DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters associated with it. They belong to their respective owners. This storyline, however, does belong to me.

The House of Kuchiki

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

"A surprise party? That's a wonderful--"

"--ly terrible idea."

"Arisu-san?"

Hisana stood in front of an eager Matsumoto and a stoic Arisu, her smile vanishing into a pout.

"He'll hate it." Arisu stood from the bed, shaking her head. "Honestly, in all these years, you still don't know him well, do you?"

"But I thought that since it seemed like we had forgotten his birthday, if we surprise him..." Hisana turned to look at Arisu who had now started to pace back and forth.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Hisana-chan. He's not one for parties; I'm sure he's mentioned it. The only party he has voluntarily attended was his wedding," Arisu stated, staring out of the master bedroom's window.

"Maybe you can do something else, Hisana-chan?" Matsumoto was standing next to her friend, an arm wrapped around her, her head leaning on Hisana's shoulder. "Get him a present or... lay in an untied kimono on the bed when he gets home surrounded by sakura... petals..."

Matsumoto looked around nervously, trying not to meet Arisu's critical gaze. "What? I don't picture these scenarios in my head or anything, it just popped up just now!"

Hisana, now blushing a scarlet red, looked at Arisu in desperation. "I wouldn't know what to get him."

Arisu rolled her eyes and reached forward, grabbing Hisana by the hand and pulling her out of the room. "Come on."

--

Byakuya sat in his office, reading and re-reading a report from some lower ranked officer in the sixth division, his patience wearing thin. How long had he been reading this incoherent piece of garbage? He gazed up at the clock. Thirty minutes. Felt longer. He looked back down at the report and finished reading it for the third time. Putting it aside, he lifted the next one, sighing as the tedious work that came with the start of a month.

"More reports regarding last month, captain." A death god lowered a stack onto the aggravated captain's desk. "Oh, and happy belated birthday, sir."

Byakuya grunted in response and sent the man away with a wave of his hand as he flipped the page of the report he was reading. Nothing significant yet again. Why not just write two sentences detailing how completely uneventful the month was rather than three pages of detailed day-to-day watch duty? "They must hate me," he muttered under his breath to another stack being placed on his desk.

This would be a long week.

--

"Got everything?" Arisu stood in front of Hisana, pointing at each item sloppily held up and about to fall to the ground, going through the list in her mind: Cloth, needles, embroidery floss, pattern, wrapping paper, ribbon and the box. Alright. She nodded to the cashier who took the items from Hisana with a bow and started to put them in a bag. "Thank you for your patronage, Kuchiki-sama."

Once the two of them had returned to the manor, Hisana sat down in her room and closed the door, closing herself off. She cut the cloth and held it out in front of her. She scrunched her nose and shook her head, going to cut another piece. Nope, not good either...

Five more tries and she was finally content; a square piece of white cloth. She smiled to herself and began humming a tune she had heard on the way home with Arisu, all the while struggling with a needle and some embroidery floss. Did the holes have to be so tiny?

Just as she successfully threaded her needle, she heard Kanaye open the manor doors. Hisana frowned, whispering under her breath. "He's home already?" Looking around, her eyes went wide. "I have to clean this mess!"

Running around frantically, she collected her scraps and bunched them together, passing the needle through them and stuffing them under the bed. Wiping her brow, she collapsed onto the bed and looked towards the doorway and see her husband standing there, eyebrow raised and smile creeping across his face. "Care to explain?"

"I was... um... trying to learn how to stitch. In case, you know... I rip something and need to patch it up as soon as possible," Hisana responded in a tone that sounded more questioning than anything else.

"Uh... huh..." Byakuya went to his closet and put his haori away and began slowly removing his uniform, obviously realizing that she was up to something. I'll leave it be just to humor her.

"So... how was work?" Hisana asked nervously, trying to change the subject.

"Horrendous."

"Why's that?" She scooted up into a sitting position and watched her husband remove his hairpiece and place it on the dresser, trying to read his expression when he faced her.

"Reports."

"Oh... I'm sorry, Byakuya-sama." Hisana frowned and patted the spot next to her.

He shrugged and sat on the bed next to her. "You'd figure after all those years in the academy, at least one of them could write a decent report."

Hisana sighed and rested her head on his chest, smiling when she felt his hand reach up to run his fingers through her hair. "They're not perfect, Byakuya-sama."

"I know they're not, which is why I'm glad to have you to come home to, my dear Hisana." He planted a kiss on the top of her head and let out a deep breath. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," she replied, turning her head to face him with a smile. "Arisu and I went shopping today."

Byakuya didn't respond but simply nodded. He looked so tired to Hisana, she could only imagine how much work he had accomplished today. And what had she done? Cut cloth into uneven pieces. Pitiful.

Struggling to keep his eyes open, Byakuya smiled at Hisana and leaned forward to plant a small kiss on her forehead, then kissed her nose and then her lips, causing her to blush as he lingered there briefly.

"I'm grateful, you know." His eyes slowly fluttered shut. "Having you when I get home. I was worried I'd lose you."

"Byakuya-sama?"

"Arisu's silly tea game," he mumbled. "It had me worried."

"From after the wedding?" Hisana moved her hand to move some hair out of his face.

Byakuya simply nodded, drifting to sleep. Leaning forward to kiss his forehead gently, Hisana smiled and curled up next to him, closing her eyes. As long as I can help it... I'll never leave you, Byakuya-sama. "I promise."

--

'kay so, next chapter up in a couple days. Sorry it took me so long, everyone. I hope you can all forgive me. But it's great to be back! I've missed you all!