32:Stirring the Pot

Love, unrequited, robs me of my rest:Love, hopeless love, my ardent soul encumbers:Love, nightmare-like, lies heavy on my chest,And weaves itself into my midnight slumbers!

-William S. Gilbert

Golden eyes watched the man speaking with him skeptically as Sesshomaru sat at his desk, silver bangs reflecting the lighting of his street lamp in the park where he'd been walking. His voice it's usual even uncompassionate tone. "I've been merciful enough to not simply kill you upon entering my presence. Speak quickly before I grow wary of the sight of you."

Ulquiorra hadn't forgotten the grave wound this man's blade had suffered upon him and didn't wish to fight him further without direct orders. Thankfully his orders this day had a separate agenda. "I came here with a message, not a desire to battle you any further."

Sesshomaru simply watched him, waiting for him to continue.

"First I wished to explain to you that I believed you to be involved with the soul society when my attack occurred. I was asked to speak to you involving the young lady that you were with during our last…altercation." he described with a lack of passion to match the demon lord. "She is being held in the soul society despite anything you might have been told or even what she may have been lead to believe herself. A replacement soul has been placed in her body to attend school and other affairs so no mortal's will notice her disappearance."

"I am aware of all of this." Sesshomaru replied, settling a hand on the hilt of his Tensaiga as he narrowed his gaze a quarter inch. "Is there a further point?"

"Are you aware that she has been forcibly engaged to the man that is suppose to be teaching her? Or that on their wedding day they are to kill her mortal body and pull her soul fully into the soul society?" He replied, taking a step back and opening his gate back to Hueco Mundo. His orders strictly forbid him from engaging in further melee with this demon. Though he continued to watch the golden eyes as the gate closed again in front of his green ones.

Sesshomaru meanwhile released the Tensaiga as the scent of the dead creatures energy faded, frowning as he realized he would need to speak to the strange students that attended the school with Kagome. He didn't trust the creature that had attacked him, but neither did he trust the soul society.

"I miss the days when I could simply wipe my enemies clear of the world." He muttered toward his sword before starting on his walk again.

Speaking with the other students that knew Kagome was the wisest course at this time. Even if he didn't like these soul reapers they had conducted themselves with honor thus far and he would return the favor until such a time as he couldn't do so for the sake of his ward…

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

Kagome was redressed, though she was sitting in the changing room watching the pretty necklace that Byakuya had let her borrow what seemed like ages ago but in reality wasn't more than two weeks before. The tiny pink crystals sparkling in innocent mockery of her uncertainty, she couldn't keep it…that just wasn't possible…but having forgotten it for so long how was she suppose to give it back.

"It's not like a CD or movie I forgot to give back to Era or Yuki." She thought apprehensively as she continued to stare at the necklace. It hadn't passed her notice that it was the same color of the shikon jewel - albeit shaped differently and not evil incarnate. "…it's such a magnificent piece of art…"

"It wouldn't be so bad if I had any idea what my feelings actually are…" She sighed as she closed her eyes, though the pattern of a cheery branch and the image of petals floating on the wind possessed her mind. "…I can't love him…I don't even know him! But I do like him…I do want to get to know him. Don't I? Or do I just want to forget Inuyasha? Do I just want to be closer to him because he's similar to the boy I loved?"

She leaned back from her seated position in the changing room where she was avoiding Byakuya. Letting her head fall back and thump on the wall of the small area, ignoring the tickle of drying banks on her forehead…her uncombed hair was the least of her issues. Though she regretted the gesture of tension a moment later when she heard his penetrating baritone. "Kagome, are you all right?"

"Fine." She called back, scrambling as quietly as she could to her feet and opening the door.

She'd changed from the bathing suit into a simpler set of silky pajama's. It was still much too grand for her taste being a sort of kimono itself but she couldn't go nude. The make up from the day's event was washed free during her bath and she was blushing as she looked back at his questioning hazel gaze.

"I um…" She was holding the necklace behind her back nervously and for a lack of any plan held it out toward him and bowed a little. "I'm very sorry Byakuya for holding onto this for so long…I've wanted to give it back for a long time and just forgot…and I just…"

Byakuya's eyes widened a little and then he made himself relax while Kagome still wasn't paying attention, raising a gloved hand to accept the pendant back from her. The gentle twinkling of the jewels chiming against each other tugging at him

…images of her running and smiling with the balefully memory inspiring pendant around her neck haunted him…a time before her sickness…a short period where he was happy…where he didn't need to hide behind his perfect image with everyone…

"Thank you Kagome." In this case, he managed to keep his emotionless facade firmly in place. "We're you hiding away in there all this time because of this?"

"Sort of." She stood back up from the bow after he accepted the jewelry, blushing some and not meeting his eyes. "I felt bad after you seemed to not like me having it last time…and then I've been meaning to give it back but I just kept forgetting. I am sorry."

"Don't concern yourself so greatly." He replied, turning and moving toward a desk to settle the heirloom safely away. "It was given to you to wear and you meant no harm."

"What is it? What does it mean to you I mean?" Kagome asked, curious after watching him take such great attention with it's treatment.

Though when he froze for a moment she found herself repeating her earlier feelings of regret. "You don't have to answer…I've never seen you react so strongly to something is all."

"It was an engagement present for Hisana…" He started, speaking slowly as he considered his words.

"I've been wearing around his last wife's equivalent to an engagement ring?" Kagome thought numbly. "I know Kaede told me about her before…but…"

"She was my wife long ago…she passed from our world because of an incurable sickness many years ago." He finished as simply as he could, it wasn't something he enjoyed speaking of.

"I'm sorry Byakuya…" Kagome said as she watched the nobleman's back. "It seems like such a hollow thing to say…how could I ever hope to replace that? Or that my words would do anything to lessen the loss he's had. I know it hurt me to be parted from Inuyasha, but this is something on a level I couldn't understand…"

"It was a long time ago." He answered, turning back around to face Kagome. "Though I thank you for returning this to me…many women would not be as graceful or modest in the position you've been forced into."

"Why does he have to be so dreamy?" She thought as she stared back into his stunning charcoal gaze, coughing to clear her throat before replying sheepishly. "I guess I just am the way I am. I don't have much of a choice in the matter…you've been very gracious to me in the circumstances."

He considered her for a long silent moment, but when he spoke again it was a change in subject. "I believe they might have further plans for us in the morning. It's getting late, you should get some rest while you can."

"There is only one bed." Kagome observed dumbly. "If you give me some of the blankets and a pillow I'll just sleep on the floor."

"Given your challenge to my honor earlier I believe you should slumber in the bed and I'll gather some pillows if you will spare me a blanket." He commented with the smallest bit of amusement leaking into his voice, still watching her be bashful.

"No offence but I doubt you are used to sleeping on rough surfaces." Kagome commented with a smile, picking up a blanket for herself as she spoke. "I used to sleep on the ground a lot in the feudal era so I'm more adjusted for it. Sides, you are mister noble, you might ruin your circulation and end up with a cramp or something."

He raised a brow at her sharply, watching her gather the blankets. "You are getting quite bold with your comments to my honor. I also recall you saying that you detested sleeping outside on the ground and speaking very fondly of having 'a nice soft bed' to sleep in."

"He remembers that much?" She was paused in the argument at that and didn't have a chance to further protest as he snatched the extra blanket from her arms and moved to a pile of pillows he seemed to have arranged for himself earlier.

"Hey, hey." She managed as he settled himself to a seated position. Catching up with his flash step movements as he reached to take the kensaiken from his hair. "Cheater…"

"I couldn't just allow you to sleep on the floor while I took the bed from you." He explained, glancing to her watching him as he let his hair fall freely, many of his bangs in his face. "Rest well Kagome."

She blushed as she realized she was watching him as he moved again and nodded, bowing a little. "Goodnight Byakuya."

She blew out the candles lighting their area and moved back into the thankfully separated area and to the bed, laying down.

"Why does it have to be so comfortable." She thought as she curled into the downy fabric and the mattress seemed to move perfectly to fit her. The extra comfy made her extra guilty. She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling, windows above the bed gave a magnificent view of the stars and while it was somewhat limited the idea of sharing the sight was definitely a romantic one.

"How many times did I sit and gaze at the stars while sitting near Inuyasha?" She put a hand over her heart in hopes she could ease the ache. "Is it wrong for me to like Byakuya? Inuyasha could never get over Kikiyo…does that mean I'll never truly get over Inuyasha?"

She turned her head away from the lovely sparkling horizon and closed her eyes. She always hated sleeping, it was when her mind didn't have the distractions of the day and it wandered to places she wished it wouldn't.

"I'm not saying I want to forget about him…I'd never want that. But I do want to move on…I eventually want to love someone that can love me back…but how on earth could Byakuya ever love me? His heart belongs to someone else just like…" She pressed her eyes more tightly shut and made fists with her hands. "No. I'm not gonna cry…I refuse. I've cried enough over him…over love I can't have. I don't want to have anymore tears on my face…"

She opened her eyes again restlessly, and ignored the moisture that had built up in them as she looked at the stars again, pressing the hand over her heart again and sighing.

Meanwhile…

On the other side of the wall and closer to the floor Byakuya was matching her light sigh. Though his eyes were closed and his body didn't show him as anything but at rest his thoughts matched the busyness of Kagome's.

"I'm having a bit of fun, you wouldn't understand."

"I suppose I wouldn't after all…how many years has it been sense I've had a few moments to relax? Sense I had the urge to smile?" He still recalled their small mock-argument in the pool and his anger and confusion at the time had faded to mere puzzlement. "At least fifty years…"

"I am not myself when she is nearby. Even my thoughts betray me, she is so much different than Hisana and yet I had such treacherous feelings when she nearly fell…" He didn't move as he lay, listening to Kagome's rustling on the other side of the wall that separated them. "It wasn't just my duty that drove me to save her…there was a fear that I haven't felt in a long time. It was different than when I've rescued Rukia…"

The wildly splashing water in the pool and the warmth of her smooth skin as she blushed at him…

"I wish I knew what you would say to me Hisana and yet, I would not wish for you to know of my unfaithful thoughts." He smiled in skeptical mockery of himself, in the dark where no one would ever know if it. "My grandfather knows me well, I am spoiled…considering in truth the offer of the royal family even if it was just for a moment is unforgivable. All my sins have blossomed from the seed of egocentric behavior I've been allowed to indulge my whole life."

"I won't let them steal her mortal life from her." Byakuya repeated to himself in determination. "Even if I must go against my promises to others I must also fulfill my duty as a soul-reaper. It is our job to protect mortals not condemn them to death."

"Tomorrow I will write a letter to allow us passage back to the mortal realm for her to visit her family…I will allow her to stay with this Sesshomaru she thinks so much of. Who can protect her from the anger of soul society." He let him drift off to slumber with those thoughts.

End Chapter

I've made a couple AMV's of Byakuya in the last few weeks and through that started to get some ideas for this fiction again. I am quite the fan girl -le sigh-. The last few episodes with Byakuya in them made me go all squee.

-Aura

P.S. Yay for support! Reviews give me warm fuzzy feelings.

Sk8r-boi - Byakuya knows Inuyasha existed from Kagome's stories, but she didn't go on about her crushing on him or being heartbroken over him. Though he might get jealous if he realizes…I doubt it…he's more likely to remain jealous of the badassness that is sesshy.

Boundbydeath - I am glad that you like my crossover, I usually can't find ones I like myself but I try to put some effort into having them actually make sense.

Blood cheery - I thought it was funny that's she like 'dammit I have a thing for men that have things for dead women'

S.T. Nick - Tis slowly coming but man, writing Byakuya/Sesshomaru I'm still fearing. I picture the scene going '…' '…' '…' '…' and them just staring at each other.