WHEN THE SNOW FALLS
by Yih

Chapter Nine
A Sudden Realization

"I hardly ever see you now," Abarai complained, standing far too close to Rukia for Byakuya's taste.

"I've been busy training," Rukia said.

"Wanna spare after dinner then?" Abarai asked with a glint in his eyes. "I haven't fought with you in ages."

Byakuya wondered what had possessed him to allow Rukia to invite her friends over for dinner one evening, probably because she had smiled that bright smile at him and Byakuya found himself caving in whenever he saw it. Unfortunately, neither Hinamori or Kira had been able to make it, both of them busy with their duties as newly minted Fukutaichous. As much as Byakuya didn't mind Shiba and his wife not being able to attend because of a mission, they would have diffused the current awkwardness if they were here. Instead, he was stuck with Abarai.

"I heard you got transferred to Squad 11."

"That was a while back. We really do need to hang out more," Abarai remarked, looking at Rukia in a way that Byakuya decided was entirely inappropriate. "It's not like we're busy like Momo or Izuru."

"At least you're a seated officer," Rukia said with a sigh. "I haven't reached that level yet."

"I'm sure you will one day," Abarai responded, putting a comforting arm on her shoulder.

Byakuya gritted his teeth, knowing that he had no right to be jealous of Abarai, considering that Rukia was his adopted sister. He had no right to think of Rukia as anything other than his sibling. It was unthinkable, except being placed in this situation – to see Rukia being admired by Abarai so openly – it was intolerable. Rukia was too good for the likes of him.

"Abarai-san," Byakuya greeted, "I hope you are well."

"Kuchiki-taichou," Abarai said, his arm still touching Rukia, "how are you?"

"I am well," Byakuya said and gestured to the dining room. "Please follow me."

The sooner this fiasco was over, the better. Byakuya sat down on his place at the head of the table and he watched Rukia take her customary seat to his right and Abarai should have sat to his left, but instead took the seat to Rukia's side. Byakuya clenched his fist underneath the table, wondering what was going on with those two. Why were they acting so familiar?

"Kuchiki-sama," the maid said, "are you ready to eat yet?"

"Yes," he said, trying to keep his voice calm and steady when he felt anything but those emotions. "Please begin serving."

The food came out quickly, but not quick enough for Byakuya's satisfaction. While the meal was delicious as it always was, the food tasted dry and unsatisfying on his tongue. All Byakuya could do was sit and watch Rukia and Abarai interact like they were lost lovers finally reunited. If he had known it was going to be like this, he never would have let Rukia invite that man into his home.

"Byakuya-sama?" Rukia said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yes?" he sounded harsher than he would like, but it was hard to fully control himself when he wanted nothing more than to throw Abarai out of the mansion.

"Would you like to watch us spar later?" she asked. "You don't have to, if you can't spare the time…"

"Unfortunately, I'll be busy," he replied before he had thought about it.

Byakuya just wanted to save himself from having to see Rukia and Abarai interact anymore than was necessary, but at the same time after he said his answer, he should have said yes. He needed to keep an eye on Abarai to make sure he didn't try anything abominable.

"I understand."

That was pretty much the end of their conversation. Byakuya basically watched Rukia and Abarai talk animatedly, wondering why he never saw this side of her. She was alive, so flushed with excitement talking to this tattooed barbarian. Byakuya wanted her in every way that she was: quiet, graceful, a true Kuchiki at heart and when she was loud, energetic, and so bright with life.

He was ready to admit that he was fighting a futile battle, that if he continued to stay in the background admiring her, that he would lose her to Abarai and with good reason. Abarai paid attention to her, he openly showed her his admiration and it was only natural for her to respond to it. Rukia was growing up.

The problem was that Byakuya had sworn on his parents' graves that he would never break another law. Would pursuing Rukia go against everything he had been taught? Marrying Hisana certainly had been, but Rukia had been adopted into the Kuchiki family and was technically noble. However, she was also his common law sister. No matter how he looked at it, he was in a bind.

He wondered how the Elders would look at this situation. They had hardly wanted Hisana as part of the family and the same could be said about Rukia. But they now seemed to approve of Rukia as part of the family and recently they had been hinting at him that he should seek a wife and start a family. The only woman Byakuya had any interest was Rukia.

"May we be excused?" Rukia asked in her sweet, polite, very Kuchiki-like voice, so unlike the voice she chattered to Abarai with.

Byakuya cleared his throat and took a sip of his cold tea. "Don't take all night. There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Of course," she responded. "Where should I go and look for you later?"

"The garden."

Rukia nodded and bowed her head at him in the respectful manner that was shown to the Head of the Kuchiki clan. She rose from her seat and Abarai somehow managed to beat her standing and actually put a hand on her back to help her up. Byakuya didn't know what possessed him, but he too rose from his seat and followed them to the door out, waiting for Abarai to slide the door open and for them both to step out of the room.

When Rukia was almost out of reach, Byakuya grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into the room, causing her to lose her balance and lean against him. The feel of her body on him was heavenly and Byakuya stared down at her violet eyes, mesmerized.

"Byakuya-sama?"

There was a question in her eyes and the only answer he could give her was to cup her face and lower his own – to press his lips against hers in a sweet, tender kiss.

-

A/N: So the feelings have burst to the forefront, whatever is Rukia going to do? Better tune into the next chapter and find out, eh?  I feel that jealousy was probably the easiest way to bring out Byakuya's passion, since we didn't want to wait too much longer for the romance to start, as it's already chapter 9. I hope that you like this chapter and thank you for reviewing the last chapter! It definitely sparked my imagination and this is the result! See you soon! Enjoy the quick release!

Oh and some reviewers seem to like the idea that Rukia's zanpakuto was male and others wondered why it was male instead of female. There's a particular reason I chose Rukia's zanpakuto to be male vs. female and you'll find out soon. Just be patient!

Released on: 11/28/08