-1Chapter Twelve: Unexpected Delays

Nowadays harmony comes almost as a shock.

-Kathleen Jessie

There was only the smallest flicker of one of Byakuya's eyes that gave away even the slightest surprise, even then Kagome only noticed because she was so used to searching for emotions on his face. He was turned around with the offending hand of the woman held up and away from himself in the air. Kagome couldn't hear him but given the now fearful expression of the girl she could imagine whatever he'd said wasn't in any way friendly.

Part of her was screaming to go and interfere in case he got too aggressive but the whole scene was just too much for her mind to keep up with. The logical part of her brain was numbed out by the surprise and a bit of her own anger at the presumptuous business woman's approach of her fiance'. A part of her wanted the woman to get smacked…

Byakuya meanwhile had simply warned her to avoid such lecherous behavior in the future and let her hand go, picking up his purchase and walking back toward Kagome. He hated the mortal world, he avoided it as much as possible. Not only did he have to pretend to blend in with the peasantry they were all incredibly rude. Even that he could manage easier if he could do more to actually put them in their place more than simply giving them a simple lecture.

It was just as well that he didn't look back when he walked away, he did know enough of the human world to recognize the rude gesture of her holding her middle finger at him. Kagome was frowning a little still by the time he got back and handed her the bottle of water, sitting next to her.

"You okay?" Kagome asked, not sure what to say really but glad that he'd left her that insulted.

"Fine." He answered indifferently. "I'll just be glad when we leave this place."

"I don't like flying either." Kagome agreed, misreading his particular thoughts that time. "Airports are always so full of busy people."

"People with a lack of etiquette might be a better statement." He replied as he shifted to avoid a woman that had sat on the other side of him and was staring. It wasn't that he didn't know women tended to be attracted to him, who wouldn't be? It was more a matter of how annoying women in the real world were about it. None of them tended to have any real grasp of manners and were about as direct as the whores in the lower districts of soul society.

"Things are just a little different here." Kagome half-agreed, trying to keep a neutral position in hopes she'd not have to fight to travel sometime in the future when she wanted to. "I don't think it was nice of her to approach like that either though."

"We should be on our way soon, we at least do not have to share space with anyone else." He commented, first class was at least good for that. It was bad enough he was forced to take such transportation with Kagome in the first place, he wouldn't lower himself to anything but the best available.

"Attention passengers for the seven o'clock flight to Sydney." A rather flamboyant sounding man that reminded her of one of the members of the eleventh squadron had come on the mic. "We are sorry to inform you that our plane is having technical difficulties and we will be delayed until tomorrow morning at nine A.M. We apologize for any inconvience this causes and will provide rooms at our hotel until then if you will kindly line up."

"Aw come on…" Kagome frowned a little, it was difficult not to join in Byakuya's brooding after an announcement like that. She really wanted to be on her way, she was excited about traveling to a new country and it was disappointing the plane wasn't working. There was also the vague fear the people after her would hunt them out while they remained in Japan but it was more of an aside. She didn't feel as if she was in real danger with Byakuya there.

"It's fine." He said, though she could tell he was frustrated as well. "Wait here a moment."

She watched him as he got up and headed over toward the line, stepping to the front and sending a glare she'd rarely witnessed from him at the small moment of protest from the man at the head. He backed off though and Byakuya spoke with them for a short while.

"I have to start coming with so I can hear what he says to people." Kagome thought idly as she watched the color drain from the flamboyant workers face as he raised his hands as if explaining.

There was another few comments from Byakuya and the guy might as well have been sweating bullets, eventually he nodded and gestured a bit, giving directions as best she could tell. She really did have to start walking with him, this was a bit much him scaring everyone around him.

Once he returned he ignored the slightly sour expression she was giving him, they'd already had a discussion of how intimidating people wasn't the answer on the bus that morning and she'd had a similar set of features then.

"What did you say?" She asked shaking her head disappointedly at his calm demeanor, knowing it wasn't ever as simple as it seemed.

"I explained it would be unwise to offer us anything but the best treatment or my companies money would be moving elsewhere. As a manager he understood the situation, we'll be heading to the penthouse of the hotel the airport owns." He said quietly, picking up Kagome's bag before she could continue to protest. She'd been rubbing her shoulders the entire time she'd been sitting and waiting and he wanted to just get away from the other mortals before they continued to goad him.

She blinked and moved after him, thinking about saying he didn't have to carry her bag but she let it slide after a moment as he already seemed as if he wasn't at all happy about any of this situation. "Probably getting the best room in the house was just needed instead of a side prize. He really is still just as prideful as ever."

She smiled a little despite herself at the thought, she was enjoying walking behind him and perhaps him in jeans wasn't that bad after all. It was a good blocks walk to the tram that would take them over the hotel. Then a ride up the elevator and the room they were given was big enough to be half of the top floor. Grand but not in the same manner as some of the lavish areas she'd seen in soul society. If his estate were to be placed next to this room it would become incredibly bland in comparison.

"Guess when you are that spoiled it only makes sense to look down on everything else." She smirked some at the slight distaste hidden beneath the usual mask of neutrality. It was just a part of him and she had to admit it was a little endearing when he turned all high and mighty business mode.

"This is really nice." She said as she noted a fruit basket compliments of the company that ran the airline on a small coffee table. "The fruit looks fresh, would you like something?"

"No, thank you." He stated with a single negative shake of his head. "I am glad you find the room adequate."

She laughed outright at that one, giggling more when he moved to look at her more directly, it was another moment before his eyebrow raised. "Is there a reason you find this so amusing?"

"No no." She chuckled and rubbed at her eyes where they'd began to tear. "You just make me laugh. Seems we have a whole evening to ourselves, nothing to be sad about right?"

"You are correct." He offered a lighter smile to her at the attitude she was giving him. He likely appeared incredibly rude himself given where she used to live before she had moved into his estate at the soul society. He would need to appear less disdainful of normal mortal things so he wouldn't insult her.

"Well, I'm gonna take a shower, all that running around today and you are still all perfect as usual." She stuck her tongue out at him playfully to try to keep him in his less serious side for a while. "It's really unfair you know."

"Give it a few hundred years and things might come easier to you." He answered with a shrug of his own, joining her on the couch where she'd sat. "I'll order food while you bathe if you'd prefer."

"Sounds fine." She agreed, leaning over and kissing his cheek and grinning at him. "Just don't start scaring people over the phone…if anyone could with just a statement you could."

"I appreciate all the flattery." He returned with a dry humor.

She giggled and vanished into the bathroom with a small smile of her own, the showers and hot water of the real world was something she'd actually began to miss with only the bath's in soul society. The modern bathroom was something the real world had on it's spiritual counterpart hands down.

Byakuya meanwhile was eyeing over the list of things they could order from the kitchen, much more variety than he had expected from such a place, considering for a time before walking toward the bathroom to ask Kagome what she'd like.

He paused as she hadn't closed the door, she'd already undressed and stepped inside, the water flowing over the body openly as her eyes were closed and her head leaned back to take in the wash of warmth openly. She wasn't aware she was being watched but Byakuya wasn't quite considering room service any longer. He set the menu aside and slipped into the bathroom, if he was quiet she'd never see him coming in to join her.

End Chapter

Rawr. Horny Byakuya. There may be a lemon next chapter but with as long as this pair has been at each other…no real shock there. Though I haven't decided yet for sure, there could always be some form of interruption. If there is one I will put a warning at the beginning of the next chapter. Now I just gotta get to updating this more often again.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Bella - the idea of it made me laugh too

Kathy - Yes well her family isn't rich so I figured she'd be a bit more of a prude. Sides, if that's the worst they argue it's a good thing.

Clusterlizard1 - Yes I'm aware. I'll be moving there myself next year so it seemed like a interesting place to put it.

Sugar0o - I luvs them too. I actually commissioned an artist to do a picture of the pairing for me. It's sexy *wise nod*.