35:Fluttering of Wings

"There is nothing holier in this life of ours than the first consciousness of love, the first fluttering of its silken wings."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Kagome had let go of that time, she still remembered Inuyasha fondly but she realized that he was now beyond her reach. He couldn't protect her any longer and she knew that she didn't want to be constantly looked after by someone else, her years in the feudal age were useless if she couldn't also protect the ones she loved.

The air was alive with the chilly air that accompanied the winter season and in the pace of several breathes of silence between them she knew that she couldn't accept his offer. If she asked Sesshomaru to protect her many people would get hurt, including those she loved. She smiled with a wisdom beyond her young years and reached forward to take Byakuya's hand lightly.

"Shut up and let me protect you this time." She laughed as she said the phrase to someone else. Smiling brightly at him and taking his moment of surprise at her backhandedly kind gesture to turn back to Sesshomaru. "It's okay Sesshomaru, we'll get it worked out. I'm really flattered that you would do that for me though."

"Mmm." Sesshomaru offered neutrally, golden gaze passing between the two as his thoughts remained unspoken as to the exchange. "If you are happy then I will not question it. I expect an occasional visit however, there is still much we should speak of in regards to your lineage."

"I would like that." Kagome agreed with another nod. "But we're heading into the city tomorrow so mom didn't want me out too late. Oh…do you want something in particular for the holiday?"

"It's not something I celebrate." He replied and turned to head away. "Take good care of her would be guardian."

Kagome blushed a little as Sesshomaru chided Byakuya, doing her best not to laugh and covering a smile with a cough. It was cold out here…now that she wasn't running she noticed her lack of a jacket more than she had before. Her breath was creating small puffs in the air and she held her arms a little tighter around her. The fake coughing fit coming to an end when she felt fabric touching her shoulders.

Byakuya had removed his suit jacket and settled it over her shoulders. "We should return before your mother gets more concerned."

"He's not even going to ask?" Kagome thought with the pink clinging to her cheeks. "I suppose that means he's going to respect my decision. I did sort of tell him to shut up."

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

The streets and buildings of the shopping market they'd stopped at to consider gifts were alive with both people and lights. Even though it was evening no illumination had been lost in the area where they were walking in the throng of other late day shoppers. Glittering false snow had been hung from nearly every available rooftop and window. Kagome had been dashing from place to place sense they had left her other family twenty minutes before, picking up things here and there.

She haggled a bit and bought a few things for family members but she seemed very careful with her money. Byakuya meanwhile walked along behind her mostly unimpressed and semi-irritated at this odd tradition in the mortal world. He didn't like having to dodge around the variety of people that were in the streets between the outdoor shops. It would have been much easier if they were in soul society where people would have made way for him and whoever he had been escorting.

Kagome though seemed to be enjoying even having to wait in a scattered group to look at a particular stall or the discussing prices that most people wouldn't like having to haggle down. She seemed vibrant in a way he hadn't seen her before and that was managing to help his spirits, however poor they remained.

He was still confused as to her decision to stay with him. It had left him the most uncertain he had been in many years as to his feelings.

"Hey." Kagome managed to interrupt his dark train of thought easily enough. She was handing him a red Styrofoam bowl with a dark green something inside. "It's green tea sorbet, don't know why they're carrying it this time of year but when I saw it I thought you'd like it."

She was glad he'd been distracted enough that he probably didn't notice the big box of green tea cookies she'd bought and hidden away in her bags when he wasn't looking. They were a little expensive for sweets but she remembered that they were suppose to be one of his favorites.

Meanwhile he was eyeing the green food before he took a spoonful. There was something that just didn't fit seeing him with a Styrofoam bowl and plastic spoon eating but he was quite graceful regardless. He didn't complain and kept eating it so Kagome took that as a good sign as she took a bite of her own cookie with chocolate chips in it. "You don't really celebrate holidays in…well…um…there?"

She changed what she planned to say sheepishly just cause it seemed like a good idea not to be too direct talking about it in a large crowd of people. She blushed some at the eyebrow raise she got in return before he answered the question. "We celebrate the new year. Other than that nobles sometimes celebrate birthdays or anniversary's but other holidays from the various mortal views aren't observed."

"Oh." Kagome nodded a little. "That makes sense I guess, lots of people from all over have different celebrations. Thanks for coming with me and letting me be with my family. I know we won't be here through the new year but I think mom wanted me to come for Christmas."

"In what little was reported to me it is a holiday normally celebrated by westerners." He answered indifferently. "Someone from that area in life was kind enough to inform me as to some of how it worked."

"Well…" She pondered as she chewed on a bite of cookie. Swallowing before continuing to speak. "…it's mostly followed by the Christian faith but my mom has been Christian sense dad died when we were little. I know it bugs Grandpa but he's pretty accepting of whatever makes her happy. I can't really tell her it's not quite the way she thinks of it. Just seems nicer to go along with it."

"Kind of you." Byakuya replied, still eating the sorbet. He had to admit she was good at picking out things he enjoyed. "It is better that less people know. Though soul society is not a bad place."

"It's not quite heaven either." She laughed and nudged him. "Not everyone gets the easy life like you."

He started to form a reply and she wandered off toward another of the many stalls, looking at the nice silks in one of the clothier's areas and seeming to be thinking about one of the scarf's there. It was a pretty pale white thing with a black etching of a dragon at one of it's ends. Definitely of a quality that wouldn't be cheap and after she balked when looking at it he watched her move on to some gloves instead and glanced at the scarf.

"One thousand five hundred yen?" He thought to himself. It was a bit much for a scarf…but he had to get her something. He would pick it up when she was distracted with something else.

The image of Hisana smiling at the necklace entered his mind and he dropped the scarf again and moved the few steps to where Kagome was haggling over a pair of velvet gloves. "Am I just trying to replace Hisana?"

"What do you mean 900 yen? It's just a pair of gloves…you'll be lucky if you ever get 400 for them. I'm being generous by offering six." Kagome was still arguing with the seller over the item.

"But then…she's not at all like Hisana." Byakuya thought at that outburst. It was reassuring for him at least. He dug out his cell phone and while Kagome continued to haggle with the merchant took a picture and sent it with a text message to his attendants in the mortal world. They were to purchase it and get it wrapped appropriately by this evening and then drop it off when told.

"Kagome!?" Another woman calling his ward's name drew his eyes and he found a trio of girls heading toward them and looking excited in general as they waved. Kagome finished paying seven hundred yen for the gloves and turned to see her former high school friends waving at her. She hadn't expected to see them yet but it was a pleasant surprise.

"I knew it was her, I told you." Yuki exclaimed, nudging Eri before all of her friends and Kagome gave each other a big group her. "I didn't think we'd get to see you. How you feeling?"

"I've been a lot better." Kagome lied while smiling. Her friends were still very important to her. "It's so good to see you guys. How is college going?"

"Well, Eri has a boyfriend." Ayumi was quick to speak up. "She snatched up Hojo after you moved away. I guess he finally gave up on you."

Eri was blushing horribly. "Oh shush Ayumi."

"Who is this?" Yuki asked suspiciously as she eyed the handsome Byakuya. He was dressed in an expensive suit yet again, of a lovely midnight blue color with a blue and silver tie. "Is this your boyfriend Kagome? You finally get rid of that loser?"

Kagome blushed at that and didn't get a chance to answer before Byakuya spoke up and made things so much worse.

"Kagome and I are engaged." Byakuya said simply, making the three other girls blink with shock and stare between him and Kagome in disbelief.

"What? Kagome! Oh my god! You like em old don't you?" Ayumi laughed, patting her friend on the shoulder. "You do get the good looking ones though. He have a brother?"

"Ayumi!" Yuki pushed the other girls shoulder in surprise. "You shouldn't be so forward. Poor Kagome doesn't know what to say when you act like that."

Kagome was blushing horribly and indeed flustered as hell. He wasn't suppose to tell other people that! She couldn't disagree, but what was she suppose to do? She was going to kill him later. She really really needed the ability to sit him. It always took the edge off her poor nerves.

"Ayumi is a little rude." Eri offered apologetically, ignoring the shocked and appalled stare from the offended Ayumi. "I'm Eri, this is Yuki and Ayumi. What's your name?"

"I'm Byakuya Kuchiki." He offered with a nod, the crowd didn't really allow for shaking hands or the like…not that he would have anyway.

"How did you two meet?" Yuki asked Kagome curiously, glancing between them and considering her friend curiously.

"Um…he was hurt and I helped him…" Kagome offered as little detail as possible. Trying to force her brain to catch up to what was happening in the crowded market around her. This wasn't good at all…if these three knew they'd tell everyone. She didn't actually live her but she did care at least a little as to her reputation.

"Aw, that's so sweet…so you swept him off his feet." Ayumi laughed. "Aren't you sort of a craddle robber though? How old are you compared to Kagome? You look like you are in your late twenties, early thirties more likely."

"There is an age difference." Byakuya agreed without lying directly, much smoother than Kagome about the topic. "Though I don't think that should matter."

"Well why don't we all have dinner and we can talk about it?" Ayumi commented as someone bumped into her and apologized. "it's a little crowded here with the holiday. Sides, Hojo is meeting with Eri so we can all talk about old times."

"Um…" Kagome hesitated, she didn't really want to see Hojo if Eri was dating him now…that seemed like a downright awkward situation. "Well mom sorta wanted it to be a family dinner tonight."

"How about tomorrow?" Ayumi never did know when to leave well enough alone.

"Sure I guess." Kagome couldn't come up with a reason out of it and she did want to see her friends so she couldn't just say no. "How about lunch?"

"Sounds great. I'll give you a call, we should finish our shopping." Ayumi said as the others waved and started to pull away so they wouldn't keep holding up traffic. Once they were out of sight Kagome visibly sighed and turned on Byakuya.

He just was watching her with his usual lack of expression and she started to yell at him but then paused to close her mouth and began pushing him toward an alley. He raise a brow as he moved with her away from the mainstream of people then found his second brow joining the first a moment later.

"Why would you tell them that!?" Kagome definitely seemed on edge. "We're engaged? What if they say something to my mom? Oh my god…she'll be livid…"

"Well, we are engaged." He pointed out simply with a small shrug.

His lack of knowledge of the possible problems with that made her raise a fist in irritation. "That's not the point. My mom will completely go nuts if she hears that. She just thinks you are teaching me priestess stuff!"

Byakuya watched her newest fit in a mixture of wariness and curiosity. "Then don't invite her over to your home. Say you want to eat somewhere far from the shrine for lunch."

"You…you just don't listen." Kagome snapped irritably. "If my mom finds out about us before I can figure out how to tell her I'm gonna kill you."

She stormed back off toward where they had agreed to meet her mother when they had finished…Byakuya watching her angry stomps as he followed from a small distance. He still wasn't sure how to broach the subject with her again. He wasn't willing to let her throw her life away…even if she was so intent on protecting him like she had said. It was his job to do the protecting.

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

Dinner was a little odd but her mom had lightened up after the trip down and being back at the old shrine, she wasn't glaring at Byakuya nearly as often as she had been. Byakuya though was mostly staying off to the side, nearby but not really in the way. Despite his noble bearing he had a great aptitude for blending into the background when he desired.

When they first arrived and introduced him to Grandpa the old man was beside himself with happiness for Kagome and her getting some 'real' training for the first time. He had spent enough time questioning Byakuya that the girl had to give the soul reaper credit for being so patient with him.

She and her mom didn't save him from the assault of her grandfather at dinner either so much of the meal and long after dessert he was still giving the captain the third degree about the various things he did and worked with.

"I have to admit I'm surprised that Grandpa has a lot of knowledge about Byakuya's world that I was never aware of. Maybe I should have paid a little more attention to his stories as opposed to playing with the cat." She thought to herself as she escaped the noise of Souta on his new Guitar Hero by moving outside, lingering near the old shack that housed the well that was once a portal for her. "I've changed so much sense we moved away. I couldn't even look at this rickety old closet without tears coming to my eyes and now I'm okay."

"I wonder what Inuyasha would think of Byakuya." She thought and then laughed out loud. "Stupid idea, he would hate him. He's so much like his brother Inuyasha would just wanna pull out a sword and try to stab him."

She moved closer and entered the shack, looking at where her grandfather's helpers at the shrine had boarded over the old well. "So much for looking inside for old times sake."

"Aren't you cold out here?" Byakuya's voice was something she was becoming accustomed to hearing but she still smiled a little at it.

"I'll be okay." Kagome answered, holding up her new gloves. "I needed some quiet after today and Souta will probably be busy for a while with his new games. How did you get away from Grandpa?"

"I snuck away when he was running off to get a old weapon to show me." Byakuya replied. "Besides, I have to keep an eye on you."

"I'm sure I'm fine." She answered with a roll of her eyes, sitting down on the steps inside the shack. "You'll come running before anything happens."

"You should leave with your friend while we're here. The demon can protect you from the council where I cannot." Byakuya said directly, he was tired of going around the subject, of being weak where this girl was concerned.

"I can't do that." Kagome answered with a shake of her head, looking back at him from her seat on the steps. "A lot of people would be hurt for me, even if some of them are people I don't know….I can't just stand aside and allow others to be injured for my sake."

"There is no certainty they will back away from this even if Aizen is found." Byakuya said, frowning a bit at her selfless nature. "I do not wish to go along with this travesty any longer Kagome. I am not an honor less man. I will not force you into such a life against your will and neither will I allow them to just pass you off to anyone else or do with you what they please."

"But you would be disowned wouldn't you?" Kagome wasn't sure what term to use but disowned seemed a good one. "I can't just let you give up everything for my sake. Sure, it's not quite what I expected but…"

"They will want us to have an heir, multiple if possible…you must understand that I can't just let them treat you like that." Byakuya answered, it was a harsh truth but one she needed to hear. "It hasn't been specifically stated but it would be the only logical reason for forcing such a union. I would rather you stay here with someone capable of protecting you from the soul society than be forced to steal your life and your innocence."

Kagome was looking back at the ground then, blinking as she took in what he was saying to her…a slow blush moving up her neck and cheeks as she realized what he meant. Sure, she'd sort of thought about it before, but at the same time she was avoiding thinking about it. She'd never had sex after all and she wasn't even sure completely how everything worked. Health class didn't cover everything she was sure.

"Would it be so bad after all? It's not like I don't like him anyway…but it's not like he likes me…he's just trying to do the honorable thing." Kagome sighed to herself. "Is there no real answer to all of this? It seems like no matter what I do I'm going to be hurting someone."

"I don't want my family to be in danger…" She answered honestly with a shrug. "I know that it's a really hard situation but it seems better to everyone else to stay than to leave. I'm sorry if that is really hard on you…I don't want you to be hurt either. I don't think it will be absolutely horrible though…not sure if it helps but I think life with you would be okay."

Byakuya was quiet, which only made her nervous about being honest, she began twiddling her fingers and didn't really want to look at him even though she also did want to look at him. She wanted him to say something first. It felt like an eternity before he answered even though it was only a few moments.

"I won't ask you to leave if you don't wish to leave…but please consider everything first and decide before our vacation here is over." He finally said, unsure himself as to exactly what he should say after that. "We should go back inside before you get cold."

End Chapter

It's been way too long sense I've had the chance to write at all. My son is at an age where free time is exceedingly difficult. This chapter has been pieced together over naps and what little free time I've had for the past week and a half. I finally finished it and though it's past my bed time I decided I must get it posted! Darn it! Byakuya and Kagome are all confuzzeled but slowly but surely they're admitting feelings for each other - aw!

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Ayjah - Most teenage girls do.

Lovely witch - Yeah, she's not gonna leave, she has too many reasons to stay. Sides, it's her second crush!

Neo-Crystal - I still have no clue how to add kenpachi but she has to meet him someday!

Saphira1204 - Glad you liked it and hope you keep reading.

Ayashi77 - sorry the update took so long. Real life is busy ne?