Chapter Five: Awkward Morning

To get up each morning with the resolve to be happy... is to set our own conditions to the events of each day. To do this is to condition circumstances instead of being conditioned by them.

-Ralph Waldo Trine

Renji was paused in comical surprise at the doorway to his captains bedroom. He'd been heading to give him papers only he could sign, knowing that despite the order that he wanted a day to himself these things couldn't wait. Generally he knocked as opposed to entering but when no one had answered he'd opened the door to check on things. With all the strange events that had been occurring lately it seemed best to take a look around if things were out of the ordinary.

The last thing he'd planned to see was what faced him. Both Byakuya and Kagome were still sleeping, entangled in the blankets and sheets and while he'd seen his captain without a shirt previously he hadn't seen him with a woman ever. Even knowing they were engaged it was still a shock...

Though he realized he'd lingered in his surprise a bit too long when Byakuya was in front of him offering a withering look down his nose. "Is there a problem too great you were incapable of knocking Renji?"

He averted his eyes and instead looked over the patterns carved into the doorframe. "I'm sorry Captain. I did knock, when no one answered I followed current procedure to check on things un-commonplace."

"What required my attention?" He didn't comment one way or the other on the Lieutenants excuse. Taking the papers as they were offered and looking them over.

"You always asked me to bring you anything that needed your signature specifically as soon as possible Captain." Renji was still eyeing the cherry blossom pattern in the doorframe. Knowing he'd likely landed himself a whole month of extra duties.

"I'll have them forwarded to you after they are signed." Byakuya glanced back up to his underling with his serious demeanor fully intact again. "That is all."

He was closing his door even as Renji tried to offer a bow. The red haired soul reaper winced a bit at the colder shoulder than normal. Maybe it'd be a few months...

He sighed and headed away again, this whole thing with him getting a fiance' was way more bizarre than Renji cared for. He hadn't realized how much a captain actually does until he'd started filling Byakuya's shoes more and more in the recent year. He was starting to hope that soul society wouldn't want him to fill a greater position for a while.

In the room he'd left Byakuya glanced at where Kagome still slumbered unaware of the exchange that had taken place. If Renji said a word to anyone he would be taking over for Byakuya much more often than he already did. He shook his head once and sat at his desk to sign the papers and put in his kensaiken. He wanted that particular need out of the way before Kagome woke up, he much preferred his hair still connected to his scalp.

He was dressed and done with the needed paperwork still before she woke at all and he moved outside to have a meal delivered to the room that functioned as a common area for the two. It was nearly noon as best he could tell and it was a bit irritating that he'd slept so deeply as to not just sleep so late but to allow Renji to walk in on them. It had been some of the most enjoyable sleep he'd had in any semi-recent memory but it somehow seemed unworthy of the cost.

He nearly frowned when he overheard the servants whispering about Kagome not being in her room or the common room that morning. So much for hoping Renji wouldn't gossip if his own staff was so loose lipped. It seemed he would be replacing some people this afternoon...

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

"A guy took out that clown in a single blow?" Kenpachi seemed to be taking the news with a observatory consideration. "Not that I ever thought the freak was gifted but he was a captain. No chance to even use his Bankai...this guy just might be worth looking into."

Kenpachi was looking over records that most of the members of the Sereitei had been told not to let him see. It was nearly instant the way in which the pale haired individual had wiped the clown off the field. There wasn't even dust left, and the spiritual pressure had been great enough that it broke through the sekki sekki rock that was built and lined with the barrier for the people witnessing the battle.

"Why weren't you there when it happened Kenny?" Yachiru asked, having been reading over his shoulder curiously.

"I never get invited to the good stuff." He answered with a shrug. "But I think we might wanna take a trip to the real world soon and see if we can't have a bit of fun with the guy. I wouldn't mind a real challenge."

"That sounds fun! A field trip!" Yachiru exclaimed excitedly and hopped down from his shoulder. "I'm gonna go pack."

"Fun." Kenpachi agreed, watching back through what little footage existed of the battle and grinning to himself when he saw the clown vanish again.

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

Kagome stretched out and gave a wide yawn as she blinked slowly awake. That was the best she'd slept in weeks, though she blushed slowly as she noticed she was still in Byakuya's bed. He'd wandered off somewhere and that was a slight relief, though the late hour was a bit frustrating. She hadn't wanted to sleep so much of her day with her fiance' away. He wasn't in the main room either when she got up to check so she went to get something more appropriate than her night clothes on. It was difficult to get a kimono looking right by herself but she was steadily learning how to manage given her love for sleeping in any other time.

"Didn't you hear?" She could overhear people outside her window. She'd opened it for the sound of the rain the night before. "He was sleeping in bed with her."

She felt her blush getting worse already.

"No!" The second individual seemed shocked. "I know they're engaged and it's usually not really commented on but Lord Kuchiki? That seems impossible."

"Well where else could she have been?" The first of the two gossips asked seriously. "They didn't find her in her room and she wasn't in the common room either. He didn't send her home and he already has fired a few people this afternoon."

"Which means you should know better than to be talking about it still!" The second one hissed as if suddenly nervous. "If it gets back then we'll be out of a job as well."

"What's he going to do, fire the entire staff?" The first scoffed, and she got the idea they were waving it off. "Besides, I think it's good for him. He's been without anyone for over fifty years. Maybe once he's actually married she'll lighten him up a little bit, she seems like such a nice young woman."

"That's true." The second individual seemed to relax a little as the subject changed slightly. "She actually thanks me for things that I do. Only time you get a thank you from him is...well never. At least she actually appreciates it...but I have to admit I'm tempted to see if Rukia would be interested."

"Yeah, go after his sister...that's the way to keep your job." The first commented with a laugh, but they'd moved far enough away in their cleaning that she was having difficulty hearing them.

"So he's mad that people know." Kagome reasoned with a sigh. "It's not like we did anything but hold each other...we are engaged...I don't see why it's a problem. They wanted us to share a bed before...but now it's improper? These people have serious mental issues I think."

She finished dressing and just as she was returning to the 'common' room Byakuya was sitting down in a chair. The way he could move around so silently was still a bit unnerving. She smiled warmly though when she saw him, she couldn't help herself. "Good morning."

"Afternoon would be more accurate." He replied but offered a light smile, he seemed ready to drop back into 'business mode' at any moment. "Renji will be coming by before much longer to pick up papers he needed signed."

"I thought he could handle everything for a day." She rolled her eyes a bit, it seemed it would always be job and then any other promises. Not that a few moments was unreasonable considering she'd slept likely much later than him, but he had told her she'd have the day.

"Some things require my personal attention regardless of other events. I apologize." He answered seriously. "Was there something in particular you wished to do?"

"Get out for a while." Kagome answered honestly. "The storm got me thinking that I'd love to see a forest. It's been ages sense I've seen anything more than a park. Do they even have forests here?"

"They do." He answered and seemed to be considering. "They are a bit out of the normal area as there aren't any too close to the city itself. I imagine giving Renji an extra day or two of work wouldn't be awful if you would like to go after your lessons tomorrow."

"That sounds great!" Kagome had hoped they could go today but if it was really so far off it made sense to wait. "Though we still don't have too much to do today."

There was a knock and Byakuya held up a hand in a 'hold that thought' sort of gesture. Kagome got quiet so she could watch him go full serious mode. "Enter."

Renji was already bowing on the ground when he opened the door. "I'm sorry to disturb you again Captain Kuchiki but I was told you wished to see me."

"Renji, the papers you required are on my desk." Byakuya's tone had lost the warmth it possessed moments before speaking with Kagome. "You may enter and retrieve them."

"Yes Captain." Renji moved inside swiftly and picked up the parchment he'd dropped off that morning. Hesitating near the door when he reached it.

"Was there something further?" Byakuya was watching his lieutenant with frigid grey eyes.

"Yes sir." He commented lowly, still looking down and away from him. "The storm last night...do you think it was him?"

"That is a likely possibility." Byakuya answered. "We will speak of it tomorrow when I assign you your tasks for the few days Kagome and I will be away. You may go Renji."

Renji winced a little, he knew he'd have extra duties. "Yes Captain Kuchiki."

He bowed again before closing the door. Kagome waited until his shadow on the walls retreated outside before she looked at Byakuya curioiusly. "What was that about the storm?"

"Weather here doesn't quite work like your world." He answered carefully, considering her as he spoke. "It is influenced by the royalty and in some rare cases the nobility. The king, prince or princess and some of the ruling nobles of the four houses."
"Influenced how? Like they control it?" She canted her head curiously, not sure how to take what he was saying. She shouldn't be surprised anymore by odd things yet it just kept happening.

"Not exactly. The royalty and nobility must act as we do because our emotions can affect the soul society in extreme ways. It is far less common when it involves just the nobility, even ruling members, but in the case of the ruling family it becomes more common." He explained, picking up a glass of the breakfast/lunch that had been delivered shortly before his arrival. Watching Kagome get herself things to eat as well.

"So the king or Sestran could have caused it? That's what you think? You said 'he'." She commented observantly as she leaned back and sipped her own orange juice appreciatively.

"Yes. Though the king hasn't caused such issues sense the death of his wife hundreds of years ago...so I'm leaning toward Prince Sestran. He has been extremely active and involved in things and that is uncommon for him." Byakuya answered honestly.

"That's why he never gets that angry." Kagome realized and considered all the mean things she'd said. "I guess it's good that he doesn't rile easily...even if it's annoying."

"He is better at keeping a calmer bearing than he once was but it seems you got under his skin a little." Byakuya commented, smiling just a little despite himself. "You should be careful though Kagome."

"So unfair." Kagome grumbled. "I have to be nice just so he won't get his feelings hurt."

"Perhaps you should consider it a compliment that he would care enough of your opinion for his feelings to be injured." Byakuya pointed out. He didn't like the implications there as he'd rather the Prince stay as far away from Kagome as possible, but neither was he going to risk the one chance she might have in controlling her powers.

"I guess. I wish he didn't." Kagome mirrored Byakuya's feelings more than she knew. "I'd rather just not deal with him at all. He's such a self-important pompous shiny manipulative jerk. I really don't like him..."

Byakuya sipped at his cup to cover the smile at the spiteful description. It made him far more comfortable to know Kagome didn't seem like she'd be trusting him again anytime soon. "It's just him teaching you Kagome. If he is being professional you should extend the same courtesy. You are still doing poorly in your etiquette lessons as I recall, you should think of it as practice."

She frowned at him and huffed. "Fine."

"Not like your etiquette couldn't use a little work too." She mumbled after she said it. "Least I say 'Thank you.'"

Byakuya let a eyebrow raise slightly at the small tantrum, not rising to it and continuing to eat his meal while she picked at hers. Her emotions still seemed to jump rather easily between topics and he wasn't certain if he'd ever fully understand her.

End Chapter

Hehe, I like the pair of them together. Byakuya's so laid back about stuff like: 'Oh, there she goes ranting again." Then steps back a little and eats his breakfast. Poor Renji. In the future there will be a fight between Kenpachi and Sesshy. It shall be difficult to write when I get there but it's going to happen.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Shiroi - Kagome often seems to get the short end of the stick.

Sugar0o - I'm not sure what to think about being the subject of another's mental powers. And I once kicked my sister in the face as a kid when she was trying to wake me up so it was a personal experience but backwards.

Tsukiei - It was 'beyond' the calm. As in the storm was happening then. I fail to be clever I guess.

Kathy - I do love cuddling sometimes, it's just so nice and comfy.

bella101 - Kirara was always such a side character (to me anyway) that I doubt I'll add her in. Maybe I'll do a cameo someday though, who knows.

Neo - Probably not but possibly in future fictions. They aren't the enemy at the moment though no. Though I am really enjoying that season so far, I hope it continues to be good.