WHEN THE SNOW FALLS
by Yih

Chapter Twelve
Underneath the Moonlight

Had it really been a fortnight since that night when he had kissed her and pretty much confessed his feelings? Byakuya sighed and dipped his brush into the ink. He had fallen back into the habit of staying late at his office in Squad 6 because Rukia was with Shiba. Byakuya fully admitted he was not pleased with the situation, although he did not allow himself to be jealous in this particular instance.

He understood what Rukia was doing and he had to commend her for being such a good friend to Shiba. Still it was irritating that she spent every spare minute with him when she wasn't doing her Squad 13 duties, that she didn't even have time to have dinner with him in the evenings. So instead of eating alone in the big mansion that was his home, Byakuya had taken to eating at his office and sending his Fukutaichou to get him food before she left for the day.

Byakuya also was beginning to believe Rukia was avoiding him because she didn't want to give him an unsatisfactory answer. Although he knew he appeared extremely patient to most people, he and his grandfather, Ginrei knew the truth – he was not patient at all. If anything, he hated waiting and waiting.

At the same time, he was afraid that if he pushed her for an answer he would end up driving her away. He had already sprung his feelings on her without a warning of any kind. If she was to refuse his advances, it was well within her right. He had even forced a kiss on her.

Byakuya stared down at the paperwork in front of him and set his brush down, smearing the ink across it. He couldn't concentrate on work anymore. He been working nonstop, trying to drown himself in it so he wouldn't think about how he'd feel if her answer was negative. He needed to get out of the office; he needed to go somewhere, anywhere.

Without intending to, Byakuya found himself at his parents' grave. He stopped and paid them a quick prayer of respect before he moved on to his grandfather's. He stared at the stone marker that was etched with the name of Kuchiki Ginrei, the former 6th Taichou.

His grandfather hadn't been the easiest person to get along with, but Byakuya had bonded with his grandfather more than he ever had with his father. His father was distant, unapproachable, but his grandfather wasn't. Maybe it was because they shared so much in common, as his father frequently pointed out.

He had learned most of what he knew on how to be a shinigami, a respectable individual from his grandfather. While Ginrei had never approved of Hisana, he had never said an ill word of her and for that Byakuya was grateful. It was truly a pity that Ginrei had passed away before he could know of Rukia.

That year had been extremely hard, losing his wife and his grandfather all at once. If Ginrei hadn't taught him to be emotionally strong, he might have faltered. But he hadn't and if Rukia allowed him to court her, he wouldn't back down – no matter what criticism might blast their way from the Elders.

"I think I might have to break a law," Byakuya murmured to his grandfather's stone marker, "if the Elders don't approve of Rukia and even if they don't, I think you would. I know you were ambivalent about Hisana, but Rukia is different. She reminds me of you in a way, strong and resilient and truly noble in heart and manner."

The wind whistled then, blowing against his face and he wondered if it was possible that his grandfather had heard his words and was trying to make some kind of response?

"I sincerely believe that you and her would have been fast friends."

Byakuya paused, staring at the stone marker for a while before bowing respectfully before he used shunpo to literally fly home. He didn't know why he was in a rush all of a sudden, when he knew for a fact that there was nothing at home to tempt him to speed like this, for some reason he just knew that he should get home as soon as possible. Byakuya was almost there when he caught a glimmer of Rukia flying home with her shunpo.

She was getting good at shunpo, but she was still no match from him. Byakuya leaned back, slowly his shunpo just enough so that she could catch a glimpse of him before he sped up so much that his feet only just barely touched the ground. He easily beat Rukia back to the main grounds of the Kuchiki mansion. She wasn't far behind though. He only had enough time to turn around when she arrived, looking winded.

"Rukia," he said in greeting, smiling what he hoped was a more pleasant one than the one that his Fukutaichou had once told him in a moment of bravery was rather cold, "you're home early."

"I'm sorry," she said breathlessly.

Byakuya felt a tightening in his chest after he heard and comprehended her words. "What for?" he asked in a whisper, almost not wanting to say anything for the fear that his hopes would be over once she had vocalized her feelings.

"For taking so long," Rukia said. "I should have told you from the very beginning."

How ironic, he thought, how nothing could graze his pride, much less his heart, except for this slip of a girl standing in front of him with her large, round violet eyes reflecting the shimmering moon above them. She wasn't classically beautiful, not tall and slender as was the standard, but she was breathtaking in his opinion. Byakuya wanted to reach out, to pull her to him, yet he didn't have the right. She wasn't his to hold.

"I want to apologize for that," she continued and his heart felt heavy.

She wasn't his period. It was a depressing thought, but if that was her decision then he would respect it. He only hoped that the man she did choose would respect her, honor her, and love her as much as he did. And he hoped that he would find that man worthy, if only to ease the pain of not being the one to care and cherish her.

At least, the very least, he was her brother and he would always have a place in her life.

"Do you have a moment?" she asked in a suddenly shy voice.

For you, I have all the time in the world, he thought but didn't say. Byakuya nodded instead and responded with, "Of course."

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A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I couldn't help myself. Doesn't this make you want to read more? Reminds of watching the anime and I can't wait for the next episode to come out!!! I want more Byakuya and Rukia, although I think their parts are about to be done for this season… ah well, what was shown was so great!

Oh because this chapter was shorter than I expected it to be, I've included an omake at the end. It's not really funny or anything, but this is the direction that I almost took the previous chapter (11). I ended up cutting it and rewriting it and I like the new version a lot and I'm sure you will too, but I figured it be interesting for the readers to see what how I write and end up cutting stuff!

Thanks for reading and keep reviewing! It totally makes me want to write as much and as soon as possible. Enjoy the omake and I hope to have the next chapter out ASAP. Also please note, that I have switched to Japanese for Captain and Lieutenant now and have changed all the previous chapters to match. Thanks!

Released: 12/7/08

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Omake #1: Oh no! Beware Rukia!

Rukia was standing in front of Kaien, unsure of what to do. She turned to Ukitake with a desperate look in her eyes. He stared back at her with an equally distressed look she found as utterly surprising as the blank one on Kaien.

What was she supposed to do? How was she to approach Kaien and tell him to shake out of the funk he was in? How could she when she perfectly understood his feelings on the issue? She'd feel the same way if someone as precious to her as Miyako was to him had died by a Hollow's hand while she watched on helpless to do anything.

Rukia didn't understand how it had happened, though. She knew Kaien would have protected Miyako to the death. Something wasn't right. She glanced at him again, wondering what could be wrong with him when she suddenly heard him laugh unnaturally.

He whirled around so quickly with his zanpakuto dawn that Rukia could only watch in horror as he launched himself at her.

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Postnote: Um, that's it. Only one more thing to ask, do you want to see more omakes? That's if… there's anymore big cut scenes. I don't keep the ones that are small stored anywhere. ^_^;;