After over 6 months of absence – I'm back! Sadly, with the very last instalment.
-s.
Rukia looked wonderful. She was wearing the traditional white kimono, and her hair was decorated with small hair pins. She was standing in front of Renji, who proudly looked at his bride-to-be. The ceremony was a small celebration of their union, only close friends and the representatives of the Kuchiki family were invited to witness it.
Afterwards, there was going to be an open party for everyone, which was the only condition that Renji and Rukia made. The rest was left for Byakuya and the council to decide upon.
Byakuya.
Ichigo's eyes moved on their own to the place where the Kuchiki Taicho was sitting, surrounded by his family. He was observing the event with empty expression, seemingly focused only on the pair of Shinigami in front of him, but Ichigo could see how sometimes his eyes darted from them and scanned the area in search of something else.
Probably any sort of disturbance or a face that expressed too much of negative attitude towards the hurried wedding. Ichigo's thoughts went back to the last couple of days, when Byakuya took it upon himself to assure that any negative comment would be spoken about Rukia marrying Renji. They didn't need any more antagonising atmosphere in the clan. He also went through a fierce but successful negotiation with the Sotaicho. Renji was to be appointed a Taicho of the Five in less than a month. His wedding gift. Both for Renji and himself, Ichigo thought smirking. Anything to secure his family's noble position.
That being established, Byakuya could peacefully give them his blessing.
As if sensing Ichigo's thoughts, Byakuya turned and their eyes met. It was the first time that they saw each other since their last night. Ichigo had to go back home to his family and when he appeared in Soul Society to see his sister, Byakuya was in constant motion, busy with the preparations. The two men savoured the moment, forgetting about Rukia and Renji for a short moment. Ichigo's lips curled into a small smile which grew bigger as Byakuya returned it just a bit. They didn't want to be obvious, it wouldn't fit into the part about 'taking it slow'.
The ceremony came to the end. Before Byakuya turned away from him, Ichigo said silently 'thank you' looking in Rukia's direction. Byakuya only nodded in response.
The more official part of the ceremony ended as soon as men took a hold of the sake bottles. Ichigo was constantly amazed by the amounts of alcohol that his friends, including Renji, could take without falling to the ground. They tried to make Ichigo join them but he declined politely and ran as soon as he saw Kyouraku-Taicho approaching him.
He hid in the shadow of big sakura tree in the garden of the Kuchiki household. He could observe almost everybody from his point but his eyes always found their way to Byakuya. The man was sitting with Ukitake-Taicho, talking silently to the man. Ichigo sighed with a small smile forming on his lips. Telling him about his feelings was absolutely alleviating, and knowing that Byakuya actually felt something for him was even better.
"Yo, Ichigo," the boy heard Shinji's voice.
The blonde Shinigami was standing behind him, as if trying to see the object of Ichigo's interest. When he noticed Byakuya's tall figure, the Vizard grinned.
"Still a mess, huh?" he asked.
"Not really," Ichigo assured him.
"Why don't you go to him, then?"
"He's busy."
"Huh."
Ichigo accepted the glass offered by Shinji. The drink was bitter and strong. He started coughing so Shinji hit his back. When he recovered, Ichigo almost jumped back at the sight of Byakuya standing at his side.
"I'll just leave you two alone," Shinji threw him a sly smile and disappeared in shumpo.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo asked nervously glancing in the direction of the party but it seemed that no one noticed them. "I thought..."
Byakuya kissed him. Ichigo was startled at the beginning but gave up immediately after that. He grinned and felt his back pressed up the tree. Byakuya's hands were greedy and impatient. Ichigo's head spun with pleasure at the movements of his hands all over his chest.
They broke the kiss to take a breath.
"What's going on? Not that I mind but I thought..."
"I spoke to Jushiro. He asked about you and I couldn't stop thinking about how I wanted to be here with you."
"Are you sure you are Byakuya?" Ichigo chuckled.
"We've been at the party long enough, don't you think?"
He kissed him again. The kiss held a promise of a pleasurable night that would follow so Ichigo quickly responded by pulling the Kuchiki heir closer.
"We tell her, tomorrow."
Byakuya only nodded.
"I hope you know what you are doing."
Ichigo jumped in surprise. He turned to see Rukia's raised eyebrows and folded arms. He glanced back to the closed doors of Byakuya's bedroom, behind which the man was still sleeping soundly. Ichigo couldn't sleep so he decided to take a walk in the gardens but he never suspected to meet Rukia there at the early hour.
"Rukia... ekhm... it's... it's..."
Rukia shook her head and gestured silently to follow her outside. Ichigo sat on the wooden floor and patted the spot next to him. Rukia shivered a bit in the morning air and covered herself more tightly. She sat next to Ichigo and he moved so that she was sitting between his legs. He pulled her closer and circled his arms around to keep her warm. The little one needed to be as warm as possible.
"So, you and my brother are ok again?"
"Yeah."
"I knew the moment I saw him going to you at the party."
Ichigo didn't know what to say so he stayed silent. But after a couple of minutes of looking ahead he murmured:
"He said he feels something for me. He never behaved like that towards me before. I take what I can, Rukia."
"I just want you to be happy, Ichigo. I'm simply afraid that he'll hurt you again."
"I know, midget. I know."
"Did you talk to my sister?" Byakuya asked when Ichigo slipped back to bed to get some warmth from Byakuya's body.
"Yeah. She's ok. With us, I mean."
"It's good."
"She told me that should you hurt me in any way, she'd hate you for the rest of your life."
"She didn't."
"She implied it," Ichigo chuckled into Byakuya's arm. "Fuck, it's cold out there."
"So, come here and let me take care of it."
"Ooooch, Kurosaki-kun, you look great," Inoue exclaimed happily. She spun around in her wedding dress and Ichigo laughed at her train of thought.
"It's your wedding, Inoue," Ichigo answered. "It's you who should look great, not a best man."
"Oh, I'm so excited!" the girl jumped in a place. "Do you think, Ishida-kun is ok?"
Actually the last time Ichigo saw Ishida, the groom was more stressed out that ever but Ichigo kept that information to himself and only nodded his head.
There was a knock at the door. Tsatsuki's head popped in.
"Ichigo, get your ass to the altar. Inoue, deep breath, and again. Good. Now come, Kurosaki-san is waiting outside."
Ichigo exited the room passing by his father who was supposed to take Inoue down the altar. The old man was dressed in his best suit, with his hair and goat-beard trimmed nicely. Surprisingly, he was almost as excited as Inoue about the whole idea of giving his "daughter" away. His next chance would be with Yuzu so he gladly accepted the offer.
Ichigo took his place next to still pale-looking Ishida. The man nervously adjusted his glasses at least three times since Ichigo had appeared by his side few seconds before.
"She's there, right? She's not running away with some other guy, right?" he asked his best man.
"Ishida, calm down or I'll hit you."
"You have the rings?"
"Yes."
"Do I look ok? I don't know if..." he began rambling. Ichigo sighed and shook his head. His eyes found Byakuya's in the third row, the man was sitting next to Yuzu and looked amazing in his own suit. His raised brow told Ichigo that the opinion was reciprocated.
"Ishida?" Ichigo interrupted his friend's babbling.
"Hmm?"
"Shut up already. She's here."
THE END. Like, officially, the end.
There's nothing more to this story, I'm afraid. If, somehow, I get something more to tell you, you may expect some sort of one-shot or a series of drabbles in this story's universe. But as far as I see it, the story is over.
It's quite sad, to be honest. It's been an enormous pleasure to write this fic but the best part of it were YOU. It was your amazing comments and all those fav/follow hits that pushed me forward with every chapter.
THANK YOU!