Existance in each other arms Chapter 2, a bleach fanfic

Existence in each other arms.

Chapter 02: Meeting the right person.

Rating: Pg-13 +

Author: Nhelvc.

Bleach fanfiction. Tite Kubo.

Soul Society.

It's been two months already since Haruka join the squad. Many things had happen like Haruka's little gathering with the other female coleague that always took time in the weekend. The girls would just blabber about what happened in their neighborhood talking about the latest trend in the living world gossiping about the romance tension that happened between them and when that conversation brought up someone and that just happened to be Matsumoto mention something about the look in Captain Kuchiki eyes every time he steals glances over Haruka. Back then she would just brush is off saying that could not be possible cause he's like the most stoic person she ever met and plus his undying love for her late wife-Kuchiki Hisana- make it almost impossible. Then again the word almost has many flaws on it.

Since then she actually start to pay attention to every single thing that Byakuya did. Wait.. Since when did she start to call him by his first name? This is the first time it occurred to her. Even his sister called him "anii-sama" that shows a lot of respect for an upper ranks. And then there's the occasional drinking tea they have together in his mansion not so many people he allowed to called him by his given name and enter his mansion beside another noble. Thinking this her cheeks fluster a little bit.

Just the other day she fell asleep under the 13 Squad famous Sakura tree and found the sixth division Captain hovering beside her saying something along the line; it's not nice for a fine young woman fell asleep in an exposed area when danger could struck on her at any moment. She knows that well enough that's not true because she could absolutely defend herself by her own. But the gentle touch on her left check the way his palm caress her check make her felt vulnerable convincing her she's only a woman, and the look in those onyx eyes paralyzed her. Maybe the word 'almost' did have many flaws and the growing sensation in her heart is one of those.

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

"If I may ask where are we heading?" The Captain of the 6th Division asks walking along beside him is the 8th division captain. The smile on her lips perfectly indicating that she had a surprise for him. Byakuya couldn't help noticing how plump those lips and how kissable it looks and he can't stop thinking how it would taste on his own. Is it sweet and addicting like her or taste like those green tea she always had every day? Either of that he is eager to find out. Too preoccupy in his own thought he wasn't aware of the waving hand in front of his face. "Sorry, did you say something?"

"As the matter of fact I did say something but I'm guessing you didn't hear it since you were really occupied in looking at... My face?" She gave him a sly smirk even if he tried to deny it, the flush on his face already gave her the answer she wanted to know.

Strolling through the district Rokugai they finally arrived at their destination it was a simple Dango stall almost like it was about to collapse the dull sense that radiating from it does not suitable for a noble man like him but he couldn't find the time to object when the woman grab his arm forcing him to come inside. Take a seat next to her he was just about to say something when the old vendor man greeted Haruka with a warm smile and gesturing them to sit to the table. It seems they were already known each other quite well.

"Haruka-chan! The last time you came here was the day you got assigned as the Captain and now you brought a boyfriend to come along. I was wondering where you were but it seems you were pretty busy by yourself. And I wonder what kind of surprise you would bring here a baby maybe for the next visit?" Laughing hard while holding a butcher knife the old man serves them.

"Ojii-san stop joking around! He is a fellow captain." Blushing, clutching her hand into a fist she try to contain her embarrassment. Waving her away like a fly the old man walk away to serve another costumer.

"I see that you are quite acquaintance with that man. A family perhaps?" Gazing to the woman next to him.

"He is like my very own grandfather and he was my father friend." She gazed away a little hint of sorrow appear in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"It's okay. Anyway why don't we have a bite?" Gesturing to the food in front of them she brought the dango to her mouth.

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

It was already late in the afternoon when they decided to end their little adventure. On their way to the Captain quarters Byakuya couldn't take his eyes off her. He captured her posture drinking every sight of her- her silky hair gleaming under the afternoon sun, her crimson red eyes and her slightly pursed lips make him having wild fantasies in his head. Every inch of her is addicting to him, he could tell if this feeling was the same thing he once have when he was with Hisana...
What if it's the same feeling? Does that mean he fell in love to her? He once swore to never fell in love to another woman again all he ever wanted was Hisana and now that she is no longer by his side, he didn't know any more. But one thing for sure, Hisana would always wanted him to be happy even if she is not the cause of his happiness but another woman, because she once told him that..

"Byakuya-sama, If one day I died before you promise me that you would not mourn on my death and fine another person who can fill the empty space in your heart and be happy by that I could rest peacefully in my grave."
"At least smile the world is still beautifull to be filled in sorrow. "

"Stop saying things like that."

"Just promise me, Byakuya-sama! If not do you want my soul to be wondering around in no direction full of sorrow?"

"Alright, I promise. You don't have to threaten me."

So maybe this time she could finally be in peace. And he could once again fill the empty gap in his heart. The only thing that left to worry is wheter she felt the same way or not.

"Byakuya!" Sanpping him back to reality he jerked a pair of crimson red eyes looking at him with concern.

"Whats wrong? You seem distracted lately just a while ago you were looking at me as if I had grown another head. I know it's none of my bussines but may I know what bothering you ?"

"My appologizes, I must be not a very compainion right? There's nothing bothering me acctually I just came into a conclution." He explained, afraid if she would ask about it knowing exactly that she is the result of his comclution.

"Was the conclution is beyond your imagine? And you felt let down by it?" Trying to not sound very demanding and forcing him to tell her she step backwards and gave him a little space to clear his mind.

"The truth is no. In fact I'm happy concerning it." He take a look at her just to find the woman frown and narrowed eyes on her face. 'Did I say something wrong?'

"If your happy about it then why do you look like an old mam having a back cramp?" Her voice is slightly higher than what she intended to. She grap his face towards her and put her two fingers on the corner of his lips and pul it upwards. "At least smile the world is still beautiful to be filled in distress." She smiled and tuck her hair behind her ear the afternoon wind made it impossible for it to stay in one place.

He baffled then relaxed those sentence has been a blur to him. Now he knew he does fell in love to her. Befored he knew what happend he was already cupping her chin with his right hand, pulling up her crimson eyes up to make contact with his onyx ones. His thumb gently stroking her bottom lips. His eyes flickering down o her lips and back up to her eyes. "Byakuya, what ar-" Slowly, as to not frighten her, he pulled her face closer to his their soft lips soon making contact. No tongue or lust, just pure innocence.

Startled with what just happend she gasp and cover her mouth blushing quite mildly and the same goes for him. She want to ask him why did he did it but she couldn't voice her question. So she did the only reasonable thing to do in this circumtanse. Run.
So she did leaving an equally startled Baykuya behind. There's only one destination in her mind, the office.

Haruka brust in from the office door and scared the soul of of the person in it. Hiroto, the 8th Division Lietenant shriek and because of the sudden brust of the Captain, an open ink bottle spilled its contain the horror crept from Hiroto's face the papper work that he had been working on for the entire 2 hours just demolish.

"WHAT THE HELL HARUKA?" He snapped his face towards her but his anger soon disapper because of the look on her face, she looked troubeled.

"What happend to you? You look like you have been crushed by a steamroller." Usually that kind of statement would cause his a punching back but not this time. He knew she heard him because her tense for a second but she just sit behind her desk and do the papperwork at least pretend to since she was already finished her shared.

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

"Why are you walking me back to my quarters?"

"..."

"We already passed the Captain quarters."

"..."

"Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Your face is burning up."

"..."

"Look Hiroto I notice that we happen have much time to talk these days since I've been busy lately. And I have something to tell you."

"Are you proposing to me?" Trying to lower the tension in the air Hiroto cracked a joke. Still sensing the tension he steps over in front of her stopping her from her track. She looked up to him narrowing her eyes she grunted.

"Hiroto, I-"Cut off by a finger on her lips, the person in front of her shut her up.

"Look if this going to be a real proposal I'm just not ready yet." With that she laughs at their weird sense of humor. Feeling a little bit happy that he finally breaks the tension between them he let out a small chuckle.

"If I was proposing I'd say, 'step into my parlor and let me rock your world honey'. So no I'm not going to propose to you. I have something really important to tell you."

"Oh no, are we going to break up?"

"If I could, I would but unfortunately I couldn't and Hiroto stop joking it's not funny anymore. I'm serious!" Yanking him by the collar she glared at him.

"Okay, I'm all ears. What's bothering you?"

"You know that I went out with Kuchiki-taicho this noon right?" she question.

"Yes. Did you have fun?" quirking an eyebrow.

"I did, we visited the old man's stall."

"I bet he made a sarcastic remarks about the two of you being a lover." He smiled knowingly.

"How did you know? That's not important, the thing that I wanted to talked about is what happen after that." She said. A little bit fluster recalling the incident. "He-" she couldn't continue. It was hard for her just to say it out loud.

"He what? You didn't finish the sentence you just let it in the air." Waiting for another minute for her to gather her courage to said it, he waited.

"He kissed me." There she said it.

"He what?!" Hiroto yelled. "Did he force him self to you?! Did he do anything else?! Most importanly why?" He put his hands on her shoulder, shaking her quite forcefully.

"I don't know. I ran. I ran after he kissed me I don't give him any chance to explain for himself. And even if I stayed I don't even think he would talk since he was quite shocked for what he did himself. Thats why I came to you! I need an explaination." She brush his hand off he shoulders and cluntch her hand in them. Almost painfully.

"On what? That he kissed you? I don't think I'm the right person you could ask that question."

"No! I need an explaination on why does my heart wont stop beating so fast and why my stomach felt butterfllies when I think about him. And I should be mad because he just kissed me like that but I'm not, somehow I felt happy but also confused by this. Why is that?" Running out of her breath saying that without a pause Haruka look into Hiroto's eyes demanding her questions to be answerd. She was ready for any worst scenarios like she got an heart attack or she and Byakuya encaunter a burglar and got hit by him with an odd object that makes her delusional making her think that Byakuya really did kissed her but no her mind just playing tricks on her and it was just all a mirage. But she was clearly not ready with Hiroto's reaction. He was laughing.

"Wha- wha—what are you laughing about?" she stammered.

"No there's nothing funny actually I was just expressing my surprised on how gullible you were in those such thing." He said.

"By lauging? Aren't you a cruel one? And what do you mean by gullible? I'm not gullible, you know very well how tough I can be in a fight!" She finally snapped. She came to him in the first to get some answers not mockery.

"Yes, I know very well how strong you are." His looked at her with a gentle smile. He pause for a minute and bent down to level her eyes. "Then why did you said that?" She frown. "Haruka.. what I ment by gullible was its your lack—no your zero experience in those kind of thing. Do you even know why did you experiencing those feeling when you around him?"

"No." She said relucantly.

"And that just prove how gullible you are." He stated. "Well it's not completely your falut that you don't understand any of those things, your spent all your life— training." He said the last word just above a wishper.

He has know and stay by her side for a long time, Haruka is the daughter of the infamous Shinobu family, the stongest one of among. The Shinobu family is well known by their flawless stategy on batle, their implecable force, and not to mention because of that they never, never lost in any batle. Thats why her father expect highly in her, for her to be perfect, to be undestructle because one flaw could be fatal in a batle. If it even turn her into a beast it self her father didn't care if his daughter is not the person she before was but a monster, the only thing he care is for her to be the soldire he imagined. Hiroto always hated the man. What kind of a father that only care for his pride and his reputation other than his own daughter, his own blood, his own flesh. For Hiroto that kind of behaviour is just disgraceful he couldn't forgive that man. He was Haruka's personal servant with multiple abiliies for that he could teach her anything she needed to know. He was almost the same age as her but he didn't know exactly because every time he ask her he end up having a bruise on his stomach. He loved her like his own family, he owe her a favor because of her he could live.

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

The Ishikawa family has been viciously slaugthered. They was ambushed by some unknown people wearing black, they were strong and also was his father but he soon was out of number there were too many of them.He saw his father fighting before him wielding his sword protecting him and those red bandages on each of their right arms could never leave his mind out of horror. His mother was also holding a sword but her skills was far from them that's why they run, she brought Hiroto to the back of the mansion. His mother handed him a necklace that has seven ends "Don't let them find you and hold on to this necklace will lead you to the secret that our family has been protecting for generation." She kissed his forehead and make him rode on the horse back. She told him to ran away as far and fast as the horse could. Before he could say anything to ask what had happened the horse already took off and when he turned his face to his mother the only thing he saw was his mother laid unconsious on a pile of blood with a dagger pierce to her heart. He lost both of his parents in one day and back the he was just a frighten little boy. He went into the forest leading to the next town. He was laid unconcious on the ground, not knowing how many days had passed after the attack, the first couple of days he still manage to walk by his feet and after the thrid his body began weakening he didn't have any energy left, the rest was all blank. Haruka's carriage passed across him, she stoped and ordered one of her servant to carry him inside her carriage. She aide him until he regain conciousnes despite everyone dissagreements on picking up some random stranger out of nowhere. When he open his eyes the first thing he was a pair of piercing crimson eyes that dazzled him. She gave him a glass of water to cool him down.

"Forgive me to ask but what happened to you?" She looked at him in the eye, noticing how trembling his hands was she took the glass of water away from his hands and put her hands on his. He look at his hands, he felt a little bit dizzy maybe because of dehirdration and suddenly all of the sudden he remember about the attack, he grimance in pain without knowing he squeze the life out of the little girl hands infront of him, bt she didn't say anything. "M—my family has been murdered." He said while sobbing, tears coming out of the poor boy eyes.

She gasped, she didn't know what to do the only thig that she could think of is how to confort the crying bo infront of her, she gave him a conforting hug hoping that could make him feel better even just a bit.

"I—I'm very sorry to hear that. My name is Haruka, and you are?"

"I—I'm—I'm Ishi—Ishikawa Hiro—to ." He said it while still sobbing. And brought his wrist to her that have covered with bandage and untie it, there was a simbol. Haruka know exactly what it is, only the real Ishikawa family have that smbol and it's not just any simbol only people who had that simbol could open the secret that the Ishikawa family has been protected.

"Nee, Hiroto-kun why don't you go to the mansion with me? I'm sure the Shinobu family would happy to have you there after all we are allies."

"Allies?"

"Yes, aren't your family suppose to be the one who guarded the 'secret treasure'?"

"That's correct. But I almost know nothing about the family matters, and I'm not old enough to know what's the secret truasure is so I don't know anything."

"Oh. If thats the case we would just have to go to the Shinobu mansion, I'm sure you would find out more in there."

The trip lasted for three days, and during that time they became really close friends. When they arrive at the mansion Haruka emediatly showered with question asking about who is the dirty looking boy that standing right behind her.

"I want to see my father. Now. Mizuki ?" They suddenly became quite. Haruka's voice was calm and collected but also sound comanding, maybe thats why people listen to her current statement.

"He's in the training hall, mistress. Let me escort you." Said Mizuki, the Shinobu's family conselour. Leading them to the lagest room at the back of the main section of the mansion.

"Father."

"Ah.. Haruka your back. How was your trip?"

"Delightful. But thats not what I am here for."

"I figured, your face does not have the look that you always wear. Is it serious?"

"Yes. I'm sure you know the Ishikawa family, yes?"

"Of course, their one of our oldest allies. Why do you ask my dear child?"

"They have been assasinated. I think the reason why is the secret treasure they've been guarding."

"And where did you learn this information? Don't you think it's just a lie? Don't you think it's only someone whos impersonating them just to came in here?"

"I saw the mark father. It's easier for you to see it from the peson itself." She open the shoji door and and gesture someone to come in. "Hiroto-kun, come." A boy with a dirty clothes came in but Haruka's father know more than that, even though he look like a poor little homeless kid but the fabric of his clothes was expensive looking. His eyes soon traveled to the boy wrist, wanted to be sure he ask the boy to open the bandage. "Kid can I see your wrist?"

Hiroto opened his bandage and let the man examinate his wrist. "It's seem you really are telling the thruth Haruka. Boy—no Hiroto, can you tell me what happen?"

Hiroto explain about everything that he saw. About his father, mother, about those people in blacks and the red bandages they were wearing on their right arms. It seems Haruka's father—Genji Shinobu knows something about those people because Hiroto saw his muscles stiffen and then relaxed for a second.

"Father you see the situation we're having here? I'm sure the reason behind the ambushed was to steal the secret treasure. He need a shealter, too."

"I suppose Hiroto could stay here for awhile."

"What dou you mean for awhile ?" she frown at the statement.

"We can not just let him stay in here forever. He is not the member of this family." Genji said stoicly.

"How could you say that?! I thought you owe something to the Ishikawa's aren't this just a nother way to repay your dept?" she burst in to and anger, shocked on how could her father said that.

"I owe something to his grandfather. Not him." He said it with a stern tone. He was clearly didn't care a bit about the boy.

"I can not just threw him out knowing full well about his situation! That he has no home to come back to."

"It is not your burden in the first place, why can't you stop being so noble to everyone? You have no right to provide him, you didn't owe him anything."

"If that's the case, I 'll just make him my own! I'll make him my personal aide, that way I have every right to provide hm."

"Haruka, my child.. play the game as you like, I don't care. But are you sure? He is barely older than you or even the same age as you, he will not be your aide on the contrary you are."

"Why don't we just find it our self?" With that Haruka walked away from the room while dragging Hiroto by the arm who has no clue how he ended up this way. She led them to her room.

"Hiroto, forgive me for diciding such an important decision like that without even asking for your permission! But it's the only way for you stay here without having to be some kind of slave out there." She bowed her head low to the ground. Thinking so stupid of her to just choose the way his entire life to live. He must be furious to her or worst he could dispised her in instant.

"No! Please Haruka-san rise your head! No need to apologize! I'm actually thankful of what you just did to me. I don't know what's going to happen to me out there alone. Thank you.. I never met someone who willingly took care some stranger they met unconcious on the ground, took care of him and offer him a place to sleep. Once again thank you..

She smiles and hug him. "Your wellcome."

"But what am suppose to do as an aide actually?" Hiroto asked inocently.

"Um, basically you have to take care of me like; cook for me, do laundry, and if I stuck in a tricky situation you could and will save me the moment I first sream. But the last part wont be necessary I am a Shinobu after all I can take care of my self."

"So I could say I have to be a servant + bodyguard?"

"You could say that."

"Aren't all the noble lady like you should stay quite and let the "man" handle the rest?"

"I guess I'm not the demsle in disstres type but a fighter type after all I grow up in the inviourment that has the majority of a train assasins."

"Aren't forgetting that I also spend my life training since I was born? That I am also capeble of fighting? I'm not just gonna stand back, let you tear someones head off and let you have all the fun. What kind of men am I?"

"Why don't we see it our self."

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

She kept thinking about what Hiroto said to her last night. It clearly never accurd to her that way. That word is still very unfamiliar to her shedidn't know how to react. Her mind was so distracted she didn't realize she was crossing straight to the tenth division captain who was holding a large pile of paperwork that curently splatter on the floor.

"Hey what the hell! watch where your—." Reconizing the person he collide to Hitsugaya went silent for a second and let out a grunt. "Captain Shinobu you should really pay attention on where your heading. And you are not exactly the clumsy type.."

"Ah—! Captain Hitsugaya! I'm very sorry ! Here let me help you pick that up." She said bend down to help gathering the large amount of papers on the floor. "I was distracted, I had something on my mind. I wasn't paying attention to where I was heading at all. I apologize."

"Do you have a problem with the squad?"

"Oh no nat at all.. the guys are really reliable. I had no complain."

"Then what is it?" He quirked an eyebrow. All the papers were already gatered. He stood up. He realize the eight division captian was heading to the north section of his division, its quite a long walk for someone was just musing away from the eight. So she must be looking for Matsumoto to talk about what ever had bother her. "I'm guessing you are here to see my Liutenat?"

"Yes, that's right. I soppose I need some spiritual guidance from her." She said

"Oh?" Not knowing exactly what that means, he nodded.

"Why don't we walked together we're heading to the same place as well?"

With that they strated to walk. Haruka knows it well that Hitsugaya is not a very vocal person. She began to talked about the weather to pass the awkward moment but only recived some short agreement, thats why she start a new conversation.

"How long have you been going out with Rangiku-chan?" She asked, a sly smile appear on her face.

Hitsugaya went stiff for a sencond but he quikly regain his composure. "What are you talking about?" He said without looking at her. His eyes stayed straight ahead.

"Please don't play dumb. It is like a common knowlagde about the two of you in Seireitei! I just don't know how it is started."

"I don't know myselft either."

"Huh? You don't know?"

"It's just happen like that. Between her and I, it feels like its natural. I alreday have feelings for her since the first time I met her. And the more I spend time with her I fell in love with her more and more. " His teal eyes shone just talking about her make him coverd with happiness.

"Wow I—I don't know how to respond to that." Hitsugaya face flusttered he didn't realized whathe was saying, his brain has went off it's like his mouth taking everything in control. "It really surprised me. I don't know your actually a very romantic person."

They both were really cooped out with their convrsation and before they both realized, they were already in front of the tenth division office. When Hitsugaya slid the door they were directly greeted by a female voice.

"Captain your back! And you brought Haruka-chan with you!" Matsumoto said gesturing for Haruka to sit down on the couch. But she refused saying she need somewhere where they could only talk to each other without any audiance.

"Okay! Lets go to out to the garden that place is quite and its a perfect place to chat that way we wont be disturb." She said cheekily.

"Matsumoto wait have yo—" Hitsugaya spoke out but he was cut out by Matsumoto. "Before you could finish your sentence, Yes I have finished the paperwork you left for me. "

"Good."

Don't read me. I'm just a line.

When they arrived at the tenth division garden they sat down on the bench under the sakura tree. The atmosphere was very calming, watching the petals drifting through the wind. It's perfect.

"Whats bothering you Haruka?"

She exaplain about what Hiroto was said to her that has been bothering her for quite sometime.

"No." She said relucantly.

"Why can't you just spill the beans?!" Said that rather harsly.

"Haruka youre.. in love."

"I'm what..?"

To be continued..