you sure you're really okay, Byakuya?' Ichigo asked softly. Concern was evident in his voice. 'I mean, the last time you were this injured, you spent like a week at the Fourth Division, but this time you were discharged really early.'

Byakuya nodded in affirmation.

'I am fine. Back then, they kept me in the Fourth Division for that long because I was stabbed through and through in the area very near to my heart, so they wanted to keep me there to make sure there would not be any complications. This time, however, none of my injuries were as deep, so it is somewhat easier to recover once all the wounds were closed.'

Ichigo furrowed his brows slightly.

'I highly doubt they would have discharged you this soon if there were more beds available in the Fourth Division.'

Captain Kuchiki had to agree that the Substitute Shinigami had his point. After all, many patients were released from the Fourth Division earlier than they would be in a normal circumstance, since the facility was not big enough to house all patients. Therefore, all patients whose conditions were stable enough would be discharged from the Fourth Division to recover elsewhere.

'Perhaps not,' Byakuya stated, 'but I would have asked to be released anyway. After all, things are bound to be hectic in the Gotei 13 now that our workforce was down by at least one third, and we would need as much manpower as possible to run all divisions.'

Hearing Byakuya's answer, Ichigo sat up straight before he turned to face the nobleman with a full-on glare.

'You're saying you're going right back to work after this?'

'What choice do I have?'

Although Ichigo could understand Byakuya's point, he still couldn't help sighing at the retort.

'I admire your sense of responsibility, Byakuya, I really do,' the Substitute Shinigami stated softly without any trace of sarcasm, 'but you've gotta remember to take care of yourself too, you know.'

Lord Kuchiki could see unadorned concern behind the umber orbs that were his companion's eyes and couldn't help feeling touched by that look.

'I know, Ichigo, but I will be fine,' Byakuya assured. 'We are only talking about paperwork and other mundane tasks here. It's not as if I'm planning to throw myself right into another battle.'

Ichigo narrowed his eyes as if he wasn't satisfied by the reply he received.

'No, you're not, but you would if you had to,' he accused. 'I know how you function, Byakuya, and seriously, I think you owe yourself a little break.'

'And I will take one after everything has returned to normal in Soul Society,' Byakuya promised. 'However, as of this moment, I cannot afford to take a break, not when my division needs me most, and the Gotei 13 could use all the help it could get.'

Ichigo sighed in resignation, knowing that there was nothing he could say to convince Byakuya to take a leave from his division if only for a couple of days.

'I guess I really can't tell you what to do, huh?'

'No, you can't,' Byakuya confirmed, 'but I appreciate the gesture.'

Ichigo nodded before he propped his arm behind his back and leaned back slightly although that time he didn't bother to lay his back against the roof's tiles. He watched as another firework exploded in the sky and waited until the light faded away before he said his next line.

'So it's gonna be very busy in Seireitei from now on, eh?'

'I'm afraid so.'

Ichigo acknowledged the reply with a nod.

'Is there anything I can do to help?'

'There is nothing you could do here that you have not already done,' Byakuya stated. 'The only thing you can do now is to return to your hometown and watch over it like you always have.'

'I guess I'll do just that, then,' Ichigo said, yet he gave out no sign that he would move away from that roof anytime soon. If anything, he even threw his head back a little in a more relaxed posture and then looked up to the sky.

Although Byakuya often found it awkward to spend time with anyone in a complete silence, the air around them felt nothing but peaceful and comfortable. Therefore, he decided to close his eyes and allowed his shoulders to relax slightly, taking in the serenity that his silence company had offered.

He couldn't really tell how long he had been closing his eyes, and perhaps he was close to drifting off into a much needed slumber as well, when Ichigo's voice drew him out of that stage.

'Hey look, Byakuya, a shooting star!'

Byakuya slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he noticed was not the bright white light that was shooting across the sky but the way that Ichigo was leaning close to him that their shoulders almost touched while he pointed his left hand up to the sky where the shooting star was supposed to be.

'Beautiful, isn't it?' Ichigo asked.

Byakuya then blinked the thought away and followed Ichigo's finger with his eyes, and caught a glimpse of white light just before it fell completely off the sky.

'It is,' Byakuya agreed.

Byakuya felt, rather than actually saw, Ichigo turn his gaze toward him and keep his eyes on the side of his face before the teen inquired, 'Did you make a wish?'

'No. I never believe in wishing upon a shooting star,' Byakuya commented. 'Did you – make a wish, I mean?'

Then he turned to face Ichigo only to realize how close Ichigo actually was to him when they sat there in that position. There was certain softness in the teen's eyes when he was gazing at him. Byakuya couldn't quite explain the look, but it was as if there was some kind of pull to Ichigo's eyes that kept him from breaking the gaze once their eyes locked.

It was as though there was some kind of spell that held them there, speechless. Then Byakuya sensed, rather than saw, Ichigo's brown eyes drop to his lips before the boy inched slightly closer. He wasn't sure if he should blame it on the shooting star or claim that it was a moment of madness, but there was one thing that was certain to him at that moment, and it was that if Ichigo were to lean forward and kiss him then, Byakuya would have gladly let him.

But he didn't.

Another firework exploded brightly and loudly into the sky, shaking them both out of their daze. Whatever kind of magic that put them in that position in the first place was gone. Ichigo jerked and quickly looked away from Byakuya but not before Byakuya caught a glimpse of panic in his brown eyes.

'I... um... didn't make any wish either,' Ichigo said, looking anywhere but Byakuya's face.

Byakuya sighed softly.

'Too bad,' he said, 'but perhaps you would be able to do it next time.'

At that point, Byakuya wasn't quite sure if he was talking about making a wish or about the kiss that had not happened.

'Yeah, well, maybe,' Ichigo said, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. 'Anyway, I think I'd better leave now. I mean, it's getting late and you need to rest so that you can recover.'

Byakuya nodded, knowing that it would be best for him to act as though he didn't notice what could have transpired between them had the firework not exploded right at that moment.

'Yes, perhaps that would be for the best.'

Ichigo looked slightly relieved after he carefully gauged Byakuya's reaction and realized that the nobleman did not act any different from normal.

'Um... well, then, good night, Byakuya.'

Byakuya nodded once again before he replied with a polite, 'Good night, Ichigo.'

Upon hearing Byakuya's reply, Ichigo gave him a quick wave of goodbye before he disappeared into the night, more flustered than Byakuya had ever witnessed the boy be...

Byakuya sighed once again before he opened his eyes.

Ichigo had not paid another visit to Seireitei since that night, or perhaps he had, but Byakuya had been too busy at his division to have taken notice. After all, most of the times they met were when Ichigo was at the Kuchiki Manor, waiting to see Rukia. In any case, it had been months since then, and sometimes Byakuya wondered if everything that happened or did not happen that night was merely his own imagination.

He shook the thought out of his head as he decided that there was no use to dwell on it when he had no intention to pursue that subject to begin with.

In the past few months, Ichigo had become a good friend; someone he had trusted with many secrets and burdens he never thought he would ever share with anyone; someone who could actually appreciate him for who he truly was, not just the facade he had created for a show; someone who actually cared. He was not going to risk all of that just because of a random impulse – especially when Ichigo himself seemed to be freaked out by that incident.

Byakuya rubbed the bridge of his nose and brought his focus back to the work in front of him. He still had a lot of work left to finish, and thinking of Ichigo then was certainly not helping.

Captain Kuchiki went back to reading the reports on recruitment progress, and just when he was picking up his ink brush to sign his approval, there was a knock on his office door.

"Come in," he said without bothering to ask who it was.

Byakuya signed the document before he lifted his gaze up from the paper to whoever was at the door, and he was certain that his expression would betray his surprise when he saw a certain orange-haired Substitute Shinigami carrying a large pile of documents in his arms while using his foot to nudge the door close behind him. It made Byakuya wonder slightly just how the boy managed to open the door to begin with.

"Hi, Byakuya. Rukia asked me to bring all these files to your office," Ichigo explained. "Where can I put them?"

Once he finished his question, Ichigo started to scan Byakuya's office for some free space that he could put those documents down and Byakuya didn't blame him for doing so, as they appeared to be very heavy.

Byakuya rose to his feet before he tried to figure out how he could free up some space for the new document, then he decided against it and simply walked around his table to pull out a chair and made a gesture to it.

"Just put them here. I'll rearrange them later. Thank you."

Ichigo nodded and put the whole pile of documents on the chair.

"I see things are still pretty busy in the Gotei 13," Ichigo commented, gesturing to all huge pile of paper on Byakuya's desk.

"Apparently," Byakuya said. "How are things on your side?"

"Well, just some Hollows popping up here and there, you know, the usual," Ichigo replied. "I would have dropped by to Soul Society to see how you guys were doing, but I got caught up in all school's assignments and all make-up classes, so I didn't have a chance to come here until today."

"And the first thing you do when you are here is to run an errand for my sister," Byakuya commented before he stepped back so that he could sit behind his desk once again.

Ichigo shrugged.

"Well, what can I say? I need a little excuse to come over to your office to say hello to you and see how you've been doing. I mean, it's really busy in your office, and you wouldn't be too pleased if I suddenly dropped by to disturb you without any real business."

Byakuya tilted his head and looked at Ichigo with a perplexed look. It was probably the first time Ichigo had ever said that he wanted to see him without having any other real purposes but to see him.

"I can't say that you would be wrong," Byakuya remarked, "although I must admit it is nice to know that you want to see me."

Ichigo's lips curved up into a small smile.

"Well, I'm glad you think so," he said, "or otherwise it'd be kinda awkward."

Byakuya nodded in agreement but made no other attempt at a conversation.

Ichigo then began to take notice of how Byakuya had assumed his seat behind the desk and how there was no available seat for him to sit in. Upon noticing that, he gave Byakuya a sheepish look before he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Anyway, since you are busy and all, I'll just hit the road and leave you to your work," he said and then turned to leave. However, before he opened the door and left, Ichigo turned back to remark, "oh, and I'm glad to see that you've fully recovered, by the way."

Byakuya acknowledged Ichigo's words with a nod.

"And I'm glad you decided to drop by, Ichigo."

Ichigo smiled at Byakuya's words.

"Have a good day, Byakuya. I hope the next time we meet, things won't be this hectic."

Byakuya found himself responding in kind.

"Have a good day."

Ichigo nodded once before he finally took his leave.

Byakuya stared at the closed door for a long moment after the Substitute Shinigami had left before he sighed and turned his attention back to his work. He might not know exactly what game Ichigo was playing at that moment – if he was playing one at all – or what the boy's next move would be, but he decided there would still be more than enough time for him to figure it out.