A/N It's been ages since I've upload anything. But the inspiration suddenly came to me for this drabble so I had to pen it down. I hope you guys like this anyway (: P.S Please don't kill me for my lack of updates; my laptop has been malfunctioning for the past year and I'm too busy trying to study + work at the same time so I could afford a new one lol.

Diclaimer: I wished I owned Bleach but sadly I don't.

It was a little unnerving to say the least, to return home to a sobbing girl at the front of his manor. Byakuya's first thoughts were that his guest must have been upset with something, but surely nothing that were related to the Kuchiki house. He had wanted to leave the girl alone, but her silent cries had somehow drawn him towards her instead.

"Inoue san." His tone came off a little bit more firm than he liked. "Why are you out here crying your eyes out?"

"K-Kuchiki Taicho." The girl stammered at her new companion before giggling randomly. "U-Uh, it's nothing! Something got stuck in my eye just now! Hah!"

Byakuya wasn't sure if it was in the nature of the girl to pretend that nothing was wrong or maybe it had been that she thought that she could lie to him of all people. He preferred the former. But there was always a chance that it might have been the latter; after all he did hear of how strange the girl was.

"Really." He sounded indifferent when he said that. "Then I would prefer if you take whatever it is that you're doing to your room."

Orihime had widened her eyes at his cold command and Byakuya had almost cursed himself when he realised he came off as being callous. Well, in all fairness, he was trying to prevent gossip should the servants ever think why a young girl like her was crying her eyes out in his house. Worst of all, they might actually have the nerve to involve him in such gossip. He knew the behaviours of his servants too well.

"But should there be something troubling you," Byakuya muttered at long last. "I would suggest you spill it out immediately so that I can offer the necessary assistance."

"It's nothing! Really!" The girl replied immediately and smiled. "It's just… I'll do better!"

"Do better?" The man raised an eyebrow at her sudden declaration. What could possibly get her all hyped up like that?

"Yes! Hinamori san was very nice to offer her help so I guess I'll just have to try my best!"

"And what is it exactly are you going to try your best in?"

The said captain tried to think of many things that the 5th division lieutenant could possibly be good at to offer her assistance, but at last, he could think of none. Was it Kidou? But could the human girl even do that?

"Cooking of course!" Orihime replied cheerfully before turning into a frown again. Her many expressions did proved to be interesting. "Abarai kun mentioned that Hinamori san was really good at cooking and that she'd be a great teacher."

"Renji?" Byakuya felt like he couldn't keep up with the conversation. "And why would he mention such a thing?"

"O-Oh!" He noticed her cheeks turned pink. "B-Because he couldn't stand my wasabi chocolate soufflé."

The man could have sworn he saw a tear or two threatening to fall from the girl's eyes. He could, however, sympathise with his lieutenant. Wasabi and chocolate was never a good combination to begin with.

"Don't mind him." Byakuya found himself saying. "The man could never appreciate the fine taste of refined delicacies anyway."

Not that a wasabi chocolate soufflé was anywhere near being a refined delicacy, the man noted to himself.

"I thought so too!" Orihime pumped her fist up in the air. "I knew you could understand where I was coming from, Kuchiki Taicho!"

He only nodded his head, knowing that if he had actually said what was really on his mind, the girl would have gone hysterical. He also didn't understand why she thought he of all people could understand her strange train of thoughts. The man wondered if he should have been truthful and encouraged her to go for the cooking classes instead.

It was clear that the girl was having a meltdown and he of course wasn't one to comfort people. He found the act a little awkward so he was just used to entertaining their thoughts by agreeing with them. He noticed that that was the fastest way to get them to quieten up.

"And since you've been so nice to me," The man didn't notice that the girl had been chattering since just now since he was preoccupied with his thoughts. "I'll make you some wasabi chocolate soufflé myself!"

"Sure." He replied absent-mindedly.

Wait.

What?

Byakuya cursed himself inwardly.

"A-Actually…" The man stuttered, but his voice was drowned out by her excitement.

"I think I'll make it tomorrow! And maybe give some to Rangiku san as well!" Orihime walked off but not before bowing to him. "Thank you Kuchiki Taicho for listening to my worries! Oh! And if you could please not tell Abarai kun about this. I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings or anything. Goodnight!"

There was a still silence as the wind blew ever so softly into his hair. The man remained standing at the front of his house as he let out a sigh at the situation he had gotten himself into. He would make it a note to share this wasabi chocolate soufflé with Rukia. After all, the Kuchiki's should never decline a gift from a guest, but there was just no way that he was going to eat that delicacy. A half-eaten shared snack would be better than not eating it at all, right?

It was not until he went to bed that Byakuya realised he had stuttered to the orange haired girl. The man never stutters, not even to his late grandfather.

What a strange human girl Orihime was indeed.