New chapter! And, a one that focuses mostly on Byakuya – the mystery of THAT NIGHT is revealed (mwwaahahahaaa ^^').
As usual, hope you like it. Leave your precious comments – I really appreciate them, you can't even imagine. All the favs and follows as well, of course.
Very much OOC. But I guess I managed to make it a bit funny. Or did I not? Another thing for you to tell me in your lovely reviews! ^^
Enjoy!
-s.
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The evening before, when Karin was left alone in the lone room in the Kuchiki manor, she realised that she was really dead. Like, really-really. It all happened so fast and Ichi-nii was doing everything he could to make her feel better and as a result, she subconsciously put the thought away for the time being. And really, in the course of the afternoon she almost fell for the thought that death was not that bad. She could visit her sister as soon as she finished the Shinigami Academy. Besides, her Ichi-nii and Rukia were already here. In the future, she could always meet some new friends. Right?
Then, why did she feel so lonely? Spread all over the unfamiliar futon and staring at the ceiling over her head, she thought about Yuzu and how sad she must've been. Karin would bet that her sister was crying her eyes out. She always did so when something happened to her. Karin hated herself for bringing all the sadness upon her little Yuzu.
It's not like she could change anything, though. It just happened. All that was left for her to adopt to her new situation. And to do it in the best of Kurosaki style.
In the morning, she would go all smiley and brash, and show the Soul Society that another Kurosaki was not anything they could handle with ease. With that thought, Karin smiled and fell into soft arms of sleep...
... only to be woken up by a hushed argument. Only after a moment did she realize that the voice belonged to Ichigo and their father. She quickly stepped out of futon, yanked the door open and prevented her father from engraving any disturbing images concerning her brother and Byakuya in her head.
Ichigo had to leave them soon after and that was how Karin ended up with Isshin alone. They decided to look around Seireitei and later on visit the academy. That was when a tall, busty woman launched herself on her father with tears of joy.
Her father!
"Caaaaptaaaaaaiiiin!", the woman wailed squeezing Isshin even more if that was even possible. "Hitsugaya-Taicho was meeeaaaaan to meeeee, agaaaaiiin!"
Karin's eyes snapped open when she heard the name. Hitsugaya? Toshirou was here?
Of course he was! How come she have never thought about him before?
"Matsumoto! Stop behaving like a baby and get to the work, now!", the Tenth Squad Taicho snapped at Rangiku, who was currently hiding after Karin's father broad shoulders.
"Toshirou, my little prodigy!", Karin's father yelled jovially. "Come hug your big, old Taicho!"
"Get away from me, you old fool!" Toshirou escaped Isshin's hug and proceeded to grab Matsumoto's sleeve.
"Oi, Taicho, lookin' good. Additional years made you quite a hottie, you know?", Matsumoto pinched Isshin's arm.
Karin stood looking at the bizarre scene from some distance. She was grinning widely when her dad made a cheese comment in response to Rangiku's compliment. And even more as he was was smashed by Toshirou when he kept calling him cute. Och, she knew exactly how Toshirou disliked being called in such a way.
Only after a couple of minutes everybody calmed down. Matsumoto left under the angry stare of Toshirou and the young captain himself finally regained his composure.
"Oi, Toshirou! You met my sweet little daughter Karin, right? Can you show her around, ne? And I'd go to see Yama-jii."
"What?", Toshirou arched him eyebrow in surprise. He swiftly turned to look at the girl who waved to him somewhat shyly. "Karin?"
"Hi, Toshirou. Long time no see, right."
"Good!", Isshin called pushing Toshirou closer to Karin. "Now, my children, behave, and take care of her, Hitsugaya, or I'll break your neck, he?"
"Hai, hai. Go away, you old fool.", Toshirou murmured. And when goat face was finally away, he asked: "What are you doing here, Kurosaki? Going to disturb us all with you presence like your brother? Plus, did you really had to drag your excuse of a father with you?"
Karin's eyes suddenly narrowed in frustration and anger. What the hell was his problem?
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I will be staying in Soul Society for a while. Thank you for your consideration, you asshole!"
"Oi, what's wrong?
"What's wrong? Do you really think I just decided to visit Soul Society for fun?"
Toshirou stopped mid-step when he realised what Karin was saying. He quickly apologised.
"Nah, it's nothing.", Karin assured him with smile. "Come on, and be nice to me or I'll tell your 'big, old Taicho' to break your neck!"
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Byakuya put the last piece of paper away. With that, he managed to finally get rid of all the additional paperwork from last week and hoped his lieutenant would be so kind not to release his bankai in the middle of his division once more 'because Ikaku threw a stone at him'. That gave him not only expenses to pay but also a harsh headache for the rest of the day.
His relief was Ichigo. Who would've thought that it would only take one orange haired brat to calm his thorn nerves.
Ever since they got together Byakuya's life didn't change a lot. Their whole relationship, despite many people's opinion, was not born out of any kind of great hidden passion. Three months ago, Byakuya encountered Ichigo on the streets of Seireitei and he could remember the night very clearly.
He was returning from his office at night, Abarai was again too engrossed in his little party that Byakuya was left with all the paperwork alone. When he neared the fifth squad barracks, he spotted Ichigo leaning on the nearby wall. He was utterly drunk and barely stood on his legs. Taicho had no intention of helping him out; if the Substitute Shinigami was good enough to get himself so drunk then he could take care of himself, Byakuya assumed. But then the boy snapped upwards when he sensed his presence.
"Byakuya?"
"If you mean Kuchiki Taicho, then yes, Kurosaki."
"Oh cut that honorific crap, would ya?", Ichigo grinned as he closed the distance between them. He tried to stand still in front of the older man but failed miserably. He took a sharp breath when his legs died on him and he landed on his butt.
Byakuya only sighed and finally helped him up.
"Are you feeling well, Kurosaki? Do you need my help?"
In response, Ichigo only giggled. Giggled. Apparently, when Kurosaki got drunk he transformed into a teenage girl.
"Oi, Kuchiki. Did you know that Renji wants to date Rukia? I mean... date-date. Like kissing and stuff. Aren't you mad or something?"
Another evidence supporting his teenage hypothesis.
"Yes, Kurosaki, I am quite aware of the affair. Let's go get you some sleep. Where were you staying?"
Ichigo scowled even more, if that was even possible. His head turned in the direction of Abarai's rooms in his division. He looked like he was about to throw up and Byakuya started to regret his decision to stop by Ichigo for the first place.
"Renji's. But he's still at the party. Did I already tell you that sake is not my thing?", he moved to his left. "It's too strong and I feel already that my head hurts. Do something..."
"And what am I exactly expected to do?"
"Don't know... something! It hurts. Fuck."
Byakuya hit the young boy's head hard.
Ichigo looked at him with anger.
"Oi, what the fuck, Byakuya?!"
Byakuya hit him again, harder this time.
"I will not tolerate such language, Kurosaki."
"Fine! You... you... glamorous... noble! Ha, that's right, you noble!"
This time Byakuya wasn't even sure whether to hit him or not. Instead he just stared at the boy and...
"Oi, what the hell, Byakuya? What's so funny, he?"
Byakuya didn't respond and kept on laughing out loud. Oh kami, he didn't remember when was the last time he was amused by something so much.
"Come, Kurosaki. You can stay at the Kuchiki mansion for the rest of the night."
"Huh? Really?"
Byakuya didn't respond simply moving away from the drunk boy, only waiting for him to catch up with his steps. Kurosaki of course tripped a few times over an invisible stone on the road but otherwise they reached their destination with ease. When they entered the building, Byakuya finally looked at his companion.
"You'll stay in the guest room next to Rukia's bedroom."
"I like Rukia... Oi, did I tell you she's dating Renji?", Ichigo blurted out giggling again.
Byakuya only sighed and grabbed Kurosaki's upper arm and steadied him. They made their move down the corridor.
"You're impossible when you're sober, Kurosaki. But your behaviour when you are intoxicated is beyond words. Here, you have futon and a servant will bring you a bowl with fresh water to clean yourself up. Don't mind, Kurosaki, but you stink."
With that, Byakuya left the boy alone. He told one of the maids to prepare some water and spare cloth and put it into the guest room. Later, he entered his own bedroom and prepared himself for sleep. Sensing that Kurosaki's unstable reiatsu calmed down, he figured it out that the boy fell asleep, so the Kuchiki heir decided to follow his example and removed his clothes.
He was exhausted. Not only did he work late again but also had to act as a nanny to the Substitute Shinigami of all the people. He chuckled once more remembering the way he was 'insulted' by Kurosaki. Like a five year old, indeed.
With that in his mind, he fell into a deep and peaceful slumber.
He couldn't remember if he dreamt of something. He usually didn't, but that night was full of unexpected events anyway, so that he wouldn't be even surprised to discover that his mind gave in to the flow of scattered thought and colourful images while he was asleep.
Well, whether it was the case or not, was not important anymore. What was more demanding at the moment, was the fact that he was woken up by warm presence cuddling up his chest and mumbling something about spider-shaped hollows chasing Hitsugaya Toshirou around Seireitei and trying to feed him with apple-pie ice creams.
What exactly was in the sake they drank at the party?
"Kurosaki, what exactly are you doing here?", Byakuya asked through gritted teeth.
The young man only fidgeted more next to the Taicho and ignored him all along. He just simply threw his arm around Byakuya's chest and mumbled barely audibly:
"Shut up, Kuchiki, I love your voice but if you don't shut up, I'll shut you up personally."
Byakuya only raised his perfect eyebrow at these words. Was he serious?
"Kurosaki..."
The hand appeared out of nowhere. One second Byakuya was to scold Ichigo and the other he was forcefully pulled down to the futon or, more specifically, to Kurosaki's mouth.
The kiss wasn't anything special. In fact it could barely be called a kiss. It was more like an attempt to choke the Kuchiki heir once and for all, until he managed to free himself.
"Kurosaki," Byakuya growled standing up. "Get your drunk ass out of my bedroom or I swear I'll use Senbonzakura on you."
"Whatever. You liked it. Goodnight."
What exactly was wrong with that boy?
Byakuya looked around and noticed it was almost dawn. He should be waking up soon anyway, so he decided to ignore the trouble which was currently splaying on his bed. He could always deal with that later.
And later he did deal with him for making his night an utter disaster. At least, he tried to, until his plans were easily destroyed when he saw Kurosaki in the morning and the young man behaved in the most unusual way he could; he brought him a cup of his favourite tea and sat in front of him on the floor.
"I don't know how and why did I survive the night, but whatever I did, I'm sorry," Ichigo told him, averting his eyes. "I really appreciate it that you did not kill me the moment you saw me doing... whatever I must've been doing. And I would also appreciate it if you could not do that after I'm finished here."
Byakuya remained silent. Was he pretending or honestly could not remember anything from that night? He decided to try his chance.
"You told me about Rukia and Abarai," Byakuya said observing the young man, reaction. He frowned but otherwise said nothing. "Then you insulted me. And after I managed to escort you to the mansion, you told me you loved me and that I was the best thing that has ever happened to you."
Now, he got some reaction from the boy. Ichigo blushed furiously. His eyes were full of fear and shock. He swallowed and looked like he wanted to say something but didn't dare in the end.
Finally, he managed to whisper:
"Did I... did I really do that?"
"No."
Ichigo's face turned blank when he heard Kuchiki's answer.
"What?", he asked stupidly.
"I said, I lied. I only wanted to check whether you really don't remember anything from that night. It seems you truly are oblivious. One thing however, Kurosaki, I need to teach you." Byakuya approached still sitting Ichigo and kneeled in front of him with their face at the same level. "This is," Byakuya suddenly captured Kurosaki's lips, "how you kiss another person properly."
Why Byakuya did that in the first, was beyond him. Was it because he had some unconscious passionate feelings for the annoying brat? Or it was because he decided that 50 years of mourning his late wife was enough? Or maybe for his short-term entertainment that he wanted Kurosaki to provide for him?
Whatever it was, it was incited by the messy half-asleep kiss, that was certain. Anything else, Byakuya could only guess a d dwell in complete confusion. And not to feel alone in that feeling, he made sure Ichigo never got to know what really happened between them on that insane night three months earlier. And gossips may go to hell.