A/N: Here is another one shot. Man I'm on a roll! Very Kaien/Miyaok centric with a bit of everyone in there along with some Byakuya, Kukkaku and the rest of the Gotei 13 in the mix but just for a little bit. Enjoy!

Heavily lashed dark blue eyes narrowed with suspicion as they zeroed in on the tall and well endowed woman who entered his sombre home, a parcel in hand. She sensed his presence as soon as she removed her sandals and passed by the audience room. A swift kick was delivered to the shoji screen, revealing him from his hiding place.

"Nii-sama, what are you doing here?" She asked making a menacing fist in her hand.

"What the hell do you mean what am I doing here? This is my house!" He spat back, avoiding her sudden assault of punches at his face. "I should be asking you that question; you hardly ever come out here!"

"But you're not supposed to be here right now, nee-sama said..." She stopped talking a second too late. The grin on her brothers' face made her angry.

"I knew it. You two are hiding something from me. Come on; tell your favourite nii-sama." He coaxed as he ruffled her dark locks playfully.

"I can't tell you. It's a secret. You'll just have to wait." She said nose in the air with an odd glint in her eyes. He frowned deeply.

"Look, I'm just worried. She's been hiding something and she hasn't lied to me but she hasn't told the truth either."

"Then she must have a good reason in not telling you! Now get the hell out and don't come back till I tell you it's okay you nosy husband!!" She roared removing him from the home with a hard toss.

"Kukakku, is everything alright? You look a bit angry." The other and elder woman noted in her always calm voice as she poured sake for her sister-in-law.

Shiba Kukakku was indeed not in a good mood thanks to her earlier encounter with her brother. He had surprised her to say the least. She knew that he had recently been concerned with why Miyako was being so secretive this past month but to hide in the house was ridiculous. Wait, she was talking about Kaien here. The event this morning was below the norm for him.

"It's nothing; you know I don't like it here within the Sereirtei." She said drinking her cup in one gulp and extending her hand for another serving.

"I really appreciate you doing this for me Kukakku." Miyako said refilling her cup to the top. A grin was tossed her way as she downed the cup and repeated the previous process.

"It only reinforces my belief that you're too good for that loser Miyako-nee." She said starring into her refilled cup with a soft expression. "I still remember the day he brought you over. I was shocked; I had to give him credit. He found himself a real gem even if I teased him about never finding a girl like you to fall for him since we were young." Her left hand set the cup down without drinking one more drop.

"Are you sure you don't want any more? You had 10 cups last time." The 3rd seated shinigami asked as she unpacked the parcel Kukakku had brought with her.

"Yeah, I at least want to be somewhat sober. I don't want to mess it up at this point." A tinkle of laughter was her answer before she reached out towards the laid out tools of her parcel. A shuffle of fabric was heard and a shihakushou crumpled to the ground.

Kukakku opened one of the pots she had brought and opened it, dipping a steel needle into its contents before placing it in her mouth to hold it. She took a deep breath as she placed her hand out before her, red light engulfing it.

"You know you don't have to do this." She said, hand a millimetre away from the tender skin.

"I know."

And the pain began all over again.

"Happy Birthday Kaien-dono!" His entire squad cheered as he entered the barrack grounds. He flashed a smile at the gathered members.

"Oi! If you all have so much energy, why don't you all do 20 laps around the Kuchiki estate?" The crestfallen look on their faces was priceless. Trying to run a lap on the grounds with all that security and traps was daunting enough but add that it was well known that Kuchiki-taichou was off today and that they must run around it 20 times made it even worst.

"I'm just pulling your legs! Thank you, all of you for another great year. Keep doing your best, that's all I want. Now back to your posts, party isn't till later!" They all filed away except for one small shinigami.

"Happy birthday Kaien-dono." She said with a deep bow. He flicked her on the forehead and watched her reaction with amusement.

"Kaien-dono!" She exclaimed affronted.

"Arigatou Kuchiki, so what do you have for me?" He asked while they made their way towards the Ubandou to greet their captain. Instead of her usual stammering she looked ahead determined.

"I'd rather show you during training today if I may."

"I look forward to it."



Rukia knew something was odd. After she had giften Kaien-dono with the second dance of her sword, tsuki no mae hakuren, that she had laboured hard to achieve in time for his birthday, she noticed the odd look in his eyes on their way back towards the barracks. He was worried.

About what? This man was rarely ever worried! She thought hard about it when it hit her. The one person she hadn't seen today was Miyako-dono. Should she ask? Would it be too forward?

"Ka..Kaien-dono?" He stopped as they passed through the gates of their division, where his birthday party would be held.

"Eh? What the hell is that Kuchiki? Did I grow another head or something?

"Iie, it's just, I haven't seen Miyako-dono today as of yet and was wondering if she was alright..." She trailed off seeing his composure soften at his wife's mention.

"Miyako wasn't feeling well this morning. Kukkaku will pass by to bring her here later. Don't give me that face, she's fine. Now go and get changed, I won't have stinky short chappy-loving shinigami at my party."

When the sun was setting in the dusty sky and the stars were blazing to life, Miyako finally made her appearance at the party with an already drinking Kukkaku. She was dazzling in a lovely sakura printed irotomesode with a deep blue obi keeping it all elegantly together and a deep green uchikake over it all. Kaien was more surprised and pleased to see that Kukkaku was wearing a flaming red kimono with a dragon print but much to his annoyance, it revealed way too much leg and cleavage as usual.

He looked to his side at Ukitake who waved him off with a knowing smile.

"Go already; you've been waiting all day for her and I'd hurry before Shunsui tries to grab her away." He didn't need to be told twice; he flash-stepped before both women who greeted him with large smiles.

"Happy birthday aniki!" Kukkaku exclaimed as she slapped her brother on the back and dragged him away to drink with Kenpachi, Shunsui and the rest while Miyako just waved at him with a quick smile before she went to speak to the gathering of people she had invited.

Sentarou and Kiyone were playing the taiko as loud as they could for their favourite vice-captain, joined by others who dance around the giant bonfire. The sake kept flowing and people kept coming and going but it was a lovely night. Even Rukia had fallen victim to their drinking games; regardless of her brothers' presence at the soirée.

A sugar high Yachiru suggested that they moon watch as tonight happened to be a full moon, so everyone relocated themselves along the lakeside and took in the beauty above them. Kaien stood to join them when someone blocked his way.

"Byakuya."

"You still insist on calling me with such familiarity Kaien-soutaichou." Kaien grinned evilly.

"And you still insist on being an arrogant aristocrat who doesn't give a damn about his squad members. I guess we're even my friend. So if you don't mind, I need to join my squad."

"I must present you with my congratulations. I never considered you'd live past your 20th birthday and you seem to have proven that over the decades that have passed. I suppose your brash nature has lessened somewhat resulting in such a feat." Kaien starred at the noble with blank look.

"Did you-did you just compliment me?"

"Absurd. Miyako requested that you meet her by the sakura tree father down the lakeside. It would be best to not keep her waiting." Byakuya said turning his back swiftly, scarf following in his wake.

Kaien looked after him, wondering if that was Byakuya's twisted version of a birthday gift before he left to find Miyako.

She was standing there under the tree, twirling a piece of a sakura blossom in her hand. Her dark eyes lit up as his footsteps neared her. Kaien sliddled up to her slowly and wrapped his arms around her slim frame.

"I missed you; today wasn't half as good compared to this moment." He admitted. She laughed, placing a small kiss on his cheek.

"I'm sorry anata. I was preparing your present." He gave her a stern look.

"I told you not to get me anything. I've already got you Miyako," He joked caressing her hair.

"But I really want to give it to you." She pleaded with a small pout. He sighed heavily before closing his eyes at her request. He heard her shuffling around for a moment until he heard the familiar sound of fabric falling to the grass.

"Miyako..."

"Don't look, not till I say so." She sang in her soft tone. His torture came to an end when she told him to open his eyes. Kaien almost had a nosebleed. Miyako had removed her Uchikake and her kimono and was clad only in her hadajunban.

Quickly, he enveloped her in his arms, obscuring her from anyone view.

"If that was my present, you could have told me. I would have taken us home in a flash." He murmured against her neck.

"If you're worried about my modesty there is no need to worry, I placed a ward around the sakura tree and we're far away from everyone else." She said as she slipped the sheer fabric over her shoulder. Kaien's eyes widened with disbelief.

He reached out to touch her shoulder blade but he refrained from touching the obviously tender skin. His eyes filled with tears as he couldn't formulate any words to say how he felt at her selfless gift. It all made sense now, why she had refused to neither have their usual baths together nor let their intimate moments go farther than gentle groping for the past 2 months.

"Happy Birthday anata," she whispered over her shoulder.

Emblazoned on her left shoulder blade was the Shiba family crest he had tattooed on his left arm but hers was coloured with various blues, as if they were in a fierce current.

The tumbling current of the fallen heavens.

The colors and the fine craftmenship alone let him know that this had been a painful and time consuming task she had undertaken. Under the moonligh, it looked like the water was in motion.

He buried his head in her hair, pulling her closer to him as his tears fell.

"You didn't have to do this Miyako..." He mumbled trying to contain his emotions.

"Kukkaku said the same thing when I asked her to do this for me the first time and just the other day when she finished it." She explained resting in his careful embrace. "It doesn't hurt as much anymore. Do you like it?"

He turned her gently around to face him, his intense gaze made her breath hitch.

"Baka. I love it. I love you Miyako." He whispered before he captured her lips in a heated kiss. Somehow, at that very moment, fireworks lit up the night sky with tumultuous fanfare. They broke their kiss and looked up at the sky.

"It seems that Kukkaku has excellent timing. We should get back or people will start getting ideas." She noted as he planted a kiss on her temple before helping her back into her kimono.

"They wouldn't be far off. You almost gave me a heart attack when you took your kimono off. Not that you're going to be wearing it for much longer when we get home." He whispered as they left the sakura tree. "You avoided me for two months kimi, and the thought behind it is appreciated, I'm not letting you go into work tomorrow." He promised darkly.

"I expected no less. I wasn't planning on torturing you without any reward for myself." She replied with a sultry glance and a wink before she slipped a smile on her face as they neared their comrades.

Kaien followed after her, not able to look away from her covered shoulder. Truly, she didn't have to wear the tattoo to tell the world that she was from the Shiba clan. He knew she did it for herself and her pride in their clan. He smiled fondly as he remembered her earlier words that she murmured against his lips.

"And so our children know of the pride we hold for our clan."

'Thank you...Miyako.'